Chef Yoshi Okai’s Kira Omakase
Chef Yoshi Okai, one of America’s most beloved Japanese chefs, will be opening a new omakase in New Orleans in August 2026. It will be called Kira Omakase and it will be located in the restaurant Kira on 601 Tchoupitoulas St.
About Chef Yoshi Okai
Okai, hailing from Kyoto, Japan, was recognized by Food & Wine as one of its Best New Chefs in 2017. This is one of the culinary industry’s most prestigious honors, recognizing America’s top emerging culinary talent.
He served as the head sushi chef for the nationally celebrated Uchi and Uchiko restaurant groups in Austin, Texas. He eventually became the executive chef for OTOKO, which helped redefine modern Japanese cuisine in America. Okai has contributed to helping elevate sushi and omakase culture nationally.
Okai blends his Japanese heritage with his signature punk rock flair for an omakase experience. His cuisine balances centuries-old Japanese technique with Tokyo-style Edomae sushi traditions shaped by his background as a punk rock vocalist and performer. This unconventional artistic influence has become a major element of his highly personal omakase style.
About Kira Omakase
Kira Omakase is a 20-course experience created by Okai’s decades of sushi innovation, mastery of technique, and relations with the best fisheries globally. Kira Omakase is set to open in Kira on 601 Tchoupitoulas St. in the Warehouse District…