Dashi slipped into Hillcrest late last summer and has not stayed a secret for long. The compact modern sushi bar at 501 University Ave. is fronted by head chef and co-owner Aristides Fernández‑Pinto and seats about 40 inside, with roughly eight more spots on the patio. A team of around 15 keeps the operation humming while the menu leans on a 20-piece chef’s omakase sashimi alongside crowd-pleasers like mango coconut ceviche and a miso butter mac and cheese.
Chef's roots and partners
Fernández‑Pinto, 36, grew up in Chula Vista before his family moved to Mexico, and he eventually worked his way through local sushi kitchens and into the orbit of several big-name mentors, according to The San Diego Union‑Tribune. The paper traces early jobs at Sushi Itto and a 2010 to 2012 run at Sushiya, and notes guidance from cooks including Anthony Sinsay, John Hong and Takahiro Hoshikawa. Co-owners Vee Soukhaseum and Hiroshi Tokairin round out the leadership team, with Tokairin also operating Ototo Sushi Co. in Clairemont and Liberty Station.
Menu highlights and prices
Dashi’s menu tries to keep one foot in omakase territory and the other in weeknight comfort. The 20-piece omakase sashimi is listed at $58, grilled wagyu skewers come two per order for $16 and mango coconut ceviche runs $14. For something heftier, there is a miso butter mac and cheese for $15, with a lobster mac-and-cheese upgrade that tacks on $10. Rounds of rolls, nigiri and familiar entrees like chicken teriyaki and hamachi kama share space with sake and small plates meant for the table, according to Dashi.
Where it fits in Hillcrest
On the high-traffic corner of University and Fifth, Dashi joins a packed strip of ramen shops and sushi bars and has already carved out its own following. San Diego Magazine tagged one of the restaurant’s sashimi plates in a January list of must-try dishes, putting it on the radar of diners beyond the neighborhood. Local listings like Corner and MapQuest flag early crowds and waits, a hint that the tight dining room can pack out even on weeknights. The low-key debut last summer, followed by a steady stream of customers, suggests Dashi has slipped neatly into Hillcrest’s evolving dining scene.
Practical details
Dashi is at 501 University Ave.; the restaurant lists its phone as 619-960-2045 and its website as dashisd.com. Reservations are accepted by phone only, and the dining room seats about 40 with roughly eight outdoor seats, with a staff of around 15, according to The San Diego Union‑Tribune. The restaurant posts current hours and menu updates on its online ordering page.
