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Sushi Ota

4.4 (4.8k reviews)
Closed • 11:30 am - 2:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Sushi Ota Photos

Business Info

SUSHI OTA ATMOSPHERE

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

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Recommended Reviews - Sushi Ota

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Reviews With Photos

Chef's choice nigiri- just ok. Rice was very small.
Jessica W.

Food: chef's choice nigiri (12 pieces). Comes with miso soup. The fish was just ok, the rice was on the small side. I was expecting better. Service: quick and efficient. We were out under one hour. Some may feel rushed. Ambiance: I made a reservation and the place was packed on a Wednesday night. Sorry won't be back.

Chef's sample
Alice C.

Amazing sashimi, so fresh. I was impressed by sushi Ota. The menu seemed like any other sushi restaurant, however the sashimi was incredibly fresh added by the chef's special touches. We were a party of 5 ordered a variety of sashimi, nigiri and dishes. The miso sea bass was also outstanding. The service was great, we brought a toddler and the staff were super nice and understanding. My toddler enjoyed his own karage chicken.

Felicia T.

I came here on a Thursday evening for a girls dinner, 7:45pm reservation, we (four of us) all managed to snag either street parking or a spot in the shared lot. We split appetizers of the agedashi tofu, cucumber sunomono, and crispy eggplant. We also got the chef's choice, Crunch Salmon roll, Rainbow roll, and Shrimp Tempura roll. Everything came out delicious! We were pleasantly surprised by the crispy eggplant. Definitely recommend getting it as the whole table wished we ordered more. The chef's choice was beautiful and tasted great! I'm not an uni fan, but this Santa Barbara urchin was amazing, subtly sea salty and no odd taste that I usually get. The place doesn't get super loud even with all the tables. We also ordered dessert of a matcha basque cheesecake and 2 yuzu ice cream. If you love yuzu like me, you'll love it! Almost like a sorbet rather than ice cream, but so refreshing! We absolutely enjoyed our meal here! The total came out to ~89 per person and everyone thought it was very reasonable for the quality of the fish and how much food we'd ordered!

Julie B.

Forever will be my favorite sushi in San Diego! The uni and chu toro is a must order everytime! The craftsmanship and attention to detail in the plating really elevate the entire dining experience making it clear why this remains a staple for anyone who truly appreciates high-quality nigiri. The servers are all very attentive and nice and the ambiance is cozy and intimate - great for date nights or just a normal day for some sushi. The dress code is casual. If you are a sushi purist, Sushi Ota is worth every penny. Just be sure to book your reservation well in advance! (I use OpenTable)

Shrimp Tempura
Kenneth T.

When: Weekday early dinner What: Ota B, Shrimp Tempura, O Toro and Yellowtail Belly Experience: The food was simply delicious! Definitely a restaurant I would return for some good Japanese food. O Toro and Yellowtail Belly sushi were simply mouth watering. The way both fish just melts in your mouth and the proportion of rice to fish being just right makes a difference so that it gives you the perfect sushi experience. Shrimp Tempura was tasty. Not overly oily and a nice layer of tempura that wasn't thick. But the best is the shrimp! Definitely didn't taste like those frozen ones and the quality of the shrimp (size, texture, and tasty) was delicious. My son ate 2 out of 3 on his own - and he's very picky with shrimp tempura. Ota B was yummy! It was such a balanced meal of flavor, texture and variety. Even the rice itself was good, I kid you not! Definitely a good value to have if you're there. Our kids didn't want anything else but ended up eating two bowls of just udon. All because it was good udon. What can improve (hence the -1 star) is the service. The server wasn't friendly to begin with, probably because we have two young kids in a nice Japanese restaurant, and perhaps because we didn't order too much since we had a delayed lunch but had this place reserved for dinner already.

Yvonne F.

My boyfriend and I were recommended Sushi Ota by multiple people and we opted for dinner on Father's Day -- we knew it was a risky choice with no reservation, so we showed up 10 minutes before they opened. Luckily, for a group size of 2, we got sat at the bar with a time limit of 2 hours. We ordered 2 rolls and thought it was good. Nothing out of the ordinary. However, we opted for multiple pieces of the nigiri and that was delicious. The fish was fresh, buttery, and had a good ratio when it came to the rice. We also thought that the rice was seasoned perfectly. Our favorites was the tuna belly, salmon belly, and the spanish mackerel. The restaurant is small and tucked away in a small plaza. I would opt to sit at the sushi bar again if possible, it's more intimate and always a cool experience to see the chefs work.

Keiko H.

This is one of the OG sushi spots in San Diego, and I've been coming here on and off for decades. It had been quite a few years since my last visit, though. With so many new sushi restaurants opening around town, it's a little out of the way for us, and honestly, I had almost forgotten about it. I'm so glad we decided to come back because it's every bit as good as I remembered. I made a reservation for the sushi bar, which is always my favorite place to sit at a traditional sushi restaurant. Instead of ordering my usual rolls, I decided to splurge on the Chef's Choice nigiri. I also asked the chef to serve each piece one at a time rather than bringing everything out at once. I love taking my time, enjoying each bite, and watching the chefs work, which is another reason I prefer sitting at the counter. The Chef's Choice was absolutely worth it. Every piece was incredibly fresh and beautifully prepared. My favorite was the aged toro, which had been aged for three months. It had such a rich, buttery flavor and completely melted in my mouth. My husband ordered a few specialty rolls, and he was very happy with both the quality and the generous portions. I also upgraded my regular miso soup to the clam miso soup, and I'm so glad I did. The broth was delicate and flavorful without being overly salty, and the clams added a wonderful sweetness. Even though I was already pretty full, I couldn't resist ordering three pieces of tempura after seeing them come out for another customer. I rarely order tempura in the U.S. because it's often heavily battered, when authentic Japanese tempura should be light, crisp, and delicate. If you've ever been to a dedicated tempura restaurant in Japan, you know exactly what I mean. This tempura was surprisingly close to what you'd find in Japan--light, airy, and perfectly crispy without feeling greasy. For dessert, we shared the green tea Basque cheesecake. It leaned a little on the dry side, but I still really enjoyed it because the matcha flavor was rich, bold, and not overly sweet. We also had a chance to chat with Akira-san behind the sushi bar, which made the evening even more enjoyable. The hospitality and attention to detail really reminded me why I've always loved this place. With so many trendy and expensive sushi restaurants in San Diego these days, this restaurant continues to stand the test of time. The quality of the fish is outstanding, the atmosphere is authentic, and I honestly think the prices are very reasonable for what you get. It's a classic for a reason, and I'll definitely be making the drive back more often.

Diana C.

Friendly, welcoming service. We went for lunch and ordered a few of the lunch specials. The restaurant is clean with a small parking lot in front and additional parking to the side. Like many Japanese places they close between lunch and dinner service, so they seem to hover a little near closing time.

Lisa G.

If you are able, I would suggest getting a seat at the sushi bar (where they make the sushi). The chefs are very considerate and attentive and will take care of you. Service was fast as our orders were made fresh in front of us. We were taken care of by Kei-san and Take-san. The salmon (5pc) was as buttery and tasty as I remember. We ended up getting 2 orders during our dining here. Liang was a fan of the Chu Toro sashimi. We got an order of chef's choice of nigiri (came with 1 miso soup), tokusen nigiri (came with 1 miso soup), 3 orders of the unagi nigri, 1 order of the soft shelled crab roll, and a hand roll. Cheesecake and black sesame topped it off. Presentation and taste were all on point. I recommend getting an eel and spicy tuna hand roll - combination is very tasty! And honestly never thought of combining it for a hand roll. It was easy to book a reservation through opentable. Looking forward to our next visit here (when we have some free time)

Kyle T.

the hype is real! everytime i come here i end up spending at least ~100 per person. definitely worth a try

Macarena O.

I came with a group of friends and shared some rolls and chef's specials. We got the tokusen nigiri and the chef's choice nigiri. A great variety to share and the fish was very fresh and flavorful. Then we got the salmon jalapeño roll (delicious!), the double double tuna roll (my favorite) and the black pepper scallop (also good). I would say I wasn't full when we finished and the price is higher than normal so take that into consideration. Other than that, we had a great experience.

Miso soup
Sarah B.

Was recommended to me by at least 3 people from out of state. Got a reservation about 14 days in advance. The food was incredible! Everything was tasty and fresh and came out quite fast. Service was awesome all the ladies I spoke to were kind and efficient. The space was simple but elegant, great vibe. Will definitely be back.

Jerry H.

This San Diego favorite restaurant for consistently high quality sushi was again packed with satisfied customers. We came here for lunch and reservations are recommended even for lunch. The staff was courteous and fast. We loved it. The restaurant is very clean and welcoming for a great sushi experience. It felt like being in a high end restaurant in Japan. The nigiri sushi was some of the best and freshest I ever tasted. We had the double tuna roll, scallops jalapeno roll and snow crab California roll. Everything was outstanding and made with lots of special care. The sushi chefs here are high end experts. I see why sushi ota is a San Diego favorite.

Black Pepper Scallops

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Reviews are largely positive. Diners praise the fresh, high-quality sushi, attentive and efficient service, and cozy, authentic ambiance.

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Sushi Ota Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Sushi Ota

Are kids allowed?

Yes, but they don't have high chairs (as of mid August 2025)

Are reservations necessary?

Yes. I have been turned away without them!

Do they have gluten free food? How about gluten free soup sauce?

Lots of gf food options. Not sure on the sauce.

Does Sushi Ota sell salmon cut rolls? Not spicy salmon roll, not salmon skin roll, not salmon hand roll. Just plain salmon roll?

It isn't on the menu ! I'm sure they will do it.

I heard the quality suffered after Covid. Is this true?

It is still awesome. Fresh fish is like produce - some times some items will be better than other times, but they seem to purchase quality products so while my favorite nigiri of the night will vary, I have not had any that was poor quality.

Trying to call for the past week, getting a message that the number does not have a voice mail setup. are they closed?

They close for about 3 hours in the afternoon. Check yelp. The restaurant is open

How much is the omakase?

I think we paid around $140 each.

Is this restaurant Kid friendly?

This restaurant doesn’t provide high chairs or a kids menu. It’s a refined, chef-driven tasting experience in a calm, intimate setting, so it’s generally better suited for adults or older children who can enjoy that format.

Are reservations suggested for lunch?

Yes. The place is nor big and so if you walk in you may wait for a long time.

Hi, do you take reservation? I can't seem to find you online. Do you have any availability for 3 people tomorrow at 6:30pm?

Call them +18588808778 Here's their Web site https://www.sushi-ota.com/

Do you offer a sushi making class?

No.... Why would they. You should look on etsy or something

Hi, Do you have private dining room for party of 6?

No.

Is the bar open for Omakase/dine-in?

Yes and it is the prime seating location.

Do they have premium quality? Do they use real crab or just imitation crab?

I would imagine real... unless it's a California roll. This place is very Japanese and authentic. I doubt they do anything outside the Japanese norm.

Is Omakase available at the bar now?

As of 4/9/2022, they do not have sushi bar service. You can still order the omakase at the tables though.

Is Sushi Ota Japanese owned?

Yes

Is this restaurant dog friendly 🐕?

It is not

How do I make a reservation?

Is omakze in front of the chef?

How can I buy a gift card? Website and phone numbers are not working.

I agree- order take out and then buy gift certificate when you arrive. they are a very small restaurant with a small outdoor seating area that they must serve and are… 

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On our way to eat at a different restaurant in a strip mall, we stumbled upon this quaint place and…read moredecided to give it a try. Sunday afternoon around lunch time, it wasn't busy at all. The menu posted on the windows at the entrance is what got us. Can't beat a great combo deal with ramen! Walking in we were greeted and self-ordered at the kiosk. An employee came out from the back and helped us navigate the menu. We sat down and waited for our food. It came out in a timely manner from the same employee, which we thought may be the owner. He was very friendly and helpful. Great customer service. We tried the Spicy Tontoksu Ramen with rice noodles (gluten-free) with crispy fish and the Braised Beef Ramen with fried gyoza. The food items were good & flavorful, especially considering the price point. Apparently, the ramen noodles are made in-house, which I enjoyed and had a nice bite. Overall, it's a good place and glad we tried it.

Fujiyame Ramen is a new business that took over a Chinese takeout eatery in Clairemont's Liberty…read morePark Plaza. The suite had about a half dozen tables available for onsite dining. It didn't appear that they were fully set up yet when I visited during the soft opening. I say that because there were empty menu boards hanging above the kitchen service window. Two self-service kiosks and copies of the menu sheet were available along the right wall. About ten different items were available on the initial menu. More items appeared on the kiosk tablet than on the sheet. Interestingly, only two types of tonkotsu ramen were offered, one was spicy and one was not. There was more fried fare than anything else. A few things had a special discount like the Barbecue Pork Rice Bowl which I chose. I also selected the Tonkotsu Shrimp Wontons to complete my order. My food came out separately with the rice bowl first. About ten pieces of char siu pork were layered on top of the rice with steamed lettuce on the side. The meat was flavored well, but it was also fattier than I preferred. For the 33% discount, the portion size was appropriate. I don't think paying full price for such a bowl would have been a good value though. Eight wontons were boiled in a tonkotsu broth that I am sure was also used for the ramen bowls. Lettuce and green onions were included with the wontons. The broth had a strong pork flavor while the wontons were decent. I will give this place some time to get its sea legs under them before returning. I expect the menu to expand, especially with more varieties of ramen to live up to its business name. For now, I gave a three star rating for my dining experience at Fujiyame Ramen.

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4.4(574 reviews)
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•$$

Very intimate yakitori restaurant, we had reservations so I'm unable to speak to how long the wait…read morewould be. There are a few servers that bring the skewers to the table and I was happy that the skewers arrived pipping hot and fresh off the grill! For those worried about not being full, there is a delicious rice, seaweed, green tea/chicken broth bowl that can be shared among the table. I also saw another table order a bowl of regular rice. Our table's favorite skewers were the Scallops, Vein, Gizzard, and Meatball. The scallops had the best flavor on the menu. The veins were charred and marinated very well. The gizzard was tender and cooked really well. The meatball was super juicy and flavorful! Fried firefly squid was amazing! A very thin layer of batter and all squid legs which are my favorite. Served alongside a mayo and ponzu? dipping sauce. The Squid and Heart skewers were the least popular with our table. While the squid was very tender, there just wasn't much flavor and I prefer more char on my skewers but perhaps that would have made the texture too chewy? The heart was also tender, but super wet and kind of bland. Again, my personal prefer is for my skewers to be more charred.

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