Tl;dr – My review of Sushi Salon’s (Oakland, CA) omakase experience.
Helmed by Chef Joji Nonaka, Sushi Salon is a seven-table omakase experience in Oakland’s Temescal neighborhood, not too far from MacArthur Bart station.
I hadn’t realized this at the time I made the reservation, but I’d twice previously sampled Chef Nonaka’s food. When I lived in the Bay, I’d eaten at Delage and Utzutzu, both each a few times. These two restaurants were where Chef Nonaka worked (Ichi Sushi in SF as well) after a four-year stint in Tokyo’s Tsukiji fish market.
Sushi Salon is a boutique restaurant that’s often booked up. I was lucky enough to find a seat for one on a Wednesday night. Run by Anna Osawa and the aforementioned Chef Nonaka, the one-room affair is so small that it shares a bathroom with neighboring restaurant Arthur Mac’s Tap & Snack.
The night’s affair consisted of 17 courses, almost all of which were fish or seafood, save for miso soup and ice cream at the end.
Chef Nonaka relies on famed Japanese fish concierge Hiroshi Hasegawa for most of his supply. And it shows – freshness is the name of the game when it comes to sushi, and Chef Nonaka’s delicate preparation only enhanced the flavor of each bite. A perfect example of this was this Kaiware course (Daikon sprouts).
I already knew I’d enjoy the Fatty Tuna (Chutoro and Otoro are some of my favorites), but what surprised me was the Alfonisno (Kinmedai) and the Pacific Rudder Fish (Ebadai), neither of which I’d had before.
Anna Osawa was able to suggest some great pairings from their handpick sakes, only adding to the experience.
Here’s the full array of items from the night’s omakase:
Should you find yourself in Oakland and the mood for a great dining experience, try to grab a seat at Sushi Salon.
