Owner and chef Takeaki Tadokoro announced the significant change this week, calling it a "new chapter" for the 14-year-old restaurant. Sushi Tadokoro will conclude both lunch service and its traditional à la carte offerings at the end of September 2026 before relaunching as an exclusively omakase restaurant in October. Under the new format, every piece of sushi will be personally prepared by Chef Tadokoro, with Ayumi Tadokoro leading the kitchen. The family says the change is intended to create a more intimate and personalized experience centered around seasonal ingredients, traditional Edomae-style sushi and Japanese hospitality.
"Together, the Tadokoro family will create a more personal and special dining experience - rooted in seasonal ingredients, Edomae sushi, and heartfelt hospitality," the restaurant stated in announcing the transition.
The move represents another evolution for a restaurant that has played an important role in elevating San Diego's sushi scene. Tadokoro, a native of Kanagawa, Japan, moved to the United States in 2000 and spent more than a decade working in San Diego before opening his namesake restaurant in 2012. Sushi Tadokoro steadily developed a reputation for traditional Edomae sushi, emphasizing carefully sourced seafood, properly seasoned rice and restrained preparations rather than the elaborate rolls common at many American sushi restaurants.
That dedication eventually earned international recognition. In 2021, Sushi Tadokoro became the first sushi restaurant in San Diego to receive a Michelin star. It retained the distinction through 2023 before losing its star when Michelin announced its 2024 California selections. At the time, Tadokoro publicly expressed disappointment but framed the loss as a new challenge, pledging to continue following the restaurant's philosophy and focusing on serving exceptional food. Two years later, the latest transformation appears to push Sushi Tadokoro even further toward the highly personal chef-driven experience that originally earned it widespread acclaim.
That dedication eventually earned international recognition. In 2021, Sushi Tadokoro became the first sushi restaurant in San Diego to receive a Michelin star. It retained the distinction through 2023 before losing its star when Michelin announced its 2024 California selections. At the time, Tadokoro publicly expressed disappointment but framed the loss as a new challenge, pledging to continue following the restaurant's philosophy and focusing on serving exceptional food. Two years later, the latest transformation appears to push Sushi Tadokoro even further toward the highly personal chef-driven experience that originally earned it widespread acclaim.
Omakase, which roughly translates to "I'll leave it up to you," gives the chef control over the progression of the meal, typically allowing selections to change according to seasonality, availability and the quality of that day's seafood. Sushi Tadokoro has long offered an omakase option alongside its broader menu, but beginning in October, it will become the restaurant's sole format. The change means customers will have only a few more weeks to visit Sushi Tadokoro for lunch or order individual sushi selections before those options disappear at the end of September.
"To everyone who has supported us over the years, thank you from the bottom of our hearts," the Tadokoro family wrote. "We look forward to welcoming you to the next chapter of Sushi Tadokoro."
Sushi Tadokoro is located at 2244 San Diego Avenue in San Diego's Old Town/Mission Hills area. The restaurant's omakase-only format is scheduled to begin in October 2026. For more information, visit sushitadokoro.com.
"To everyone who has supported us over the years, thank you from the bottom of our hearts," the Tadokoro family wrote. "We look forward to welcoming you to the next chapter of Sushi Tadokoro."
Sushi Tadokoro is located at 2244 San Diego Avenue in San Diego's Old Town/Mission Hills area. The restaurant's omakase-only format is scheduled to begin in October 2026. For more information, visit sushitadokoro.com.
Originally published on August 19, 2026.