Social Profile: 
✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in ✔️Take out
… View more
Experience a taste of Japan at Hinotez, a beloved Japanese restaurant nestled in the heart of San Diego. Specializing in traditional flavors and authentic culinary techniques, our menu invites you on a delicious journey. From savory yakitori to perfectly prepared ramen, each dish is crafted with care, using fresh, high-quality ingredients. We offer a cozy and inviting atmosphere perfect for a memorable dining experience with family and friends We proudly serve only Japanese alcohol. With our 200 kinds of Shochu and 140 varieties of Japanese whisky, our collection is unmatched. We also offer a rare selection of Japanese Craft Beer, Vodka, Rum, Brandy, Amaro, and Vermouth. We hold the largest selection of Shochu outside of Japan.
This relaxed Japanese joint specializes in kitchen entrees, such as ramen, yakitori & rice bowls.
Hours
| Friday | 5 PM–12 AM |
| Saturday | 5 PM–12 AM |
| Sunday | 5 PM–12 AM |
| Monday | 5 PM–12 AM |
| Tuesday | 5 PM–12 AM |
| Wednesday | 5 PM–12 AM |
| Thursday | 5 PM–12 AM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 7947 Balboa Ave, San Diego, CA 92111
Phone: (858) 565-4244
Website: https://sandiegoyakyudori.com/page/hinotez
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Order: Order online
Photo Gallery
Related Web Results
Hinotez – USA Yakyudori Inc.
Hinotez logo Hinotez. Japanese Izakaya-Style Dining. The second location of Yakyudori, Hinotez offers a wide range of … San Diego, CA All Rights Reserved.
Hinotez 7947 Balboa Ave – Order Online
Hinotez 7947 Balboa Ave. 7947 Balboa Avenue, San Diego, CA. Sushi Special … Hinotez Roll. Top: salmon, hinotez sweet chili sauce, inside: shrimp tempura …
Bar Hinotez (@bar_x_hinotez) · San Diego, CA – Instagram
7947 Balboa Avenue, San Diego Mon–Thu 5 PM – Midnight Fri & Sat 5 PM – 2 AM (Bar Only after Midnight) Sun 5 PM – Midnight #SanDiegoBar #JapaneseWhisky #Shochu # …
Reviews
Sammi
I’ve been to Hinotez twice now with friends, and it’s always a special experience on my San Diego trips. The most recent time, we came in around 7:15pm on a Friday and we’re seated right away inside the bar. It’s great that you can order food at tables in the bar side. We’ve dined on both sides of the restaurant.
The whiskey highball drinks and yakitori are some of our favorites. I love the fresh lemon hi and the chicken cartilage and pork shiso. Everything is super flavorful and fresh, including the ramen and tempura.
The bar can get noisy and packed as it gets later, so if you want a quieter dining experience, eat on their restaurant side. It’s still fun to sit in the bar area, and staff were very friendly and attentive, even as the night got busy.
We’ve never had trouble finding parking in their lot or getting seated within 0-15 minutes. Their menu is a bit pricey, so it’s definitely a special occasion get together. For 3 people for drinks, entrees, and appetizers, the total came out to around 200$ including tip or 67$ per person.
… moreThe whiskey highball drinks and yakitori are some of our favorites. I love the fresh lemon hi and the chicken cartilage and pork shiso. Everything is super flavorful and fresh, including the ramen and tempura.
The bar can get noisy and packed as it gets later, so if you want a quieter dining experience, eat on their restaurant side. It’s still fun to sit in the bar area, and staff were very friendly and attentive, even as the night got busy.
We’ve never had trouble finding parking in their lot or getting seated within 0-15 minutes. Their menu is a bit pricey, so it’s definitely a special occasion get together. For 3 people for drinks, entrees, and appetizers, the total came out to around 200$ including tip or 67$ per person.
Sue Duong
10-19-2025
My son had just returned from his vacation the night before. We decided to come here for dinner on a Sunday. Just as the place opened for the evening, I was the first one of my party to walk in; right away, the musty smell didn’t give me a good impression. Still, I kept an open mind.
Ordered:
-Edemame- steaming hot, we enjoyed it.
-Salmon Roll HH- small, just tasted rice.
-Yellowtail Roll HH- also tiny.
-Gizzard- smoky, spouse liked it.
-Chicken Heart- yummy snacks.
-Pork Shiso- my most favorite of the 3 Yakitori.
-Fried Gyoza- oily
-Mushu Roll- not worth $19.95
-Peach Float- refreshing drink.
Service:
Cordial staff. However, after we finished with all the food the staff still didn’t serve the Gyoza. We checked with a different server. It took 10min for our order to come out.
Note:
Prices on the menu I am posting are not updated.
Don’t think I will be returning.
… moreMy son had just returned from his vacation the night before. We decided to come here for dinner on a Sunday. Just as the place opened for the evening, I was the first one of my party to walk in; right away, the musty smell didn’t give me a good impression. Still, I kept an open mind.
Ordered:
-Edemame- steaming hot, we enjoyed it.
-Salmon Roll HH- small, just tasted rice.
-Yellowtail Roll HH- also tiny.
-Gizzard- smoky, spouse liked it.
-Chicken Heart- yummy snacks.
-Pork Shiso- my most favorite of the 3 Yakitori.
-Fried Gyoza- oily
-Mushu Roll- not worth $19.95
-Peach Float- refreshing drink.
Service:
Cordial staff. However, after we finished with all the food the staff still didn’t serve the Gyoza. We checked with a different server. It took 10min for our order to come out.
Note:
Prices on the menu I am posting are not updated.
Don’t think I will be returning.
Rina
I recently tried this Japanese chicken skewer place and really enjoyed the experience. Ordering is very simple because you can do it directly from your phone, which makes the whole process quick and convenient. Once I arrived to pick up my food, everything was ready on time and nicely packaged. The menu has more variety than I expected. In addition to the skewers, they also offer sushi rolls, rice bowls, and even noodle dishes, so there is quite a lot to choose from depending on what you’re in the mood for.
The highlight for me was definitely the yakisoba noodles. They used chewy noodles that had a really good bite to them, and the flavor was savory and satisfying without being overly heavy. It tasted authentic and comforting, almost like something you’d find in Japan. The chicken skewers were also delicious. They were grilled just right with a nice smoky taste and tender meat that paired well with the dipping sauce.
Overall, I think this is a great spot to grab Japanese comfort food at a fair price. The portions were generous, the flavors felt authentic, and the convenience of ordering straight from your phone made the experience even better. I’ll definitely be going back!
… moreThe highlight for me was definitely the yakisoba noodles. They used chewy noodles that had a really good bite to them, and the flavor was savory and satisfying without being overly heavy. It tasted authentic and comforting, almost like something you’d find in Japan. The chicken skewers were also delicious. They were grilled just right with a nice smoky taste and tender meat that paired well with the dipping sauce.
Overall, I think this is a great spot to grab Japanese comfort food at a fair price. The portions were generous, the flavors felt authentic, and the convenience of ordering straight from your phone made the experience even better. I’ll definitely be going back!
Jennifer Myers
This is my favorite place to get Ramen. The Avocado Tempura is worth dying for. Heck, it’s worth driving all the way from Escondido for! The service used to be slow, but they have fixed that, and if you don’t mind ordering on your phone, it is super convenient, and fast. The atmosphere is very cool, and the food is amazing. The garlic edamame is yummy, the fried gyoza delicious, the beef skewer is sumptuous, and the miso ramen is like a hug in my tummy. The Avocado Tempura has my heart. Actually, this is a bad idea. I don’t want people to know about it. Forget you read this.
… morerobert heck
Have been going to Hinotez for years. Love the food. Good sushi rolls, excellent grilled salmon (especially with the lemon garlic sauce), tempura, very tasty fried oysters and tried the grilled shirito peppers this time. Yummy all around and I’ve lived in Japan and can tell you the food is on par. All of this and the prices are reasonable. I recommend!
… moreJohn I Robinson
Ordering is done through an app for individual or group ordering. The beers was tasty. The food and service were great. Definitely coming back
… moreChris So
A hidden Balboa gem I don’t even know where to start.
Prices are incredibly fair and the food is fresh, piping hot, and delicious. The skewers came in two and actually tasted like they were cooked over a charcoal fire. The ramen was your typical SD $15 bowl and was satisfying. Not the best in town, not the worst, but solid. The Sapporo seemed to be the only thing on tap and was about $6 for a pint. They also had a 33oz and a 60oz I think.
The staff was fast, attentive, and kind. My friend and I sat and talked for a really long time and not once did they push the check on us. The ambiance makes me feel like I’m sitting in a cozy neighborhood Izakaya full of locals and regulars.
The menu is digital and so comprehensive and well done that I read it three times before selecting my dishes. You place your orders through a web app and food comes out as your order. You pay your server at the end. I think this is the perfect addition to the prices, hours, and ambiance because it creates a space where you can order as you go – each thing coming out hot and fresh as you catch up and drink with your friends.
I haven’t checked out the hidden speakeasy half of the restaurant but I heard you have access to the full menu. I think I have found my after work Izakaya and am excited to try the rest of the menu!
P.S. It is next door to an amazing car mechanic. Quality Automotive, ask for Thanh, fair prices and honest mechanics. They don’t work on Volvos.
… morePrices are incredibly fair and the food is fresh, piping hot, and delicious. The skewers came in two and actually tasted like they were cooked over a charcoal fire. The ramen was your typical SD $15 bowl and was satisfying. Not the best in town, not the worst, but solid. The Sapporo seemed to be the only thing on tap and was about $6 for a pint. They also had a 33oz and a 60oz I think.
The staff was fast, attentive, and kind. My friend and I sat and talked for a really long time and not once did they push the check on us. The ambiance makes me feel like I’m sitting in a cozy neighborhood Izakaya full of locals and regulars.
The menu is digital and so comprehensive and well done that I read it three times before selecting my dishes. You place your orders through a web app and food comes out as your order. You pay your server at the end. I think this is the perfect addition to the prices, hours, and ambiance because it creates a space where you can order as you go – each thing coming out hot and fresh as you catch up and drink with your friends.
I haven’t checked out the hidden speakeasy half of the restaurant but I heard you have access to the full menu. I think I have found my after work Izakaya and am excited to try the rest of the menu!
P.S. It is next door to an amazing car mechanic. Quality Automotive, ask for Thanh, fair prices and honest mechanics. They don’t work on Volvos.
Christopher Gorrie
Hinotez is an awesome Japanese restaurant on the eastern side of Kearny Mesa near the 163. They have a huge selection of yakitori, ramen, and rice dishes.
I really like their fried gyoza, which they serve with a nice mustard. The spicy miso ramen is great too. They serve pitchers and large beers as well. They even have an interesting tempura selection, including mixed vegetables, sweet potato, and avocado.
I highly recommend it! Just try to come later at night after the dinner rush—wait times can stretch to around an hour if you come at 5 or 6.
Update: The yakitori is pretty solid as well. The eggplant, beef tongue, bacon-wrapped asparagus, chicken heart, and Brussels sprouts—all of them are great.
If you go right after entering, there is a bar area and you can order there as well. It’s nice to do yakitori with Sapporo in there.
… moreI really like their fried gyoza, which they serve with a nice mustard. The spicy miso ramen is great too. They serve pitchers and large beers as well. They even have an interesting tempura selection, including mixed vegetables, sweet potato, and avocado.
I highly recommend it! Just try to come later at night after the dinner rush—wait times can stretch to around an hour if you come at 5 or 6.
Update: The yakitori is pretty solid as well. The eggplant, beef tongue, bacon-wrapped asparagus, chicken heart, and Brussels sprouts—all of them are great.
If you go right after entering, there is a bar area and you can order there as well. It’s nice to do yakitori with Sapporo in there.
Jennifer M.
Great food, though I would have preferred less sauce on the chicken. My favorites of the evening were the garlic edamame and the katsudon. The only downside of our experience was the computerized menu. It was hard to navigate, though the staff was very patient in helping us.
… moreSam
Picked up an appetizer for $10, little did i know that when I got home. I soon realized an issue, that this was the smallest portion I’ve ever seen. I could see this as a $6 item but i know everything is going up. The taste was good but not for the current price. Round #2 i came back and i never wanted to spit out food faster. The only thing good was the beer..
… more