Omakase means leaving the choice to the chef. In a sushi restaurant, it is a chef-led meal where the courses arrive in a sequence selected for the day, the ingredients, and the pace of the meal. Instead of building an order piece by piece, you trust the restaurant to guide you through the experience. At SUGARFISH, the Trust Me menus follow that same principle in a clear, fixed progression of sashimi, nigiri, and hand rolls.
Omakase is a chef-led meal
Omakase is commonly translated as “I leave it up to you.” As the chefs at Matsuhisa explain, the phrase describes letting the chef decide the courses instead of ordering every item yourself. That is why omakase feels different from choosing a few rolls from a menu. The meal is designed as a sequence, with each course meant to set up the next.
Omakase and sushi are not the same thing
| Term | What it describes | What it changes for the diner |
|---|---|---|
| Sushi | Seasoned rice paired with fish, seafood, egg, vegetables, or another topping or filling | The food and the form of the bite |
| Omakase | A chef-led way of ordering and serving a meal | The sequence, selection, and pace of the meal |
| Trust Me | SUGARFISH’s fixed-menu approach to a chef-led sushi progression | A clear choice of menu, then courses served in order |
Sushi names the food, especially the seasoned rice at its center. Omakase names the dining format. An omakase meal may include sashimi, nigiri, a hand roll, or courses beyond sushi. The Japan National Tourism Organization’s guide to sushi in Japan is a useful reference for the other half of the distinction: sushi begins with seasoned rice, even when the topping is fish, egg, or vegetables.
This is why the same fish can feel different in two meals. Ordered as nigiri, it is one composed bite of fish and rice. Served during omakase, it also has a place in the progression. A chef can send it after a lighter sashimi course, before a richer piece, or just before a hand roll that changes the temperature and texture again.
A Trust Me menu makes the format clear
SUGARFISH’s Trust Me menus are omakase-style, with the experience designed around a defined sequence rather than an open-ended chef’s counter. The current menu shows four choices, from Trust Me Lite at $28 to Don’t Think. Just Eat. Trust Me at $60, before the listed fee. Menu items, availability, and prices vary by location, so the current Trust Me menu is the right place to check before a visit.
Once you choose a menu, the meal moves from sashimi to nigiri and then hand rolls. That structure gives a first-time diner useful clarity without turning the meal into a long set of decisions. You know the appetite level and price before you start, then the restaurant handles the timing of the next piece.
Timing is part of what you are trusting
A chef-led meal is not simply about choosing fish for someone else. It is also about sending each course when its temperature and texture are right. At SUGARFISH, fish is cut to order and served over warm, loosely packed rice. The hand rolls are folded to order. Those choices are why each piece is meant to be eaten when it reaches the table.
What to expect on a first visit
At SUGARFISH, start by choosing the Trust Me menu that fits your appetite. There is no need to order one piece at a time or decide the full sequence before you sit down. Let the team know about food allergies before ordering, then enjoy each course as it arrives. The menu is prepared and seasoned in the Nozawa style, so substitutions are not part of the Trust Me format.
SUGARFISH does not take reservations. Arrive when your complete party is ready, and the restaurant seats guests first come, first served. For a nearby restaurant, hours, pickup, and delivery options, use the SUGARFISH locations page.
Choose omakase when you want the meal to unfold
Omakase is a good fit when you would rather taste a sequence than construct one yourself. It gives the chef responsibility for the order of flavors, the balance of the courses, and the moment each plate reaches you. The format is there to make the meal easier to enjoy.
At SUGARFISH, Trust Me makes that idea approachable. The menu choices are visible, the price is clear, and the courses arrive in a focused order. Choose the menu that suits your appetite, then enjoy each piece as it arrives.
Omakase trusts the chef with the sequence.
At SUGARFISH, a Trust Me menu turns that idea into a clear progression of sashimi, nigiri, and hand rolls.
Explore the Trust Me menus →
