I am always on look of Japanese restaurant. I can't believe that I didn't know about this place earlier. Maybe because their location is not in the center of Kearny Mesa. Anyways I am so glad that my husband found them on yelp. My favorite was eel rice. It was so delicious. It seems only one piece of eel on the rice. But they blend more eel together with rice. It was flavorful, heartwarming and comforting. Egg omelet with eel was soft, bouncy and delicious. Beef tongue was also good. But I don't care for their sashimi. The cuts were too thick. And fish was not flavorful.

This small, dimly lit Japanese restaurant offers a cozy and private atmosphere. We sat in a booth surrounded by traditional Japanese screens, creating an intimate dining experience that felt truly special. The food was exceptional--fresh, beautifully presented, and full of authentic flavors. We got the uni udon, pokedon which came with miso soup and cucumber salad, as well as the hamachi carpaccio and the special hand roll. The service was attentive yet unobtrusive, allowing us to fully enjoy the meal and ambiance. If you're looking for a quiet, immersive dining experience, this place is a must-visit!

Love this place! Very authentic Japanese food, with tatami seating. Many appetizers, comfort hot pot options too. It's a bit on the pricier side, and limited space. I recommend making a reservation.

Super hidden lowkey sushi spot with the most authentic home-y ambiance! I recommend making a reservation a day or two in advance. The tables are very private and you climb inside after taking your shoes off. Perfect for a date night or fancy girl dinner :) . The quality x pricing is crazy! We got the special handroll for the day and the nigiri omakase. They have a white board of specials each day so every visit is unique. The host was so sweet and attentive to us. We mentioned being curious about one of the matcha wine(?) and she gave us a small sample to try as well as a small portion of an appetizer from the chef. ~still dreaming about this meal ~

Parking can be a challenge and plan on a reservation. There's tatami rooms where you remove your shoe to dine but we had a regular table. The ambiance is an authentic Japanese restaurant with authentic flavors. We started out with the sumo which is the chef's choice for 65.00 a few selected sashimi pieces and a hosomaki. The garlic calamari was good but small portions so I would skip this appetizer for 10.00. The katsuo tataki was beautifully prepared on a bed of onions, slightly smoked seared and topped with garlic . The dashi tamago was nice and reminded me of traditional Japanese breakfast. Try the other specials they offer, the yellowtail nigiri was tasty - ate it before I could photograph it for y'all. Overall the dining experience was unique and authentic. The price tag is a tad high for a casual night out.

I absolutely enjoyed my experience here! From the service to the food, everything was amazing and this is definitely up there for my top choices in Japanese food! It's definitely on the more traditional end, but I loved everything about it! Located away from all the chaos of Convoy, Robataya Oton is next to Denny's, Kogi BBQ and Shogun! So depending on what time you go, parking may be a bit of a challenge especially since Kogi attracts a big crowd. But most of the time I'm there I usually snag a spot, I just have to drive towards the back a little more. The place itself is small but seats a decent amount of people. It has a very traditional feel to it as there are some spots that you have to take your shoes off first before walking in and sitting on the mat. Very clean as well! Service was great! Everybody greeted you when you walked in. I wish I got our hostess/waitress' name but she was awesome! She did great at explaining everything to us on the menu and was super polite! She kept checking in on us and was making sure we were well taken care of. Food was AMAZING! The Uni was so FRESH and flavorful! Plus the amount that they gave us was super generous too! The sukiyaki hotpot was delicious! The broth was so flavorful and the cuts of meat were really good! We also had a wagyu sushi and that was delicious and melted in your mouth. Everything about that was amazing and I would love to go back! Is it on the pricey end? Yes, but you're definitely getting what you pay for. Everything was fresh and flavorful and the portions were super generous. I highly suggest this place for some good traditional Japanese food. I definitely will be planning to come back again!

What can I say about this restaurant that already hasn't been said? No. It's horrible here. You shouldn't come here. The food is bleh, the workers non existent & the shop is lit up like a warehouse! So please. Save me some time by not coming here... so I can get seated right away. You can stop reading now. No. It's actually amazing here! Everything you want from a legit traditional Japanese restaurant that screams vibes of Japan! Staff, on point. Vibes, vibing. Food, Deeeelishush! You can sit at the sushi bar if it's only you or if you have a party you can get a "booth" which is more like a cool Japanese like room where you take your shoes off before you step in. You really need to call in and reserve twice as early as you normally would. They're sometimes booked even a day ahead! So yah... definitely a not recommend.