Oto Sushi, a modern Japanese restaurant focused on sustainably sourced seafood, is getting ready to open in Encinitas at 782 North Coast Highway 101.
The company’s new location is set to move into the former MRKT SPACE space, which occupied the ground floor of The Beacons before closing its Encinitas flagship in early 2024. Signage recently appeared on the building, with the news first reported by SanDiegoVille. Owner Ash Cintas tells What Now San Diego that the restaurant is expected to open by the end of July 2026. Customers can expect a menu centered on sushi, nigiri, specialty rolls, robatayaki skewers, sake, cocktails, and Wagyu burgers.
The opening marks Oto Sushi’s first location in San Diego County. The concept launched its inaugural restaurant in Laguna Beach in November 2024 and has quickly built its identity around responsible sourcing and scratch-made cooking. According to the company’s website, Oto sources seafood from MSC-, ASC-, and BAP-certified fisheries, as well as Seafood Watch-approved suppliers and Smart Catch partners. The restaurant states that it serves only seafood that meets its green or yellow sustainability standards.
Oto Sushi’s menu extends beyond traditional sushi offerings. Customers will find specialty sashimi, hand rolls, nigiri flights, robatayaki grilled over binchotan charcoal, seafood-focused small plates, and a selection of sake and Japanese whisky. The restaurant also offers several nontraditional items, including award-winning Wagyu burgers and a variety of handcrafted cocktails made with house-prepared ingredients.
This will be an excellent landing space for Oto Sushi, given the property’s location along North Coast Highway 101 and its proximity to Encinitas’ busiest retail, dining, and beach areas. The restaurant’s focus on sustainability, scratch cooking, and responsibly sourced ingredients aligns well with the community’s longstanding interest in locally minded and environmentally conscious businesses.
