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Robataya Oton

4.1 (486 reviews)
ModerateJapanese
Closed • 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM

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ROBATAYA OTON ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Intimate
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Robataya Oton

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Caitlin N.

I stumbled across this place from IG videos and thought we should give it a try since it's so close to our place. Wow... what a treat! We loved that there was traditional seating and such a cozy vibe. We were given two complimentary shots of sake which was delicious! We definitely would get a bottle next time when we have more dishes. We tried the unagi don, salmon kama, uni noodle, and 1 yellowtail 1 tuna. Every single thing was DELICIOUS! The fish quality was so good that we want to try the omakase next. I'd come back for just the unagi don itself

Dining area, make sure to remove your shoes.
Terrence F.

Perfection!!! Had the Chefs choice sushi, probably the best one had. The ambiance is amazing, we will be back to sit with the Chef. The service was amazing as well.

Cold sake
Sim B.

I had a good experience here! I saw it from a TikTok and wanted to check it out for its cozy vibes, traditional koshitsu seating, and interesting dishes. The ambiance was exactly as I hoped - you even had to take off your shoes for the koshitsu which I thought was fun. It did take a while for them to give us menus, but I'll chalk it up to them being fairly busy. The octopus was amazing - it looks like a tiny dish but it was full of flavor, perfect amount of wasabi to pack a punch, and surprisingly rich. The sashimi was fresh and delicious as well, though I didn't care for the fish that still had skin on it. I loved the uni udon dish which had a ton of uni and was super rich and yummy. My boyfriend wanted to try the matcha beer but it turns out there's no real matcha in there. It's more of a fun looking drink that is matcha flavored, so keep that in mind if you want to try it. The sake was great though and I loved the unique bottle with a built in ice pocket to keep it cold. The dessert could have been a little sweeter; the sweet potato part was a little more like fries than I was expecting, but it was light and interesting nonetheless. Do note that this is not a cheap place - our bill was higher than expected, but it was a very unique experience with some delicious food, so I think it's worth it for a special occasion.

miso grilled fish
Ashlee L.

omg they have the traditional japanese seating where you take off your shoes and sit criss cross!! such an adorable interior!! very limited seating though but we came on a weekday and there was no wait so i'd recommend that. we got the sukiyaki nabe (only offered by reservation) and it was so delicious. the beef with egg was divineee and i love napa cabbage. portion was a bit small for the price tho ($40 per person). we also got a miso grilled fish and it was SO TENDER AND SOFT and flavor was amazinggg the servers were all so sweet and nice though, i definitely want to come back to try their other items :)

Tuna, stripe jack and amber jack
Phing T.

Dear diary, Decided to try this place out for dinner and let me tell you it did not disappoint. The restaurant is on the smaller side with a more intimate and cozy vibe. There are bar seatings or Japanese booth seatings where you take off your shoes. The food is impeccable. There are so many variety that you can get there such as hot pot, sushi, and even omakase. We decided to go with sushi and uni noodle. The uni noodle is one of the best if not the best that I've ever had. It was rich and creamy. The sushi was extremely fresh and I was told that the fishes were shipped in daily! The chefs and servers were very friendly and attentive to our needs. They recommended many awesome sushi and drinks that we loved after trying. There are limited parkings in front of the restaurant but there are plenty more behind so no problem there. Can't wait to return to check out more things on their menu!!

Hokkaido scallop
Nate C.

Came here on a Saturday night for dinner with a reservation for 2 at 7pm. It's a small intimate place with a cozy/warm atmosphere. A hidden gem that makes you feel like you're dining in Japan. All the servers and chefs were very welcoming and joined us in conversation every now and then. They gave us sake samples on the bottles they recommended. We settled on a bottle of one of their sweeter sake brands. Whatever your preference is I'm sure they can find something you'll enjoy. Our dinner started with the takowasa (octopus marinated in wasabi). The meat was tender and with just the right amount of wasabi. For our next dish we shared the uni pasta. To be honest I was never really a fan of this dish before, but oton is my exception. Pasta had a good chew, the sauce was creamy and rich, and the uni brings it over the top. This dish is a must order item for your next visit. Lastly we ordered nigiri sushi until we couldn't eat anymore. Fuji salmon, blue fin tuna, black tiger shrimp, ect. The quality and care they put into their sushi is worth every penny. We ended the night with a few beers and got to know the staff a little more because we're gonna be coming here more often. To everyone at oton I would like to give a big thank you for making our late Valentine's dinner very special.

Udon

Genuinely the best food I've ever had. The nigiri was life changing. Don't even get me started on the udon. I can't believe this place hasn't blown up more yet. The ambiance, the service, the authentic delicious food!!!! This is a MUST try !!! Me and my boyfriend's newest staple !!!

Specials
Vivian T.

I've passed by Robataya Oton countless times, not knowing how familiar I was with the area until I arrived! It shares the parking lot in the same plaza as Kogi BBQ. We were walk-ins and sat in a booth on the left hand side. More private dining was reserved for those in booths on the right. We ordered different items to share for a group of four, which were the sashimi salad, calamari, Horumen (cast iron beef intestines), and the Mentai Udon. Our food arrived at a steady pace, however, there was a long gap between our order of Horumen. It was served in a cast iron pan and needed more time to cook maybe. It took so long we thought the staff forgot about it. It was, surprisingly, my favorite thing out of our order. Highly recommend, that is, if you are up for a lot of chewing. The sashimi salad was quite different from what I have had. There was mackerel sashimi included which I have never had on a sashimi salad. It is chef's choice, so you may get something different. The sauce was sweet, so if you are looking for something savory, this would not be the best choice. The calamari is also safe choice, but I'd skip on this and try something more traditional. I would say the same for the Mentai Udon, as my preference for the sauce is a thicker sauce. This one was more soup like, and it was a bit difficult to share this. There are some hits in our meal, the service was kind and timely, even though we were short of an entree for a bit we were made aware. I love the intimacy of the dining space and I'd like to be back to dine in one of their private booths!

70. Mentai Udon
Kelsi G.

The food was really yummy, perfect portions and the restaurant has such a great, cozy ambiance. Our waitresses were super friendly and fast, even with how busy it was. Be sure to make a reservation in advance!

Unagi Don
Blake G.

Visited Robataya Oton for the first time and absolutely loved it. We sat in one of the private booths, which made the experience feel intimate and special. The ambiance and music immediately stood out. It felt like being transported back to Kyoto, with a traditional atmosphere that really sets the tone. Everything we ordered was fresh, flavorful, and well prepared. Highlights included the shrimp tempura, karaage, grilled kama, sushi mix, unagi don, and the uni noodles. Great sake selection as well, plus beer on draft. Definitely a place I'll be coming back to.

Hamachi carpaccio
Demi N.

I've been here a couple times, and the menu is hit or miss, but the hits are big hits. Fried soft shell crab: 9/10 this was by far the star and biggest hit!! I'll definitely be back to eat more of this. I don't often eat crab because of the price point but this was so worth it. Very memorable Saba shio: 8/10 A little on the saltier side that day, but I really enjoyed this dish Salmon skin salad: 8/10 good stuff Hamachi carpaccio: 7/10 Aburi set: 7/10 this is the chef's choice so it depends on the fish of the day. I really love seared salmon so I give a 9/10 for the seared salmon and 7/10 for the rest of the fish because it was good fish but not my preference Special: wagyu and fatty tuna handroll. I tried this out of curiosity but the wagyu and fatty tuna don't play well together and would be better enjoyed separately. Poke don: 5/10 I got it out of curiosity, but did not enjoy it. It's not the same as a chirashi don. If you want to enjoy fresh fish, you're better off getting chirashi / sashimi / sushi.

Udon
Janine K.

Went here for my birthday dinner and loved it! It was a Tuesday evening and we got seated right away. Service and ambiance were good. We had sushi, udon, hamachi carpaccio, and kyuri- everything was delicious. Also got to try a new sake which was fun. We will definitely be back!

Uni shooter
Yokyok N.

We found this place by instagram but it becomes what we've been looking for since we move to SD. We saw they have room for sitting, Japanese style. That was what we want when we first went there. But it was full. So we have to sit at the sushi bar.... BEST THING EVER! The chef and the owner kept us company and make sure we feel welcome and taken care of. That's including my 2 years old toddler! He was so entertaining and enjoyed everything!! Since then, We always sit at the sushi bar! Yesterday we went there for our wedding anniversary, my husband went for Omakase: 6 course meal: chef choice! Everything was phenomenal! Everything is so fresh and tasty! We also order some stuff off the menu which the chefs here is super accommodating! This's definitely the best Japanese restaurant in SD! The hole in the wall tha fill your heart and, of course, your tummy! Can't wait to go back there again!

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2 months ago

Smaller intimate place. Food is fantastic, but never been to a place with such small sashimi and nigiri.

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26 days ago

This place is amazing. Quality of food, service, vibes is spot on. Kenji is the best and we will definitely be back

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Robataya Oton Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Robataya Oton

How much is omakase these days? Any link to an updated menu with prices?

$120

How many people will fit seated in private room?

Max.6

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Recently came here for my boyfriend's birthday dinner celebration. It is a small restaurant with…read morelimited seating - so it's recommended to make reservations early. I made a reservation for 5 people, just a few days earlier before going. When you get there, they give you a menu and you can write down how many orders of each you would like. We did order quite a few. I wish I had taken more pictures. Our favorites : the karaage chicken, edamame beans, kimchi (SO good), pork belly, beef skewers, chicken meatball We did order some steamed oysters - it was more like an oyster soup with 3 whole oysters in it. We were not a fan of the broth. Also ordered some chicken thigh skewers, quail eggs, bacon wrapped asparagus, and a few other items that I wish I can remember haha! Overall it was a great time and the staff were really friendly. They made it a great birthday experience for my boyfriend and even brought him out an ice cream with a candle for his birthday! I'm glad we got to try a wide variety of items on their menu, and would go back just for their kimchi, chicken meatball, and pork belly skewers! We live walking distance here, and it would be nice to walk over for a Sapporo and some skewers for a date night!

This place is sooo close to our apartment. Surprised it took us this long to visit this spot. Super…read moresmall restaurant, but the vibe is good. Make a rez if you get a chance or just go right when they open at 5 to snag a bar seat. Warning- you may be asked to be finished before a certain, which wasn't a problem for us at all and we didn't feel rushed which is a plus. Love that you get to see the chefs cook (grill) in front you at the bar. Their menu is simple which I say is always a good thing. Unfortunately there were a couple of skewers I wasn't fond of- like the beef tongue. Listen, I've had beef tongue prepared in a variety of ways including yakitori style, but this one just wasn't up to par... The tongue still tasted like tongue. I know that sounds weird, but it's like they didn't clean it very well- which in turn made it taste & smell like part of the cow still and I am not down with that. Also, the chicken thigh wasn't as cooked as I thought it would be... Maybe it's suppose to be prepared that way? IDK. That was also a no for me. The highlights were everything else! It's cute that they keep the bone in when you order the chicken wing. It's butterflied on the skewer, different. Loved all the pork items we got as well as the beef skewers. Their takoyaki [$7.50] was super good too! Skewers range from $3.75 to $7.00 each with 3-4 pcs a skewer. Everyone that helped us was friendly! Big parking lot and the restaurant was nicely kept. The ice cream dessert topped us off in such a good way. We'll be back to try more skewers and more of their menu.

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The Curry Club - Chicken Katsu Curry with Mixed Vegetables

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4.4(212 reviews)
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Fun Fact: Japanese curry is actually one of the most popular comfort foods in Japan, and once you…read moretry a really good katsu curry, it is pretty easy to understand why. - I finally tried The Curry Club and immediately understood the hype. I ordered the TH Chicken Katsu Curry and added vegetables, and this was SO good. The curry had that perfect combination of savory, slightly sweet and rich flavors without being overwhelmingly heavy. It had plenty of flavor but still let the crispy chicken katsu shine. The chicken katsu was crispy on the outside, tender on the inside and held up really well underneath all that curry sauce. Very good quality chicken! Adding the vegetables was definitely the right move too. They gave the dish some freshness and texture and made the whole bowl feel a little more balanced. The portions are generous, too. This is definitely a meal where you leave feeling full and satisfied. I also really liked that the curry wasn't trying to be overly fancy. Sometimes the best meals are just a big bowl of comforting food that tastes exactly how you want it to. The Curry Club absolutely delivered for me. Flavorful, comforting, generous portions and a really satisfying chicken katsu curry. Service was amazing as well! Clean establishment and lots of parking. Five stars from me. I would absolutely come back for this again.

I've been wanting to try The Curry Club for a while now and I'm glad I finally did. We went on a…read moreSunday, early evening around 5pm. There wasn't many people there yet. There were only 2 tables occupied when we got there so no wait. Every other time I've tried to try the place it was always packed so we never had the patience to wait. The restaurant is pretty small probably had about 10 tables maybe a couple more. It's in a pretty big parking lot but because there are quite a few good restaurants sharing this parking lot it can be hard to find parking at times. We ordered 2 Pork Katsu curries, 1 chicken katsu curry and 1 chicken Karaage as an appetizer. The Pork Katsu was very good, nice and crispy on the outside and tender and juicy in the inside. The Chicken Katsu was the same nice crispy ouside and the meat was nice and tender and juicy. The Karaage was good but it was lacking a little on the flavor side it wasn't bad but it did need just a tad bit more seasoning. Overall, if you are looking for some great curry, I would definitely stop by The Curry Club for your fix. You definitely won't be dissapointed!! P.S. Sorry we were hungry so we ate a couple pieces of the Karaage and Pork Katsu before taking the photos...lol

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Kotobuki - Sashimi bowl. Delicious!

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4.5(207 reviews)
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No notes. We had: - Delicious, perfectly battered tempura…read more- Delectable sashimi bowl. Sushi rice was perfectly prepared; I tried not to finish the whole bowl (I usually have leftovers with chirashi) but it was hard to resist. - Negitoro and Fatty Toro nigiri. Prepared so everything was very tender and melted in our mouths. Kotobuki at dinner time had one very hard working server also manning front of house, but we never waited very long for service or felt rushed. Simple but comfortable ambience with clean, modern interiors and plenty of space between tables. We are thrilled to have found this place and will be back!

Kotobuki is an understated sushi restaurant in a suite at the western end of Kearny Mesa's Hazard…read moreVillage. It's operated by a husband-and-wife team without much fanfare as I rarely have seen the business mentioned when it comes to sushi in the SD area. I do worry that its location is not very visible when you are speeding down Clairemont Mesa Blvd. It might be a reason why this place is so quiet and seldom filled to capacity. After exercising at a nearby gym, I came for a late lunch and was their sole customer at the time. Parking is never an issue at this plaza so I got a space near the front. The place can hold about a couple of dozen customers with another four more that can be seated at the sushi bar. The interior decor was clean and simple which was also reflected in their menu. The offerings have definitely been tweaked since their grand opening several years ago. Some varieties of fish were no longer featured, and I noticed more combination choices. For my meal, I picked a Rainbow Roll and three kinds of nigiri... toro, scallop, and eel. Everything was prepared by the owner who is the sushi chef. Even with the impact of inflation, the prices remained very reasonable while retaining fresh quality fish. For example, where else can you find two pieces of fatty tuna for only $11? Most competitors will charge that much for just one slice of otoro. The Rainbow consisted of tuna, yellowtail, salmon, and avocado wrapped outside of a California Roll. A minor deduction would be that the sushi variety wasn't as extensive, and you won't find any rare fishes served here. Kotobuki is definitely worth trying if you appreciate a no-frills approach to sushi. I gave a 4.5 star rating for my latest visit to this hidden gem.

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Robataya Oton - japanese - Updated October 2026

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