Updated November 5, 2024

When you think of Japanese food, sushi is probably one of the top foods that come to mind. What is it about small clumps of rice topped with seafood that tastes so good? And what in the world is the difference between regular sushi and omakase sushi?

There are many types of sushi, and there are many factors that affect the taste of it. The quality and freshness of the fish is definitely one of the main components that separates good sushi from great sushi. But also things like the quality of the rice, how it is shaped, the way the rice is seasoned, and the temperature of the rice is also said to greatly affect the flavor of a single nigiri. That being said, it is said that one of the best ways you can enjoy sushi is omakase style.  

Omakase sushi is often referred to as a bit more of a luxury as most omakase sushi places are quite expensive and tend to be found in high-end sushi restaurants. Omakase sushi is a "chef's choice" course/tasting menu that usually consists of the best of what they have, as well as seasonal sushi and sashimi. Many of the fish in Japan is purchased from Tsukiji Market, arguably the most famous place for purchasing the freshest and most delicious seafood in Japan.

How omakase sushi is done truly depends on the restaurant that you're going to. So although we can best attempt to describe how omakase sushi works, truly everything depends on the establishments rules and the chef in question.

Dishes

Omakase sushi usually serves up some of the best sushi. It is considered a form of respect and a compliment to the chef to order omakase style, especially in Japan. It means that you trust the chef to provide you with a great meal. Usually because of this, the chef tends to pick out dishes that are special, seasonal, or chooses nigiris that are more popular and/or are hard to come by. If you are a regular there, sometimes the dishes are personalized based upon what the chef thinks that you'll enjoy. However, some places have a set omakase menu that is the same for everyone, though it may vary day by day, so it may not necessarily be a personalized experience.

Since you are placing your faith in the chef, you cannot choose from any selection of sushi. It is generally considered impolite to be choosy with the menu when you asked for omakase. However, if there are specific things you absolutely cannot eat or are allergic to, it's best to let the chef know before hand. As mentioned, some omakase menus are set menus, so in that case there may be no subsitutes. It's true that with a la carte, you have the ability to choose only the dishes that you know you like so you don't feel like you're wasting money. However, this means you might miss out on an opportunity to try something new and delicious that you would not have tried otherwise.

There are times, occassionally, where you may have the misfortune of stumbling upon a sushi restaurant that is simply trying to get rid of the fish that they have in excess. However generally omakase sushi is a good balance of classic sushi rolls, the freshest sushi rolls, and sometimes uncommon bits of seafood and other unique non-sushi dishes, and tends to be a delicious option. 

Experience

With omakase sushi, it is just as much an experience as it is a meal. As with many tasting menus, eating and being served your food can take a bit more time. Especially with a set menu, many places might even take about 2 hours from the point where you finish your last serving. There is usually limited seating, as each piece is made fresh. As such, you'll most likely always need to schedule reservations especially with the more popular sushi restaurants. 

Generally with omakase sushi, you're sat at a bar, so that the sushi chef is directly in front of you. You'll have the pleasure of being able to witness the chef create sushi and see the skill of the chef, and it's usually a more personalized experience. Occassionally you may be sat at a table, but some restaurants may not even have table seats, it all just depends on the restaurant. Many sushi chefs and veteran sushi tasters say that eating the sushi at the bar is better than at a table for flavor, so perhaps if you have the choice opt for the bar. 

Some sushi chefs are also more particular about how the sushi is enjoyed. It is generally considered best to eat the sushi as soon as it is served, as the flavor of sushi is said to be affected the longer you wait to eat it. In addition, the chef may tell you how to eat the sushi as they usually know what creates the best flavor profile. However, you're not forced to comply, but it is considered polite to eat the sushi how the chef recommends. 

Prices

Omakase sushi tends to be far more expensive, and depending on the establishment, omakase can either be a set price or varied. If it's varied, the chefs choices will determine the price of the meal. As many course menus tend to be, omakase sushi tends to be more expensive due to not only the many dishes that you're provided with, but also due to the quality. 

There are also set menu and set price omakase places, where both the menu and the price are already determined for the day. There may even be various different price points, starting with more affordable options.

Although as a whole, omakase sushi would never be considered cheap or inexpensive, but sometimes the amount and type of seafood that you're eating may work itself up to be less than you would have paid if you ordered each dish individually. Many times you'll expect to pay at least $100usd if not more for omakase sushi, but there are many more places popping up in Japan, and in the United States, that offer more affordable options.

You can find many sushi places that have omakase sushi globally. In Japan, this style of ordering has been around for a long time and there are so many great options to try out. Japan has made the whole sushi experience into an art form, it's worth traveling to Japan for the food alone! 

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