Roppongi La Jolla reopens on Prospect Street with modern Asian cuisine, a stunning redesign, and the bold flavors that made it a beloved dining destination.
There are restaurants you like, and then there are the ones that get under your skin with flavor, experience and memories. Roppongi was the latter.
For over two decades, guests who discovered its electric energy at 875 Prospect Street in La Jolla never quite forgot it.
When it closed, people did not quietly move on. They called. They emailed. They asked, again and again, when it was coming back.
On February 25, 2026, they finally got their answer.
Roppongi Restaurant & Lounge has officially reopened, and with it comes a stunning rebirth of modern Asian cuisine La Jolla has been missing since the day it shuttered. This is not a rerun. It’s a second act written by people who know exactly what they’re doing.
The Return That La Jolla Would Not Stop Requesting
Sami Ladeki opened Roppongi in 1998, and within months it became the heartbeat of La Jolla’s social scene. Prospect Street, already one of the most coveted dining corridors in Southern California, found a new anchor. Tables were buzzing. The energy was vibrant. When it closed, loyal guests left a void that no amount of trendy openings could fill.
Years passed. Other concepts came and went. Still the calls kept coming in. That kind of loyalty is rare in the restaurant world, and Ladeki heard every bit of it.
“Roppongi has always been about more than food”
Sami Ladeki
“It’s about energy, creativity and connection — a place where great design, great cuisine and great company come together. After hearing for years how much people missed it, reopening Roppongi in La Jolla feels incredibly meaningful, and we’re excited to welcome guests back.”
That sentiment hits differently when you walk through the front door and realize how much care went into bringing it back. This is not a nostalgia project. It is a full reimagining built on the bones of something that already worked.
The Menu at the Heart of Modern Asian Cuisine La Jolla
Executive Chef Alfie Szeprethy leads a kitchen that takes Pacific Rim flavors seriously without taking itself too seriously. The result is a menu that feels celebratory in the best way: bold, bright, and fun to eat. If you have friends who still debate whether food can be art, bring them here and settle it over dinner.
Returning signature dishes include the Polynesian Crab Stack, a showstopper of lump crab, pea shoots, red onion, cucumber, tomato, mango, avocado, peanut, cilantro, and a spicy ginger-lime dressing that cuts through every rich bite.
The ahi poke arrives with crispy wontons that add the kind of crunch you didn’t know you needed. Hamachi crudo tacos come tucked into corn tortillas with Asian guacamole, a playful fusion that somehow feels inevitable the moment you taste it.
The Japanese hot rock with New York strip steak, chili ponzu, sesame goma sauce, and cucumber sunomono is theatrical and deeply satisfying. Sushi lovers will gravitate to the Roppongi Roll, packed with tempura shrimp, unagi, cucumber, spicy toro, and tobiko. These are the dishes that made regulars feel personally wronged when they disappeared.
New additions expand the adventure.
Handmade dumplings filled with lobster, duck confit, and short rib feel like a letter from a kitchen that has been thinking carefully.
The Prime Crying Tiger Steak with herbs, ginger, red onion, and cucumber served as lettuce wraps is the kind of dish that makes people lean in and pass plates across the table with zero pretense.
Wok-fired specialties and inventive fried rice and noodle dishes round out a menu built for sharing, which is really just another word for dining with joy.
To drink, the curated beverage program brings premium sake, thoughtfully selected wines, and craft cocktails chosen to stand up to the menu’s intensity. For a deeper dive into sake culture and how it pairs with Pacific Rim cuisine, the James Beard Foundation offers an excellent primer on sake pairings worth reading before you visit.
A Room Designed to Make You Stay Longer Than You Planned
The interior redesign is the work of Ladeki and longtime creative partner Stephanie Parisi, whose credits include Hotel Parisi, Prime Ten, and Roppongi Palm Desert. Together they have created something that rewards slow attention.
A sweeping gold-brushed wall sets the tone from the moment you enter. The original fireplace has returned as a dramatic focal point, now framed with Buddha statues that give it a sense of ceremony. Overhead, ceiling sculptures by Milan-based artist Mirei Monticello resemble luscious hanging leaves, creating an organic canopy above the dining room. Works by local and international artists appear throughout, giving the space a gallery quality that never feels cold.
At the center is a leathered quartzite bar that practically invites you to pull up a stool and order another round. Handcrafted oval tables add warmth and texture at every turn. Outside, a covered patio with heaters and comfortable seating extends the experience into the Pacific coastal air, year-round. The kind of place where a dinner reservation somehow becomes two hours of conversation you didn’t realize you were having.
Happy Hour That Actually Lives Up to the Name
Happy hour at Roppongi runs from 3 to 5:30 p.m. daily on the patio and in the bar, with half-price Asian tapas and specially priced drinks. In a city where happy hour often means stale popcorn and awkward stools, this is a genuine reason to rearrange your afternoon. Think of it as the most civilized way to beat the dinner rush in La Jolla.
Reservations are strongly recommended and can be made through OpenTable. Dinner service begins at 5 p.m. daily.
For more on how Roppongi fits into La Jolla’s broader dining landscape, see our guide to the best upscale restaurants in San Diego’s coastal neighborhoods.
FAQ: Roppongi La Jolla
Q: What kind of food does Roppongi La Jolla serve? A: Roppongi offers modern Asian cuisine with strong Pacific Rim influences, including sushi rolls, Japanese hot rock dishes, handmade dumplings, wok-fired specialties, Hawaiian-inspired seafood preparations, and inventive sharing plates. The menu is designed to be fun and flavor-forward rather than rigidly traditional.
Q: When is happy hour at Roppongi in La Jolla? A: Happy hour runs daily from 3 to 5:30 p.m. on the patio and at the bar. It features half-price Asian tapas and specially priced cocktails, sake, and wine.
Q: Does Roppongi La Jolla take reservations? A: Yes. Reservations are recommended and can be made through OpenTable. The restaurant is located at 875 Prospect Street, La Jolla, California. Dinner service starts at 5 p.m. daily.
Your Table at One of San Diego’s Most Anticipated Reopenings Is Waiting
Few restaurants earn the kind of loyalty that Roppongi commands. Fewer still manage to return and actually deserve the fanfare.
This one does.
Whether you’re planning a long overdue reunion dinner, a date night that needs to make an impression, or simply want to eat exceptionally well on the San Diego coast, modern Asian cuisine La Jolla now has its definitive address back. Make a reservation, start with the Crab Stack, and remind yourself what it feels like to be genuinely excited about where you’re having dinner.
Follow Roppongi at @Roppongi_LaJolla on Instagram and visit RoppongiLaJolla.com to stay current with new menu releases and events.
