SEVEN MINUTE REVIEWS
WITH DAVID TEMPLE
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Encinitas, CA · Restaurant

Hapifish Sushi

Great fish, great vibe — and a reminder that value can change.

They were good, cool, groovy and convenient. Everything you want. And the owner made you happy about giving him your money.

THE VERDICTARCHIVE HIT — NOW CLOSED.
01
THE EXPERIENCE

This was the kind of neighborhood sushi place I loved: fresh fish, cold beer, surfing videos and an owner who would personally thank you for coming in. That is fucking rare.

02
WHAT WORKED

The fish. The vibe. The owner. The feeling that the person running the place actually gave a shit whether you were happy.

03
WHAT DIDN’T

Later, the portions got smaller while the value equation shifted. Reducing portions while even slightly raising the price is a problem. Give me the same portion at a higher price, or a smaller portion at the same price — but if you do both, there needs to be something extra.

04
WORTH IT?

Originally, yes. Later, less so. That change is exactly why value has to be judged over time.

I gave it more than one visit because I wanted to understand whether the change was real. It was.

This is now a retrospective rather than a recommendation: Hapifish has closed.

Remember the lesson. Good fish matters. A smiling owner who makes you happy about spending the money matters just as much.

THE LAST WORD

ARCHIVE HIT — NOW CLOSED.

“I’m looking for reasons to recommend them. They just have to earn it.”

David Temple
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