Great Sushi In San Diego

Over the years, the Asian population of San Diego has increased, and so have the number of Asian restaurants. Six of us recently went to Sushi Ota, which has been around for years, and is called by many "the best sushi in San Diego." I wouldn't disagree. We are a group that loves to laugh, have fun and eat! Our last outing to Cucina Urbana in the Irvine Spectrum was so delicious, we decided to try Sushi Ota. The restaurant was recommended by a Japanese man from Seattle, who touted it as the best in San Diego. It just may be. Karen, one of the women who joined us for lunch, had lived in Japan many years ago (twice) and said that the restaurant felt like a typical Japanese sushi bar that you'd find in Japan. We were there on a Thursday afternoon, from 12 noon until about 1:30. The restaurant and bar was packed the entire time. At least half the patrons were Japanese, always a good sign. They know authentic. The rest were mostly locals who've probably been coming there for years. We ordered a variety of food. We began with a bowl of warm edemame and seaweed salad. The salad was delicious, with a great sesame taste. We followed with a variety of cut rolls, including crunchy salmon, California roll with real crab, caterpillar roll and soft shell crab roll. The fish was as fresh as can be, and of course presentation was exquisite. Two women in our group were not sushi lovers, so they ordered the vegetable tempura and teriyaki beef. Both were perfectly prepared. What I liked best about the restaurant was the vibe. The place felt alive. Although the décor was nothing special, you knew you were in for a great meal as soon as you stepped into the restaurant. The bar was packed, and six sushi chefs were busy preparing handrolls, nigiri and sashimi. What a beautiful sight. One of the most interesting dishes that I did not try, but might get up the nerve to try next time, was sea urchin sashimi. It was a beautiful sea urchin with it's spiny exterior, but the inside was the sea urchin sashimi. I think I'm brave enough to try that next time. Every plate was a masterpiece, and the restaurant, in addition to the traditional items we all know and love, had some specialties, written in Japanese, so I'm sorry I can't tell you what they were. Next time you want to wander out of your comfort zone, out of your neighborhood, try Sushi Ota. Make a reservation. It's on Mission Bay Drive, and it's delicious!