A car sped through the intersection of 8th Street and Palm Avenue in National City on Sunday morning and crashed straight into the side of Sushi N' Gone, tearing a gaping hole in the dining room wall and forcing the family-owned restaurant to close on the spot. A chef working inside at the time was not hurt, though owner Paolo Morales said she was left scared, crying and shaking.
The crash came just as Sushi N' Gone was approaching its third anniversary in National City, according to 10News. The restaurant officially opened in 2023 as a fusion concept blending Latino flavors with Japanese culture, and it supports nine families, per the same account. The owner of a nearby Shell gas station called 9-1-1 after witnessing the crash, and National City Police were already on scene by the time Morales arrived.
Approved street upgrades
National City approved work on segments of Eighth Street and nearby roads, including a shared-use path, new lighting and signage, according to inewsource. The report does not link the planned upgrades to this crash.
Wall Patched, Restaurant Red-Tagged
The car was towed from the building Sunday, and the damaged wall was patched shortly afterward. The Fire Department assessed the damage Monday, and the restaurant was subsequently red-tagged, 10News reported.
Morales said he filed a police report Monday to support his insurance claim. He described the driver as cooperative, but 10News said it had not received a response from the driver, so that account was not independently confirmed.
Owner Eyes Mid-Week Repairs
Morales told 10News he hoped to begin wall repairs midweek and reopen the following week, pending inspection clearance. Sushi N' Gone's website says the family spent 15 years working in Japanese restaurants before starting its own venture in June 2022, and describes a menu drawing on Japanese and Mexican influences: Sushi N' Gone.
The crash occurred in an area that has seen other serious traffic incidents. In March 2025, a woman crossing East Plaza Boulevard near Palm Avenue was struck and killed by a driver who fled, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune. Sushi N' Gone's owner and staff are waiting on repairs, insurance and an inspection before they can reopen.
