Uni

[chipRooski]

We will be visiting San Diego for the weekend and was wondering if anyone had any recommendations on places to eat Uni? I'm reading some posts on Heidi's Urchins at the Little Italy Mercato and some info to pick up fresh sashimi at Catalina offshore. Any info or recs would be much appreciated! =)

[jmtreg]

Its my understanding that due to overfishing of abalone, and the near extinction of sea otters, sea urchins have a serious overpopulation problem off the California coast. So, its my understanding that California imposes no limits on how much sea urchin can be taken from its waters. In other words, go with Catalina Offshore Products www.catalinaop.com

[SDGourmand]

The uni at Catalina Offshore is amazing.. Make sure to get the california gold, runs $18 for an 80 gram tray which is about 15 pieces.. The pic below is a 240 gram tray and that was $38..

[cgfan]

If you want to try seek out some specialty (non-commodity) Uni, I'd advise calling Kaito Sushi and see if they have that day any Matsushita Uni. (They seem to have it in their case some 80% of the time...)

I don't know who else outside of Kaito that serves it locally. (It's almost exclusively produced for the premium Sushi bars in the L.A. market...) My guess is that beyond Kaito there will only be one or two other Sushi bars, if any, in San Diego that do.

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Kaito Sushi
130-A N El Camino Real, Encinitas, CA 92024

[Ewilensky]

I love love love the Uni Pasta at Izakaya Sakura in Clairmont Mesa (usually on the special of the day menu)

Searocket has fresh uni but you'll be more than covered with the merchan at the Little Italy mercado

[mimosa]

Poppa's is the fish guy that has the live sea urchins. They cut the top and give you a spoon.