【Reading】おこのみ

【English Name】Okonomi

One of the ordering methods at a sushi restaurant, in which the customer freely chooses the toppings they want to eat, one piece at a time. "Okonomi" means "as one prefers," and it is contrasted with "omakase," which leaves everything to the artisan, and "okimari" (a set), in which the contents are fixed. At sushi restaurants with counter seating, one can order in any order while looking at the topping case, and the high degree of freedom is its characteristic. On the other hand, at shops with market-price (jika) pricing, the bill can be hard to predict. It is common for regulars or customers who clearly know what they want to eat to say "okonomi de," while at first-time or high-end establishments many customers choose "omakase." "Okonomi" is also a word expressing one aspect of Japanese food culture that respects the customer's free choice.