Houston’s newest sushi hotspot, designed by Abel Design Group – A Goree Company, continues to be the talk of the town. Katami Sushi Bar has not only earned widespread press attention but it has already been nominated for a number of culinary awards since its opening only four months ago.

Katami — which translates to “gift” in Japanese — was just named Texas Monthly’s No. 1 restaurant destination for 2024. The new restaurant is chef Manabu Horiuchi’s (Chef Hori to his friends and patrons) newest sushi destination and sister restaurant to his much acclaimed Kata Robata.

Adding to its accolades, Katami was recently nominated by Culturemap for the prestigious titles of “Best New Restaurant” and “Best Wine Program”.

The nominations along with the media buzz are a testament to Katami’s exceptional gastronomic offerings and unparalleled dining experience.

Intentionally designed by Abel to spotlight Chef Hori’s culinary masterpieces, a refined yet understated ambiance replaces the anticipated stereotypical Japanese motifs — a space where simplicity and sophistication reign supreme.

The site of a former Italian restaurant, Abel’s designers successfully transformed the space into an upscale sushi destination by seamlessly infusing tranquility, balance and the ancient principles of feng shui into every aspect of the restaurant. With a 182-person dining room, 40-person alfresco patio and a 12-person bar, the overarching design vision incorporates an abundance of natural light with a palette of nature-inspired neutral tones— evoking a dining ambiance of unbridled lightness and cheerfully calming luminosity. In contrast, the bar and lounge boast darker tones that exude sophistication with an alluring moodiness.  Central to the restaurant’s essence, the sushi bar stands as the heart and core of the restaurant by seamlessly uniting the effervescent dining expanse with the tantalizing depths of the bar— promising an indelible culinary journey that captivates every sense.