Omakase Sushi Box: The Sushi Counter Experience at Home

Omakase means "I leave it to you." At a sushi counter, that means letting the chef choose each piece based on what came in that morning and what is in season. An omakase sushi box takes the same idea and packs it for your table at home.

What omakase means in a box

You don't pick piece by piece. The kitchen builds a balanced selection, moving between lean and rich, mild and bold, and the contents change with the market and the season. Two boxes ordered a month apart rarely look the same, and that is the point.

What you might find inside

Every box is different, but a typical assortment draws from:

• Salmon and tuna, sometimes in more than one cut (see otoro, chutoro and akami)
• A seasonal white fish
• Scallop and shrimp
• Ikura and other seafood toppings
• Tamago, the sweet layered omelette
• A few slices of sashimi alongside the nigiri

Wasabi, soy sauce and pickled ginger come with it.

When an omakase box makes sense

It suits the evenings when you want something better than an ordinary dinner but don't want to book a counter: a quiet night in, a weekend treat, a birthday, or a table of friends. It is also an easy way to try fish you wouldn't order on your own.

How to serve it

Keep the box chilled and follow the storage instructions that come with your order. Serve it straight from the box or move it to a clean plate.

Dip the fish side lightly in soy rather than the rice, and add wasabi to taste. Chopsticks or fingers are both fine; eating nigiri with your hands is not rude. A sliver of ginger between pieces resets your palate.

Green tea is the classic pairing. A chilled junmai or ginjo sake works well too, and our guide to pairing sake with an omakase menu goes further.

Order an omakase box

Our Omakase Sushi Box, 12 Pieces is made to order from fish bought at the morning market, with rice seasoned in house. It is packed cold and arrives with a card telling you how to serve it. Feeding a bigger table? Take a look at the Celebration Sushi Spread.