There are some restaurant openings where you walk in, have dinner, and head home.
And then there are the ones that feel like a whole night.
We were so excited to be hosted at Zuma San Diego during their soft opening at The Guild Hotel, and from the second we arrived, it was very clear this was going to be one of those nights.
Zuma has locations all over the world, but San Diego officially became home to its first California location this summer. The concept is centered around contemporary Japanese izakaya-style dining, meaning the menu is meant to be shared, the drinks are flowing, and dinner feels less like checking a restaurant off your list and more like settling in for the evening.
And honestly? San Diego understood the assignment.
Setting the Scene
The arrival alone deserves its own moment.
Instead of feeling like you’re simply walking into a restaurant inside a hotel, Zuma has its own distinct entrance that immediately pulls you into the experience. You make your way through a long teak-lined passage before opening into this gorgeous mix of stone, greenery, warm lighting, and Japanese-inspired design. The entrance was intentionally created as part of the experience, leading guests past hand-carved stonework and a Zen garden-inspired walkway before reaching the restaurant.
It is SO pretty.
The entire space has that quiet-luxury feeling. There are natural materials everywhere, lush greenery, towering palms, gorgeous wood detailing, low lighting, and these warm pink, orange, and golden tones woven throughout the space. The design team specifically pulled inspiration from California's coastline and San Diego’s year-round indoor-outdoor lifestyle, which makes the whole restaurant feel elevated but still very San Diego.
The patio especially feels like you’ve stumbled into a hidden tropical garden in the middle of downtown.
And then there’s the dining room.
The robata grill sits right in the center, the sushi counter is completely open, and there is movement everywhere without it ever feeling chaotic. Zuma is one of those restaurants where you genuinely want to look around because there is something beautiful happening in every direction.
Basically: come hungry, but also come cute. 😉
Drinks First, Obviously
We started the night with cocktails, and this is absolutely a place where you should.
The cocktail program pulls in Japanese ingredients, citrus, sake, tequila, whisky, and plenty of interesting flavor combinations, so even ordering drinks feels like part of the experience. The San Diego menu includes cocktails like a Japanese margarita with tequila, mezcal, yuzu, orange, and yuzu kosho, alongside an extensive sake selection.
The raspberry & passion fruit martini was basically made for me — bright, fruity, tart and dangerously easy to drink. It tasted every bit as good as it looked, which is exactly what I want from a pretty pink cocktail. 🍸💖
We also tried a refreshing yuzu-forward mule served over crushed ice with fresh mint and dried citrus. It was crisp, citrusy and the perfect contrast to the richer dishes coming out of the kitchen.
Digging Into the Menu
Zuma’s menu is designed for sharing, which is exactly how I like to eat somewhere like this because it means you get to try everything.
The menu is built around three main areas: the sushi counter, the main kitchen, and the robata grill. Some of the signature dishes across Zuma include miso-marinated black cod, spicy beef tenderloin, sushi and sashimi, grilled scallops, tiger prawns, and robata-grilled meats and seafood.
Now for what we ate...
We started with the stir-fried lemon & chili edamame, which immediately made regular edamame feel a little boring. Smoky from the grill with just enough citrus and heat, it was one of those simple starters you keep reaching for without realizing the bowl is suddenly empty.
Then came the Kurobuta pork belly skewers with yuzu mustard miso and OMG. These were rich, caramelized, smoky and ridiculously tender. The pork had that perfect char around the edges, and the creamy yuzu mustard miso gave it just enough brightness to balance everything out. This was one of those dishes where we both immediately knew we should have ordered more.
And then came the main event: the Wagyu skirt steak with shiso sauce. Beautifully grilled, perfectly sliced and so tender. The shiso sauce was bright and herby against the richness of the steak and somehow made each bite even better than the last. If you are a steak person, this one needs to be on your table.
The Service
One of the things that stood out most to me during the night was the service.
A beautiful restaurant can get you through the door, and amazing food can absolutely keep you there, but hospitality is what turns dinner into an experience you actually remember.
From beginning to end, the Zuma team made the night feel incredibly warm and intentional. Everyone we interacted with was attentive without hovering, knowledgeable without making the experience feel overly formal, and genuinely excited to walk us through the menu.
Especially during a soft opening, when a team is still getting into its rhythm, that level of service says a lot.
We felt taken care of the entire night.
Welcome to San Diego, Zuma 💖
I love watching San Diego’s restaurant scene continue to evolve, and Zuma feels like such a fun addition to downtown.
It’s glamorous without feeling inaccessible, beautiful without relying only on aesthetics, and the food absolutely holds its own.
Whether you’re planning a date night, celebrating something, grabbing cocktails with the girls, or just looking for an excuse to get dressed up and have a really good dinner, this is one to add to the list.
Thank you so much to the Zuma San Diego team for hosting us during the soft opening and giving us such a memorable first experience.
We will absolutely be back.
Catch you at the next foodie stop! 🍣🍸✨
-XO Rebecca
