omakase

1 of 2

adverb or adjective

oma·ka·se ˌō-mə-ˈkä-(ˌ)sā

: according to the chef's choice

While Chef Hori's omakase menu will vary, there will always be a selection of hot and cold dishes.—

Loretta Ruggiero

When money's no object, order omakase and trust Tojo to prepare your meal …—

Mia Stainsby

This is the height of omakase dining, in which chefs prepare a daily tasting menu according to seasonal ingredients from fugu fish to citrus.—

Merrill Lee Girardeau

omakase

2 of 2

noun

plural omakases

: a series of small servings or courses (as of sushi) offered at a fixed price and whose selection is left to the chef's discretion

… for one of the most pristine omakases in town, book a seat at the sushi bar when legendary head sushi chef Yoshio Ono is working.—

Katie Chang

I was halfway through this year's premier food offering at the festival: a 17-course sushi omakase inside an air-conditioned tent complete with sake pairings.—

Jenn Harris

What's a pizza omakase, you ask? … Aside from the unique opportunity to dine on some truly one-of-a-kind dishes, key highlights of the changing menu here include a showcase of unusual, small-batch ingredients and processes.—

Don Mendoza

Examples of omakase in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Noun

The area’s first omakase restaurant, Sushi Kodawari, opened earlier this year. —

Hannah Wise, Kansas City Star, 2 Jan. 2025 Uchi Uchi in Scottsdale is offering an omakase tasting menu for two. —

Bahar Anooshahr, The Arizona Republic, 26 Dec. 2024 That concept officially opened last weekend, offering an omakase menu with sushi rolls, Japanese fried chicken, beef tallow fries and more. —

Hadley Hitson, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024 Then the knowledgeable mixologist will introduce you to the omakase cocktail menu and lead you on an exploratory journey through Japanese spirits and flavors. —

Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 10 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for omakase

Word History

Etymology

Adverb or adjective

from attributive use of omakase entry 2

Noun

borrowed from Japanese, literally, "leaving (a decision, choice, etc.) to someone else," from o-, honorific prefix + makase "leaving (something) to another," derivative of makaseru "to entrust, leave to"

First Known Use

Adverb Or Adjective

1969, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1967, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of omakase was in 1967

See more words from the same year