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
Noun
However, the impressive architecture comes second to the incredible omakase experience inside. Taylor McIntyre, Travel + Leisure, 30 Sep. 2024 The eight-seat sushi counter serves a 17-course seafood omakase headed by Hisashi Udatsu and his protege, Shingo Ogane. Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2024 Back at Higashiyama, be sure to reserve an omakase tour de force at Sushi Nagi. Jake Emen, Robb Report, 1 Oct. 2024 New York City's scene welcomes Mori, a contemporary omakase destination led by the culinary expertise of seasoned chefs Solomon Halim and Andre Wijaya. Molly Peck, USA TODAY, 21 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for omakase 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'omakase.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near omakase

Cite this Entry

“Omakase.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/omakase. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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