Regulars at Kabooki Sushi's original East Colonial Drive locale haven't let the space's tight quarters stop them from indulging in some of the best sushi and omakases this town has to offer. But the literal rubbing of elbows will soon be a thing of the past as Kabooki chef and owner Henry Moso will soon expand the restaurant into the space next door. That space, once home to Jet's Pizza, will increase Kabooki's square footage to over 3,000 square feet (from its current 1,800) and up the seating capacity from 44 to 152. Moso says he will add a full bar and lounge area and offer late night bites on weekends until 2 a.m.He'll also alter the aesthetic of the restaurant by going for a theme that's "hip, modern and industrial but still Japanese in vibe."Moso will close the restaurant for two or three weeks for the demolition, during which time he'll make improvements to the kitchen's hood and ventilation system. Look for Kabooki Sushi V2.0 to debut in October.

The high-end, highly touted Kabooki Sushi now sits at two convenient corners of Central Florida. About six years ago at age 22, Chef Henry Moso opened Kabooki’s first location in a plaza off of East Colonial Drive and, then, in May of last year, the restaurant expanded to Dr. Phillips. My friend and I spent a Sunday at Disney, so we decided to visit the Dr. Phillips location that evening since its closer to many of Orlando’s attractions. Behind the Kabooki’s walls lies an ambience of dim lighting and chic design. The overall restaurant fits about 80 people in the main dining area, so small enough to feel pretty intimate; perfect for any date night. The hostess sat us in a corner booth, far away from the kitchen and noisy chatter.

The eight Orlando restaurants below represent a mix of high-end classics, new culinary upstarts, and quick-eat favorites. There are two ways to do sushi: tiny shops with simple décor and a few wobbly tables, and lavish, beautifully decorated spots where the artistry on the walls is carried onto each plate. Kabooki Sushi is the latter. Don’t let the location fool you: Though the Orlando restaurant seems off the beaten path at the Colonial Town Center strip mall, once you’re inside you’ll understand what all the fuss is about. Plates are painstakingly attended to by Chef Henry Moso, who manages to blend other cultures with the extensive Japanese offerings. Kabooki Sushi is the real deal, even if the food is almost too pretty to eat. Almost.

There are many players in the high-stakes world of omakase, and we're pleased as pufferfish that A-rated sushi bonanzas can be had at so many places around town. But, with a tip of the chef's cap to Morimoto Asia, Sushi Pop, Jimotti, Seito, Dragonfly, Shari and Hanamizuki, our choice for the finest "chef's choice" experience in all Orlandoland goes to Kabooki Sushi. Chef Henry Moso is a freakin' creative dynamo who spares no expense in procuring the finest seafood from around the world to style and profile for his loyal followers at Kabooki.

The city's sushi cognoscenti may not know this, but Henry Moso, arguably Orlando's most creative sushi chef, and certainly one of our best, offers omakase experiences at his perpetually hopping sushi hot spot Kabooki Sushi.

Best of Orlando 2016 The final round of voting is here! Your vote is your voice, and it's time for you to speak out on 2016's best people, places and things in our annual Best of Orlando Readers Poll. Choose from the nominees for Orlando's best food & drink, goods & services, music & nightlife, local color, and sports & recreation, or write in your favorite if you don't see them in the nominees. We close this final round at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10. The privacy of the voting booth is sacred, of course, but should you choose to share your opinion on social media, be sure to hashtag it #boo2016. Winners will be announced in our Best of Orlando issue published Wednesday, Aug. 24.

ASIAN CLASSICS, AND SURPRISES, WITH ATTITUDE AND WITHOUT A “completely unexpected” “gem” in an “unassuming” Colonialtown strip mall, this “real-deal” Japanese uses “finesse” to craft “scintillating” sushi and Asian-fusion plates “at a decent price”; the “cute” space is “smallish”, so “reservations are almost a must.”

DARING FEATS WITH FISH--RAW, COOKED AND ROLLED‍ Ultra-fresh and -creative sushi wins raves in Orlando, and we've got the the most popular places covered.

HAND YOUR PALATE OVER TO THE CHEF FOR AN ORLANDO OMAKASE FEAST THAT WILL ASTOUND YOU The exact translation of Omakase is debatable. Some say it means “chefs choice,” while others will argue that the Japanese phrase means “I’ll leave it up to you.” What cannot be argued, however, is that Omakase dining is an absolutely fabulous culinary experience, especially for sushi lovers.

Chef’s tables are popping up all over Central Florida, and at more restaurants than you might think. The tables and tastings give our local culinary talent a place to express epicurean panache while wowing diners with a one-of-a-kind feast they won’t soon forget. Check out these local spots for a memorable experience.

Kabooki Sushi is raising the bar for sushi and cutting-edge fusion cuisine in Central Florida. And chef Henry Moso's menu changes daily to reflect the best seasonal ingredients. The restaurant is in a drab strip mall across from Orlando Fashion Square. But Kabooki's interior is far from run-of-the-mill. Sleek booths and banquette seating line the walls, keeping the space open and stylish. Chic lighting illuminates the small space, and the bar that looks into the open kitchen features a few coveted chairs where diners can observe the culinary team in action.

Chef Henry Moso watches and learns from others—and Kabooki Sushi diners are reaping the benefits. Strip mall sushi. Granted, not the most tempting idea at first, but take a young chef with an opportunity to show his talents in his own space, add inventive and often surprising food, and location becomes less important. Henry Moso, chef/owner of Kabooki Sushi, is that chef in that space. He spent his childhood in his native Laos and throughout Southeast Asia, moving to the United States 10 years ago. “I’m a foodie foodie guy,” the baby-faced Moso says with a laugh. He has a passion for Japanese culture, sporting forearm tattoos that could have come from a Edo-era painting, and he wields a sharp, thin blade like a samurai. His mother owned the Bangkok Square restaurant and Origami Sushi near UCF, where Moso sharpened his sushi skills. His inspiration comes not from an academic background, but from an observant nature, and TV.

Kabooki Sushi (a play on “kabuki,” the ancient Japanese theatre art-form), is probably one of the most exciting – and one of my favorite sushi places – in Orlando right now. Located at the corner of Maguire Blvd and Colonial Drive near the Fashion Square Mall inside a rather drab strip mall – its exterior looks deceive the many splendors which lay within.

I was certainly surprised when I stepped inside Kabooki Sushi. The location, at the corner of Colonial Drive and Maguire Avenue, across the street from the Sears Auto Center at Fashion Square Mall, and the facade, an unassuming storefront in a mini row of businesses, didn’t prepare me for the chicly styled restaurant inside. The sushi bar and kitchen are at the far end of the room -- far being a relative term, as this is a fairly small place -- with comfy looking stools. There is a row of banquettes along one wall with white tufted leather seat backs. The other wall has a row of booths. In between are conventional tables and chairs. Large light globes hang about, and the burnt orange walls sport some Japanese paintings amid the omnipresent flatscreen tvs. But instead of sports programming or opinionated news channels, these televisions play a video that shows fish and the road they take from the sea to a sushi bar. That includes some bloody scenes that might upset some diners.

In the theatrical arena of the sushi bar, the chef often brings a certain degree of flair and showmanship to the stage behind the refrigerated display case. Sometimes, the performance can be a real show-stopper; sometimes, it can be an utter tragedy. At Kabooki Sushi, itamae Henry Moso and his supporting cast are drawing raves (and plenty of sushi zealots) to their kitchen stadium downtown, and deservedly so.

A look at 30 of our favorite Asian restaurants throughout Greater Orlando.‍ Food from around the world can be found in Greater Orlando, and nothing better exemplifies that diversity than our wide range of Asian restaurants. From the authentic Vietnamese offerings of Mills 50 to high-end celebrity chef eateries and everything in between, here are 30 of our favorites.‍