Looking for a dining experience unlike your usual sit down picks? If an intimate multi-course dinner in a swanky venue and kitchen where you get to watch the chefs and Sous chef in action prepare your next dish sounds like your type of thing, definitely give Neo a shot! Creative dishes that delight your tastebuds, casual conversation with your chefs and your co-patrons... these 1.5-2 hour long private dinners are worth the $$$$ splurge and a special occasion :D The only downside is that everything else will probably pale in experience afterwards, so you've been warned! The clothing store that doubles as Neo's kitchen has L-shape seating, so you can still talk to everyone as well as see the magic happen if you come in a larger group (reservations for 1 to 6 people available, but you can ask for up to 8!). The chefs worked at Uchi beforehand, so you know their skills are spot on :) The menu is primarily focused on sushi and it's omakase style, meaning there is not a paper menu and you entrust your meal to the chef. Each person is served their own small portion one by one and at the same time. They cater towards reasonable requests (like how our pregnant friend got to have cooked dishes instead of raw sashimi, etc). I love how you watch them create the dish and then get to hear their description and explanation of it when it's served. They're super friendly and open to questions for the food-curious people out there, hooray~~ I don't want to spoil the dishes for you, but they range from your different types of fish sashimi-style, duck, pork, beef, and even my favorite-- dessert!! They're also constantly improving; I went to one of their earlier dinners and based on my friends' pictures of recent events, even their quenelle technique has refined! My big tip? Don't research the Yelp picture or dig for menu items-- it's really fun to be surprised by their creativity, to let your senses and imagination keep guessing what they're serving next when you watch the prep, and things might change depending on seasonality or fresh ingredients. Let your tastebuds go on an adventure and follow their IG page... they post when those coveted reservations are available! read more

Fun omakase in an intimate, 10-seat chef's counter tucked inside a clothing store called Glass Cypress in downtown Houston. My Dallas friends and I made the reservation a month in advance and planned a trip down to Houston specifically to enjoy omakase sushi here, and it was a blast! We were greeted at the door with a glass of Cava sparkling wine, a classy welcome. Then, we were escorted through a set of doors into a high-ceiling living room/kitchen that had been refurnished into the omakase speakeasy, Neo. We had a wonderful time, and the ingredients they use for the omakase is stellar, no doubt. The fish are excellent quality, the A5 wagyu has beautiful marbling, the Blue Norwegian lobster they had as a special add-on item was so juicy! My main caveat for the omakase menu here is that I felt that their sushi was too heavily dressed. In some pieces, I felt that the salty flavor on top was overpowering and hid the flavors of the fish. I recognize that I am more of the traditional sushi lover, edomae style is my favorite, rather than the contemporary, and Neo is intended to be non-traditional, so that is just a matter of preference. Another con of this place is that they don't have a drink menu. Rather, they have sake pairings, which are included in the omakase price per person. I asked for some hot tea to go along with the sake, as I like to enjoy sips of tea in between bites, but they unfortunately don't have tea, other than the tea they serve at the end of the meal with dessert. I wish that they had options for drinks, with the sake pairing as an add-on option. Towards the beginning of the meal, we were given the option of adding caviar to our chutoro piece and the lobster to the veggie dish. The prices seemed fair ($20-30 per person for each add-on), so of course, we went for it! I'd say the chutoro + caviar is always a good idea. It was my favorite piece of the whole menu! The lobster, on the other hand, was too salty for me, and I gave half of mine to my friend to finish. I also thought that the shari (which I believe was brown rice based?) was a little lacking in vinegar and sugar flavor. I like that deep vinegar taste in the shari that spreads throughout my palate as I take each bite... I didn't quite feel it here. I was unimpressed with the uni they had the night that we visited, too. Uni is usually one of my favorite fish, so I was a little disappointed. It was certainly fresh, but it didn't have the rich, creamy flavor I love. That being said, the service here is very friendly and attentive. Enveloped in a classy ambiance, I definitely felt pampered. The chef making the sushi was very efficient, too, making each piece quickly and with perfection, alongside his sous chefs. Aside from the chutoro, the akami piece was very elegant as well. It had a bit of strawberry paste on top, which went well with the richness of the fish. The kamatoro was amazingly juicy and delicious, too! You don't get much of that piece on omakase menus, so that was a treat. I feel that the A5 wagyu topped with fermented perigord truffles was a bit too much. The wagyu itself was excellent quality, but the truffles were too overpowering, much too salty, strong in flavor. I think Neo did their desserts very well, however. The first was the sapote ice cream with hoshigaki and orange. Lovely combo of fruity flavors with the texture and temperature of ice cream. Then, the cultured cream with Harry's strawberry. Fantastic! Loved the Georgia peach tea, as well. Overall experience: I do wish that the chef making our sushi would have spoken to us a little more. I think he felt he was intruding on our conversation when he talked to us (although of course, he wasn't!), and maybe he was tired as it was Saturday evening. I was certainly happily full by the end of my meal. And with wonderful company like my friends, who wouldn't have a great time! Thank you to the chefs and staff of Neo for having us! I have a very picky, salt-sensitive palate, but I very much enjoyed my experience here. read more

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One of the best bites was their mushroom sushi bites legitimately still thinking about that one a week later... read more

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My goodness. Second time we have tried this place and It does not disappoint. It's not meant to be traditional, but it's amazing nigiri and small dishes. All the flavors are carefully curated and none of it over powers the flavor of the fish that is dry aged. Truly a great experience from start to finish. I would recommend this place to any visitors or natives looking for a special night or something to celebrate! read more

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One of my favorite current Omakase offerings. Each course was amazing. The starter of caviar from Holland was memorable. We went on their last evening at 13C, which is one of my frequent go to spot for wine. Our meal was paired with 9 wonderful wines and champagnes well selected by their sommelier. The chefs were engaging, the plates were delicious. It was heaven.... read more

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I have been here a few times now and the food is really great. I would say this is the best omakase in town. My review is based on their inability to pivot. My friend forgot to tell them I was a pescatarian until the day of, which I guess they didn't get the note. Understandably, she didn't think about it as much as she normally might, it being a sushi restaurant. We told them right when we got there and they pretty quickly told us they would not be able to accommodate. There were two meat dishes/ bites. I can totally understand not being able to create a dish, or alter sauces etc on no notice. But, they should be able to just give me two different bites of fish. They packed the unused fish up at the end, so they definitely had more fish. read more

Great Omakase. Best in town in terms of quality and experience. Chef Luis and his team do a fantastic job with elevating the dining experience with custom dishes. Been here a few times and always enjoyed it. Highly recommend to check it out for a date night or if you are looking for a great omakase experience. I place Neo and 5kinokawa as my top two recommendations for Omakase in Houston. Make sure to book early or at least one month out as they fill up quite quickly. read more

Fantastic dinner with great ambiance and great service. We had a dinner for 2 and it was everything we hoped for... all the nigiri's were beautiful placed and taste. All the complimentary drinks hit the spot as well. Definitely recommend to anyone that is a sushi lover. Worth it with how much you can eat and drink for one price read more

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Every dish was amazing, whether it be the raw fish portions or the cooked dishes! You could tell that each dish was carefully planned out in a specific order in order to not over power the other. The whole experience was a beautiful story to my taste buds. read more

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An outstanding omakase experience in Houston- and one of a kind! Utilizing a gorgeous kitchen in an upscale men's boutique, the chefs turn out innovative flavor combinations and execute some of the most delicious food I have had. It's a very intimate experience- much like going to a dinner party at a friend's home. The chefs will interact with as much or as little with you as you would like. Any nervousness one would have with interacting with people like I had would go out the window anyway, because you'll be too distracted eating the amazing food in front of you. Fish selections were mostly dry aged, which was wonderful to taste in person after hearing and reading about it being done in a couple places across the country. The price, while on the higher end of omakases in Houston, is well worth it as it includes more courses typically served in other restaurants, as well as a selection of wines and sakes that pair wonderfully with the meal. For an additional price, you can customize your experience by adding additional dessert or savory courses. Dessert course usually features ice cream from Underground Creamery, which in itself is very hard to come by. Something valuable that I took from this experience was different flavor combinations and cooking techniques that I will try in my own kitchen. Thank you Neo team for a wonderful experience. I will definitely be back. Notable courses: bread course with oregon ramps, dutch caviar hamachi crudo aged 9 days and pineapple al pastor atami, aged 20 days, with freeze dried strawberry hen of the woods with brown butter new zealand venison with chilean truffles read more

Neo - Japanese Near Me - Houston, Texas

I wanted to treat myself but was disappointed when I found their reservation form only allowed reservations for 2 or more people. I messaged them and asked if a seat for 1 was possible. Surprisingly they responded, and now they allow for a 1 person reservation. The chefs were amazing: talking and making jokes throughout the meal as they prepared each course. Service was impeccable as well. I was joined by two other couples and three friends. I think everyone could read my vibes and didn't interact with me much. I mostly nodded and smiled. Answered a question here or there. We had a 19 course meal, and they offered an a la carte menu at the end. I did like some courses more than others, but overall the meal was great. Everything was fresh, and I could taste every component of each course. Best sushi I've had in Houston. If they ever open a restaurant where I don't have to talk to strangers, I'll be there in a heartbeat. read more

I follow Neo on instagram and requested a reservation through their google doc link. It's an 8 person seating for 5:45p or 8:30p tasting menu. The 8:30p reservation was nice in not having to rush after service for the next seating time. We had 19 courses for $255 per person, inclusive (tax and tip) with complimentary wine and sake. It's located in a house turned restaurant with a small boutique clothing show room. They have a small private parking in front of the building or street parking. We were immediately greeted with a glass of cava as we entered. You sit at the island in the kitchen and watch the magic happen. Everyone is approachable and friendly. Nothing too stuffy or awkward. Great interaction with the chefs as they were meticulously preparing each course. Everything was delicious from start to finish. There was complimentary sake throughout the dinner. I enjoyed the play on a smoked salmon bagel in one of the nigiri pieces to showcase some of their dry aging technique. Definitely a little on the pricey side but it has gradually increased over time. Nab a reservation to Neo now, you won't regret it! read more

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I had some concerns with Neo sometime ago but the management had promptly taken care of my concerns to my satisfaction. I would recommend NEO for people who like sushi. read more

I mean what's not to love.. from the amazing food to the superb company. I would come back every week if I could. Definitely a must try. read more

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Very good closest thing to Hidden Omakase but more pricey. Think it was $225 per person. Very upscale and exclusive. Everything was good but i don't know if I'll be back due to heavy price tag. 4/5 read more

This is quite literally the best meal I have ever had in my life. Customer service was exceptional. First fine dining experience that I felt so comfortable in. Can't wait for the next time. Thank you so much, Neo! read more

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There aren't enough words to describe this dining experience! Just GO and enjoy it for yourself. The setting, service and stunning menu are out of this world. Try everything! Each bit was a delightful dining moment. It's a once in a lifetime meal to be remembered. Happy 40th Birthday to our wonderful Daughter! What a place to celebrate! read more

Really the best omakase in Houston. Wonderful food and service. We are going back. They even took us on a small tour in the back to show their aging and fermentation stations. A great evening. read more

Hands down the best sushi we've ever had! The experience, the presentation, the intimacy, the stories and explanation, the atmosphere - it is one for the books!! I suggest booking the reservation, you won't regret it. read more

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Neo is the best omakase/sushi restaurant in Texas, hands down. Run by an incredible team that always brings new and innovative ideas to the table (literally). A must-try restaurant in Houston. read more

The food is amazing, but so are the staff and overall atmosphere. It is worth the money you are going to spend. Their menu changes constantly so it is never boring even if you come multiple times. read more

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We were visiting from Dallas and was able to snag the last min cancellation! We have experienced many omakase in different states and countries. But Neo's omakase was truly an amazing & memorable experience. I love both traditional & contemporary omakase, but even so, most contemporary we'd tried still stay in the same realm of ingredients. At neo, every bite was creative & unique; something that we have never experienced before. Even with their special twist, the ingredients didn't overpower the freshness of each bite. The chefs were engaging, servers were attentive, the vibe wasn't stuffy, and def loved how the restaurant was a men's boutique! Thank you Neo for the captivating & spectacular birthday experience!! And thank you to the person who cancelled their reservation last min ;) read more

It was good, an experience to do at least 1x to try. It's fusion sushi twist. Pricey for the overall experience. I still think Kura in NY is the best authentic sushi. Here in Houston Kata Robata seems to be my favorite at this point for a better tasting experience. The environment is much more private here than sấy Kata Robata but for me it comes down to the tastebuds and how memorable it was. read more

World class omakase. Aged fish. Creative and smart flavor combinations that are non-traditional but honor the ingredients. If I have to nitpick, I'd like to see certain fish (chutoro) unadorned. Rice could be refined but was well executed. read more

Omakases have been popping up all over Houston especially during the pandemic. Just 2021 alone, I've tried 3-4 different ones including this one and I must say Neo is my favorite. When we first arrived, we weren't sure if it was a clothing store or house...which made the experience so much more unique. There were about 8 seats around the bar and a different sake/wine was included with certain dishes. The one thing I found intriguing is how they dry aged all their fish....IT'S SO YUMMY! Both Chefs and the servers were so sweet and attentive. I love these private dinners and would definitely recommend to anyone who wants to try! Please follow them on IG because they will let you know when reservations open up! read more

Don't let the outside of the place fool you - super awesome food inside! Service and banter was top shelf. Sushi just kept coming and each course got better and better. Great to see a group of 20 something's really working hard, building a business and putting out quality. It was so hard to decide which courses we liked the best then they rolled out some incredible desserts! It is expensive at 250/person but house sake or house white wine included and they don't accept tips. Will be back! They are going to blow up for sure!!! read more

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Top 5 dining dining experiences of my last 8 years living in Houston. Thank you Neo, keep on keeping on!

I have no problem with calling Neo the best restaurant in Houston. Everyone was incredibly friendly and helpful. Our water and sake/wine glasses were never empty throughout the meal. The nigiri was the best ive ever had. The A5 was also delectable. Really just a top notch tasting menu. On par with 2-3 star michelin restaurants. Cant wait to go back! read more