Kichi Omakase — Restaurant in Philadelphia

Had a great time here! Unfortunately I did have to wait for the rest of the people booked for my same time slot to show up... So I waited like 25+ mins. I get it because it makes sense for the dishes to be served in sequence rather than skipping around but at that point I wish they would've just moved their time if it was possible to the next slot 😅 at least chef started prepping fish while we waited but it was agonizing to watch while I was hungry. Overall the service was very polite and they were quick to clear away plates and between courses and refill my water.

Chef Eric was great and made sure we knew what each piece was (altho I agree with others that with the music that wasnt tooooo loud it was still a little hard for me to hear him sometimes). I think they might overdo some of the showy additions and flavors when the fish quality should show for itself, but maybe it's just geared that way so people feel like they got their money's worth. Foie gras on like two of the pieces just felt like an odd add on, I liked it but I don't think it goes together with eel that well personally and I can't remember the other piece that had it. The gold dust on one of the pieces was a little silly since it doesn't have any flavor, but it does make for a neat video. The bar lighting is def set up for photos. They torch a decent amount of the fish and sauce it. I do think this is still a good omakase deal and was appropriately balanced between an intimate experience and entertaining. I imagine if the bar was full of people though that it might feel too crowded, it was only four of us total for the time slot I was in and I had come alone.

They do some fun stuff for people's birthdays, the guys next to me got a special second hand roll from our chef and singing and they even set off a little popper. I thought the pacing was good once we got started and it went by pretty quickly, I think the experience ended up being about an hour in the end but we were a small ish group for the timeslot. It seems like they do two chefs per bar with staggered seatings? And there's the upstairs in addition to the downstairs.

I'd probably come again, as a treat. Ive only been to one other sushi omakase in the city (it was cheaper and I ended up leaving hungry, it has since shut down), otherwise my other experience was in Japan proper. I was comfortably full at the end of this but I am a fairly small woman with not a hugeee appetite so keep that in mind. They don't do any upsell at the end of the meal if you want more pieces, but they do say you can chill out and finish your BYOB drinks it seems. If I was hungry afterwards I'd get ice cream down the street after or...

We went during their soft opening. Could use some work:

Enjoyed: Very attentive when our waters cups were empty Asked how we were when refilling our water Laid-back atmosphere. Different from usual omakase places. Made us feel comfortable talking Enjoyed the toppings on the fish. They were good but felt like they overpowered the fish sometimes. Something to keep in mind if you like tasting the fish Purse hook under the table Pink chairs in the waiting area were comfortable

Improvement Areas: Resy said we would get 15 pieces but we were only served 13. Don't know if dessert counts but we were not given dessert. We saw pictures on IG of dessert so I don't know if we would have been given that if we sat longer. We left after we paid. If dessert was to be served, we would have expected someone to let us know when we were getting up to leave or when we were paying The timing made us feel rushed. Reservations were available every hour on the hour. The meal is estimated for 60 mins. By the time of our reservation, they were already running late so that pushes every reservation after us as well. I think for a soft opening, they should have left more time in between to get a better understanding of how quickly they can work. It would have been a good time to collect feedback from customers before the official opening as well. The placement of the towel used to wipe your fingers was on our left. I believe most people would be right-handed. One of the people in the group next to us was using their friend's towel. We noticed but it was too late. Halfway through the meal, they noticed. It was a good laugh The chef either didn't notice when someone was left-handed or it doesn't matter here. In other places I've been, the chef would notice and change the positioning of how they placed the fish on the plate The main dining chairs felt like they were slanted downwards. As someone that is 5'1, it was quite uncomfortable. I also think anyone that's a bit bigger would not feel comfortable in the seats We were asked what we wanted to drink but were not provided a drink menu or told what was available We saw a small menu with prices on the shelf but there was no description of the items. We were also not asked if we wanted to purchase extra pieces so we're not sure what that menu is for

We probably won't be back. Not for a while at least. Maybe give them some time to work out the kinks and if a friend goes back and would recommend it, I'd give it another try.

[ Edit ] After seeing the owner's extremely aggressive and unprofessional response to another review....

Short version: Go! Go now if you enjoy amazing sushi. This is how I pray to the gods of food and flavor. BYOB

Longer version: A Divine Omakase Experience: A Symphony of Culinary Talent It might not be this way for you and you can definitely be as relaxed as you desire but this was the first time I went to an omakase and on first entering it was the feeling of walking into some kind of sacred place. A profound sense of reverence enveloped me. It felt similar to entering a church, each step taken was accompanied by an escalating awe for the maestros ready and waiting behind the counter—the chefs.

Sitting at the counter, a delicate nervousness washed over me, a humbling awareness of the monumental passion and meticulous effort infused into each piece of nigiri. Their hands moved with the precision and grace of seasoned professionals, crafting a magnificent 15-course Omakase that unfolded like a symphony of exquisite flavors and textures. The chef’s watchful eyes, a silent guardian of the ancient and honorable traditions embodied in every slice and garnish, added a layer of profound intimacy to the experience.

The Omakase experience here is not merely a meal, but a spiritual odyssey of epicurean enlightenment, demanding a level of openness and respect that transcends the ordinary dining encounter. Each course, a testament to the chef's boundless creativity and mastery, was a craftily prepared treasure, leaving the palate yearning for the next divine revelation. The experience was both intimidating and profoundly enriching, a rare opportunity to witness and partake in a level of Omakase that soared to breathtaking heights...