Ogawa Sushi & Kappo

Ogawa Sushi & Kappo occupies a single eight-seat counter on the ground floor at 310 Market St in Philadelphia's Center City East. Chef Ogawa, trained in Japan, leads a 10-course omakase built around Edomae sushi and kappo-style cooking, served to a counter where the full service is visible. The restaurant holds one Michelin star and appears on the Michelin guide's listed restaurants for Philadelphia.

The omakase runs $150 per person, with an optional sake pairing available for an additional $30. There is no private room; all seating is at the counter, and the kitchen seats only eight guests per service, so turnover is limited. A full seating runs about two hours. The menu and staff accommodate English-speaking guests, and the dress code is smart casual. The restaurant is not cash-only.

Service runs Tuesday through Saturday, 5:30 to 9:30 pm; Ogawa is closed Sundays and Mondays and does not offer lunch. Given the eight-seat counter, reservations are necessary well ahead of a visit — the restaurant notes a typical lead time of about one month. Bookings are taken by phone at (215) 238-5757; the restaurant's own site also directs guests to its reservations page for availability.

For diners weighing the experience against the price tier (moderate, tier 2 of 4), the combination of a Michelin star, Japan-trained chef, and an eight-seat room makes early booking the main hurdle rather than the meal itself. Those wanting the sake pairing should plan to add it at booking or request it upon arrival, since it is listed as a separate line item from the omakase course price.