#9: [REVIEW] Oshen 🍣

A wasabi martini, the best miso soup ever, my ideal weekend breakfast

Mar 04, 2025

I’ve now technically been to Oshen twice. After my first visit, their $12 bento box landed in my 5 things round-up at the end of the newsletter. A quick lunch didn’t feel right for a full review so I went back to try more of their actual menu.

First impressions

There’s no way to sugarcoat this—Oshen is in a very suburban shopping center. Like… it’s next to a Papa John’s. It’s a stone’s throw from a Jersey Mike’s. It’s not a sexy vibe on the outside. At best, I assumed it could be a decent fast casual spot. At worst, I thought maybe I’d get listeria.

But don’t judge a book by it’s cover, a wine by it’s label, or a restaurant by it’s location.

I was humbled by Oshen’s interior. Behind that indiscriminate brick exterior, it’s surprisingly striking? It’s modern. It’s sleek. It’s an aesthetic that could easily be dropped into any of Charlotte’s trendier neighborhoods and you wouldn’t bat an eye.

Everything we ordered

Cocktails

Spicy Watermelon Margarita ($16) - El Tesoro blanco tequila, watermelon, yuzu, agave, Tajin
Wasabi Martini ($14) - Tito’s vodka, wasabi, cucumber, lemon
Lychee Basil Martini ($15) - Grey Goose vodka, basil, lemon

Appetizers

Edamame ($8) - Ponzu, chili garlic
Mountain Miso Soup ($7) - Shiitake broth, tofu, mushroom, green onions, radish
Spicy Tuna Tartare ($17) - Chives, sesame, avocado, scallions, crispy rice crackers

Sashimi

Yellow Tail Nigiri ($8) - Smoked jalapeño, serrano, cilantro

Sushi

Doragon Roll ($14) - Shrimp tempura, avocado, AAA tuna, crab salad, crispy rice pearls, spicy mayo eel sauce

What I loved ❤️

The edamame & miso soup: These two menu items are basically the same at every restaurant. There’s no range of good and bad edamame or miso soup. It’s all usually fine. At Oshen it’s not an afterthought. They’ve reimagined both of these traditional starters and made them must-order items.

The Edamame is tossed in a ponzu and garlic chili sauce that is spicy, savory and straight up addictive. Why have we just been settling for a halfhearted shake of salt over the top of lukewarm edamame? I could not stop eating these. It’s the best edamame I’ve ever had.

Now for the Mountain Miso Soup. First of all, the presentation is a 10/10. All the ingredients are carefully placed in the bottom of your bowl. Every mushroom, radish, scallion and tofu piece is laid out like a work of damn art. Then, your server pours the steaming hot shiitake broth over top of it, melding all the flavors together. This made me rethink everything I’ve come to expect from miso soup. It wasn’t just a salt bomb of broth. Every bite was filled with rich umami flavor and fresh veggies. The tofu was soft and creamy. This bowl was pure magic.

The cocktails: It’s hard to have high expectations for craft cocktails in a sushi restaurant located next to a Papa John’s but Oshen said, “Hold my cocktail, bitch.”

The Wasabi Martini was by far one of the most interesting things I tried. I don’t love wasabi. It stings my nostrils and it often has a kind of fake, chemical taste. This drink has none of that. The wasabi is definitely there but it’s a much more earthy version of it. The addition of the cucumber and lemon balance everything out.

The Spicy Watermelon Margarita is something I would order again and again. It’s not necessarily breaking the cocktail mold but it’s done incredibly well. It’s fresh, bright and not overly sweet. Plus, I loved the Tajin on the rim. This drink made me ready for summer.

The raw fish: We tried three items that fell into this category and every single one was was equally stunning and tasty. Oshen clearly understands the importance of high quality ingredients and they know how to highlight them without resorting to gimmicks.

The Spicy Tuna Tartare is something I’ve had at other restaurants but I’ve never seen it executed this well. It had a subtle spice on the backend of each bite that complemented the tuna without overpowering it. The avocado was beautiful and perfectly ripe. We chose the crispy rice crackers to go with it, which are similar to crispy rice squares you may have seen elsewhere but they’re coated in these rice pearls that give it a really satisfying crunch.

Another standout was the Yellow Tail Nigiri. It was topped with a tiny dollop of a spicy serrano and cilantro sauce and a smoked jalapeño. It was a perfect little bite and it immediately made me want to order the other three nigiri options they had.

What I didn’t love 💔

The location: The location doesn’t match the elevated level of their food and drinks. I could see them in the old Rocksalt space on the outskirts of Park Road Shopping Center but that’s as close to a shopping center as they should be if they’re turning out this kind of experience.

All that said, I think the current location is kind of an under-the-radar spot so you may not be fighting for reservations like you would somewhere else.

Final take: Hag recommended 🔥

It’s rare for me to walk away from a restaurant and not really be able to find anything to complain about. Or at least not be able to point to one dish or drink that I wouldn’t order again. I’m a critical person. Oshen shut me the hell up.

The entire meal was a masterclass in the power of high-quality ingredients paired with the craft and attention that takes them to “holy shit” levels. The service is excellent and the atmosphere (once you’re inside) is rather lovely.

Coincidentally, another place in Charlotte that I think is executing food and cocktails to a similar degree is Yunta in South End. Oshen is owned by the two co-founders of Yunta. You’ll notice some parallels between their menus.

I’ve already recommended Oshen to a few of my friends as a must-try restaurant and now you’re in “the know” too.

5 things I consumed this week in Charlotte

Half scoop of Brambleberry Crisp ($5) at Jeni’s Ice Cream. I don’t usually crave sweets but the warm weather this past Saturday gave me an ice cream itch. This is my favorite flavor. I order it every time.
Hex Special ($13) and a Pineapple Mimosa ($12) at Hex. The Hex Special is like an elevated version of the Waffle House Allstar Special. It’s exactly what I want on a weekend morning. I’m obsessed with the soft scrambled eggs and I’m not ashamed to say I love spam.
A fresh stack of books from Park Road Books. It’s not a visit to Park Road Shopping Center without a stop by the bookstore. I could spend so much time and money in here. I ended up getting three books.
Angel Hair & Meatballs ($17) at Zio Casual Italian. My first time trying Zio with a few friends. Had a great time chatting and drinking wine but wasn’t blown away by the meal. I prefer Mama Ricotta’s version over this one.
Free popcorn at Blackhawk Hardware. Popped by for some spring gardening supplies. IYKYK.