Sushi By Us, a compact omakase counter from Veho Hospitality Group, has quietly slipped into the back of Tacos del Cartel in the Central Business District. The reservation-first spot serves a chef-guided, course-by-course tasting that blends Japanese technique with Mexican flavors under the direction of chef Johan Pereira. Early lineups lean on wagyu nigiri, mushroom dumplings, short-rib bao, teriyaki lamb, and tuna tiraditos.
According to Sushi By Us, the counter’s official address is 711 O’Keefe Ave, with dinner service running Wednesday through Sunday. The site bills the format as an intimate, guided experience that brings in sashimi-grade fish from Japan. Seating is limited, and the restaurant asks guests to reserve through its online booking system.
The counter is tucked behind the neon-drenched dining room of Tacos del Cartel, which cites its downtown location as 1010 Girod St and shares the building with the taqueria’s bar and main restaurant, according to Tacos del Cartel. Both concepts fall under the same operating group; Veho Hospitality Group presents Sushi By Us as an extension of its growing portfolio. The contrast is deliberate: loud taqueria up front, hushed tasting counter in back, part of a strategy to stack different dining experiences under one roof.
Inside the tasting room
Chef Johan Pereira is credited with steering the kitchen and building a menu centered on nigiri and small plates, as reported by New Orleans Magazine. The menu highlights Mushroom Dumplings, Wagyu Nigiri, Short Rib and Alligator baos, Teriyaki Lamb, and several fried rice preparations among its standout dishes, according to Sushi By Us. The blend of precise technique and playful flavor mashups has local write-ups calling the experience “Mexakase,” a hybrid of Mexican influences and omakase-style service.
Veho’s growing footprint
Local coverage has framed Sushi By Us as a quiet, design-forward counterpoint to Tacos del Cartel out front and noted the concept’s international inspirations, per What Now New Orleans. The opening also drew sponsored coverage in NOLA.com, which spotlights the owners’ local presence and international ambitions. For diners, that setup means you can go from bright, high-energy taco run to a low-lit sushi salon without ever stepping outside.
Practical information
OpenTable lists Sushi By Us in the $31–$50 price range and shows the restaurant accepting reservations through its platform, according to OpenTable. Phone reservations and the restaurant’s own online tool are also available for planning a visit. Given the compact space and paced, course-by-course service, reservations are recommended for dinner seatings…