A New York-trained sushi chef is bringing a high-end omakase counter to San Marco this summer, aiming to level up the neighborhood’s sushi game. The new spot, KoBu Sushi and Omakase, is set to open inside the Union Hall retail cluster along Naldo Avenue and will center its chef-led tasting menu on dry-aged fish. The idea is to drop a more formal, reservation-style sushi counter into a stretch of San Marco that typically leans more casual and walk-in friendly than tasting-menu focused.
Who's behind KoBu
According to the Jacksonville Business Journal, KoBu’s chef trained in New York and is treating this as his second restaurant. The outlet reports that he plans to bring polished Japanese technique and a dedicated dry-aging program to the San Marco counter.
Menu and technique
KoBu's website bills "aged fish" as the core of the concept, with omakase sets, chirashi bowls and signature plates including Aged Bluefin Tuna Tartare, Hamachi Jalapeño and Truffle Wagyu Fried Rice. The focus on dry-aged product is not just a flex; dry-aging concentrates umami and firms the texture of fish, a fine-dining move that has been gaining national traction, as noted by Tasting Table.
Where it will be
The restaurant will occupy space in the San Marco Union Hall complex at 1435 Naldo Avenue, a strip center marketed by the property owner as being in "the heart of San Marco's Dining & Arts District." Ashco Centers and Duval County property records list the address and unit details, while Jacksonville City Council records show recent zoning and permit activity tied to the broader Union Hall site.
What this adds to San Marco
The Jacksonville Business Journal points out that San Marco does not have many dedicated sushi counters, and that KoBu’s omakase setup would plug that gap. The block is not totally lacking for seafood creativity; local coverage notes that Brine is already operating nearby as a small raw bar and tasting-menu spot. The Infatuation recently reviewed Brine in that lane, but it is not a focused omakase bar built around dry-aged nigiri.
Timing and next steps
KoBu's website does not yet list a specific opening date or posted hours for the San Marco counter, and city planning documents indicate that permits and approvals for the Union Hall build-out are relatively recent. For now, KoBu's website and city records contain the publicly available details, and reservation or seating specifics had not been released at the time of publication.
