Tatsu Dallas
Sushi restaurant · Wilson Block
3309 Elm St ste 120, Dallas, TX 75226
Highlights
Edomae-style omakase by a fourth-generation sushi master.
Edomae-style omakase by a fourth-generation sushi master.
"Tatsu is one of the most difficult reservations in Dallas. But unless you love throwing money around, it's likely only going to be a once-a-year hassle—this is the table you book when something truly remarkable is happening in your life. The city’s greatest sushi spot lists the origin of everything they serve on the menu—even the salt—and dishes mix local produce with the best stuff they can fly in from Japan, like Texas grass over perfect sushi rice. During the $200, 20-course omakase, you’ll eat the freshest amberjack money can buy as you watch the chef slice bluefin tuna, only to see it show up later in a small box that sends silky curls of smoke floating around you." - nick rallo
"Tatsu is the platonic ideal of an omakase restaurant. The minimalist 10-seat space and its talented chef draw diners for its stunning tasting menu that features the best fish Japan is willing to part with (fatty tuna, creamy Hokkaido scallops), all laid to rest on perfect rice that's cooked in mineral-rich Crazy Water. Watch for reservations like a hawk, then pounce when they drop." - kevin gray
"Tatsu is the platonic ideal of an omakase restaurant. The minimalist 10-seat space and its talented chef draw diners for its stunning tasting menu that features the best fish Japan is willing to part with (fatty tuna, creamy Hokkaido scallops), all laid to rest on perfect rice that's cooked in mineral-rich Crazy Water. Watch for reservations like a hawk, then pounce when they drop." - Kevin Gray
"This small space hosts guests for omakase-style servings of 15 to 18 courses of sushi and seafood, including light appetizers, 13 to 15 pieces of nigiri sushi, a cup of miso soup, a handroll, and a light dessert. It is the only Michelin-starred restaurant in Dallas, and with good reason — the service and quality of the food under chef Tatsu are top-notch. The meal should take just under two hours, and the cost is $185 per person. It was already difficult to get a reservation here, and with its Michelin accolades, it has gotten even more difficult. Check online on the 1st and 15th of each month when new reservations, which are prepaid, drop. Inside, there is an entryway where diners wait on arrival, with the service of a cocktail or other drink. They are then led into a small sushi bar — by small, we mean the restaurant advises guests not to wear perfume so as not to interfere with the experience. This is not the flashy, performative omakase that many Dallas spots offer. It’s calm, quiet, and soundtracked by classical tunes." - Courtney E. Smith
"Chef Tatsu is a master of simple treatments of nigiri that highlight both the quality of the fish (almost everything he serves is flown in from Japan) and his culinary skill as a sushi chef. While the omakase is largely nigiri and sashimi, there is one course in the meal that highlights Texas-grown rice. It’s a nice nod to how chef Tatsu uses local farmers for as many elements as he can. Michelin took notice, rating Tatsu the only starred restaurant in DFW at its inaugural Texas ceremony. The small dining room at this restaurant makes it challenging to land a reservation, but it’s worth the effort; the two-hour omakase service, which has two seatings each night, five days a week, is also worth the $185 price tag. Beverage pairings are available for an additional cost. Vibe check: Don’t go expecting a party. The work of chef Tatsu is the star here, and the tight, well-lit, and minimalistic dining room reflects it. Expect muted, classic music and hushed tones. It’s best to dress to match in your finest beige." - Courtney E. Smith
