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Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars [Edit]
Neighborhood: Hayes ValleyPrint and bring this to receive:
Beer & house hot sake - buy one get one free!
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Mon-Thu. 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Mon-Thu. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Sun. 5:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
"How do you define consistent quality? How do you define fresh? How do you define service? How do you define value? Akiko is the only…" read more »
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Yes, this place is right down the street from me and I walk by it at least once a day (usually in the morning when it's closed). In all honesty, I've only been there once (many months ago), and I had good intentions of writing a review right away, but alas...
Anyway, I think this is a probably one of the better sushi joints in the city. The fish is super fresh, the service is quick and friendly. The ambiance is nice...but it does tend to get a little crowded, so you may have to bug a fellow diner to allow you squeeze your way out.
I will be back, Otoro! I promise!
I guess you could say Otoro Sushi and I got off on the wrong foot. You see, I was a big fan of Laurel's Cuban restaurant...so when they closed and Otoro came in it's place, it had some very strong and much loved mojito glasses to fill.
After months of walking by Otoro and saying to my boyfriend halfheartedly "oh we should go there sometime" to which he would unfailingly respond by staring longingly into the distance, no doubt reminiscing about friend plantains with garlic butter, we finally went. We were greeted with a half hour wait. Really? Half an hour for mediocre sushi in the middle of a residential block? Am I missing something? Because last time I checked there were three thousand over-priced sushi restaurants in this city and the blogosphere didn't give a shit about a single one of them. That's why people go to restaurants, right? Blogs?
Anyway...the food came out sushi rolls first, edamame and gyoza last (WHAT?) and we just decidided to cancel the miso soup because it would have gotten there after dessert.
The stars are for the service, which was pretty good. Fine, I'll give them that.
Basically what I'm trying to say is that you need to just walk the couple extra blocks to Sushi Zone or if waiting isn't your thang then Sushi Delight by The Mint (karaoke, not federal).
Ok, brace yourself 'cuz I'm going there: Otoro is the BEST SUSHI in the city. Done.
I know that's a controversial statement but I stand by it. The fish is super fresh, high quality and like butter. The menu is creative, tasty, and satisfying. The sake selection is respectable.
Start with the off-the-menu-in-the-know lychee mojitoes. A must. I've had the Hawaiian Poki and the Saba Miso for apps and I almost cried, both were so good. Then, when you're ready for it (and not a second sooner), order the Lava Roll. Its got a kick...and its amazing.
The place itself is decorated nicely and totally appropriate for a date, an out-of-town visitor, a bday party w/ friends, a "must have sushi or I will die" night for dinner, and more...
4.5 stars!!!
The sushi was soooo good!!! Fresh fish, good portions, decent prices for the quality, nice waitress, great atmosphere... What more could you ask for?!
Ok, the parking could be a bit better and the wait at such a small restaurant could be horrendous (hence the -0.5 star), but don't let that keep you from trying this place!
I was going to go to Domo a few blocks down, but I waked by Otoro and looked at their menu and decided it was a done deal.
SUPER cheap for the quality of their sashimi. 5 pieces of delicious albacore tuna for $8.95? pretty good deal if you're a sushi snob like myself.
Got the Otoro roll with spicy tuna and mango...very delicious, not too spicy.
Also got the Cherry Blossom roll, delicious as well.
The waitress was really sweet and brought us miso soup and edamame about 3 seconds after we asked for it. The atmosphere was intimate and relaxing. All in all, a new favorite sushi spot.
Otoro has become my new favorite spot. Cute little sushi place nestled in Hayes Valley. Everything ive had has always been extremely fresh. From the hamachi to the maguro to the tako...its all delicious, and the tako was some of the best ive had. The soft shell crab hit the spot and was fried to perfection. They also offer hot & cold japanese tapas style plates - very good if you feel like having a light meal. Everything is more than reasonably priced and the staff are very friendly. Sit at the bar and let the chef serve you up some of his specialties. He's awesome.
REALLY delicious.
Otoro Sushi is comfortable swank... that is even with the Bebel Gilberto music, candles and modern decor the hubby and I walked in with jeans and flip flops and felt totally at ease.
We ordered several rolls but what stood out the most was the grilled hamachi jalapeno, lava roll and cherry blossom roll. We also ordered the butterfish nigiri which was super fresh and moist.
Service was friendly/professional and honest... when asked our server let us know what her favourite rolls were and was patient in describing the differences between the rolls.
The quality of the fish was pretty darn high and the cost was reasonable (high end rolls were $12.95, average rolls $9 and nigiri was $3.95... special rolls are all different).
Very happy to find them in the neighborhood ... and the only reason we found them is because of Yelp! (They're on Oak Street, a busy street, true, but not exactly a high foot traffic street for shoppers or strollers.
The place was packed on a Friday night, but people weren't lining up outside...do make reservations if you just don't want to deal with a wait.
Recommended and will be back several times.
You had me at your ika with shiso. Oh god. Just thinking of what you did to that piece of squid, tucked under a leaf of shiso and cradling a small symbolic strip of seaweed to add more crunch to the chew and the crunch and the chew.
This restaurant is situated such that it's right where my two buses converge. It's where I transfer from the 21 to the 47. And on one afternoon, I got off work early enough to grab a snack (my poor BF, he made some dinner that ended badly and no one wanted to eat it). A snack means a miso soup, 1 order of aji, 1 order of ika, 1 order of kampachi. It was less than $20.
While the ika was the best because of the shiso, the rest of the fish was not as...fragrant. I have this theory that when fish is first caught, it has the scent of flowers. Some wild, floral scent that fades as the fish is transported from fisherman to merchant to chef. After too much time, it develops the "fishy" smell. But somewhere in between, there's also a non-smell. The fish here did not have any hint of the bad fishy smell. But it was not as fragrant as some fish that I've experienced. I want it to have noses of flowers.
No, I do not grind up fish paste and snort it, you sick chuck.
Some fish just have a fragrance.
I love sushi. I mean I love quality sushi. Therefore, I love Otoro Sushi.
Beside sushi the food there was great. Owner and waitress are super friendly. Place is quite hip and in a nice area.
Highly recommended!!
Fun, romantic, hip vibe...very, very high quality sushi - especially good butterfish. Delectable deserts, and a great sake menu. I didn't proactively order a thing - I was just drinking and eating everything that was pushed towards me. It was all delicious.
The "Best Hamachi" that I have had in San Francisco!
I repeat.... they have the "Best Hamachi' in the city!
I visited this restaurant last evening with two friends before the concert at Conservatory of Music.
I grew up in Japan and my grandmother used to go to a fish market , where the chefs of hotels and ryokans shop, and she always got the best hamachi there. Hamachi at Otoro tasted just like the one that my grandmother used to get.
Like the movie "Ratatouille", as soon as I had hamachi sashimi, I was taken to my childhood and enjoyed the memories of my late grandmother. Believe me, I have had hamachi sashimi for more than 35 years so I know what is good and what is bad.
The restaurant is very clean, the food selections are authentic, some with a twist, and the price is reasonable. I am not into rolls so I tries hirame sashimi, salmon sashimi (very omega 3 fatty, nice! ), tuna sashimi and hamachi sashimi. They are all wonderful.
I hope this restaurant will not lower the quality of their fish because I am planning to go back there.
I have to provide some respect to Otoro. They are not the absolute freshest or the perfect sushi place by any means, but if you know what to order then you will leave satisfied. The chefs are chatty and apt and the owner is one of the most generous people I've encountered in awhile!
1st time we stopped by everyone at the bar was given a free leechee martini for dessert. We were also comped a free beer. Very cool! 2nd time they put up with my GF being crazy loud and drunk & still gave us a free lechee martini! The 3rd was a normal night w/ no freebees but the same Japanese Mom and Daughter pair were there from the 1st time we visited. Which may say something good about the place (or they may be related to someone there). We left satisfied with the meal though.
The atmosphere is lighthearted but suave. This is one of few sushi places where I feel the apps and hot food is equal to the fish. Black Cod dish is highly recommended! Charred Hamachi Belly for fish is excellent! many plates are fairly good and the specials are well thought out. Stop by and try it out for yourself sometime.
Recommended!
We go there a little late, due to finding a parking spot. No prob, they held our table and got our water and drinks pretty fast. We started with some Sashimi Maguro and Albacore, fresh and delicious.
Then ventured to an assortment of different rolls such as the Salmon Avocado, Dreamy Sensation, and Hip Hop Roll. Seriously?? Garlic on a sushi roll, actually a nice addition to the palate. Great selection on their menu, but since we go there for sushi it would be great to have a few more rolls to choose from.
Tip: You may need to get the servers attention to get additional requests or to get the bill. Plan ahead if you need to be somewhere after.
Otoro roll (favorite)
Lorelei roll
Hip Hop roll
Golden State roll
I would've loved to try all the rolls here, especially the Charmander roll and Lava roll, but I got a good sampling. I would definitely recommend getting the specialty rolls and none of the regular rolls. Aside from the rolls listed above, we also tried:
Tebo Shioyaki (great)
Gyu Nambanyaki (too tough)
Shiitake Tsumire (too small)
Overall, good quality food and service, but not worth the $$.
A little gem in the district of Hayes Valley. Who would have thought this place existed? Never really venturing out to this area to eat are even hang out, it was the suggestion of a friend we decided to try out this tiny sushi place. And yes, this place was really tiny - with no more than 6 tables at most this place can easily get packed on a weekend night.
It's sashimi seemed to be the highlight of this place so I quickly decided on a couple of different nigiri orders and rolls.
Butterfish nigiri - really lived up to it's name. It seemed to just melt in my mouth. Although it wasn't as rich as toro, it still was worth it due to it was probably half the price of toro.
Seared hamachi - my fav of the night! They lightly seared the hamachi giving it a nice grilled flavor. To top it off they had a jalapeno on top of it to give it the extra kick it needed. Absolutely delicious.
Spicy hamachi - it was good but nothing too out of the ordinary. Consisted of a 6 piece roll that had the spicy hamachi in a mayonnaise sauce. Something I've had before but it was still good.
Shout outs to the owner Jimmy who really took care of us from start to finish. He personally took our orders and made sure that got everything we needed. He even threw in some free sesame ice cream which really completed the experience. I really enjoyed the food and atmosphere of the whole place. Will absolutely drop by here for dinner again if I'm ever in the area.
We went to Otoro just a few weeks ago, and for the life of me, I can't remember what we ate sushi-wise, besides having the stuffed mushroom appetizer. Not a good sign.
However, what I clearly remember was the atmosphere that evening. The restaurant was empty for a Thursday. As we took one step inside, 5 people greeted us, full-on, including the owner, 2 sushi chefs and 2 waitresses. They were definitely gung-ho friendly, but a bit overwhelming. The staff seemed nice, but with the owner present and visibly anxious, felt like they were walking on eggshells jumping to serve us. Honestly, the tension could be cut with a knife, and it was distracting.
Once the owner took off for a smoke break, I swear, you could sense the anxiety lowering and shoulders relaxing.
This place has potential to be "hot." The menu offered some unique and appealing items (warm and cold small plates/appetizers), and creative sounding-rolls. The interior was modern-zen-like, done in dark, espresso colored woods, and had an overall, clean feel. There's easy street parking. Although not much going on in the surrounding area if you want to take a stroll after dinner.
The owner did take a moment to approach us and asked how we heard about Otoro. We told him, "Yelp," but I almost wanted him to ask a little bit more about our experience. I could see the potential here with a few tweaks.
My friend brought me here for dinner as I was craving sushi. When we walked in, I immediately liked the decor and atmosphere, but I will say the space is really small. We walked in with no reservations and were quite lucky enough to be seated quickly.
We only ordered sushi and did not venture into the other dishes, so I will say this review is strictly about the sushi.
The starter we had was tako (Hawaiian) poke, and it didn't really come out as poke. The first thing I noticed was that it was missing spice, secondly it was covered with onions, and it was drenched in a soy based sauce. I'm not sure what this was, but poke it was not. The tako wasn't that fresh, as it had been resting long enough that it was chewy.
The next not so great bit was the maguro sashimi. It had the right colors, but it was slightly off.
The rest of the food was fresh and delicious. Lorelei, Golden State, negi hama, aji, and o-toro. Their rolls are a little different, but mix components that make them interesting and new. For instance, the Golden State roll as thin slices of lemon on top of them which make them very citrusy; the lorelei comes with macadamia nuts sprinkled on top. The aji and o-toro nigiri were delectable and slightly butter in taste from the fats in the fish.
The service was amazing. Out waitress in particular was great. I would go back just to see here. She even brought me some gelato for my birthday. I think the staff is very attentive and pays attention to detail, so they have that nailed down.
Oh, and the sake which we ordered. I found it very interesting how they poured it for us. First the glasses were set in a little box container of sorts. Then the sake was poured into the glass until it overflowed into the box. I suppose that means you get your money's worth, but it's sad to see the little bit of sake spill over and not get drank.
I would certainly come back here, but it may be worth calling in a reservation just in case.
I love that I can have traditional Japanese fare that is *not* all sushi, all-the-time, is created in the classic traditions, and is delicious and fresh.
When I was sick, my husband brought Yasai Udon and Miso Ramen home for me. The presentation of the Miso Ramen was that of someone who cares about the details: The broth was in its own container, separate form the noodles so as not to over-saturate them.
The noodles and veggies were meticulously arranged in a "To Go" container: the noodles folded and fanned across the bottom, ever-so-carefully topped with spinach, seaweed, corn, zucchini, carrots, broccoli. Then, two gorgeous slices of pork were placed on the top. Beautiful!
The service is always delightful, and although the space is small adn sparse, it somehow works.
Oh, and Japanese fare, in Hayes Valley, open for lunch *not* overpriced and *not* creating uber-trendy dishes is a huge plus!
I've driven by Otoro multiple times and have been hoping to find just the right occasion to give you a try. Survey says: Mmmm... I'm a fan!
I came here with my bff for the first time tonight for one of our routine "let's get sushi" dinner outings [translation: let's platonically dine on our favorite cuisine while we catch up on each others lives, exchange stories + share advice].
Let's start with the decor. Otoro is the new kid on the block in the Hayes Valley 'hood and with the low lighting and dark masculine wood touches, it fits right in among its other hip neighborhood dining establishment counterparts.
My dining partner and I were feeling adventurous and decided to order the kampachi, hirame + uni sushi and indulged in the Hip Hop + Golden Gate rolls. Yum!! Everything was so fresh + flavorful + oh-so-artfully plated, I was sincerely impressed!
The service was very attentive and our waitress was uber cute, telling me where I could pick up the navy blouse that I complimented her on.
The price is reasonable and if you swing by for dinner relatively early on a Sunday [7ish?] then you shouldn't find street parking to be a terrible pain. Hoping to come back again soon!
Strengths: All the sashimi were fresh and rolls were well put together. Portions were adequate, and rice to fish proportions were balanced. Baked mussels were the highlight of the meal; the fresh scallop and butterfish sashimi were a close second and third. Host/server's was superb.
Weaknesses: There isn't much waiting area, so if you need to wait for a table, head over to Sauce's bar.
Opportunities: Skewers can use a bit more marinade and a little longer on the grill for more crispiness. Ramen can be less sweet with a couple more toppings like egg and corn.
Threats: If you live around hear, there is nothing close to Otoro in terms of atmosphere, food, and service. If you can venture outside of Hayes Valley, try Blowfish and Okina.
Total: $140 for 2 ppl.
We enjoyed a number of small plates, perfect for sharing with an intimate group.
Try the specials. The spicy baked mussels were very tasty. And the warm baked cod had a crunchy crust with a buttery middle.
I've been to Otoro 2 times in the last two weeks, because its that good! Well, keep in mind I am a vegetarian and not the kind that eats fish. I had a vegetable tempura roll with avo on top and it was amazing. I also had the house salad - and the presentation was better then the taste, but only because i prefer the regular dressing. I also tried the fried tofu, which was good. The service was great and they are open to suggestions (unlike other sushi places). The only thing the place lacks is some wall art.
Really nice to have a local sushi spot (amongst many in the hood) that is totally cool with the casual walk-in take out styley.
I've been at this spot at least 7 times and everything I have tried has been consistently good.
I was impressed with this place. I didn't have high expectations, but I was pleasantly surprised. The staff was friendly and took good care of us, and the ambiance was really groovy and mellow.
The fish tasted really good and the rolls were yummy. I really liked the spicy hamachi roll (add avocado). Also, the albacore appetizer was delish.
Overall we had a lovely experience and will be going back soon!
Looking for great fish on the cheap, then Otoro has you covered. I assume the low-end prices are because it's relatively new and trying to gain popularity. But whatever the reason, I love it. Nigiri sushi seems to range from about $3-5 for 2 pieces. I just had the basic sake sushi (salmon), and it was incredibly fatty and soft as butter, some of the best I've had outside of Tokyo for the price. Will try the tuna/toro next time...
Also had the miso ramen (mediocre, but not terrible). It's huge, decent broth, flavorless noodles with decent texture, giant chunks of pork (didn't really like that...maybe I'm just used to the traditional thin slices). Anyhow, you can get a much better bowl at Katana-Ya near the Clift hotel in SF.
Another time, had the vegetable soba, which was quite good, but a tad salty. I'd have it again, though.
For the fish, this place -- so far-- is definitely a winner! Let's hope the prices stay low!!
SO fantastic!
The atmosphere here is welcoming. Sleek, intimate. Tidy.
As a sushi place should be.
Warm colors and beautiful flowers. Minimal yet pleasant decorations.
Very friendly and engaging staff.
And of course, the food.
We had:
Agedashi Tofu ($5.25) - nicely crisped outside/ soft and luxurious inside. Flavorful dashi sauce and nice fresh radish on top.
Ebi (2 pieces/$3.50)
Unagi (2 pieces/$4.50)
Spicy Tuna (6 pieces/$4.95)
Spicy Hamachi (6 pieces/$4.75)
Everything was fresh and sweet as only the freshest fish can be.
The special roll we had was:
Dragon ($12.95) - shrimp tempura, snow crab, eel and avocado
Lovely. Beautifully presented and extremely tasty.
From the specials board we had the most amazing scallops. Thinly sliced with lemon and a shiso leaf. The satiny delicacy of this dish was dreamy.
Our sushi chef was very charming and helpful and when we asked about a special: marinated salmon belly, he most thoughtfully gave us a sample.
It was amazing.
If we hadn't already filled ourselves, we would have devoured mounds of it.
That's the kind of action that guarantees a repeat visit from me.
It's the simple details and care that absolutely draw my loyalty.
The host brought us dangerously delicious lychee mojitos....
With a decent menu of wines and shochu and a very impressive selection of sakes (including sake flights), I could see us spending quite a long and enjoyable time here!
I cannot write enough good things about Otoro or say enough thank yous to Jimmy (the owner) and all of the staff. They took AMAZING care of me + my 12 friends for my birthday dinner on Friday. As a self-proclaimed sushi smarty-pants, coupled with the heightened importance of the meal, they were up against a tough battle to earn my yelp stars. But they easily deserve 5 stars and then some! The service was impeccable (which is difficult when dealing with a large, rowdy-ish crowd). The fish was super fresh, delicious, plentiful, and well-priced. They kindly did a sake tasting for my group and even comped extra bottles of sake. Without anyone in my party saying a word, at the end of the meal, the lights in the restaurant went out and Jimmy led the entire restaurant in a birthday serenade as he delivered a complimentary mochi birthday cake.
Even if it's not your birthday:
- you will love the sake flights (I don't think the other Hayes Valley sushi spots offer this)
- you will be impressed with the quality of the fish
- you will be well taken care of
I live just down the street, so I think I may have found my new "regular" sushi place:) Thank you, Jimmy & Co.! :)
y-u-m!!! I really liked Otoro Sushi. :) Probably because the company was so awesome (it was a reunion with an old college buddy), but also because everyone was super nice and I love places with great service. My good friend Eric knows Jimmy (the owner) - but everyone was so amazing.. it made the dining experience even better! I'd definitely come here again for Jimmy's kindness, the hot Korean waitress, and the funny old sushi chef.
the sushi: super fresh. we had a ton of different types of fish (I'm not a sushi snob but thankfully Eric knew what he was ordering). everything had a good proportion of fish to rice. I know that good sushi is indicated not only through its fish, but also through the rice. Both were great!
the menu items: YUMMY. The black cod dish (aka: Tara) is a must. It just melts in your mouth and it's delicious and warm. :) The duck livers were interesting - i'm not a fan of liver, but as long as you don't tell me what it is.. i'll try it. i actually ate the whole thing. one special comment: the fried wontons. as an asian chick, i don't usually waste money on wontons (cuz i know it's usually a cheap menu item that isn't worth it usually)... but wherever they get their wontons.. yum!! oooh ooh and the fried chicken wings.. not your typical chicken wings. lightly battered and gently fried. good match to a cool glass of beer.
drinks: I told Jimmy that i'm not a big drinker so he made me a really light lychee martini. it was pretty good. not the best i've had but it had a really cool garnish. :)
dessert: OMG. you must end your meal with the black sesame ice cream. this is my new favorite flavor. :) as a high purveyor of ice cream.. i will rank this high on my list. :)
overall a great experience and a great night to catch up with a good friend. i would definitely recommend the place. it's a small joint but you know it's good cuz it was continuously packed (and we were there for some time!!). Service, food, and venue were great. Come check it out!
Came here last night with a group of 4 and we tried a number of dishes. All the cooked food was really good. Notable mentions are the sake kama, chicken wings, yakitori and braised butterfish. For the most part, the dishes were not only delicious but also very easy on the wallet. And now for the bad: the sushi. The ingredients were fresh but the sushi rice was frankly, quite terrible. It was slightly undercooked and lacked the requisite vinegar taste. In addition, the nori in the rolls were very soggy when they arrived at our table, which is not how they are supposed to be. So 4 stars for the cooked food but 3 stars for the sushi and a half-star deduction for how slow the food came out.
Aight. Still not the dream sushi place I'm looking for. Will do the job though.
FYI - gets SUPER loud in here.
O-toro is pretty decent. Reasonable fish selection and prices. The seating is ample and lots of tables, so easy for groups.
Salmon belly in sauce was a highlight as was the negitoro roll.
Miso soup is not recommended.
A fine option, but I prefer Domo for casual sushi in Hayes Valley.
Great sushi and sake. The ambiance is not much, but the place has fantastic tasting sushi with great design. I would recommend, great wait staff as well.
Question:
How many sushi joints can one neighborhood tolerate?
Answer:
An unlimited amount if they all offer something unique. I could eat sushi 7 days a week if my budget allowed it. As it is, I'm relegated to 4 or 5X a month so I need to be picky about where I go.
I'm not sure that Otoro will make my short list, but they are doing fairly well.
- Service- 5 stars! The service is the one thing about Otoro that stands out from the other places in the hood.
- Edamame- 2 1/2 stars Served cold, not the way I prefer it
- Nigiri- 5 stars Very good and reasonably priced- next time I'll try the Shiromaguro sans garlic though.
- Specialty Rolls- 2 stars We had the Otoro Roll. A specialty roll shouldn't cost $13 in my opinion. I was disappointed that rather than being filled with a beautiful slab of otoro, it was chopped instead. I can't remember if this was mentioned on the menu.
- Less expensive rolls- 3 1/2 stars The spicy tuna and the Hawaiian where both tasty (the tuna was again chopped up, but I think this is fairly common for a spicy tuna roll)
- Sake- 5 stars Great selection, reasonably price
- Acoustics- 0 stars Just plain sucked. Way too loud. I know that tapestries probably don't fit in with the minimalist vibe this restaurant is trying to present, but they need more fabrics in there to absorb the sound. B/F knocked on the wall and mentioned something about concrete vs. sheet rock, it all went over my head, but in a nutshell, whatever the deal is with those walls, the sound just bounces all over the room. We had to shout to hear each other.
Date & Time: Tuesday April 28, 2009 @ 6:30pm
Company: Michael
Crowd: After-Work & Pre-Theatre Going Groups of 30-Something Ladies in Milly or Catherine Malandrino Dresses
Vibe: Energetic
Music: Eclectic Mix of Jazz, Motown & Soul
Decor: Cool & Contemporary. Chocolate & Blue Color-Block Walls. Cobalt Blue Drop 1 Pendant Lighting. Intimate Space w/ Sushi Bar, A Couple of Dark Wood Tables for Quatre & Tightly-Packed Bench Seating for Deux & Quatre
Service: Witty & Sharp Waiter & Eye-Candy Waitress in Noire
Imbibe: Sake Sampler: Cherry Bouquet, Northern Skies, Autumn Elixer $10.75
Devour: Omakase- Sashimi & Nigiri: Toro, Aji, Uni, Hotati, Akimo, Otoro, Amberjack, Seared Hamachi. Kinoko Sauteed. Miso Black Cod. Wagyu Tataki. Miso Ramen. Black Sesame Ice Cream
Total: $124.64
How often does one luck out on scoring a good sushi place in their hood? Not very! We have 2 in Hayes, one is way to outrageously overpriced, the other has the worst service known to man.
Otoro fit the bill perfectly, nice ambiance (even for lunch), fresh & delicious sushi and reasonable prices. We had a lot of sashimi from the menu and a few things you typically have to ask for, all of which were amazing. I especially enjoyed the hamachi carpaccio with serrano, pea sprouts and itty bitty tomatoes.
Sake and soju drinks, beer and wine only...but they have an excellent sake selection.
I found the service to be very typical of a Japanese/sushi joint and will be back soon.
Thus far, this is my favorite sushi place in the city. Started off with the tori karaage and agedashi tofu and both were delicious. I generally prefer to have a sauce go with the karaage but a squeeze of the lemon wedge was yum too. For rolls. we ordered the krabby roll and spider roll, which were both also really good. But the best part of the meal was the sashimi. We had ordered tuna and salmon sashimi and oh my goodness were they amazing. They tasted like butter and melted in your mouth. I'm itching to go again soon!
Prices are good. It's a small but really cute restaurant. Lots of bars and dessert places nearby so it's perfect for a date!
3.5 is the real rating. I'd definitely recommend this joint, but it's not tops.
Brownie points:
-they let you design your own rolls
-good garlic white tuna nigiri
-good karaage, needs more lemon though
-helpful service, not the friendliest, but very helpful
OK points:
-good texture to agedashi tofu, not quite the right flavor
-not the most creative rolls menu
Minus points:
-no mochi
I will go back to try the skewers, kal bi, ramen...and make more rolls!
PS the acoustics get really noisy inside so this is not an ideal cozy date kinda place.
I had the pleasure of checking out Jimmy's new restaurant last night with couple of close friends. I have been a customer for years at his previous employer, and was anxiously waiting for this opening.
I expected the quality of the fish and the remaining dishes to be delicious... so that was not my worry. I did have two concerns however: parking and price. Surprisingly, parking around this area is not bad at all, especially after 6. I saw plenty of metered and non-metered spots open around the block. Prices were also very reasonable... seemed like there was no "S.F. premium"!
Decor is nice inside... feels cozy in a sense because there aren't that many tables. Chef Maki is also very entertaining, so I suggest that you try to sit at the sushi bar if available. Rest of the staff is kind as well, and service was prompt.
Ahh... time to detox from all the sake I drank last night... and upload these pictures...
Sushi is fresh, udon is really good, and the staff is really friendly. Not out of the world, but definitely one of the better sushi places in Hayes Valley.
With dark wood accents and muted walls, Otoro offers a decidedly down-tempo, loungey atmosphere in which to enjoy your raw fish fix. However, this newcomer offers nothing that you can't get from any other established sushi join in SF.
Overall, the fish was good. Two standouts were the masu (sea trout) and the toro (fatty tuna). However, Otoro made two mistakes that call into question their commitment to presenting the best dishes possible: (1) Served cold, the edamame had a pasty texture indicating that it had been overcooked and refrigerated, rather than prepared to order. (2) The slightly shriveled ikura (salmon roe) was noticeably old.
Otoro is fine overall, but with Sebo and Sushi Domo in the neighborhood, I'm not sure we need another sushi restaurant in Hayes Valley.
Happy Hour Draft Beer $1.75!
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