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    Hidden Omakase

    4.3 (174 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndSushi Bars, Japanese
    Closed 5:00 pm - 7:30 PM

    Hidden Omakase Photos

    Business Info

    HIDDEN OMAKASE ATMOSPHERE

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    Trendy
    Intimate
    Classy
    Upscale

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    Recommended Reviews - Hidden Omakase

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    Reviews With Photos

    Kamasu (Red Barracuda)
    Jonathan V.

    We came here for my girlfriend's birthday and were super impressed by the omakase experience that Chef Marcos and his team provided. Hidden Omakase is located in the Galleria area next to the conservatory and Burger Chan. There's no sign on the outside of the building but we knew we were in the right place by the Michelin sign outside of the restaurant. Hidden Omakase only does one seating on Tuesdays and it's a smaller menu than their normal dinner service. It is $150 per person on Tuesdays as opposed to the regular $225 per person for other full dinner seatings. You are also able to order off of an A La Carte menu close to the end of dinner service before dessert is served so that is a nice option if you want more to eat or enjoyed a particular piece of sushi. Ambiance: the restaurant is a bar type restaurant that seats about 24 people total. There were only 12 people when we went on Tuesday so it was a little more intimate. The lighting is dimmed and the restaurant plays some fun music to keep the vibes high during dinner. The seats are barstool seats so they can be a little tight but you'll be on the edge of your seat anyway trying to watch your chefs prepare the courses. They also customized each couple's menu if they were celebrating a special occasion like a birthday or anniversary. Another nice touch from Hidden Omakase. Parking: there is a large parking lot in the front of the restaurant so parking is never an issue here. Service: the service is wonderful at Hidden Omakase. There was one chef dedicate to each section of 6 people which made for fun conversation and interaction. They also provide a water service unlike anything I've seen before. They pick a still and carbonated water that are special for the menu that they have. We had Eira water and you could definitely taste the difference in quality of water. It was a nice touch to the dinner. You can also bring in wine and any wine over 720 ML gets charged a $20 corkage fee. This place was top notch in keeping us fed, keeping our glasses full and engaging us during the 2 and half hour dinner. Food: Below was the menu for the night. Instead of talking a one each dish, I will give you my highlights. Each dish/piece of sushi was individually crafted as the night went on and the chefs explained the origin and nature of each dish as it was served. All of the nigiri pieces were amazing and you could tell they only use the highest quality fish. Some of our favorites were the Hotate Kaiso which was an appetizer served with Hokkaido scallops. This dish was so refreshing and the light texture of the scallops paired nice with the seaweed and matcha. The Santa Barbara Uni was so creamy and briny and provided a refreshing taste between fish nigiri bites. The Muki nigiri was a scallop nigiri that was firm, flavorful yet light on the tongue. Each nigiri piece was prepared with care and you could tell the chefs knew what they were doing with each wasabi and soy serving added to the piece of nigiri. We ordered the Akami from the a la carte menu and that was my girlfriend's favorite piece. The menu rotates every 3 months here so each menu is seasonal. Hotate Kaiso (Hokkaido, wild rice, sesame matcha, seaweed Lobster roll (bonito beurre blanc, celery) Sashimi charcuterie (Glory Bay, pastrami salmon, tofu feta, wasabi almond, togarashi apricot jam, ocal olive) Ishidai (Knifejaw Snapper) Santa Barbara Uni Kamasu (Red Barracuda) Inada (Japanese Mackeral) Muki (Scallop) Masu (Ocean Trout) Mosaic Carrot (Japanese vegetable curry, potato hay) Hirame Tom Kha (Chiba, cocnut, aji Amarillo, carrot) Sweets (Matcha crumble, strawberry cream, strawberry ice cream) Overall, I would highly recommend Hidden Omakase. The price point is a little high so I would recommend going for special occasions to make the experience that much more special. Chef Marcos showed us why they were the only sushi restaurant in Houston with a Michelin Recommendation. The team is top notch and the food is to die for. The experience will make you want to come back time and time again.

    Wesley S.

    WOW THIS WAS AN EXPERIENCE. First of all the price is almost $500/couple after trip and all fees. Time: 2 1/2 hours - I did not expect that. Service: was excellent the staff was awesome. They explain every dish and the story and background. This is not a quick sit down dinner this is a long experience. BYOB... and being someone fun and you can talk to. I saw several groups and couples that barely spoke to each other and looked miserable. Overall great experience not something I would do again but it was fun to do it once.

    Kristi A.

    Incredible omakase experience--super fresh fish, melt-in-your-mouth toro, and creative bites that feel thoughtful, not gimmicky. Staff is attentive, friendly, and explains each course without rushing you. Great pacing, great vibes, and worth the reservation. One of Houston's best omakase spots.

    Nhi V.

    Fusion style omakase, not recommended for traditional style lovers like me. They are currently on their fall menu, which includes a some hot dishes like thai curry and pork belly. The taste was good, but as an Asian person who grows up eating these kind of dishes, it could be underwhelming. Price was $175/person, which I thought was steep considering there was no toro, caviar, snow crab, and you only get a pinch of uni on the side. The nigiri was often paired with some "sauce", such as fig jam, chili garlic, or tom yum paste, which while pair nicely, I feel take away from the essence of the fish. I also thought they gave too much rice per nigiri. Upon finishing the omakase, we felt a bit unsatisfied, so we ordered the dry aged tuna trio, which was the best part of the dining experience. The toro especially was not too fatty, and the dry aged process made gave it a specially delicious flavor. Unfortunately this trio was $40 each, and our omakase for 2 came out to just over $500 including tip. The chef repeatedly told us how their fish are flown in directly from Japan, which is not unique by any means for a restaurant like this or any higher end sushi restaurant in Houston. Having tried many omakase restaurants, this one gave me a bit of a sticker shock in light of the actual items on the menu.

    Last of the omakase fall 2024 menu + caviar bump & red velvet ice cream cone
    Maddy A.

    WOW! Hands down my favorite experience in Houston. Truly a dining experience, the chef staff were absolutely incredible, so friendly, knowledge and so fun to be around. Every fish we consumed was actually shown to us with a backstory of the fish, where it's from and how it's known. The fish was incredible fresh, the uni was SO fresh and every dish had such a unique flavor combination that we enjoyed so much. The vibes inside were immaculate, such a beautiful establishment & decor. Loved the intimate setting of 18 seats, so dark & romantic yet plenty of lighting for some pictures that were encouraged by the staff! Really enjoyed this experience and glad they are on the Michelin guide. Will be back for the winter menu and every season after that!

    William L.

    Been looking forward to this place for a long time, very pleased with my experience and one of the best meals I've had in 2023. The name doesn't lie, it's tucked away in a shopping strip center, inside features a very intimate (yet spacious) setting with bar-style seating. 15 course menu with a la carte options, BYOB (with a corking fee), it's a bit on the pricier side and we did several add-ons (pictures). Our host/hostess were very friendly and engaging, ensuring our sake were filled throughout the evening and we were delighted they joined us in several toasts. I enjoyed the fish selections and the explanation of each dish, each bite tasted fresh and the presentation is probably one of the best I've seen in Houston Overall, one of the more memorable Omakase experiences I've had, worth a visit for a special occasion! The price tag is a bit hefty with the add-on charges/fees but it's a vibe.

    Beautiful presentation
    Ashlee W.

    My sister and I have eaten here multiple times now, and it has never failed to be a memorable experience. The food is incredible and the staff are a joy to chat with and to watch as they work their magic to put the evening's menu together. Yelp doesn't have enough stars to express my love for Hidden Omakase. We'll definitely be back!

    Britney G.

    Went here for our anniversary. They definitely make you feel special! Our menu was specialized to say "happy anniversary" which was a nice touch. The restaurant is small with a bar only seating set up (24 seats max). Going on a weeknight, they were not as busy, which we loved because it wasn't too loud and we got special attention from the chefs. The food was very unique and delicious. I give the chefs mad props for the creativity and fusion. The quality was outstanding. Great customer service! Only knock is I'm not sure it's worth the price point. We ordered just a couple of extra pieces and the bill was almost $700 with tip. And that's BYOB too!

    OTORO (with Fried Garlic)
    Landon P.

    Can't say enough great things about our experience at Hidden Omakase. Took a friend who was in town, and we Uber'd over for the second seating. The courses came out so quickly, one after the other, that the meal didn't feel as long as it was. Exec Chef Marcos explained each piece of fish to us and even answered questions. The servers at the counter also did a terrific job clearing without rushing, refilling our beers, water, and at the end of the dinner, even trying some of our Blanton's we brought. The glassware was all top-notch. The music is hip and loud - but in a fun way. Some reviews on here criticize that aspect, but we thought it really added to the exciting vibe. Last thing I'll comment on is price. This was a special occasion for us. The dinner might be $175 a head, but when you add tax, corking fee (no charge for beer but $20 for a bottle over 750 ml), a la carte menu (which I recommend), and an over 20% tip, you're looking at $600 combined for two people. WORTH IT!!! Will never forget this night. Phenomenal meal, time, and memories to cherish.

    I have no complaints about this menu. I enjoyed all of it! 3-5 we're probably some of my favorites, and the dessert is heavenly!
    Christy P.

    I thought the food here was fantastic! The fish portions are very nice sized, and it's a very filling meal overall. Compared to 5kinokawa, there's a lot less engagement with / stories from the chefs, if you're looking for that aspect. I accidentally dropped one of my dishes on the ground and they gave me a new one--so sweet but I was super embarrassed. I'd recommend using your fingers instead of chopsticks if you're ungraceful like me. The only thing that would keep me coming back regularly is the price. It's $175 per person. You do get 15 filling courses, but it's a hefty price tag. Also they are BYOL but their corking fee is $20, which is also on the high side. The ambiance is fine overall. I did notice kind of a mildewy smell when we entered--I couldn't figure out what it was. Otherwise I have to say the food truly was fantastic. Very nigiri-heavy if you're into that. And of course not fishy in the slightest.

    Karen B.

    Incredible food and great experience, was cool to see all the fish that were being served and the staff was happy to answer questions. Great dining experience- don't know if it's worth the almost $800 price tag but it's definitely worth a try

    Menu 2/19
    Saba E.

    Worth every penny. Great for surprises and special occasions if you're willing to plan ahead, not so much a spur-of the moment type date. My husband set an alarm to make a reservation while I was out of town. He gets all the brownie points for this birthday surprise! We were given a welcome-sake drink to start but otherwise it's byob with a corking fee. It was course after course of deliciousness and they kept our allergies in mind too. There was only one course that was differently made for us, but we didn't feel like we missed out on the experience. I highly recommend this for special occasions. So fresh. So tasty. So original. Chef's kiss

    Zhen L.

    I've heard great things about this omakase experience and it did not disappoint! Food: 13 course meal with a la carte options. Every piece of sushi was carefully prepared and the flavor was amazing. I could tell a lot of thought and effort went into making the nigiris delicious. We also ended up ordering a specialty hand roll and the special don which were amazing as well! Service: everyone was very attentive to us, it was a fully packed restaurant but they took care to make sure to let us know about every piece of sushi. This was a BYOB type of place but you can also order mocktail. Ambiance: very modern and clean - loved their mural and the old school hip hop music playing in the background. I didn't really see any signs on the outside so it was a good thing that a server waved at us so we knew where to park! Overall a great experience, will definitely be back one day!

    Add-on handroll

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    7 months ago

    Best sushi you'll ever have. A5 wagyu is on point. Dessert was delicious. Brandon was nice and interesting and a very talented chef.

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    Hidden Omakase Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Hidden Omakase

    I see the current price is $175/person but BYOB? What is the corkage fee? Is tip included? Thanks!

    $175 is the set price for the dinner service. Tip is not included. There is a $20 corkage fee for any bottles over 720ml.

    How do you make a reservation?

    RESY

    How much does it typically cost per person?

    For 2: $200+tax Deposit and $237.38 at the end. Total: $453.88. No alcohol. But they gave us two… Read more

    How long does a seating typically take? I only ask bc we have show tickets and I want to make sure we have enough time to do both.

    I'd give 2-2.5 hours! They have an option to order ala carte afterwards so just depends if you want more.. I'd say the courses come up until the 2 hour mark though.

    I've been told that Hidden Omakase is BYOB? Is that correct? Thanks

    It was when I went in September. I think they just charge a corkage fee for whatever you bring in.

    Do the chef's take requests? For example, I do not eat wasabi nor uni- however, everything else is fair game. Would this be acceptable to ask at the beginning?

    Hi Alex! Thanks for reaching out and for your question! * Due to the specially curated menu we cannot accommodate any changes to our dishes or provide any substitutions. If a guest prefers not to eat a dish for any reason, including dietary… Read more

    Is there a dress code?

    I'd say trendy smart or business casual.

    Do they have vegetarian option?

    In the beginning of the meal, the chef asks the group if anyone has any special allergies, requests. But nothing that is dedicated to vegans/vegetarians. I bet you could email them and they'd possibly cater to your dietary preferences. It's sushi… Read more

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    Aiko - Mochi Dessert

    Aiko

    4.5(337 reviews)
    5.9 miSixth Ward
    Locally owned & operated
    Free parking

    Loved the food here! The fish is super fresh and high quality and even the non-sushi menu items had…read moregreat flavors and were well executed. I got the pan daiquiri as my drink to start and my friend got the herbed lavender lemonade. For food we shared the hamachi crudo, the chutoro nigri, the kanpachi nigiri, the A5 tartare, the kani handroll, The kinoko yasaimono, and the hot scallop dish to share. The pan daiquiri was SO good. The smokiness from the mezcal hits you first and then the sweet and creamy after taste takes over. It was so well mixed and I would highly recommend trying this if you are a mezcal lover like me. (9/10) The herbed lavender lemonade was too tangy and sweet for my liking. The lavender flavor get lost in the drink. It tasted like a typical lemonade, nothing special. (5/10) The hamachi crudo was so fresh and I really enjoyed the sweet and tangy broth. I'm not sure I would call it tom kha broth but it tasted good regardless and paired well with the tomatoes. (7.5/10) The chutoro nigiri was SO buttery and melt in your mouth delicious. I would definitely get this again. (8.8/10) The kanpachi nigiri was fresh and I enjoyed the sauce paired with it. It was my first time trying amberjack and I liked it. (7/10) The A5 tartare was super unique and well seasoned. There was plenty of tartare compared to the amount of milk bread you are given to eat it with. The uni, caviar, pate and waygu all mixed together was a decadent combination full of flavor. My only note was the contrast in temperatures that I did not love, the tartare came cold while the milk bread was warm. Overall, a very luxurious and tasty dish. (8/10) The kani handroll surpassed my expectations. Typically I don't go for crab first, but I did enjoy the flavors paired with the crab and the hand roll was well filled. (7.8/10) The kinoko roll (king trumpet mushroom roll) really surprised me. I was weary about getting this roll because I normally don't opt for vegan options, but this king mushroom was so well prepared and the sauce was so delicious that dare I say that I enjoyed this more than some of the fish/meat sushi rolls I've had in the past. (8/10) The hot scallop dish was one of the best bites of the night. The scallop was perfectly charred and cooked and the creamy polenta base with the umami salmon roe, with the fried red cabbage to add texture was amazing. I would definitely order this again. (9/10) Overall, I really enjoyed my time at Aiko and the food surpassed my expectations. I loved everything I tried and do want to come back to try more. The service was quick and helpful with the menu. Parking can be a bit tricky, but there are some free street parking spots around the plaza. The ambiance is definitely upscale and classy. It's a great place for a date! My only complaint was that I made a reservation for 2 at least a week in advance and upon arrival, though they had plenty of open tables, we were seated at the opposite end of a table that was already occupied. We were close enough to hear their entire conversation throughout dinner, and I just thought it was an odd experience because that had never happened to me before. Though it did not hinder me from enjoying the food I would have preferred to be seated at our own table.

    I thought Aiko delivered a really memorable meal. Overall I'm giving this place 5 stars -- the…read morequality of the fish and the execution were excellent -- though personally I did find the progression of courses a little rich toward the end. For context, Aiko is part of the same group as Doko (their sushi omakase concept) and Handies Douzo (their handroll-focused restaurant), and you can definitely see the overlap in technique and flavor profiles across the restaurants. We went for the Valentine's omakase menu. The meal started with the Oyster Duo. One had a yuzu granita and aguachile that was bright and refreshing, while the other had a roasted onion soubise with smoked trout roe that leaned richer and more savory. Nice contrast between the two. One of my favorite early dishes was the chilled zaru soba. The buckwheat noodles had a great chewy texture and the mentsuyu broth was light and refreshing with mirin, mushroom, and seaweed notes. It was a really nice palate reset. The smoked ocean trout sashimi (masu) was another standout. It had garlic aioli on top with oil and black pepper, and the tomato added a crunchy brightness that balanced the richness of the fish. It's a simple combination but worked surprisingly well. The temaki course was excellent. The snow crab handroll had this creamy mayo texture with chili and crunchy shallots, and you can tell they roast the seaweed sheets right before serving because the nori had an incredible crunch -- honestly some of the best texture I've had in a handroll. It reminded me a lot of the style they do at Handies. For the hirame crudo with pomegranate and shiso, the flavor was good but a bit more subtle. I think the pistachio really helps that dish; without enough of it the flavors felt a little muted. I know pomegranate and pistachio is a common flavor pairing for middle eastern cuisines. My partner has a tree nut allergy so they removed it for both of us. The wagyu fat rice was very indulgent. The first thing you taste is the wagyu fat, but the fried shallots and other crunchy elements help balance it out. The sauce reminded me a lot of something you'd get at Doko -- rich but very satisfying. Adding fried rice in between fish courses was an interesting choice from the chef, but I think Aiko aims to be more western fusion than a traditional Japanese omakase. The tuna trio was fantastic. The chutoro with negidare (garlic, sesame oil, scallion) was probably my favorite bite of the night -- super flavorful and perfectly balanced. The foie gras course leaned sweet and savory, almost like an eel sauce flavor with some crunch on top. Delicious, but by this point in the progression I was definitely feeling the richness of the meal. Dessert was a milk tea tiramisu that I thought was really interesting. The mascarpone layer had a tartness to it -- almost like there might be a little sour cream mixed in -- and one layer had a subtle salty note that balanced the sweetness. Overall, the food quality was excellent and the fish was clearly very fresh. My only minor critique is that the progression of courses skewed a bit rich for my personal preference, especially in the second half of the meal. That said, every dish was thoughtfully executed and there were some truly standout bites. If you enjoy creative omakase with some richer flavor profiles, Aiko is definitely worth trying.

    Photos
    Aiko
    Aiko - Cucumber tomato salad

    Cucumber tomato salad

    Aiko - Salmon toro w. truffle & caviar

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    Salmon toro w. truffle & caviar

    Himari

    Himari

    4.3(116 reviews)
    6.2 miOak Forest/Garden Oaks
    $$

    Arrived at Himari today and really did have a great experience! It is a small setting but it left a…read morebig impression! Sat at the bar and ordered hot saki and sparkling white wine as an added kick( both were great by the way), and then for starters we got a crispy tuna roll, which was very good, ( tuna on a bed of fried rice cake cut into rectangles , with chives and trimmings on top) order of the chicken karage , that was fried to perfection, spicy / juicy goodness and everything you want from fried chicken!, and lastly got the nigiri sampler with premium pieces of very fresh , melt in you mouth sushi! And all of this was available at happy hour prices because we got there before 5, except for the chicken karage and sparkling wine! Service was also STELLAR! I will be back for sure!!!

    There's seating outdoors, inside at the sushi bar, tables, and more seating upstairs. I noticed…read morethat they used machines to give proportionate amount of rice for the nigiri and rolls. This is nice to have consistent amounts of rice for each dish. I do wonder if this would make service slow or not because it did take awhile to get our food. There were a lot of to go orders and the way they package the items looked top tier. I did see they had a reasonable price for omakase for 2 ($95). This alone I think is worth trying this place out. However, I was not hungry enough for their omakase. I don't know if the machine played a roll in it but the seaweed was a bit soft and got stuck onto the dish. This made the quality of the rolls disappointing. The fish tasted fresh but I think the flavors and ingredients overpowered the fish. I would have liked ingredients that would elevate the fish and make it stand out as the highlight of the rolls. However, I thought they did a good job with presentation in each dish. I tried the rainbow row and that was a bit hard to eat because the seaweed got stuck onto the wooden board. I also thought the menu didn't reflect all of the ingredients that were inside of the rolls. They list the main stuff but not everything else. For example, I noticed that there was asparagus inside of the rainbow row but it isn't listed. For that reason I'd give it 3 stars. I wouldn't order this again. The next item I tried was the yuzu kissed and this was my favorite out of everything I've tried. I do think that it was missing something that would balance out the citrusy flavor but nevertheless it was still tasty as long as you don't douse the fish in the sauce, 5 stars. I also tried the Wagyu pitchfork and I think something that would've made this taste better would be a sauce maybe like an eel sauce. This would also get 3 stars for me. The spicy tuna roll was 3 stars for me and it was more so of the texture of the tuna. The tuna felt like it was stuffed in the roll and was like a soggy texture. Some of the tuna fell out as I was eating it and it also made the seaweed wrap around it a bit moist. I think if you go here you definitely should get the sashimi that way you could actually taste the quality of the fish. I tried the medium tuna and fatty and these were actually what I would expect from a place like this. The quality was there but the other items didn't hit the mark for me. The other item I tried was the Japanese scallop and the scallop was tasty and had that smooth buttery texture. The seaweed again kind of ruined the scallop for me. It felt like the scallop was shoved into the roll and was all soft and squishy when I picked it up.

    Photos
    Himari - Chef Eber recommended

    Chef Eber recommended

    Himari - Salmon roll

    Salmon roll

    Himari - Lychee martini

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    Lychee martini

    Katami - Osaka Decadent roll

    Katami

    4.6(303 reviews)
    4.7 miMontrose
    $$$

    At Katami, the flavors arrive like fragments of memory before they become a whole sentence. This is…read morethe strange pleasure (and occasional frustration) of fine dining when you cook enough yourself to recognize the building blocks. You spend half the meal trying to identify each note before the dish moves past analysis and settles into feeling. The shrimp toast came first, and it read almost plainly at first bite: cultured tang from crème fraîche, sweet fruit, the faint richness of butter soaking into impossibly thin milk bread. A small herb scattered on top sharpened everything just enough. Then the caviar arrived not as luxury punctuation but as structure, binding the sourness and sweetness into something quieter and more deliberate. At home, these flavors would sit beside one another. Here, they dissolved into each other. Several dishes moved unmistakably toward Vietnamese flavors without ever becoming literal reproductions. The branzino tempura carried the familiar push and pull of nước mắm and sugar, maybe shrimp paste somewhere underneath, though softened into something more restrained. A brown sauce alongside it tasted almost startlingly recognizable: peanut butter, grainy sugar, the kind of sweet-savory depth that recalls satay sauce made in a home kitchen. The flavors are not hidden exactly, but compressed. In home cooking, especially in Southeast Asian food, flavor often announces itself clearly: fish sauce is fish sauce, herbs remain bright and separate, sugar lands directly on the palate. At Katami, those same references are blurred at the edges. Sometimes the dishes communicated more through texture than taste. The rockfish, paired with yuzu kosho, had a peppery structure that lingered longer than the citrus itself. The sakura salmon tasted like a spring time promenade, cherry blossom petals scattering in the bright, breezy sky. Overall, I recommend this sushi spot for a contemporary perspective on fine dining sushi. I was surprised to see other cuisines blended in compared to restaurants that are distinctly Japanese. Katami focuses on a story with each individual course, instead of all the plates flowing together. Each dish has a start and finish, it felt like reading a book compiled of mini poems!

    The ambiance is nice, and our server was excellent--very knowledgeable about the menu and helpful…read morethroughout the meal. The fish quality is solid, which is expected given that this restaurant is priced higher than most sushi spots. That said, the dishes felt a bit one-dimensional. Everything was good, but nothing really stood out or felt memorable. It seemed like the menu played things too safe, and we never had a moment where we thought, "this is what makes this place special." One disappointing moment was with a food runner. My sister has a severe shellfish allergy, and when she called him back--just once--to double-check potential contamination, he rolled his eyes before responding. That reaction was pretty surprising and not appropriate, especially given the seriousness of food allergies. Overall, the sushi is decent and the fish quality is good, but it didn't leave a lasting impression.

    Photos
    Katami - Fresh flowers.

    Fresh flowers.

    Katami - Foie Scallop

    Foie Scallop

    Katami - Roasted cabbage

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    Roasted cabbage

    Handies Douzo

    Handies Douzo

    4.6(500 reviews)
    5.4 miThe Heights
    $$

    Been to both the Heights and Montrose locations regularly and Handies is easily my favorite go-to…read morehandroll spot in the city. The selection is great across the board, I genuinely enjoy every hand roll I've had, and you really can't go wrong with any of the sets. The crudo is always a hit too. What I love most is how approachable it is - from the vibe inside to even the food itself. It works just as well for a quick but really good meal as it does for stopping in to grab a hand roll or two between errands or before heading somewhere else. Consistently high quality without feeling overly serious or complicated. Service is always on top of it, the experience is efficient without feeling rushed, and it's one of those spots that stays in regular rotation no matter how many new places pop up around the city.

    Handies Douzo is easily one of the first places I will recommend when in Houston. Their handrolls…read moreare unmatched, and the crudos are just as good. It's a great spot to enjoy high-quality sushi without the price tag of an upscale restaurant. The staff are always warm and welcoming, and the all-bar seating creates a lively, interactive dining experience. I usually order a 3-handroll set, add a hamachi handroll at the end, and share the chutoro sashimi. The chutoro just melts in your mouth, and each handroll is thoughtfully balanced with great flavor combinations. It's always a reliable place to go to and can serve as a quick bite when I'm indecisive on where to eat. That being said, it gets pretty busy during dinner time, so I'd recommend making a reservation ahead of time.

    Photos
    Handies Douzo - Inside vibe

    Inside vibe

    Handies Douzo - Salmon handroll

    Salmon handroll

    Handies Douzo - Bgb Sake

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    Bgb Sake

    Tins

    Tins

    4.9(51 reviews)
    4.5 miThe Heights

    We went to TINS on Friday for my birthday. We love going to an Omakase, but this is more. This is…read morean experience. Chef Sky puts all of his passion into this 14 course adventure. Each bite is elevated and delicious. We wanted to eat slow and enjoy each bite, but each was better than the last and so hard to eat slow! We were anticipating each piece! We loved the addition of laksa and his Malaysian influence. It was so hard to pick a favorite. The sake FLOWS! It's truly unlimited. We had so much fun. The interior is vibe in itself. If you go for the 8 o'clock seating, they do karaoke after and I can only imagine how fun that it since Chef Sky is so fun. He shared so much knowledge and was just so much fun to talk to as well. We finished our meal and stayed another 40 minutes talk to Chef and enjoying the sake. It really is more than just sushi. You will not find wasabi and soy sauce anywhere. Each of the sauces elevates each bite you take and compliments it so well. Here's what we enjoyed: 1.Madai (jalapeño dressing ) 2.Hickory smoke sichimi salmon ( crunchy garlic and sweet & sour sauce ) 3.Scallop with sesame oil , truffle salt , fried garlic , ponzu and mint leaf ) 4.Malaysian curry laksa 5.Tuna (Spain ) mango salsa make with tom yum sauce 6.Kanpachi (Hawaii ) truffle oil , Himalayan salt & lemon zest 7.King salmon (New Zealand ) seared with yuzu miso and Malaysian crunchy fried anchovy 8. Santa Barbara uni shooter 9. Founder (repulic of Korea) homemade pepper sauce 10. Seared escolar with pork floss 11. Toro with creamy cilantro lime sauce with kizami wasabi 12 . Hamachi with Malaysian style sweet garlic sauce 13. Unagi with old granny spice and yuzu salt 14. mango crepes cake

    Tins is, without a doubt, the best omakase like experience I've ever had. Every course flowed…read moreseamlessly into the next, each dish complementing the last in a way that felt intentional and artful. Honestly--hands down better than Uchi. The atmosphere was amazing. Chef Sky was welcoming, friendly, and incredibly entertaining. You can tell he loves what he does, and it makes the whole experience that much better. If you enjoy sake, do yourself a favor and catch a ride there and back. The bottomless sake is no joke and pairs perfectly with every dish! And whatever you do, don't miss karaoke after the 8pm seating. It was an absolute blast. By the end of the night, everyone--complete strangers when we walked in--felt like instant friends while singing our hearts out. I've definitely found my new favorite date night / family night / any-night spot. Cannot recommend Tins enough!

    Photos
    Tins
    Tins - Unlimited sake

    Unlimited sake

    Tins - Yellowtail (sweet garlic sauce)

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    Yellowtail (sweet garlic sauce)

    Kata Robata - Texas Wagyu Katsu Sando

    Kata Robata

    4.3(2.3k reviews)
    3.0 miUpper Kirby
    $$$

    Nut allergy friendly - The lunch ramen is still safe! As is most of the menu I believe…read more Parking: Actually quite difficult in the small strip mall lot. Gets very busy during lunch and you might have to wait for someone to come out. Yep, they're all here for Kata. Time to Entree: 7 Minutes We arrived at 1PM on a Friday afternoon without a reservation and got quoted a 20 minute wait for 2 people. That ended up being around 9 minutes wait. Service for the lunch tonkatsu ramen was quick and efficient. The ramen is just as great as I remember. The pork tonkatsu is flame seared and has an excellent charred flavor, very different than normal tonkatsu pork but still melts in your mouth. The broth is flavorful and ginger-forward, but not too salty to where it's overpowering. Great portions of noodles that makes for a satisfying lunch. Kata's ramen still bats for the top 5 in Houston in my book. Always happy to make it back for their lunch when I've got the time.

    The food tasted good but nothing was new or exciting. The service was terrible... our waitress…read more(Karen?) was really slow.. also my friend waited almost 45 minutes for a glass of wine. She clearly forgot to ring it in and then brought us the check. We then asked for the glass of wine and she brought it with a revised check. We also never saw a manager during our visit. At the end, we were charged 20% gratuity for a group of 7... seemed strange. Not saying we wouldn't have tipped that but it didn't sit well knowing the service was so bad.

    Photos
    Kata Robata
    Kata Robata - Lunch nigiri.

    Lunch nigiri.

    Kata Robata - Okinawa Sun - strong AF

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    Okinawa Sun - strong AF

    Ume Sushi

    Ume Sushi

    4.6(219 reviews)
    5.7 miThe Heights

    I can't believe there isn't more buzz around this place--we were able to get an 8pm NYE reservation…read morefor 2 less than 48 hours in advance. Ume deserves to be considered among Houston's heavy-hitters of Sushi. Hands-down, their food is comparable to that of places like Uchi and Kata at a slightly lower (maybe?) price point. Ume's nigiri takes the cake as my favorite in the city. We were blown away with the quality of ingredients and unique flavor profile in every single piece of nigiri across the standard and deluxe offerings of the chef's choice plates, Wagyu, and specials. I also want to take a moment to recognize the outstanding experience provided by our server, Scott. Beyond demonstrating his thorough understanding of their menu and sushi, broadly, with exceptional recommendations and knowledgeable insights, he consistently went the extra mile to help make our dinner special.

    Really good sushi. We went on a Sunday night and it was pretty empty. Maybe one or two other…read morediners. The good news it was quiet. The bad news is that things come out too fast, other than the cocktails we ordered first, which showed up after the first course did. I find that a bit irritating. I guess maybe their bar/drinks person went home. But still, a great place in the Heights area. Great fresh sushi, imaginative cocktails and pleasant staff. Will go back when we are in the area

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    Ume Sushi
    Ume Sushi - A5 wagyu beef toban yaki

    A5 wagyu beef toban yaki

    Ume Sushi - Ume Symphony Cocktail

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    Ume Symphony Cocktail

    Hidden Omakase - sushi - Updated May 2026

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