We got the Iki bento a few weeks ago and loved it, so we came back for their lunch omakase on a Friday, and it did not disappoint. The space is intimate, with only 8 counter seats, so you're served directly by chef Li. To my surprise, all of the seats were full on a Friday at lunch. I didn't want to drink too much at lunch, but they had a $29 sake flight of three 1.5 oz pours, which was just the right amount to pair with the sushi but still be able to go back to work after lunch! Pre sushi: 1. Pickled baby ginger: I love this stuff, and he was good about refilling it 2. Crab with Japanese citrus jelly and shiso: a generous amount of sweet, fresh crab 3. Ankimo: two pieces, served with wasabi 4. Signature octopus: massaged 1 hour and stewed 1 hour - very flavorful and tender 5. Steamed abalone: served over soba with abalone liver sauce 6. Seaweed shot 7. Chawanmushi with scallops and caviar Sushi: 1. Hokkaido scallop with yuzu and sea salt 2. Spanish mackerel 3. Akami: lean bluefin tuna 4. Kinmedai: golden eye snapper, torched 5. Isaki: 3 line grunt fish 6. Kelp cured black snapper, shiso leaf, yuzu 7. Chutoro 8. Saba: mackerel with kelp 9. Otoro: torched, topped with uni The scallop and kinmedai were the highlights for me. We also got one of the à la carte add ons: the hand chopped fatty tuna and uni hand roll. To finish: red miso soup At the end, you can watch the chef preparing the bento boxes, which was a good reminder for me to keep my eye out for the next available pickup. The fish was high quality, and the pieces were cut to the right size (I've been to way too many places with unappealingly large cuts). Each course was thoughtfully prepared, and pacing was consistent. For the quality and quantity of food, as well as the service and dining experience, this was a hot deal for $125 a person. We will definitely be coming back! read more

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

Iki Omakase - Sushi Bars Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Wonderful service Delicious set menu It was intimate as there were only 8 seats The chef was very knowledgeable and a wonderful host. read more

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Please don't go!!! It's a complete waste of money. If you have been to Japan, you know this is not omakase. It's overpriced sushi in the worst sense. A few of our courses had a strong fish odor and the rest pretty un-original and bland. It's essentially exotic fish on rice...that's it. To top it off, the chef has the personality of a robot. We were sitting in front of him for several hours and he said not a word to us - don't even acknowledge us. Save your money and time - go to McDonald's...food has more flavors and better service. read more

My husband and I came on a Saturday evening and we had a wonderful time. There were 9 people including us seated for omakase at our time slot (I believe they have 2 time slots per evening). The restaurant is small and guests are seated surrounding the chef. Everyone has a great view of the chef during the food preparation. There is an extensive menu of sake to accompany the meal. We got a bottle of the nanbu bijin. We had about 20 different dishes where you could really taste the quality and preparation in each. The dishes offered depends on the season and what's available. For us, we had many different pieces of tuna which I loved. Fish was incredibly fresh and tasted amazing! We had 9 different pieces of sushi. There are also a la carte options available for an additional cost. The meal lasted about 2 hours. We had a great time. It is definitely expensive so we will probably return only for special occasions but it was highly worth it. read more

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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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Great food and experience! The preparation and presentation was excellent and the service was great.

Went here the other day with a group of three and was met with a great experience! It was our first time doing omakase but our server Kim was very knowledgeable when it came to the food being served, down to the kind of glasses we were drinking from. For $105 per person, you can definitely taste what you're paying for. Everything was perfect and we all had a great time. Thank you for having us! read more

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Intimate omakase dining experience with Chef Li at this restaurant that only seats 8. Chef Li and the rest of the staff were all very kind and attentive. The menu consisted of 19 items, however chef was very kind and added extra items on house for my friend's birthday so we got a total of 23 items! All of the various dishes were so fresh and flavorful and the hojicha tea paired well with the food. We made a reservation off of tock, there is a 2 hr parking lot across the street along with street parking spots - look for the welcome mat that says "Omakase!" and you know you're at the right spot for a memorable night. read more

Iki Omakase - Omakase menu (December 2024) - Sushi Bars Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Nailed it! Food: You can taste the quality of the fish. The Chef is seasoned, you can tell by the way he prepares and cuts each type of fish to accentuate its texture and flavors. Service: I have never had a Chef or any restaurant allow me to take home a dish from their omakase menu togo, but they did it and I am so moved. I tried the dessert and instantly knew my husband would love the Yuzu Yogurt Ice Cream. With this being a fine dining type of a meal, I doubted the Chef would allow me to order a dessert togo for my husband. Not only did the Chef allow me to take home a dessert, but it was on the house. The Chef packed the dessert togo with ice and in its original dish that was served at the restaurant and told me I could keep the dish. So incredibly thoughtful of him. I highly recommend Iki. For their price point, it is hard to find this quality of omakase and white glove service. Bonus: Parking is easy (free after 5pm) it is across from a lot. Location is prime. We will definitely be back! read more

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Iki Omakase, behind a boring door in the streets of Palo Alto, teleports you to an omakase sushi restaurant somewhere in Roppongi, JP. Intimate setting, counter bar only, with exceptional service and sushi. I enjoyed myself so much, I forgot to take photos. Chef Li & and his team wowed in this omakase experience. Every nigiri piece was fresh, harmonious, balanced, and delicate. One of my favorite was actually a starter--ankimo. Creamy, rich! Of the gazillion times I've had ankimo, this is the 1 of the 2 experiences I've savored. If Palo Alto was closer, I'd be here too often. read more

Iki Omakase - Sushi Bars Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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Review is for bento take out, the meal was very delicious, the fish taste fresh and melts in your mouth. I would come and get it again. I met Chef Li through catering event a few years ago and he did an amazing job. Glad to see he got his own place now. read more

What an absolute superb dining experience at IKi Omakase! I have had omakase all over the world and this one had the MOST food and variety and I was actually full afterwards (and I eat a lot). All the ingredients are top quality straight from Japan. Even the ginger and soy sauce are next level and have been fermenting for years! Chef Li and Patrick are so kind and a pleasure to talk to! Chef Li is so skilled at his craft and I am so satisfied by both the experience and the food here! The atmosphere is so calm, inviting, and chic and I felt like I was in really in Japan. Can't recommend this place enough! read more

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