My Osaka Omakase Experience: Sushi Zen Dotonbori

Come with me to Sushi Zen Dotonbori 鮨し禅 in Osaka for the omakase experience of my life! When in Japan, you have to try a sushi omakase course. This trip in Osaka, I went out on a limb and picked a spot that didn’t have so many reviews. I’m so glad I did! Here’s my full experience trying Osaka’s unique omakase from start to finish. For an underrated omakase spot with free flow sake, you have to try this spot!

Trying Osaka’s Omakase at Sushi Zen Dotonbori

I’m in Osaka for the first time with Dom and my mom. We’re super determined to try everything this Japanese food capital has to offer. From delicious and unique dessert cafe hopping to ranking Dotonbori takoyaki, we are trying it all. Trust me, Osaka’s delicious foods will keep you eating non-stop.

But, what is a trip to Japan without trying sushi omakase? There’s so many omakase options in Osaka that it literally took me weeks just to decide which one to try. I end up choosing Sushi Zen Dotonbori, a small restaurant that has less than 50 reviews on Google. But I’m so so glad I trusted my gut!

What Is Omakase?

Omakase literally translates to “I’ll leave it up to you”, or “chef’s choice” in Japanese. This unique style of dining means you’re giving the chef full control of the menu based on the fresh, seasonal catch of the day. With omakase, no two meal is the same.

Instead of just ordering individual pieces, the chef serves you a curated course right in front of you at your pace. It’s typically designed to start from lighter to richer and more intense flavors. Each bite is selected, prepared, and timed by the chef to create a progression of flavors. This showcases the fresh seafood and the chef’s craftsmanship in the most ideal way.

Sushi Zen Dotonbori Omakase Course

Sushi Zen 鮨し禅 is a 10 counter seat reservation-only omakase sushi restaurant. Located near Shinsaibashi, it’s about a 5-minute walk from the station and close to the Dotonbori area. It focuses on Edomae-style sushi using seasonal seafood sourced from around Japan. They offer a standard 10-course meal, and a fancier VIP 10-course, with the option of nonalcoholic or alcoholic free flow drinks, for a total of 4 different course. Prices range from 18000 yen to 25000 yen (about $113 to $157 USD).

Sushi Course

Edo-Mae Style

Sushi Zen has two defining characteristics: Edo-Mae style sushi and red vinegar sushi rice. Originating in Tokyo during a time before refrigeration, Edo-Mae sushi relied on techniques like aging, curing, and marinating seafood to preserve it while enhancing its flavor. Today, those methods are combined with modern techniques to create deep umami flavors and different textures. We got to experience unique bites such as dry-aged tuna belly, and marinated tuna, which was unlike other tuna nigiri I’ve had before!

Red Vinegar Sushi Rice

Osaka is also known for their red vinegar sushi rice. Compared to Tokyo’s sushi rice, it has a stronger, punchier flavor. It’s a little bit more sour and bold, but paired really perfectly with the richer tasting fish like toro and uni. For lighter fish flavors like yellowtail, Kimedai, and horse mackerel, a little bit of rich, savory sauce is added. It balances out that tart rice flavor without overpowering the fish.

Creative preparation styles

Depending on the fish, not everything is served raw. We got a deliciously brewed octopus bite that was savory, and just the right amount of sweet. There’s also the handroll with Green Eyed Fish fried whole until crispy. The conger eel roll was prepared with a chunk of egg and some preserved kombu, giving it a deeply satisfying bite. Don’t forget the Ankimo liver hand roll, which is crispy, but has that deep, rich flavor of the tender liver.

intentional flavor details

Since every piece is just one bite, you really start to notice how every little detail matters. Everything was so intentional. Each fish was uniquely prepared based on its texture and flavor, with varying rice temperature to match. The sourness of the vinegar in the sushi rice was controlled so well. Not to mention, some of the sushi will have its own unique touches, like fresh ground wasabi or an extra brush of sauce. Literally, every bite was so perfectly balanced that I couldn’t decide which one was my favorite.

Free Flow Sake Pairing

Also, the meal includes all you can drink throughout the whole course, with either alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. They had such a big selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic pairings. We got to try some rare sakes, like the spring seasonal rotation of Yamakawa Mitsuo 山川光男, a collaboration between 4 different famous breweries in Yamagata Prefecture. There’s also Kido (鬼童) Junmai Daiginjo, another very limited micro-brew from an artisan brewery in Nara. Besides pure sake, we also had so many delicious sake cocktails made from the selections that made the whole night feel even more special.

Matcha Ice Cream Dessert

For the final course, we finished with a super light matcha ice cream monaka. The creamy green tea ice cream is sandwiched between two crisp, lightly traditional Japanese wafer shells. After a full course full of umami and tart flavors, the earthy, creamy sweetness created the perfect contrast. It ended the meal on a super super refreshing note. Keep in mind, their dessert is also designed by seasonal ingredients. So, this might not be the same dessert if you visit!

Final Thoughts

This was definitely one of those meals where I felt like every bite got better as the course went on. We tried so many different types of fish that I’ve never had in my whole entire life. Every single ingredient was prepared so delicately. You can really tell the chef was so focused on bringing out the naturally unique flavors of each fish. Honestly, this was a 10 out of 10 experience, I dare say 100/10 if possible. It’s one of my favorite experience in my whole life that I will remember forever, and I’m glad I got to experience it with Dom and my mom.

Also Check Out My Tokyo Omakase Experience

Explore Osaka, Japan’s Food Capital with Me!