Japanese dining has come so far in Atlanta! And if you are an adventurous eater, you owe it to yourself to explore the many exquisite restaurant offerings an Omakase experience in Atlanta. I’ve put together a list of the best Omakase you can find.
When I was much, much younger, and I first started dating, I thought is was pretty fancy when a date took me to RuSan’s. I was not exposed to fine dining much as a kid, and never even had sushi until I was an adult. But once I discovered how incredible this Japanese delicacy is (when done by a professional sushi chef) it is definitely one of my top choices when dining out.
What is an Omakase dinner tasting?
If you are somewhat new to sushi you might wonder what Omakase means? The literal translation of the word means “I leave it to you.” In other words, you are leaving the choice in the hands of the chef. Since the chef chooses what you he or she will present to you, Omakase can alter at the same restaurant. An Omakase dinner usually consists of many small courses, I’ve had as few as seven and as many as eleven. It just depends on the chef.
It is traditional to sit at the sushi bar for your Omakase dinner. Part of the experience is being able to watch as the sushi chef creates each course of the Omakase. Because you are leaving it up to the chef, I would not recommend trying to dine with a picky eater.
1. UMI Sushi (Buckhead)
UMI Sushi has long been a widely popular spot for celebs visiting Atlanta. Reservations can be hard to come by on weekends, but even when I visited for an Omakase dinner on a Wednesday, this sushi restaurant was packed. It isn’t large, but it definitely has a loyal following. Some people even make special plans to always come here when they are visiting Atlanta like the woman sitting next to me at the sushi bar. And yes. that’s absolutely where you want to sit when you are having Omakase here. I have to say, this has been one of the most memorable dining experiences I’ve ever had in Atlanta!
Make sure you get: The fried lobster (pictured below). Even if it is not offered as part of the Omakase, ask for it.
Protip: Have a cocktail before or after your Omakase dinner at the super secret speakeasy, Himitsu. But even if you can’t make it there, UMI has a specialty cocktail made with Japanese Whisky, and I highly recommend ordering it!
2. Chirori Midtown
I have followed chef Jackie Chang for a long time! He’s been at O-Ku, District M and even Umi. His creations are quite magical. If you don’t believe me, just visit his new restaurant, Chirori, located in Midtown. He took over the old space that was once Better Half (RIP). Unlike many of the other Omakase spots on this list, this one is more casual with a come as you are approach. Just because you want to have fabulous sushi, shouldn’t mean you have get dressed up if you don’t want to.
Sure, you can but the atmosphere is relaxed and the most popular spot is around the sushi bar so you can see the chefs make their creations. Note that are no cocktails here – it’s beer, wine, sake and some other Japanese speciality drinks. I had a milk based drink that is served out of the kettle. I recommend trying one (ask your server, Misty was terrific)!
Snapper, Tuna and even the Wagyu was incredible! The restaurant would make a super spot to celebrate a birthday with a small group. The partakers we saw were having a fantastic time. If you are lucky, Chef Jackie will do a shot of Sake with you at the end of your meal.
3. District M (Sandy Springs)
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District M, previously owned by Jackie Chang is quite the looker. Not only is this a beautifully decorated restaurant, but the food matches the decor in terms of attractiveness. You may have a hard time finding it, though. There isn’t much to identify the darkly lit sushi spot in Sandy Springs, save for the glowing “M” in the front. It is located in the Moderna complex and right across the street from Rumi’s. We were able to easily find free parking in the garage behind the restaurant.
Make sure you get: Waygu beef roll.
Protip: While you should sit at the sushi bar for Omakase, there’s a lovely upstairs area for when you want to hang with your bae or pals.
4. Eight Sushi (Midtown)
Located on the Westside (best side), Eight Sushi continues to impress with beautifully prepared dishes. For cocktails, I highly recommend the Damsel in Disguise. It is their
Make sure you get:
Protip: Because of the mix of both sushi and some cooked entrees and large tables, this is a great place for a group. But note that for an Omakase experience, everyone at the needs to order that. Read more about my Omakase experience at Eight Sushi Lounge here.
5. Taka (Sandy Springs)
Contrary to some of the other spots on this list, Taka has a much more casual and neighborhood feel to it. That doesn’t mean the quality of the sushi isn’t there, it is just a bit more relaxed. Chef Taka has been creating sushi for decades and has hosted many celebs at his restaurant. We loved the scallop topped with avocado!
Make sure you get: Flounder with pea shoots. Also, they make house infused cocktails. The yuzu one was pretty incredible.
Protip: Even though the omakase experience here is eloquent, many patrons don’t dress up to dine here, so don’t feel like you have to have on your Sunday best here.
So there you have it, all over Atlanta, here’s where to find incredible Omakase! What have we missed? Email us and let us know if there’s a favorite sushi spot that has a lovely Omakase we should try!
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