Omakase Sushi: A How-To Guide
It’s fine to eat with your hand—and other pro etiquette tips from @Sushi chef-owner Atsushi Kumagai.
Honolulu’s Omakase Obsession | Omakase Sushi: A How-To Guide
Photo: Courtesy of @Sushi
Atsushi Kumagai’s training in sushi began in Japan and took him to San Francisco and Honolulu, where he worked under a Michelin-starred itamae at Maru Sushi. Since 2019, he’s been chef-owner of @Sushi Honolulu, a popular omakase counter he opened and expanded at ‘Ohana Hale Marketplace; the shop is now at Kaka‘ako’s Waterfront Plaza. Kumagai’s knowledge of Japanese and local culture make him the perfect go-to for our etiquette questions.
Q: Chopsticks or hand: What’s the proper way to eat sushi?
Kumagai: That’s totally the customer’s choice. It’s not a matter of polite or impolite. If a customer cannot use chopsticks, I suggest eating with their hand. It’s also fine to use a fork. It’s painful to watch my sushi get stabbed, though.
Q: What if a customer has food allergies?
Kumagai: We can always adjust. A lot of people are allergic to shellfish. Some cannot have big predator fish when they’re pregnant. I take reservations on Resy, and it helps when people write their allergies in the notes. They don’t have to tell us in advance, but we appreciate when they do.
Q: If you BYOB, should you offer the sushi chef a glass?
Kumagai: Yes! When I go to eat sushi, if the sushi chef looks very serious, I wait. I think he has his own pace. Maybe halfway, I’ll offer. If the chef seems relaxed, I’ll offer at the beginning.
Photo: Courtesy of @Sushi
Q: What would be considered bad manners?
Kumagai: Try not to tell the sushi chef how to make sushi. After the customer has one piece, then he can request smaller rice, or a little more soy sauce. Some customers sit down and have never tried my sushi, but right away, they tell me they want less rice.
Q: What’s the most important thing to remember?
Kumagai: Respect each other. How you eat sushi, how you talk. Respect the chef, the place, the guests sitting next to you having a good time. And make sure you show up with an empty stomach, please.
@Sushi Honolulu, 500 Ala Moana Blvd. Ste. 2E, atsushihonolulu.com, @sushibv808
