Ototo Sushi Co. — Restaurant in San Diego

I was surprisingly impressed with this place and glad I finally tried it! Directly across from the Vons in my hood, I had written it off forever as I don't typically eat out so close to home (Guilt - might as well be cooking at home). However, last Friday evening I wanted to hang out with a friend and sushi, followed by darts at Blarney Stone sounded like a fantastic evening. Well, sushi here on a Friday evening is apparently a fantastic evening for lots of people as it was completely packed when we walked up around 7pm. There was a 20 min wait, so we grabbed a drink at Blarney Stone for a bit.

Our very enthusiastic server was happy-go-lucky and kept stating that here, you "go big or go home" as all they carry are large sake, and large beer. Not a problem for parties of 2 or more, but for a solo dinner it could be a bit much to handle.

We ordered garlic edamame (is there any other if given the option?!?), gyoza, shrimp tempura roll and a rainbow row. I admit, i don't have high expectations for places within Clairemont, shopping malls in general, or anything that (technically) doesn't have to try hard because its the only option nearby. However, all of the food really delivered and was satisfying. It's a very common, "sushi rolls" place with all the quikly names and creative ingredients. My favorite on the menu is the "Merrica roll." First time I've seen that and it made me giggle.

it's nice to finally discover that there is a good cheap and decent quality sushi place right up the...

My girlfriend and I came here and it was very busy. The servers are very friendly and work very hard trying to seat everyone and orders out in a timely fashion.

Fish quality - The quality of the fish was on par with expectations and I was happy with what we received.

Portion versus Cost - You get what you pay for and then some. The rolls are not skinny and they have what you would would expect. Some places with skimp out on avocado or the thickness of sushi cuts, but not this place.

Compliments - The fish was good and very delicate. I definitely liked the salmon sashimi that I ordered. The green tea was also a hit. A big mug, hot and enjoyable. Staff was very friendly and came around to see how the meal went.

Criticism - The sashimi came first, without ginger or wasabi. These should come out with food. Many people will want the spicy wasabi or the ginger to nibble on. Also, because new customers were coming in and out through the front door nats and tiny flies were aggravating the entire time we ate. Maybe have the line wait out and place a host near the outside seating to have people put their names on the list to minimize the doors opening and closing.

Overall - I would come back, maybe on a less crowded day when we can get a better feel for the service and atmosphere. The food was great so I would definitely want...

Came here with my wife for dinner on a Wednesday just in time to partake in the end of happy hour for about an hour. It was not too busy, and were seated without waiting. We ordered drinks (draft beer and sake) and appetizers (Calamari, Salmon Kama, and Cucumber Salad). The Salmon Kama took a while to get, but the other appetizers came quick and were good. The Calamari was a little overcooked, making it chewy. For the main dishes, we ordered rolls (Balboa, Picasso, Scallp Dynamite, and Murica) and nigiri (Salmon, Yellowtail Belly, Albacore, and Unagi). We wanted to get sea urchin nigiri as well, but they were out. The rice-to-fish ratio was just right, although the unagi was on the smaller side for nigiri. The Murica roll is not a typical roll and we just wanted to try it. It was not bad, but not good either; definitely not one to reorder for our preference. Overall the food barely made a five star. The service was great. Our waitress was attentive and knew the menu. The atmosphere was energetic and not too loud, but nothing really stood out. There is indoor and patio seating. It is definitely place we would come back to, especially when in the Clairemont area. We look forward to trying the other...