Tel Aviv’s Onami Celebrates 27 Years With Special Japanese Izakaya Menu

Onami, one of Tel Aviv’s pioneering Japanese restaurants, is celebrating 27 years of operation with a special izakaya menu priced at 27 shekels per dish throughout July. Under the leadership of Chef Roy Sofer, who has over 25 years of culinary experience and a passion for Japanese cuisine since the 1990s, the restaurant has undergone a recent refresh. Alongside the birthday menu, Onami features an art exhibition inspired by Japanese culture.

The special menu offers a variety of small plates, including a refreshing salmon tartare with wasabi sorbet, shrimp nigiri glazed with soy koji, and a daring Inari Special featuring white fish mix, salmon roe, and chili cream stacked like a tower. Some dishes, like the crispy yuba with mushroom spread, received mixed reviews. The regular menu remains available, with highlights such as the comforting agedashi tofu (46 shekels), bluefin tuna tartare with ponzu foam and nori sauce (88 shekels), and the playful Wasabi Combo (108 shekels) showcasing Israeli wasabi from the Nish brand.

The meal concluded with a chocolate nama dessert paired with miso ice cream and Japanese whiskey sauce (58 shekels). Despite its age, Onami continues to offer precise, creative, and affordable Japanese bites, making July an ideal time for fans of authentic Asian cuisine to visit. The restaurant is located at 18 HaArba'a Street, Tel Aviv.