Edoboy vs Okonomi: Which Mills District Sushi Spot Is Right for You?
Head to head
Edoboy vs Okonomi: Which Mills District Sushi Spot Is Right for You?
These are the two sushi spots in the Mills area with cult followings. They’re both good, but which one you should choose highly depends on what kind of sushi experience you want. Here’s a full breakdown of each place and which kind of sushi diner it caters to.
Edoboy
Edoboy on the other hand focuses primarily on the common nigiri pieces but executed at a very high level of quality and craftsmanship. They only have about 10 different varieties of fish so it’s a safer, more predictable option, but every single piece of nigiri I’ve had from Edoboy hits the spot. What they lack in variety they make up for in creativity because they are one of the only places in Orlando that does torched (aburi) sushi, the other being Norigami in Winter Garden. The torched pieces, even though it’s the same fish used for their regular nigiri, taste completely new with a little heat treatment that adds complexity. I would even say the torched mayo prawn is the single greatest bite of sushi in the city for my taste preference.
Edoboy also has handrolls and I would say they aren’t the highlight. They’re hefty and will fill significant stomach space if you’re seriously hungry, and they’re good, but the nori they use is quite thin and gets soggy and chewy compared to the handrolls from Mosonori.
Okonomi
If you want the largest variety of fish then Okonomi wins full stop. They have both the classics like akami, uni, and scallop, along with more exotic fish like beltfish or sardines. Their menu leans more seasonal and the rarer fish rotate based on whatever they’re able to source for the week, which is interesting for the more adventurous sushi eaters.
Verdict: I like Edoboy’s fish quality better, but variety wise Okonomi wins.
Edoboy
Edoboy pulls way ahead in this category. They also have their specialty sets which just went through a recent change, and I find them very interesting, but I was never tempted to order them since I like to maximize my pieces of sushi rather than opt for their own creations like mango salads or tartare tarts. The torched nigiri they do isn’t common in Orlando and they do it very well, and common cuts like salmon or shrimp are really enhanced beyond their predictably excellent flavor.
Okonomi
Okonomi is doing very traditional style sushi. There isn’t much innovation or creativity beyond exotic sourcing of different fish and also using higher quality vinegar to season their rice.
Verdict: Edoboy by a wide margin.
Edoboy
If I want to be completely honest, I prefer the simple, milder flavor of Edoboy’s rice. It is just well seasoned sushi rice made with standard rice vinegar and probably minimal other additions, and I am perfectly happy with it.
Okonomi
Most sushi aficionados know that the rice is what makes or breaks great sushi, and Okonomi takes more care in their rice, which is apparent because they use akazu to season it, giving it a darker brownish tint. Usually reserved for very serious sushi counters, the rice at Okonomi is frankly a bit too vinegary for me and takes me a couple pieces to calibrate my palate.
Verdict: Personal preference. For people that want rice to be milder like me, I like Edoboy. If you want rice to play a more prominent flavor role, then Okonomi.
Edoboy
Edoboy is limited to 12 total pieces of sushi. Reservations are also relatively hard to obtain, they release on Mondays at 12pm and the prime hours of 6 to 8pm are gone within minutes, so this is a place you have to plan for a few days ahead. Edoboy is also standing only and limited to one hour dining blocks, so it’s a real no-frills type of place. You stand, you eat really good sushi, and then you head out to hang out somewhere else. Super fast and efficient.
Verdict: Okonomi feels like a real intimate local sushi spot where you can drop in on a whim on most days and the chef gets to know you the more you show up. Edoboy is purely focused on the sushi. Because of the time constraints, the chefs don’t have a lot of time for interaction, which is fine for me but may not be for those that want more hospitality with their dining.
Okonomi
The price point for these two places is pretty similar, highly dependent on what you order and how much you order. Okonomi has no restriction on how many pieces you can order, so if you prefer to sit around for longer and eat more bounties of the sea, this is the place. The price point for me personally hovers around $70 to $100 per person depending on if I get the more premium options like uni.
Okonomi has also started taking reservations. I prefer when it was walk-in only, since I liked knowing I don’t need to plan ahead to eat at the sushi bar. They still encourage walk-ins of course, but there isn’t as much flexibility knowing that a good portion of the seats will be taken by people that planned prior to dining. There’s something charming about a place that doesn’t have reservations, especially when it’s a cozy, cramped sushi stall, but I understand this may have been a highly demanded feature from their customers.
The Bottom Line
4 categories, 1 split. Overall: Edoboy
Both Okonomi and Edoboy prioritize nigiri sushi and operate in the same neighborhood but have a different philosophy when it comes to the food. Both are good, but if you are someone that prefers something that is more contemporary, quick, and an easier entry point into serious sushi, then Edoboy is the better option and my personal pick if I had to choose one between the two.
If you are someone that appreciates the simplicity of good fish on well seasoned short grain rice and want it in a casual weeknight atmosphere where you have the opportunity to walk in and order whatever you want and however much of it you want, in a rowdy bustling environment, then Okonomi fits the bill.
They’re both worth trying and forming a personal judgment on rather than just reading about.
Where I'd send you
They’re both worth trying and forming a personal judgment on rather than just reading about.
