Oto Sushi

Gorgeous atmosphere. Delicious rolls that are completely out of the ordinary! Amazing concepts and a complete scratch kitchen. The Salmon nigiri flight was totally worth it.

Incredible food, service and place. Came here for mother's Day lunch... Was feeling overwhelmed with my hangry LO... But thanks to the amazing staff, especially Wester who took such great care of us. The delicious food; the sushi and Wagyu Burger( mind blowing good!) and delicious drinks completely transformed the day and we skipped out of there feeling content, refreshed and grateful. Can't wait to go back again with friends.

Jonathan Holburt

This is the second time I've dined at Oto, this time with my wife. We decided to try the Happy Hour, which amazingly is every day of the week from 3 to 6pm. We ordered three dishes: the tuna poke, the chef's roll and the roll called Scorch. The tuna poke --- just super fresh tuna and sliced cucumber. No rice. A really refreshing dish. The chef's roll was spicy salmon, avocado and lots of other great ingredients. The Scorch roll has spicy tuna, snow crab, avocado, cucumber and tempura bits. All three dishes were delicious. The rolls, in particular, were a good size and expertly made with very fresh fish. And the Happy Hour prices made the overall meal reasonable. Our waiter was terrific: very friendly and helpful. The restaurant itself is stunning looking, a beautifully designed space right near the center of Laguna Beach village.

Janet Q

Oto Sushi is an absolute gem in Laguna Beach. The fish is incredibly fresh, beautifully prepared, and consistently high quality. Every roll we tried was perfectly balanced, and the presentation showed real care and craftsmanship. The atmosphere is relaxed yet refined, making it great for both a casual lunch or an elevated dinner. The service was attentive and welcoming without being overbearing. Easily one of the best sushi spots in Laguna—worth returning to again and again.

Sarah West Brown

Food & Drink: The sushi here was incredibly fresh & beautifully prepared. We’ve eaten at top sushi spots & Oto Sushi is a true top contender..especially with a better price tag. The iced green tea was delicious & refreshing. We noticed our neighbors sipping on miso (off menu item) so be sure to ask for this because it was especially flavorful & comforting. Our server explained the cocktails in such great detail that they truly sounded like masterpieces & we’ll definitely be indulging in those next time. We also heard that their burger is to die for, so that’s on our list for our next visit as well. Service: Our server was wonderful: attentive, kind, & very knowledgeable. He made the experience feel seamless & welcoming, from explaining the drinks to making sure everything came out fresh & timely. Ambiance & Vibe: The restaurant has a laid-back yet refined coastal vibe that fits Laguna Beach perfectly. It’s intimate enough to feel special while still being relaxed & approachable. Street parking is available right across the street, which makes it really convenient (free after 6pm) Value & Price Point: For the quality of sushi & overall experience, the value here is excellent. The freshness rivals much higher-priced sushi restaurants, but with a friendlier price point that makes it easy to come back often. Overall Impression & Tips: Oto Sushi is a hidden gem in Laguna Beach. Fresh sushi, wonderful service, & a menu that surprises you with unique touches. Highly recommend trying the iced green tea, indulging in their cocktails, & coming back for the burger. This spot has quickly become one of our favorites.

Mackenzie Cruz

We had an incredible meal at Oto. Not only was knots the entire menu gluten free (wonderful for someone with Celiac), but the food and service were exceptional. The staff was so friendly and welcoming. Chef Connor was so helpful in helping us find incredible dishes to enjoy. And the wait staff was so attentive and seem to really enjoy working there. The most incredible part was the food. Every thin from the Nigiri chef’s special to the rolls, we were amazed by the variety of flavors and unique combinations. I cannot wait to go back. Such a gem of a restaurant and experience. Highly recommend! It’s been a while since I’ve had such a great restaurant and good experience like this in Orange County.

Sahar Meshksar

Beautiful spot in Laguna Beach with a wonderful vibe. They have many menu options, and the Apollo sushi roll exceeded my expectations; fresh, flavorful, and innovative. Highly recommend for sushi lovers looking for something special.

Nika Nami

This is the best sushi spot in all of OC. The restaurant's commitment to sustainable practices including not overfishing is fantastic. They also have a page in their menu listing exactly where each fish is sourced from and how it’s caught. HUGE PLUS. This is so important and it made us feel good supporting a business that actually cares about the ocean and quality of fish they serve. Now for the food... ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!! The rolls are super fresh and the Koji Marinated Wagyu Robatayaki Sticks are so tender and flavorful. Due to the high quality fish used and transparency with their sourcing, we simply cannot eat sushi anywhere else. Thank you to all who make Oto special and delicious!!!

Casey Couture

Gorgeous atmosphere. Delicious rolls that are completely out of the ordinary! Amazing concepts and a complete scratch kitchen. The Salmon nigiri flight was totally worth it.

Daniel Chimenti

Great experience. We enjoyed everything that we ordered. I don’t remember the name, but the vegan roll they have is killer. I was shocked at how good it is. The texture of the roll and the flavor of sauce was amazing. We ordered a second one with salmon and that was even better. The server did a great job; very personable.

Philip Alipio

This will be the benchmark against which we will compare other sushi joints in the south OC area -- referencing freshness, creativity, authenticity of the food, as well as the sharpness and professionalism of the service! Well-deserving of their high Google rating. ☑️

Taylor Vasu

My husband and I went for a date night! Fish is HIGH, HIGH quality, dare I say… the best I’ve had in south county. It’s very rare that you walk away from a restaurant and EVERY single item you order is a 10/10 ball hit out of the park but that’s what I feel like walking out of Oto. Absolutely delicious . Atmosphere is vibey, moody and comfortable. Gavin recommended some exceptional dishes for us (some were part of the new menu items and ended up being our favorites) Anthony, our waiter, was exceptional with service — attentive, quick and kind. He had great knowledge of the menu :) I wish I took photos of everything but this is what we ordered and I have not a single note or regret : - steelhead carpaccio with uni butter - Yuzu truffled hamachi (my personal favorite) - Shrimp tempura - Chicken karaage - Salmon sashimi - Tuna sashimi - Shishito sticks - Scallop sticks - Black cod stick - Ember kissed albacore (my husbands favorite) - Laguna Heat Roll - Japanese Cheescake We’ve already let all our people know that they have to try out this restaurant with us and we will most definitely be back really, really soon because there’s a ton of other items we can’t wait to try!

Kristen Kress

We had the best sushi with the best service!! Gavin, Marvin, Mark, Oscar and many others made sure we had everything we needed today. Quality in excess, to say the least. Such a delightful hidden gem for happy hour. Highly recommend.

Yvonne Ng

Incredible food, service and place. Came here for mother's Day lunch... Was feeling overwhelmed with my hangry LO... But thanks to the amazing staff, especially Wester who took such great care of us. The delicious food; the sushi and Wagyu Burger( mind blowing good!) and delicious drinks completely transformed the day and we skipped out of there feeling content, refreshed and grateful. Can't wait to go back again with friends.

Melissa Taylor

Some of the best sushi we’ve ever had. Sat at bar and Mark was fantastic! Would definitely come back and recommend. Beautiful restaurant too.

We had an amazing experience at OTTO Sushi in Laguna Beach! Our 8-year-old absolutely loved the Chicken Karaage - crispy, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. It’s not always easy to find something that truly excites our Elijah, but this was a big win. My wife really appreciated the gluten-free menu options, which made ordering completely stress-free. She had the Snow Crab hand roll, and it was fresh, light, and absolutely delicious. I ordered the Snow Crab sushi and Sea Bream sushi, and both were outstanding — incredibly fresh, beautifully prepared, and full of flavor. A special thank you to Wes, our waiter, who truly elevated the entire experience. He was attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable, and he made us feel genuinely welcome from start to finish. Service like his makes all the difference. We loved everything about the experience — the food, the atmosphere, and the service. We’ll definitely be back!

So unfortunately for me, I have a large family, and all but one LOVES sushi. Their mother found this spot so it was all new for us. First of all, the atmosphere of this place was fantastic. It was not the traditional sushi bar, and for Laguna Beach, it was refreshing to not walk into a super high end over priced restaurant. The service, was excellent, the waiter was attentive but not over bearing. Offered suggestions, that were ALL great, and overall just genuine. Now then, for the food.......I should say the food was horrible so the rest of you on the interweb don't flood this place. But I cannot. It was absolutely fantastic. Everything we ordered, we destroyed it. Texture, flavors, all perfect and unique. Love this place!!!!

What a great addition to our Laguna Beach community. From the first time we tried Oto, we were hooked. The staff is very friendly and remembers us each time we come in, the ambiance is cozy and inviting, and the sushi is fresh and delicious. Oto’s mixologist makes yummy cocktails as well. The lovely owner Ash is very hands on and hospitable and makes a point to be on the floor to greet her guests. I urge everyone to give this restaurant a try!

I had an incredible experience at Oto Sushi. The quality, creativity, and flavors here are on a completely different level. I ordered the Laguna Heat roll, and it instantly became one of my new favorites — fresh spicy tuna, perfectly seared steelhead, that shishito jam, and a bright pop of yuzu olive oil. It was balanced, clean, and absolutely delicious. I also tried the Wagyu fat–washed Old Fashioned, and it was phenomenal. Silky, rich, buttery, and still bright on the finish — easily one of the best Old Fashioneds I’ve had anywhere. You can tell they put real craftsmanship into both the food and the cocktails. The service was great, the atmosphere felt elevated but welcoming, and everything tasted incredibly fresh. Highly recommend Oto Sushi if you want a standout sushi and cocktail experience in Laguna Beach. I’ll definitely be back.

Oto is our favorite restaurant in Laguna Beach. Why? From the moment one arrives, the experience is amazing. The staff are professional yet warm and friendly. The gluten free kitchen makes this restaurant perfect for our family, which includes several people with celiac. The rolls are creative and fresh with the perfect ratio of fish to rice. The tempura is crisp and delicious. The skewers are perfectly charred umami bites: The sake selection is excellent. The atmosphere is comfortable and tasteful. What's not to love? We often come early to enjoy happy hour on the patio but any time at Oto is a great time.

Julie Hall-Harkey

What a great addition to our Laguna Beach community. From the first time we tried Oto, we were hooked. The staff is very friendly and remembers us each time we come in, the ambiance is cozy and inviting, and the sushi is fresh and delicious. Oto’s mixologist makes yummy cocktails as well. The lovely owner Ash is very hands on and hospitable and makes a point to be on the floor to greet her guests. I urge everyone to give this restaurant a try!

Todd Hesford

So unfortunately for me, I have a large family, and all but one LOVES sushi. Their mother found this spot so it was all new for us. First of all, the atmosphere of this place was fantastic. It was not the traditional sushi bar, and for Laguna Beach, it was refreshing to not walk into a super high end over priced restaurant. The service, was excellent, the waiter was attentive but not over bearing. Offered suggestions, that were ALL great, and overall just genuine. Now then, for the food.......I should say the food was horrible so the rest of you on the interweb don't flood this place. But I cannot. It was absolutely fantastic. Everything we ordered, we destroyed it. Texture, flavors, all perfect and unique. Love this place!!!!

Eric Fry

Absolutely my favorite sushi bar in the Laguna Beach area! Everything is always SUPER fresh, and really nicely prepared. The rolls are creative, without being over-the-top. My personal favorite is "Eternal Stream." Atmosphere is wonderful and the service is always excellent. I love this place.

Danny V

I had an incredible experience at Oto Sushi. The quality, creativity, and flavors here are on a completely different level. I ordered the Laguna Heat roll, and it instantly became one of my new favorites — fresh spicy tuna, perfectly seared steelhead, that shishito jam, and a bright pop of yuzu olive oil. It was balanced, clean, and absolutely delicious. I also tried the Wagyu fat–washed Old Fashioned, and it was phenomenal. Silky, rich, buttery, and still bright on the finish — easily one of the best Old Fashioneds I’ve had anywhere. You can tell they put real craftsmanship into both the food and the cocktails. The service was great, the atmosphere felt elevated but welcoming, and everything tasted incredibly fresh. Highly recommend Oto Sushi if you want a standout sushi and cocktail experience in Laguna Beach. I’ll definitely be back.

We saw their sign promoting a daily Happy Hour and decided to pop in for an early dinner. The decor is beautiful, the space is bright, open, and has a sophisticated coastal meets modern Japanese aesthetic. We grabbed seats at the bar, where Trenton, our bartender and server, super friendly and entertaining, providing genuinely great service. As for the food and drinks, we dove right into the menu: Oyster Mushroom Karaage (Pro-tip: Order this! Lightly fried, crispy, and packed with flavor, it's a mushroom lover's dream. Scorch Roll & Nikko Roll: Both were incredibly fresh and delicious. Salmon Kama: Cooked perfectly—tender and satisfying. Table-Side Grated Wasabi: A fun, theatrical touch! You get a little show and the amazing kick of fresh wasabi. Old Fashioned with Japanese Whisky: It wasn't on the Happy Hour menu, but who cares? This is my go-to, and it was excellent. Oto Sushi is a fantastic addition to the dining scene here, stylish, approachable, with quality food and genuinely great service. Planning our next dinner visit already (and, yes, another Old Fashioned). Lol

OTO Sushi in Laguna Beach offers a solid sushi experience with fresh fish and creative rolls, but for me it didn’t quite reach “wow” level overall. I tried the Basbas Spritz (herbal basbas with a vodka‑style base), which came out semi‑fresh and on the sweeter side, and it wasn’t really my taste—and no one checked back to see if I liked it, so I’d skip that drink next time. We ordered oysters, the OTO salad, tuna poke, and grilled eggplant to start; everything was good, and the OTO salad in particular was different in a good way and stood out from typical sushi‑house salads. For rolls, we had the Laguna Heat Roll, spicy salmon roll, Akari Cove, Salmon Socially, and a chef’s roll—the chef’s roll was excellent and felt special, while the spicy salmon roll was milder than expected. Some of these rolls were more sweet than spicy! We also tried the happy hour 4‑piece nigiri, which was good quality and felt like a nice value.Overall, I’d rate OTO Sushi as good and enjoyable, with fresh fish and some strong dishes, but not a place that completely blew me away on this visit. This place was noisy inside and wanted to make sure to mention it. I decided not to share details about the service shortcomings like taking 20 min to get water refill as it maybe due to them being busy.

KG

We saw their sign promoting a daily Happy Hour and decided to pop in for an early dinner. The decor is beautiful, the space is bright, open, and has a sophisticated coastal meets modern Japanese aesthetic. We grabbed seats at the bar, where Trenton, our bartender and server, super friendly and entertaining, providing genuinely great service. As for the food and drinks, we dove right into the menu: Oyster Mushroom Karaage (Pro-tip: Order this! Lightly fried, crispy, and packed with flavor, it's a mushroom lover's dream. Scorch Roll & Nikko Roll: Both were incredibly fresh and delicious. Salmon Kama: Cooked perfectly—tender and satisfying. Table-Side Grated Wasabi: A fun, theatrical touch! You get a little show and the amazing kick of fresh wasabi. Old Fashioned with Japanese Whisky: It wasn't on the Happy Hour menu, but who cares? This is my go-to, and it was excellent. Oto Sushi is a fantastic addition to the dining scene here, stylish, approachable, with quality food and genuinely great service. Planning our next dinner visit already (and, yes, another Old Fashioned). Lol

Arash

OTO Sushi in Laguna Beach offers a solid sushi experience with fresh fish and creative rolls, but for me it didn’t quite reach “wow” level overall. I tried the Basbas Spritz (herbal basbas with a vodka‑style base), which came out semi‑fresh and on the sweeter side, and it wasn’t really my taste—and no one checked back to see if I liked it, so I’d skip that drink next time. We ordered oysters, the OTO salad, tuna poke, and grilled eggplant to start; everything was good, and the OTO salad in particular was different in a good way and stood out from typical sushi‑house salads. For rolls, we had the Laguna Heat Roll, spicy salmon roll, Akari Cove, Salmon Socially, and a chef’s roll—the chef’s roll was excellent and felt special, while the spicy salmon roll was milder than expected. Some of these rolls were more sweet than spicy! We also tried the happy hour 4‑piece nigiri, which was good quality and felt like a nice value.Overall, I’d rate OTO Sushi as good and enjoyable, with fresh fish and some strong dishes, but not a place that completely blew me away on this visit. This place was noisy inside and wanted to make sure to mention it. I decided not to share details about the service shortcomings like taking 20 min to get water refill as it maybe due to them being busy.

Update after Oto’s response Hi Oto Sushi, Thank you for responding, but I need to clarify a few things — because your reply was not only dismissive but also factually inaccurate on multiple points. First, regarding seating: I had a 4:00 PM reservation on New Year’s Eve, and I walked in at 4:05 PM — literally five minutes after you opened. At that time, your dining room was virtually empty. There were three two-top tables open in the main area — including two at the window. Despite this, I was told by the hostess that I’d be seated at the worst table in the restaurant: the one directly behind the hostess stand, with no view and no atmosphere. When I asked for a window seat — something completely reasonable given that I was on time and those tables were visibly open — I was told, “We’re kind of running tight tonight.” That didn’t make any sense then, and it still doesn’t now. After I pushed back, she left to “check the book” and came back to say yes, I could be seated there. To claim that you “accommodated my request shortly after” is missing the point. There should not have been any hesitation or resistance in the first place. I was polite and early. The tables were empty. I booked early specifically to avoid that kind of experience. We stayed until 6:30 PM and no other two-top ever sat at those window seats. So what were you “running tight” for? Second, regarding the gratuity: you stated, “we do not apply an automatic 25% gratuity.” That is simply false. My bill came with 25% already added, and I didn’t input or select anything. It was on the check when it was presented to me. The server did offer to remove it when I asked, and I chose to leave it because she was kind and professional. But to act like it was merely “presented as an option” is misleading. It was not optional by default — it was automatically applied, and I have the receipt to prove it. Third, regarding the soy sauce: I was served sushi without any soy sauce and had to flag someone down to get it. There were no bottles on the table, and no one explained that it was “available upon request.” If that’s your official policy, it was never communicated by the staff. Don’t reframe a basic oversight as an intentional design. I shouldn’t have to guess that soy sauce needs to be requested — especially at a sushi restaurant. I left a fair and honest review, noting the excellent drinks and kind service at the table. But instead of acknowledging any part of my experience with humility, your response tried to rewrite the facts and place the blame on “pacing,” “pre-assigned tables,” and “misunderstandings.” That response only reinforced my disappointment. What happened didn’t need a justification. It needed accountability. At this point, I don’t even think it deserves a three after your response.

Candy Girl

Update after Oto’s response Hi Oto Sushi, Thank you for responding, but I need to clarify a few things — because your reply was not only dismissive but also factually inaccurate on multiple points. First, regarding seating: I had a 4:00 PM reservation on New Year’s Eve, and I walked in at 4:05 PM — literally five minutes after you opened. At that time, your dining room was virtually empty. There were three two-top tables open in the main area — including two at the window. Despite this, I was told by the hostess that I’d be seated at the worst table in the restaurant: the one directly behind the hostess stand, with no view and no atmosphere. When I asked for a window seat — something completely reasonable given that I was on time and those tables were visibly open — I was told, “We’re kind of running tight tonight.” That didn’t make any sense then, and it still doesn’t now. After I pushed back, she left to “check the book” and came back to say yes, I could be seated there. To claim that you “accommodated my request shortly after” is missing the point. There should not have been any hesitation or resistance in the first place. I was polite and early. The tables were empty. I booked early specifically to avoid that kind of experience. We stayed until 6:30 PM and no other two-top ever sat at those window seats. So what were you “running tight” for? Second, regarding the gratuity: you stated, “we do not apply an automatic 25% gratuity.” That is simply false. My bill came with 25% already added, and I didn’t input or select anything. It was on the check when it was presented to me. The server did offer to remove it when I asked, and I chose to leave it because she was kind and professional. But to act like it was merely “presented as an option” is misleading. It was not optional by default — it was automatically applied, and I have the receipt to prove it. Third, regarding the soy sauce: I was served sushi without any soy sauce and had to flag someone down to get it. There were no bottles on the table, and no one explained that it was “available upon request.” If that’s your official policy, it was never communicated by the staff. Don’t reframe a basic oversight as an intentional design. I shouldn’t have to guess that soy sauce needs to be requested — especially at a sushi restaurant. I left a fair and honest review, noting the excellent drinks and kind service at the table. But instead of acknowledging any part of my experience with humility, your response tried to rewrite the facts and place the blame on “pacing,” “pre-assigned tables,” and “misunderstandings.” That response only reinforced my disappointment. What happened didn’t need a justification. It needed accountability. At this point, I don’t even think it deserves a three after your response.