omakase

1 of 2

adverb or adjective

oma·​ka·​se ˌō-mə-ˈkä-(ˌ)sā How to pronounce omakase (audio)
: according to the chef's choice
While Chef Hori's omakase menu will vary, there will always be a selection of hot and cold dishes.Loretta Ruggiero
When money's no object, order omakase and trust Tojo to prepare your meal …Mia Stainsby
This is the height of omakase dining, in which chefs prepare a daily tasting menu according to seasonal ingredients from fugu fish to citrus.Merrill Lee Girardeau

omakase

2 of 2

noun

plural omakases
: a series of small servings or courses (as of sushi) offered at a fixed price and whose selection is left to the chef's discretion
… for one of the most pristine omakases in town, book a seat at the sushi bar when legendary head sushi chef Yoshio Ono is working.Katie Chang
I was halfway through this year's premier food offering at the festival: a 17-course sushi omakase inside an air-conditioned tent complete with sake pairings.Jenn Harris
What's a pizza omakase, you ask? … Aside from the unique opportunity to dine on some truly one-of-a-kind dishes, key highlights of the changing menu here include a showcase of unusual, small-batch ingredients and processes.Don Mendoza

Examples of omakase in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Gen Yamamoto’s namesake omakase cocktail tasting experience brings together farm fresh produce with fine liquors, resulting in balanced flavors that reflect shiki Japanese seasonality. Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2025 Many equate an omakase restaurant with stuffiness and outrageous prices. Kansas City Star, 30 Aug. 2025 Nestled under the sign for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, this Theater District sushi restaurant offers Koete offers a $60, 60-minute lunch omakase for peak enjoyment and efficiency. Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025 Lily Sushi Bar presents an omakase experience, and Spiced Right BBQ showcases ribs, wings, and sandwiches. Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 21 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for omakase

Word History

Etymology

Adverb or adjective

from attributive use of omakase entry 2

Noun

borrowed from Japanese, literally, "leaving (a decision, choice, etc.) to someone else," from o-, honorific prefix + makase "leaving (something) to another," derivative of makaseru "to entrust, leave to"

First Known Use

Adverb Or Adjective

1969, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1967, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of omakase was in 1967

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Cite this Entry

“Omakase.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/omakase. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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