Featuring world-renowned celebrity chef Akira Back, Lumi is an energetic and upscale rooftop experience serving innovative Japanese fare and sushi accompanied by handcrafted libations in a vividly unique atmosphere. Akira Back is the Michelin-starred chef behind Las Vegas' leading Japanese restaurants: Kumi in Mandalay Bay and Yellowtail in the Bellagio.
His namesake restaurants span across the globe, racking acclaim from Beverly Hills to Bangkok. Lumi by Akira Back features his adventurous flavors with a Nikkei & Korean influences, using local ingredients throughout the menu and influences from around the world for an immersive dining experience. Start the evening with our yellowtail pizza, kanpachi ceviche, or jumbo shrimp tempura.
His namesake restaurants span across the globe, racking acclaim from Beverly Hills to Bangkok. Lumi by Akira Back features his adventurous flavors with a Nikkei & Korean influences, using local ingredients throughout the menu and influences from around the world for an immersive dining experience. Start the evening with our yellowtail pizza, kanpachi ceviche, or jumbo shrimp tempura.
Services
Halloween Weekend Reservations are now open for parties of 6 or more! We ask that any cancellation to your reservation be made no less than 24 hours prior to your reservation time. Dining table reservations that no show or are that are canceled within 24 hours of their reservation time will be charged $35 per person.
Lumi features elevated and creative Japanese fare created by Michelin Star Chef, Akira Back. Chef Back draws inspiration from his culture, experience, and love of travel to create dishes full of adventure and allure. Pair delicious sushi rolls with Akira Back's signature sake, served only at Lumi, or a Japanese-inspired shared plate with a cocktail from our Toki Japanese Highball machine.
Start the evening with our yellowtail pizza, kanpachi ceviche, or jumbo shrimp tempura. After kicking back Akira's signature sake, revel in fresh sushi rolls with choices like the "Crispy Cream, " with smoked salmon skin, gobo, avocado, cucumber, lemon soy aioli, and cream cheese; or the "Surf & Turf, " served with king crab, ny strip, asparagus, avocado, garlic ponzu, and leek miso sauce.
Introducing Nazo 9, a more adventurous way of dining. This mysterious box is filled with nine delights hand selected by our Sushi Chef for the perfect combination of flare and flavor and just the right amount of drama. The excitement resides in not knowing what you'll get until your meal is revealed.
Reviews (25)
Joseph Michael Anderson
Jan 26, 2022
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Food on point! Customer service was unmatched! Vibes were immaculate! My first experience at Lumi was incredible. Alyssa (hopefully spelled correctly) was a ROCKSTAR. She was extremely friendly and accommodating. There was a mix up with our reservation and they ended up not having a table for me and my guest (It was a Friday night and it was PACKED so I didn't blame them). We luckily had found a wonderful seat at the bar and we were told that if we didn't mind dining at the bar, then they would comp a round of drinks and their best appetizer (AKIRA BACK PIZZA). Obviously we accepted and when I
Nicole S.
Jan 22, 2022
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Macarena O.
Jan 20, 2022
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One of the best sushi places I've been. We celebrated one of my friends birthday there. We made reservations to be at the rooftop area.
We started with some drinks. They didn't have one of the cocktails in the menu that 3 of us wanted so it was a bit of a bummer. But we ordered a lot of drinks and cocktails and they were delicious!!
Regarding food: the Akira pizza was everyone's favorite appetizer. A few couples got the chef's special combination - I'm posting a picture so you can see - and the quality of the fish was spot on. We also got some rolls and the mistery
We started with some drinks. They didn't have one of the cocktails in the menu that 3 of us wanted so it was a bit of a bummer. But we ordered a lot of drinks and cocktails and they were delicious!!
Regarding food: the Akira pizza was everyone's favorite appetizer. A few couples got the chef's special combination - I'm posting a picture so you can see - and the quality of the fish was spot on. We also got some rolls and the mistery
Gabriella G.
Jan 18, 2022
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Okay so let me start this review off by saying, prepare to spend. A lot. We've been dying to try Lumi for a few months now, and we made a reservation for a Sunday night two days before. Here's a brief overview:
Drinks: I've heard the cocktails were amazing, but I got a mocktail. My boyfriend got Hibiki on the rocks and loved it. Get a cocktail!
Appetizer: Rock shrimp tempura was outstanding. Even the arugula beneath it was beautifully dressed and flavorful.
Rolls: We upgraded the Surf N Turf roll with the A5 Japanese Wagyu. It was easily the best thing I ate all night and the best
Drinks: I've heard the cocktails were amazing, but I got a mocktail. My boyfriend got Hibiki on the rocks and loved it. Get a cocktail!
Appetizer: Rock shrimp tempura was outstanding. Even the arugula beneath it was beautifully dressed and flavorful.
Rolls: We upgraded the Surf N Turf roll with the A5 Japanese Wagyu. It was easily the best thing I ate all night and the best
Zinnia A.
Jan 12, 2022
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I made sure to book a reservation 2 weeks in advance just to be sure I got a table for two! Definitely is needed to book in advance for a table, even during the week! I was excited to take my friend here for her birthday, she loves sushi and this place seems to be the trendy spot for sushi in San Diego. The atmosphere is cool, very relaxed but dressy as well. For me personally, the place was wayyy to dark. I had a hard time reading the menu and seeing my food. The pricing is pretty much Nobu. The view is great if you go beside the ledge, its really not that high for a rooftop either. I am not a
Jasmine C.
Dec 27, 2021
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Was finally able to make a rsvp online that wasn't weeks in advance. A credit card is required to hold your spot.
We came right when it opened. I would recommend coming here during summer to watch the sunset.
I only tried the Akira Back Pizza and beef tartare. The pizza was interesting. It was a thin cracker with tuna sashimi on top. Really different and tasty. Highly recommend this popular dish. The beef tartare was also reallly good. It was different that it came with chicharons.
We came right when it opened. I would recommend coming here during summer to watch the sunset.
I only tried the Akira Back Pizza and beef tartare. The pizza was interesting. It was a thin cracker with tuna sashimi on top. Really different and tasty. Highly recommend this popular dish. The beef tartare was also reallly good. It was different that it came with chicharons.
Jinyu H.
Dec 20, 2021
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Carley P.
Dec 19, 2021
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Lindsey J.
Dec 19, 2021
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Connie S.
Dec 03, 2021
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Tiffany P.
Dec 03, 2021
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I love this place!!! Super trendy and the food is great!
My boyfriend and I came here for our anniversary dinner in November. We came about 20 minutes early since we were in the area. We notified the hostesses up front and kind of got a weird vibe from them like they didn't know what to do with us since we were early... so we just stood outside until they told us the table was ready.
We went up the elevator and was immediately greeted by someone upstairs, which was nice. We got to our table and found an anniversary card from Lumi (no complimentary drink or dessert for our anniversary tho
My boyfriend and I came here for our anniversary dinner in November. We came about 20 minutes early since we were in the area. We notified the hostesses up front and kind of got a weird vibe from them like they didn't know what to do with us since we were early... so we just stood outside until they told us the table was ready.
We went up the elevator and was immediately greeted by someone upstairs, which was nice. We got to our table and found an anniversary card from Lumi (no complimentary drink or dessert for our anniversary tho
Jenny H.
Nov 25, 2021
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So glad we decided to eat here on our last night in SD.
Claire is so sweet, informative and helpful as a host. She was able to get us sat at the bar as a walk in on a Sunday night around 630.
The ambiance was so sultry and lax. We sat at the bar and was greeted by Brianna. We told her it was our first time and she gave us all the best recs. We ordered a gang of food and Bradley came by with the assist. (If y'all are reading this, I got the offer thanks to the overflow of my sake cup!) It was all good convos, vibes, views and food. What more can you ask for?
Our faves were the our sushi
Claire is so sweet, informative and helpful as a host. She was able to get us sat at the bar as a walk in on a Sunday night around 630.
The ambiance was so sultry and lax. We sat at the bar and was greeted by Brianna. We told her it was our first time and she gave us all the best recs. We ordered a gang of food and Bradley came by with the assist. (If y'all are reading this, I got the offer thanks to the overflow of my sake cup!) It was all good convos, vibes, views and food. What more can you ask for?
Our faves were the our sushi
Jeannie N.
Nov 24, 2021
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The vibe and atmosphere of this restaurant is so classy and trendy. Make reservations on their website to lock in a spot. They do require a credit card but allow up to 24 hour cancellation. We had a girls night dinner on a Thursday here and Shane was the best waiter! He was so patient with us on our drinks and on the food. It was all of our first times coming here so we appreciate the breakdown of the menu and what the chef wanted to create and the vision he had for this restaurant. Shane explained the menu in detail. Love how they have 3 different genres of cuisine at a sushi restaurant, not just
Kelly D.
Nov 23, 2021
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Very cute rooftop dining area. We visited Lumi for a friend's birthday and had a great time dining on the rooftop around a fire pit. The view was beautiful and I enjoyed the high energy music.
Food: 3.5 stars
The Akira Back Pizza was my favorite item I tried and I would recommend it. The crust was very thin and crispy. Flavors were complex and paired nicely with the fish. The sushi rice in our roll was not great. If you've been to nicer sushi restaurants with a high focus on rice taste and texture, you'll agree that the rice used at Lumi could be improved. Overall, I enjoyed how
Food: 3.5 stars
The Akira Back Pizza was my favorite item I tried and I would recommend it. The crust was very thin and crispy. Flavors were complex and paired nicely with the fish. The sushi rice in our roll was not great. If you've been to nicer sushi restaurants with a high focus on rice taste and texture, you'll agree that the rice used at Lumi could be improved. Overall, I enjoyed how
Maria Haase
Nov 16, 2021
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Amazing experience at Lumi! The food was spectacular. The Nazo 9 Box was a perfect special treat and each bite was like an explosion of flavors, each so unique and interesting. The quality of the fish was top notch, and the Peruvian & Asian sauces added an element of surprise and fun to each dish.
We ordered two bartenders choice gin drinks and got two fun cocktails, each completely unique and in line with the preferences we mentioned.
Service was also top notch! Sage took great care of us. He just started, but he had great knowledge of the dishes and gave us fantastic recommendations.
I highly
We ordered two bartenders choice gin drinks and got two fun cocktails, each completely unique and in line with the preferences we mentioned.
Service was also top notch! Sage took great care of us. He just started, but he had great knowledge of the dishes and gave us fantastic recommendations.
I highly
Andrew S.
Nov 13, 2021
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Love the Rooftop dining. Beautiful décor, view, delicious food, and great service. I decided to try Lumi for my birthday dinner. Our party of two was seated near the far corner, next to the bar and with a full view of the gaslamp. We started with the Akira Back Pizza, which was probably my favorite dish of the night. Delicious, light, and great flavors. I often get eggplant everywhere I go. If eggplant is on a menu, I order it. While It was nicely presented, it was a bit boring for me. Not a whole lot of flavor like you would find at Chinese or Thai restaurants. We shared three rolls, with the
Katherine H.
Nov 13, 2021
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Lumi is a San Diego staple for me. The dining experience here are always on point. From the food, to the ambiance to the always great service.
My faves:
Albacore Nigiri
Akira Back Pizza
Mystery Box
Saki flights
Great place for a date night, celebration or just catching up with some friends.
Highly recommend trying this out! Reservation are recommended.
My faves:
Albacore Nigiri
Akira Back Pizza
Mystery Box
Saki flights
Great place for a date night, celebration or just catching up with some friends.
Highly recommend trying this out! Reservation are recommended.
Elijah C.
Nov 09, 2021
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Lumi has a great view as is a great overall experience. The lighting is great the scene is the amazing best time to come is typically March-oct when the temperature is just right in the cold season even though they have the nice heaters available it can still be a bit chilly mostly because they are spread out in a wide distance that sometimes does not overlap correctly. The menu is refreshing as the cocktails are great. The sushi is nicely prepared and offers a great taste that is very Insatiable. The view is why you come here and portraits or nice pictures of downtown are perfectly picked and
Marina Byezhanova
Oct 19, 2021
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Blake Smith
Oct 02, 2021
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I’m so glad that we took the time to come have dinner here. I loved the upbeat and open air atmosphere of this rooftop restaurant, as well as the attentiveness of the staff. On top of that, our food and drinks were delicious. If you enjoy sashimi, I cannot recommend the Nazo 9 box enough, as that was easily the highlight of the evening. The variety and quality of each individual plate in the box was well worth the $50 per person price point. Sushi lovers should definitely give this place a go!
Emmett T.
Oct 01, 2021
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I had wanted to visit Akira Back's rooftop sushi restaurant in the Gaslamp Quarter when it debuted in the summer of 2020. With the pandemic restrictions, their hours of operation were inconsistent and sporadic. Fast forward 15 months later, and we were able to make an early dinner reservation on a weeknight. Open slots were hard to come by, but during our visit, there were numerous empty seats across the dining area.
After checking in with the hostess stand on the sidewalk, we were escorted into an elevator for a ride up to the fourth floor which was the building's roof level. The outdoor
After checking in with the hostess stand on the sidewalk, we were escorted into an elevator for a ride up to the fourth floor which was the building's roof level. The outdoor
Taylor Wisler
Sep 18, 2021
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John Wadleigh
Aug 24, 2021
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Nice location and rooftop is never a bad thing, but sadly had many problems with finding a good drink, took way too long to even get a drink, or get sushi - since we were there early at 5pm. Sushi/nigiri was quality but lacked in wow factor compared to other places I have experienced. Service was nicely trained but I just didn’t love the delays and overall experience. It makes me sad to say, not worth it for me and won’t return as there just are better locations. I’m not as much there for rooftop experience as I am there for the sushi experience. Let’s focus on that. One roll though was
Alyssa H.
Aug 03, 2021
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Wow! I absolutely love Lumi! Lumi accepts reservations and they fill up well in advance. A host is on the ground level and directs you to the elevator. Lumi is a rooftop restaurant with ample outdoor seating and a beautiful view. The staff is friendly and well informed because they really know the menu. In addition to the cool and fun restaurant vibe, the food and cocktails are absolutely fantastic! Everything we ate and drank was superb.
Parking is tough because it is downtown. Be prepared to spend extra time to find parking.
Will definitely be back!
Parking is tough because it is downtown. Be prepared to spend extra time to find parking.
Will definitely be back!
Audrey C.
Jul 17, 2021
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We got the mystery box (minimum is two per table), chicken karaage, rock shrimp tempura, eggplant Akira back pizza, charred yellowtail roll, lumi roll. They were all good but the top three was mystery box, pizza and charred yellowtail roll. Everything was so delicious and flavorful.
Our waitress was so friendly and the music there just fits the mood so well!
The drinks here are really good as well.
Our waitress was so friendly and the music there just fits the mood so well!
The drinks here are really good as well.
