Shio Japanese Dining celebrated its grand opening over the weekend and is now fully operational at 2259 Avenida de la Playa, marking the latest transformation of a high-profile dining destination just blocks from La Jolla Shores Beach. The restaurant describes its concept as rooted in Japanese tradition and inspired by the coastal setting, emphasizing balance, elegance and culinary artistry through an ambitious menu that combines traditional sushi preparations with contemporary Japanese dishes.
As previously reported by SanDiegoVille, the restaurant is operated by a group connected to nearby Takaramono Sushi in La Jolla. California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control filings identified ENP 2259 Inc. as the ownership entity, with Eugene Hwan Kim serving as chief executive officer and president and Peter Hajong Kim as chief financial officer and secretary. Other individuals listed in the company's corporate records include Steven David Ebersole, Monique Desiree Filardi and Neil Capin Jr. The restaurant transaction was brokered by Todd Law of Capital Growth Properties.
Unlike a conventional neighborhood sushi restaurant, Shio is positioning itself toward the higher end of San Diego's Japanese dining market, with elaborate seafood presentations, specialty rolls, premium nigiri and a chef-selected tasting experience. Its signature 12-piece Tasting Shio is listed at $200, requires a minimum of two diners and must be reserved at least one day in advance.
Among the restaurant's more distinctive offerings are bluefin tuna belly tacos wrapped in premium seaweed with salmon roe and uni ($20), crispy spicy bluefin tuna served on cheese chips ($25), seared yellowtail with yuzu kosho and ponzu ($25), and charcoal-grilled scallops with edamame purée and truffle caviar ($38). Other specialties include smoked kanpachi with ponzu jelly ($30), halibut sashimi finished with truffle oil and garlic chips ($24), and seared black cod sashimi with saikyo miso sauce ($38).
The entrée selection includes charcoal-grilled A5 wagyu accompanied by four varieties of salt selected by the chef ($100), chicken breast with a spicy honey-soy glaze ($38), and charcoal-grilled nodoguro, a prized Japanese fish, served with gnocchi and seaweed pesto ($48). Diners seeking a more traditional sushi experience can order an eight-piece chef's choice nigiri set ($65) or a 10-piece sashimi assortment ($80), alongside individual selections ranging from salmon and yellowtail to bluefin tuna belly, kinmedai and Santa Barbara sea urchin.
Specialty rolls range from $28 to $38 and incorporate ingredients such as snow crab, golden-eye snapper, seared squid, soft-shell crab and bluefin tuna. The menu also features $32 ramen prepared with a clear fish-bone broth, yuzu and charcoal-grilled kinmedai, along with chilled soba noodles topped with jumbo tiger shrimp ($30). Even the appetizers take an unconventional approach, with avocado tempura ($12), wagyu-and-shrimp dumplings ($16) and house-made mochi tofu ($22).
The beverage program is similarly expansive, featuring Japanese draft beers, premium sake, Champagne and international wines, as well as signature cocktails ranging from an $18 Suntory ginger highball to a $24 espresso martini. Specialty drinks include a salted pistachio martini ($22), a lychee-based Sakura Hime ($20) and a smoky whisky cocktail ($18). Sake selections range from accessible smaller-format bottles to premium offerings priced above $400.
Shio's arrival also represents another attempt to establish a lasting restaurant at an address that has experienced several high-profile changes. The property previously housed Galaxy Taco, a Mexican restaurant known for its masa-focused menu, before transitioning to Sandpiper Wood Fired Grill & Oysters, a concept from the team behind George's at the Cove. Sandpiper closed after approximately four years when its operators elected not to renew the lease.
The new restaurant enters a La Jolla Shores dining scene supported by neighborhood residents, beachgoers, hotel guests and visitors seeking destination-worthy meals. Its premium pricing and elaborate presentations suggest an emphasis on special occasions and higher-end dining rather than the casual, beach-oriented approach of some neighboring establishments.
With its grand opening now complete, Shio Japanese Dining adds another ambitious culinary concept to Avenida de la Playa, bringing a distinctly Japanese identity to a restaurant space that has undergone several reinventions in recent years.
Shio Japanese Dining is located at 2259 Avenida de la Playa in La Jolla Shores. For more information, visit shiolajolla.com.
Originally published October 26, 2026.
