Iki Omakase
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Wow. Had lunch omakase and everything was delicious! Intimate restaurant with bar seating and personal experience with the chef. Waitress was always taking care of us and was very accommodating. The chef was super kind and we enjoyed watching him work so passionately. They give you pickled tomatoes and ginger which went really well in between the courses. Parking is difficult in downtown Palo Alto during peak hours but there's plenty of parking lots and street parking within a few blocks.
Came for lunch and had a very nice experience. My favorites were the monkfish liver and the chawanmushi with uni. The chef explained all the dishes and where they are sourced. The presentation is also lovely. I also loved the pickled ginger (that they keep refilling for you). Overall would highly recommend!
Excellent Omakase. Couple of dishes worth mentioning, 大極上海膽 （supreme quality uni) and Abalone. Uni was very fresh and melts in your mouth. Abalone was well prepared， braised with house sauce. Service was very good and the chef Li was super friendly and very professional. Will definitely come back.
irst time trying omakase in the Bay Area, and I picked this spot because it only has eight seats--exactly the kind of small, intimate setting I was looking for. The interior is nicely designed, and I especially love the raw wood counter; it adds a warm and authentic touch to the whole experience. The lunch set comes with five appetizers and nine pieces of sushi, which is a very solid deal for the price. The fish was extremely fresh, and every course had a clean, elegant presentation. I also ordered the sake pairing, and I'd say it was definitely worth it--well matched, generous, and not overpriced. Service was excellent. Unlike larger omakase restaurants in the Bay Area where you sometimes feel rushed, everything here was paced thoughtfully. Chef Li personally served each piece and explained the ingredients and preparation in detail, which made the meal feel much more personal. Overall, I had a great omakase experience here and would definitely recommend it.
I've been wanting to go to this omakase spot for a while and it was my day off so here I am. At the time of me making this review, the omakase is priced at $195 per person. The omakase was outstanding. From the appetizers to the nigiri. No misses. Near the end of the nigiri course, I opted to add 1 order of A5 Miyazaki Wagyu nigiri. And ofc didn't disappoint. I also enjoyed the sorbet at the end, it was light and it was a perfect finish to the omakase. The restaurant has a beautiful ambiance. It's small and intimate. Perfect for a date night, celebration, or for a treat yourself type of day. The service here was excellent. Chef Li was very keen on our nigiri preferences such as if wanted more wasabi or less rice in our nigiri. Our host Patrick was great on giving sake recommendations. Definitely recommend checking this spot out. Try it out if you like. :)
Fish was good/great but conflicted about the rice the evening we were there. Not enough seasoning. Which affected the overall taste of the nigiri. Really enjoyed watching the chef prep the fish and the sardine was such a light and soft feel, have had in the past but this was probably the best rendition. The uni was okay - they had bafun and also Santa Barbara but both were not smooth enough for me. Service - fantastic. Interior has a lot of black lacquer and there was some incense burning at the start of our meal which I thought took away from the full sensory opportunity. With so many omakase spots in the Bay Area it would be difficult to return here at this price point.
The food was wonderful, every dish was explained by the chef and the host clearly, but without over doing it or putting on too much of a show. The small intimate setting was lovely. I will say the up-charging and hidden costs were pretty disappointing at the end, that is the only thing stopping me from a 5 star.
I remember very little from the one quarter of Japanese I took in college, but "omakase onegai shimasu" is something I'll never forget! :D Snagged a last minute reservation on Tock at this omakase-only, 8 seat-only resto, and left the rest of my evening's decision-making to the experts. The menu (with an off-the-cuff addition or two courtesy of Chef Li) comprised premium quality ingredients and was well-executed if not exceptionally distinctive: Appetizers Savory Egg Custard with Snow Crab Mackerel Roll Monk Fish Liver Soft Braised Octopus Silky Seaweed Shot Miso Black Cod Sushi Golden Eye Snapper Yellow Jack Blue Fin Tuna - Lean Green Eye King Salmon Black Sea Bream Fresh Scallop Hokkaido Sea Urchin Blue Fin Tuna - Fatty Sea Water Eel Comfort & Indulgence Scallop Egg Cake Red Miso Soup House Made Yuzu Yogurt Ice Cream So... much... food... note to self: take Chef up on his offer of less rice next time even though that aged vinegar they use is addictive! :P Note to everyone else: there's a 19% "mandatory operational support fee" with which I had zero issue since it was disclosed upfront. Service was so good in this intimate setting that I happily paid additional gratuity as I normally would.
Iki was our first omakase experience & really set the bar high. Located downtown Palo Alto, it's a bit tucked away but there's so much nearby parking. The restaurant itself only seats ~9 people which is the most intimate place we've been to for a sit-down experience & it was done SO well. The chef & server were so personable and attentive - they explained everything that was being prepared and were so on top of filling drinks / all the courses were timed perfectly. The food was also amazing. We had 20 courses, each very unique and delicious. My favorite was the fatty tuna & uni, along with the abalone.
I've had the omokase lunch twice and think it's a great value. The fish is so fresh, and it's wonderful to watch Chef Li in action. The service is impeccable, and while the place is elegant, it's not stuffy. Loved the signature octopus dish and tried several items I've never seen before! Delicious 10/10 experience.
Tucked discreetly in downtown Palo Alto, Iki Omakase offers an immersive and intimate omakase experience that blends quiet sophistication with impeccable precision. With just eight seats and a deeply focused ambiance, the spotlight is fully on the artistry unfolding before you--one course at a time. From the very first bite, Iki was a journey. Our evening opened with a savory egg custard crowned with snow crab, delicate and warm with a whisper of sweetness. Each dish was paced like poetry, from the mackerel roll to the gently braised octopus, which practically melted upon contact. The tempura course--scallop and Hokkaido uni--was a masterclass in contrast: creamy, briny richness wrapped in a crisp shell. A silky seaweed shot provided a cool, umami reset, before diving into one of the night's most decadent highlights: simmered abalone served with its own liver sauce, earthy and intense in all the right ways. The nigiri flight was both a lesson in restraint and a celebration of flavor: Young Spanish mackerel, yellow jack, and horse mackerel each showcased a subtly different marine profile--fresh, firm, and clean. The progression from medium fatty bluefin to fatty toro was perfectly timed--silky, rich, and deeply satisfying. Black sea bream and black tiger shrimp brought texture and snap, while the Hokkaido uni returned with its signature briny depth. The sea water eel (anago) was tender and lightly sweet, a lovely prelude to the closing savory bites: a delicate scallop egg cake, deeply comforting red miso soup, and finally, a bright, house-made yuzu ice cream: a refreshing and zesty farewell. Chef Li and his team deliver more than sushi! They offer a curated story of seasonality, precision, and calm. Service was attentive but unobtrusive, allowing the focus to remain squarely on the food. The setting is hushed, minimalist, and elegant. Every movement feels somehow deliberate, every course tastes meditative. Go to Iki Omakase for an evening of edible storytelling. If you are seeking pristine fish, expert balance, and a tranquil escape from the usual, this is your place. It can be a splurge, but one that leaves you both full and inspired.
Came here with my boyfriend on a Saturday night to celebrate my birthday. I gotta say, I love the vibes here. The interior and lighting were perfect, and I really liked how each course had its own spotlight. Perfect for taking pictures. It made everything feel extra special. There's plenty of street parking and also a garage nearby. We got lucky and found a spot close by. I believe it was a 19-course omakase, and every single dish was delicious. Since it was my birthday, the chef surprised me with an extra piece, lean Bluefin Tuna so technically I had 20 courses, haha. Even though it was the lean cut, it still had that buttery texture. Sooo good. Not gonna lie, after the hot dish I started getting full, so I had to take a little break. But I definitely wasn't about to miss out on my two favorites at the end which were the Uni and Otoro. Our chef was super friendly and did a great job making the whole experience fun and engaging. I'd definitely come back again.
I took my friend here for her birthday. They had a thoughtful birthday card waiting at the table for her when we arrived The $195 per person omakase was well worth it--the ingredients were incredibly fresh, each bite was perfectly seasoned, and the presentation was beautiful. One of the highlights of the night was watching the chef slice a massive piece of tuna right in front of us before serving it! The whole experience felt intimate and interactive. Some of my personal favorites were: Flounder with sea urchin, Soft braised octopus, Firefly squid nigiri, Butter-poached lobster. Also really liked the picked ginger, they refilled through out the whole meal The restaurant also has a great sake selection, which paired perfectly with the meal. Service was attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable--the chefs and staff really made sure we had an amazing experience.
The entrance is pretty discreet, and once you step inside, the restaurant is small, intimate, and cozy, which makes the whole experience feel really special. The $125 lunch omakase is an incredible value for the quality you get. For the price, both the food and service were excellent. The fish tasted super fresh, and you could tell each piece was handled with a lot of care. Everything was flavorful, and even the little details stood out... the wasabi was really good, and the complimentary pickled ginger they served was fresh and delicious. The service was also top notch. It happened to be my birthday, and they gave me a cute little pop-up birthday card, which was such a thoughtful touch and made the experience feel extra special. Overall, I was really impressed with this place. Excellent quality, fresh fish, attentive service, and a $125 lunch price point that's hard to beat. Definitely adding this to my list of favorite omakase spots in the Bay Area! read more
I had the opportunity to dine here to celebrate an anniversary and Iki was an enjoyable time. I really enjoyed the execution of the courses and the one of the things that really stuck out to me reflecting back was the tempura course believe it or not. It was fried exceptionally well and the batter was light and went well before the nigiri portion of the menu. My only criticism was the amount of up charging on additions when an omakase should already encompass the items. I would definitely recommend at least trying once! Service was exceptional as expected and the chef was a pleasure to watch. I really liked the ambiance here that set the mood for the meal! read more
4 months ago
Wow. Had lunch omakase and everything was delicious! Intimate restaurant with bar seating and personal experience with the chef. Waitress was always taking care of us and was very accommodating. The chef was super kind and we enjoyed watching him work so passionately. They give you pickled tomatoes and ginger which went really well in between the courses. Parking is difficult in downtown Palo Alto during peak hours but there's plenty of parking lots and street parking within a few blocks. read more
8 months ago
Came for lunch and had a very nice experience. My favorites were the monkfish liver and the chawanmushi with uni. The chef explained all the dishes and where they are sourced. The presentation is also lovely. I also loved the pickled ginger (that they keep refilling for you). Overall would highly recommend! read more
2 months ago
Excellent Omakase. Couple of dishes worth mentioning, 大極上海膽 （supreme quality uni) and Abalone. Uni was very fresh and melts in your mouth. Abalone was well prepared， braised with house sauce. Service was very good and the chef Li was super friendly and very professional. Will definitely come back. read more
irst time trying omakase in the Bay Area, and I picked this spot because it only has eight seats--exactly the kind of small, intimate setting I was looking for. The interior is nicely designed, and I especially love the raw wood counter; it adds a warm and authentic touch to the whole experience. The lunch set comes with five appetizers and nine pieces of sushi, which is a very solid deal for the price. The fish was extremely fresh, and every course had a clean, elegant presentation. I also ordered the sake pairing, and I'd say it was definitely worth it--well matched, generous, and not overpriced. Service was excellent. Unlike larger omakase restaurants in the Bay Area where you sometimes feel rushed, everything here was paced thoughtfully. Chef Li personally served each piece and explained the ingredients and preparation in detail, which made the meal feel much more personal. Overall, I had a great omakase experience here and would definitely recommend it. read more
I've been wanting to go to this omakase spot for a while and it was my day off so here I am. At the time of me making this review, the omakase is priced at $195 per person. The omakase was outstanding. From the appetizers to the nigiri. No misses. Near the end of the nigiri course, I opted to add 1 order of A5 Miyazaki Wagyu nigiri. And ofc didn't disappoint. I also enjoyed the sorbet at the end, it was light and it was a perfect finish to the omakase. The restaurant has a beautiful ambiance. It's small and intimate. Perfect for a date night, celebration, or for a treat yourself type of day. The service here was excellent. Chef Li was very keen on our nigiri preferences such as if wanted more wasabi or less rice in our nigiri. Our host Patrick was great on giving sake recommendations. Definitely recommend checking this spot out. Try it out if you like. :) read more
1 year ago
Fish was good/great but conflicted about the rice the evening we were there. Not enough seasoning. Which affected the overall taste of the nigiri. Really enjoyed watching the chef prep the fish and the sardine was such a light and soft feel, have had in the past but this was probably the best rendition. The uni was okay - they had bafun and also Santa Barbara but both were not smooth enough for me. Service - fantastic. Interior has a lot of black lacquer and there was some incense burning at the start of our meal which I thought took away from the full sensory opportunity. With so many omakase spots in the Bay Area it would be difficult to return here at this price point. read more
Business owner information
Sunny N.
Hi Cynthia, thank you for visiting Iki Omakase and for sharing your…
1 month ago
The food was wonderful, every dish was explained by the chef and the host clearly, but without over doing it or putting on too much of a show. The small intimate setting was lovely. I will say the up-charging and hidden costs were pretty disappointing at the end, that is the only thing stopping me from a 5 star. read more
I remember very little from the one quarter of Japanese I took in college, but "omakase onegai shimasu" is something I'll never forget! :D Snagged a last minute reservation on Tock at this omakase-only, 8 seat-only resto, and left the rest of my evening's decision-making to the experts. The menu (with an off-the-cuff addition or two courtesy of Chef Li) comprised premium quality ingredients and was well-executed if not exceptionally distinctive: Appetizers Savory Egg Custard with Snow Crab Mackerel Roll Monk Fish Liver Soft Braised Octopus Silky Seaweed Shot Miso Black Cod Sushi Golden Eye Snapper Yellow Jack Blue Fin Tuna - Lean Green Eye King Salmon Black Sea Bream Fresh Scallop Hokkaido Sea Urchin Blue Fin Tuna - Fatty Sea Water Eel Comfort & Indulgence Scallop Egg Cake Red Miso Soup House Made Yuzu Yogurt Ice Cream So... much... food... note to self: take Chef up on his offer of less rice next time even though that aged vinegar they use is addictive! :P Note to everyone else: there's a 19% "mandatory operational support fee" with which I had zero issue since it was disclosed upfront. Service was so good in this intimate setting that I happily paid additional gratuity as I normally would. read more
Iki was our first omakase experience & really set the bar high. Located downtown Palo Alto, it's a bit tucked away but there's so much nearby parking. The restaurant itself only seats ~9 people which is the most intimate place we've been to for a sit-down experience & it was done SO well. The chef & server were so personable and attentive - they explained everything that was being prepared and were so on top of filling drinks / all the courses were timed perfectly. The food was also amazing. We had 20 courses, each very unique and delicious. My favorite was the fatty tuna & uni, along with the abalone. read more
8 months ago
I've had the omokase lunch twice and think it's a great value. The fish is so fresh, and it's wonderful to watch Chef Li in action. The service is impeccable, and while the place is elegant, it's not stuffy. Loved the signature octopus dish and tried several items I've never seen before! Delicious 10/10 experience. read more
1 year ago
Tucked discreetly in downtown Palo Alto, Iki Omakase offers an immersive and intimate omakase experience that blends quiet sophistication with impeccable precision. With just eight seats and a deeply focused ambiance, the spotlight is fully on the artistry unfolding before you--one course at a time. From the very first bite, Iki was a journey. Our evening opened with a savory egg custard crowned with snow crab, delicate and warm with a whisper of sweetness. Each dish was paced like poetry, from the mackerel roll to the gently braised octopus, which practically melted upon contact. The tempura course--scallop and Hokkaido uni--was a masterclass in contrast: creamy, briny richness wrapped in a crisp shell. A silky seaweed shot provided a cool, umami reset, before diving into one of the night's most decadent highlights: simmered abalone served with its own liver sauce, earthy and intense in all the right ways. The nigiri flight was both a lesson in restraint and a celebration of flavor: Young Spanish mackerel, yellow jack, and horse mackerel each showcased a subtly different marine profile--fresh, firm, and clean. The progression from medium fatty bluefin to fatty toro was perfectly timed--silky, rich, and deeply satisfying. Black sea bream and black tiger shrimp brought texture and snap, while the Hokkaido uni returned with its signature briny depth. The sea water eel (anago) was tender and lightly sweet, a lovely prelude to the closing savory bites: a delicate scallop egg cake, deeply comforting red miso soup, and finally, a bright, house-made yuzu ice cream: a refreshing and zesty farewell. Chef Li and his team deliver more than sushi! They offer a curated story of seasonality, precision, and calm. Service was attentive but unobtrusive, allowing the focus to remain squarely on the food. The setting is hushed, minimalist, and elegant. Every movement feels somehow deliberate, every course tastes meditative. Go to Iki Omakase for an evening of edible storytelling. If you are seeking pristine fish, expert balance, and a tranquil escape from the usual, this is your place. It can be a splurge, but one that leaves you both full and inspired. read more
2 months ago
1 year ago
Came here with my boyfriend on a Saturday night to celebrate my birthday. I gotta say, I love the vibes here. The interior and lighting were perfect, and I really liked how each course had its own spotlight. Perfect for taking pictures. It made everything feel extra special. There's plenty of street parking and also a garage nearby. We got lucky and found a spot close by. I believe it was a 19-course omakase, and every single dish was delicious. Since it was my birthday, the chef surprised me with an extra piece, lean Bluefin Tuna so technically I had 20 courses, haha. Even though it was the lean cut, it still had that buttery texture. Sooo good. Not gonna lie, after the hot dish I started getting full, so I had to take a little break. But I definitely wasn't about to miss out on my two favorites at the end which were the Uni and Otoro. Our chef was super friendly and did a great job making the whole experience fun and engaging. I'd definitely come back again. read more
I took my friend here for her birthday. They had a thoughtful birthday card waiting at the table for her when we arrived The $195 per person omakase was well worth it--the ingredients were incredibly fresh, each bite was perfectly seasoned, and the presentation was beautiful. One of the highlights of the night was watching the chef slice a massive piece of tuna right in front of us before serving it! The whole experience felt intimate and interactive. Some of my personal favorites were: Flounder with sea urchin, Soft braised octopus, Firefly squid nigiri, Butter-poached lobster. Also really liked the picked ginger, they refilled through out the whole meal The restaurant also has a great sake selection, which paired perfectly with the meal. Service was attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable--the chefs and staff really made sure we had an amazing experience. read more
2 years ago
Iki Omakase was the perfect place for my husband and I to celebrate our anniversary. Located on one of the quieter streets in Palo Alto, we easily found street parking right by the restaurant. There is also a parking lot across the street. The interior was modern and cozy, with an 8-seat sushi bar that was fully seated for our reservation time slot. Dinner reservations have two time slots available: 5:00PM and 8:00PM. The prix fixe menu is 16+ courses including dessert. Priced at $195 per person, with a 19% mandatory service fee on the final bill. For appetizers, we started off with a mix of flavors and textures that opened up our palates and piqued our curiosity. - Flounder cucumber salad (bright and fresh) - Savory custard egg with snow crab - Grilled scallop - Simmered abalone with liver sauce (this was my personal favorite-the meaty abalone paired so well with the creamy rich liver sauce) - Miso black cod - Mozuku seaweed shot (an explosion of textures and flavors) After appetizers, we moved onto Nigiri (10 of them), which were very fresh and had great texture. Chef Li mentioned to us that he is a fan of citrus-y flavors including yuzu, which I noticed and really enjoyed throughout the meal. My personal favorite was the Black Sea Bream-it had a lovely sear and hint of yuzu. The intimate sushi-bar seating was really nice because we had the opportunity to watch the preparation and also chat with Chef Li about the types of fish being prepared and where they were sourced. Following the Nigiri, we had desserts which included - Egg cake (freshly steamed, light and bouncy) - Red miso soup (smooth and comforting) - House made yuzu yogurt ice cream (refreshing and the perfect end to an amazing meal) read more
10 months ago
Went to Iki for lunch with my family . Nice place to have a relaxed lunch with family also great service . Reasonable price with Uni for lunch ! You have to try it & you will love it! read more
I must say, I still think about this place! The food here was very fresh and every bite was so delicious. The omakase menu here offers a huge list of items. We were extremely full in the end. Our chef was knowledgeable and each bite tells a story. He was professional and delivered our food in a timely fashion. I really enjoyed seared nigiri pieces and this place offers plenty of those. The noodle with the yellow cream (can't recall the name) was one of my favorites! I didn't know what to expect but that dish really surprised me. The octopus in the beautiful presentation with the coral ball, wow. I am not much a fan of octopus but when cooked right, I can enjoy it. Chef said it was cooked for many hours. It was delightfully tender! The setting of this restaurant was intimate and clean. There were plenty parking outside and we had no issue finding one. Overall, I would definitely come here again! I have recommended this place to several friends. Thank you for a delicious meal. read more
2 years ago
Iki Omakase is located in downtown Palo Alto and is brought to us by Chef Jiabo Li, a veteran sushi chef who used to work at Sushi Hon and Sato Omakase, both of which are located in San Francisco. The menu offers a variety of cooked and cold appetizer dishes and plenty of nigiri options, most of which have been lightly torched or cured. The fish is also sourced from Japan and was of really good quality. Iki Omakase only offers 2 dining times - 5:30 PM or 8 PM; reservations-only. As there are only 8 seats available per seating, it is a more intimate eating experience while the chef prepares food for everyone at the same time. When I first went, the omakase costed $175/person, had a mandatory service charge of 20%, and recommended additional tip on top of that as well. Now, it looks like the price has gone up to $226/person with a $31 service charge. ORDER |-| Omakase ($175/person) - 16+ courses including dessert read more
My fiancé and I came here for dinner on a Sunday evening. There were only 3 other customers during our reservation time so it was nice and intimate. Chef Li was really nice and made conversation with everyone, and I enjoyed all of the courses here. read more
Super excited to hear of a new Omakase place that finally opened up near us - and after studying the menu, site, and fellow yelper reviews for a few months - we decided to finally go for my MIL's bday dinner. Given the price point - our expectations were 100% high, but pretty standard per any bougie Omakase experience. The restaurant was a bit hidden and unassuming from outside, although the inside was intimate and modern with a neat 9 seat sushi bar. The chef and service was amazing and the meal was a well balanced and delicate experience throughout. There were about 16 courses with a nice variety of starters, nigiri, hot dishes, and dessert - although the order the dishes came out was a bit out of the standard. Unfortunately, the food overall just fell a bit short from expectations for us. Although there were some good dishes that stood out - the majority was either...a bit unmemorable and or started to become one and the same in taste + flavor profile. Starters: (1) Uni & Noodz - tasty, noodz had a great chew in a light refreshing broth, while the uni was rich and creamy. (2) Crab & Jelly salad - meh, jelly was too tart and took away from the crab, didn't care much for the tomato or seaweed. (3) Picked Veggie - good, great crunchy texture and flavor. (4) Fish in a corn soup - interesting, fish skin could've been more crispy but the meat was perf flaky. Corn soup was creamy and added a richness to the fish, although dominated a bit overall. (5) Monkfish liver - good, the sauce on the side was made of innards & had a nice spicy kick that cut the richness. Nigiri: overall fish was very fresh & some of them had great texture from the skin and or sear, but since the majority was cured + brushed with the same sauce - they all started to taste too similar and monotone. My fave were: golden eye snapper (great crispy skin), scallop (nice and sweet), and the toro handroll with caviar (rich, flavorful, great texture combo). Cooked dishes: (1) Eggplant - meh, texture and flavor was not nice overall. (2) Smoked Octopus - OK, tender but bit too salty from the curing overall. (3) Uni Chawanmushi - OK, egg custard flavor was standard and although I love Uni, the texture being soft with the soft custard just got lost. (4) Tamago - good, lightly sweet and great texture overall. (5) Miso Cod - cod was simple and tasty, but spinach ball was meh - def missing something either pickled or tart to add some bite. Dessert: Ice cream was refreshing, bit tart and lightly sweet, also loved the little jam-like topping. Sad to say, compared to a few other Omakase places that we love, this place just isn't quite there yet. Open to trying another time, but prob. not anytime soon. read more
1 year ago
If you're looking for a true omakase experience that blends precision, passion, and pure artistry Iki Omakase is the place. From the moment you step in, the ambiance whispers elegance. It's intimate, warm, and quietly confident just like the chef behind the counter. The service? Impeccable. Attentive without being intrusive, and deeply knowledgeable about every course served. Now for the food, every piece of sushi was a moment. The fish was ultra-fresh, perfectly aged, and balanced with house-made sauces that enhanced rather than overpowered. My favorite was actually the marinated young ginger. I couldn't stop eating it! Highlights included: * Hokkaido uni so sweet * Otoro that melted the second it hit your tongue * Dessert that served as a palate cleanser that was as refreshing as it was thoughtful in my opinion read more
Truly a top quality omakase! Every piece was the perfect size. Chef did not skimp on the fish. Our omakase had 5 appetizers, 10 nigiri + complimentary king salmon, tamago, miso soup, and a refreshing house made yuzu yogurt ice cream. We were also able to add some nigiri a la carte at the end of the nigiri course. It was tough to choose a favorite. The restaurant only offers 8 counter seats in front of the chef with two seatings at 5pm and 8pm. They also do bento boxes for lunch. I appreciated the calming classical music but after being there for 2.5 hours, we had heard the same songs multiple times. There is a parking lot across the street and street parking as well. This is near Caltrain so it may be hard to find close parking during peak hours. There is a 19% mandatory service charge which they say is not the tip so please account at least another 12-18% for the tip. For 2 people, our meal came out to $650 after everything - (this included our extra 3 nigiri + hojicha). We're so glad we tried this out because it might be our new favorite omakase spot! read more
2 years ago
10/10, incredible omakase experience. Would highly recommend. Our group of three was continually impressed dish after dish. And we're omakase fiends! Service is top-notch, what I'd expect out of an upscale restaurant. Setting is cozy and humble, not pretentious at all. Pretty quiet for the most part, only gentle piano melodies floating in the background. We had the pleasure of watching Chef Li prepare our meal. Our favorites: - Egg custard with snow crab (always love good chawanmushi. And the extra uni for Thanksgiving was a nice touch) - Pacific saury (so fatty and rich) - Medium/Fatty blue fin tuna (easy favorites ofc) - Sardine (mouthwateringly sweet) Loved watching Chef Li prepare every dish with precision and flair. When my partner ordered an olive flounder, he prepared an extra piece for me ;_; And our entire group received a few extra dishes outside of the menu. Definitely a way to build repeat clientele lol. We ate it up, figuratively and literally :P I've been recommending Iki to friends nonstop. NOTE: Book at least a week ahead of time! The space is tiny (as in, less than 10 people each reservation) and fills quickly. read more
I had high expectations for Iki Omakase given the $200 per person price, but the experience was underwhelming. While the food had flavor, nothing felt innovative or memorable. The soy sauce brushed onto the nigiri, which is normally a house made blend meant to enhance the fish, was so diluted and mellow that I could barely taste it, making the sushi feel flat. Service was fine, with one server explaining dishes and refilling water, but in the front room it is only Chef Li preparing the courses, with another chef in the back for fried items. Dinner took over two hours, and a lot of that time was spent waiting between courses. It felt like the front could really use another helper. Most of the fish was fairly ordinary and similar to what you can find at many regular sushi restaurants. One standout exception was a more unique course featuring shirako paired with a slice of beef brisket, which is not something you typically see. Overall, it was not bad, just not worth the cost. read more
1 year ago
It was very difficult for me to give Iki 3-stars. As a matter of fact, despite it being a "soft launch", and even with that benefit of doubt, I don't think I'll be returning here again. So what's the issue? When you reserve Iki, you are intrigued by the $195/person omakase experience. So this price point is slightly cheaper than your Michelin star omakases and you hope you get similar quality or experience. But this backfires miserably. First, the price is not $195. There is a mandatory 20% service fee which is NOT tip. This is just part of the price. So it comes out to $240/person. Again, we felt cheated with this bait-and-switch tactic. Second, the consistency of the various sushi or courses in terms of how mind-blowing they are were all over the place. There were some sushi like the sea eel that was quite frankly one of the best I've ever tasted. And then you have the red miso soup that was bland and luke-warm, the fatty tuna that wasn't fatty, and a over-frozen yuzu ice-cream. Also I don't think the uni was the top-notch fresh batch. Don't get me wrong. The sushi was quite good all throughout. But it is absolutely not at the top Michelin-grade omakase restaruants. Something on the balance, the last mile, and attention to detail was quite inconsistent, confusing us whether this was a truly high-end omakase approrpriate for $240/person. On the bright side the service was immaculate. Amazing service by the server and the chef absolutely puts in the effort. We won't be returning but if you are curious, I'd recommend giving it a shot. Perhaps they use this soft-launch to tune themselves better. Oh, the seasoned ginger was amazing. Apparently 8-month aging. That itself was quite an highlight. read more
Business owner information
Sunny N.
Dear Sonia,…
11 months ago
2 years ago
I love Edomae-style sushi, but I don't know many places that serve it, so I was excited to learn that Iki serves this traditional style of sushi. For those who are not aware, Edomae-style sushi uses white rice seasoned with red vinegar, which gives the rice the brownish color. It is NOT brown rice! Edomae-style sushi also utilizes aged fish, which requires a lot more work from the chef. The combination of the red-vinegared rice and aged fish lends a more complex umami to the sushi, which is why I enjoy Edomae sushi so much. It's not just about combining as many premium ingredients together as they can on the rice. We were treated to an excellent 22-course omakase at Iki over the weekend. When I've eaten omakase at other places, there are usually a few dishes that I won't particularly enjoy, but I enjoyed pretty much all of the dishes I had here. The chef was also very knowledgeable and put a lot of thought into the menu and preparation. For example, he sous-vide the chawanmushi so that it's cooked at a constant controlled low heat, which made the chawanmushi evenly silky and allowed us to eat it right away. The servers were very attentive as well, always keeping our drinks fresh and clearing plates in a timely manner. If you like or are interested in trying traditional Edomae sushi that focuses on excellent ingredients and execution in an omakase setting, then I would recommend Iki. This is an intimate experience with counter seating only. Make reservations ahead. read more
1 year ago
One of the best Japanese restaurants in Palo Alto! Loved every dish -- Rock crab soup, juicy braised octopus, Mackerel roll, grilled king salmon, and abalone with liver sauce. Sushi was incredible: Yellow jack -- incredibly fresh, Spanish mackerel -- perfectly crispy, black sea bream -- rich and tender, horse mackerel -- delicate and flavorful, and blue fin tuna -- fatty with uni and caviar -- wow. Finished with silky seaweed shot, egg custard with lobster, scallop eff cake, and yuzu yogurt ice cream. Definitely worth visiting if you love Japanese food like I do! read more
5 months ago
We had a great time tonight at Iki served by Chef Li There is only counter seating which allows each guest to witness chef's preparation of each dish. I liked that it was a spacious L shaped counter so you are not too close and bumping elbows with other guests. Service was attentive. It was nice that the chef asked how we liked the amount of wasabi or towards the end if we wanted less rice on our nigiri if we were getting full. We enjoyed all 21 courses, each hit the mark. Among my favorites was the corn soup, salmon belly, ankimo, and toro with uni on top of seaweed tempura. The uni soba appetizer was also unique and great way to start dinner. All in all a solid omakase spot with lots of variety. Even the dishes starring vegetables were tasty and thoughtfully executed. read more
It kind of pains me to write a mediocre review, as the chef and servers were really nice and friendly. The ambiance is just fine as well, with seating for up to 10 people. Fairly simply furnished, but no problem as you're there to eat and watch the chef, not look at the furnishings. The non-nigiri/sushi dishes were fine - not spectacular, but fine. The black cod was especially nice, the tamago really quite different than normal tamago egg. Multiple dishes with uni, so if you like sea urchin a lot, there's dishes to satisfy that craving. One thing to note is that the chef uses brown rice for everything. We eat a mix of brown and white rice at home, so this wasn't a turn off. Just something to be aware of for anyone that has a strong preference for traditional white rice. The "problem" for us was that the nigiri fell pretty far short of the expectations we had for a place at this price point. We've been to Katsu and Sushi Jin, and both were excellent. The best places have special and unique flavors and combinations of ingredients to make you say "Whoa!" where popping that nigiri in your mouth is a revelatory experience that makes you smile and want to talk about it with your dining companions. We found the 11 +/- nigiri servings here to be fairly one-note, with yuzu and brushed shoyu being the dominant flavors, as well as torching the fish with a gas torch. The first nigiri we had that was torched had a pretty heavy gas/butane taste, which was off-putting. We learned to wait a bit before eating the subsequent pieces to let the gas smell/taste dissipate some and that helped. There was just unfortunately no "pop" or special burst of unique flavoring with each nigiri serving. It just kind of on the bland side. And we're not the types that like over seasoned food - we appreciate the subtlety of nuanced flavoring that doesn't overwhelm. But this was more just lacking the flavor you'd expect with a higher end omakase dinner. The other negative that I was surprised by is that the chef dropped a piece of cooked shrimp below his work surface and picked it up and served it anyway. It didn't drop to the floor and I don't know what was behind/below his work surface to say it was not sanitary or suitable to pick up the shrimp and serve it. We chose to give him the benefit of the doubt and go with it, but it just seemed to me that to remove any doubt, the chef would just call for another piece of shrimp and dispose of what had fallen below sight level. Based on the reviews, people seem to like this, so we're apparently in the minority. And again, the chef and servers here are really nice and pleasant. But it just seemed most appropriate to write an honest review as a counterpoint to allow prospective diners to hear multiple experiences. read more
11 months ago
The food and service here are absolutely amazing! I've been here several times already, and every visit is full of pleasant surprises. I really love Chef Li's creativity -- there's always something new with unique ingredients and combinations. Definitely one of my favorite restaurants! read more
1 year ago
We love a good chef's counter omakase! My boyfriend and I came here to celebrate our anniversary, and it was a nice surprise to see a card waiting for us signed by the staff. We got to see the chef prepare all the dishes in front of us, and he even created one on the spot. It's nice to see the creativity that goes around creating a dish. The photos are everything I got to try out at this omakase and it did not disappoint! read more
It's been some time since I've dined here but I'm still thinking about how wonderful my omakase experience was. Chef Li and his team were so welcoming and attentive. My friends and I really enjoyed our meal. The dishes were fantastic and we left very satisfied. read more
I typically enjoy Edomae-style sushi and can usually opt out of modern sushi for the most part. With that said, I was excited to dine here with friends for my birthday. A 22 course omakase, say less. A birthday card was presented and was served small sides of young pickled ginger, tomato, cucumber and hearts of palm to nibble on before service. The 22 course meal was more than generous and found a fondness for some of the items from the night. For apps, the Simmered Abalone with Liver Sauce was delicious paired with buckwheat soba noodles. You could hear everyone scraping away at their plates when we got to this item. So good! For the first set of sushi, the sardine nigiri. Iwashi is something I haven't seen anywhere else and was pleasantly surprised. The Soft Braised Octopus is the item you've probably seen on IG as it comes smoked in cherry wood in a volcanic rock orb which the wait staff opens for you. The smoke is theatric but leaves a pleasant sweet smokiness to the tender octopus. For the second set of sushi, the Otoro and Uni of course were well appreciated. Ended up getting the Tuna and Uni Hand Roll supplement, was it worth the $45? It's good, but is it THAT good? I'll leave that up to you to decide. I do have to say that their Tamagoyaki was really good compared to Sushi Kashiba's, it's texture was more akin to a Japanese cheesecake, think Uncle Tetsu, but savory. The portion of rice to fish ratio is good, well seasoned and thought that the wasabi was perfect once I asked for a bit more to be added. The young pickled ginger was also a great accompaniment to refresh the palate. The only con I can think of is that I wish the chef interacted with us more, he did check in, but I really enjoy hearing about where the fish is from and/or ways they prepared each item. There were a few items that I felt kind of missed the mark and non-remarkable. I inquired about a drink on their menu, but was informed that they did not have it available. The interior is modern, with strictly counter seating. They had Christmas lo-fi music playing softly, which gave a nice vibe. It was a good experience and especially so celebrating with friends. I wouldn't say it's the best omakase or experience I've had, but not the worst either. I am curious to see what Iki's lunch omakase and chirashi is like and would likely return to try those out. Nonetheless, still glad to have another option for omakase in the Bay Area. read more
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460 Ramona St
Palo Alto, CA 94301
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(650) 441-5247
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http://www.ikiomakasepaloalto.com
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Iki Omakase - sushi - Updated September 2026
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