Can’t travel just yet? You can still enjoy the finest Japanese cuisine on your doorstep with the best omakase sushi restaurants in Hong Kong.
We know you’re all gearing up to travel to Japan, but there are some of us who prefer to wait it out a little… So while you look forward to your next holiday, why not check out some of the finest Japanese cuisine in town? That’s right, we’re talking about the best omakase restaurants in Hong Kong.
Some terms and tips before we dig in…
Not sure what omakase is? Omakase (お任せ), literally meaning “I’ll leave it to you” in Japanese, is a menu-less experience that allows the chef to take complete control. As you watch them prepare each course behind the sushi counter, you’ll see that elements of craftsmanship, interaction, presentation, seasonality, and surprise all come into play. Another term you’ll often encounter in omakase restaurants is Edomae (江戶前). Edomae is, essentially, a technique for preserving seafood and is one of most revered culinary traditions in Japan. Edomae chefs are experts in preparing seafood and always strive to bring out the subtleties of each ingredient.
Some basics for first-timers at omakase restaurants in Hong Kong:
- Be on time – punctuality is very important in Japanese society
- You’re advised to use your hands (instead of chopsticks) to pick up the sushi when it’s placed in front of you
- Try to look into reserving your table as early as possible. Due to the intimacy of omakase, the restaurants usually only have around a dozen seats, so they’re notoriously hard to book!
Our top picks for omakase in Hong Kong
1. Sushi Ikkon
Nestled inside Crowne Plaza Hotel in CWB, Sushi Ikkon is an omakase restaurant helmed by Executive Chef Wataru Inoue. A master of classic Edomae sushi, Chef Wataru has over 20 years of Japanese culinary experience under his belt and has served at renowned restaurants such as the one-Michelin-starred Ginza Sushi Ichi in Thailand. Comprising appetisers, sashimi, sushi, sides, and desserts, the restaurant offers different omakase sets for lunch and dinner: Sakura (15 items), Ume (18 items), or Kiku (20 items) for lunch; followed by Kiku, Fuji (22 items), or Tsubaki (26 items) for dinner.
Sushi Ikkon sources its ingredients mainly from Shizuoka and Hokkaido, with the 2022 autumn and winter highlights being the splendid alfonsino from Chiba and mackerel from Oita. Our favourite, however, has got to be the otoro (tuna belly) sushi – the most valuable and fattiest part of the fish. While the decadent otoro melts in your mouth, the shari (aka “sushi rice”, which has been treated with vinegar), balances out the richness. We also enjoy the fresh ishigaki gai (giant stone clam) – which curls up with a slap (quite the entertainment) – as it’s crunchy, full of umami, yet surprisingly sweet. Oh, and here’s a tip regarding the drinks: you can enjoy free corkage for one bottle of self-brought sake at Sushi Ikkon upon purchasing a bottle from the restaurant. Kanpai to that!
Price: from $880 per person for lunch; from $1,580 per person for dinner
How to book: reserve online or call the restaurant
Sushi Ikkon, 1/F, Crowne Plaza Hong Kong Causeway Bay, 8 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, p. 6621 3936, 銅鑼灣禮頓道8號香港銅鑼灣皇冠假日酒店1樓鮨一魂
2. The Araki
Situated in one of the city’s most beautiful heritage buildings, The Araki delivers a Michelin-starred omakase experience. We like how Chef Mitsuhiro Araki uses fresh, locally caught produce to break the impression that the best sushi can only be made from Japanese seafood. In addition to the prized toro tuna, ingredients can include eel, sea bass, sea bream, Japanese horse mackerel, among others, depending on the season. To complement your meal, try The Araki’s very own sake, exclusively crafted for the restaurant by Masuizumi, a brewery from Toyoma prefecture.
Price: from $4,000 per person
How to book: reserve online
The Araki, G/F, Stable Block, FWD House 1881, Main Building, 1881 Heritage, 2A Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, p. 5729 4188, 尖沙咀廣東道2A號富衛1881公館前馬廐地下
3. Sushi Hare
The only omakase restaurant in Hong Kong to make it onto Asia’s 100 Best Restaurants (at #98), Sushi Hare may be the most exclusive establishment on this list – apparently, you need someone who’s already “in the know” to bring you here… 😉 While the bespoke service provided by Chef Motoharu Inazuki (AKA Moto-san) and his team is one of the highlights of the experience at Sushi Hare, the food is, of course, nothing to scoff at either. Some of the most popular items here include surf clam; chawanmushi (steamed egg custard) with crab; the various sakana (savoury side dishes to go with sake); and sakuramochi (sweet, pink rice ball filled with red bean paste); among others – but again, these are only available depending on the season.
Price: from $980 for lunch; from $1,980 for dinner
How to book: by invitation only
Sushi Hare, G/F, 29 Bridges Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong, p. 3008 4606, 上環必列者士街29號地舖鮨晴
4. Shion
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Omakase in Hong Kong isn’t exactly known for being affordable, but if you’re in search of a good lunch in Central – with even better value for money – Shion is the place to be. Led by Chef Adachi and assisted by Chef Sugano, Shion uses carefully selected seasonal ingredients, with popular items being the slow-cooked octopus; sea bream roe; kohada sushi; and more.
Price: from $680 for lunch; from $1,480 for dinner
How to book: reserve online. Bookings open at 11am on the first of each month, two months in advance
Shion, Shop B, UG/F, Winway Building, 50 Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong, p. 2311 0007, 中環威靈頓街50號華威大廈UG樓B號舖
5. Sushi Shikon
Awarded three Michelin stars every year since 2014, Sushi Shikon is one of the most celebrated omakase restaurants in Hong Kong. It’s founded by Chef Masahiro Yoshitake, owner of the three-Michelin-starred Sushi Yoshitake in Ginza, Tokyo. To achieve and ensure the same standard as Sushi Yoshitake, Sushi Shikon’s executive chef, Yoshiharu Kakinuma, works closely with Chef Yoshitake. Needless to say, they have succeeded – Sushi Shikon is widely acclaimed for its authentic Edomae sushi. The restaurant menus vary seasonally and each course is made with premium ingredients, flown in fresh (and daily) from Japan. In addition to appetisers, soup, and dessert, lunch at Sushi Shikon features eight pieces of sushi, while dinner includes 10.
Price: from $2,250 for lunch; from $4,000 for dinner
How to book: reserve online or call the restaurant
Sushi Shikon, 7/F, The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong, p. 2643 6800, 中環皇后大道中15號置地文華東方酒店7樓志魂
6. Sushi Saito
Hailing from Tokyo, Michelin-starred Sushi Saito is founded by famous sushi master Takashi Saito and led by Chef Masashi Kubota. From fish-ageing to rice-cooking, Chef Kubota crafts Edomae sushi with utmost care and precision, using the freshest seafood hand-picked by Chef Saito every morning at Tokyo’s Toyosu Market (and transported to Hong Kong on the same day). The serenity of the restaurant, along with views of the skyline, only add to the incredible omakase experience at Sushi Saito.
Price: from $1,780 for lunch; from $3,480 for dinner
How to book: call the restaurant. Bookings are open between 10am and 2pm on the first day of each month, three months in advance
Sushi Saito, Shop A, 45/F, Four Seasons Hotel, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong, p. 2527 0811, 中環金融街8號香港四季酒店45樓A號舖鮨．齋藤
