Food was incredible. Chefs were meticulous and thoughtful. Detailed presentation. Service was a wild balance of attentive yet my colleague had to ask for wine for us and they never checked back in after the first glass.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
Jeremy Santiago
An incredible experience worth every penny. Get the wine and sake pairing!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Brian
Food is top notch. Fresh, creative, delicious. Service is another story altogether. Though the service is technically impeccable, it’s way too impeccable. For nearly every course in the omasake, the chef hands the plate to the server so that the plate passes within a foot of your head, then the server puts it down in front of you. For me, this process ruined the experience. It felt impersonal and mechanical, as if the guest is at the end of an assembly line. Then, the server reaches over you to wipe your plate after each course. Way overdone to the point it felt ridiculous. I’ve been to many an omakase in both Japan and the U.S., and the chef always hands food directly to the guest. By insulating the chef from the customer, there was nothing special about this omakase. Kosen is trying too hard to impress, and it backfires. Thus, the reason for only 2 stars for service and atmosphere.
Again, the food was great, but when paying close to $300 pp, you’re also buying the experience, and this experience simply does not justify the price. You’d be way better off going to a high quality sushi joint and saving a bunch of money.
All that being said, Chef Huong is a master at his craft and a cool guy to boot.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 2
Yifei Geng
Best Omakase in town ever! The service is wonderful to extreme small details. The fish, wagyu, and sea urchin melt in your mouth. 10x10 would recommend so yummy😋😍😋😍
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tate Grant
I finally was able to make it to Kosen for a special birthday dinner at the omakase counter. Hands down the best Japanese food I’ve had so far. Being within downtown Tampa makes it so easy to get to the restaurant and it’s in a great location.
The service throughout the 2 hour experience was incredible. Everyone was so knowledgeable and attentive. The wagyu was one of the first dishes and it was hard for anything to beat that, the meat was so tender I didn’t even know it was in my mouth. The flavor of the duck breast was out of this world, I wish I had more bites of both.
The nigiri experience was amazing, all the bites were great and the fresh wasabi and everything being made to order was a joy to watch. The akami tuna was the best and the quality of fish was pristine.
The brown butter ice cream with apple and parsnip was my favorite dish and ended the meal perfectly. This experience was definitely worth the price of admission and something you should try at least once. Thank you chef!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kassie Kriminger
The service and atmosphere was amazing but I would say that the bite sizes are very small and you will not be leaving with a full stomach. The duck was too chewy to swallow and all in all, I do not think the food was worth the price. The side dishes were very good but the nigiri was underwhelming. Most of the dishes were very good, just not excellent for my standards…
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Aaron Toynton
Kosen was good—excellent for the region—but it didn’t reach the heights I’d hoped for. The progression felt somewhat monotonous overall, with one true standout: the Chawanmushi. It hit like a jolt of life amid restraint—an east-meets-west custard layered with deep umami and confidence. Unassuming in presentation, but undeniably the highlight.
A minor point: in omakase, the handoff is crucial. Having the chef pass the dish to a server who then places it back in front of me breaks that quiet connection that makes omakase special. That said, the service was attentive; they noticed I was left-handed before the appetizers were even served—a subtle but appreciated touch.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Kelly Wright
From the moment you walk in you know this experience is next level! Staff is very attentive and friendly but the star of the night were our drinks made by Nick!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Frank Muir
My wife and I went to Kōsen in Tampa for our 17th anniversary, and while the food was excellent, the overall experience didn’t live up to the price or expectations.
We arrived 30 minutes early for our 7:30 omakase reservation. When we walked in, a young man at the front looked at us like we were lost and said, “Can I help you?” — no “Welcome” or greeting. I gave him my name, and he replied, “For Kōsen?” before saying, “We’re not ready yet, come back around 7:25.” When I asked if we could sit at the bar for a drink, he said no and told us to wait outside on a small, dirty wooden bench. There were empty tables inside, but he said they were for 7:00 reservations (it was already past 7).
Around 7:15, he finally let us sit at a table to have a drink. The music was loud, making it hard to hear the bartenders or even talk comfortably. The bartender came to explain the menu but got interrupted mid-sentence when someone brought us a welcome drink, which threw her off. When we ordered, she acted like she’d never heard of our drink choices, making us repeat them twice with a confused look — strange energy overall.
Halfway through our first drink, the same guy came back and said our omakase seats were ready. When we walked in, we realized we were the only guests for omakase that night. I tried to see the bright side, but I had been looking forward to sharing the experience with others — that’s part of the fun. Then came the real disappointment: Chef Andrew Huang wasn’t there. His staff would be preparing everything instead. If it hadn’t been our anniversary, I probably would’ve left. I specifically booked this restaurant for his omakase experience, and if I’d known he wasn’t there, I would’ve gone somewhere else.
The two servers assigned to us were polite and attentive, though they whispered and chatted with each other nearby the entire time, which was distracting. The food itself was incredible — every dish a 10/10 — but the pacing was way too fast. Dishes came out back-to-back, leaving almost no time to talk or even sip our drinks. The meal was finished in about an hour, though we were told it would last at least 1.5 hours. My wife was full by the end, and the rushed pace took away from what should’ve been a slow, special dining experience.
They mentioned our anniversary once, but that was it — no small gesture, no extra touch. For a $280-per-person dinner, the service should feel special from start to finish. I’ve had more personal and thoughtful service at far more casual restaurants.
When the bill came, gratuity was automatically included, and the server explained that not everyone gets a cut, suggesting to leave more if we could. I did, because the servers did their best. The real issues were management and communication.
If the chef isn’t going to be there, guests should be told ahead of time. And if you’re telling people to arrive early, there should be a comfortable place to wait — not a dirty bench outside.
Amazing food, but overall just an okay experience. For over $800 for two people, I expected much more.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Katiana
The best omakase in tampa bar none. Excellent service and food. Friendly atmosphere. Great for special occasions
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 was incredible. Chefs were meticulous and thoughtful. Detailed presentation.
Service was a wild balance of attentive yet my colleague had to ask for wine for us and they never checked back in after the first glass.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
An incredible experience worth every penny. Get the wine and sake pairing!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food is top notch. Fresh, creative, delicious. Service is another story altogether. Though the service is technically impeccable, it’s way too impeccable. For nearly every course in the omasake, the chef hands the plate to the server so that the plate passes within a foot of your head, then the server puts it down in front of you. For me, this process ruined the experience. It felt impersonal and mechanical, as if the guest is at the end of an assembly line. Then, the server reaches over you to wipe your plate after each course. Way overdone to the point it felt ridiculous. I’ve been to many an omakase in both Japan and the U.S., and the chef always hands food directly to the guest. By insulating the chef from the customer, there was nothing special about this omakase. Kosen is trying too hard to impress, and it backfires. Thus, the reason for only 2 stars for service and atmosphere.
Again, the food was great, but when paying close to $300 pp, you’re also buying the experience, and this experience simply does not justify the price. You’d be way better off going to a high quality sushi joint and saving a bunch of money.
All that being said, Chef Huong is a master at his craft and a cool guy to boot.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 2
Best Omakase in town ever! The service is wonderful to extreme small details. The fish, wagyu, and sea urchin melt in your mouth. 10x10 would recommend so yummy😋😍😋😍
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I finally was able to make it to Kosen for a special birthday dinner at the omakase counter. Hands down the best Japanese food I’ve had so far. Being within downtown Tampa makes it so easy to get to the restaurant and it’s in a great location.
The service throughout the 2 hour experience was incredible. Everyone was so knowledgeable and attentive. The wagyu was one of the first dishes and it was hard for anything to beat that, the meat was so tender I didn’t even know it was in my mouth. The flavor of the duck breast was out of this world, I wish I had more bites of both.
The nigiri experience was amazing, all the bites were great and the fresh wasabi and everything being made to order was a joy to watch. The akami tuna was the best and the quality of fish was pristine.
The brown butter ice cream with apple and parsnip was my favorite dish and ended the meal perfectly. This experience was definitely worth the price of admission and something you should try at least once. Thank you chef!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The service and atmosphere was amazing but I would say that the bite sizes are very small and you will not be leaving with a full stomach. The duck was too chewy to swallow and all in all, I do not think the food was worth the price. The side dishes were very good but the nigiri was underwhelming. Most of the dishes were very good, just not excellent for my standards…
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Kosen was good—excellent for the region—but it didn’t reach the heights I’d hoped for. The progression felt somewhat monotonous overall, with one true standout: the Chawanmushi. It hit like a jolt of life amid restraint—an east-meets-west custard layered with deep umami and confidence. Unassuming in presentation, but undeniably the highlight.
A minor point: in omakase, the handoff is crucial. Having the chef pass the dish to a server who then places it back in front of me breaks that quiet connection that makes omakase special. That said, the service was attentive; they noticed I was left-handed before the appetizers were even served—a subtle but appreciated touch.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
From the moment you walk in you know this experience is next level! Staff is very attentive and friendly but the star of the night were our drinks made by Nick!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My wife and I went to Kōsen in Tampa for our 17th anniversary, and while the food was excellent, the overall experience didn’t live up to the price or expectations.
We arrived 30 minutes early for our 7:30 omakase reservation. When we walked in, a young man at the front looked at us like we were lost and said, “Can I help you?” — no “Welcome” or greeting. I gave him my name, and he replied, “For Kōsen?” before saying, “We’re not ready yet, come back around 7:25.” When I asked if we could sit at the bar for a drink, he said no and told us to wait outside on a small, dirty wooden bench. There were empty tables inside, but he said they were for 7:00 reservations (it was already past 7).
Around 7:15, he finally let us sit at a table to have a drink. The music was loud, making it hard to hear the bartenders or even talk comfortably. The bartender came to explain the menu but got interrupted mid-sentence when someone brought us a welcome drink, which threw her off. When we ordered, she acted like she’d never heard of our drink choices, making us repeat them twice with a confused look — strange energy overall.
Halfway through our first drink, the same guy came back and said our omakase seats were ready. When we walked in, we realized we were the only guests for omakase that night. I tried to see the bright side, but I had been looking forward to sharing the experience with others — that’s part of the fun. Then came the real disappointment: Chef Andrew Huang wasn’t there. His staff would be preparing everything instead. If it hadn’t been our anniversary, I probably would’ve left. I specifically booked this restaurant for his omakase experience, and if I’d known he wasn’t there, I would’ve gone somewhere else.
The two servers assigned to us were polite and attentive, though they whispered and chatted with each other nearby the entire time, which was distracting. The food itself was incredible — every dish a 10/10 — but the pacing was way too fast. Dishes came out back-to-back, leaving almost no time to talk or even sip our drinks. The meal was finished in about an hour, though we were told it would last at least 1.5 hours. My wife was full by the end, and the rushed pace took away from what should’ve been a slow, special dining experience.
They mentioned our anniversary once, but that was it — no small gesture, no extra touch. For a $280-per-person dinner, the service should feel special from start to finish. I’ve had more personal and thoughtful service at far more casual restaurants.
When the bill came, gratuity was automatically included, and the server explained that not everyone gets a cut, suggesting to leave more if we could. I did, because the servers did their best. The real issues were management and communication.
If the chef isn’t going to be there, guests should be told ahead of time. And if you’re telling people to arrive early, there should be a comfortable place to wait — not a dirty bench outside.
Amazing food, but overall just an okay experience. For over $800 for two people, I expected much more.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
The best omakase in tampa bar none. Excellent service and food. Friendly atmosphere. Great for special occasions
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
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
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