Hokido Japanese Restaurant — Restaurant in Vinings

Omakase at Hokido Japanese Restaurant

Omakase means “I’ll leave it up to you” in Japanese. When in reference to eating sushi it means “chef’s choice.” To me, omakase is an experience: an opportunity to watch an experienced chef plate visually stunning and delightfully delicious servings of sushi.

To celebrate my birthday, I decided to make a reservation at Hokido Japanese Restaurant to try their omakase. I was not disappointed. It was a wonderful experience on every level.

Hokido Japanese Restaurant offers a four levels of omakase — Regular, Silver, Gold, and Platinum — so consider the number of courses listed for each level and how hungry you are when deciding which level you choose. Each level can be filling. For omakase, the chef assembles each course using the best selections of fish configured in imaginative ways. It takes time and effort. So, as you should expect, omakase is the most expensive item on the menu. The prices, per person, range between $125 to $200.

Omakase at Hokido requires a reservation due to the necessary preparation. I believe they will want your reservation to be around 7PM. Also, the omakase meal takes time. Set aside plenty of time to leisurely enjoy the experience. And do take your time.

Another matter to consider about omakase is where you sit during your meal. You will want to sit at the sushi bar so that you may watch your sushi chef work. It is definitely part of the experience to witness how a chef puts these visual and culinary masterpieces together.

I chose the Platinum level, because of course I did. I had to fight my impulse to dig in to each course so that I could take a photo. In all seriousness, each course was almost — really, almost — too pretty to eat. But in consuming, the visual beauty combines with the textures and flavors to make a completely...

Went to this place for the first time with some friends. When we sat down we waited for awhile until a server finally came- but we blew it off. We ordered chamame to start, which was fine but needed more salt. we then ordered two fried rice’s, a chicken teriyaki, and two ramen soups. The chicken teriyaki came out super fast and way before anyone else got there food. The meal was just okay- not very flavorful and the portion was small. eventually 2/3 of my friends got their food. FORTY FIVE minutes later the third person got their ramen soup. We had to ask about it twice- both times the waiter responded with an attitude saying,”yeah it’s coming” (Mind you, the restaurant was not busy at all). Meanwhile, we were all done with our food by the time the ramen SOUP came out. The flavor for the other items was okay, but not the best. In addition, all the portions were small for the prices. During our meal, the waiter never checked in on us to the point we all had empty drinks. When he finally brought our checks, we noticed discrepancies in the charged prices and the paper/online menus. After feeling like we had to argue to get the prices fixed- he fixed it. When he came back he stated “they just updated the prices, but had not updated the paper or online prices yet”. What began as an exciting new place to try turned into a place none of us ever want...

I’d like to begin to acknowledge that the food was truly exceptional and it surprised me that the place wasn’t more crowded upon my arrival. The rainbow tartare was particularly inventive and delicious dish, offering a delightful spectrum of flavors from the first bite to the last. The hokido jalapeño was another unique creation that stood out in terms of both creativity and taste. The rock shrimp, being a shareable size appetizer was simple, yet flavorful, contributing to a satisfying dining experience. I also enjoyed another dish, the name of which escapes me at the moment.

Our waiter demonstrated professionalism, and was quite pleasant, as we were the individuals crafting the fresh sushi, who warmly greeted me up on my entrance. However as the meal progressed, I couldn’t help, but notice what appeared to be a pattern: people of color will consistently seated towards the back of the restaurant, while non-people of color position towards the front or near the windows. While it seemed deliberate, I sincerely hope it was merely a coincidence or a result of timing rather than an intentional seating...