Upon entering the restaurant, we were told there are two seating options, one at the hand roll / sushi bar and one at the other bar that serves appetizers and other dishes. We were shown the two different menus and let the host know we're interested in hand roll / sushi. We had a party size of 2, my friend ordered the 5 hand roll set (b - non spicy) and I ordered the 4 hand roll set with 2 pieces of kinmedai (golden eye snapper). My first hand roll from the 4 hand roll set is Toro whereas the 5 hand roll set (b - non spicy) set is Bluefin Tuna. When we were handed our first hand rolls there was some confusion. The chef that handed us our hand rolls was not the same chef that prepared them for us, therefore he said they were both bluefin tuna. When we looked at the menu to ask if that's correct, he clarified that one is Toro and one is Bluefin Tuna and swapped the plates to give us our respective hand rolls. The hand roll felt loosely wrapped with thin nori, so once you're one or two bites in, the filling gets squished and the hand roll becomes deconstructed. After the first hand roll, I received my kinmedai sushi which was dressed in yuzu juice and recommended to eat as is. Kinmedai is one of my favorite fish to eat and I felt like this preparation didn't allow for the fish to shine, the yuzu juice was overwhelming and the skin was not torched. We proceeded to get our hand rolls around the same time as each other, we both got our second - blue crab; which meant my friend was receiving her hand rolls out of order than what is specified on the menu. Then our third, I received the spicy yellowtail and my friend got salmon. The yellowtail was cut in strips with a muscle segment that ran through it which made it difficult to bite into. It had a pretty spicy kick to it. When we were handed our fourth hand roll, I received spicy tuna concluding my set and she received lobster. She was informed that's the last hand roll concluding her set as well. She asked to confirm whether the Toro hand roll of her set was given, to which the chef responded that it was already given at the beginning as the first hand roll. We clarified with him that the Toro hand roll was a part of my set and he responded in a loud volume that all hand rolls were given and whether we switched them is our problem. We responded that he switched them.. and that she's only received 4/5 of her hand rolls. At this time the other chef who was preparing our food tried to intervene to let him know that we were correct and they did not give her a Toro hand roll yet. He mumbled "sorry" and said whatever the other staff members did, he doesn't know and shrugged it off. The interaction was off-putting and shocking, we're not sure why it escalated so quickly. The situation was mishandled and could have been resolved by checking in with the other chefs first, rather than yelling at us and blaming us for the missing Toro hand roll. I had high expectations for ootoro bar since I enjoyed ootoro sushi in Irvine. The food at ootoro bar was decent but nothing to write home about. The service/interaction with the chef was uncomfortable and overshadowed the whole dining experience. They recently opened and may still be in their soft opening phase, I hope they will be able to iron out these kinks to emulate the same experience and quality of food you can find at their sushi restaurant. read more

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Overall thought the sushi was quite good. Some very premium (and expensive) options for those that want to try Wagyu etc. I think the hand roll sets are very reasonably priced (don't buy them individually- get the sets) and really liked the crab and toro rolls in particular. Sushi sets, particularly set B - were very reasonable as well. I didn't like one of the salmon sushi creations with lemon but otherwise very happy with the experience read more

Came here on a Thursday to check out their lunch specials. What I like is that there is a wide range in prices to fit those who want to splurge and those who want a casual but nice lunch. Also was a plus that the shopping center had plenty of parking and there was no wait. Seating is in a bar configuration: 2 large square bars. This is a place good for couples or a very small group. I think the point of the seating is to be able to observe the sushi-making, but at least when I was there, the sushi was made on the opposite bar and nothing was really happening at mine so there was no "chef action" going. Also, because of the way the bar is configured honestly it doesn't make for really good viewing of the chefs IMO, unlike at other sushi restaurants when you can sit at the bar and see the fish cash and chefs at eye level. Food: had the sushi lunch and nigiri was fresh, the rice well-flavored. It took a bit of time to get our food out despite the restaurant having about 8 people toward the end of lunch service. Perhaps this timing maybe because the entire plate order comes out at once. A suggestion would be to maybe break up the plate into 2 rounds so that it comes out to the customer earlier and also allows max freshness for the consumer. The server did not introduce the cuts of fish, since this was chef's choice, I wasn't positive of what a few of the pieces were and the chef was not right in front of me to ask. For the price point of this restaurant, I would've hoped that these types of considerations would be attended to. read more

This is a review for their hand rolls only. Overall, my satisfaction level was just okay for their hand rolls. They do everything right from quality fish, but some minor things that make me like other spots more satisfying. But don't get me wrong this is a solid spot for handrolls! //CONTEXT// I came here on a Friday as a party of two. We were seated almost immediately at around 5 pm! Amazing! //ENVIRONMENT// Two large sushi bars! Love the ambiance and environment. Super cozy and has a nice high end feeling to it with the sleek modern wood and dark walls. Super clean and bathrooms are clean //FOOD// * 5 piece Handroll set plus a soft shell crab add on - Some pieces the seaweed was crispy and other times the integrity of the seaweed became soft fast and this was within me eating it within less than maybe a minute. Other spots I notice it stays crispy and I think it's because they toast their seaweed and use higher quality seaweed. I'm not sure what they do here but it was soggy fast! - Fish quality was great! However I don't think that means it all tasted amazing. I felt like there should be some seasoning or something because it felt like I was eating a block of fish. I'm not sure what other spots do but it's more flavorful - rice is seasoned fairly well but I love when it's sweeter //SERVICE// Our waiter also thought we only ordered one set and not two for two people and we had to let her know after two rolls came out already Overall I might be back to try their sushi since it seems seasoned and garnished better but it is a decent fix for hand rolls don't get me wrong! I just prefer other spots for Handrolls read more

Not my favorite hand roll place but worth a try. Prices are affordable/comparable to other sushi spots, and interior is pretty. I ordered a hand roll set and the rolls came oddly slow/fast at times when I was still eating. The Spicy Tuna hand roll was very sesame oil heavy and super spicy, which was off-putting, especially as my last roll. read more

Ootoro Bar - Japanese Near Me - Tustin, California

I can say Ootoro Sushi Bar in Tustin is a rare find -- an intimate, romantic, contemporary spot that elevates every bite into an event. From the moment you step in, the warm, modern décor and soft lighting set a quietly sophisticated mood perfect for date night or a special celebration. The ambience strikes a beautiful balance between sleek minimalism and cozy romance. But the true star is the sushi. The fish here is incredibly fresh -- each piece arrives with a clarity of flavor and silky texture that makes it clear you're tasting top-tier seafood. The chefs aren't afraid to play with subtle, inventive accents: delicate hits of yuzu add a bright citrus lift, and shiso leaves impart an herbal, slightly minty lift that complements fatty cuts and light white fish alike. These thoughtful flavor combinations -- restrained yet bold -- enhance rather than overpower the natural taste of the fish. Service is attentive without being intrusive, and the presentation feels artful yet unpretentious. Whether you order nigiri to savor the pure freshness, or a few creative rolls and sashimi selections that showcase those citrus and herb pairings, every course feels intentional and carefully composed. If you're in the Tustin area and craving sushi that marries impeccable quality with a romantic, contemporary atmosphere, Ootoro Sushi Bar is not to be missed. 15020 Kensington Park Dr, Ste 120, Tustin, CA 92782 -- reserve a table and let the flavors speak for themselves. read more

Nice location and decent ambiance. I tried the seven piece hand roll. Much better fish quality than other hand roll places, but the seaweed is too soggy. For freshly rolled hand rolls, it would taste much better with crunchier seaweed. I'm not a fast eater, so I would have preferred a slight break between rolls to give me an opportunity to appreciate the fish variations a bit more. Overall not bad, I would come back occasionally. read more

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Honestly we had a lot of food but was too busy to eat to take pics of them. The ambiance is super cozy and perfect for dates night. The service is on point and the food is of course very fresh and delicious. read more

Ootoro Bar - Sashimi Deluxe - Japanese Near Me - Tustin, California

Came here for lunch a few weeks ago with a friend as they opened a new location in Tustin. I believe this location is more focused on hand rolls but we opted for the Nigiri Sushi Set #B ($73 pp) & added Uni Nigiri and a small sake. Overall the fish quality was excellent, I especially liked the tuna course which had 4 different kinds. The ambiance was really nice, I did like the dim lighting. My only negative is that I felt a little rushed, and the noise/volume behind the bar was a bit loud. Perhaps that's because we came during lunch and not dinner, or they are still training the sushi chefs. The total cost for everything was roughly $280 with tip. Would I go again? Probably not - though it was delicious I can think of a few other places in OC that cost less and offer the same quality. read more

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My husband and I made reservations for the omakase meal here for Valentine's Day. Unfortunately it did not live up to our expectations..we had a 730 pm reservation and came in about 3 minutes earlier and ended up waiting 10 minutes for a seat. The lobby/waiting area was PACKED with people waiting as well. It felt so uncomfortable. Once we were finally seated, my husband and I were extremely confused. We didn't know if we had to mention that we booked the omakase course, so we were just waiting around for 30 minutes until our first course came out. It was a clear broth soup with a shrimp ball inside..the shrimp ball was decent, but set the tone for the kind of dinner we were going forward with. During the first hour that we were sat, we were only served 3 courses!!! While I understand that it was an extremely busy day, and I give grace to the workers and especially the chefs, I just found it pretty unacceptable for the restaurant to take so many omakase courses alongside customers who were ordering à la carte. We were there for nearly 3 hours! The sushi itself was overall a 5/10. For the price tag, it felt like I wasn't eating premium omakase. Nearly everything had truffle oil or covered in truffle slices..it was too much for sushi. A lot of the courses were made in the back by another chef which honestly took away from the traditional omakase aspect of having your sushi chef prepare and present your sushi to you. I could barely hear what each course was since the restaurant was so loud. The ambience was also extremely overstimulating with the sushi chefs inside the bar and the servers going in and out which makes me a little weary of the overall cleanliness. The bar table where we were sat had food tickets all over it - what the heck? :/ It definitely was not worth $500+ for this meal for 2 people...honestly it's pretty insane that this was the price tag considering the awful experience. I love omakase for the experience and quality sushi, but this was not it. I'm pretty upset that we spent our Valentine's here - we were bamboozled! Thank you to the chefs who worked hard tonight during this busy day, however this valentines omakase dinner definitely felt like a cash grab, and I hope management can figure out a better system. read more

Freshest fish in OC. Love the vibes, the fish, the price! Been back here a handful of times because it is my son's new fave sushi restaurant. I love that it offers rolls, sushi AND cooked items. All of the food I have ordered is fantastic. My son loves the salmon ikura bowl, my husband loves the sashimi and sushi sets and I love the 5 handroll set (non spicy) + an extra blue crab handroll. Service is quick and the restaurant always has available seating. I think it will be crowded when word gets out, for now I am enjoying my secret sushi getaway. Think Kazunori + Sugarfish with the option to order cooked items like wagyu fried rice! read more

Great service, lots of happy hour deals, ordered their 5 roll set, beef ramen, and their toro sushi. Can't wait to back. Still thinking of the ramen. read more

Ootoro Bar - Japanese Near Me - Tustin, California

This is a hidden gem. Fresh sushi and sashimi that doesn't need much to highlight its flavor. Will definitely come again. read more

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Came here for lunch with my parents over the weekend. The place was over half empty. Got the deluxe sashimi plate and premium chirashi bowl. You get thick cuts of sashimi and most of the fish tasted fresh. The sushi came out pre-cut on a small tray and then plated in front of the seated patrons. Service was slow for how few ppl were in the establishment. read more

Ootoro Bar - Premium chirashi - Japanese Near Me - Tustin, California

One of the important questions that I ask myself after dining at a restaurant is: "would I come here again?" And unfortunately the answer is "probably not". I think for the pricing, I was expecting something a bit more, but the hand rolls were very tiny and lackluster and overly simplistic. There was just a tiny portion of fish in it and not a lot of rice: it kind of felt like a little childs portion from a kids meal. Which, I am not knocking simplistic, but when I am paying a premium price, I want a little more for my buck. To be fair, what little of the fish I could taste did taste fresh, but I just wanted a little more of it. It is all bar seating, so I think this is great for a "fast" service spot if you wanted a quick lunch. I came on a weekday and the service itself was fast, so you can get in and out pretty quick for a work lunch. read more

I ordered sushi set B plus a roll. Fish/neta is laughably thin. I'm actually impressed by how thinly chef was able to slice the fish. Nigiri is poorly formed. Chefs are probably still in the training phase, but they shouldn't be allowed to serve paying customers. Shari could use more vinegar, but that's more a personal preference. Stools were a bit wobbly. Service is nice and quick. Parking is plentiful and easy, which is a plus over the Ootoro location on Michelson. If you don't mind the parking situation, Ootoro on Michelson is much better at a slightly higher price point. Rating: Could've been better. read more

Ootoro Bar - Fish/neta is laughably thin. Nigiri is poorly formed. - Japanese Near Me - Tustin, California

I know they're in their soft opening, so I would say let's give them some grace. However, it just wasn't an enjoyable overall experience being here. We came in close to opening and were the only people in the restaurant for a while. We ordered 2 Sushi Set A's. Taste wise, everything was delicious! However, price to food ratio it just didn't feel like enough food. Additionally, one of the chef's serving us didn't know what fish was being served, which is ok I guess, but then the other chef scolded him right in front of us and it felt a little rude. Additionally, right as we would take our last bite on a plate someone on the other side would be telling us to hand over the plate as I'm mid chew. Please, let me enjoy my bite! If it was busy or something maybe I'd understand, but there didn't seem to be a reason to rush. Also, everyone seemed to be watching us eat which doesn't make for comfortable dining. The water cups definitely need straws or a different type of ice. They bunch together and when you go to sip, it all comes splashing in your face as one giant ice cube. I know Omakase has a way of doing a meal and being served quick (I think?) But ultimately we were only there for like 15 minutes total for eating time. Not really sure how this would appeal in a date setting or even going out with friends if you're done eating SO fast. read more

We've tried Ootoro in Walnut, CA but we were very excited to see what this new location has to offer. The restaurant is very clean with two sets of bars and lots of seating. The parking is also located in a large plaza and is plentiful. We opted for the 6 hand roll set which were all fantastic and had an extra Toro sushi on the side which was amazing! Service was friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. The fish was fresh and I wouldn't mind driving out here to splurge and try some of their higher end cuts! read more

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Good food. The chirashi was ok. hand rolls were average. The grilled miso was really good. The udon was good as well. Nice interior. Good service. would come again. read more

To be honest, this is more of a 3.5 stars but I rounded up to 4 stars since it's still their soft opening. I had high hopes, especially since Ootoro was my absolute fav spot for sashimi & sushi. Unfortunately, the hand rolls didn't quite live up to that bar I had. Compared to Kazunori or ROL, the hand rolls here felt one dimensional and muted since nothing really stood out. The nori was a bit dry & stuck to my lips as I took each bite which made it unpleasant. The rice, while cooked well, lacked flavor--there was no hint of vinegar or warmth to enhance it. Oddly enough, the ginger ended up boosting the taste rather than just serving as a palate cleanser. I had 5 hand rolls, hubby ordered 6, and we added 2 more otoro rolls and a spicy yellowtail roll. The fish was good quality, but it didn't quite shine as a hand roll, if that makes sense. After 6.5 rolls, I felt like I could eat more, but I was just satisfied enough. One thing I noticed that can be improved is the pacing of the rolls. The chefs seemed overwhelmed by the amount of customers, and at times, it looked like they weren't sure what to do next as there's just too many tasks. That said, with more time and experience, I think they'll get the flow right and improve the overall experience (I hope). Also, we went right at opening time so there wasn't a line. By 6:30, there were like 3-5 parties waiting & this is just soft opening! So prepare for long waits but visit soon as they have 10% off right now! read more

Ootoro Bar - Japanese Near Me - Tustin, California

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ootoro bar is such an elevated and intimate handroll spot -- perfect for date night. the space feels upscale but still relaxed, and the service matches the vibe. all the handrolls were super fresh and packed with flavor. everything was made right in front of us and served at the perfect temperature. definitely one of the better handroll experiences i've had in oc! read more

Ootoro Bar - Japanese Near Me - Tustin, California

This new spot kept popping up on IG...They opened 4 weeks ago. It's a similar hand roll bar concept to Rol and Kazunori. It's located in a strip mall with pretty easy parking. The ambiance is modern, minimalistic but new and clean. You sit at a bar and the chef serves you much like the other joints I mentioned. Service was quick and courteous. Fish was fresh and delicious. Thought the prices were a great value for the quality of food and service. They also serve sake and beer. I'm pumped this place opened in the neighborhood and will be regulars at Ootoro Bar! read more

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Just like their sister store in Irvine next to John Wayne Airport. Phenomenal sushi establishment. My family and I have been enjoying their food and service for many years now. Faldi, the manager remembered my name, even though him, and I have only encountered each other twice. That goes to show the quality of staffing they have, and I am truly honored that he was able to remember my name. read more

Amazing Sushi - Think NOBU ( SanDiego Location) in the neighborhood- Great personable staff. So fresh !! Great taste combinations.

TLDR; Omakase quality sushi at half the cost! Food: For 2 people we got - Sushi set A (12 piece nigiri + 1 hand roll). The sushi set was easy to share since you get 2 of each fish. Fish quality is very fresh and rice is warm and perfectly marinated. The perfect combination of high quality sushi! Tastes just like sushi at omakase and everything is made fresh at the counter so you can eat them at the perfect temperature. - 2 sets of 3 piece hand rolls. It's the base set and it comes with tuna, blue crab, and salmon. Service: Our servers were really attentive from start to finish. Our water, ginger, wasabi is always refilled without having to ask! Ambiance: Unassuming from outside but it's very nice and clean inside. Bar seating only and plenty of parking read more

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Food: excellent. Very high quality fish. We tried the omakase as well as the hand rolls. Both are very good. I think their rolls are better than ROL by Kei Concept Service: very quick, friendly and well trained. A little too quick to my opinion cuz I was here for dinner and they serve so fast that our dinner done in 30 mins. If you want to have a longer conversation with your friends, you can ask them to slow down but overall excellent customer service Ambiance: bar style. No tables. Not too loud and nice. Very good for dinner Price: it is on a high end side but again their fish are very good. Overall, 5/5 I highly recommended read more

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**This review is specifically for the hand rolls** i went last week for a pre-Valentine's dinner. I specifically wanted to try their hand roll menu to see if I found a better spot than ROL or Kazunori. Overall, it was okay. The nori was so tough and chewy - and yes, i did eat it immediately after it was served. The rolls themselves were big but some had a lot of rice and little fish like my toro. Rice was room temp but the fish was sooo cold. It was interesting that the rolls have big cuts of fish instead of minced portions but i think this would've been way better if the nori was actually crispy and light. I may try the Irvine location for the sushi. It just feels like they wanted to do hand rolls "to do it" but did not bother to change or care for the ingredients (different nori and fish preparations) so it misses the mark. Service was okay. Servers in the square stand and stare at you. The ambiance was okay, nothing special. I appreciate that the music isn't too loud. read more

Sooo good!! Food, service, ambience excellent!! Loved this place! If you love fresh sushi, this is the place. read more

Ootoro Bar - Japanese Near Me - Tustin, California

Went for lunch with family, food is great, service is descent. Since we have a party of 8, the waiter reminded us 2-3 times that there will be an 18% gratuity charge. We are aware and planned on 18 % gratuity. When the time came to pay, he was looking over my shoulder as I was paying on the credit card device. I tipped 18% on the pre-tax amount. Watching closely behind me, he told me I did it WRONG- I'm supposed to tip based on the suggested tip, which was based on the post tax total. I disagreed, I should not be tipping on tax. Another waiter came over, but stated that it's the policy of the restaurant to tip on the amount suggested. He kindly offered free ice cream to make it up by we declined. Overall- the food is great but I disagree with the rigid tipping policy for a large party. read more

Came here on a Thursday after Christmas and there was a wait. Not sure if it's because the business is kind of new but service was all over the place, watching the workers behind the sushi bar was stressing me out. However, I would say the handrolls we got were super delicious and the quality of the fish was really good. Probably one of the best hand roll places I've been in OC. Other than the service which I'm sure can get better later on, I think the value for the handroll sets are really worth.! read more

I was craving sushi and stumbled upon Ootoro Bar in Tustin. I was lucky enough to catch the last day of their soft opening deal of 10% off. I arrived 10mins after opening and there were already a good amount of people dining in. When you walk in, there are 2 big rectangular bars for seating. I kind of wish they had hooks under the bar tables so ladies could hang their purses, but I was able to tuck my bag behind me. I started with Sushi Set #A (I requested no wasabi or anything spicy) The sushi came out about 4 pieces at a time and most of them already had sauce on them so soy sauce was not necessary. The waitress explained what each fish were and the sauce or seasoning on them. I was told to eat from right to left of the plate. Not sure why but I abided. The sushi were good. My fav would have to be the scallop and white fish with their citrusy sauce. Least fav was unfortunately the salmon. It's wasn't bad, just wasn't anything special... and salmon is usually my favorite. I also ordered some Sashimi and was surprised to see such thick cuts. They were delicious! Fav of the sashimi was the yellowtail. I ordered the 5 non spicy Hand Roll set as well. Hand rolls came out last because they had to make sure you ate one at a time while the seaweed was still crispy. Fav hand roll is the blue crab. At first sight, the crab filling seemed so little. But after taking a bite, I understood why. The blue crab packs a powerful punch of flavor! The lobster roll was surprisingly my least fav. It tasted like it was drenched in sesame oil and I didn't get any lobster flavor at all. Staff was friendly and apologetic about the wait even though the wait was not bad. Hot tea is complimentary so that was nice to go with my meal. Overall, I would give this place a 4.5 star. read more

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This place is a hidden gem! Fresh & high quality sushi, in a very modern & elegant atmosphere. It feels like something I'd stumble upon in Manhattan. I came here because another spot had an 1 hour 30 min wait. I was seated immediately, which I was surprised because it was 7:30 on a Friday night. read more

Ootoro Bar - Japanese Near Me - Tustin, California

Ootoro is always my number one choice for Japanese food. If you're looking for some incredible handrolls and sushi, try this place. fresh ingredients with different secret sauce. So delicious ~ I also love their restaurant design and the high sushi counter; I can watch the chef prepare my dishes. Highly recommended read more

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Great sushi. Around $100 per person for a good meal. They have a real sushi bar and the chefs are very friendly.

Premium sushi spot with generous slices of raw fish. Great service and very attentive to my drink refills. Dark and intimate ambiance makes this a great option for smaller groups or dates. It has the energy of a fancy restaurant while still feeling comfortable and casual. read more

Ootoro Bar - Salmon ikura bowl from lunch menu - Japanese Near Me - Tustin, California

I recently visited Hand Roll Bar and don't think I will be returning any time soon.. While the fish quality was fresh and the chefs were incredibly attentive, I found the flavors to be lacking. The sauce in the spicy tuna roll was way too strong and overpowered the fish, making it hard to enjoy. Also, the blue crab roll had pieces of shell, which was quite unpleasant when I bit into it. My last issue was that none of the fatty fish were truly fatty. The toro was very lean as was the salmon belly. Overall, while the quality of ingredients and service were great, the execution of the dishes just didn't hit the mark for me. read more

Ootoro Bar - Japanese Near Me - Tustin, California

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I'm glad they have lunch special now, so there are more choices for us. Service is good that they keep checking on you and madding sure everything is good. Ambiance is a little dark but very clean and nice. read more

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I am a regular at Ootoro Irvine. It's consistently excellent quality and fair priced. I prefer table seating and lunch combo, cirashi and sashimi vs hand roll sets. I am not a business person but if sales are less than expected they could move the bar all the way back and setup tables and try that. Irvine seems very busy. read more

Came in on Saturday with a reservation for four and got seated immediately. Ordered the 6-piece handroll set -- fish was incredibly fresh, and the nori was perfectly crunchy. Tried the unagi and ootoro sushi as well, and the ootoro was melt-in-your-mouth good. Service was excellent; the staff was attentive and quick. Great spot for fresh handrolls and fantastic service! read more

Ootoro Bar - Ootoro sushi, must try! - Japanese Near Me - Tustin, California

This was for lunch. I knew I was in the right place because there were 21 people in there, including me, an 19 of them were Japanese. I had the lunch combo and I chose the 5 piece sushi and karage, plus I added a 5 piece salmon cut roll as a side. The sushi was very fresh and practically melted in my mouth. The karage was a large order and very well cooked. The combo included miso soup and steamed rice. I was very impressed with the service, food and value, given the quality. When I am in the Tustin area, I'd have no problem stopping back here again. read more