Hidden Omakase

Diners fatigued from decision-making need look no further. There’s no need for a menu at Hidden Omakase in the Galleria area. Tucked away on a side street of W. Alabama got the restaurant its name along with its 12-course tasting menu.

Chef Niki Vongthong grew up working at her family’s Asia Market in Woodland Heights, a neighborhood culinary institution for more than two decades. She attended culinary school immediately after graduating from high school but left the U.S. after completing her studies to stage in kitchens in Spain. When she returned to Texas, she landed a top spot at the newly opened Uchi in Houston, an experience that would deeply shape her style and approach to Japanese cooking. That job led to her being asked to open a high-end Japanese restaurant in an ex-pat community outside Bangkok where the owner’s deep pockets allowed her to “order anything I wanted” and experiment with the highest quality ingredients. 

Dishes are artfully displayed for 14 diners a night — there are only two nightly seatings, so reservations are a necessity.