Omakase is popping up all over Charlotte. Here’s where you can try out the experience
Sushi lovers in the Charlotte area have been blessed for years with a bounty of restaurants to indulge in sashimi, nigiri and all kinds of specialty rolls. Now, the city’s chefs are upping their game and delivering a tailored experience called omakase at several of the city’s Japanese food hot spots.
Omakase means “I leave it up to you” — so the chef has total control over the selections for your meal. Foodies are into it for the adventure it brings, along with the opportunity for an immersive and interactive experience with the chefs.
Charlotte has not been left behind in the trend that has been “exploding everywhere from Dallas to London, and pretty much everywhere in between,” as Forbes put it. You can find it in top Asian restaurants and even through an uber-private experience in your own home.
One more way to experience omakase is coming on board soon, too. EeZ in Lake Norman’s Birkdale Village development, will begin offering omakase experiences in June.
Here’s a look at where you can find omakase in the Charlotte area:
EeZ
Location: Birkdale Village, 16925 Birkdale Commons Pkwy F, Huntersville, NC 28078
What to expect: EeZ’s new nine-course, prix fixe omakase will be offered Thursday and Friday nights beginning June 6. It will feature seafood selections from head sushi chef Son Nyugen and master sushi chef Rifali Almunir, with 6 p.m. seatings at the restaurant’s sushi bar.
Reservations, which open May 1, will be accepted via phone with payment due in full at that time.
Price: $125 per person for groups of 2-5 people. An alcohol pairing is available.
Hestia Rooftop
Location: Ballantyne Village, 14819 Ballantyne Village Way Charlotte, NC 28277
What to expect: Hestia — with stunning rooftop views overlooking South Charlotte, has two omakase options. The cheaper one will feature the sushi chef crafting a selection for you. The Ultimate Omakase is a deluxe option, with 11 courses “served at a relaxed pace,” featuring “exotic ingredients” and special preparation techniques.
Price: The entry-level omakase option is $150 per person, while the Ultimate Omakase experience is $350 per person.
Kappo En
Location: 1941 E 7th St, Charlotte, NC 28204
What to expect: Tucked in the back of Menya Daruma, Kappo En offers a seasonal, 16-18 course offering of nigiri and grilled Kuroge A5 Wagyu beef in an open kitchen dining room. You’ll savor seafood sourced from Japan, cooked with classic techniques and preparation methods, along with dessert.
Reservations are required, and for requests less than five days in advance, email contact@enkappo.com.
Price: $185 plus an automatic service charge applied to all checks; an optional sake and wine pairings is available to add on.
O-Ku
Location: Atherton Mill, 2000 South Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28203
What to expect: O-Ku prepares a multi-course tasting experience with its omakase, putting the chef’s artistic side to use. The limited availability option must be reserved by phone at (704) 594-1922.
Price: $175 per person. Adding a wine or sake pairing is $50 more.
Omakase Experience by PrimeFish
Location: Providence Plaza, 2907 Providence Rd STE 101, Charlotte, NC 28211
What to expect: Omakase Experience by Prime Fish touts that it’s the first Edomae (or Edo style) omakase option in North Carolina. Edo style Japanese cuisine, born out of the fast food businesses of 1820s Toyko, is saltier and sweeter than many of its counterparts, according to the Tokyo Sushi Academy.
Reservations and advance payment are required to dine at Omakase Experience by Prime Fish, which offers a 10-course lunch option and a 16-course dinner options. Both include small plates and seasonal nigiri.
Price: $150/person for lunch and $300/person for dinner. Beverages, tax and gratuity are not included.
Chef Tony Huynh
Location: Mobile
Tony Huynh is a personal chef specializing in sushi who serves private omakase dinners at customer’s homes and provides catering for corporate events. His two- to three-hour service includes a multiple-course meal, dishware, place settings and cleanup. Pro tip: Huynh also provides an omakase dinner to-go, which you should order well in advance if you’re interested because they sell out quickly.
Price: $200 plus tax per person for a party of 6+; and to-go boxes are $70.
