
Episode 129: Omaha's Sushi Secret— with Chef David Utterback
From Kitchen Confidante Podcast by Liren Baker
March 11, 2026 · 33 min · Episode 129
About this episode
Chef David Utterback discusses Omaha's sushi scene and his culinary journey.
What if I told you some of the best sushi in the United States is in the Midwest? Chef David Utterback is a multiple-time James Beard Award finalist and the first Nebraska chef to be nominated for Best Chef Midwest. Chef Utterback is the force behind three critically acclaimed Omaha restaurants — Yoshitomo, Ota, and Koji — with two new concepts on the horizon. The Washington Post has named Ota one of the best sushi restaurants in the country. In this episode, we chat about the transformative trip to Japan that changed everything, and why Omaha's food scene deserves a lot more attention than it gets. Learn more about David Utterback at https://www.yoshitomo.com, https://www.omakaseota.com , and https://www.izakayakoji.com . Follow David Utterback on Instagram: @davidyoshitomo Podcast Show Notes: https://kitchenconfidante.com/omahas-sushi-secret-with-david-utterback
People in this episode
Host: Liren Baker
Guest: David Utterback
Topics covered
- sushi
- Omaha food scene
- Japanese cuisine
- chef interview
- restaurant culture
Keywords
- sushi
- Omaha
- David Utterback
- Japanese cuisine
- James Beard Award
- restaurant
- food culture
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Yoshitomo, Ota, Koji, The Washington Post
Places: Omaha, Midwest
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