Cherryfish
★ 4.3 · 75 reviews San Diego Opened 18 November 2025
A modern American izakaya, worth the year-long wait
Modern American izakaya here means small plates, sake and a bar you can eat at alone. Chef Marcus Twilegar also runs Dockside Fish on weekends and works with a nonprofit on food insecurity, so getting the toro rolls and spiny lobster out the door at all is impressive.
Cherryfish opened in November 2025 at 966 Felspar Street, about a year after the date Twilegar first announced. He's said that kind of delay is about standard for restaurants.
What guests say
Reviews by Google-
Brooke Mathieu 6 reviews 27 July 2026
The service from the staff to the chef coming by our table was top tier. They all really made the experience great and were very attentive. My main feedback would be surrounding the food and drinks themselves. I was disappointed that they didn't have real liquor when paying $18+ for a cocktail infusion. The food here was just alright and portion sizes seemed to be very inconsistent. For example the crispy rice was incredibly small and thin, but the rolls were quite large and hard to eat. Flavors were off as well. Also, I didn't like that the food was served over pebbles which were sticking to the bottom of the food, biting into one of those is extremely painful. I understand the aesthetic, but this could seriously damage someone's teeth. I did really enjoy the katsu & caviar, it was delicious and I'd go back for this alone. My last comment is both bathrooms were very cutely designed, but incredibly dirty with trash over flowing and no soap. I know this place is newer so I think it is definitely worth giving another shot as it does have a lot of potential.
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Payton Lao 5 reviews 21 July 2026
**Please 86 the rocks on the plate** Came here on a Sunday night, the restaurant was pretty empty but service was wonderful! They were very helpful in choosing dishes and provided an overview of the background on some ingredients, which I loved. The tuna was incredibly fresh and tasty! Only giving 4 stars because while the spicy tuna crispy rice was delicious, they served it to us on a bed of rocks….? Which we were sure breaks some health code or food handling safety rules and it definitely was a bit of a safety concern not knowing if the rocks were real or been sanitized (if that’s even possible), etc. It was also difficult to pick up the pieces on top of the uneven surface of rocks. I would suggest sticking to just a plate as the presentation of the dish was still beautiful!
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Jen X 17 reviews · Local Guide 12 July 2026
Came here for happy hour and the staff was super welcoming & attentive, the ambiance was beautiful and food was delicious. We tried the broccoli appetizer, 3 sushi rolls and the katsu caviar with drinks and it was all fantastic.
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William and Diane Smith 169 reviews · Local Guide 14 June 2026
This new Japanese fusion restaurant is well designed and very cozy. Happy hour menu is generous and affordable! The specialty rolls and nigiri are delicious. Fish is high quality and so fresh! Sake, beer and wine choices are varied and well priced. We sat in the patio and had a relaxed and tasty meal. Recommend happy hour!!! We will return for a full dinner meal service soon! Street parking is available and free.
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Ed Galbreath 7 reviews 12 June 2026
Service was superb throughout the meal: attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable without being intrusive. The owner even came to our table to check that we were happy and satisfied, which added a personal touch and reinforced how much they care about the guest experience. Overall, Cherryfish delivered outstanding food, top-tier service, and a delightful atmosphere. Highly recommended for a memorable evening out.
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Thanks, we'll take a look.