I had a stellar experience at Otani! The restaurant itself itself is very cozy. The decor is very simple; A few paintings on the wall and a view to watch the sushi chefs at the bar. I ordered the beef tataki, the sashimi platter, and the tako yaki: - The beef tataki was served chilled; The beef was slightly smokey and the sauce was bright, giving the dish a kind of refreshing feeling. - The fish in the sashimi platter was very fresh and the display was beautiful. The sashimi came with miso soup (as good as any other miso soup). - I loved the takoyaki! I tend to think takoyaki tastes about the same everywhere, but this may genuinely have been my favorite takoyaki I've tried in the area; I had to resist ordering a second plate of it. As a solo diner, I spent $58 (excluding tip) for what I perceive to be a lot of food. For a fancy solo outing, I think it was great value for the quality of food. The staff was also very attentive and my food came out promptly. This is a great solo dining or date spot. read more

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Very good customer service, and the sushi was very fresh. We got the sushi, sashimi otani omakase, it says for 3 but definitely not for 3. Its definitely a bit expensive but the quality of fish was good treat. The bathroom is a bit dark, but otherwise the restaurant is very clean and friendly. read more

Otani Japanese Cuisine - Sushi Sashimi Otani Supreme - Japanese Near Me - Gambrills, Maryland

Service kind, some unique experience, delicious brown rice green tea (yes I said brown rice green tea) the ambiance was relaxing and romantic.. I say romantic because of the dimmed lighting.. but that was also what relaxed me ha. Check out the video for how they present the "Play Boy" roll. We also had the eel salmon cake which was unique and I forgot to take photos I'm sorry. Loved the seaweed salad as it wasn't overly sweet. The spicy dip that came with calamari was not spicy (not complaining just sharing). Someone ordered noodles with chicken and they're picky and they tore it up like it was their last meal. I want to try the rainbow tartar next time as it's tuna, salmon, and crab salad. read more

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Great service and food. I highly recommend this restaurant! We will be going back to Otanis again.

The service here was great, genuinely friendly from start to finish, the kind of attentiveness that makes a meal feel relaxed instead of rushed. The food matched that energy too, the amazing tuna roll was packed with flavor in every bite, and the eel salmon cake rolls were absolutely to die for, beautifully presented with that drizzle and char that makes a roll feel special instead of just standard. The plating alone is worth a photo, fresh flowers, banana leaf, the works, so it's clear they care about the full experience and not just the taste. They even light them up tableside, which adds this fun bit of theater to the meal that you don't get at most sushi spots. Between the presentation, the flavor, and the service, this easily earns a spot on my regular rotation. read more

Otani Japanese Cuisine - Fire side sushi - Japanese Near Me - Gambrills, Maryland

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Very nice experience! Great environment amazing staff and food!!! If you can come and try this place try to visit during Lunch as their specials are better during lunch, really enjoyed my visit here! read more

Otani Japanese Cuisine - Miso soup and Alaska rolls - Japanese Near Me - Gambrills, Maryland

The presentation of the sushi here is awesome. I would consider this a bit upscale of a sushi restaurant. The food is clean and fresh. The staff is fast and attentive overall I had a great time and will be visiting again read more

Brought my daughter for dinner and enjoyed her food so much she ate all of her leftovers the next day she was so impressed she even tasted my sashimi My 5 year old is picky so I will bring her back here again! read more

Otani Japanese Cuisine - Shrimp fried rice - Japanese Near Me - Gambrills, Maryland

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This place never misses! The food is always fresh and full of flavor! Portions are great as well. Service is always great! The staff is welcoming and efficient. We've never experienced a wait! Dining experience is always top notch as it's never overcrowded or rushed. The environment encourages those of us who are always on a schedule or racing against time to slow down & enjoy our meal with gratitude and connect with those we are dining with... especially if using chop sticks. read more

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Food is always great, but the service has been slow the past two times we have been. Today it took 15 mins just to get water. I had the smallest scallops I've ever seen, they didn't seem to want to bring yum yum sauce, but the min that check was ready and that card was out they were quick to pick it up and pay that bill. Honestly, just disappointed in the slow service and the restaurant skimping on food and condiments. read more

This place is a 5/5 stars for us! Visited while we were in the area looking for a bit to eat and came across this spot while searching for restaurants. It's a small location in a shopping center, but it has great food! The decor and ambiance is great. The staff is super friendly and attentive. The sushi was also super fresh and affordable! read more

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The food and service were good. We went during Valentine's weekend and were surprised with how fast we were seated despite how busy they were. The service and food were excellent. Our only complaint was a small child walking around with loud, squeaky shoes for an extended period. I get it; we have to keep the kids happy so they don't have a meltdown, but it was a long time in a Small space where everyone else was trying to enjoy. I would've expected the staff to interfere at some point. read more

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The food is always excellent, fresh, and they make me feel like a valued customer even when I'm just ordering an order to go.

Great service. Very friendly, made suggestions for dinner. Priced well. Tea made from loose tea leaves in a metal pot that kept tea exceptionally hot. read more

Have not dined in but I come here to grab lunch frequently enough. The safe is friendly and always punctual.

Food and service was amazing! We really enjoyed ourselves. We loved the sushi! Wr will definitely be back! read more

Otani Japanese Cuisine - Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Gambrills, Maryland

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Was a busy Saturday night, but the servers were extremely efficient. We got seated relatively quickly. Dining area was small but will roomy. Ordered the vegetable stir fried udon. Was a good sized portion with fresh sautéed vegetables and wok-hay seared noodles. The sauce was not too heavy, udon had a good chew. My companion liked his spicy salmon and spicy tuna rolls. read more

Otani Japanese Cuisine - Vegetable Udon - Japanese Near Me - Gambrills, Maryland

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Hands down me and my girls favorite sushi spot!!! The servers are so friendly and it feels like home in there! The ambiance is very dim but so subtle and pleasing! read more

Otani Japanese Cuisine - Japanese Near Me - Gambrills, Maryland

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The food was wonderful. The waiter was helpful in assisting us with a good variety of sushi. It appears to be a very popular spot, based on the number of guests present on a Sunday afternoon. read more

Otani Japanese Cuisine - We sought an array of sushi. This selection was exceptional. - Japanese Near Me - Gambrills, Maryland

Found Otani while searching for sushi in the area. They had the best reviews so we decided to stop by. When we arrived on a Saturday night around 6pm it was packed. I didn't see reservations on their website but next time I will make them. We sat at the sushi bar to be seated right away. I ordered the Margarita Royal but didn't care for it too much as I assumed it would be sweeter. I ordered the Amberjack, Yellowtail, Scallop and Eel. The Eel was my favorite nigiri. I also ordered the spicy tuna roll and it was amazing. Our server was Alicia, she was attentive. The other employees checked on us periodically as well. The ambiance is nice. Otani was a good find. Can't wait to come back. read more

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After 4 visits now I'm inclined to review. This place has some GREAT sushi. Service is always friendly and prompt. Weekdays are easy to just walk in and sit down.. when i took my bf on a Saturday night, the place was packed, but our wait was only 7-10mins. I'm a fan of the vegetable gyoza and i am not a vegetarian but it's so tasty i don't even care to try the meat version. Lobster miso was a hefty portion with a whole (mini) lobster tail in it. The mojito roll is probably my favorite roll ive had anywhere because the lime in it stands out. My bf said the playboy roll was the best he's ever had.. it was very tasty and came with a little 'show'. Drinks are well made too! read more

Otani Japanese Cuisine - Playboy Roll - Japanese Near Me - Gambrills, Maryland

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Went in on a Friday night right when they opened. It definitely is a spot to go to as the restaurant got fuller as the night went on. The ambiance is interesting for being in this strip. It's low lit and clean inside with calming music, almost as if you're at a massage place. We were sat and served drinks. They have a full bar and specialty cocktails. Hot green tea as well however kept getting cold in plastic cups, but they came around and refilled them often. We started with a few tempura dishes and the soft shelled crab. Wasn't a huge fan of the soft shell crab though, it wasnt crunchy by the time it got to us and the batter was soggy and doughy still. The rest of the tempura is okay. I was interested in the "Omakase" as not many places serve it. When I asked how many rounds it would be or dishes, the server was confused (usually it's served this way) long story short, you get either a sushi platter ($50) or a sashimi platter ($60) for 1 person. He told me they would be 20 pieces....I got 12. Very interesting combos as well like chili oil/flakes on top? (Never seen that before) however, when he brought it out, nothing was explained so I could only point out what I knew etc. he didn't bother to explain what fish or cuts but tells me "it's omakase" (if you've had omakase before...this won't be the same experience) The cuts of fish were nice, the toro was perfectly fatty and the fish was fresh tasting. Kudos to the sushi chef as the rice to fish ratio was spot on and I was impressed to find that. The sushi chef really saved the stars here. Unfortunately when we asked the server questions about what the difference between two similar fish were, we got "they're just different fish" as the answer... The play boy roll is fun as they light things in fire but the shrimp tempura was super over cooked and rubbery. I asked for a dessert menu and was...handed a regular menu...while I over heard the other tables being offered dessert by their server but we kept getting asked if we wanted boxes and the check came shortly I didn't even get the chance to ask for an actual dessert menu. I would have gotten dessert if it didnt feel like we were being rushed out. Overall, I'd go back maybe... Not for the Omakase, but for the fresh cuts of fish especially the toro which you don't find often. But man...OtanI is pricy for this area. Would have given 4 stars, but the service just wasn't there for me. I can see why this place has good ratings based on their sushi. May try again sometime. *Ive had Omakase many ways. As rounds, as served in one box with many small dishes, hot & cold dishes etc. however, if you're gonna serve omakase at least take the time to explain the dish and have some sort of knowledge of what the different cuts of fish are, the difference between fish etc read more

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Yesterday my friends, husband and I had a wonderful lunch here. we all ordered the lunch box deals. We had shrimp teriyaki and beef teriyaki and shrimp tempura lunch boxes. The food is so fresh. The ginger salad was very tasty. The service was friendly and attentive. The cost was very reasonable and serving sizes were large. Definitely going back to Otani often. read more

5 times later, Otani is still my number one sushi spot. I went this past Saturday when they just opened up and sat at a booth. I ordered my favorite two rolls which are the Mojito Roll & the Playboy. Definitely try the Playboy, the theatrics are worth it! Service was great from the young lady, sushi came out timely, it's a nice tasty filling meal. I will be back whenever I get my craving again for sushi! Keep making quality sushi & having amazing service. read more

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YES YES YES YES YES!!!! After a 4 hour drive from New York me and my wife were looking for some great food and oh boy did we get lucky.... We had a not just "great" but a PHENOMENAL experience at Otani. The staff was very friendly and welcoming, and our server Johnny was attentive, personable, and made sure everything was perfect. The food was excellent across the board, especially the shrimp, which was honestly the best I've ever had. Every dish we tried was fresh and flavorful. Definitely a place I'd love to come back to if i'm in the area and recommending to others for sure! read more

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Otani Japanese Cuisine....good eats! Udon, Sushi, Chicken Katsu and more everything was flavorful! The question you should ask, "is the best Japanese food you've ever had? The answer is no, but it's good! Not five star good, not really four star good HOWEVER for the area it is in that lacks good Japanese food I'd give it four stars. The service was above average. The place is small, a bit crowded but not a problem at all. This is now my good to spot when passing through Crofton/Gambrills. That's all I got. #Cheers read more

Otani Japanese Cuisine - Udon & Sushi - Japanese Near Me - Gambrills, Maryland

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Otani usually has good quality sushi but this time we splurged for the OTANI SUPREME OMAKASE and were very, very disappointed. For the price, we expected squid and octopus but we got neither. All we got was many, many pieces of the same fish. The variety was not there. We will never order this again, if we come back at all. read more

Otani Japanese Cuisine - Japanese Near Me - Gambrills, Maryland

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I had been craving hibachi for a while and happened to be in the area so decided to try Otani Japanese. Despite not doing the hibachi show in front of customers (which they do not advertise... just saying bc some might desire the show for hibachi experience) this food far surpassed any other hibachi experience I've ever had in food quality alone. Everything from the salad to the shrimp and fried rice was extremely fresh, flavorful, and perfectly seasoned. Staff was attentive and helpful. even the mochi dessert was extremely fresh and exquisite presentation and taste. Plum wine was nice but a little sweet for my taste. Will definitely be back again when in the area. I didn't get sushi myself, but sat at the sushi bar and saw the staff making exquisite works of art with each roll. Precise and with extreme attention to detail. read more

Tried Otani for the first time recently. The restaurant is tucked away inside of an up and coming shopping center. Not all the store fronts are open as yet but the selection seems promising. There was a fair number of folks inside the restaurant in the middle of the day, which signaled to me that this might indeed be a good spot. The servers were attentive and polite, and the food comes out fairly quickly. I thought the sushi tasted fresh and the rolls were all carefully made. I think some of the maki rolls were lacking a bit in flavor, but the specialty rolls we tried were delicious. The menu has a lot to choose from, including hibachi. Everything was also reasonably priced. Definitely a good option if you're in the area. read more

Otani Japanese Cuisine - Shrimp tempura, tuna, salmon, cali roll, sweet potato, Ocean speciality and Spicy Santa - Japanese Near Me - Gambrills, Maryland

The Playboy ( fire sushi) is the best! Never disappointed, service was great. If you are looking for a sushi spot definitely give them a try, it will become your favorite! Small but cozy, parking is free and the food is delicious! We go often to enjoy the delicious food in a nice and quiet atmosphere. read more

Delicious sushi rolls! Service is very quick and attentive. We ordered the playboy roll (comes with fun presentation), the spicy Santa roll and mojito roll to share and really enjoyed it! read more

This is my FAVORITE sushi spot in the Gambrills/Crofton area. Every time I've ordered from here the food has been amazing on a consistent basis. I mainly do takeout but I've dined in a couple of time the service was wonderful. They can get a little packed during the weekend so make sure you get there early. read more

Otani Japanese Cuisine - Sweet potato roll one of my favorites! - Japanese Near Me - Gambrills, Maryland

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Absolutely loved dinner here - and was amazed how busy they were on a Tuesday evening! But it was still easy to relax and have a conversation. Ava was an awesome server, and the sushi rolls were so fun to choose and beautiful to look at and eat. We ordered the Mojito, Ninja, Poseidon, and Dragon rolls. All had such different flavors and just out of this world. Highly, highly recommend! read more

Otani Japanese Cuisine - Fried Oreos dessert - Japanese Near Me - Gambrills, Maryland

The ambiance of this place was amazing. The food is so fresh and amazing I truly had the best experience here and I will always come back! They are amazing people! read more

My family and I love this place! We often go here for birthday dinners or for something nice and refreshing to eat. There is a huge spectrum of choices here, and it's a great place for anyone who loves sushi. We came here on a busy Saturday night and, regardless, the staff seemed to be in complete control. They were on it and would refill your drink whenever they saw fit. Our particular waitress, Ly, was especially amazing. She was very polite and kind, and offered some very good recommendations. She also seemed very busy and occupied but took special care to acknowledge each and every one of the guests equally. Overall, I would say the service and food was amazing, and the general atmosphere was very happy and busy, something that I personally like (sometimes :p ). read more

Otani is a cozy sushi bar/restaurant with delicious sushi rolls! They have simple and specialty rolls ! The service is nice. They are very prompt and efficient. I've been here a few time before in the evenings and they get pretty busy- but there is barely a wait because they are quick with service. The restaurant is clean with a chill vibe and I really enjoy the selection of fresh sushi dishes! Babe ordered for us and got a bit carried away lol !! He ordered the Otani King Roll, the Ocean roll, the Poseidon roll, and the Crazy roll !! They were all so good but I would say my favorite was the Otani King roll and Babes was the Poseidon roll! We finished the whole plate- with no regrets!! I def recommend Otani if you're in the mood for a nice sushi outing !! And check out my blog doseofdev.com for more food, travel, and adventures ! read more

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We meet our fellow travelers here for lunch. We would be leaving for Japan in a few days. We found both the food and service to be excellent. read more

Wow the sushi was so fresh and super yummy my husband keeps saying the best sushi he ever had. The service was so phenomenal they are friendly and keep in mind this place is packed but so worth it if you have to wait for your table. Try them its a must. read more

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I went here because Annapolis isn't a town for great sashimi. I was not disappointed in the quality of their sashimi here. 18 pieces - 3 pieces for each variety for about $34. I asked for extra wasabi and pickled ginger for $1 each. The bill just for the sashimi, with miso soup included and extra wasabi+ ginger and 6% tax was about $38. I didn't try anything else there. So my review is a bit skewed with a 5-star rating. read more

Otani Japanese Cuisine - Sashimi - 18 pieces - Japanese Near Me - Gambrills, Maryland

Years ago, an old college buddy raved about Otani, told me to check it out. Recently, a new friend said the exact same thing. She stated her "foodie" reputation that Otani's sushi is better than sushi at many of the fine Asian Fusion restaurants that are popping up all over DC and Baltimore. Well after that declaration, I had to try this strip mall sushi for myself.. Lol They were RIGHT! I thoroughly enjoyed my first visit to Otani! The sushi was absolutely delicious. The person who created the names of their sushi rolls must be an out of work part time comedian... Lol! We had the "Crazy Roll", the "Play Boy Roll" and Eel and Avocado Roll. If you're a fan of cooked sushi, definitely give the first two a try, both were outstanding!! Otani is aesthetically pleasing to the eye, with a nice sized bar and an authentic Asian decor. The staff was super friendly and helpful with explaining the menu items. My only regret is not visiting years ago and now I've moved 40min away.. Shame on me but I will return as much as I possibly can. Otani is definitely giving "strip mall" sushi a good name!! Lol read more

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