After a long and tiring day of sightseeing we opted to stay close to our hotel for dinner. A quick search pointed us towards Ototo and it was a pleasant surprise. I wasn’t expecting much from a sushi spot far from the usual dining hot beds in town, but the modern and elegant feel of the restaurant along with above average dishes made it a pleasurable dining experience. They were able to accommodate our party of seven without much trouble and it paid off with a decent dinner.
The thin slices of pork making up the negi chashu ($5.50) were tender but could have benefitted from a crispier exterior or less fat. Breading on the Chicken katsu ($9.50) was light and crispy, unfortunately the meat was too dry. Both rolls I tried — the albacore delight ($8) and crunchy spicy tuna ($8.25) — had some good flavors, but seemed hastily assembled with uneven cuts and weren’t rolled very tight causing them to fall apart. The yellowtail tiradito ($10.50) was the highlight of the meal with its shiso ponzu vinaigrette, roasted jalapeños, and micro greens.
While the execution of several dishes could have been better, for a place away from the urban center of the city Ototo is a decent option to cure your sushi fix.
3 Stars
5651 Balboa Ave
San Diego, CA 92111
