Oyama

If you want to impress someone, or your own cravings for Japanese food -- try Oyama, that is, if you can get in.

As is the norm in many cities, to adequately satisfy a craving for Japanese food, the all-you-can-eat sushi and teppanyaki venues rarely cut it. That's why it is well worth digging a bit deeper into the wallet (think in the vicinity of RMB 800 per person) to savor Oyama, Shanghai’s first omakase restaurant, that is guaranteed to -- at least temporarily -- stave off the craving. 

This intimate venue has expanded to 30 seats from it's original 14. Once inside though, you'll see that Oyama's attention to detail and quality is second to none.

Importantly, you get what you pay for at Oyama as the chefs have fresh seafood imported from Japan as their disposal to -- in true omakase form -- craft a meal from scratch. For the uninitiated, omakase roughly translates to 'up to you' and puts the diner in the hands of the chef. 

It saves the stress of deciding what to eat and adds an element of suspense ahead of each serving at Oyama.