Meaning “I leave it up to you,” omakase allows a sushi chef to select the best, freshest ingredients to showcase during a meal, and it’s generally reserved for special occasions at high-end sushi restaurants. Guests don’t know what they’ll get—just that it will be the best of the best.
Chef Changjin Oh wants to make that experience accessible to everyone—creating a grab-and-go version of an omakase experience with his first restaurant, Momo Sando & Omakase in Mira Mesa (soft opens on December 22, grand opening planned for January 5).
He certainly has the skills to do pull it off, having worked for over 20 years at illustrious restaurants like Mikado Japanese Restaurant in South Korea, plus Nobu by chef Nobu Matsuhisa in Dallas, Malibu, Chicago, and San Diego in Hotel Del Coronado (as executive sushi chef as the latter two).
Oh says he wanted to reimagine the fine dining experience through comfort food, offering sushi and Japanese-style sandwiches with the convenience of grab-and-go. He’ll hand-select the freshest ingredients and best cuts of fish that catch his eye each day, then put together different grab-and-go boxes of sushi, sashimi, rolls, and sandwiches, plus specials and signature items like the Momo Special Roll.
“It features bluefin tuna and tempura shrimp with a special gochujang-based sauce—a Korean traditional red pepper paste,” Oh explains. “The sauce adds a sweet, spicy, and slightly tangy flavor, and the tempura gives a perfect crunch, a roll that represents both Korean and Japanese flavors in harmony.”
A small suite in Mira Mesa meant mostly for to-go orders is a pretty big departure from the glitzy Mikado dining rooms or ornate chef’s counters at Nobu. But that’s exactly what Oh is going for. “I hope everyone can enjoy omakase—it doesn’t have to be something formal or hard to experience,” he says. “Wherever you go becomes your own sushi omakase restaurant.”
Momo Sando & Omakase will open at 6755 Mira Mesa Blvd, Suite 108. Hours will be Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (or sold out).
San Diego Restaurant News & Food Events
Lights & Latkes at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa on December 20
This year, Hanukkah’s eight-day festival of lights begins at sundown on Sunday, December 14, but Omni La Costa Resort & Spa’s celebration kicks off on Saturday, December 20. At 6 p.m., guests can join NBC’s Yes, Chef! winner, executive chef Emily Brubaker and James Beard Semifinalist and fellow Yes, Chef! finalist chef Lee Frank from New Hampshire’s Otis Restaurant & Lee Frank. It’s a one-night-only, multi-course meal inspired by their Jewish roots and collaborative spirit. Dishes include twists on classics like smoked salmon, matzo ball soup, and more, and whether you celebrate Hanukkah or just appreciate the holiday season, there’s room at the table for you.
PARTNER CONTENT
Beth’s Bites
- I like to think I’m not too much of a coffee snob, but I’ll admit my interest is piqued by Paradis’ Kyoto drip tower in Mission Hills. It’s not just a slow drip—it’s ponderously drawn out, taking a full 24-hours to brew a single cup. But the technique results in a delicate coffee that’s worth the wait, or so I’m told. I’ve tried Kopi Luwak, that fancy coffee made with beans partially digested by Asian palm civets, and I’ve tried coffee made with beans grown in San Diego, but I have yet to try this. Put it on my beverage bucket list.
- A pirate-y Christmas? That’s a new one. But at Margaritaville Hotel San Diego, I suppose anything goes. Their holiday pop-up, Yo Ho Ho-liday Tavern at LandShark Bar & Grill, runs through December 31 with plenty of pirate-themed plates and cocktails, appearances by “actual” pirates (quotation marks by me), and some good old fashioned nautical fun. Just don’t do anything that would land you on the Naughty list…
- For a holiday outing that’s probably a bit more family-focused, Orfila Vineyards & Winery has transformed their property into a winter wonderland, complete with an entire Igloo Village with six private igloos available to reserve on OpenTable or in-person, if available. They can accommodate between four and eight guests, depending on which one you can snag, and the winery has plenty of other holiday fun planned through the rest of December as well—Santa’s coming on December 13, 14, 20, and 21. New Year’s Eve celebrations start at noon on December 31, and Elsa from Frozen is making an appearance on December 20 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Grab some wine, hunker down in an igloo, and toast to a brand new year.
Listen Now: The Latest in San Diego’s Food and Drink Scene
Have breaking news, exciting scoops, or great stories about new San Diego restaurants or the city’s food scene? Send your pitches to [email protected].
