Encinitas’ hotly anticipated new eatery, Temaki Bar, officially opens its doors tomorrow. It’s a Clique Hospitality concept, the group that brought us Lionfish and Serea. At its helm is Chef JoJo Ruiz, one of the city’s most celebrated names in sustainable seafood.
The heart of Temaki Bar is its hand rolls. At this sushi-bar-only experience, chefs fill, tuck, and shape each roll, then pass them directly to diners. They’re served one at a time instead of table-drop buffet style, so diners have ample time to appreciate the charms of each roll before the next arrives.
Ruiz is partial to the spicy tuna crispy rice and the yellowtail sashimi. Another standout: Dre’s Pop N’Rock hand roll, which mixes bang bang shrimp, mango and Pop Rocks. (Yep, those Pop Rocks.)
All told, there are 12 hand rolls on the menu—each is $4 to $5—along with a variety of sashimi and starters like beef tataki and tuna poke bowl. These are high-quality products at a local price, explains Clique Hospitality founder Andy Masi. Lunch can be had for $15.
Just 38 seats fill the compact dining space. The décor is bright, eclectic: artist Todd DiCiurcio hand-painted an original mural and worked with Rob Machado to design the custom surfboards that double as art.
“It’s a really cool design, I don’t think I’ve seen anything quite like it in San Diego—let alone anywhere—because we’re so close to the beach,” says Ruiz. “It’s a Southern California vibe for sure.”
Temaki Bar opens on Friday, November 4.