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Sushi Ota
Categories: Restaurants Sushi Bars Restaurants Japanese Sushi Bars, Japanese [Edit]
4529 Mission Bay Dr(at Bunker Hill St)
San Diego, CA 92109
(858) 270-5670
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Tue-Fri 11:30 am - 2 pm
Sat-Sun 5 pm - 10:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
1238 reviews for Sushi Ota
Review Highlights
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"The freshest, yummiest salmon belly I've ever had." In 87 reviews -
"The sashimi and scallops are HEAVENLY." In 360 reviews -
"fresh sea urchin (creamy, orange goodness." In 63 reviews
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1238 reviews in English
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Review from Linda C.
Huntington Beach, CA
5/23/2012
First visit here this past weekend and sat at the dining room area. In short, sashimi was fresh, servers were super attentive and I would definitely recommend this place! It's comparable to Bluefin for those of you OC folks!
Next time I'm in town (I personally would not drive 1.5 hours down just for dinner) I'll have to be sit at the sushi bar! Heard there is a world of difference between dining at the table vs. sushi bar. -
Review from Catrina H.
Long Beach, CA
5/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
Lives up to the hype!
High end 5 star food and experience - loved the sushi and the service was fantastic. Really I have no complaints and would highly recommend this place to yelpers seeking a quality sushi experience... You won't go wrong here which is comforting when trying out a new sushi place.
Worth the money but any way you look at it I have to note that this joint is super expensive... That combined with the strip mall location (next to Planned Parenthood) warrants 4 solid stars. -
Review from Jason W.
San Diego, CA
5/22/2012
So I came here with my godmother and aunt when I first got my job and decided that I would treat THEM out this time to show I was a grown man....guess I should have looked at the menu first. My bill got even more ridiculous when my godmother (who thought she was going to treat ME) kept ordering to her heart's content as my heart continually sunk....but I decided what the hell lets just go with it and enjoy the experience.
I don't regret it. Everything here is as fresh as it can be (Uni is served straight from the urchin shell, pretty cool if you sit at the bar and he cracks it in front of you). Due to my godmother's tendency to over order, I got to eat a variety of things. The rolls are pretty good, but I feel if you come to an establishment such as this one you want to taste the fresh-ness of the fish rather than drown it with sauce. The beef and hot meals are not out of this world but this place is meant for it's fish anyhow.
The best thing I had here was the toro. When you order they ask if you want the fatty or super fatty toro...without saying the super fatty is much much much more expensive. Seriously though, this fish melted in my mouth. Never had that sensation before from fish, I only got like two pieces but they were excellant. Definately wouldn't get it again unless it was a special occastion though (or I get as baller as Floyd Mayweather and spend money like him).
Overall great sushi joint. In a nushell: Expensive, Delicious, Terrible parking, Good service -
Review from Stacie A.
San Diego, CA
5/24/2012
A group of my girlfriends raved that this place makes the best greyhounds. I've had a greyhound before while I was in Philly but never found a place in the Bay Area that made a really good one! So I was down for the cause on a bar fly crawl. I had a rad time here. Those greyhounds go down so smooth! My mouth is watering just thinking about it.
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Review from Nancy N.
San Diego, CA
5/21/2012
Hands down the best sushi in San Diego!
You won't go wrong here everything is crazy fresh and oh so good.
If you plan on dinning here you MUST make RSVP. It gets crazy packed in there and for good reason.
Uni is my favorite item to order here. -
Review from Jimmy H.
San Diego, CA
5/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
It pains me to do this but based on our dining experience last night I'm going to have to give my once favorite sushi place a three star rating. Yes, Sushi Ota gets only three stars (gasp).
Here's why...Usually my girlfriend and I get the full omakase and end up stuffed to the point of being uncomfortable. Since we didn't feel like gorging before an island vacation where we'll have to be in our swimsuits, we decided to skip the non-sushi items. Here's where I screwed up. I should have been more clear that what we wanted was the sashimi and sushi items. Instead what we got was only the nigiri sushi and no sashimi. That was my bad so it's fine (although perhaps the waitress could have asked for clarification but whatever).
She asked if there was anything particular we liked and disliked. We told her we liked uni and hamachi and didn't like squid. Again, I should have been more clear. While our omakase didn't come with squid, it did come with the clam and octopus which had similar textures. Again, not their fault necessarily but I just figured sushi pros could have provided better picks based on a customer's preferences.
So how was the sushi we did get? Here's the heart of the problem. After spending almost two bills on sushi, one expects to be wowed. We were far from wowed. We got two preparations of unagi and they were both bad. The first one had the consistency of canned tuna and the second one (I think it was baked, no sauce) was bland. The octopus was tough, really tough.
We asked for the chef to surprise with something "strange". We got this shot glass filled with what I think was seaweed in a vinegar gelatin concoction. It was ok but not something I would order again.
The nigiri pieces that I usually look forward to eating are the ones that don't require soy sauce (cause the chef prepares them with its own sauce/salt). Even those were kinda blah.
Everything else was just ok. Again, ok is fine if you're stuffing your face with stupid named rolls at your run of the mill sushi joint but 100 bucks a head at Sushi Ota should get you something more. -
Review from Kashif H.
San Diego, CA
5/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
My girlfriend drags me here all the time but I don't mind because the sushi is pretty awesome here. Definitely one of the best sushi places in San Diego.
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Review from Patricia Y.
San Diego, CA
5/10/2012
The BEST sashimi I've had in San Diego.. BTW FRESH GRATED WASABI
B took me on my birthday and .. so so melt-in-your-mouth delicious. The fish is so fresh and of such high quality that it really feels like it's melting in your mouth..
The presentation is simple and beautiful and.. did I mention the fish is good?
The restaurant itself is in an unassuming complex (next to a 711 and Planned Parenthood) but don't be fooled.
We ordered the:
Scallop Dynamite- I'd pass.. but my noob B wanted dynamite something in a place that is praised for their raw fish, not really their cooked entrees.
The portion was tiny and it was just.. meh
Aji Tataki (Yellowtail sashimi appetizer)- SO GOOD! They basically give you a whole fish, mixed with grated ginger and green onions. MMMMMMMMMM... mix soy sauce with the extra ginger and scallions, dip and devour. They also fry the fish bones and bring it back. Sounds strange but super delicious. I like mine with extra lemon though.
Rumor also has it that they fly it in fresh from Japan and once they run out- they're out.
Sushi Ota A (?, sorry the proper names fail me)- Beautiful platter of sushi. I had a taste of their Salmon Roe which I normally absolutely HATE. I usually find it salty and super fishy-- but it was delicious here. The flavor more mellow-- I would actually order and it. I also had a taste of the Uni which I also normally do NOT enjoy-- once again, much less "fishy" and more sweet.. so.. good. I think I'd eat it by the bucket here.
I had the Omakase Sashimi A and it was delicious. It had some of the most fatty pieces of Toro.. LITERALLY melted in my mouth.
I really want to come back and try the full Omakase sitting at their bar. :) Yum! -
Review from Beth W.
5/10/2012
I loooooooove Sushi Ota!
Although their rolls are absolutely delectable, their sashimi is so fresh that I just can't get enough of it.
The bill can add up pretty fast but there are some things in life that you just shouldn't skimp on - like sushi. -
Review from kim p.
5/22/2012
This is the second best sushi in San Diego. The best is Samarai up in north county. Don't be fooled by the mini mall location. Inside it is like you've stepped across the pond to Japan. The staff are superb and the sushi is spot on. Nothing too creamy or Americanized. And they can deep fry absolutely anything they use as garnishment. It's really neat. And it's usually full so plan ahead!!
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Review from Jefferey L.
Cupertino, CA
5/13/2012
Highly inconsistent.
For the nigiri, presentation can be sloppy and fish is sometimes stringy. Rice firmness and temperature are good, and fish is always very fresh. But when it comes to preparing the nigiri, different chefs means you're playing sushi roulette. I've been here multiple times, each time with varying results. Rumor has it you get better sushi at the bar.
People keep raving about how fresh the fish is, but they forget that quality is only one third of a good experience. Do not forget consistency and originality, both qualities that sushi Ota lacks.
If you're very picky about nigiri, I recommend Izakaya Masa. It isn't a sushi place, but chef Masa is the only sushi chef. He has mastered the art. Awesome nigiri every time. -
Review from Jacob H.
Oceanside, CA
4/29/2012
Great sushi at a great price. Everything is excellent here, and I eat plenty of sushi. Spicy tuna handrolls had just the right amount of heat. The teriyaki chicken was juicy and grilled perfectly. You could see that it was a good piece of chicken sliced nicely after cooking. Beef teriyaki was also excellent.
The great thing about Sushi Ota was the variety of good items. Toro sushi is always on the menu, as it salmon belly. If you want a fatty, delicious slice of fish, you will find it here. You can also order the finest quality sake money can buy, from a few bucks up to $140+ dollars. It is deceptively high-classed for its location. The staff is almost completely Japanese, and the decor is beautiful. Yet, this place is not pretentious. The quality of the fish is fantastic, the cooking is great, the staff is courteous and professional. Just make sure to make reservations. I have never seen a sushi restaurant fill up capacity within the first five minutes, but Sushi Ota does it. -
Review from James M.
San Diego, CA
5/23/2012
The hands down best sushi restaurant I've been to. If you're looking for the best, then don't judge this place by it's exterior. My wife and went here on our first date, so it has a special place in our heart, but it's the quality that keep us coming back. I keep trying to find something closer to our house, but get constantly disappointed when comparing them to Sushi Ota.
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Review from Samantha N.
San Diego, CA
Updated - 5/15/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Lunch Special Chirashi Bowl is SO THE BUSINESS
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/7/2011
The fish is freaking deliciousness. It literally melts in your mouth. Their sushi chefs are pros,… Read more »
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Review from Jen T.
San Diego, CA
4/23/2012
I am not sure I can add a helpful review to this place.
Before I came here I did not eat uni ever. But uni here is good, even for a non uni liker like me.
Had the omakase with Ota himself and worth every penny. Actually the omakase was a really good value. I would recommend getting that if its your first time here. -
Review from Padraig M.
Houston, TX
5/6/2012
Dinner there was fantastic, delicious chu toro, fantastic salmon of various types. I'll return for dinner.
Lunch however the last time I was there was disappointing, frankly, the fish just wasn't that great! A rare off day (2009 - May), I don't know. I was there with family that had grown up some of their life in Japan and their opinion was the same. -
Review from Marvy S.
Descanso, CA
5/22/2012
Sometimes this place knocks it out of the park, other times it's really meh. Your mileage will vary I recommend the omakase since that will improve your batting average.
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Review from Katie L.
San Diego, CA
4/21/2012
Sigh... I'm just another 5 star review among hundreds :-)
I do not know how we have lived here so long and didn't know about this place (thanks Yelp!!). Made a reservation for right when they opened on a weeknight so we had no problem finding parking.
The sashimi is absolutely amazingly fresh. I love nigiri, so we ordered most of our fish that way. The uni is an awesome sweet, soft explosion of yumminess. I could eat the local uni by the dozen. All varieties of yellowtail were so tender and fresh. Hubby just kept ordering and ordering. We had one roll that was excellent, but really, this restaurant is all about the sashimi.
We sat at the bar and I think that's the best way to experience this place. You can see what everyone else orders, ask questions, and try unique things on the whim of the chefs. It was after seeing the amaebi (sweet shrimp) on half a dozen plates that we decided to give it a try. It was delicious and we got the head fried, which was fun to eat.
If we go back we'll definitely order the omikase. We saw several of those come out and they looked amazing. -
Review from Kim V.
Santa Barbara, CA
4/24/2012
What can I say that hasn't already been said?!
This place is amazing. My "go-to" dining spot for birthday celebrations and special dinners. I have to give credit where credit is due and I found that I didn't really start appreciating really good sushi until I came here.
My favorite roll: double double spicy tuna. Heaven in my mouth!! -
Review from Anatoli L.
Stamford, CT
4/22/2012
Feel a bit awkward, as I can't add much to 1200+ prior reviews - but nevertheless.
Probably the best Sushi I ever had so far. Restaurant located in the tiny strip mall, so you don't even believe that you arrived at the right place - however, once you try the sushi you understand that you are. Most memorable experience was Spanish Mackerel - whole fish is cut up and served as Sashimi, then the spine with the bones is roasted and server pretty much like chips - very original. Another highlight was Uni (Sea Urchin) - never had a fresher or tastier sea urchin before.
Very good service, great atmosphere.
If I can offer an advice - try to make a reservation in advance - if you can't be there pretty much by the opening time, as place fills up in the instant. And of course, the best place to sit is by the bar... -
Review from Sock M.
San Diego, CA
4/14/2012
I am full Japanese, have lived in Japan all my life, and just came to San Diego for a short internship. I was simply amazed at this place! The sushi honestly was THE BEST SUSHI/SASHIMI I have ever had in the US (doesn't beat Japan unfortunately :P). It was DELICIOUS. The waitresses all spoke Japanese so I was able to socialize with them as well. Great service and great food. Trust me, this is coming from a Japanese who knows sushi ;)
The restaurant has a great atmosphere. It may not be as good if you go when it's very crowded (especially if you want a nice quiet romantic dinner) since it gets REALLY packed...But honestly, it's all worth it given the quality of food you get! -
Review from Sonia M.
4/16/2012
Sushi Ota is such an unforgettable place. I live in New Jersey and if I could afford to, I would hop on a plane and pay a visit to Sushi Ota every month, but unfortunately I'm a broke Master's student. All I can do now is dream about this wonderful place. When I came to San Diego, I wanted to try some West Coast sushi, so I went on yelp and did my research. Sushi Ota had amazing reviews, so one night I decided to give it a try. My sister and I had made reservations, as suggested per yelpers =). We waited about a half hour, which we weren't to thrilled about at first, but once we sat down and were greeted by our friendly waitress who kept apologizing for the wait, we forgot about the wait time.
They gave us a free appetizer as a thank you for waiting, which was really nice of them. We ordered a bunch of different rolls. When the sushi/sashimi arrived, we were amazed at how fresh it looked. What was even better was the taste!!!! OMFG.........soooooo goood!!!!!!! The fish was fresh and flavorful. I loved everything about this place.
Wonder is Sushi Ota could ship me out some of their delicious sushi???? hmmmm..... -
Review from Connie T.
4/13/2012 4 photos
Very fresh fish.
The yellowtail collar was flavorful, tender and very meaty. All of the sashimi we had was fresh and tasty. The uni was sweet and fresh, and I particularly enjoyed the yellowtail belly.
The amaebi (sweet shrimp) was the standout. The shrimp are kept live in tanks, and when it comes to you it is so fresh that the legs still have muscle movement. Same goes for the lobster sashimi - we enviously watched a huge platter of fresh sashimi go by, with the lobster head and claws still kicking. (This resulted in one surprised patron screaming rather loudly.)
I will definitely be back next time I am in the area!Listed in: San Diego
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Review from Aznboi S.
San Diego, CA
4/4/2012 6 photos
Hands down the best sushi restaurant in San Diego.
Always had to make a reservation ahead of time just to eat here. Crazy busy everyday.
It's no wonder though because their service and fish quality is amazing.
Since I don't eat sushi/sashimi too often, we went all out in our visits here so far.
Their fatty tuna was sooo good. It like literally melted in your mouth but butter or awesome chocolate that you need to savor.
Salmon belly was also very good. Very fatty and flavorful. It's sooo long. Basically it feels like I ordered half a sushi and half sashmi when I order the Salmon belly sushi.
We also got their Monkfish liver. Quite the delicacy!
Most of their items are delicious.
The below are my favorites from this place:
Fatty Tuna, Salmon Belly sushi, Sea urchin sushi, Halibut sushi, Monkfish Liver, Hamachi Belly sushi, Sweet Shrimp sushi, Giant Clam sushi...list goes on
Only item I would not get in the future are the oysters. They are so tiny for the price you pay. Considering the fact that sushi/sashimi is already crazy expensive.
This place is definitely very pricy so unless you have the dough to fling, this is probably a place you go on special occasions. -
Review from Krystle C.
Los Angeles, CA
5/15/2012
Okay this is byfar the best sushi I have ever tasted. The sashimi practically melts in your mouth. Sushi Ota is definitely quality over quantity. With that in mind, it's pretty pricey, so you should go if you have a lot of cast to splurge. Everything about this place was perfection. The hot sake is super hot (as it should be) and delicious! Tuna lover's special is delightful, yellowtail is the bomb.. and at the end of the meal, the green tea ice cream was like the icing on the cake! EVERYONE, GO HERE!!!
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Review from Pamela L.
4/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
Make reservations ~ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We almost couldn't eat there it was so packed but we went right when it opened and had to be out of there in an hour. It was well worth shoving it all down!
The bento boxes weren't as worth the cost than ordering from the paper list. It was definitely one of the best bento boxes, but if you're going to drop $20 on a bento box, might as well order some sashimi and a roll.
Service was great and green tea was yummy. We'll be back... -
Review from Debbie O.
Updated - 3/20/2012
If there's one place you have to try in SD, it's Sushi Ota. The freshest sashimi I've ever had in San Diego, and I mean you can taste the ocean in every piece of raw fish here. Even this restaurant smells like a fish market. Yes, the prices are high, but you get what you pay for. Because I was so lucky the first time (getting seats without a reservation or wait), my friends and I tried walking in again but were turned away because they were completely booked until after 9:30PM. Talk about needing a reservation! Seriously, come prepared ya'll. The next day, we called in around 4PM and made a reservation at 5PM. We were told we could only stay until 7, but surprisingly, service was super fast and it was more than enough time. The restaurant is not tiny, but they really give you time to enjoy your food, and you never feel rushed.
What amazes me is that their miso soup is not salty. Not at all! How do they do that? It still tastes amazing without all the extra miso other places seem to add. Their green tea is authentic, and I literally drank five cups because when you need a refill, someone is always there. I usually go for the combinations. The $26 one (third combination) is pretty good because you get a toro and uni sushi. Just make sure before you leave this place try the salmon belly, o toro, and uni. If you don't order anything else, these three will make you a believer. The o toro melts in your mouth like butter. No joke. I seriously tried putting it in my mouth without chewing and 3 seconds later half of it was gone. This place makes me want to shop less so I have more money to spend on raw fish. YUM.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/23/2012
This place is expensive but if you're a fish lover, the quality is so worth it. Came here on a… Read more »
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Review from Yuki W.
San Diego, CA
5/3/2012
The best Japanese food in town!!! Uni and Toro so fresh!!!
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Review from Steph B.
La Mesa, CA
5/14/2012
Super fresh rolls! They lose one star for not having a large variety to choose from but they can customize your order. I would suggest making reservations and be prepared for a pricey bill. An overall good experience.
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Review from Larsen R.
San Diego, CA
3/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
26 years ago, somewhere in the Universe a star was born. However I don't live with a flaming ball of gas, so I went to Sushi Ota to celebrate my friend's 26th birthday. Let me preface this review by saying I'm not a big fan of sushi and I FUCKING LOVE OYSTERS!
Okay so we show up to the spot and meet with the rest of the party. I don't know what time we got there or if we had reservations but either way we got our table as soon as we arrived. Service was pretty decent considering it was pretty busy looking but I did feel like the waitress forgot to put in the birthday boy's order of the live shrimp.
A Side Note: Man watching the head of a shrimp move on a plate fighting for its life is pretty gnarly. I find it kind of fucked up but hey if you don't mind watching a creature die, it is an interesting experience.
Onto the food I tried. I got the Sushi Ota combo A or something to that effect. It was around 18 dollars. The amount I received definitely confirmed the three dollars signs I had seen on Yelp. The quality of the fish definitely confirmed the amount of stars they've received. Like I said before, I'm not really a sushi fan but hot damn this was some good sushi. The fish was fresh to death like literally this sushi was so fresh it tasted like they just killed it.
Onto my harder standard OYSTERS. I put "oysters" in caps for two reasons:
1.) I FUCKING LOVE OYSTERS
2.) These oysters were huge!
Granted, it was 8 bucks for two oysters but they were legit as fuck. I totally would have just ordered the oysters had I known Sushi Ota knows how to get down with the get down.
I'd definitely recommend this place if you got the clams to shell out (see what I did there?!?!?!) -
Review from L. Na'Cole V.
San Diego, CA
4/17/2012
Why I haven't been here before, I don't know, because it was incredibly yummy!!! Seriously the best sushi in San Diego. The Seafood Dynamite was delicious, however over done a bit. That is my only complaint. We didn't have a reservation and yet the hostess accommodated us while informing that she needed the table in an hour for a reserved party. All-in-all - delectable food!!! Wonderful service and atmosphere. I also appreciated the varying attire of the other patrons: from workout clothes and beach wear to business casual and after-five.
I will definitely become a patron of this gem-of-an-establishment! -
Review from Mei W.
One of few good sushi restaurants I've eaten at! They have VERY fresh sashimi - I would highly recommend the salmon belly, absolutely delicious. I ordered the rainbow row, tobiko sushi, and salmon belly - all you can't go wrong with.
Came here during lunch hour on a weekend. Came in just at the right time without a wait. Minutes later there was a crowd following behind us waiting for tables. Place is hidden; we had to circle around the area to find this spot. I will definitely come back when I'm in the area of San Diego! -
Review from Nicole H.
San Diego, CA
5/5/2012
I travel to Japan fairly often for work, and this is the closest that you will get to authentic sushi. Highly recommend the tekka don, which is a bowl of rice topped with tuna sashimi. I've never seen it anywhere outside Japan, except here, and it's mind blowing. Make sure you make a reservation!
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Review from J Y.
Seattle, WA
3/24/2012
I did enjoy the lunch at the Sushi Ota, however spending $90 for two person without alcoholic beverage was bit too much for me... Guy next to me at the sushi bar dropped $150 by himself for lunch..??
Over all experience compare to other sushi joints;
- above average food with high prices. -
Review from Natalia P.
Carlsbad, CA
5/20/2012
This place is outstanding! Every time I go there food is great, place is clean, atmosphere is perfect. Fish is fresh, thats very important as well!! When I crave sushi I always think about Sushi Ota.
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Review from Silas S.
San Diego, CA
4/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
Hands down the best sushi restaurant in San Diego. There's usually a long wait even during the week, so I highly recommend getting a reservation.
Everything always tastes so fresh here and the servers are efficient and prompt.
If there is a downside, it's a bit on the pricier side. But you get what you pay for -- and what you get at Ota is QUALITY! -
Review from Donna A.
3/11/2012 21 Check-ins Here
What can I say sushi Ota is my favorite place in San Diego! They have fast service, fresh fish and a delicious dinner menu.
We come here at least once a week to have the best sushi in the San Diego area. Our favorite rolls include the crunchy salmon roll and the yellowtail collar. But keep in mind if your are looking for a place for a long relaxing dinner this is not the best spot, they want your table to open up for the next patron! -
Review from Anna B.
Pacific Beach, San Diego, CA
2/10/2012
Quality is actually 5 stars
Price is closer to 4
Atmosphere is 3.5 (romantic, soft colors but SO crowded/noisy!)
Waitresses... 2.8?
Meh, I came for the food, anyway!
I heard so much about this place, and I live down Garnet Ave and decided to check it out on the most random Tuesday ever. And guess what? I was thinking, "Heck, this will be romantic! It'll be practically empty, and we'll have the restaurant to ourse...."
HALT.
The three hostesses (why do you need three small Asian women again??) told us the wait could be up to 40 minutes. YES. 40 minutes on a random-ass Tuesday 8:30pm.
Dumbfounded, I asked, "Excuse me, is there an event? A large party of some sort?"
Hostess #1 (chinky eyes, small forehead but nice skin): "No, juss rimited avairabrity. Hehe"
..... ..........................
The "waiting area" if you can even call it that is directly in front of the hostess podium, which is super awkward and probably already taken up by another Asian couple, so we waited outside like hookers trying to spot some hot, older businessmen coming out. Ugh.
Anyway, I'm the impatient type, so I just placed an order to go, and ordered my usual 4 rolls + 3 sashimis. Total was $65, which didn't include tip. Seriously?? I mean, I'm used to seeing double digit$ with $u$hi, but over $50, especially without gratuity already included? I double-checked with Hostness #2 who nodded. I handed over the amex (kind of reluctantly) and waited outside in the cold for another 20-30 minutes. There's a sketchy 7-11 next door, in case you want to look at Playboy or FHM or something of that sort.
Finally got home, ate my yellowtail, tuna, and salmon sashimis which all just melted in my mouth! The tuna was just perfect- the temperature was a bit warmer than I liked, but I blame myself for holding it in my lap as I was driving in fear of my companion eating it... then the rolls were just absolutely succulent!
Seriously, the KEY TO GOOD SUSHI IS... fish? No, I mean, yes, but fish is the obvious answer. I think it's RICE~! That soft texture with just the right ratio of vinegar:salt:sugar makes sushi perfect. And they nailed it.
I was very, very happy with:
- Eel roll
- Spicy tuna + panko
- Caterpillar roll
Decent, but not excellent:
- Rainbow roll
- Salmon sashimi
Ota, expect my return on another random-ass night this week :) -
Review from Alice A.
2/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
Sushi Ota is the best sushi place I have been to in recent days. It's tucked away on the inside corner of a strip mall but when I walked up with my party it was obvious that:
1) there is a line outside the door, and it's Monday evening.
2) the place is bigger than expected.
3) the place is jammed packed.
4) it exuded an aura of lively energy, from people who are happy with their food.
We had Kampachi sashimi and Osusume Sushi combo, which came with miso soup. Every piece of fish atop the perfectly seasoned rice was as fresh as could be. My favorites were the Spanish mackerel (which I had never had before) and sea urchin (uni). The service was friendly and attentive. We asked for recommendation and our server mentioned that Kampachi sashimi was offered only as a special and it was indeed special.
Two additional points I will share are that the parking lot is small but we had no problem parking on the street, and (I wish I could type this in a smaller font to keep it a secret) that they take reservations. Do it. -
Review from Rachel A.
San Diego, CA
5/18/2012
I do not understand why people like this place. First of all it is in a strip mall. It is not a romantic place to go get sushi like most people have said. The menu is tiny and I got sick from their miso soup. Not impressed. There are so many great sushi places in San Diego and this is not one of them. The reviews are way off. Maybe I had a bad experience but I would never go back to try it again to find out.
