Okonomi Orlando: Quality Sushi Without the Reservation or $200 Price Tag
My second visit to Okonomi, and at this point my blog is pretty much dedicated to sushi in the Orlando area. I love high quality traditional sushi, and in Orlando that can be hard to come by. There’s a big divide between the Americanized sushi establishments that are more casual and the high end book a week in advance omakase places that charge close to $200 a head for a meal.
Okonomi bridges that gap because it is high quality sushi that doesn’t need reservations and is priced reasonably.
Why Okonomi Orlando is Refreshing
I’ve eaten at pretty much every upscale sushi establishment in Orlando, and while they’re all solid, I have grown used to eating the classics like shima aji, kinmedai, bluefin tuna, etc. Of course I would happily eat them. I am not snobby enough to turn down good sushi, but the variety at Okonomi is refreshing to see.
This time I decided to order a bunch of random fish I never ate before.
What I Ordered at Okonomi
Engawa (Flounder Fin) and Kurosoi (Black Rockfish)
I started with the menu items that caught my attention: the engawa (flounder fin) and the kurosoi (black rockfish). I thought they were great. Very clean tasting and light with a snappy almost crunchy texture.
Nishin (Herring) and Iwashi (Sardine)
I got more adventurous and ordered the nishin and iwashi next. Maybe I have not reached the upper echelon of sushi aficionado yet because I am still not the biggest fan of these small oily fish. Especially the herring, which looks like something out of the Upside Down in Stranger Things.
If you like strong, bold flavors in your sushi, I would recommend these two, but not for me.
Tsubugai (Japanese Whelk)
Going with the adventurous trend for the night, I ordered the tsubugai, which showed up in a gunkan shape instead of the nigiri on the menu I was expecting, but no big deal. This is my first time ever eating a sea snail in sushi, and I thought it was just okay. No strong opinion about it. It had a mild flavor, but you’re mostly eating it for the texture, which is firm, chewy, and very crunchy.
Saba (Mackerel)
My friends highly praised the saba (mackerel), so I had to try a piece as well even though I am not the biggest fan of mackerel since it usually has a strong flavor. But this was one of the best pieces of saba I had. No strong oily fishy flavor, very tender, and the sear they did to the skin adds a little bitterness to it that is surprisingly welcomed.
The Classics
After that I was just ordering my usual rotation of favorites at most sushi places like the hotate, botan ebi, tuna, and salmon.
They were all good of course, but I’ve eaten these countless times. If you are a frequent sushi eater, then these have been explained to death so I won’t go into detail about them.
Pudding
Not pictured is the little slab of cake they gave us to conclude the meal, which is their rendition of the tamagoyaki. I also got the pudding, which they gave me for takeout, and it was great. It is basically a crème brûlée just without the torched sugar on top. Smooth, creamy, and rich. I would highly recommend.
Drawbacks
If I did have one complaint, it is that the rice was too sour for my taste. It had a sharp vinegary flavor that hits very hard and is the overwhelming flavor. I got used to it after a couple of pieces, but I think it was a bit much, especially for the more delicate cleaner tasting fish.
The Verdict: Is Okonomi in Orlando Worth It?
Overall, Okonomi is a lot of things I could hope for when it comes to sushi. A no frills, casual environment that I do not need to reserve ahead of time and serves quality traditional sushi at a moderate price.
I would totally come here again, and this is the type of place where you can just sit down for a solo meal and watch the chef work. Very calm neighborhood sushi restaurant vibes. The variety of fish available makes each visit feel different, and the ability to walk in without a reservation is invaluable in Orlando’s sushi scene.
Tips for Visiting Okonomi
- No reservations needed (huge advantage over other quality spots)
- Try the adventurous fish like engawa and kurosoi
- Saba (mackerel) is excellent even if you don’t usually like it
- Get the pudding for dessert
- Rice is very vinegary so be prepared for sharp flavor
- Moderate pricing compared to $200 omakase spots
- Great for solo dining and watching the chef work
- Variety of fish beyond the typical omakase rotation
- Casual neighborhood vibes without the formality
Have you been to Okonomi in Orlando? What adventurous fish did you try?
