Imagine this: It’s a Thursday afternoon which means the weekend is nearing and spirits are high. You and your roommates have had a long week of classes and work and you need to catch up. Catching up will definitely be better if it can happen over food and some drinks. So… Butterfish happy hour is always the answer. At least for my friends and me, this is the case.
Butterfish is a small restaurant, located in the historic Blackstone District in Omaha, Nebraska. They serve traditional Asian small plates, the sushi being the most popular menu item and also my favorite. Butterfish is fairly new to Omaha’s food scene as it was established in late 2018 but its busyness solidifies that it has surely been a success. Let me tell you why I love it so much.
I’ll start with the obvious: the food. My go-to order at Butterfish is a Crispy Gold Coast sushi roll. The Crispy Gold Coast roll is filled with crab, avocado and cucumber and topped with tempura flakes and the most delectable sweet chili sauce. Honestly, you could put the sweet chili sauce on any roll and I would be happy. I’ve tried many of the other rolls offered at Butterfish like the Crispy Blackstone, the Salmon Samurai, the Salmon Maki and the Aloha but the Crispy Gold Coast always reigns supreme.
Crispy Gold Coast sushi roll on the bottom right.
The smoked pear and ginger margarita is my drink of choice. I love the sweet and sour punch to go with my sushi roll. The pear and ginger give this margarita a different feel than it would have at a Mexican restaurant. The smokiness is subtle but oh so welcome to the overall flavor and the pink sea salt on the rim is the perfect addition.
Smoked Pear & Ginger Margarita on the left.
The reason Butterfish is one of my favorites and the favorite of so many other Omaha eaters is the funk they bring to Asian food. I feel like Butterfish has achieved the perfect balance between traditional and modern. Their food has hints of traditional Asian cuisine but there’s a twist in every menu item. For example, another one of my favorites is their glazed edamame. They took the classic sushi dinner appetizer and added a sauce made of red miso, fermented garlic, garlic confit, soy and sesame seeds. The Asian feel is still there but it’s exciting.
To make Butterfish even better, their restaurant has booths that are closed in so when you are lucky enough to be sat in one, it feels like you are in your own private room. I highly recommend requesting a “room,” as I would call it if your party is ever larger than 4. It makes the experience so much more personal and so much more FUN! Some of my funniest, deepest and generally meaningful conversations have happened in those rooms with my best friends. The lights are slightly dimmed in the whole restaurant and the warm colors make the atmosphere cozy. Butterfish is also located among some of Omaha’s best bars so this happy hour dinner can very easily transition to a night out if that’s your desire.
Finally, I must tell you about the happy hour. From 4:30 to 6 every weekday, Butterfish happy hour is happening. The restaurant is usually packed, so plan ahead. Here’s why it’s so great. If you go at happy hour you can get a sushi roll and a drink for just over $10. Say you wanted to order my favorites, the Crispy Gold Coast and the margarita, your bill before tip would be $11. This is insane! All of their signature cocktails are $6 during this period and most of the rolls are $5 or $6. Appetizer prices are also great.
With delicious food and drinks, the perfect ambiance and location and wonderful prices at the right time of day, Butterfish is the whole package. If you’re ever at the end of your week and need a place to decompress, with great food obviously, then Butterfish is the answer for you, too.
Ruthie's Writings. 