Kozue Omakase

[hanno]

Kozue Omakase
Street 306, Phnom Penh
Monday – Sunday 12:00 – 22:30
Tel: 088 209 0909
Link: https://www.facebook.com/p/Kozue-Omakas ... 671912829/

Food: 4.8/5
Service: 5/5
Value for money: 4.6/5
Ambience: 4.8/5


Stylish restaurant.

Ever since I went to Japan a couple of years ago, I promised myself an outstanding Japanese meal in Phnom Penh. I looked at some of the Omakase restaurants, but a lot of them are upwards of $800 per person, a little out of my league. Some Googling led me to Kozue Omakase, a restaurant with fantastic reviews and somewhat more affordable if not exactly cheap. But hey, Valentine’s Day and all that.


Our menu.

We had a little trouble finding the restaurant at first as the sign is very understated. Instead, some guy kept on trying to get us to go into his seedy bar. Anyway, we got there eventually and were greeted by very friendly staff. They had two sittings that day, at 17:30 and at 19:30. We took the second slot and had to wait a little for the earlier patrons to depart. All young Khmer kids with serious cash, judging by the assorted luxury cars and bodyguards. Good thing nobody saw us arrive by Tuk-tuk.


Eye-watering prices for Whisky.

The restaurant itself is beautiful, and I really felt like I was in Tokyo. The dining rooms is not very big, with about 20 seats along a single counter. All the staff, service and kitchen, were exceptional, friendly, attentive and they obviously love their jobs.

They had 4 set menus that night ranging from $69 to $189 per person, plus VAT and service charge. We had reserved the menu at $129, which gave us 16 courses. There is also an extensive Sake and Japanese Whisky menu, all the way to a bottle of 12-year old Hibiki costing a measly $1,870. I hadn’t drunk Sake in 20+ years, but it just seemed fitting to order a small bottle of Yuzu Sake at $55. They only have Asahi beer at $4.00 a bottle, perfect with the Sushi.


Great Sake.


Yes, the choice of Sake glasses is gimmicky, but it shows how much attention to detail is paid.

Whoever owns this restaurant has an eye for detail, we were even offered a choice of glasses when the Sake came. An excellent Sake by the way, I am a big fan of Yuzu in general. We were offered a welcome drink which was not really my taste, but the Missus loved it.


Snapper and tuna.

I am not going to describe each dish, I’ll let the photos do the talking. Just this much: I loved every single dish. The flavours, the presentation, the show were all absolutely first class. It was fun watching the chefs prepare each dish in front of us, they are truly experts. Some of the highlights were the prawn sushi, no farmed product here, the Isaki fish, the Bluefin tuna, and the Wagyu Sando.


Red Grunt fish.

The restaurant is a little too expensive for me to make regular visits, but I am sure that we will be back for some special occasion. Honestly, it is no exaggeration when I say this has been my best restaurant visit here in Phnom Penh. Everything was just right though they should have finished the experience with a real rose, not the plastic one they gave my girlfriend.


I think they dropped the ball by giving a plastic rose.


Yellowtail.


White Trevally.


Prawns and caviar.


Monkfish mousse.


Sea urchin.


Sea urchin on toast.


Fatty tuna.




Abalone.


Negitori.


Wagyu sando.


No idea what soup that was, but it was great.


Valentine Monaka.

[Jkcliche]

Holy shit, that looks incredible! Great job on all the photos

[Raksmeg]

Kozue Omakase
Street 306, Phnom Penh
Monday – Sunday 12:00 – 22:30
Tel: 088 209 0909
Link: https://www.facebook.com/p/Kozue-Omakas ... 671912829/

Food: 4.8/5
Service: 5/5
Value for money: 4.6/5
Ambience: 4.8/5

So, $129 ++ for sixteen dishes for the two of you? Did you leave full?

[Chuck Borris]

Mouthwatering photos, really great presentation of the food.
Re: Raksmeg: If you wanna eat yourself full go to MacDonald"s.

[Big Daikon]

Those prices are brutal. Nice pics, though!

[hanno]

Kozue Omakase
Street 306, Phnom Penh
Monday – Sunday 12:00 – 22:30
Tel: 088 209 0909
Link: https://www.facebook.com/p/Kozue-Omakas ... 671912829/

Food: 4.8/5
Service: 5/5
Value for money: 4.6/5
Ambience: 4.8/5...

So, $129 ++ for sixteen dishes for the two of you? Did you leave full?

More than enough food. Left sated, but not bloated. Good enough for me.

[Doc67]

After a quick check of Kanazawa (in Sisowath Quay), where you can get well fed for substantially less, especially if you know nothing about real Japanese food. I have taken note of your first review and your update informing us of its decline in standards.

In comparison, Kozue Omakase appears to be a Michelin star candidate in any big European city, where the quality of ingredients and cooking techniques are paramount and the price is of little consideration as they know there are enough wealthy people willing to pay the price required for that level of quality and expertise. Is that a fair assessment?

Or is it just a good Japanese restaurant that you could enjoy in Japan for a quarter of the cost?

[hanno]

In comparison, Kozue Omakase appears to be a Michelin star candidate in any big European city, where the quality of ingredients and cooking techniques are paramount and the price is of little consideration as they know there are enough wealthy people willing to pay the price required for that level of quality and expertise. Is that a fair assessment?

Or is it just a good Japanese restaurant that you could enjoy in Japan for a quarter of the cost?

Fair assessment indeed. And that level of food and service will cost you a fair penny in Japan too.

And yes, there must be plenty of folks in PP that can and will afford expensive meals, considering there are Japanese restaurants that charge $800 and up per person.

[cabron]

Kozue Omakase
Street 306, Phnom Penh
Monday – Sunday 12:00 – 22:30
Tel: 088 209 0909
Link: https://www.facebook.com/p/Kozue-Omakas ... 671912829/

Food: 4.8/5
Service: 5/5
Value for money: 4.6/5
Ambience: 4.8/5

So, $129 ++ for sixteen dishes for the two of you? Did you leave full?

Not for two, the price is per person.

[Raksmeg]

Kozue Omakase
Street 306, Phnom Penh
Monday – Sunday 12:00 – 22:30
Tel: 088 209 0909
Link: https://www.facebook.com/p/Kozue-Omakas ... 671912829/

Food: 4.8/5
Service: 5/5
Value for money: 4.6/5
Ambience: 4.8/5

So, $129 ++ for sixteen dishes for the two of you? Did you leave full?

Not for two, the price is per person.

Just wondering if he shared and still left sated? I'm still unsure. I suspect one order was shared.