Your Guide to Philly’s Best Omakase Experiences
Here's where you can trust the sushi chef to serve you the best nigiri, sashimi, and hand rolls.
Ogawa Sushi & Kappo / Photograph by Mike Prince
There’s been something of an omakase explosion in Philadelphia in the last two years. For the uninitiated, omakase is Japanese for “I’ll leave it up to you” and refers to a tasting-menu-style meal where the chef serves dishes in single-bite increments. There was a time when there were only a few omakase spots in town, but these days it seems like a new option opens nearly every month.
Philadelphia’s omakase offerings range enormously in price, anywhere from $65 to $300. You’re paying for the quality of fish and rice, but also for the experience of the sushi chef and the style of service. Whether you want a hushed, reverent experience or an intense party vibe, we’ve got the best omakase dining experiences available in Philadelphia.
Sakana, Queen Village
Price: $178 (service not included, BYOB)
Sakana serves very good sushi with the added bonus of being a BYOB, which means you spend a little (or a lot) less than you might otherwise spend on drinks. Owner Sam Lin has been operating since 2019, bringing fish in from Japan, which he then dry-ages to concentrate the flavors and improve textures. He also owns Yuhiro (see below), a spot in Fishtown that does a 90-minute, $68 omakase alongside a counter for u-maki rolls (skip the omakase and go for the u-maki rolls instead). 616 South 2nd Street.
Dawa Sushi and Ramen, Fishtown
Price: $180 (service not included)
The quality of fish and technique at Dawa is surprising given its somewhat unassuming location just under the El, but owner Joe Kim is both knowledgeable and generous with that knowledge. Get him talking about technique — fish origin, rice quality, or the progression of the meal — and you’ll walk away having enjoyed not just some of the city’s best sushi, but also a better understanding of what makes the omakase experience so special. 1204 North Front Street.
Royal Sushi Omakase / Photograph by Kae Lani Palmisano
Royal Sushi & Izakaya, Queen Village
Price: $300 (service included)
Jesse Ito’s omakase is the best in the city, full stop. He spent years training with his father, and each night he serves 15 courses of composed dishes and nigiri to two seatings of eight guests. Ito’s style hovers somewhere between traditional and modern, with flavors ranging from pristine, subtle scallop nigiri to a truffle-topped toro dish with sea urchin and mushroom. The room is calm without feeling stressfully hushed, and the service is attentive without being staid. You’ll pay $300 per person before drinks and any add-ons (though service is already included). Ito’s omakase is also a very difficult reservation to snag because so many of the seats go to regulars who rebook each time they dine. Resy Notify is an option; or find a someone with a reservation and get them to bring you as a guest, then make your own at the end of the meal. 780 South 2nd Street.
Ogawa Sushi & Kappo, Old City
Price: $200 (service not included)
Ogawa is an outpost of D.C.-based restaurateur Minoru Ogawa, who built this restaurant with chef Carlos Wills as the frontman. The quality of the fish is excellent, and there are plenty of luxury touches like sea urchin, truffle, and caviar, but the rice quality is noticeably lesser than Royal Sushi, and some of the composed dishes feel overwrought or poorly seasoned. The quality of sushi is similar to what you might find at some more affordable spots, but it does have a distinctly hushed, special occasion feel with a luxe dining room and very warm, attentive service. 310 Market Street.
Yanaga Kappo Izakaya, Northern Liberties
Price: $180 (service not included)
For just three nights a week, lucky guests go through a secret door behind a bookcase and take part in chef Kevin Yanaga’s 637 Philly Sushi Club. It’s like a cross between a speakeasy and omakase with over 20 courses of sushi, all of which are inspired by Yanaga’s childhood growing up just outside of Tokyo. There are two seating times — one at 6 p.m. and another at 8:15 p.m. — with only eight spots available, so make your reservations ASAP. 637 North 3rd Street.
Uni from Hiroki / Photograph by Cole Wilson
Hiroki, Fishtown
Price: $115 or $185 (service not included)
The most striking element of dining at Hiroki is the incredibly beautiful space, which feels sort of like a quiet, dimly lit, wood-lined space designed specifically for the worship of sushi. While Hiroki was omakase only for many years, it now also features an à la carte option and two different tasting menus. The sushi omakase, priced at $115, includes miso soup and dessert as well as a selection of sushi. The Chef Hiroki Omakase, priced at $185, is a 20-course menu inspired by the food of Kyoto — it includes sushi but also composed dishes like hiyashi chukka, a cold noodle dish with sweet soy vinegar sauce and katsudon, a fried pork cutlet over rice. 1355 North Front Street.
Kichi, Washington Square West
Price: $95 (service not included)
If you’re hesitant to spend $200 on an omakase experience or aren’t interested in the hushed tones of some of our higher-end recommendations, you might prefer the style of omakase that Kichi offers. Affordably priced at $95, Kichi offers a 90-minute experience that takes you through 15 courses of good (if not amazing) sushi. Guests can opt for add-ons, which do drive up the price, but the restaurant’s BYOB status means you get a great deal even if you want to have a drink or two and an additional toro scallop hand roll to end. 112 South 12th Street.
Zama, Rittenhouse Square
Price: $65 or $100 (service not included)
Zama is another option for a shorter, more affordable omakase experience, this time in a small but busy space off Rittenhouse Square. Both offerings include seven courses and dessert, but the more expensive option leans on pricier ingredients like caviar and uni. 128 South 19th Street.
Yuhiro Sushi, Kensington
Price: $68 (service not included)
Among one of the most affordable and approachable omakase experiences is Yuhiro Sushi, where you’ll get 12 courses of nigiri and hand rolls served over a 90-minute meal. Considering the price, quality, and how much time you get to linger over your sake in a chic, minimalist space, this is a great deal. Go here for date night, your birthday, or just to celebrate the small milestones in life that call for thick slices of toro. 2146 East Susquehanna Avenue.
