Otaru Sushi & Handroll Bar — Restaurant in Dallas

This is as good as it gets! I wish I'd taken photos, because sushi is truly an art form!

First of all, the ambiance is awesome. Most of the diners are seated around a huge square of chefs working their orders, unlike some sushi restaurants where you can't watch the process as well. At Otaru while you watch your order being made, it's easy to be tempted by other orders and ask about them; the chefs are so nice and informative! This is perfect, since they have many original creations.

We started with plain edamame and Miso soup, predictably yummy, but nothing out of the ordinary. But all the fish was amazing! Our absolute favorite was the rainbow roll. Our least fav was the Volcano, only because it was very rich, but still tasty! All the raw fish was absolutely super-fresh and melts in the mouth. It was awesome that many rolls and menu items have more "substance" to them, ie a little more fatty ingredients, so that you can choose whether to go fat-free or do something more filling with a mix of raw and cooked. My husband needs that after a hard day of work! But as a woman watching her diet I appreciate a light meal that just makes me feel good afterward!

Another thing we liked was the abundance of plates that they light on fire. Who doesn't like a dish on fire? It added to the exciting environment, and customers frequently commenting on all the action! It was a very communal experience when we were there, with customers meeting each other and sharing recommendations on dishes. There is something for everyone here who likes Japanese cuisine. Tip those chefs too!

Overall, I recommend this for an...

I wanted to like this place, but as someone who worked at Nobu for 4 years and knows better, I just couldn’t. It does have a cozy ambiance, but the food was lazy. Let’s start with the salmon yuzu. A play on Nobu’s Seared Salmon Karashi su miso which is delicious btw. However, Otarus Salmon seamed too firm, possibly a lesser grade salmon. And the yuzu sauce was just bland. The salmon did not taste like it was seared on the grill and lacked that good grill flavor. I didn’t finish this dish. The Soft shell crab roll was when i knew I wasn’t going to be back. They tried to make up for the lack of soft shell crab by stuffing the roll with some other cold crab. Idk if it was imitation crab or snow crab. Either way, it was not hot crispy soft shell crab and wasn’t good. The shrimp katsu roll was just ok. Don’t need to come back here. The best part about this place was the affordability. However, I would rather spend more money for better tasting food. Life is short, Treat yourself don’t cheat yourself. Go to Nobu or Uchi,...

After leaving the FW area, I was sad to not have Hatsuyuki Hand Roll close to me anymore, but I am so grateful Otaru Sushi is now a close favorite! I was devouring the handrolls so fast that I only have a photo of the salmon sashimi. I have eaten here twice now, and I called ahead both times due to seeing the limited seating from other google reviews. However, both times I have been able to walk in and get seating and I loved that both times they acknowledged that I had just called and were excited that I chose to dine with them. You can tell that they truly appreciate every customer that walks through the door. Now for the sushi...it was fresh, smooth, and plentiful! The handrolls did not lack fish, and the nigiri pieces from their seasonal menu were all great options. I am honestly shocked they were not busier when I have gone! I highly, highly recommend you make a stop. They even have roll options for your picky friends that may not eat raw food. Excited to keep coming back and trying new options...