Sushi Ota

The 25 Best Restaurants in San Diego

"Couples young and old, groups of friends, and families with children in tow show up to this humble seafood restaurant. They're not exactly here for the ambience, but they're definitely keen on quality—and that's just what they're getting. It's a strip mall setting with a five-star menu and reservations are a must. It's packed…all the time. Order a cooked entrée if you must—there's plenty of teriyaki marinade in the kitchen—but that's really, really not what you come for. It's all about the crazy fresh raw seafood. Uni, sourced straight from the San Diego docks, is their speciality, and comes served as nigiri (over rice). Other popular picks include yellowtail sashimi and chawanmushi, a delicate egg custard. And if you're up for trying an omakase, this is the place to do it: the experience, which runs $140, is transformative." - Archana Ram, Marie Tutko