Taita

My second visit and the food was exceptional as it was the first time. The service was awesome, no more than 15 minute wait to be served. Their prices are very comparable to other restaurants nearby such as Lot 2, Benson Brewery and Espana. I would say that they are a better deal with the quality and quantity of food served. A great place for date night, very quiet and quaint. I had no problem with a walk-​in on a Tuesday night, but I recommend making reservations on prime nights. I ordered Wagyu Stir-​fry with grilled yuca. I loved it and it was cooked perfectly. Fried yuca is a taste that I would recommend to anyone in place of boring steak fries. The wagyu was cooked medium rare with tomatoes and onions. The portion was ample for me.

The food was great! Service was awesome. However, our food took approximately 40 minutes to arrive. We were here on a Wednesday with a moderate crowd.
Also, the bathroom doors don’t lock properly…

Ugh. I wanted to be able to bump Taita up to 5 stars so badly with an additional visit, but just wasn’t able to… once again the service was lacking. We had the same server as our first experience and just us and the one other table she had seemed to be too much. I hate downgrading a restaurant due to service as I go for the food – but Taita has done us wrong twice. This time, it took us 10 – 15 minutes for our server to bring us our drinks… she only remembered as she was walking back to us and I made eye contact with her (I didn’t mean to give a dirty look, but I may have since I suffer from restingbitchface) Then when it came time to pay, there was a mix-​up with a groupon and a credit card which led to the card being charged twice and then denied and a second card being involved. Luckily, the food is still phenomenal.
We dined at Taita early this past Saturday in order to make it down to the Orpheum by 7:30. At 5:45, there was only 1 other table in the restaurant. were lucky enough to be there the second night of their new menu! I was happy to see they changed to serving their sushi omakase style (chef’s choice of whatever they find fresh that day). Although tempting, we did just have sushi so we both opted for cooked seafood. We started with the seafood board which was outstanding! This night is consisted of a salmon spread, smoked whitefish, mussels and bread. For meals, my boyfriend ordered the whitefish of the day. He was happy to say it was cooked exquisitely once again and flavors of the cilantro curry blended nicely. I went with the scallops 2 ways – brown butter and parmesan. It was absolutely delicious and a nice contrast between the sweet and savory between the two. With the new menu, you order sides in addition to your entrees, so we went with the roasted potatoes and the mushroom medley. Both were great – though neither were standouts – they do have lobster mashed potatoes, that I think I will have to order next time!
So, again, I will be back because this is officially our favorite seafood restaurant in town… however, we won’t be back until after the sting of this service wears off…

So my fiancée and I went to this restaurant tonight. She is a bit skittish of new foods (she’s getting better) and normally wants to see an online representation of what she’s getting into. Myself, I love when a place doesn’t have a set menu online– it usually means they only serve what is the best and freshest. Everything that I researched intrigued me. I was pumped– Uni Pasta!, Beef Hearts!, Ceviche! I finally got her out of her comfort zone into letting me take her to one of the places in Omaha that had these items.
We were sat and the person that took care of us was wonderful. We were also informed that the two entrees that we had specifically been looking forward to were out (the octopus for me and the chicken for her).
My fiancée settled on the Wagyu dish and I went for the omakase sushi. Guess what?! I was informed that they were not doing sushi that night due to the new menu. I settled on the white fish which was sea bass.
As far as the food goes, it was very good. At the urging of my fiancée, we had the calamari appetizer– it was delicious. It was coated in a sort of sweet chili sauce that was neither too sweet or spicy. The beef was delicious and served with just right yucca fries. The jus that it was in was incredible. My fish was very good as well– we especially liked the curry sauce that came with it. Sides were okay– the lobster mashed potatoes were good but not memorable. The bok choy was tasty but very oily.
Overall, we are definitely going to give them another shot– just hopefully they live up to the hype next time.

Although this restaurant has a great atmosphere and the food that I have gotten there has been good, I have to give three stars based on service and the fact that they have consistently been out of main items on their menu. The last time I went there, the restaurant was empty, yet they only had enough bread to make one bahn mi and everything else on the menu was double the price. This most recent time they were out of two of the main menu items and they were not doing sushi even though their board said they were. Both times I was very surprised the waitress didn’t offer a discount or some way to remedy the situation. I will probably come back because the fish is very fresh but I hope that they are able to better stock their menu or at least compensate!

We made a reservation on a Saturday and were seated immediately. The crab cakes and white fish pâté were fantastic, our waitress was friendly, dinners came out timely and were very well cooked.
Our only complaint was that there was only one server on a Saturday during high volume times. The place is fairly small and she was great considering, but we both sat with empty drinks for a bit.

Part of Taita’s charm is the experience. The space is smaller so it feels really intimate.
The menu has interesting items that most people won’t have tried before (like beef heart) so it feels like you’re on a food adventure.
Their specialty cocktails are a bit limited but still nice. They also don’t offer many sushi rolls, more sashimi heavy.
Portions aren’t huge so definitely opt for a starter with your meal.

A nice cozy place in Benson for casual dining.
Ordered the Rice Fritters to start our dinner and had the Shrimp stir fry and Wagyu Hanger steak for the main dish. The food was prepared and presented very well. The rice fritters were really tasty.
The cucumber topping on the shrimp stir fry was a great contrast for the flavor of the rice, shrimp, and saffron.
The wagyu hanger steak was just OK for my taste.
We’ll definitely comeback and try some of other items on the menu.

I enjoyed my visit to Taita. I was the first patron. I believe they had pity on me because I showed up a couple minutes before they were scheduled to open. It was nearly 100 degrees. I could have kissed her when she opened the door!!!
First, it was cool inside!
I didn’t learn until I was seated that they do sushi/​sashimi on Tuesday through I’m not sure what day, but definitely not Monday. No worries, really. Just means I need to come back!
The hostess/​waitress/​bartender was very nice. She knew the menu inside out. We talked a bit — very comfortable, unforced, nice conversation.
I was torn between the white fish (she told me what it was, but I can’t remember) and the escolar. I’ve had escolar sashimi and love it. I was curious about having it actually cooked. I was told the fish is marinated in miso for 24 hours and then char grilled, served with squash purée and tenderly cooked bok choy.
Oh, the white fish was skate fish. All I can say is the pictures here on Unilocal of the skate fish look incredible. I’d order it next time, if they have it, in a flash!
The presentation of the escolar was beautiful, as you can see. I included bits of everything on the plate in each bite. It was so very, very good. The thoughtfulness used to combine the ingredients is very much appreciated. This was not a Red Lobster version of fish slathered in butter and sauce. No, whoever created this meal understood the delicate interplay of flavors.
The meal itself was reasonably priced, but it is all you get. For me really, it was perfect, but I could see someone indulging in what I assume are equally artful and tastefully developed appetizers. Just know the price of dinner will increase exponentially.
I look forward to coming back and trying their sashimi offerings… and I will be back!

This restaurant came into my radar as it is continuously listed as Omaha’s best. So when Groupon released a dinner deal, I immediately snatched it!
Located in Benson, parking close to this restaurant is hard. You have to either parallel park or find a parking lot behind the building. As a marker, it is on the next block to Leo’s diner, a few shops down to the south of Pizza Shoppe and right across Bank of Benson. Look for a blue Taita banner. When I walked in I noticed that the place is actually smaller than I thought, so highly recommended that you make a reservation as this place fills up easily having only a few tables. And I didn’t get the impression of it being a classy place so coming in with semi-​casual clothes would work. The blue mural with sealife is nice artwork, giving you an idea that their menu would most likely be seafood. Waitress was friendly and patient in explaining their menu and specials.
Hubby ordered Shrimp Stir Fry which was truly mouthwatering already on its presentation and it tasted good as well. I ordered White Fish in Shrimp Sauce and Confit (with wild rice, potato and aspararus). I forgot the name of the fish but I remembered the waitress telling it is from a ray family. The entrée was good and the sauce tasted of coconut. I could use more rice on my plate to make me fuller though. Overall, however, hubby and I were impressed with our meal and we will be back again to try more flavorful dishes!
Ambiance — small and cozy. highly recommend to make a reservation
Service — very good
Serving Time — 20 minutes. Didn’t have to wait long
Serving size — Good size
Variety of food/​drinks — mostly seafood. sushi or seafood entrée. beer, wine and sake available
Price — slightly pricey. Entrees start 18 and above
Will I recommend? Yes!

What do I love? I love the small, intimate atmosphere at Taita, the fish mural on the wall that makes me happy, the personable and helpful service, and the creative, delicious menu that encourages me to try new foods (and rewards me for my bravery). Peruvian-​Japanese fusion is a natural combination in Peru due to the influence of Japanese immigration and I found both familiar flavors in their dishes.
I like getting a bunch of small plates, served one-​by-​one (or two at a time, but in a progression), and I’m happy that Taita served us our dinner like that. We began with a cold dish: salmon tiradito, a Peruvian dish that is similar to a Japanese sashimi. The tiradito included thinly sliced apples and a spicy sauce that’s poured over the fish right before service (so it’s not marinated like ceviche). The salmon was delicious and melted in your mouth, the sign of a great seafood restaurant and the apples and sauce were great flavor and texture accompaniments. Next we had the sweetbreads, my first foray into this offal meat. It was delicious and ended up being my favorite dish of the night! The soy dressing on the greens was perfect with the crispy hot sweetbreads.
Our next course was the anticucho of beef heart (another first for me). It was tender and very tasty, especially with the chimichurri. Finally, the seafood board was a daily special taste of different seafood. The highlight was the salmon aranchino.
Finally, the dinner was so good that we wanted dessert and the chocolate pavé with salted caramel was a perfect end to a great dinner. I look forward to trying more of their dishes, especially the pork belly banh mi and future specials. I had a great experience, and recommend a night at Taita.
My only complaint? I hate fennel and it was included on nearly everything.

Fantastic food. Phenomenal service. I am pretty adventurous and always like to test my bartender my requesting their favorite cocktail and she did not disappoint.
I do think some fresh paint on some of the stark white walls would warm up the place but the food was incredible. The morel appetizer (seasonal) was incredible and I could have eaten a bowlful of the accompanying charred carrots. Look forward to my next dining experience here

Taita was crazy busy, probably because of their recent Groupon deal. After several back and forth emails and phone calls to make a reservation, they told me j could have a table for only an hour. Their online reservation system is not like most restaurants.
I ordered the Pisco Sour, which was must for a Peruvian restaurant. The drinks were tart and tasty, although I thought they were a tad overpriced.
They were out of the entrée I wanted (Argentinian beef) and some of the specials, so I settled on the seafood. The fish was very flaky and tender, and the sauce was rich and complemented the fish nicely.
My overall impression is that the food and drinks were delicious, although a tad overpriced, and the service was a little spotty. I hope to try again sometime for my second impression.

Drove through Omaha today, someone recommended this place. We had sushi for appetizer. I had their special which was a stingray. My wife had their swordfish.
All we can say this is AMAZING. I majorly recommend it.

First timer here so tried a couple of different things. First, atmosphere is nice and cozy and we got a window seat overlooking Benson. Service was great with a friendly waitress who discussed the menu in depth. Now on to the food!
Tried the meat skewers (three different meats), the scallop small dish and split a Banh Mi and split their desert… their only desert… a chocolate fudgy thing. Skewers… skewers were just ok. Meat on a stick should have a little charring, these did not. Plus they seemed under-​seasoned. Can’t hate any meat on a stick but I was hoping for more. The scallop dish was delicious. Highly recommend. The Banh Mi was also very good… which surprised me and was the highlight of the meal for me. The pickled vegetables were great. And finally, the desert was good. Not a huge chocolate fan but this was the only option and it definitely satisfied me. This and and 4 glasses of wine… $ 60. Can’t complain there. I will be back.

As I was back up in Omaha for a wedding this past weekend, my husband and I took full advantage of my parents’ babysitting skills, handed our almost two year old off to them, and went out on a date. Seeing as there was a massive wedding gap between the actual ceremony (3:00) and the drinks and dancing only reception (7:30), I chose Taita on a whim for dinner.
Spolier: It was so damn good that I’m going to make it a point to come back the next time I’m in town. I said that about Modern Love too so, Omaha food scene, you are getting all my money.
My husband and I started off the with the seared scallop appetizer and devoured it. The plate itself was presented wonderfully but the food, well, that was gone in a heartbeat. The diver scallops were perfectly seared and not chewy at all. The parsnip purée, toasted almond slivers, roasted Brussels sprouts, and thin slices of apple were all the perfect compliments. Ah-​mazing dish.
I, the lover of sushi, chose the Nikkei roll and two servings of nigiri. The roll was not good. At all. The sauce used was just off and did not pair well with the delectable salmon and salmon belly. The rice was off too, akin to grocery store sushi rice. Yeah. And you’re wondering why the 5 stars about now. It’s because the nigiri was phenomenal. Skip the rolls, order the nigiri. I had the salmon and the salmon belly. My mouth is salivating right now just thinking about these. The salmon, like in the roll, was melt-​in-​your-​mouth good. The salmon belly, which I had never tasted before, is my new favorite. Oh. My. Gosh. It’s like eating a piece of the water the salmon was in, it’s just an incredibly crisp then smooth then salty then fatty taste experience. The salmon roe on top was an added bonus. Get this!!!
My husband had the pork belly bahn mi. He destroyed it. I tasted it because I couldn’t stand watching him smile after every bite; I had to know what this creation was about. Yes, it’s fantastic. If you can have meat (which I should not because my intestines have an attitude), this is a winner. I adore Vietnamese bahn mi sandwiches, and this one is clear winner. Put daikon in something and you’ll have me singing its praises.
Minus the roll, this is a stellar restaurant! Our server was super friendly, explained the dishes very well, and was not overly helpful like some can be. Great service! Why this place is not packed with a line around the corner is beyond my comprehension. I’ll be back to eat more nigiri, I expect to see you there too.

Great seafood and cocktails. Creative play on flavors, beautifully plated and absolutely delicious. One of the best in Omaha.

I love ramen (noodles in Japanese language) they have. It’s not authentic Japanese ramen but I like their soup they make for ramen, especially miso. I also like the interior inside the restaurant and as well as the bathroom. It’s very quiet and a male waiter knows how to give good services to customers.
I have only been there for lunch to have ramen because apparently the only day ramen is on the menu is on Sunday at lunch time.
My husband and I really enjoyed the food there so we will definitely recommend you to go there too so long as you like ramen and are adventurous to try something new :)

Wow! We were amazed at how delicious this place was. I wanted so badly to pick up our plate and lick it clean, although manners would tell me otherwise.
My husband and I were doing a Benson tour for his birthday and couldn’t decide between here and Lot 2. Per his choice, we went to Taita.
I was still full from lunch (thanks Five Guys) so we decided to split a sushi order and split an entrée. We started off with a Cali Roll– stop judging! Unlike many, it was actual crab… I believe… and the pickled ginger was delicious. I didn’t realize the sushi chef was also the owner, but he did tell me they made their pickled ginger in house.
Next was our entrée. We shared the Miso Escolar with a butternut squash purée.
Probably one of the tastiest fish dishes I have EVER had. (Please excuse the horrible photo as I was excitedly eating before I realized I probably should snap a photo for my Unilocal review.)
The fish was perfectly seasoned and cooked– a bit of crunch from being pan fried on the outside but flavorful and delicate on the inside. The accompanying bok choy was also cooked well and not bitter (as overcooking bok choy does that). And lastly the butternut squash pureed was a small slice of heaven on a plate. This is where I had to use self control from picking up the plate and licking it.
Overall
Food– 5 Stars. Although a bit on steeper side (you get what you pay for)
Service– 4.5 Stars. Because of how small the restaurant was and the fact that we were at the bar, the employees had to be super careful walking the line between attentive/​stalking.
Ambience– 4 Stars. It was almost eerily quiet and we were told we couldn’t have a table because of reservations but when we left, many of those tables were still empty.
Will be back? Very likely and we’ll remember to use our Passport card this time!

We made a reservation based on Unilocal reviews when looking for a place to try in Benson. We were not disappointed. The restaurant itself is small, and they were very busy on a Friday night, but we had no problem reserving a table via Open Table online the night before.
I started with the Anticuchos, grilled, skewered beef heart with potatoes and chimichurri. The meat was very tender, without a lot of ‘organ’ taste, and went great with the potatoes, it was delicious. For a main course, I went with the Chicken and the Egg, which has chicken on a bed of rice, with a soft boiled egg on top, in a rich creamy sauce, that had interesting heat to it. Not overpowering at all, very good.
As it was ‘Restaurant Week’ she tried the menu for that (some proceeds benefit the local food bank), which was a variety of their seafood items. The highlight for me was the Scallop in a brown butter sauce. It was cooked perfectly, and the brown butter made it very sweet. Too sweet for my wife’s taste (though she still liked it), but amazing in my opinion.
I also tried one of their drinks, the Cuba Libra (I think it was called). It was a take on a rum and Coke. Definitely more complex, but had a similar flavor to the classic drink. I must have liked it, as I ordered two
Our server was very friendly and knew the menu items well, but you could tell they were very busy, as she dropped off plates, and then came back a short time later to explain them. Not a big deal, you could just tell the wait staff had a lot to take care of, and were doing a good job. It was a nice meal, and even though their speciality is seafood, their meat options were very well put together.