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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.
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!
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)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
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.
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.
It's been a while since I've had sushi ota but thats was take out and during covid. So was excited to dine in person! We had reservations for 5 at 7:45pm. Highly recommend getting a reservation. The place gets pretty busy. But even though they were busy the service was fast and friendly. The parking lot is pretty small but we got lucky and got a spot. Would definitely plan accordingly. The food was amazing! Probably the best sushi I've had in SD! We got 3 rolls: Black Pepper Scalop, Jalapeno Salmon and the Double Double Spicy Tuna. And the chef's choice and Tokusen Nigiri. I love tuna so the Double Double was my favorite, so much high quality tuna in each bite! But literally everything was good. They also had specialty items on the white board on the wall. So I will definitely try some of those next time.
Delicious sushi! We appreciated the quick service and the great cuts of the fish. They were efficient and so nice to us, we felt very welcomed in the restaurant. The rolls are a bit on the pricier side but it is worth it for the quality and size of the fish. I would recommend to anyone for a date night of yummy, quality fish!
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.
Excellent food , great service . Sushi Ota has been a classic Japanese restaurant in Mission Bay of San Diego . Reservation is a must even if you dine in a weekday . We ordered the OTO B set , one order of the Tokusen nigiri, 3 pc shrimp tempura and Matcha ice cream . To be continued... read more
1 month ago
Very good sushi in an unsuspecting spot near a 7-11 off the freeway. Service was solid and food came out very quickly. The o toro sashimi melts in your mouth. Worth every penny. Overall, this place is pricey like most sushi spots in San Diego. Ambiance is nice, it looks nothing like you'd expect from the outside. read more
2 months ago
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. read more
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. read more
2 months ago
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! read more
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) read more
3 months ago
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. read more
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. read more
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. read more
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. read more
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) read more
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. read more
6 months ago
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. read more
It's been a while since I've had sushi ota but thats was take out and during covid. So was excited to dine in person! We had reservations for 5 at 7:45pm. Highly recommend getting a reservation. The place gets pretty busy. But even though they were busy the service was fast and friendly. The parking lot is pretty small but we got lucky and got a spot. Would definitely plan accordingly. The food was amazing! Probably the best sushi I've had in SD! We got 3 rolls: Black Pepper Scalop, Jalapeno Salmon and the Double Double Spicy Tuna. And the chef's choice and Tokusen Nigiri. I love tuna so the Double Double was my favorite, so much high quality tuna in each bite! But literally everything was good. They also had specialty items on the white board on the wall. So I will definitely try some of those next time. read more
2 months ago
Delicious sushi! We appreciated the quick service and the great cuts of the fish. They were efficient and so nice to us, we felt very welcomed in the restaurant. The rolls are a bit on the pricier side but it is worth it for the quality and size of the fish. I would recommend to anyone for a date night of yummy, quality fish! read more
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. read more
3 days ago
This place is overhyped and I am flabbergasted by how high the reviews are on Yelp. I came on a Saturday night, so it was quite busy but there was still ample parking available. The restaurant itself is nicely decorated and serves as a cute date night spot. However, my partner and I got the Tokusen nigiri set ($38 for 11 pieces) which we REGRETTED because none of the items were fresh whatsoever. The presentation was nice, but the seafood tasted like it had been sitting out for some time and the rice easily fell apart as I picked up the pieces. I do not recall a single piece that was exactly memorable, which was very disappointing considering how loved it is by the internet. They did provide complimentary miso soup and it was arguably better than the set itself. I will not be returning here again. read more
Made a reservation for a Thursday night through OpenTable and it was so convenient! We arrived and found parking outside in the small lot right outside the restaurant. We ordered: -Ota B: comes with sashimi, grilled salmon, scallop deluxe, seaweed salad, steamed spinach, shrimp tempura, miso soup and rice. This is a great option if you want a mix of warm and cold Japanese food. -Chef choice nigiri: which includes 12 pieces of sushi -fried calamari: this was only ok, the calamari was not as crispy as I would have liked. I would skip this next time. Always a great restaurant, with fresh fish. read more
6 months ago
The sashimi was incredibly fresh--each piece practically melted in your mouth and showcased the quality and care behind every cut. One can truly taste the difference. We highly recommend the Chef's Choice sashimi and nigiri. The sweet shrimp was exceptionally fresh--so much so that its legs were still moving when it was served. The staff was attentive without being intrusive, ensuring our drinks were refilled and checking in at just the right moments. Everything made it a pleasant dining experience. It is a small restaurant so reservations is a must. Although small, we never felt cramped. read more
3 months ago
after trying to get a reservation here for a while we were able to finally try this place for a birthday! we got seated right away. though keep in mind the parking lot is on the smaller side but there is some street parking available too. we tried the chirashi bowl, double double spicy tuna, and tokusen nigiri. each dish was really fresh. the waitress at the end even brought over an ice cream at the end to celebrate our birthday! read more
Unfortunately had a below average experience with this restaurant. We came for lunch on a weekday. Got sat promptly. Service was standard and attentive. We ordered three rolls- crunch shrimp, salmon jalapeno, and double tuna. The crunch shrimp was the only one appealing. Unfortunately the squishy & slimy texture of the raw scallops was unappetizing. Along with how puréed the filling was for the tuna roll. The top of the tuna roll also did not look appetizing. Texture-wise it was not appealing or tolerable. We did not eat much of our meal. Maybe we just ordered the wrong things but I don't plan on coming again. read more
8 months ago
This is some of the best sushi I've ever had in my life... In California. I cannot wait to come here again This unassuming sushi restaurant in a mini strip mall in North PB is one of the best sushi restaurants in San Diego and wow, the sushi holds up When you walk in, it is so clean and beautiful with the nicest servers, staff and incredibly trained sushi artisans read more
Finally introduced my child to my favorite sushi spot by the sushi bar. This is classic sushi spot with clean deco. Basically ordered almost everything on the specials board since they source fresh local ingredients and from Japan. Chef's sashimi was awesome with the live spot prawn sashimi and nigiri. We had the heads two ways, fried and with miso. Amazing umami flavor. Finally got to try the limited mirugai, giant clam, that was out a few times. It's sweet and yummy easily my child's favorite together with the scallops and bluefin tuna. I'm glad to celebrate this occasion and introduce my child to the chefs. Very attentive service and on point individualized chef. Year over year my trusted spot outside of Japan. read more
Been here before but never for lunch until today and, my goodness, the lunch special sushi is to die for! For $16 lunch special, I got the nigiri and noodle soup with a choice between noodle or miso soup. The nigiri consist of super fresh salmon, tuna, yellowtail, eel, shrimp and two California rolls. My partner got the chicken teriyaki and miso, and the portions for the chicken were phenomenal. I did call ahead to reserve a spot in 15 minutes, and luckily they still had some tables open because it was packed in there. It was calm and nice inside with everyone inside. Besides coming here for special evenings, I could also casually come here for lunch! read more
3 days ago
15 days ago
My husband made a reservation to celebrate our 5 year wedding anniversary. Wow time flies! We dined on a Saturday evening right when they opened at 5pm. Spots in the restaurant started filling up quickly! We asked to be moved to the bar seating and the host agreed. We opted for omakase for the both of us. It was fun watching the chef prepare our meal and our 3rd time having omakase. We started off with a snow crab filled cabbage roll topped with unagi, some beet and onions sauce, and gobo fried chips. It was interesting with all the different textures in my mouth. The snow crab was fresh but the roll was not my favorite. Next was the sashimi plate with lobster because it's in season, black snapper, uni, blue fin tuna snapper. It was fresh and imported from all different parts like Japan, Greece, and some were locally caught in San Diego. I would definitely come back for more of the black snapper. It was the perfect texture and had no fishy smell or taste. Next on the menu was lobster with some stir fried onions and mushrooms and some creamy sauce. I think it might have been shoyu and mayo. It was a bit tough understanding our chef but he engaged with us and made small talk. I was just fascinated watching him create all the rolls and dishes being sent to the tables. Next on the menu was tempura. There was tempura shrimp with some rice crispy balls coated in it, kabocha, and fish, and mushrooms. There was matcha salt on the side and we lightly dipped it in the matcha 3 salt. The tempura shrimp was light and crispy and shrimp was perfectly cooked. Kabocha had a nice bite but was still tender. The fish and mushroom was quickly devoured but rest assured it was delicious. After the tempura round, we had 3 pieces of nigiri and then lobster miso soup, and the other 3 pieces of nigiri. It was lobster, which was surprisingly chewy, and then 2 other types of white fish I forgot. I stopped taking notes and just indulged myself. Hehe. The lobster miso soup has incredible depth of flavor. Who knew miso soup could be elevated? The lobster taste was very prominent and added to the salty broth. After the soup, I attempted to eat some of the legs with little success. It really hit the spot because I was starting to get full. But I knew I had to push on! Back to the nigiri: tuna, uni wrapped in hamachi (my favorite) and lastly more tuna. I can't remember what type or where the tuna was from but trust, it was bomb. Lastly we finished off the meal with ice cream!! We had to choose from red bean, black sesame, or yuzu. I opted for red bean and my husband got yuzu. I wish I had got the yuzu. It was bright and flavorful packed so much flavor. The red bean was still good and had pieces of red bean throughout however. It was the perfect palette cleanser. Who doesn't love ending the meal with ice cream. The omakase was so worth it. Definitely pricey at $140/pp but great for special occasions. Make reservations ahead of time. The quality of ingredients and fish is fresh and they use ingredients that are in season. Maybe I'll return in another 5 years for our 10 year anniversary but realistically sooner than that. read more
11 months ago
Deeeelightful! Omg, insert mouthwatering emoji plus a happy food dance! My friend brought me here she made a reservation on a Thursday at 1130 and it was needed! People are LINING up immediately ! She mentioned they can turn you away without a reZ or give you a limited time to eat. So be safe and make the reservation. Parking is also very limited so plan ahead for that. Place smelt a little fishy coming in but oh my gosh the sushi is mouth watering, my mouth bursting with flavor especially with belly sampler. The ginger the served felt so fresh! So juicy and delicious, I couldn't stop eating. I'm going to dream About this place and absolutely recommend ! It feels like a typical sushi restaurant, decent seating, clean restrooms read more
I had no idea how busy this place gets for an understated place in a strip mall. I showed up without a reservation for a party of 4 for dinner and got a little nervous when they said they normally don't take walk-ins, but they were able to seat us relatively quickly, which I really appreciated. The food was amazing. The Diego roll and Albacore Sunrise were excellent. The Jalapeno salmon was also a big hit with our table. Loved the sushi here. read more
6 months ago
Top 3 in San Diego for sure and they're not number two or three...service is great and the best quality of fish in the city hands down read more
Chef Takumi the best in the business. I found my new spot in San Diego for sushi! I was lucky that I was able to get a reservation at the sushi bar. This place is ahamazzing! The food was fresh and delicious. Our sushi chef Takumi explained each sushi with its origin, what an amazing treat. We ordered the 13 course sushi, wow! The flavors and textures of all the sushi complimented each other as I devoured each sushi! I was in heaven, I seriously cannot wait to go back! I love love this place! I highly recommend to get reservations, this place was packed before they opened! read more
1 year ago
Sushi Ota totally lived up to the hype! There's a parking lot immediately in front of the storefront with limited spaces but another lot behind it for 2 hour parking, and plenty of street parking which made arrival very easy. Arisa was the sweetest waitress!! I loved her demeanor, and she explained all of our questions to us! She made us feel so excited and confident about our choices and told us her favorites which absolutely lived up to it! Now onto the food... We started with a $15 bottle of cold unfiltered sake which I loveddd and thought was a great price! We shared the (pictured) chopped toro sushi which was buttery and delicious with a mild flavor, the black pepper scallop cut roll which is a MUST order - such a unique and fantastic roll that everyone would love, and the chef's choice nigiri. My boyfriend and I actually shared this so we just split each piece in half, some of them were harder to do that with because they were chewier but overall it worked out well. We had some amazing pieces like seared halibut, toro, salmon belly, etc. and some more adventurous options like fresh octopus and uni which I wouldn't want to do more than one bite of haha but is so fun to experience!! We added onto our order the A5 Wagyu Nigiri which wasn't on the menu but written on a whiteboard on the wall and was a MUST get. Oh my gosh it was sooo good. We also added on a delicious crab hand roll and the salmon belly nigiri. Everything was so delicious. We were totally stuffed but our stomachs still felt good which is a sign of high quality food. Cannot wait to come back!! Only feedback is a little bit of music would add tremendously to the ambiance! read more
One of the OG sushi places in San Diego and happy to report that after over a decade of dining here, its still damn good. The service is friendly as I have experienced it as a college student and its expanded in size since then but the quality has not gone down. This is up there with my along with Soichi, Matoi, and Azuki as my favorite go to spots for high quality sushi. read more
5 months ago
10 months ago
Recommend making a reservation on open table! A perfect birthday or date night spot. Parties over 10 would be hard to accommodate because the place is small, but the sushi is so fresh. A true 10/10. I got the set for dinner which was $37 and came with a miso. Every bite was memorable. read more
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More info about Sushi Ota
4529 Mission Bay Dr
San Diego, CA 92109
Pacific Beach
Directions
(858) 880-8778
Call Now
Visit Website
https://www.sushi-ota.com
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Ask the Community - Sushi Ota
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
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
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.
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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581 reviews that are not currently recommended
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