When it comes to kosher omakase in New York, options are pretty slim and not necessarily authentic to what the gastronomic concept actually means. Omakase, in fact, is a Japanese dining experience during which the chef selects and serves the meal without asking the diner about his or her preferences. The word omakase translates to “I leave it up to you.”
When craving that authentic Japanese meal, New Yorkers can flock to Fins and Scales, a charitable destination that benefits the local Chabad and is only open on Thursday nights; Masuda, where the focus is on hand rolls that can be ordered a la carte; and Akimori, perhaps the most “traditional” kosher omakase out there, where the menu also features a la carte appetizer and sushi options.
But it seems like kosher omakase restaurants are really taking off, with new ones debuting every few months, each one more dedicated to the authentic Japanese experience than the one before.
Case in point: Otoro, a relatively novel concept that just debuted at 19-24 Union Turnpike in Flushing, Queens.
Certainly focused on the sort of high-end Japanese cuisine that has yet to take center stage in the kosher culinary world, Otoro specifically earns points for presentation: the dishes are clean and prepared with attention to detail and the space reflects that same ideology.
In terms of “tradition,” though, the restaurant follows others’ leads: there are two omakase options (a 12-piece nigiri one that will cost you $100 and a 15-piece nigiri choice that comes in at $130) and a whole a la carte menu as well.
For what it’s worth, those entrées and apps also look delicious, from a braised king salmon drenched in butter curry sauce and served over citrus rice to a coconut curry crumble that could pass for a Michelin starred dish already.
