The best omakase in tampa bar none. Excellent service and food. Friendly atmosphere. Great for special occasions
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bhavishya Chandra
Exceptional place! Made for a very special omakase experience. The drink pairings and service was on point, everything we tasted was top notch. The Michelin Star is very well deserved.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Arlene Buckmaster
We recently visited and tried the omakase and had an amazing experience! The chef and staff were fantastic- friendly, attentive, and welcoming. The food was absolutely delicious, with every dish beautifully prepared and full of flavor. We thoroughly enjoyed our time and will definitely be back. Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Wande shaw
This restaurant is definitely an experience you should have. Some of the food choices are awesome but you have to remember this us a tasting. The duck and dessert were awesome. I did nit like the hidden 20% fee and the nees to tip on top of that.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Barbara Yamashita
What a disappointment! If Kosen is rated based on this sushi box, the restaurant will lose its star! For my birthday, I decided to get a sushi box (which reminded me a lot of chef Edson Yamashita's box from Ryo, which also has a Michelin star and is wonderful, with perfect rice). I got two sushi boxes and a Bara Chirashi, the rice was hard, there's nothing worse than hard rice in sushi, and the pieces were very small. I didn't expect to have as much salmon as the Instagram photos show. I expect more variety of fish and tamagoyaki, especially since it's a Michelin-starred restaurant and also for the price. What was supposed to be a memorable birthday treat turned into a bad memory.
Food: 1
Service: 1
T T
There is a girl reception so rude and awful customer service on the phone ! Call twice and she is hanging up the phone with out saying anything like thank you or something nicely !!
Food: 5
Service: 1
Mountaintop Adventures
Exceptional Omakase Dining Experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Andrew K
My very first negative review. I tend to wait 5 days prior to deciding if it’s appropriate to write a negative review due to a bad experience.
There were some great features, but half the plates (including a pallet cleanser) were desert orientated. I don’t believe there was anything we would have died for to try twice. I apologize for comparing restaurants, but two weeks prior to dining at Kosen, we dined at Garrison in Austin TX. I understand it’s unfair to compare restaurants, but out of the 10 tapas/tasting dishes there, we must have doubled down and reordered 4 of the plates.
The service was obnoxious and at times insulting. Being asked twice about something someone else has already taken the order for and will be providing is bad communication. Being questioned and having to explain “why” I need something, a request so small like an extra beer glass was annoying. But being told that we don’t look like we care for the Michelin star experience and speaking down to us was inappropriate.
The atmosphere is okay. Very intimate and small, but having the staff chatting next to the table and stretching just a foot away from our table also isn’t appropriate. I admit, it is a difficult job that requires rest, stretching and communication. Possibly could be done not next to the table.
The tab was roughly $1,200 for the 4 of us, which was expected. However, due to the negative experience, we feel dooped. Unless there are changes being made, at this time I strongly advise against Kosen.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
Christina Armenti
Excellent service! Every single person I encountered was fantastic! Shout out to Mike and Miles! Thank you for making my dinning experience incredible! Food and presentation is exquisite! 10/10
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Clayton Prescott
Service in general was good. Dishes had good flavor. Every plate though was described to be sustainable and support the local community. The proteins were from Pennsylvania, Spain, Argentina, and Japan. The closest ingredients were some greens from a farm in Gainesville. I’m good with sourcing the best ingredients for an upscale dinner but shipping them in from around the world and using words like “local” or “sustainable” is a stretch. While it may be sustainably harvested, shipping it from across the world is not what I would call sustainable. Saying you support the local markets of where they are purchased is also not what one means when they say “local”. Probably the biggest kicker was the 20% service charge they slap on at the end that isn’t gratuity. We were told it was “to keep the lights on and pay for things like that”. I’m sorry but our meal, two cocktails and a bottle of wine was over $500 for two people. So a 20% charge to keep the lights on is ridiculous. To give a reasonable tip and “keep the lights on” tack 40% on to your bill. I have never seen this before.
Kosen in Tampa is every bit deserving of its Michelin one-star rating—and then some. I recently had the incredible experience of sitting in the intimate chef’s room for their specialty omakase, shared with two other small groups of diners. Over 21 thoughtfully crafted courses, Executive Chef Andrew Huang delivered a culinary journey that was both refined and adventurous.
Each dish was a testament to precision and passion, but two courses stood out for me: the uni dishes, which were rich, clean, and perfectly balanced—some of the best I’ve ever had. And then there was the Japanese river crab: a delicate, one-bite marvel that was entirely new to me. The woman seated next to me wasn’t quite ready to try it—so I happily had hers too. No regrets.
Service was exceptional throughout the evening—attentive, knowledgeable, and perfectly paced. The overall experience was elevated yet approachable, making it clear why Kosen has earned its place among Michelin’s finest.
Huge thanks to Chef Andrew Huang and the entire team for a flawless omakase. Five stars without hesitation. I’ll absolutely be back. Made the reservation on Tock.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Christine Poist
Amazing omikase experience and wine/sake pairing. Each dish tasted even better than the one before. Chef Andrew is so humble and doesn’t take himself too seriously. It was a joy to see him plate and make the nigiri. Highly recommend. My husband and I do a lot of tasting menus and this one is my new favorite. You know it’s good when you love every dish you tried and leave satisfied but not overfilled.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Misty Brown
20-course omakase experience at the exclusive omakase bar … there is literally no other experience in Tampa like it right now. It is the price of rent, yes, but you will be talking about it forever. Bring your camera.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jack Redding
After a year of waiting, I was finally able to try Kosen for the first time. Absolutely worth the wait. The food was meticulously curated, and the service was top notch. Far too often, you are beaten to death with the same classic pairings that you have enjoyed elsewhere. That is not the case here. Many of the dishes included ingredients from the laundry list of items that they fermented in house. What a great way to ensure the experience is uniquely their own. It seemed like each member of their service team had stopped by to introduce themselves and ask if they could do anything to enhance the experience. The courses were paced well, and service was attentive. In a world of cookie cutter omakase and sushi restaurants popping up and offering little to distinguish themselves from eachother, Kosen was refreshingly original. The Michelin recognition is well deserved and I look forward to my next visit. Huge thank you to Dakota, Andrew and the rest of the team for making such a memorable experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
David Gosche
Our omakase experience here was excellent. This is definitely one of our favorite restaurants in Tampa. Chef Andrew was engaging and created a wonderful environment for dinner. The lobster dish was a particular standout and makes it into my top 10 dishes of all time.
The best omakase in tampa bar none. Excellent service and food. Friendly atmosphere. Great for special occasions
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Exceptional place! Made for a very special omakase experience. The drink pairings and service was on point, everything we tasted was top notch. The Michelin Star is very well deserved.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We recently visited and tried the omakase and had an amazing experience! The chef and staff were fantastic- friendly, attentive, and welcoming. The food was absolutely delicious, with every dish beautifully prepared and full of flavor. We thoroughly enjoyed our time and will definitely be back. Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This restaurant is definitely an experience you should have. Some of the food choices are awesome but you have to remember this us a tasting. The duck and dessert were awesome. I did nit like the hidden 20% fee and the nees to tip on top of that.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
What a disappointment! If Kosen is rated based on this sushi box, the restaurant will lose its star! For my birthday, I decided to get a sushi box (which reminded me a lot of chef Edson Yamashita's box from Ryo, which also has a Michelin star and is wonderful, with perfect rice).
I got two sushi boxes and a Bara Chirashi, the rice was hard, there's nothing worse than hard rice in sushi, and the pieces were very small. I didn't expect to have as much salmon as the Instagram photos show. I expect more variety of fish and tamagoyaki, especially since it's a Michelin-starred restaurant and also for the price. What was supposed to be a memorable birthday treat turned into a bad memory.
Food: 1
Service: 1
There is a girl reception so rude and awful customer service on the phone ! Call twice and she is hanging up the phone with out saying anything like thank you or something nicely !!
Food: 5
Service: 1
Exceptional Omakase Dining Experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My very first negative review. I tend to wait 5 days prior to deciding if it’s appropriate to write a negative review due to a bad experience.
There were some great features, but half the plates (including a pallet cleanser) were desert orientated. I don’t believe there was anything we would have died for to try twice. I apologize for comparing restaurants, but two weeks prior to dining at Kosen, we dined at Garrison in Austin TX. I understand it’s unfair to compare restaurants, but out of the 10 tapas/tasting dishes there, we must have doubled down and reordered 4 of the plates.
The service was obnoxious and at times insulting. Being asked twice about something someone else has already taken the order for and will be providing is bad communication. Being questioned and having to explain “why” I need something, a request so small like an extra beer glass was annoying. But being told that we don’t look like we care for the Michelin star experience and speaking down to us was inappropriate.
The atmosphere is okay. Very intimate and small, but having the staff chatting next to the table and stretching just a foot away from our table also isn’t appropriate. I admit, it is a difficult job that requires rest, stretching and communication. Possibly could be done not next to the table.
The tab was roughly $1,200 for the 4 of us, which was expected. However, due to the negative experience, we feel dooped. Unless there are changes being made, at this time I strongly advise against Kosen.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
Excellent service! Every single person I encountered was fantastic! Shout out to Mike and Miles! Thank you for making my dinning experience incredible! Food and presentation is exquisite! 10/10
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Service in general was good. Dishes had good flavor. Every plate though was described to be sustainable and support the local community. The proteins were from Pennsylvania, Spain, Argentina, and Japan. The closest ingredients were some greens from a farm in Gainesville. I’m good with sourcing the best ingredients for an upscale dinner but shipping them in from around the world and using words like “local” or “sustainable” is a stretch. While it may be sustainably harvested, shipping it from across the world is not what I would call sustainable. Saying you support the local markets of where they are purchased is also not what one means when they say “local”. Probably the biggest kicker was the 20% service charge they slap on at the end that isn’t gratuity. We were told it was “to keep the lights on and pay for things like that”. I’m sorry but our meal, two cocktails and a bottle of wine was over $500 for two people. So a 20% charge to keep the lights on is ridiculous. To give a reasonable tip and “keep the lights on” tack 40% on to your bill. I have never seen this before.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 2
Restaurantji Recommends
Kosen in Tampa is every bit deserving of its Michelin one-star rating—and then some. I recently had the incredible experience of sitting in the intimate chef’s room for their specialty omakase, shared with two other small groups of diners. Over 21 thoughtfully crafted courses, Executive Chef Andrew Huang delivered a culinary journey that was both refined and adventurous.
Each dish was a testament to precision and passion, but two courses stood out for me: the uni dishes, which were rich, clean, and perfectly balanced—some of the best I’ve ever had. And then there was the Japanese river crab: a delicate, one-bite marvel that was entirely new to me. The woman seated next to me wasn’t quite ready to try it—so I happily had hers too. No regrets.
Service was exceptional throughout the evening—attentive, knowledgeable, and perfectly paced. The overall experience was elevated yet approachable, making it clear why Kosen has earned its place among Michelin’s finest.
Huge thanks to Chef Andrew Huang and the entire team for a flawless omakase. Five stars without hesitation. I’ll absolutely be back. Made the reservation on Tock.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing omikase experience and wine/sake pairing. Each dish tasted even better than the one before. Chef Andrew is so humble and doesn’t take himself too seriously. It was a joy to see him plate and make the nigiri. Highly recommend. My husband and I do a lot of tasting menus and this one is my new favorite. You know it’s good when you love every dish you tried and leave satisfied but not overfilled.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
20-course omakase experience at the exclusive omakase bar … there is literally no other experience in Tampa like it right now. It is the price of rent, yes, but you will be talking about it forever. Bring your camera.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
After a year of waiting, I was finally able to try Kosen for the first time. Absolutely worth the wait. The food was meticulously curated, and the service was top notch. Far too often, you are beaten to death with the same classic pairings that you have enjoyed elsewhere. That is not the case here. Many of the dishes included ingredients from the laundry list of items that they fermented in house. What a great way to ensure the experience is uniquely their own. It seemed like each member of their service team had stopped by to introduce themselves and ask if they could do anything to enhance the experience. The courses were paced well, and service was attentive. In a world of cookie cutter omakase and sushi restaurants popping up and offering little to distinguish themselves from eachother, Kosen was refreshingly original. The Michelin recognition is well deserved and I look forward to my next visit. Huge thank you to Dakota, Andrew and the rest of the team for making such a memorable experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Our omakase experience here was excellent. This is definitely one of our favorite restaurants in Tampa. Chef Andrew was engaging and created a wonderful environment for dinner. The lobster dish was a particular standout and makes it into my top 10 dishes of all time.
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