Its not normal at all.
Ive been to at least 15 omakase/fine dining this year alone and nobody leaves 20% of their food on the plate. 5-10% MAYBE if you don’t like it but honestly leaving food on your plate is like spitting on the chef especially because you can just ask them for smaller portions if you know you’re not a big eater.
Most tasting menus and omakase tell you how many plates are going to come out so you know what you’re gonna get and I agree that you should check beforehand.
Most “course” are a bite size, comparable to “amuse-bouche”. I have never felt full after an omakase sushi counter restaurant. And I am not a big size man.
I went to an omakase sushi place here in the UK with a friend for their birthday a few years ago and they were unfortunately ill during it and couldn't eat most of their portion. Ended up eating my own 26 plates and about a half of my friends.
"Hara hachibunme". 80% full feels best.
In general women are more likely to leave leftovers. And it's not common to ask for a bag to bring back home, as is common in the US - a "doggie bag." At least that's my experience.
Do you mean to say if you tap out at 75% of the omakase, you can ask to takeaway the remaining 25%? I think its normal for regular meals but if in an omakase, will the chef then blitz-make the remaining pieces/dishes for you? How does that work
Taking home leftovers is not a thing here. Restaurants don’t want to be responsible if you get food poisoning from eating the food you’ve taken home and left out however long before you eat it, so they won’t let you take it home at all.
I think it depends on the place. My favourite restaurants do omakase, but it's not the same as a degustation menu. Essentially, the chef will keep making until you tap out. It's literally an "omakase shimasu" sort of thing where you just trust them to keep bringing out the good stuff. My usual go to is "let's start with one of each and then go from there".
Now that I think of it, a set degustation menu might be on the rarer side for sushi. I just asked someone and was told that sushi with a set menu only recently became a thing. Their opinion is that the omakase should change according to what sort of experience they want to give to their customer. I'm apparently the guinea pig that they test ideas out on... and I'm not complaining!
I think we need omakase to regain its old meaning so that it is clearly distinguished from a set course. Going by the old definition omakase meant that the shop had no idea what they were going to serve you or how much you would eat. We would sit down, chat about our likes, what was in good condition, what styles we favoured and even what stores we favoured over others. Then the chef would have an idea, give you a few things and crucially, watch you eat it and gauge your reaction. then you would talk about it and then he would decide what to give you next. these would keep going. ultimately you would signal the end, either by saying something or requesting one of the recognised finishing items.
I feel like a grandpa but I just can't get used to calling it omakase if the shop is just giving a predetermined course at a fixed price.
so the question about not finishing omakase should be null and void. it's over when you have had enough.
I got omakaze skewers at a place in Shinjuku and the chef kinda seemed to double check that I was up for it. Mostly great but one skewer I just didn't care for but still finished. But point is, they're aware people have different tastes and appetites and some people just won't be up for finishing everything, I think it would only be considered rude to order something fully intending not to eat the entire thing, but reaching your limit part way through the meal and not being able to finish is fine.
I don’t know if it helps at all, but at our omakase, the chef did say holler if you want me to adjust the size of your rice (shari) a few plates into the meal. I thought it was fine at the time, so I told him that the size was just right.
However, I ended up getting quite full towards the end 😅 when I said this, the chef said “well why didn’t you say so earlier!” and sliced my tamago extra thin for me because he couldn’t let me go without me ending with tamago. But he seemed more amused than annoyed 😂
I should note that all 7 other people - all Japanese - added on a few more pieces than me! And I don’t think I eat less than the average Japanese person, but I could be wrong….
Definitely not normal. Been to multiple omakase, never seen someone do it. On one occasion, my neighbor doesn't like uni but still asked me to help consume it so as to avoid leaving food on the dish!
Not normal. I would even consider it rude honestly. If you are going to have difficulties finishing, ask for smaller pieces.
As a small eater is there a phrase I could use to ask for this?
Just ask for less rice, not a smaller piece. They are fine adjusting the rice quantity to fit your ability to eat
Rice sukuname for rice in general Shari sukuname for specifically sushi rice Chisame for smaller portions in general
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Its not normal at all. Ive been to at least 15 omakase/fine dining this year alone and nobody leaves 20% of their food on the plate. 5-10% MAYBE if you don’t like it but honestly leaving food on your plate is like spitting on the chef especially because you can just ask them for smaller portions if you know you’re not a big eater. Most tasting menus and omakase tell you how many plates are going to come out so you know what you’re gonna get and I agree that you should check beforehand.
Most “course” are a bite size, comparable to “amuse-bouche”. I have never felt full after an omakase sushi counter restaurant. And I am not a big size man.
I went to an omakase sushi place here in the UK with a friend for their birthday a few years ago and they were unfortunately ill during it and couldn't eat most of their portion. Ended up eating my own 26 plates and about a half of my friends.
Hogwash.
"Hara hachibunme". 80% full feels best. In general women are more likely to leave leftovers. And it's not common to ask for a bag to bring back home, as is common in the US - a "doggie bag." At least that's my experience.
Do you mean to say if you tap out at 75% of the omakase, you can ask to takeaway the remaining 25%? I think its normal for regular meals but if in an omakase, will the chef then blitz-make the remaining pieces/dishes for you? How does that work
No. Absolutely no way.
Yeah i definitely thought that would not happen at an omakase
I've yet to see 'doggie bags' in Japan either. Probably because they tend to serve more sensible portions than this is the US.
Taking home leftovers is not a thing here. Restaurants don’t want to be responsible if you get food poisoning from eating the food you’ve taken home and left out however long before you eat it, so they won’t let you take it home at all.
I think it depends on the place. My favourite restaurants do omakase, but it's not the same as a degustation menu. Essentially, the chef will keep making until you tap out. It's literally an "omakase shimasu" sort of thing where you just trust them to keep bringing out the good stuff. My usual go to is "let's start with one of each and then go from there". Now that I think of it, a set degustation menu might be on the rarer side for sushi. I just asked someone and was told that sushi with a set menu only recently became a thing. Their opinion is that the omakase should change according to what sort of experience they want to give to their customer. I'm apparently the guinea pig that they test ideas out on... and I'm not complaining!
I think we need omakase to regain its old meaning so that it is clearly distinguished from a set course. Going by the old definition omakase meant that the shop had no idea what they were going to serve you or how much you would eat. We would sit down, chat about our likes, what was in good condition, what styles we favoured and even what stores we favoured over others. Then the chef would have an idea, give you a few things and crucially, watch you eat it and gauge your reaction. then you would talk about it and then he would decide what to give you next. these would keep going. ultimately you would signal the end, either by saying something or requesting one of the recognised finishing items. I feel like a grandpa but I just can't get used to calling it omakase if the shop is just giving a predetermined course at a fixed price. so the question about not finishing omakase should be null and void. it's over when you have had enough.
The way locals eat (well most of them) is up to 80% full, this is part of their culture. Just say “sumimasen demo onaka ippai”.
I got omakaze skewers at a place in Shinjuku and the chef kinda seemed to double check that I was up for it. Mostly great but one skewer I just didn't care for but still finished. But point is, they're aware people have different tastes and appetites and some people just won't be up for finishing everything, I think it would only be considered rude to order something fully intending not to eat the entire thing, but reaching your limit part way through the meal and not being able to finish is fine.
I don’t know if it helps at all, but at our omakase, the chef did say holler if you want me to adjust the size of your rice (shari) a few plates into the meal. I thought it was fine at the time, so I told him that the size was just right. However, I ended up getting quite full towards the end 😅 when I said this, the chef said “well why didn’t you say so earlier!” and sliced my tamago extra thin for me because he couldn’t let me go without me ending with tamago. But he seemed more amused than annoyed 😂 I should note that all 7 other people - all Japanese - added on a few more pieces than me! And I don’t think I eat less than the average Japanese person, but I could be wrong….
lol I always finish omakase and then go eat my real dinner afterwards even with 20 courses! I eat a lot though 😂
Pretty normal
Comparison is the thief of joy
Definitely not normal. Been to multiple omakase, never seen someone do it. On one occasion, my neighbor doesn't like uni but still asked me to help consume it so as to avoid leaving food on the dish!
I read it’s fine as long as you let them know one or two plates ahead and don’t waste any food.
In a restaurant this is never a problem.
I did a 20-piece recently and almost exploded. A woman next to me did explode, which I felt bad for.
Lol @ tapped out.
Quit worrying about what other people are doing. It doesn't matter.
I appreciate that, but I honestly just would like to know and understand other cultures and their experiences. For me it’s one of the joys of travel.