Iki Omakase

"Opened just over a month ago, Iki Omakase is a gem transporting you from the heart of Silicon Valley to the vibrant streets of Tokyo. From the moment you step inside, the atmosphere is captivating. The modern yet elegant design sets the stage for an unforgettable culinary journey. Iki Omakase is an intimate omakase experience with 2 seating times - one early in the evening (5pm) and one later in the evening (8pm). Be prepared to spend at least 2 - 2.5 hours to enjoy the whole menu. 8 person standard counter seating area where you get to chat with the chef and experience all the preparation right in front of your eyes - it doesn't get any more intimate than that. Though I will say that a big part of your experience depends on the people around you. We had a really loud lady seated next to us at the counter, and after a while, it got a bit annoying and made it harder for us to have our own conversation (not the fault of the restaurant). Our chef, Lee, was very nice and funny, so that made for an overall good experience. With 1 server to take care of all the parties, the service was definitely slow at times, so yeah, I'd say the service could have been better. But kudos to our server for doing her best and staying on top of things. It started slow, but soon after, our server was very attentive and regularly checked in on us. The star of the show, undoubtedly, was the exquisite food. The freshest seasonal ingredients are transformed into works of art on your plate. Each bite is a symphony of flavors and textures, a testament to the chef's exceptional skill and dedication. For $175 pp omakase experience (changing to $195 pp in April), you get bang for your buck. You'll definitely be full by the end. Our experience started with 5 appetizers, which included uni, chawanmushi, and sashimi. Our main course included 10 nigiri pieces and some additional dishes in between. Here is a full list of our main course items and dessert (excluding appetizers). 1. Shim aji 2. Golden eye snapper 3. Bluefin tuna (cured in soy sauce for 2 hours) 4. Leek and cucumbers 5. Cherry salmon 6. Mackerel 7. Snow Crab soup 8. Soft braise octopus with daikon (braised for an hour) 9. Black seabream (kurodai) 10. Firefly squid 11. Fatty tuna 12. Uni 13. Anago (sea water eel) 14. Miso soup 15. Yogurt ice cream (yuzu) Each nigiri was fresh and delightful. Our chef asked us about our wasabi preference, and that was a very thoughtful touch. Towards the end, our chef had some leftover fish, so he combined all of it to make Maki rolls for all of us, free of charge. It was very nice of him to do that. Overall, the chef's genuine warmth and dedication to hospitality really elevates the dining experience. It's worth a visit."

"From the moment we walked into Iki Omakase in Palo Alto, it was clear this was going to be a special meal. The place is cozy and beautifully put together with just 8 seats. Chef Li is amazing at what he does and adds a fun touch with his great sense of humor and clear love for sushi. Every dish shows off his skill and creativity, giving a fresh take on classic sushi that's both exciting and really tasty. My favorite was the Toro with Caviar and crispy seaweed - an awesome mix of flavors and textures. The drinks menu is impressive, with a great variety of beers, non-alcoholic drinks, special sakes, and flavored sakes. Sunny, the manager, very knowledgeable and patiently helped us pick from the different sakes, which went perfectly with our food. We tried four kinds, from sweet to dry, and each one added something special to our meal. Even though the place just opened and the staff are still getting the hang of things, the service is amazing. They really make sure you feel taken care of and important, paying attention to what you need before you even ask. At $175 per person, Iki Omakase is an amazing deal for this kind of quality in the Bay Area, where you might pay over $250 elsewhere. It's hard to find such an incredible meal and service at this price. Chef Li and his team have made something amazing, and I highly recommend it. Whether you love sushi or just want a memorable meal, you have to check out Iki Omakase."

"We had dinner for 2nd round with couple of friends, overall experience was higher than my expectations. interior was nice, quiet, a bit dimmer ambience and all the spotlights were focus on food, give you more attractions and attention to it. You have a private and luxury environment to let you focus on omakase dining experience. I've been trying a lot of star omakase restaurants in Bay Area, compared with others, this food quality and creative of each dishes was higher than its price. My favorite dish were the toro tartare, wrapped uni, wood smoke tako, crab soup, uni, etc, mostly all the dishes surprised me with their unique flavor. They had very amazing sake menu, the manager Sunny were given very good recommendations and we've tried from sweet to dry with couple bottles, all were very smooth and clean, we all love that! Although it's new open, the servant still under trainning, but you can see the owner gave a lot of patience to train them and serve the guests with a high fine dining standard by himself. Every business has its beginning, but we can feel the chef and manager were giving 120% of sincerity and honest to treat the meal and the guests. So we all very pleased with this experience. Will definitely come back next time!"

"Iki Omakase specializes in a more modern take on omakase, with so many delicious dishes featuring fresh fish and other seafood! Chef Li is also welcoming - professional yet lively and fun to talk to as he prepares each course. The nigiri portion of the meal included some of my favorites, including mackerel (aji), rosy sea bass (akamutsu), and, of course, tuna (both chutoro and otoro). Reservations required! We joined for the 8pm seating, which, while a bit late, allowed for a more relaxed service overall with good food and drinks."