Iki Omakase in Palo Alto

They are still soft opening and I take that into consideration.The food is on the heavier-taste/rich side among other Japanese Omakase style experiences. With that being said, even though I usually have a lighter taste palette, the dishes were within my acceptable range of saltiness. I would say most western-trained foodies will find them right at home with most of the dishes here like some of my friends would tonight.The fish is fresh, rice can be better and chef told us he is still experimenting. The homemade ginger wasn’t ready yet and I can’t wait to try it. The source is on point, with solid dishes throughout the course. The aged Bluefin is definitely my favorite and I ordered extra.Their sake list is exceptional, one of the best in the Bay. Wide range of selections and the price ain’t too steep(relatively speaking).Service is good can be better, soft opening I suppose. I also like the more casual vibe from the staff members, definitely helps relaxing.Overall happy experience, will be back.

From the moment we walked into Iki Omakase in Palo Alto, it was clear this was going to be a special meal. The place is cozy and beautifully put together with just 8 seats.Chef Li is amazing at what he does and adds a fun touch with his great sense of humor and clear love for sushi. Every dish shows off his skill and creativity, giving a fresh take on classic sushi thats both exciting and really tasty. My favorite was the Toro with Caviar and crispy seaweed - an awesome mix of flavors and textures.The drinks menu is impressive, with a great variety of beers, non-alcoholic drinks, special sakes, and flavored sakes. Sunny, the manager, very knowledgeable and patiently helped us pick from the different sakes, which went perfectly with our food. We tried four kinds, from sweet to dry, and each one added something special to our meal.Even though the place just opened and the staff are still getting the hang of things, the service is amazing. They really make sure you feel taken care of and important, paying attention to what you need before you even ask.At $175 per person, Iki Omakase is an amazing deal for this kind of quality in the Bay Area, where you might pay over $250 elsewhere. Its hard to find such an incredible meal and service at this price.Chef Li and his team have made something amazing, and I highly recommend it. Whether you love sushi or just want a memorable meal, you have to check out Iki Omakase.

Very good quality and not as pricey as many other Omakase. Highly recommended!!I love the diversity of it and I love the sea urchin, caviar, various fish, shrimp, combination of food and ways of cook, nice chef, all feel so good!!Only tiny thing is that I’d prefer a darker environment - we tried the 5pm one and it’s all bright from beginning to end, both outside and inside light are so bright. It feels too early to drink so I ordered tea : )

Opened just over a month ago, Iki Omakase is a gem transporting you from the heart of Silicon Valley to the vibrant streets of Tokyo. From the moment you step inside, the atmosphere is captivating. The modern yet elegant design sets the stage for an unforgettable culinary journey.Iki Omakase is an intimate omakase experience with 2 seating times - one early in the evening (5pm) and one later in the evening (8pm). Be prepared to spend at least 2 - 2.5 hours to enjoy the whole menu. 8 person standard counter seating area where you get to chat with the chef and experience all the preparation right in front of your eyes - it doesnt get any more intimate than that. Though I will say that a big part of your experience depends on the people around you. We had a really loud lady seated next to us at the counter, and after a while, it got a bit annoying and made it harder for us to have our own conversation (not the fault of the restaurant). Our chef, Lee, was very nice and funny, so that made for an overall good experience.With 1 server to take care of all the parties, the service was definitely slow at times, so yeah, Id say the service could have been better. But kudos to our server for doing her best and staying on top of things. It started slow, but soon after, our server was very attentive and regularly checked in on us. The star of the show, undoubtedly, was the exquisite food. The freshest seasonal ingredients are transformed into works of art on your plate. Each bite is a symphony of flavors and textures, a testament to the chefs exceptional skill and dedication.For $175 pp omakase experience (changing to $195 pp in April), you get bang for your buck. Youll definitely be full by the end.Our experience started with 5 appetizers, which included uni, chawanmushi, and sashimi.Our main course included 10 nigiri pieces and some additional dishes in between. Here is a full list of our main course items and dessert (excluding appetizers).1. Shim aji2. Golden eye snapper3. Bluefin tuna (cured in soy sauce for 2 hours)4. Leek and cucumbers5. Cherry salmon6. Mackerel7. Snow Crab soup8. Soft braise octopus with daikon (braised for an hour)9. Black seabream (kurodai)10. Firefly squid11. Fatty tuna12. Uni13. Anago (sea water eel)14. Miso soup15. Yogurt ice cream (yuzu)Each nigiri was fresh and delightful. Our chef asked us about our wasabi preference, and that was a very thoughtful touch. Towards the end, our chef had some leftover fish, so he combined all of it to make Maki rolls for all of us, free of charge. It was very nice of him to do that.Overall, the chefs genuine warmth and dedication to hospitality really elevates the dining experience. Its worth a visit.

I had the pleasure of dining at Iki Omakase, and it was an unforgettable experience! The restaurant presents a serene ambiance that sets the perfect stage for the main attraction: the exquisitely prepared fish. Each piece of sushi served was a testament to the chefs mastery in aging fish, which enhances the flavor and texture, making every bite truly divine.The quality of the fish is unparalleled. You can really taste the freshness and care in selection, which speaks volumes about their dedication to offering only the best. The chef skillfully balances traditional techniques with a modern twist, and its evident in the nuanced flavors of each dish.What makes Iki Omakase stand out is the chef’s expertise not just in preparing sushi, but in elevating it through the aging process. This technique allows the flavors to intensify, creating a complex and rich taste profile that is hard to find anywhere else.The attentive service and the chef’s willingness to share insights about the dishes made the evening more special. It’s clear that Iki Omakase is not just about dining; it’s an educational and holistic culinary journey.Highly recommend Iki Omakase for anyone looking to experience sushi at its best. Whether you are a sushi connoisseur or new to Japanese cuisine, the chef’s craftsmanship and the top-notch quality of the fish will surely impress you!

We had dinner for 2nd round with couple of friends, overall experience was higher than my expectations.interior was nice, quiet, a bit dimmer ambience and all the spotlights were focus on food, give you more attractions and attention to it. You have a private and luxury environment to let you focus on omakase dining experience.Ive been trying a lot of star omakase restaurants in Bay Area, compared with others, this food quality and creative of each dishes was higher than its price. My favorite dish were the toro tartare, wrapped uni, wood smoke tako, crab soup, uni, etc, mostly all the dishes surprised me with their unique flavor.They had very amazing sake menu, the manager Sunny were given very good recommendations and weve tried from sweet to dry with couple bottles, all were very smooth and clean, we all love that!Although its new open, the servant still under trainning, but you can see the owner gave a lot of patience to train them and serve the guests with a high fine dining standard by himself.Every business has its beginning, but we can feel the chef and manager were giving 120% of sincerity and honest to treat the meal and the guests. So we all very pleased with this experience. Will definitely come back next time!

Iki Omakase specializes in a more modern take on omakase, with so many delicious dishes featuring fresh fish and other seafood! Chef Li is also welcoming - professional yet lively and fun to talk to as he prepares each course. The nigiri portion of the meal included some of my favorites, including mackerel (aji), rosy sea bass (akamutsu), and, of course, tuna (both chutoro and otoro).Reservations required! We joined for the 8pm seating, which, while a bit late, allowed for a more relaxed service overall with good food and drinks.

Modern Omakase**4.5 Stars**Iki Omakase is the Peninsula’s newest Japanese omakase spot from the group behind Sushi Hon and Sato OmakaseThe downtown Palo Alto location seats 8 and features dark accents and spotlights highlighting the food at the all counter seatingThey’re in soft opening but Chef Jiabo Li already exhibits a funny, engaging, and unique style reflecting his background and working in Japanese restaurants (the starting dashi crab soup reminded me of Chinese Crab Maw soup)The menu here features various appetizers, cooked dishes, and nicely-sized nigiri (contrast to Robin) featuring liberal blow torch use and modern rather than traditional accoutrements such as wood-smoke and caviarIki is a welcome addition to the Peninsula omakase scene from SF (Sushi Jin from the SF Hinata group is another) and other than minor opening kinks such as a delayed start and a few dishes served warm rather than hot, service is stellar and both Chef Li and Beverage Manager Sunny truly take care of all guests (their sake list spans an impressive spectrum and includes a 99% polished sake!)Pricing is in line with Sushi Hon and Sato Omakase but does add both mandatory 20% service charge and recommended additional tip (which is optionally listed at 8-15%)We had a great date night dinner (stayed out past my bedtime!) and enjoyed chatting with other enthusiastic diners📷 Iki Omakase $175 ~ Crab soup with dashi / Fried eggplant / Hirami wrapped uni / Toro with caviar and crunchy seaweed / Kinmedai / Mozuku blueberry / Kanpachi / soy cured Ocean trout / Akamatsu (Rosy Seabass) / Aji / Chawanmushi with snow crab, baby shrimp and ikura / Wood smoked Tako with Daikon / Amaebi with Ishidai / Spanish mackerel / Kuruda (Sea Bream) / Toro uni caviar / Hokkaido Uni handroll / Anago / Tamago / Miso soup / Mango Yogurt Dessert📍Iki Omakase (Palo Alto, CA)Dining is indoor only and reservations are required on Tock (refundable $100 deposit)

This place was hands down the best place weve eaten at in the bay area. Food, service, ambiance were all excellent. Go fast before it becomes impossible to get a seat at this place!

Dont come here if you are hungry - you will leave disappointed with an empty bank account. 10 pieces of sushi, a few more small bites and the most substantial element being Chawanmushi. It was all delicious, but seriously a bit of a joke. I am used to Michelin star restaurants and that price-point, but this is none of that, but with all the pretense.The service was chaotic and ineffectual with lots of staff around but you still ended up having to pour your own wine despite this supposedly being a high end dining. Training staff in-front of guests is not the best. It was slow at best, and we were left outside waiting for 20mins despite being told to come at 8 promptly. Not sure what the guy standing in the corner the entire meal was doing but it was super weird and creepy.You are all seated around a large chefs table, so if there are more than 2 of you in the group you will not be spending any time during the 2.5hr ordeal with your friends, you will only be able to talk to the person next to you.What is the most galling. You will have a 20% service charge added to your bill (you are told upfront) for service. BUT this is not tips - those are extra.Sorry, nice try but overly arrogant and a disappointment.