Service is a bit slow, particularly during lunch and dinner rushes. Adjust your expectations and you'll be happier with the result. Food is good. Tasty savory dishes. I'm a fan of their sushi rolls and their fried green tea ice cream and fried bananas! read more

Great food the place is a gem with quality Quaint atmosphere that doesn't impress but is warm in a run down way. It's located in an old house on corner and does have a unique charm. read more

The people at Otella are fantastic. Peter Jeff and Ming are the best people to deal with greatest Sushi always have the greatest time there people you need to go there. read more

Ota-Ya - Japanese Near Me - Lambertville, New Jersey

Good sushi in Lambertville, NJ We go here as one of our main places for consistent good food read more

Ota-Ya is my 'go to' local place for sashimi and sushi. The fish is always fresh, the rice well prepared and the service is always wonderful. The presentation of the fish is consistently impressive. I love that they are BYOB, so I can bring my favorite sake with me. Additionally, the Ota-Ya team does a great job balancing the demands of customers dining in the restaurant and those that have ordered take-out (which I also do frequently). Overall, a great experience driven by high quality fish and a wonderful team. read more

Ota-Ya - Sushi / Sashimi dinner - Japanese Near Me - Lambertville, New Jersey

We had a great time at Ota-Ya. This place was not on our radar. But I'm so glad we found it as it's kind of tucked away. It's BYOB and there is a liquor store right across the street. It was a small place and they were busy but they fit us in during a busy dinner service. We got 7 sushi rolls: spicy salmon, mango lobster roll, shrimp tempura roll, tuna spring roll, vegetarian roll, one with cooked salmon maybe the dragon roll, and the other I can't for the life of me remember. Nothing was left! Fresh and light even with that much sushi. Must try! read more

Ota-Ya - Sushi boat with various rolls. - Japanese Near Me - Lambertville, New Jersey

See all

Best sushi in the area. Consistently high quality from a family owned restaurant. Spicy Tuna "pizza" is amazing. 7 fishes roll, Ota ya roll etc Excellent read more

Ota-Ya - Lr salmon dynamite, 7 fishes, crunchy salmon and godzIlla rolls - Japanese Near Me - Lambertville, New Jersey

See all

Good food, large portions, attentive staff, fair prices...however this place is crazy loud!!

I have heard mixed things about this place and have been craving sushi so I decided to check it out! The building is quite big with a smaller dining room & sushi bar, with a cute little fountain on the left side of the room. They have a pretty extensive menu with lots of options, so we decided to order a few things, starting with the spicy kimchi miso soup, which was awesome! It was a nice take on the soup which can sometimes be bland, and added a special layer to it. We also were craving some pork gyoza which was nice but to me fell short on flavor, even the soy wasn't helping. Ordered their spider roll with soft shell crab which also was a little bland and texturally wasn't as wonderful as I hoped but soft shell crab is always good in my eyes. And you can't go wrong with spicy tuna, a classic. I think maybe the place is overdue to do some renovations and updates especially starting with the peeling beams above the diners, but overall a decent spot to enjoy a hand roll. read more

See all

May is so sweet. Sushi chefs do an amazing job. Food is always spot and delicious. Best sushi around !! Pictures all from last couple months. #NemoRoll #OtaYaSalad #basilsandwich read more

Horrible meal. Where to begin? We showed up at 5:30 without a reservation and asked for a table for three. (Actually, just finding the door was a challenge - hint - it's at the far end of the dark and unlighted ramp on the right side of the building). The look from the kid at the door was like he was doing us a favor even seating us. Honestly, he looked disappointed we were there. And the restaurant was mostly empty. We ordered two appetizers and a sushi sashimi combo for one, expecting to order more food later once the first food arrived. Which is how we typically order sushi. The waitress was excessively curt, did not greet us or smile. Exactly zero courtesy. The guy who pumped my gas at Wawa was friendlier. 30 minutes into the meal and no food had arrived, and it became clear that we should've ordered more food in the initial order. But too late. The first appetizer arrived after 45 minutes, the second one after an hour, and the sushi sashimi combo arrived after an hour and a quarter. We considered leaving during the wait, but we stuck it out, which was a mistake. The food was mediocre. The portions were small, the rice was mushy, and the sashimi was still frozen inside the cuts. Uninspired sushi from a place 15 years past it's prime. If you think the food here is good, or a value of any kind, then you don't get out much. The bill, for two appetizers and the entrée, with no drinks or tea, was $91. Absurd. We left hungry, and also now feeling a bit nauseous. I am waiting for the oven to heat up so that I can eat a frozen pizza, because I am starving. Will not go back, and I don't care if the locals or the owners are offended by this review. That is the worst meal I've had in the last year or two, and I eat out three or four times a week. Don't support rude service, mediocre food and exorbitant prices. There are so many great places around to eat. Restaurants that are happy for your patronage. Restaurants that want you to come back. This is not one of them. You have been warned. read more

Spending a lovely weekend in Lambertville, N.J. we happened upon this highly rated sushi restaurant. The decor is dated and minor details need an upgrade but the place is comfortable and most of all the food is outstanding. There is plenty of seating. The owner and people here are super nice and take pride in the food they serve. Like works of Art. Enjoy this place. read more

See all

Ota-Ya never disappoints! Good quality sushi for a decent price. I love Ota-Ya for it's atmosphere, it's extremely relaxed and the service is very welcoming and friendly. Always a great option for take-out or quick dinner out! read more

Best sushi I've ever had. Everyone there is so nice too. It's byob which great. And I love it.

I've been coming here with my family my whole life- the food is amazing. The staff are very caring. The owner always comes by to make sure everything is okay. It is a lovely family business. I definitely suggest coming here when you are in lambertville! read more

It's been a while since we last had dinner at Ota Ya In all candor it's not our goto for sushi. I will say the food here is very good. Ambience could use a little sprucing up. I had a few of the special rolls that were all very good and the waitress incredibly accommodating. Great service and great food. read more

Wonderful sushi bar, kitchen and whole family of staff. Lambertville is very fortunate to have Ota-Ya.

I highly recommend this restaurant to sushi lovers. This is one of my favorite sushi places to go to. I come here at least once or twice a month. Here are some reasons: 1. The fish is always fresh and has amazing flavor 2. They have many rolls to choose from for whatever you enjoy 3. Everything is super tasty! Some rolls I recommend: -Nemo roll -Godzilla Roll -Spicy Rock Roll Everything is amazing. Although they give a nice quantity of miso soup, I've had some experiences where it's extremely salty, but generally Otaya is awesome!!!! read more

Ota-Ya - Boat with all different yummy sushis!! - Japanese Near Me - Lambertville, New Jersey

Thank you, Ota-Ya, for your fantastic traditional and out-of-the-box menu options, beautiful seafood, incredible service, warm and retro-hip atmosphere, and just an overall excellent dining experience. Love also that you will heat up or cool down our byob saki. You're the perfect spot for sushi. read more

Traveling in the area and seeing the many positive review on Yelp it was a no brainer to come here given my desire for sushi. Everything was fresh but there was nothing outstanding. I took the sushi to-go which is not ideal but it didn't seem to effect the quality. There were only 2 tables of people and 1 sushi chef. It took over 30 minutes to get my food. I had the roti (which I've never had at a sushi restaurant since it is an Indian dish) because I wanted something different and the reviews were good. I have nothing to compare it to but it was very good. I then had salmon skin salad. It tasted fine but everything was shredded too fine. Probably best to have fresh, too. I then had a few rolls and hamachi sushi. It was fresh and tasted fine. Overall it was too expensive for what I had. read more

See all

Food ok, but building/restaurant is a dump. Owner needs to reinvest. Outside Restaurant Sign is falling over and covered by overgrown shrubs. Also, they do not have an online menu available. Time to rise up and deliver to Expectations of local clientele. read more

Never in my life have I been stopped by the wait staff on my way out the door to be told we didn't tip enough... but it happened here! So unprofessional and classless. We tipped what we thought was appropriate based on the service we received. I was also told by the waitress that "there was still food on my plate" when I said I was done. Excuse me??? We had appetizers AND full meals. We used to come here every year on our traditional trip to Lambertville but will not be returning now. Aside from the fact that the interior of this place is literally falling apart, the service has plummeted. read more

Great quality fish. I've only ever done takeout but almost weekly I get the chirashi and the fish is fantastic, and really nicely prepared. Takeout is quick and everyone I've encounter there are really friendly and easy. Highly recommend! read more

Ota-Ya - Chirashi dinner takeout - Japanese Near Me - Lambertville, New Jersey

See all

Disclaimer: My wife and I love sushi and this is, by far, our favorite in the area. We went two nights ago (2/25/11) and had a great meal. We always begin with the lobster mango salad, served with fresh avocado over ice. Edamame came out warm and salted well. When available, be sure to order the live sweet shrimp. The assortment of sashimi (tuna, salmon,yellowtail, crab and eel) was incredibly fresh. We love their spicy tuna roll. The Bonsai roll with scallop is also a must-have. This is a BYO so be sure to bring some wine or beer. Also, reservations on Fridays/Saturdays are a must. You won't be disappointed. read more

Great sushi, prompt and friendly service. We had a great time there. Fish was fresh, rolls were fun and plenty to choose from. Big menu, great taste. Baby friendly. Holiday roll was fun. Can't wait to go back again. read more

We dined on a busy Saturday and didn't have reservations so we ate at the sushi bar. This is a bring your own wine restaurant for those looking for alcohol. The food was delicious. Extensive choice of sushi rolls, and the tempura tender and scrumptious. Things feel apart at the service. They started out attentive and kept the meal moving at s nice pace. However when we were done we had to wait around 20 minutes from when we were obviously finished with our meal to get our check. The odd part about that was by then the restaurant had quieted down significantly and was almost empty. Read the menu very carefully if you're gluten free. One of our rolls came with deep fried soft shell crab that had a tempura batter on it. Our fault for not clarifying. read more

I feel this is one of the best sushi places around. I have been here an many occasions and love to come with a group and try the sushi boats. The fish always very fresh and flavorful. Service is nice. Maybe my favorite restaurant in Lambertville. read more

A huge kudo to the sushi chefs here..... outstanding sushi and sashimi. The two behind the sushi bar were non stop for the 2+ hrs we were seated there producing excellent product ... you two are rock stars and deserve 10 stars ! The kitchen could use a little attention here though . Tempuras were a bit greasy and heavy handed . The goyza dumplings were flat and flavorless . The popcorn chicken was missing chicken . It was very crowded and I assume the kitchen was in the weeds . The waitress was rushed and personality free however the food runner was a lovely young woman who made up for the waitresses lack of attention . We ate on the early side for us and would suggest a little later as not to hear a father yell literally 50xs " Parker sit down"Parker sit the hell down and let us eat this delicious sushi in peace ! read more

Sometimes the sushi is good, other times the rice is way to mushy and chewy and find it hard ti even get down the seaweed, wait times are also insane for pick up, even after i wait 30 min im inside waiting another 10 read more

The only sushi in town! I usually vacation in Lambertville... I know what you're thinking--- but this place beats the Hamptons hands down in the areas of quiet, gorgeousness, and trash removal. The prices here at restaurants pretty much match that of the Hamptons. I usually don't like to go out and eat when I'm on vakay--- it's fun to stay in and spent time making food. But anyways, the sushi here is a pleasant surprise! You could get better sushi in Manhattan (Tomoe) for the same price, yes--- but this is actually still reasonable. Love their kimono with a "DO NOT TOUCH" sign safety pinned on it. Love their huge, clean, bathroom. The service was really friendly and smart. There is a liquor store on the way here, so grab a bottle of sake! BYO friendly! read more

Truthfully, I just didn't like it. From the moment I walked in... to the atmosphere, the scent, the service or the food. I just recently decided that I actually really like Sushi, so was excited to try this place because it is so close to where I live and really the only option in New Hope/ Lambertville. We got there at 3:15 today, which was too early as they don't open until 4:00. After walking around a bit, we headed back. Word of advice...they don't open the chain by the front stairs...you have to walk up the ramp to the side door. We stood there like idiots for awhile waiting for them to lift the chain before realizing this. As we walked in the lady at the door asked "can I help you?". Haha ummmm yes, can we eat here please?! We were the only ones there and were seated by the window seat. There was a distinct musty smell to the place that really turned me off. We actually asked to move away from the window which helped a bit. It's almost as if all the recent rain brought out the mildew scent, maybe because it's an old building. It just didn't feel...fresh ? I ordered the Avocado salad with ginger dressing. The finger dressing at Ooka gave me high expectations. This ginger dressing was super thick and globbed on. It was ok, but it was really heavy and hard to eat a lot of. I wouldn't get again. My friend got the Ota Ya salad and didn't like it...it had a smokey taste to it? She said it "grew on her" after awhile. I ordered the Shrimp tempura roll and the AAC roll. The tempura roll, which is usually my favorite, was sweet and completely different from any tempura roll I have ever had. It was almost like a "general tsau"flavor. The AAC roll was avocado, asparagus and cucumber. It was plain and boring. The menu was hard to read and the variety was lacking. I was so excited to try this place, but seriously the sushi I get pre made at Giant is so much better and more exciting. Also the waitress had zero personality and I'm not sure she knew what a smile was. But the lady that refilled our water was friendly. I will make the trip to Doylestown from now on, and keep getting my fix from Giant until then. read more

Ota-Ya - Shrimp tempura roll and AAC roll. - Japanese Near Me - Lambertville, New Jersey

I love Ota-ya, but admit its better for take out than dinning in. Their special rolls are great. My favorite menu items include the wasabi shumi, nemo roll and king crab roll. They also have excellent spicy tuna and salmon rolls- definitely a step up from other places! read more

If the smell of an uncleaned goldfish tank doesn't turn you off, the total lack of social skills possessed by the staff will do the trick. The building is in deplorable condition, particularly the upstairs which appears to have last had a repair done during the Regan Administration. The actual food is nothing to write home about, however if the building were in better condition with smells that didn't offend; the food might taste a bit better. I now drive to Newtown to go to Oishi which is spot on. Shame nobody opens opens a Sushi place in the New Hope/Lambertville area to compete with these clowns. read more

besides Ajihei in Princeton, Ota-Ya is definitely one of the best sushi places in the area. delicious sushi, BYOB, and nicely situated in lambertville... couldn't ask for anything more. the restaurant is relatively small, the decor is simple, and it's pretty quiet. i've never had any difficulty with the service, and definitely no complaints about the food. the spicy tuna and spicy salmon rolls are unique and super awesome (see picture). the sashimi comes nicely sliced (not too thick like many places) and presented. well balanced miso soups and average salads. i've found the sushi at ota-ya consistently fresh and tasty, and the fact that the restaurant is a byob makes it even better. highly recommended sushi spot... come back again and again. read more

Ota-Ya - a few rolls- all delicious! - Japanese Near Me - Lambertville, New Jersey

See all

Came in the other day (a Saturday - bad move, I know), sat at the sushi bar, took one look at the fish in disarray (only scraps remaining, unwrapped, different fish touching each other) and should have obeyed my flight instinct. Not 100% positive it was this questionable sushi that gave me debilitating food poisoning that lasted for the next 4 days, but I can't imagine what else it was. So yeah. Caveat eater. read more

Possibly the best sushi place ever. Spicy tuna, Spicy King Roll are amazing. This is what makes Ota-Ya Special. I caught a 100 IB bluefin tuna off New Jersey, and called up Ota-ya to see if they could prepare it for us. They prepared literrally a 10-Course meal for 4 people for 100 USD. Maybe the best meal i've ever had. read more

For local sushi, this is the best. I've come here more times than I can count and have never had a bad meal, or service. And my Japanese friend thinks it's good, so it must be, right?! While all the sushi is always good and super fresh, I absolutely love their spicy tuna. I don't know what they do to it, but it's so delicious. There is hibachi upstairs, and outside seating in the warmer months. Reservations are most definitely recommended for weekend nights. But be forewarned...if you won't be able to make your reservation, call to let them know. They keep a black list posted by the hostess stand! BYOB read more

BYO sushi in Lambertville... how can you go wrong?! After reading some reviews about the apparent legal troubles, I was wary, but each review also seemed happy that they were opened again, so we took a chance. Glad we did! Had dinner here w/some friends a couple weeks ago. Really enjoyed it. It was actually kind of empty when we got there at like 6:30 (except for the interesting senior crowd at the sushi bar). But by 7:30, every table was filled. Food was good. Service adequate. Liquor store across the street. I would definitely go back if in Lambertville & looking for sushi. read more

I've been to Ota-Ya four times and all four times I've been in a different state of inebriation. Regardless of this fact, however, the food is always phenomenal...but then again, I always have hibatchi and it's pretty hard to mess up anything that includes copious amounts of butter, garlic and soy sauce as it's main ingredients. The sushi is pretty bangin too. Try the Lobster Mango Roll (or Mango Lobster Roll...whatever)...then come back to this review and thank me. Go ahead...I'll wait. I have yet to try the restaurant part of Ota-Ya (hibatchi is upstairs, restaurant is downstairs) but considering the sushi and apps come from the kitchen I wouldn't be surprised if it was amazing as well. It gets incredibly busy there tho, so either call ahead to make a reservation or be prepared to stand and wait in the very small foyer. Also, if you're doing the hibatchi...don't go starving...it typically takes about 30-45 minutes before your salad arrives and the chef makes it to your table (hence the inebriation). The bathroom is clean, but again, like many Asian cuisine establishments, it's cold in there! read more

Ota-Ya is one of our staples. The sushi is quite good - it's solid. On Tuesdays, we find it to be very fresh and is typically excellent. The Teppan-yaki table food is very tasty, and they have the best Edamame appetizer anywhere. Their rolls are exceptional, among the best I've had. Also, the beef tataki appetizer is a "must try". We've been there dozens of times and have learned the personalities of all the players. Typically service is quite fast. If you're looking for some of the best sushi anywhere, and I mean anywhere, try Ajihei in Princeton. They are superb. But if you're in Lambertville and have a hankering for sushi, don't hesitate to go to Ota-ya for a great dinner. read more