O-To-San Kushiyaki And Ramen

I first noticed the sign for O-To-San back in December in the former location of Dduri Ba. I also noticed the logo under the sign and indeed Eater confirmed my suspicions, the shop was to be run under the same ownership as the AYCE Korean BBQ and AYCE Sushi Olleh shops. Not quite a great sign in my opinion, but while driving by on a recent morning at 1130 I decided to stop by and see what was going on. 

 On this morning the parking lot was empty. I walked on over and took a look at the posted menu and noticed the opening time was noon. I also noted that there were donburi and ramen lunch specials going for as low as ten bucks! In these days that's a bargain. I decided that I'd return on another day and check the place out. As I started walking away the "open" sign came on and the really friendly gentleman who runs the front of house waved me in. My lucky day I guess.

I really liked the rustic interior. They did a nice thematic job here. 

And the prices for the ramen and donburi for lunch were beyond reasonable for these times. So, it allowed me to try something from the kushiyaki menu. You know me; I tend to look at Tsukune, the simple Japanese chicken meatball as the bellwether for yakitori. It takes some skill working with minced chicken and fat to come up with something tender, moist, and unctuous. And whether it's in San Diego or in Japan I look to it as a guide of skill and care when it comes to yakitori. So, with the ramen for lunch being so inexpensive, that's what I ordered ($4). Good lord, was it a mistake.

  I would go on record to say this was more sausage than tsukune. It was hard, rubbery, tough.....I'm sure there are more synonyms I could come up with given time. Not much flavor at all....I guess that's why salt was provided.

This got me really worried about the ramen. I had ordered the tonkotsu ramen ($10).

 And my worries were well placed. Ok, so  since the ownership is under Olleh, my expectations were low, but this was even below that!

The broth, while it displayed globules of fat was insipid, devoid of any flavor save that of sodium. It lacked the richness of a true tonkotsu broth.

The overcooked tamago....well, I'm thinking O-To-San wants to give Santouka competition for the most overcooked egg.

 The chashu wasn't bad, nicely marinated, tender, decent porkiness. The noodles were standard issue, curly, a bit overcooked and mushy...which did nothing to enhance the dish. It had me thinking....at ten bucks what should I have expected?

This was quite underwhelming. But I decided to return for a follow-up visit. This time around noon, where the same kind and friendly gentleman guided me to a table. My thought was "perhaps the ramen wasn't to my liking, but I should try a donburi". And at ten bucks the risk level was fairly low, at least for 2023.

My ten-dollar dish allowed me to try something else from the menu, though I wasn't going to go for anymore yakitori here. I went with a order of Chicken Karaage ($7). What arrived was a much larger portion than what I expected.

In terms of the dish, it reminded me more of what Taiwanese/Chinese boba places serve as "popcorn" chicken then karaage. The chicken was enrobed with a lacquer style batter, quite crisp, though the chicken itself was quite mildly seasoned and on the bland side. It also started to soften up fairly quickly. The typical shoyu based dipping sauce was not quite up to the task. Strangely, what I think is sesame dressing for the shredded cabbage did much better, which led me to think, the whole dish might do ok as tori nanban?

I ordered the Gyu Don ($10 lunch special) as my main.

 I loved the presentation. And overall, I enjoyed this dish the most. Nothing fancy, just a by the book beef bowl. The beef was on the chewy side, flavors were quite typical, soy sauce - mirin - sake, which is not bad at all. A generous portion of rice....I wish there was more egg, but this was a decent donburi.

 Nothing fancy mind you; but for a ten buck for lunch...I wouldn't pay $15 to have this for dinner, this might work out fine for you. After all, how much is a bento from Nijiya these days?

Still, while the prices are right, at least for lunch, I see no reason to go out of your way to visit. The place seems like more of a group of concepts. In design and even in the name which is a play on words. When I asked if the place was named after someone's father, the really nice guy told me it "sort of is?" I was also told it is a play on words - O(saka) - To(kyo) - San (Diego). He didn't elaborate further and I didn't really ask. I'd had enough of "concepts" for a while.

O-To-San Kushiyaki And Ramen
4425 Convoy St.
San Diego, CA 92111

Comments

[kat]

hoping they will improve

[Kirk]

I'm not getting my hopes up Kat!

[Junichi]

Haven't heard any good things about this spot so I have kept away. I guess Oton is the better father!

[Kirk]

You got that right Junichi!

[nhb]

That ramen bowl looks lacking in depth and richness.
At least you took one for the team, again...

[Kirk]

Yeah, it wasn't very good Bill! What is good is hearing from you! I hope you are doing well!

[Allen]

Went there for lunch last week and it was the worse dining experience in recent year.