our place*

a documentation of a small izakaya on third avenue

Izakaya Naruto is a neighborhood Japanese izakaya in Chula Vista, serving the community since July 2015. We serve ramen, sushi (nigiri, sashimi and rolls), rice bowls and small plates, with Japanese beer, sake, shochu and soft drinks. Most of our sauces are made in house from our own recipes, and so is the chicken chashu on our ramen.

Our food is Japanese at heart, and many of our dishes, from the rolls to the ramen, are made with local flavors in mind.

We're open daily from 5 to 11 pm (last call 10:30 pm). We don't take reservations; all seating is walk-in. Happy hour runs 5–7 pm and again after 9 pm: house sake is $1.97 small or $2.97 large, and small bottles of Sapporo, Asahi or Kirin Light are $3.95 when you order food.

Yellow paper lantern that reads “izakaya naruto” in Japanese — small, cozy and full of handmade touches. come as you are.

The entrance with wooden NARUTO letters and a noren curtain — come on in

Yellow lantern that reads “izakaya naruto” in Japanese — our lantern says “izakaya naruto” in japanese

Hand-painted swirl wall — swirls, painted by hand

Sake list chalkboards on a mustard wall with salvaged wood — the sake wall

Orange door with a whale sign — the whale door

A navy hallway with wooden fish, a sea turtle and a ship's-wheel window, beside a little wooden rack with a mermaid — the ship’s wheel

what’s an izakaya?

a casual japanese place where people get together to eat and drink. the food runs from small dishes, a bit like tapas, to go with your drinks, to bigger plates to eat while you enjoy japanese beer and sake.

japanese, with a chula vista accent

we serve japanese dishes next to food inspired by other parts of asia and by mexico, made with local flavors in mind.

meet the mascot

this is naru*

naru is the swirly fish cake from the top of our ramen. one day naru cut itself out of the photo and wandered off. it picks dishes for people who can’t decide, and gets a little dizzy doing it. tap to spin.