Absolutely loved Sushi Roku!…read more The sushi was excellent and incredibly fresh. The Japanese uni was seriously to die for. I'm a huge uni fan, and this was some of the best I've had. Everything we ordered was beautifully presented, fresh, and delicious. And the Carnival Cake... wow! What a way to finish dinner. It wasn't just dessert, it was an entire show and such a fun surprise. Definitely worth ordering at least once! James, our waiter, was awesome. Super attentive, friendly, and always seemed to know when we needed something. He really took great care of us throughout the entire dinner and made the experience even better. I also have to mention something that is a HUGE pet peeve of mine... restaurant bathrooms. They were absolutely immaculate! Clean, spotless, and very well maintained. I always feel like that says a lot about how a restaurant is run. Great atmosphere, fantastic service, amazing sushi, and an all-around excellent experience. We had such a great night and will absolutely be coming back. Highly recommend!

We came in for Restaurant Week and really wanted to have a great experience, especially because I…read morelove that the restaurant is participating and supporting such a great community event. Unfortunately, the service was pretty disorganized. Throughout dinner, food meant for the table next to us was brought to our table multiple times. At one point, the table next to us was accidentally given two edamame appetizers. When they pointed out the mistake, they gave the extra one to our table, which we thought was a nice gesture considering all of the mix-ups. Then our bill came and we had been charged for the edamame we never ordered and were specifically given because of their mistake. We had to point it out and ask for the charge to be removed. Mistakes happen, especially during a busy event like Restaurant Week, and I completely understand that. But charging a table for an item they didn't order after your staff specifically gave it to them because of an ordering mistake was pretty frustrating. Overall, the experience just felt much more disorganized than it should have been and took away from the tasty sushi.

Toshokan is honestly one of my favorite omakase experiences I've ever had!! The entire experience…read moreis just so unique from start to finish. It's located inside what I think is a mini golf place (or some kind of entertainment venue haha), and the restaurant itself is hidden behind a bookshelf like a speakeasy. I had never heard of the place before, but I thought the whole concept was SO cool. The omakase itself is incredibly intimate with only a handful of seats, which makes the entire experience feel really personal. Chef and his small team are all so warm and welcoming, and one of my favorite parts was that they actually encourage everyone to get to know each other throughout the meal. It ended up feeling like one big group dinner rather than everyone quietly eating their own meal. My friend and I were even watching the Super Bowl with everyone during our seating, which made the night even more fun! The fish was, of course, phenomenal. Every piece was prepared with so much care and precision, and you could really tell how passionate Chef is about his craft. I'd say the menu falls somewhere in the middle between a super traditional Edomae omakase and a more modern, creative one, which I personally loved. Everything felt incredibly thoughtful without being overly experimental. I also have to give a shoutout to their cocktail program because every drink we had was AMAZING! I don't even think there's a traditional drink menu. Instead, their bartender just asked each of us what kinds of flavors we usually like and created custom cocktails based on our preferences. Every single drink she made for my friends and me was SO good and paired perfectly with the meal. One thing to keep in mind is that each seating is pretty long--we were there for close to three hours! It definitely felt like an experience rather than just dinner, but honestly, the time flew by because everyone was chatting, eating, and having such a great time. It is definitely on the expensive side, but for the quality of the fish, the hospitality, and the overall experience, I thought it was absolutely worth it. One of my favorite little details was that the room is filled with Chef's personal belongings, books, and little collectibles, which makes the space feel so cozy and lived in. He genuinely welcomes guests to ask him about anything in the room, and you can tell he's just such a well-rounded and passionate person. More than anything, this was just such a FUN omakase experience!! If you're looking for something that's intimate, interactive, and a little different from your typical omakase, I can't recommend Toshokan enough!

Toshokan is one of those Austin gems that feels like you've stumbled into another world. Luckily I…read moresnagged a reservation a few weeks in advance. Tucked away inside a mini golf course and hidden behind a bookshelf, the whole experience has this playful speakeasy energy before you even sit down. Once you step inside, the interior immediately transports you to the late‑night streets of Tokyo--moody lighting, intimate vibes, and that cinematic feeling like something special is about to happen. There are 6 seats. My boyfriend and I had such a fun, personal experience. The staff were incredible--warm, engaging, and genuinely excited to guide us through each course. The food itself was delicious, beautifully crafted, and felt customized in a way that made the night feel unique to us. It's the kind of omakase that doesn't take itself too seriously while still delivering seriously good dishes. I also highly recommend the sake and cocktail pairing. The bartender customizes it based on your preferences. I told her my favorite drink is an espresso martini and she made this really fun espresso, strawberry latte concoction. There is also a special house sake with an homage to the owner's cat. I love those personal details. It's always a great time at Toshokan, and I'll definitely be back again. PS it's a great place to celebrate your birthday or special occasion! They broke out a guitar to serenade me lol

We were in search of a low-key dinner after a busy day, and Maiko proved to be a perfect fit. The…read moreatmosphere is well-lit and comfortable, and our server was top-notch. While the regular menu offers a lot, the happy hour menu had plenty to choose from in its own right. We went with a tuna gyoza appetizer followed by a trio of rolls: the Warehouse District (tuna, salmon, white fish, avocado, masago), the Hawaii 5-0 (escolar, kani, mango, fried coconut, and sweet Thai chili sauce), and the Tiger Eye (smoked salmon, cream cheese, jalapeno, soy paper). All of the food proved satisfying. The spicy tuna gyoza (with guacamole and Thai chili sauce) might have been better as a cold dish, but we had no regrets trying it warm. Finding a favorite among the sushi rolls was a challenge as all three brought something different: fresh flavors from the Warehouse, a satisfying crunch and a bit of sweetness from the Hawaii, and some smoky and spicy notes from the Tiger Eye. The rolls are normally in the upper teens though thankfully, happy hour pricing shaved a few dollars off that cost. With so many other dining options nearby, Maiko is easy to overlook. I'm glad that we didn't, however, as it made for an excellent meal.

Underrated spot Great service with great sushi…read more Lots of options too Will come back -

Food: My partner and I shared some Brussels Sprouts, a Robot Ramen, and a Pork Chashu Fried Rice…read more The Brussels Sprouts were fine--the marinade was nice, but would have preferred the sprouts to be a bit crispier. The Robot Ramen was light, yet rich, the meat was succulent (and not too thin, at the risk of being dry) and the noodles were al dente--both were cooked nicely. Lastly, the Pork Chashu Fried Rice was a burst of umami flavor, from the shoyu glazed pork rib to the shiitake mushroom lying underneath. Solid dish--no notes! Service: No complaints! We had a reservation and were seated immediately upon walking in. Our waiter was attentive. Ambiance: Casual, modern. A vibrant experience, to say the least, from the flora draping from the ceiling, to the warm colors permeating throughout. Parking: Street parking available. Pay note of parking signs!

Joshua was one of the best servers I've ever had! He made the whole dinner so fun and enjoyable…read more Came for happy hour but ordered some main menu items too. Really enjoyed the Pom mule drink on happy hour. The cucumber refresher was a little too sweet for me. The spinach dumplings and barbacoa dumplings were both great! Loved the sauces that came with both. Chicken karaage was what you'd expect, would probably try something else next time just to try something new. The hira hira roll was really good! The way they presented the sauces made it slightly hard to dip your roll in it, but would still order again. My friends loved the transformer roll. Yuka-tekkan was a let down for me, just not very flavorful. Overall, would definitely come back for some rolls and the happy hour! There is better sushi on s congress but I still think this is a solid choice. Inside has really cool decor and would be a good place to bring someone to impress a date.

We had a fantastic night and savored every dish that was served. To our lucky surprise we came…read moreduring happy hour, so we ordered many things off of the happy hour menu. Both of the sandos were perfect. The wagyu beef sando had a little bit more flavor but it was slight and both are worth trying. Every roll was enjoyable and I felt like each had a little twist that really made the flavors explosive, like a shaved onion or a crispy puff on the side of the roll. The service was stellar and they were easy to book on OpenTable I also tried the green tea mocktail and found it to be light and refreshing and I was happy that it wasn't super sweet My two favorite items were: 1. The Edamame - which were charred in a way that I feel like I've never experienced it before and had such great flavor. 2. The scallop roll had a thinly sliced shaved truffle on top that made the roll simple yet out of this world. Shout out to the manager who came by just to check in. I always think that is such a sweet gesture.

Stunning Japanese restaurant in downtown Austin, perfect for date night! Romantic, moody atmosphere…read moreand $10 drinks on Thursday night. We indulged in some delicious lychee martinis topped with a lychee foam. Yum! For food, we ordered: 1. Hamachi Carpaccio - light, fresh and melt in your mouth good. I enjoyed the flavors on this one. 2. Chicken Karaage - breading was so delicious! We enjoyed a generous portion, served atop a tasty aioli for dipping. 3. Scallop roll - this was bursting with flavor. The truffle was such a unique addition! 4. Hamachi sashimi - I enjoyed this very much and particularly appreciated the thick sliced pieces of fish. Phenomenal flavors when paired with a little soy sauce. I will say this place is expensive and definitely more for a special occasion date night! Look forward to dining here again in the future.

Uchiba offers a fantastic lunch deal that lets you choose your own appetizer and main course for a…read moregreat price. I always go for the hama chili--it's fresh, flavorful, and consistently hits the spot. The lunch special is a great way to enjoy Uchiba without committing to a longer or more expensive dinner. Lunch aside, Uchiba is also an excellent choice for a date night or special occasion. I came here with my then-fiancé to celebrate our engagement, and the staff went out of their way to make the evening feel extra special. Their thoughtful service made an already memorable occasion even more meaningful. Overall, Uchiba combines great food, a fun atmosphere, and genuinely attentive hospitality. Whether you're stopping by for the lunch deal or celebrating an important milestone over dinner, it's a spot I'd happily recommend and return to.

My friend loves Uchiba and brought me to the original years and years ago when I visited her. I…read moresee they've now expanded to three locations so she booked this one for us to have dinner while in town a few weeks ago. It was about 110 degrees during the day and probably still 97 when we sat out on the patio at 7pm. Our server was kind but our meal was exceptionally slow. We sat for two hours and it was minimum 20-30 minutes between every small single serving of sashimi. They did eventually tell us there was something going on and the sushi kitchen was backed up, obviously. We ordered the fried milk for dessert and asked if it was going to take 20 minutes bc if so, I wanted to leave. It was probably out in less than 10 and it was stellar. As always - sushi and sashimi was delicious, fresh, and they had options that you can't easily find elsewhere. I like this location right in downtown and we walked around for a bit afterwards.

My favorite place for sushi and to go on a date. This was where I first had the guts to eat sea…read moreurchin and eel, despite growing up in Hawaii and catching them all the time as a kid. The way they run Uchi is so much fun and makes you just want to try all these new things. We had sake to drink and seeded beef steak on a lava rock. It's a special place for special occasions.

When we arrived to check in with the host for our reservation, we were told that people were…read morefinishing up at the sushi bar and would be sat shortly. We saw 6 parties come in after us and be sat. When I asked the host, she was rude and said "you have sushi bar seating" which of course I knew. She sent the manager who was awkward and didn't help. After about 20 minutes of waiting, we eventually got sat. The saving grace for this review and why I am giving them 4 stars is because of the service we got from Elliott at the bar--he answered all of our questions, none of his recommendations disappointed, and was very attentive throughout the meal. I will likely not come back but glad I had a chance to check it out.

This happy hour is PHENOMENAL, with a mix of sushi and hot plates I would absolutely recommend. The…read morefish at Soto is so fresh. I have been thinking about the Akami Nigiri since I left. The service here was great. The servers always follow up on food, and my water was never empty. This is the perfect date night spot.

This restaurant got away with murder…read more Sat down to eat. Our order was taken graciously... But only 3/4 of it ever came to the table. My husband's $30 roll never arrived and neither did the edamame he ordered.... Yet, I do believe we paid for both. In the moment of paying the bill, I was in far too much shock over HOW EXPENSIVE IT WAS to even realize that my husband didn't even get half of his dinner. Also, I paid HOW MUCH FOR 6 slices of Anago Sashimi**. I'm NEVER going to get over how insanely priced this restaurant is. And it really isn't much better, or even better at all, than a HOLE IN THE WALL spot that's all you can eat... Call me "trash" if you want but I have eaten at THOUSANDS of sushi spots, high end, low end, Michelin star rated, food poisoning inducing (lol) and this restaurant falls into the category of "wanna be" fancy but you can tell it's trying too hard. Was the fish good? Sure. Was it worth the $450 I wound up spending... For 2 people... NOT EVEN A LITTLE. **THEY CHARGED ME $64 for 6 slices of Anago sashimi, even though on the menu it was $7 per slice. ** They also charged me $110 for a sashimi platter, and I have absolutely NO CLUE where they came up with this number. Truly pissed off at this restaurant. ALWAYS TRIPLE CHECK YOUR BILL BEFORE PAYING!!!!! This restaurant stole from us.