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    1618 Asian Fusion

    4.7 (4.2k reviews)
    ModerateVietnamese, Thai, Dim Sum
    Open 10:00 am - 9:30 pm
    Updated 1 week ago

    Waitlist - 1618 Asian Fusion

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    1618 ASIAN FUSION ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
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    Classy

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    Amaretto Sour Hugo Mai Tai
    Cari B.

    Delicious! Seating took longer than estimated but worth the wait! Our waitress was wonderful! We had the appetizer sampler, beef, fried rice, sesame, chicken, and shrimp steamed shu mi All was fabulous

    Cheryl V.

    Austin~What a great spot for Asian fusion food! You walk in and the whole place, although tiny from the front door, opens up to a huge, beautiful restaurant! Food was great, although a bit spicier than I prefer. There were many dishes that were too spicy for me to enjoy. That's why I took one star off. I would like to have more offerings that are not spicy at all. On my pictures, I highlighted what we tried!! Definitely a place I would go back to. We were able to try several different items because there were four of us and we were extremely hungry. The dim sum was fabulous.

    Sandi G.

    Took my bestie here cause she told me she likes Thai curry and she enjoyed it very much. As for me, I've known this place was solid since it first opened but I haven't dropped in for over a year due to it being opposite side of town. I love the fact the menu stayed the same as I was able to get the same spring rolls and duck curry as I did years ago. I tried to make a reservation a week out but Saturday dinner time was book solid so we got on the waitlist the day of and there's only about a 40 minute wait to from when we got on the waitlist to a table being available for three. I'm glad this place hasn't lost its hype.

    Top left to bottom right: Wonton Soup, Tiger Shrimp, Filet Mignon Pad See Ew, & Xiao Long Bao
    Christina H.

    Is it that time of year for another 1618 update? Absolutely. After my umpteenth visit, I think it's safe to say I've worked my way through almost the entire menu (minus a few noodle, chicken & vegetarian dishes). My 2025 review still stands, but after so many visits, I've noticed a few items haven't been good as they used to, particularly the chicken wings (and yes, all three of them). The Garlic Wings haven't been hitting quite the same. They've started to taste a little dry, and the saucier wings taste better the next day since they don't have time to steep through once served. The Filet Mignon Pepper Steak is still my favorite dish on the menu, but I still can't justify ordering it family-style anymore. It's delicious, but the portion just doesn't match the price. One of the newest additions--the Truffle Fried Rice is spectacular. It's light, not overpowering with truffle, and the fish eggs really adds the perfect little pop of texture/flavor. I don't think I breathed the entire time I scarfed it down!! 1618 is still one of my favorite restaurants in Austin of all time, but I think it's time for the menu to elevate a bit and dive deeper into less mainstream Asian cuisine. If anyone can do it, 1618 can.

    Marco R.

    After landing in San Antonio yesterday to kick off my summer vacation, the very first thing I did today was ask my friend to bring me back to this restaurant. The reason is simple: we ate here two years ago, and it left such a great impression on us that we had been looking forward to coming back ever since. Fortunately, not much has changed in terms of either the quality or the overall presentation of the food. Everything is still delicious, especially the Pho Combo. To be honest, it's far better than most of the pho we've had in Germany. That doesn't mean the pho in Germany is bad--it simply means this place matches my personal taste much better. As for the downsides, they're almost exactly the same as before. Parking is still a major challenge, and I understand that's probably not something the restaurant can easily fix. We also tried calling ahead to reserve a table, but they don't take reservations, whether you're coming with a group of 5-7 people or just 2-3 people. We arrived at 6:45 PM and still had to wait about 40 minutes before being seated, which was honestly quite inconvenient. Coincidentally, there was live music tonight, which was a nice surprise. Unfortunately, the sound system wasn't very good, so it was difficult to hear what the singers were performing. Then again, this isn't really the type of venue where people come specifically to enjoy live music, so most diners didn't seem to pay much attention to it. One thing I did notice was that either the kitchen has made a few changes over the past two years, or perhaps my own taste has changed a little. The food felt slightly saltier than I remembered, and the pho broth was richer and creamier. While that added some depth of flavor, it was a bit too rich for my liking, to the point where finishing the entire bowl of broth felt a little overwhelming. The braised short ribs were incredibly tender--so tender that a knife was almost unnecessary, and they could easily be pulled apart with just a fork. While many people would probably see that as a positive, I actually missed the slightly firmer, meatier texture I remembered from my last visit. That said, these are relatively minor issues. The quality may have dipped just a little compared to our previous visit, but this is still an excellent restaurant. If they can fine-tune those small details, it would easily return to being one of my favorite places. There's a good chance we'll stop by one more time before heading back to Germany.

    Liz Z.

    If you're looking for one of the best Asian dining experiences in Austin, put 1618 Asian Fusion at the top of your list. I came here on a word-of-mouth recommendation, and I was intrigued before I even sat down. The restaurant itself is gorgeous. As soon as you walk in, you're greeted by a beautifully designed waiting area showcasing the restaurant's many awards and accolades. It immediately sets the tone that you're in for something special. We came with one goal: try as many things as possible. Saturdays are perfect for that because they offer dim sum. We started with the Pho Xiao Long Bao (Wagyu beef soup dumplings) and the Korean pancakes. The soup dumplings completely stole the show. Perfectly cooked, delicate wrappers, rich and flavorful broth, and with just a touch of chili oil...absolute perfection. I've had soup dumplings in many places, and these are hands down the best I've ever had. I say that with my whole chest. The Korean pancakes were also outstanding. Crispy on the outside, tender inside, with that perfect balance of savory and just a hint of sweetness. Every bite had great texture and flavor. For our entrées, my husband ordered the Banana Salmon. It was spectacular. It's one of those dishes that makes you question whether you've ever really had good curry before. The spice wasn't about heat, it was about depth, warmth, and layers of beautifully balanced flavor. I ordered the Crab&Shrimp Tom Yum Coconut Fried Rice, and this dish deserves its own paragraph. The presentation alone is stunning. The fried rice is served inside a fresh coconut, surrounded by banana leaves and topped with a beautiful orchid. But thankfully, it tastes every bit as incredible as it looks. The coconut adds a delicate sweetness without overpowering the dish. The crab was plentiful, sweet, and incredibly fresh, while the shrimp were perfectly cooked, not a second overdone. Dishes like this require impeccable timing because every ingredient cooks differently, and somehow every single component was flawless. It was one of the best fried rice dishes I've ever eaten. The service was equally impressive. Everyone was warm, attentive, and happy to offer recommendations based on their most popular dishes. They even told us about their live music nights, which immediately gave us another reason to come back. The table next to us was having Pho and needed with the mango sticky rice and I am coming back for that. Overall, 1618 Asian Fusion delivered on every level, beautiful atmosphere, exceptional food, and genuinely welcoming service. It's one of those restaurants that leaves you planning your next visit before you've even paid the bill. Highly recommend!

    Ambiance
    Dylan T.

    TL;DR: Top 3 favorite restaurant in Austin! Would easily recommend this restaurant to any friend visiting from out of town. Make a reservation beforehand. Food: + Duck red curry: This was probably my favorite dish! The duck is super tender and curry has a nice rich flavor to it. + Pineapple fried rice: There were around 4 large shrimp, and they were very tender and flavorful. Every bite is seriously so enjoyable -- not spicy and served in an actual pineapple! + Filet mignon pad see ew: Not a huge portion, but wow the meat is really quite tender. + Ube panna cotta: I have had this dessert twice! Ube flavor is very strong, and gelatin texture melts in your mouth. Portion size isn't very large, but it's a good way to end a nice meal. Service: + Friendly service, gave good recommendations, and refilled waters without asking. No complaints here! Ambiance: + Big fan of the dim lighting. + Very close walk to the Lady Bird Lake trail, makes for a great view before or after your meal. There is a free parking garage right across from 1618 as well. + Nice spacious restroom to use as well. Clean, 2 stalls and 2 urinals.

    Five Sampler
    Zubair L.

    Amazing! Came here to celebrate an anniversary. After this being on my radar for quite a while, we decided to try it out and we were more than impressed. Here's my breakdown: Food: 10/10 Vegan curry had phenomenal flavors and a great veggie selection. Rich and creamy. Five sampler was a nice mix of everything and the meat was soft and tender. Seasoned very well. I wasn't a big fan of the tofu eggrolls though. Everything else was spot on. Veggie dumplings and shrimp dumplings were both awesome. Ambience 10/10 Not that loud, light music playing in background. Was a good vibe and nice to listen to the live music. Service: 12/10 By far, I was most impressed with our server( yen). She was very attentive, gave us good recommendations and answered all our questions and was very friendly. Even gave us a card for our anniversary + complimentary dessert.Management if you see this, please give Yen a raise Overall, 1618 is outstanding. We'll definitely be back, and I do recommend going in a large group because the menu is very extensive and there's a few dishes that would be ideal to share. This spot will definitely rise to the top for my favorite spots in Austin. Keep up the good work 1618

    Daisy P.

    Love this Asian fusion Austin spot. Been here twice and both times were great food and great service. Ambiance is warm and classy yet casual. It is a great spot for Dim Sum soup dumplings, fried rice, and they have a filet minion pad see ew. What I order: Pineapple fried rice Chicken dumplings Xiao long bao

    Milky Way Shot
    Amie N.

    I'm usually leery of anything Asian Fusion because typically it's just generic Asian cuisine with severely watered down flavor or just poorly prepared. 1618 is one of the few exceptions I make. The service has always been good with the staff and the food/drinks are even better. I was a huge fan of the pineapple fried rice. I had the Thai tum yum fried rice this time and it was equally great! The "Award-Winning Pho" was not good at all the very first time I dined here in 2021 but I'm glad I came back (and again!) to give it another shot. It's been months since I last visited and finally getting around to leaving a review. I believe the whole peking duck was good; can't recall anything necessarily bad about it but nothing was super impressionable either. The ube panna cotta, Milky Way shot, and lychee martinis are always a must for me.

    Lava Bao
    Colette E.

    AMAZING food, atmosphere, service, and value! Highly recommend and they are very gluten free, vegan friendly! Social hour (4-6 M-T) is a good time to visit because they have apps and cocktails not usually on the menu. I loved the egg drop soup and the dim sum platter was a hit with fellow diners (not gf). Super cute for a date night or girl's night out. I also saw large parties utilizing the family style portions.

    Roast Duck Scallion Pancake
    Cheryl W.

    This restaurant food and staff are amazing! Our server was outstanding. She had a lovely personality and did everything possible to ensure that our brunch was a special experience. We ordered more food than we could eat and everything was delicious. The music was very pleasant and not too loud. I was informed that we should return for live music one evening. This is the place to go for beautiful great tasting food and fabulous service!

    Pornstar Martini
    Angel G.

    Had some amazing cocktails at this restaurant along with some great Crispy chicken Pad Thai! Vanessa also provided us with great service and accommodated us when needed. Per usual, the space also felt welcoming and warm. Love it here!

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    17 days ago

    Don't miss out on this hidden gem. Unique calamari, soup dumplings, city's best dim sum. Good food, good music, good people.

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    1 month ago

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    27 days ago

    They charged us large party gratuity for 3 adults and 2 children. Service was slow and we had 3 different servers during our visit.

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    12 days ago

    This place is right around the corner for me. Their soup dumplings always hit and they are always so reliable. Will always come back here!

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    Page 1 of 105

    1618 Asian Fusion Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - 1618 Asian Fusion

    Are small dogs allowed outside in the patio?

    Yes! We welcome dogs of all sizes to our Patio, and we will provide a refreshing bowl of ice water!

    What kind of cooking oil do you use ? I have a peanut allergy?

    Olive oil

    Hello! What kind of oils does the kitchen use? Thanks in advance!

    Cooking oil.

    What days of the week do you have live music?

    I think they have live music just on Thursdays

    Is this restaurant kid friendly?

    While we do not have a playground of any kiddie area, we do provide small coloring kit for kids who come to dine with us. We also have booths and outdoor patio seating upon request. Some of our dishes are kids favorite such as pho noodle soup or… 

    Are you open on Christmas Day?

    Yes we are open all day on Christmas Day from 10am to 10:30pm. Looking forward to serve you soon!

    Are they pet friendly? Is there a patio?

    Yes, they do have a patio and I've seen pets out in the patio!

    Why does your menu say "from the sky"? Chickens don't fly. 😂😂😂

    They do fly, just not very far. Probably further than you though 😅

    What food items are on the Happy Hour? I do not see a HH menu.

    WONTON SOUP, DUCK CHICHARRON,PORK BELLY BUNS.

    Are you able to accommodate shellfish allergies? I need to avoid cross contact (different knives, nothing fried in the same oil as shrimp, etc.).?

    Hi J C, just a few items that we can do but you need to call in to the restaurant to confirm the items can do it or not. Thanks!

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    Qi Austin

    Qi Austin

    4.4
    (900 reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$
    Family-owned & operated
    Outdoor seating

    Went to Qi for dim sum brunch and overall had a really enjoyable experience. Qi is know for…read morecombining western and traditional Chinese cuisine by using local organic farming. Did not have a reservation on this occasion, but they always make me feel welcome and manage to fit us in. Sat on the outdoor covered patio that was cool and shaded. The atmosphere is modern and lively, making it a great spot for a weekend brunch. Started the meal with cocktails including Lycheetini with Deep Eddy Vodka, Giffard Lichi-li. lemon, cranberry, I cut the cranberry. Also had a Fresa Paloma with Socorro Reposado Tequila, Contratto, strawberry, lime, grapefruit, five-spice that was very sweet and garnished with a flower. You are given a card where you can mark your dim sum selections. I ordered the Shrimp Pancake, Snow Crab Ball and Chinese Sausage Sticky Rice. The standout was the shrimp pancake that had a really great texture and flavor. The snow crab ball had a strange texture with shrimp surrounding the snow crab claw. The Chinese Sticky Rice is always a favorite. Also ordered the Truffle Egg Fried rice and Birds Nest with Seasonal Vegetable. The Truffle rice is so flavorful like a flavor explosion in your mouth. The Birds Nest is made with fried potato shreds which contain the a variety of vegetables including cauliflower, peppers, mushrooms and asparagus. The nest is also edible and has a crunchy texture. The presentation of the food is amazing and everything came out hot and fresh. The flavors were on point, and you can tell there's attention to detail in the preparation. Service was attentive outdoors and the pacing of dishes felt just right for a relaxed brunch. This restaurant is truly a gem whether you come for brunch or dinner service. Will definitely be back.

    I met a couple of friends here last week for an early (before 5pm) get together that I thought was…read morea happy hour, but turns out they don't have happy hour so we paid regular prices. The place reminded me of Ling Wu in the Grove area because the decor looked similar. Maybe they are owned by the same people? Firstly, I was impressed with the fact they had a FREE parking garage nearby since this is in the downtown area and next to Whole Foods. It took me a bit to find it as I'm directionally challenged, but I did and was just running a bit late. We really enjoyed the food and cocktails. I got the Singaporean noodles, a mezcal drink, and a sake. The serving size was big so I had plenty to take home. We shared many of the other dumplings and dim sum items. Everything was very good! The place wasn't too crowded so after we paid our bill we sat around for a while longer to chat and catch up. Usually someone would come by to see if we needed or wanted anything further, but no one did so we kept chatting and left. I'm happy to know of a central location with easy parking as a future place to meet people. I wish they had a happy hour because the bill for 3 of us was unexpectedly higher than usual.

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    Qi Austin
    View from the Patio
    View from the Patio
    Qi Austin

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    Lin Asian Bar & Dim Sum

    Lin Asian Bar & Dim Sum

    4.2
    (1.3k reviews)
    2.5 mi
    $$$
    Locally owned & operated
    Family-owned & operated

    This is definitely one of my favorite places in Austin for Asian food and soup dumplings…read more Definitely need to make a reservation because this place is small and always packed. When you arrive, everybody is so nice you give them your name and they get you seated right away. I ordered a drink called a signature tingling Daisy and it was so good. I definitely could've had so many but I was driving so you gotta pace yourself. We started off with the soup dumplings, which are just phenomenal. It's a must when you go. Also, for appetizers, we got the spicy cucumbers which were divine and a hot and sour soup, which was perfectly balanced and not watery. We also got a beef fried rice and let me tell you that rice is so soft and delicious. You literally dream about it the next day. I also got the pecking duck which is delicious there the skin is nice and crispy and the meat on it taste so good. We also got the Kung pow shrimp with cashews, which was delicious and the pieces of shrimp were gigantic. We also got the green beans which is were delicious. I love ordering green beans when they're cooked just like the ones I posted in the photo. Then for dessert, we got the chocolate mousse which is that little dog cake. I know it's so cute and they made it a little hard to eat because you feel bad in a weird sense. It was delicious now I will say when cutting it and realizing the inside had a raspberry filling, made it a little more crazy cause it looked like blood, but it was still so good. This place is definitely an awesome staple and a must visit when you're in town or just always go and have food there whether it's date night or friends catching up or anything in general even on your own.

    I made a reservation for two on Resy and discovered when we got there that it was for the bar for…read moresome reason. This could have been my mistake but I don't remember any choice in the matter. The greeter wasn't very friendly and borderline surly when I asked for more details about how to not book the bar in the future. Didn't get any explanation but fortunately, we won't have to worry about that... The food was just awful. We ordered 3-4 types of dimsum (onion pancake, soup dumplings, chu shou, fried shu mae) and three entries (orange beef, eggplant and their take on ma pao tofu) for the best tasting experience. The curry sauce for the onion pancake was probably the most flavorful dish of the night sadly. The onion pancake was way way over fried-- hard as a rock. If that's their take on onion pancake... well, it's just wrong. The soup dumplings were passable but a bit doughie and the filling was full of a lot of noticeable coagulated fat -- not clear and broth-y, with light surface droplets of oil as all delicious broths. My wife enjoyed the chu shou -- I found the filling much too overcooked and tough -- difficult to eat with chop sticks. Like a tough, overcooked meatball. The fried shu Mae were just plain inedible. My wife and I each ate one and left the rest. The included sauce was basic and too heavy. And again, over fried. There was a huge delay between our apps and our mains, like 40 minutes or so. Various bar staff apologized. It wasn't a big deal, we were in a good conversation and they were super busy but our mains were not at all worth waiting for. Small portions. WAY over sauced. WAY too salty. WAY too sweet. No distinct flavors at all. The ma pao didn't seem to have any Szechuan pepper at all. How do you miss that ? The plating of the eggplant dish was really creative but I don't eat with my eyes and it came with no instruction -- my first bite was just flavorless steamed eggplant cube -- second was mixed with one note sauce. One of the better mains IMO but it was still gloopy and pretty gross. Wife did not enjoy it. The orange beef was essentially just six or seven cubes of tough, fatty beef covered in over-the-top bitter orange peel. We each had a cube and left the rest. Honestly, give me Panda Express any day over this abject failure of a restaurant. Austin needs more Chinese but if it's anything like this place, forget it. I'd rather spend a 4h round trip to Houston and go to even a mediocre Chinese restaurant than endure another meal at this place. What a waste of $165. Edit: I wish I was making this up but I literally had to pull over to throw up on the side of the road on the way home. The food did not sit well with me. I have no underlying health conditions, am not on any medicine that would have this as a side effect and only shared one beer with my wife. It was just a very, very, disappointing and gross meal.

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    Outdoor
    Outdoor
    Lin Asian Bar & Dim Sum
    Lanterns inside

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    Lanterns inside
    Shanghai Restaurant

    Shanghai Restaurant

    3.5
    (737 reviews)
    6.0 mi
    $$

    We came in for dim sum on a Sunday night, only about 30 minutes before closing, and the staff could…read morenot have been nicer. Everyone was incredibly friendly and welcoming, and they repeatedly told us not to rush. We never felt limited in what we could order or pressured to finish up and leave, which we really appreciated. And the food delivered! Everything came out fresh, hot, flavorful, and legit. I'd give the food a solid 4.5/5, but the service was an easy 10/10. Great food, exceptional hospitality, and an all-around great experience. Definitely a spot I'd come back to.

    This might be the best dim sum in Austin now…read more I actually had never eaten at Shanghai having grown up in Austin. I didn't have their food until around COVID when we got dim sum to go a few times. I remember at that time thinking it was pretty unremarkable, and also quite expensive for dim sum. Fast forward to this year. I'm not sure if they have new ownership or new cooks, but the difference is night and day. I've been a couple of times now for dine-in in dim sum and each time was awesome. You can order off the menu or by QR code. They definitely focus on the classics but they're all executed really well. Standouts for me were the pan fried turnip cake, full of turnip and super sweet, the shrimp and leek pan fried dumplings, shrimp stuffed eggplant, and chili wonton. What makes them unique to me is that the food is all cooked to order and comes out hot and fresh. The fried items are crispy and hot and everything else you can tell just came straight from the kitchen. This avoids the one issue with carts which is that the food has been cooked who knows when and has just been sitting in a steam cart for an unknown amount of time. Also since you order off the menu, you can get exactly what you want instead of having to wait for a cart to come by. The service is always friendly and I've never had to wait to be seated, even on a weekend. If you haven't come here in awhile or written it off in the past, I'd encourage you to come and try it again. Right now it's a hidden gem but if more people realize how much better it is now, it might not be for long. Also bonus points for being a dim sum place that's not super far north like New Fortune 2 or Golden Palace.

    Photos
    Shanghai Restaurant
    Shanghai Restaurant
    On the side of the restaurant. Enter on the left.

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    On the side of the restaurant. Enter on the left.
    Wu Chow

    Wu Chow

    3.9
    (1.2k reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    A decent spot for Asian cuisine in Austin. It's a little pricey, but the happy hour menu seems like…read morea great way to sample a few dishes before committing to a full dinner. The xiao long bao were well made, and our group enjoyed the other dishes we ordered as well. They also have a solid cocktail menu, making it a good option for drinks and shared plates.

    We came to Wu Chow after reading all of the great reviews, and they definitely lived up to the…read morehype. The restaurant has a really nice atmosphere with lower lighting, comfortable seating, and beautiful window views that make for a relaxing dining experience. We were seated quickly, and the staff was excellent throughout our meal. Everyone was friendly, attentive, and happy to answer questions and offer recommendations. The food was so good that I barely had time to take photos before we started digging in! We ordered the soup dumplings, pork dumplings, sweet and spicy chicken with a side of white rice, and one of the beef dishes with vegetables. The soup dumplings were good, but they weren't quite as amazing as I expected based on all the reviews. The pork dumplings, on the other hand, were outstanding and one of my favorite items we ordered. The sweet and spicy chicken was absolutely delicious with great seasoning, and the beef with vegetables was equally flavorful and cooked perfectly. If you're visiting or staying in downtown Austin, I definitely recommend adding Wu Chow to your list. Great food, excellent service, and a wonderful atmosphere made for a memorable dinner.

    Photos
    Texas Tiki Week 2014 "Bull Mug"
    Texas Tiki Week 2014 "Bull Mug"
    Special Fried Rice - lots of meat, but lacking flavor
    Special Fried Rice - lots of meat, but lacking flavor
    Thyme Me Up Cocktail

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    Thyme Me Up Cocktail

    1618 Asian Fusion - vietnamese - Updated August 2026

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