Ota – Sushi Omakase Counter in Omaha, Nebraska

Ota is an 8-seat counter lead by Chef David Utterback. The omakase counter only opens 2 or 3 days a month. The cost is about $400 per person (inclusive of tax and tip), and, yes people are willing to pay this price tag in Omaha, Nebraska. Reservations sell out in minutes.

Chef Dave is the life of the counter. He is charismatic and makes the experience very intimate but fun. He’s not afraid to showcase the best products while also deviating from the traditional preparations.

They don’t offer a menu so here are my notes:
– Fish bones stock with scallop udon noodles
– Rice with foie gras (umami bomb)
– (Can’t remember the first two nigiris)
– Baby Snapper pickled
– Salmon from Hokkaido
– Akamusu dry aged for 7 days
– Maguro from North Carolina aged 10 days
– Maguro from Kanagawa (sourced thru Yamayuki) aged 10 days
– Iwashi pickled (my fave)
– Hotaru Ika “meatball” – rice ball with firefly squid with its ink (not in my pics but another amazing bite)
– Dungeness crab in gamtae seaweed (not in my pics)
– Uni with salmon roe
– Handroll rice with egg and fish scraps (chef’s comfort food as a handroll)
– Prairie Tuna aka A5 Mizaki Wagyu with Uni butter and kaluga caviar
– Twist on classic tamagoyaki – corn custard a la creme brulee

Please be NICE to a “flyover” state, let’s avoid the usual snarky comments we see on this sub. I know you won’t travel from NYC to come eat here, even though many were in town for the Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meeting 😉 I live within a few hours and often seek Chefs and restaurants doing great things in this part of the country.

Chef Dave has other japanese casual restaurants, including an izakaya and itamae, and does many pop-ups around the country. Also, cheer for him as he’s a finalist for Best Chef Midwest in the 2026 James Beard Awards.

Until my next Midwestern adventure!