Coffee and Sushi Omakase Series Debuted in Philadelphia

Chef Kevin Yanaga and Joseph Nguyen launched a unique monthly dining experience featuring coffee and sushi pairings.

Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Coffee

Coffee and Sushi Omakase Series Debuted in Philadelphia

Live Poll

Would you pay a premium price for rare, specialty coffee beans for your daily routine?

Joseph Nguyen and chef Kevin Yanaga have introduced Oma-Café, a monthly omakase series hosted at Yanaga Kappo Izakaya in Philadelphia. The events feature curated pairings of rare coffee and sushi served to eight guests at a time.

Why it matters

Nguyen aims to redefine coffee as a premium culinary experience rather than a basic caffeine commodity. The series also promotes awareness of restorative farming practices linked to the specialty beans sold through his Coffee Connoisseur Club.

The events take place at an 8-seat counter located behind a bookshelf. During menu development, tastings require the consumption of 10-12 cups of coffee.

The players

Joseph Nguyen

The 28-year-old entrepreneur operates the Coffee Connoisseur Club and founded the Oma-Café series.

Kevin Yanaga

He is a professional chef and the proprietor of Yanaga Kappo Izakaya in the Northern Liberties neighborhood.

The details

Nguyen and Yanaga prepare menus that highlight the nuanced flavor profiles of rare beans served alongside traditional sushi dishes. The intimate gatherings are held in Northern Liberties at the Yanaga Kappo Izakaya restaurant.

The Coffee Connoisseur Club was founded in 2024.
Tickets for the November Oma-Café dinner go on sale October 30, 2026.
The November Oma-Café dinner event occurs November 30, 2026.

Culture Shift

This venture tracks with the global shift toward premium, single-origin coffee appreciation that mirrors the complexity of wine culture. By integrating coffee into fine dining, the organizers move beyond the coffee shop model to reframe beans as a gastronomic centerpiece.

Residents can secure a seat at the monthly eight-person counter by monitoring ticket sales for the series. This experience requires participants to adjust their coffee consumption habits to appreciate artisanal pairings rather than standard daily brews.

The takeaway

Oma-Café demonstrates that coffee can function as a versatile ingredient when paired with sophisticated sushi menus. Enthusiasts should focus on the origin and farming practices of their beans to better appreciate the nuances of a high-end coffee-focused meal.