Absolutely phenomenal experience and the best bites of our whole trip (and we ate real good!). The ambience is unbeatable, offering patio spots in addition to indoor seating. Our waitress was wonderful. We ordered several items so let's review: -Sake Dreams: 10/10, go ahead and get 2 -Crispy Rice: 100/10, best we've ever had -Pork Belly Buns: also 100/10, the buns are so supple yet flavorful and the pork belly melts in your mouth -Blazing Saddles, 10/10: interesting but works. Reminds me of a Lomo Saltado roll -Black Magic, 8/10 for me and 10 from my bf -Firecracker, 7/10 (I'm not a huge fried roll fan but bf loved it, too) -O-Hah-Yoh cocktail, delish and perfect for the food Amazing Amazing amazing and I truly can't wait to have another O-Ku experience. Everyone raved over it! Make a reservation and enjoy! read more

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O-ku is a beautiful restaurant. Service was detailed and attentive- William was the waiter for our Valentine's Day dinner and he went above and beyond to add to our experience and make great recommendations. He actually explained the entire menu to us and helped us make the best choice. We ended up ordering the Kaisen fried rice- PHENOMENAL! Such a flavorful dish. The lobster is cooked to perfection with a sweet touch in the coconut miso. This is a shareable portion. We also shared a Blazing Saddles Makimono: 8 pieces of sushi. The steak used to top our roll was tender and delicious. Can't wait to come back and explore more of the menu. read more

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I always seem to be somewhat intimidated when looking at a menu from a place like this. When the server mentioned it is kind of like tapas, I guess that's the connection I never really made before. So, forgive me on that front. However, with that said, the pacing here was off. Sure things come from different "kitchens" depending on what you ordered, but we found that things we would expect to be at the table all at once took odd amounts of time. Anyway... The place itself is amazing. Great seating. Large mirrors to see the activity at the bars. Overall, large, welcoming, and modern. The first thing to hit the table was the SAKE DREAMS - salmon belly, truffle aioli, ikura, chive. Small, but memorable. Maybe worth the splurge I normally wouldn't do. The SHISHITO PEPPER - bonito flakes, ponzu was super tasty. I loved the "main" I had of the SPICY TUNA CRUNCH - spicy tuna, cucumber, eel sauce, crispy onion. The real surprise was dessert. I usually pass on dessert completely and I' glad I didn't here. The SATA ANDAGI - okinawan-style donut holes, peanut sesame sugar, miso caramel, were truly amazing and a great way to end the meal without being too heavy. read more

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All around amazing. The restaurant was clean and moody, perfect for an early evening dinner. Leslie served us, and did a wonderful job explaining the menu and providing recommendations since it was our first time. She was super attentive, conversational, and went above and beyond. We enjoyed everything we tried, and walked away feeling full but not disgusting because it felt quite healthy Here's what we tried and loved: Cucumbers and Avocado - Healthy and clean Crispy Rice - One of the best apps we've ever had! Chicken Yakatori - The chicken was so tender. Perfect. Sake Usuzukuri - Odd texture at first, but the flavor is salty and unique. Skeptical but ended up really liking it. Oceanside - Such a great roll. Plain tasting at first, but then you taste the savory smoky salmon flavor as it goes down. Super nice progression. Blazing Saddles - Great texture. Little bit of crunch and flavor was great. Firecracker - Our favorite for sure. Everything about it was perfect! 100/10! read more

Beautiful ambiance , creative menu, and large selection of fresh fish options, O-Ku is definitely a must visit. The Otoro spoons were delicious!! The tuna, uni, caviar combo was an amazing way to kick off dinner. The cocktails were also delicious. We shared a few nigiri's and also a few rolls. I've also never seen a sushi roll with black rice! How cool. The crab is flown in directly from Japan and was so fresh, I just wish our roll had a little more of it for the price is my only complaint on the Hokkaido King roll so for $65 wouldn't get this again. read more

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Combine Alys Beach vibes with Sushi and Japanese specialty cuisine, and you've got O-Ku! Service has always been incredibly knowledgeable and open to sharing their recommendations. We've always ordered for the table, family style, it's the best way to ensure everyone has the chance to get a taste of each unique plate option. No lie, we typically choose 1-2 items from each menu category--no regrets ever. I'll begin with my personal recommended food options--first off the Japanese fried chicken is to die for. This does sit heavily, so it is easily shared amongst a table of 3-5. The crunchiness and level of seasoning outshine even the best of any fried chicken spot, in fast or fine dining. The house salad with ginger dressing is what you'd expect, with the exception it's enough to feed decent sized portions to 4-5 people! The homemade dressing was great, with a little kick of ginger spice in it. The Black Magic special was absolutely incredible and recommend it to everyone for a nice sushi treat. The Oceanside roll was also good, I'm just not the biggest fan of salmon in this form. Last but not least for the grub, the fried rice entree is by far the best I've ever had in my 35+ years. The flavor they achieve between the lobster and the fried rice is perfection--balanced to where you can taste every ingredient as they are but together the fusion will blow your mind. I'll end with our last visit's server, Nathan. He knew every item in and out--granted his descriptions didn't make our decisions any easier. Very well attentive and not too frequent as we chatted and caught up with our family we were visiting in Florida. Water was never low, check-ins after each plate was dropped off. Friendly to the max, and couldn't have asked for someone better! For those who are locals and travelers, I highly recommend this place but with warning: Make a reservation in advance and if you must drive, be sure to arrive a tad early as parking is very very limited especially if you don't reside in the connected residences.-This is my only note that affected a perfect 5-Star review. This will always be a go to for when it visiting my in-laws in Alys Beach--definitely a staple for this community. read more

When we were recently in the area, I was excited they opened a location here. We have previously been to the Nashville location and enjoy it there. The overall experience was not great. When we were waiting to check into our reservation, some ignorant couple without a reservation stood there trying to figure out what to do and going back and forth with the staff then talking on a cell phone. None of the 3 people working up front asked them to step aside or assist us. It was ridiculous. After being seated, we ordered drinks which were pretty good. Then when going to order- they were out of like 4 items we wanted to try. That's crazy considering it was a weekday and not super busy. We adjusted to other items and ended up ordering a lot. Spent over $400 with tip. We found the nigiri sushi to be lackluster and did not taste particularly fresh. They also served us on these massive pieces of wood that left us no room on our table. The black magic tasted good and consistent to when we have had it in the past. Service did not align with the price point. I went very long periods of time with no water. All the staff didn't seem pleased to be there. Just not a great vibe. Restaurant is attractive inside but overall just not on the level. read more

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Party of 5. Birthday dinner for my wife. Ambiance was very upscale, modern, busy and trendy. Service was exceptional. Food was stellar. Beverages on point. We did a mix of sake, wine and cocktails, and tried a dozen different items from the menu. All presented with elegance and class. I spoke with Jess the manager prior about the birthday and they delivered a truly memorable experience. Our waitresses name was Bre, and she did an outstanding job and was very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. The staff even all signed a card and wrote personal well wishes and gave her a small gift bag. 5 stars. Great job O-Ku staff! read more

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Great ambience, music and amazing selection of sushi and Japanese cuts of meat, the food is a great assortment of the Japanese culture, and the service is up to par with other restaurants. I've been to throughout the US great choice if you come over this way towards Panama City Beach/Alys Beach for the person that's trying to escape the die force and have some luxury amazing food. read more

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The food was delicious but we all had higher expectations for the price. We went all out and bought the wagyu rolls at $20 a slice. The black magic came out cold. The first half of our meal was great then it took another 30minutes for the second half. It was bad timing. The waiter knew they messed up so he brought us free ice cream but by then it was too late the romance was gone. The firecracker roll is great with goat cheese. read more

O-Ku was a wonderful experience! It has a very modern feel to it, with a bit of luxury feel as the servers were very attentive and everything was thoughtfully planned. The food was incredible and you get a generous amount for the price, making it all the more appealing. We had a great experience here and I would highly recommend. read more

O-Ku - Sautéed vegetables, Lobster and Crab fried rice, and pork belly bao buns. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Alys Beach, Florida

Uncommonly fancy place just off the beach. The sushi is impeccable and the desserts are over the moon. Our server was helpful with the order and not pushy. She did a fantastic job. read more

Everything was wonderful -- the food, the service, and the atmosphere. Everything we ordered was delicious and very fresh. The staff was friendly and attentive, and the whole experience was great. My kids loved it too, which is always a big win. We will definitely be back! read more

This place is phenomenal! Located in Alys beach, this restraunt is stunning. The vibes are immaculate and the atmosphere is beautiful. I got the sugar and spice cocktail and it was the most delicious drink I've had in a while. Every meal was extremely tasty! On top of this beautiful and delicious restaurant, the staff is super friendly and our waiter was AWESOME! Will definitely be back!! read more

O-Ku - Lobster fried rice - Sushi Bars Near Me - Alys Beach, Florida

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I came to this place when it first opened and previously ordered a bento box for lunch. The prices were alright and the food was pretty good! This visit I wanted to actually try the sushi. The space itself is really lovely. We sat at the bar, and their non-alcoholic cocktails were amazing. The bar staff were very talented. I will also say that it must be illegal to be ugly and come to this place. The staff were beautiful and so were the customers! That's Alys beach for you The sushi itself id say was quite disappointing. It looked the part, don't get me wrong. But the quality of the fish was not all I was hoping especially for the price. I think if the value was there I'd be more willing to forgive because expecting good sushi in this area is a big ask. But it $100 for 7 bits of slightly jazzed up sushi, you can get better value down towards Destin. The dessert, my boyfriend enjoyed but it was dry and felt like a eating a sponge (not in a good way) In reality I will go back, there are other things on the menu which looked good! And it's so close to where I live read more

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The BEST sushi restaurant I have ever been to! Great service, food, and atmosphere. I Yelped dog friendly spots and this was one of the top restaurants that came up, and I'm glad I took my pup here!!! We had Ashley as our server tonight and she was excellent! She was kind and made sure everything was taken care of - she knew the menu so well and gave great recommendations - truly the best example of going above and beyond. For apps we did Fried Rice, Corn Robata, and Hotate Temaki. Fried rice had a super unique texture and great quality tuna, it was basically just a regular sushi roll but a fried rice cube as the base! All of their temakis are like a taco which was fun to eat - and the Hotate had a super unique texture! Love!!! As for rolls, we got Blazing Saddles and Firecracker. BS had a great smoky flavor and Firecracker had goat cheese, which gave it a unique and rich flavor. AMAZING!!! We also got the Black Magic Hakozushi, which was a roll but without seaweed. That made it a bit tricky to eat because it would fall apart, but great for people who eat sushi with a fork instead of chopsticks. This one was def my favorite! Lobster wasn't too intense or spicy, it was light and crispy and everything you would want for a lobster roll. It's too bad this place is 12 hours away from home because I would be coming here every day if I could. Next vacation to Florida I'll do whatever I can to get back here! Highly recommend for a nice night with friends, family, or your dog :) read more

O-Ku - Blazing Saddles (L) and Black Magic (R) - Sushi Bars Near Me - Alys Beach, Florida

So yummy! I usually don't leave completely full but this meal has me getting some good sleep! The service was great. Our waiter was the sweetest and was totally our vibe for our table. 0 complaints! If you can get a reservation here, grab it while you can!! read more

My girls and I go out to dinner every other Thursday. This Thursday we chose O-Ku to celebrate one of my friend's birthday. The Environment was welcoming and warm. Food was great I recommend the Firecracker Sushi. Drinks were great, the Lychee mocktail was really refreshing. Brayden our server was amazing! He took the time to explain the menu kept our glasses full and a great conversationalist. Over all great experience. O-ku is definitely added to our return list. read more

Ambience was 10/10. Food was 10/10. Service was 10/10. Truly a great dining experience. We will be coming back. read more

O-Ku - Sushi Bars Near Me - Alys Beach, Florida

Wow, we had the BEST time here!! Brayden was the MVP of the night. He was so kind, attentive, and genuinely made our whole experience amazing. When we got a little chilly they even brought us blankets!! Every dish we tried was incredible (the hamachi collar was unreal), and TRY THE HUGO SPRITZ!!! The Gulf Pearl was so fresh and delicious. They really care about the guests and everyone working there was so beyond kind and friendly. Honestly the best dining experience of my entire life. Can't wait to come back, especially if Brayden's our server again!! Thank you O-Ku team!!!!! read more

O-Ku - Gulf Pearl - Sushi Bars Near Me - Alys Beach, Florida

Do not skip the Tuna Tuna Hakozushi!!!O-ku comes highly recommended on social media so it was top on my list of places to eat in 30A, and I am thrilled we didn't pass it up! Some dishes are easily recognizable and worth the hype, such as the otoro spoons, hamachi and signature firecracker roll. For the rest of our experience we kind of just let our waiter take the reins and he did not disappoint. One of those locations where you can try new things and leave with an expanded pallet kid friendly, we had a 1.5 year old with us and everyone was so sweet keeping him entertained and full. read more

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Ambiance and service were nice, but I've had better sushi. We were also served raw chicken yakitori. The lighting in the restaurant is very dark, so check your meats before consuming! read more

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I was so excited to try O-Ku as the last time I visited Alys, it wasn't yet open. I was shocked at how good it was! I wound up going twice in the week I was there. Their cocktails are truly refreshing and delicious, to start. And then, you get to the food. Our server was so knowledgeable, giving incredible recommendations and noting dietary restrictions. We ordered the following: edamame, cucumber and avocado, seaweed salad, crispy rice, tuna tuna, ocean side, fuego, and a few additional items that I can't remember the name of! My absolute favorite was the tuna tuna. It was so fresh and so easy to bite into as it doesn't have the seaweed. Second to that I loved the crispy rice! It's definitely filling and a shareable option but so worth it! I also highly recommend starting with the cucumber and avocado. It was a refreshing start to the evening. While it may seem we over ordered, I can say we finished absolutely everything and raved about how good it was. The first night, we sat outside, which was really nice as it wasn't too hot and there was a nice breeze. The second night we sat in the window at the bar area as we didn't have a reservation but the service was still quick and easy in the window. There isn't a bad seat in the house and if you don't have a reservation, I strongly suggest trying to get into the bar area to dine as you will want to try this!! read more

Great sushi spot in Alys Beach. All the food was fresh and excellent. Definitely on the pricier side but well worth it for high quality.

Ambiance was 5 star Service was also a 5 star I had one of the best cocktails ever here. Problem, as another review states, I've had better sushi at a gas station. Wildly unfortunate, because it has all the makings of a Nobu, but I couldn't eat the sushi it was so bad. read more

My husband and I went to O-Ku to celebrate a late Father's Day. I had to book two weeks out to get a Saturday evening reservation, however when we got there it looked like there were plenty of open seats at the sushi bar or the other bar for walk-ins. Our server was Irina - very knowledgeable and kind. My husband got an old-fashioned (he said it was tasty) and I ordered a Sakura Delight! Loved it!!!!!! Here's what we ordered....In order of favorite to least favorite. Everything was excellent! Black Magic (squid ink rice, box press), Firecracker sushi roll, Hamachi Carpaccio, Florida Man sushi roll, Otoro Spoons. My husband and I absolutely love sushi and so we were so excited to try this place. It did not disappoint. It was definitely an elevated "sushi" experience. The bill was just over $200 before the tip. We already are talking about which of our friends we'd like to take with us next time. Oh, I almost forgot... We wanted a dessert and Irina recommended to try one of the soft serve "ice creams".... I couldn't decide between the Ube soft serve or the salted caramel. Asked Irina to decide for me. She brought us both and only charged us for one! read more

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I wanted to treat my mom to a nice birthday dinner and O-Ku did not disappoint! Ambiance was great! The food was so flavorful and yummy and our server Amelia was amazing! She made this experience so memorable for my mom. If you ever come and are indecisive like I am, get the nigiri flight. It was so good I almost ordered two! read more

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The food was phenomenal. The Black Magic sushi lived up to its name--mysterious, flavorful, and possibly cast a spell on me because I'm still thinking about it. The Otoro Spoons were a fun little adventure--like sushi shot glasses, but fancier and way more delicious. But the real MVP? Lee. This guy knew the menu like he wrote it, directed it, and won an Oscar for it. He made everything smooth, easy, and somehow elevated the whole experience just by being on point from start to finish. Give that man a raise, a medal, or at least a cape--because he's a service superhero. Vibes? Immaculate. Would eat here weekly if my wallet and waistband allowed. read more

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Came here last night with a group of 8 to celebrate a couple special occasions and all I can say is that it was definitely worth the drive! It was a 2 hour drive from Pensacola and I can guarantee you..I'll do it again. The Setting: Breathtaking. Not only is it located in a beautiful plaza, but as soon as you thought you've seen beauty, it only intensifies when walking in. As soon as entering, you're greeted with delightful smiles from the staff which created a welcoming feeling, as well as being surrounded with the soft touches of teak wood, beautiful rattan fixtures, and soft warm lights and candles. The tables are elegantly prepared and seating is not overly packed, the fact I can tell the owner takes pride in the aesthetic presentation has already won me over. The Service: The staff was very welcoming and knowledgeable about the menu which was pretty impressive considering the business has only been open for about a month now, but that also gave me confidence in guidance of the menu and deciding which direction to take my taste buds in. (Huge thanks & shoutout to our server for the great service!) The Menu: Is it too much to say that I'm still thinking about it? With our group, we decided to do a little mixture of family style as well as individual ordering. I can confidently say after trying more than 50-60% of the menu, everything came out excellent. A few of my favorites were: For the non-raw eaters: Truffle edamames, chilean sea bass & the black magic. For the raw eaters: Crispy rice, otoro spoons & you can never go wrong with their nigiri/sashimi selection. Desserts: We enjoyed the Ube w/white chocolate drizzle as well as the Soy w/caramel and dark chocolate drizzle soft serves, the chocolate mochi ganache cake, mango sherbet, and mochi ice cream. Everything was delicious, but my favorite was definitely the Soy caramel soft serve w/chocolate drizzle. Sweet, salty, light, and dairy free? Uh, yes please! My only complaint? Living in the moment and enjoying great company in a beautiful setting. Why? Because it resulted in not taking enough pictures! Guess I'll be back soon to make up the loss! read more

O-Ku - A soft elegant setting with welcoming service and a delightful menu. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Alys Beach, Florida

I just want to start off by giving a huge thank you to Lee for giving us an amazing experience tonight! The food was fantastic! The restaurant was so pretty and comforting! He gave us edamame and we got Oceanside and green machine rolls and they were fantastic!! He surprised us with the taro dessert and it was the best gelato I've had!! All around amazing experience and will definitely go again! read more

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Wonderful atmosphere, added to a delicious meal and a very much-needed day with my sister with whom I have not had a great time in a long time? Two thumbs way up from me! read more

This restaurant is a true dining experience! Their food is amazing, sushi out of this world, service (Bree) was amazing. Can't believe this is not a 5 star.... You have to try the donut holes, skewers, rolls, ... Demi the GM runs an amazing organization and the vibe makes it! read more

By far, the best sushi on 30A. Had amazing bluefin nigiri. And I keep coming back for the crispy rice. Beautiful ambience too. Please go again and again! read more

What a beautiful restaurant with excellent service and well-prepared food! It is quite pricey as one would expect due to the location but it's worth it. We went for dinner, had a couple of drinks, and left full and happy. read more

Pricey but sooooo good. We loved the food. Quality was amazing, service was even better. We really enjoyed our visit here.

As always this place is the best. Our favorite place for special occasions and they have been nothing but given awesome service and served delicious food. Our waitress Chloe has given us some advice on some of the dishes as well. On top of the service provided, we noticed a table with an elderly lady tell the waiter she is cold and they brought out a blanket for her. They are just top notch. read more

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Lots of options but not veggie friendly at all when it really could be . The torching imparts a Gasoline flavor on the fish Waiter friendly read more

Went for my birthday and was the most amazing experience. Alex provided the most amazing service and made me feel so special and the food was out of this world. read more

Beautiful space at Oku Service was refined and attentive and kind The food was great We went on Xmas eve and had sushi and steak It's pricey but great spots always are read more

The food was amazing and really fresh here. The service is impeccable - the staff is sooo friendly and so helpful. Very knowledgeable of the menu and gave us great advice on what to eat. Ambiance was amazing! read more

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