Omakase, a Japanese phrase, meaning “I’ll leave the details up to you”. It refers to a restaurant ordering style when dining, in which instead of ordering a dish from the menu, the customer leaves it up to the chef to serve specialty dishes. In other words, instead of “your choice”, it is the “chef’s choice”. As it is viewed as an interactive performance, omakase allows the customer to “live in the moment”.
Some people might see omakase as a round of gamble; however, the customer typically receives the highest-quality of fish at a lower cost than if it was ordered from the menu. In his book The Story of Sushi, academic and writer Trevor Corson says, “[Omakase is] what the sophisticated customer says to the chef when settling down at the sushi bar. Sushi connoisseurs seldom order off a menu. Traditionally, sushi bars in Japan didn’t even have menus.”
You might feel overwhelmed by the time, but it is all worth-it when you see the food appeals to all of your senses (and cameras). You will be able to see the dishes being handled with care and precision using traditional Japanese techniques and the creativity of the chef.
Dining omakase means being face-to-face with the chef, who will gauge your reaction and help guide you toward the best possible experience. “It’s a great pleasure for anybody who cooks,” Yamazaki says thoughtfully. “You aren’t just cooking in the kitchen, you want to know the reaction of the customer.” It’s also important to trust the chef. “Don’t come in thinking I don’t want this, I don’t want that, or I’m scared of this,” says the chefs. “If you come in with an open mind to explore and experience new things then you’ll be able to experience a really good omakase meal.”
All this makes Omakase the intimate dining moment everyone should get to experience once. Being a part of this experience allows you to form a personal bond with the chef and their life experiences and stories. So next time you are thinking about going out for dinner with your friends or family, why not try something new and unique like omakase?
