{"id":1752,"date":"2026-07-20T21:06:05","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T12:06:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sushi-tanji.com\/en\/omakase-okonomi-two-ways-to-order\/"},"modified":"2026-07-20T21:06:07","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T12:06:07","slug":"omakase-okonomi-two-ways-to-order","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sushi-tanji.com\/en\/omakase-okonomi-two-ways-to-order\/","title":{"rendered":"Omakase or Okonomi: Two Ways to Order Sushi in Tokyo"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n<style>\n.tsa{--ink:#1c1a17;--muted:#6f685c;--gold:#c4a44c;--gold-deep:#59502a;--cream:#faf8f3;--sand:#f3eee3;--line:#e7e0d1;\n--serif:var(--swl-font_family,\"Noto Serif JP\",Georgia,serif);--sans:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,\"Helvetica Neue\",\"Hiragino Kaku Gothic ProN\",Meiryo,sans-serif;\nfont-family:var(--serif);color:var(--ink);line-height:1.95;font-size:16.5px}\n.tsa *{box-sizing:border-box}\n#main_content .p-toc,#main_content .swell-toc-placeholder{display:none!important}\n.tsa img{max-width:100%;height:auto}\n.tsa p{margin:0 0 1.4em}\n.tsa a{color:var(--gold-deep)}\n.tsa h2{font-family:var(--serif);font-weight:600;font-size:clamp(23px,3.2vw,30px);line-height:1.35;margin:2.6em 0 .9em;padding-bottom:.45em;border-bottom:2px solid var(--gold)}\n.tsa h3{font-family:var(--serif);font-weight:600;font-size:clamp(18px,2.4vw,21px);margin:2em 0 .7em}\n.tsa .lead{font-size:clamp(17px,2.2vw,19px);color:#2b2822}\n.tsa-meta{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:6px 24px;font-family:var(--sans);font-size:12.5px;color:var(--muted);letter-spacing:.03em;margin:0 0 22px;padding:12px 0;border-top:1px solid var(--line);border-bottom:1px solid var(--line)}\n.tsa-meta b{color:var(--ink);font-weight:600}\n.tsa-hero{margin:0 0 26px}\n.tsa-hero img{width:100%;aspect-ratio:16\/9;object-fit:cover;border-radius:4px}\n\n.tsa-learn{background:var(--cream);border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:6px;padding:22px 26px;margin:28px 0}\n.tsa-learn .t{font-family:var(--sans);font-size:12px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:.18em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--gold-deep);margin:0 0 12px}\n.tsa-learn ul{list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0}\n.tsa-learn li{position:relative;padding:6px 0 6px 30px;font-size:15.5px}\n.tsa-learn li::before{content:\"\";position:absolute;left:2px;top:14px;width:14px;height:8px;border-left:2px solid var(--gold);border-bottom:2px solid var(--gold);transform:rotate(-45deg)}\n\n.tsa-toc{border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:8px;background:#fff;margin:30px 0 38px;overflow:hidden}\n.tsa-toc summary{list-style:none;cursor:pointer;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;padding:18px 24px;font-family:var(--sans);font-weight:700;font-size:13px;letter-spacing:.16em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--ink);background:var(--cream)}\n.tsa-toc summary::-webkit-details-marker{display:none}\n.tsa-toc summary::after{content:\"+\";font-size:20px;font-weight:300;color:var(--gold-deep);transition:transform .25s}\n.tsa-toc details[open] summary::after,.tsa-toc[open] summary::after{transform:rotate(45deg)}\n.tsa-toc ol{list-style:none;margin:0;padding:10px 24px 18px;counter-reset:toc}\n.tsa-toc li{counter-increment:toc;border-bottom:1px solid var(--line)}\n.tsa-toc li:last-child{border-bottom:0}\n.tsa-toc a{display:flex;gap:16px;align-items:baseline;padding:11px 2px;font-family:var(--sans);font-size:14.5px;color:var(--ink);text-decoration:none;transition:color .2s}\n.tsa-toc a:hover{color:var(--gold-deep)}\n.tsa-toc a::before{content:counter(toc,decimal-leading-zero);font-family:var(--serif);font-size:13px;color:var(--gold);font-weight:600;min-width:22px}\n\n.tsa table{width:100%;min-width:30em;border-collapse:collapse;font-size:14.5px;margin:14px 0 22px;font-family:var(--sans)}\n.tsa th,.tsa td{text-align:left;padding:12px 14px;border-bottom:1px solid var(--line)}\n.tsa th{font-size:12px;font-weight:700;color:var(--muted);background:var(--cream);letter-spacing:.04em;white-space:nowrap}\n.tsa td.n,.tsa th.n{text-align:right;font-variant-numeric:tabular-nums;white-space:nowrap}\n.tsa .tblwrap{overflow-x:auto;-webkit-overflow-scrolling:touch}\n\n.tsa-flow{list-style:none;margin:18px 0 26px;padding:0;font-family:var(--sans)}\n.tsa-flow li{position:relative;padding:0 0 22px 34px;font-size:15px}\n.tsa-flow li::before{content:\"\";position:absolute;left:8px;top:8px;width:8px;height:8px;border-radius:50%;background:var(--gold)}\n.tsa-flow li::after{content:\"\";position:absolute;left:11px;top:20px;bottom:-2px;width:2px;background:var(--line)}\n.tsa-flow li:last-child::after{display:none}\n.tsa-flow b{display:block;font-family:var(--serif);font-size:16.5px;margin-bottom:2px}\n.tsa-flow span{color:var(--muted);font-size:14px}\n\n.tsa-dd{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr;gap:16px;margin:18px 0 26px}\n.tsa-dd .col{border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:6px;padding:18px 20px;background:#fff}\n.tsa-dd .col h4{font-family:var(--sans);font-size:12px;letter-spacing:.14em;text-transform:uppercase;margin:0 0 12px;font-weight:700}\n.tsa-dd .ok h4{color:#3f7d52}\n.tsa-dd .ng h4{color:#8a3b3b}\n.tsa-dd ul{list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0}\n.tsa-dd li{padding:6px 0;font-size:14.5px;border-bottom:1px solid var(--line)}\n.tsa-dd li:last-child{border-bottom:0}\n\n.tsa-point{border-left:3px solid var(--gold);background:var(--cream);padding:16px 20px;border-radius:0 6px 6px 0;margin:20px 0;font-size:15px}\n.tsa-point b{color:var(--gold-deep)}\n\n.tsa-faq{margin:16px 0 8px}\n.tsa-faq details{border-bottom:1px solid var(--line)}\n.tsa-faq summary{list-style:none;cursor:pointer;padding:18px 40px 18px 0;position:relative;font-family:var(--serif);font-size:17px;font-weight:600;line-height:1.5}\n.tsa-faq summary::-webkit-details-marker{display:none}\n.tsa-faq summary::after{content:\"+\";position:absolute;right:4px;top:16px;font-family:var(--sans);font-size:22px;font-weight:300;color:var(--gold-deep);transition:transform .25s}\n.tsa-faq details[open] summary::after{transform:rotate(45deg)}\n.tsa-faq .a{padding:0 0 20px;color:#3a352d}\n\n.tsa-chef{display:flex;gap:20px;align-items:center;border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:8px;padding:20px 22px;background:var(--cream);margin:36px 0}\n.tsa-chef img{width:84px;height:84px;border-radius:50%;object-fit:cover;flex:none}\n.tsa-chef .k{font-family:var(--sans);font-size:11px;letter-spacing:.16em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--gold-deep);font-weight:700;margin-bottom:4px}\n.tsa-chef b{font-family:var(--serif);font-size:17px;display:block;margin-bottom:4px}\n.tsa-chef p{margin:0;font-size:13.5px;color:var(--muted);line-height:1.7}\n\n.tsa-cta{background:#1c1a17;border-radius:8px;padding:34px 30px;text-align:center;color:#fff;margin:40px 0}\n.tsa-cta .k{font-family:var(--sans);font-size:11px;letter-spacing:.2em;text-transform:uppercase;color:#e5cf94;margin-bottom:10px}\n.tsa-cta h3{color:#fff;font-size:clamp(20px,3vw,26px);margin:0 0 10px}\n.tsa-cta p{color:#d9d2c4;font-size:15px;margin:0 0 22px}\n.tsa-cta a.btn{display:inline-block;font-family:var(--sans);font-size:14px;padding:14px 30px;border-radius:2px;background:var(--gold);color:#1c1a17;text-decoration:none;border:1px solid var(--gold);transition:background .25s}\n.tsa-cta a.btn:hover{background:#b0902f}\n.tsa-cta a.sub{display:inline-block;margin-left:14px;font-family:var(--sans);font-size:14px;padding:14px 26px;border:1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.6);border-radius:2px;color:#fff;text-decoration:none}\n\n.tsa-rel{border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:8px;padding:20px 24px;margin:30px 0;background:#fff}\n.tsa-rel .t{font-family:var(--sans);font-size:12px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:.16em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--gold-deep);margin-bottom:10px}\n.tsa-rel ul{list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0}\n.tsa-rel li{border-bottom:1px solid var(--line)}\n.tsa-rel li:last-child{border-bottom:0}\n.tsa-rel a{display:block;padding:11px 0;font-size:15px;text-decoration:none;color:var(--ink)}\n.tsa-rel a:hover{color:var(--gold-deep)}\n\n@media(max-width:600px){\n .tsa-dd{grid-template-columns:1fr}\n .tsa-cta a.sub{margin-left:0;margin-top:10px}\n}\n\nhtml{scroll-behavior:smooth}\n.tsa-layout{display:block}\n.tsa h2,.tsa h3{scroll-margin-top:90px}\n.tsa-toc-cb{position:absolute;width:1px;height:1px;opacity:0;pointer-events:none}\n.tsa-toc-box{border:1px solid var(--line);border-radius:8px;background:#fff;padding:20px 22px;margin:26px 0}\n.tsa-toc-ttl{font-family:var(--sans);font-size:12px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:.18em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--gold-deep);margin:0 0 12px;display:flex;align-items:center;gap:9px}\n.tsa-toc-ttl::before{content:\"\";width:16px;height:2px;background:var(--gold);display:inline-block}\n.tsa-toc-box ol{list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0;counter-reset:toc}\n.tsa-toc-box li{counter-increment:toc;border-bottom:1px solid var(--line)}\n.tsa-toc-box li:last-child{border-bottom:0}\n.tsa-toc-box a{display:flex;gap:12px;align-items:baseline;padding:10px 2px;font-family:var(--sans);font-size:13.5px;line-height:1.5;color:var(--ink);text-decoration:none;transition:color .2s}\n.tsa-toc-box a:hover{color:var(--gold-deep)}\n.tsa-toc-box a::before{content:counter(toc,decimal-leading-zero);font-family:var(--serif);font-size:12px;color:var(--gold);font-weight:600;min-width:20px}\n.tsa-toc-fab,.tsa-toc-backdrop,.tsa-toc-close{display:none}\n@media (min-width:1000px){\n  .tsa-layout{display:grid;grid-template-columns:minmax(0,1fr) 250px;gap:52px;align-items:start}\n  .tsa-side{align-self:stretch}\n  .tsa-toc-box{position:sticky;top:96px;margin:0;max-height:calc(100vh - 130px);overflow-y:auto}\n}\n@media (max-width:999px){\n  .tsa-toc-box{position:fixed;left:0;right:0;bottom:0;z-index:70;margin:0;border-radius:16px 16px 0 0;max-height:70vh;overflow-y:auto;transform:translateY(101%);transition:transform .28s ease;box-shadow:0 -14px 40px -18px rgba(0,0,0,.4);padding:20px 22px 92px}\n  .tsa-toc-cb:checked ~ .tsa-side .tsa-toc-box{transform:translateY(0)}\n  .tsa-toc-backdrop{display:block;position:fixed;inset:0;background:rgba(20,16,12,.42);z-index:69;opacity:0;pointer-events:none;transition:opacity .28s ease}\n  .tsa-toc-cb:checked ~ .tsa-toc-backdrop{opacity:1;pointer-events:auto}\n  .tsa-toc-fab{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:8px;position:fixed;right:14px;bottom:88px;z-index:68;background:#59502a;color:#fff;font-family:var(--sans);font-size:13px;letter-spacing:.06em;padding:12px 18px;border-radius:40px;box-shadow:0 10px 26px -8px rgba(40,32,10,.55);cursor:pointer}\n  .tsa-toc-fab::before{content:\"\";width:15px;height:10px;display:inline-block;background:linear-gradient(#e5cf94 0 2px,transparent 2px 4px,#e5cf94 4px 6px,transparent 6px 8px,#e5cf94 8px 10px)}\n  .tsa-toc-cb:checked ~ .tsa-side .tsa-toc-fab{display:none}\n  .tsa-toc-close{display:flex;justify-content:space-between;align-items:center;position:sticky;top:0;background:#fff;padding-bottom:8px;margin-bottom:4px}\n  .tsa-toc-close .x{font-family:var(--sans);font-size:24px;font-weight:300;color:var(--muted);cursor:pointer;line-height:1;padding:0 4px}\n}\n\n\n@media (max-width:999px){\nhtml body #body_wrap{overflow-x:hidden}\nhtml body #main_content article,html body #main_content>div>div>div{margin-left:0!important;padding-left:0!important}\nhtml body #main_content,html body .l-mainContent__inner,html body .post_content{max-width:100%!important;overflow-x:hidden}\n.tsa,.tsa-main,.tsa-layout{max-width:100%;min-width:0;overflow-wrap:break-word}\n.tsa{padding-bottom:72px}\n}\n<\/style>\n\n<div class=\"tsa\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Article\">\n<meta itemprop=\"inLanguage\" content=\"en\">\n<meta itemprop=\"headline\" content=\"Omakase or Okonomi: Two Ways to Order Sushi in Tokyo\">\n<meta itemprop=\"datePublished\" content=\"2026-07-20\">\n<meta itemprop=\"dateModified\" content=\"2026-07-20\">\n<span itemprop=\"author publisher\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Organization\" style=\"display:none\"><meta itemprop=\"name\" content=\"The Tokyo Sushi Guide by Sushi Tanji\"><\/span>\n<div class=\"tsa-layout\">\n<main class=\"tsa-main\">\n\n<div class=\"tsa-meta\">\n  <span>Part of <a href=\"https:\/\/sushi-tanji.com\/en\/tokyo-sushi-guide\/\"><b>The Tokyo Sushi Guide<\/b><\/a><\/span>\n  <span>Reviewed by <b>Tatsuo Takada<\/b><\/span>\n  <span>Updated <b><time datetime=\"2026-07-20\">July 20, 2026<\/time><\/b><\/span>\n  <span>Reading time <b>about 6 minutes<\/b><\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n<p class=\"lead\" itemprop=\"description\">Ordering sushi in Tokyo takes one of two broad forms. There is <b>omakase<\/b>, in which the meal is entrusted to the chef. There is <b>okonomi<\/b>, in which you choose each piece yourself. Omakase is the prevailing style today, for reasons worth knowing; okonomi carries pleasures all its own. This article traces where the two styles come from, how they differ in practice and how to order on a first visit, with July&#8217;s fish as our examples.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"tsa-learn\">\n  <p class=\"t\">What you will learn<\/p>\n  <ul><li>Why omakase became the prevailing style: the work of daily preparation and ageing<\/li><li>The pleasures unique to okonomi, along with the reasons it can feel daunting<\/li><li>The practical differences between the two styles, beginning with how visible the bill is<\/li><li>A realistic first step into okonomi: one extra piece at the close of an omakase<\/li><li>Fish often named at a July counter, from *aji* (horse mackerel) to *shinko* (young gizzard shad)<\/li><li>The booking-time word that spares any scramble on the day: how to mention foods you&#x27;d rather avoid<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2 id=\"two-ways\">Two Ways to Order<\/h2>\n<p>With omakase, the chef composes the meal, its order included, from what has been bought that morning as well as how it has been prepared. With okonomi, you look over the menu or the fish resting before you, asking for whatever appeals one piece at a time. Neither style is more proper than the other. At counters working in the Edomae tradition, the sushi of old Tokyo, okonomi was once simply how things were done; omakase spread comparatively recently.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"why-omakase\">Why Omakase Became the Norm<\/h2>\n<p>The largest reason lies in the preparation. Edomae work gives each fish its own treatment before it reaches the rice: curing with vinegar, marinating in soy, a gentle simmer. In recent years ageing has joined that repertoire. Since each species rests for its own span at its own temperature, which fish appears on which day is largely settled at the moment of purchase. Omakase can be understood as the form that presents the peak of the day&#8217;s preparation in its finest order.<\/p>\n<p>The rise of small counters is part of the story as well. At an eight-seat room such as <a href=\"https:\/\/sushi-tanji.com\/en\/concept\/\">Sushi Tanji<\/a> in Oku-Akasaka, serving every guest in the same flow makes it easier to offer each piece freshly formed, at its best.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"enjoy-omakase\">Enjoying an Omakase<\/h2>\n<p>The finest way to enjoy an omakase is to let the current carry you. Most meals open with delicate white-fleshed fish before building towards deeper flavours. Guests often ask the name of a fish or where it was landed; such conversation tends to be welcomed. There is no need to sit on ceremony.<\/p>\n<div class=\"tsa-point\"><b>Worth knowing:<\/b> Mention any allergies or ingredients you&#8217;d rather avoid when you book. The day then unfolds without fuss, with the chef free to have an alternative piece ready for you.<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"okonomi\">The Pleasures of Okonomi<\/h2>\n<p>The delight of okonomi is ordering exactly what you want, in the order you want, for as many pieces as you want. If aji is your favourite, begin with aji; a second piece of the same fish is entirely welcome. Ask what is good today and the chef will often name the best of the season from that morning&#8217;s buying. Adding a piece or two of your favourites after an omakase is, in truth, okonomi in its own right. Many find this the most natural place to begin.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"okonomi-hurdle\">Why Okonomi Can Feel Daunting<\/h2>\n<p>What makes okonomi feel steep is mostly a matter of the bill. At counters without written prices, most fish follow the day&#8217;s market, so the total is harder to read. The sequence is also yours to build; something rich taken early can leave the delicate fish that follow harder to appreciate. None of this is cause for worry. It simply explains why the clarity of omakase has come to stand out.<\/p>\n<div class=\"tblwrap\"><table><thead><tr><th><\/th><th>Omakase<\/th><th>Okonomi<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>How you order<\/td><td>Entrusted to the chef, served as one unbroken flow<\/td><td>You choose piece by piece<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Reading the bill<\/td><td>The total is easy to foresee<\/td><td>Mostly market price, harder to foresee<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>When it suits<\/td><td>A first visit, plus any time you want the season in breadth<\/td><td>When your favourites are settled, at a counter you know well<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>\n<h2 id=\"july-counter\">A Word to Add at the July Counter<\/h2>\n<p>July is when the summer fish begin to assemble. Aji takes on richness as the rainy season lifts, while isaki (threeline grunt) and anago (conger eel) are often named alongside it. In the latter half of the month, talk may turn to the first shinko, the infant kohada (gizzard shad) that marks high summer. Even midway through an omakase, a simple question about where today&#8217;s aji comes from can open a conversation. Some counters, Tanji among them, close the evening with matcha alongside a seasonal wagashi (a traditional confection) in a small tea room \u2014 the kind of hour that stays with you as a memory of summer.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"first-visit\">Choosing on a First Visit<\/h2>\n<p>On a first visit, omakase is the reassuring choice. A single sitting shows you the shop&#8217;s work from beginning to end, with the bill in clear view. Once a counter becomes familiar, try an extra piece after the omakase; on a later evening, order okonomi outright. The two styles are not rivals so much as two doors into the same counter. Taking them at your own pace, little by little, is the surest way in.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"faq\">Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<div class=\"tsa-faq\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/FAQPage\"><details itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><summary itemprop=\"name\">For a first visit, is omakase or okonomi the better choice?<\/summary><div class=\"a\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\"><div itemprop=\"text\"><p>Most first-time guests choose omakase. The day&#8217;s season arrives in the chef&#8217;s own sequence, with the total easier to foresee. Once you feel at home, adding a favourite piece at the end makes a gentle first step into okonomi.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/details><details itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><summary itemprop=\"name\">Does ordering okonomi cost more?<\/summary><div class=\"a\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\"><div itemprop=\"text\"><p>Not necessarily. A short run of a few pieces can come to less than an omakase, while a parade of the finest fish can come to more. Where no prices are written, most fish follow the day&#8217;s market; asking when you order is considered perfectly polite.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/details><details itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><summary itemprop=\"name\">What if a fish I don&#x27;t care for appears during the omakase?<\/summary><div class=\"a\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\"><div itemprop=\"text\"><p>The surest course is to mention it when you book. Even on the day, a quiet word at the start is usually all it takes; most counters will gladly offer another fish in its place. There is no need to press on regardless.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/details><details itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><summary itemprop=\"name\">In what order should I ask for okonomi?<\/summary><div class=\"a\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\"><div itemprop=\"text\"><p>There is no fixed order, though beginning with delicate white fish before moving on to richer flavours lets each one register clearly. If in doubt, asking the chef to start with the day&#8217;s recommendations is a graceful way in.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/details><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"tsa-cta\">\n  <p class=\"k\">From the guide to the counter<\/p>\n  <h3>Taste it at our eight-seat counter in Oku-Akasaka.<\/h3>\n  <p>Classic Edomae craft with careful modern aging &#8211; served piece by piece, with English guidance for overseas guests.<\/p>\n  <a class=\"btn\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tablecheck.com\/en\/shops\/sushi-tanji\/reserve\" rel=\"noopener\">Reserve at Sushi Tanji<\/a>\n  <a class=\"sub\" href=\"https:\/\/sushi-tanji.com\/en\/tokyo-sushi-guide\/\">Explore The Tokyo Sushi Guide<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"tsa-chef\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Person\">\n  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sushi-tanji.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/IMG_4764.jpg\" alt=\"Tatsuo Takada, head chef and owner of Sushi Tanji, at the counter\" loading=\"lazy\" itemprop=\"image\">\n  <div>\n    <p class=\"k\">Reviewed by<\/p>\n    <b><a href=\"https:\/\/sushi-tanji.com\/en\/introduction-of-chef\/\" itemprop=\"url\"><span itemprop=\"name\">Tatsuo Takada<\/span><\/a><\/b>\n    <meta itemprop=\"jobTitle\" content=\"Head Chef &amp; Owner, Sushi Tanji\">\n    <span itemprop=\"worksFor\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Restaurant\" style=\"display:none\"><meta itemprop=\"name\" content=\"Oku-Akasaka Sushi Tanji\"><\/span>\n    <p itemprop=\"description\">Head chef and owner of Sushi Tanji. Trained in the Edomae tradition and rooted in Kyushu, he leads the eight-seat omakase counter in Oku-Akasaka, Tokyo, and reviews The Tokyo Sushi Guide.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"tsa-rel\">\n  <p class=\"t\">Continue the guide<\/p>\n  <ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/sushi-tanji.com\/en\/nigiri-hands-or-chopsticks\/\">Hands or Chopsticks? A Quiet Guide to Eating Nigiri<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/sushi-tanji.com\/en\/aged-fish-umami-science\/\">Why Aged Fish Tastes Better: Inosinic Acid &amp;#038; Amino Acids<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/sushi-tanji.com\/en\/uni-murasaki-bafun-guide\/\">Why Uni Divides Diners: Murasaki, Bafun and the Alum Question<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/sushi-tanji.com\/en\/category\/first-omakase\/\">More in first omakase<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/main>\n<input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"tsatoc\" class=\"tsa-toc-cb\">\n<aside class=\"tsa-side\">\n<label class=\"tsa-toc-fab\" for=\"tsatoc\" aria-label=\"Open contents\"><span>Contents<\/span><\/label>\n<nav class=\"tsa-toc-box\" aria-label=\"Contents\">\n<div class=\"tsa-toc-close\"><span class=\"tsa-toc-ttl\">Contents<\/span><label class=\"x\" for=\"tsatoc\" aria-label=\"Close\">\u00d7<\/label><\/div>\n<ol><li><a href=\"#two-ways\">Two Ways to Order<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#why-omakase\">Why Omakase Became the Norm<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#enjoy-omakase\">Enjoying an Omakase<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#okonomi\">The Pleasures of Okonomi<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#okonomi-hurdle\">Why Okonomi Can Feel Daunting<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#july-counter\">A Word to Add at the July Counter<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#first-visit\">Choosing on a First Visit<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#faq\">Frequently asked questions<\/a><\/li><\/ol>\n<\/nav><\/aside>\n<label class=\"tsa-toc-backdrop\" for=\"tsatoc\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/label>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sushi in Tokyo is ordered two ways: omakase, led by the chef, plus okonomi, chosen piece by piece. A calm guide to both, with July&#8217;s fish in season.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1713,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"swell_btn_cv_data":"","_bmp_alt_url":"https:\/\/sushi-tanji.com\/omakase-okonomi-two-ways-to-order\/","footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1752","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-first-omakase"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO 4.9.10 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Sushi in Tokyo is ordered two ways: omakase, led by the chef, plus okonomi, chosen piece by piece. A calm guide to both, with July&#039;s fish in season.\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"max-image-preview:large\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"author\" content=\"sushitanji\"\/>\n\t<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sushi-tanji.com\/en\/omakase-okonomi-two-ways-to-order\/\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"generator\" content=\"All in One SEO (AIOSEO) 4.9.10\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"ja_JP\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"\u3010Official\u3011Okuakasaka Sushi Tanji - Conveying Japanese Style and Creating Harmony Through Sushi\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Omakase or Okonomi: Two Ways to Order Sushi in Tokyo - \u3010Official\u3011Okuakasaka Sushi Tanji\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Sushi in Tokyo is ordered two ways: omakase, led by the chef, plus okonomi, chosen piece by piece. A calm guide to both, with July&#039;s fish in season.\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/sushi-tanji.com\/en\/omakase-okonomi-two-ways-to-order\/\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-07-20T12:06:05+00:00\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-07-20T12:06:07+00:00\" \/>\n\t\t<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n\t\t<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Omakase or Okonomi: Two Ways to Order Sushi in Tokyo - \u3010Official\u3011Okuakasaka Sushi Tanji\" \/>\n\t\t<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"Sushi in Tokyo is ordered two ways: omakase, led by the chef, plus okonomi, chosen piece by piece. A calm guide to both, with July&#039;s fish in season.\" \/>\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO -->\n\n","aioseo_head_json":{"title":"Omakase or Okonomi: Two Ways to Order Sushi in Tokyo - \u3010Official\u3011Okuakasaka Sushi Tanji","description":"Sushi in Tokyo is ordered two ways: omakase, led by the chef, plus okonomi, chosen piece by piece. A calm guide to both, with July's fish in season.","canonical_url":"https:\/\/sushi-tanji.com\/en\/omakase-okonomi-two-ways-to-order\/","robots":"max-image-preview:large","keywords":"","webmasterTools":{"miscellaneous":""},"schema":null,"og:locale":"ja_JP","og:site_name":"\u3010Official\u3011Okuakasaka Sushi Tanji - Conveying Japanese Style and Creating Harmony Through Sushi","og:type":"article","og:title":"Omakase or Okonomi: Two Ways to Order Sushi in Tokyo - \u3010Official\u3011Okuakasaka Sushi Tanji","og:description":"Sushi in Tokyo is ordered two ways: omakase, led by the chef, plus okonomi, chosen piece by piece. A calm guide to both, with July's fish in season.","og:url":"https:\/\/sushi-tanji.com\/en\/omakase-okonomi-two-ways-to-order\/","article:published_time":"2026-07-20T12:06:05+00:00","article:modified_time":"2026-07-20T12:06:07+00:00","twitter:card":"summary_large_image","twitter:title":"Omakase or Okonomi: Two Ways to Order Sushi in Tokyo - \u3010Official\u3011Okuakasaka Sushi Tanji","twitter:description":"Sushi in Tokyo is ordered two ways: omakase, led by the chef, plus okonomi, chosen piece by piece. A calm guide to both, with July's fish in season."},"aioseo_meta_data":[],"aioseo_breadcrumb":"<div class=\"aioseo-breadcrumbs\"><span class=\"aioseo-breadcrumb\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/sushi-tanji.com\/en\" title=\"\u5bb6\">\u5bb6<\/a>\n\t\t<\/span><span class=\"aioseo-breadcrumb-separator\">&raquo;<\/span><span class=\"aioseo-breadcrumb\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/sushi-tanji.com\/en\/category\/first-omakase\/\" title=\"First Omakase\">First Omakase<\/a>\n\t\t<\/span><span class=\"aioseo-breadcrumb-separator\">&raquo;<\/span><span class=\"aioseo-breadcrumb\">\n\t\t\tOmakase or Okonomi: Two Ways to Order Sushi in Tokyo\n\t\t<\/span><\/div>","aioseo_breadcrumb_json":[{"label":"\u5bb6","link":"https:\/\/sushi-tanji.com\/en"},{"label":"First Omakase","link":"https:\/\/sushi-tanji.com\/en\/category\/first-omakase\/"},{"label":"Omakase or Okonomi: Two Ways to Order Sushi in Tokyo","link":"https:\/\/sushi-tanji.com\/en\/omakase-okonomi-two-ways-to-order\/"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sushi-tanji.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1752","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sushi-tanji.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sushi-tanji.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sushi-tanji.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sushi-tanji.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1752"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sushi-tanji.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1752\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1753,"href":"https:\/\/sushi-tanji.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1752\/revisions\/1753"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sushi-tanji.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1713"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sushi-tanji.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1752"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sushi-tanji.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1752"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sushi-tanji.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1752"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}