I saw that East Side King was going to close and my friend had recommended it so I wanted to stop by and try it. There was plenty of parking available. When you walk in, you can place your order at the counter. I ordered the Brussels sprouts salad. I asked for the jalapeños and sauce be on the side since I do not eat spicy hot foods. I wanted to add fried tofu, but the person talking my order said the $7 fried tofu addition was just for the curry and I would have to order the appetizer so I passed since I was just one person. There was plenty of seating in the dining area and they brought the food out when ready. My salad had jalapeños and sauce on it even though I asked for them to be on the side. I was able to remove the jalapeños and it was not that spicy. The salad had fried Brussels sprouts with sweet and spicy sauce, cabbage, basil, cilantro, mint, onion, jalapeño, crispy steamed bao bun. My suggestion would be to replace the bun with a fried tofu option and that would be amazing. It was a very herby and fresh salad with all the fresh herbs. Overall I liked my salad and want to try other items on the menu like the bento box and bowls. Sad to see that this establishment will be closing soon. read more

East Side King - Brussels sprout salad - Asian Fusion Near Me - Austin, Texas

East Side King gets a lot of praise on r/austinfood, but it was unfortunately mid. My friend who I came with and I have tried most of the East Asian restaurants in Austin that seem good and are within a reasonable price point, so I really had to do my research to find one that we hadn't been to yet. I had the katsu curry udon, which overall did not have very good of a flavour. My bar is pretty low for chicken katsu and Japanese curry. I am usually easily pleased with these foods, but this was not the case. It wasn't particularly bad however, just mid. My friend got the gyudon bowl, which we both expected to be a bowl of rice with some beef on top, which the picture shows on the online menu. However, it was almost soupy. It was like a pond of beef liquid surrounding a small island of rice. The sogginess was not expected or welcomed. She told me it was good at first, but then the sauce got too salty. I took one bite and felt the strength of the sodium. This is the type of sauce that leaves you dehydrated for the rest of the day. We didn't like the onsen egg either, but we hadn't had one before, so it might just be a flavour we're not used to. This restaurant seems reasonably popular from what I've read online, but it was almost empty when we were there on a Saturday from 6:30-7:30pm. I found that odd. The cocktails on the menu seem good, and they are reasonably priced. I read reviews warning others not to park in the lot right next to the restaurant. The actual parking lot is south of the restaurant and next to a tattoo shop. They have signs posted on the front door to warn customers, but just be extra cautious about it! read more

East Side King - Katsu curry udon and gyudon bowl - Asian Fusion Near Me - Austin, Texas

It's too bad that this Asian fusion restaurant is closing, because they have the most amazing food! The people are friendly and helpful. You order at the counter and they bring your food out to you quickly. I ordered the roasted Brussels sprouts salad. In addition to the Brussels sprouts, it included purple cabbage, jalapeños and fresh mint, basil leaves, and cilantro. Cooked to perfection, it was crunchy and delicious. The dressing was slightly sweet and refreshing. I didn't care for the 4 slices of bread, so I removed them. Prices are affordable; the salad was only $7.00. The outside and decor are funky. I will definitely miss this place! when it closes before June 8th! It was a gem, co-founded by "Top Chef" and James Beard Award-winning Paul Qui. read more

East Side King - Roasted Brussels sprouts salad - Asian Fusion Near Me - Austin, Texas

I get it that you're closed but please repaint the exterior. It's looked like amateur street art since day one and now it's been tagged by every idiot teenager in the neighborhood. It makes the whole area look like crap. read more

food so good I forgot to take a picture before eating it. I have always loved the food truck at high noon, elated to know there is a restaurant. Good pricing for very good food. The chicken bowl was impeccable, but not as good as the katsu ramen. Similar but better (IMO) to the Sa-Ten katsu ramen. Good portion as well. The service was great! The girl that helped us was so nice and accommodating. Will definitely be back. read more

East Side King - Asian Fusion Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I keep coming back and am satisfied every time with good taste and value. Recently I tried the chef special pork bowl which had a very good variety of fixings to go with the perfectly cooked pork. As is customary, I order the spicy wontons in hot chili oil with extra oil and love it. East going vibe. Recommended. read more

East Side King - Chef Special Pork Bowl - Asian Fusion Near Me - Austin, Texas

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The food is so good, but I was thrilled last night on a chilly night to see they added udon soup noodles to the menu! It was delicious! I also recommend their brussel sprouts, their beet fries, the avocado buns! PLEASE NOTE: the parking lot closest to the door (directly behind the restaurant) does not service East Side King customers and they booted us and demanded $100 to take the boot off. I really thought we were parked the right place, so just a warning so you don't get screwed. read more

During spring break, my friend Tania and I decided to go for it and drove our Houstonian butts to Austin for the weekend and it just really is such a good vibe. We spent the early half of the day exploring the pop ups of SXSW weekend and kayaking that we forgot to eat--LOL. So we quickly found a trendy Asian food spot near by called East Side King. You need to drive careful as you approach their location otherwise you'll miss it. It's hidden in plain sight and there's a shared lot right next to it. Walking into this joint though just felt like one of those "I'm remembering this spot" moments, because the murals and aesthetic just welcomed you in that manner. Tania and I were H U N G R Y so we went for their classic bento. Not too long later, we were presented with a beautifully plated meal. Pork belly, chicken, salad, rice--every girls favorite qualities. The flavors were just so good and right in that cannibal-like hunger moment too. If I'm honest, as a girl from Hawai'I who moved to Texas, I really missed being able to order plate lunches. Plate lunches in Hawai'i just have the perfect amount of everything. And it made my tummy happy to have that similar feeling again when dining at East Side King. read more

East Side King - Classic Bento - Asian Fusion Near Me - Austin, Texas

Fried chicken sando: it's a small Japanese burger. There are chicken + pickles + some sauce inside. Fresh crispy fried chicken. The burger buns are fluffy and slightly toasted. The portion is a bit small for the price. read more

East Side King - Outside - Asian Fusion Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I tried it so you don't have to! Of course, you're more than welcome to sample the whole spread of plant-based options from East Side King too; there were no regrets or disappointments across the board. If you want to maximize your investment and calories though, let me give you the short cut to the very best bites. Get the tofu karaage, post haste. It's fried to crispy perfection before meeting an umami bomb combination of, garlic oil, soy sauce, jalapeno, onion, Thai basil, mint, cilantro, and sweet and spicy sauce. It's got some real kick with an herbaceous one-two punch that follows. Add in a sweet, strong Thai tea made dairy-free upon request, and now we're really talking. The pairing is a perfect study in contrasts, hitting all the right notes. I'd never turn down another serving of beet fries or an avocado bun, but these two are my fool-proof fix. read more

East Side King - Veggie bento, beet fries, Thai tea - Asian Fusion Near Me - Austin, Texas

They've gotten a little pricy, but it is still worth a trip to see the Kings at the funky little brick and mortar! Got the shrimp tempura bowl- fresh, fat shrimp coated in crispy goodness. Almost like a deconstructed tempura shrimp roll without the seaweed. Also got the pork buns- big favorite. They have a selection of beers and Maine sodas, as well as some snacks for the drive home like Pocky sticks, HiChews and gummy kitties! Service was warm, friendly, knowledgeable and fast! Be sure to ask for the chili paste- omg, could eat a bowl of it! Serious Tip: Don't park behind the building! Park to the south. read more

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I've eaten Japanese curry all over, including in Japan, and never thought curry could taste awful--until I tried East Side King. I ordered the Chicken Katsu Curry, and it was a huge letdown. The portion was small, the curry sauce was watery and sour--almost like it had gone bad, and the katsu sauce drizzled on the chicken tasted like cough syrup. The whole dish is a complete disaster. If you're craving Japanese curry, avoid this place. You'd be better off making it at home with Japanese curry cubes, which would taste a hundred times better. Save your money and skip East Side King. read more

I love that they have this new little food truck location at Cosmic. Cosmic has great outdoor space with water features and plants. I absolutely love their fried brussel sprouts salad . read more

Chill, eclectic and homey with friendly service, this is a great spot to come and enjoy a leisurely lunch. They have a nice variety of items on their menu, and I chose the bento box with the chicken Katsu, jasmine rice, brussels sprouts, slaw, and pork banh mi. Can't speak to other days or times but this Saturday afternoon parking was a breeze. South Lamar is a vibe unto itself so on a sunny, warmer day it would be worth coming back to eat lunch here and then walk around to enjoy some of the local shops. read more

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Just got a 100 dollar boot ticket just for parking in front of this restaurant. I paid my ticket and made sure to give the restaurant the just rating they deserve for booting my car :). Never supporting this place. If they want me to take away this 1 star review they can pay me back my 100 dollars as there was no reason for me to be booted there was plenty of parking available at the restaurant for other customers read more

There's something about powering through a giant bowl of karaage, rice and fresh herbs that's just extreme satisfying. East Side King's rendition still holds up after all the years, ever since my first time getting it probably about a decade ago. They also had a great tent at ACL last year which was my go-to spot for lunch throughout the festival. That said, I have had issues with gluten contamination even though they mark things as safe for celiacs and claim that the fryer is safe. I would warn against it for anyone with a gluten allergy -- as it's the main reason I can't really come here anymore, as much as I wish that I could. I actually had a safer experience at their ACL pop-up than their brick and mortar location. read more

I really enjoyed this a lot. The food is tasty and interesting. I got pork belly bowl and I loved the chili relish on top. The kimchi is also very good. The clerk was friendly and helpful, the restaurant was clean. All in all a good trip into town. read more

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I loved this place! I had a fried chicken sando which was delicious and very well fried and crispy. I also tried in order of favorite to least favorite: The Brussels sprouts salad, the chili wontons and the fried beets. Brussels sprouts had great flavor and were mixed with jalapeños, mint, cilantro and cabbage. They were toasted up crispy. The chili wontons were tasty, but i expected them to be spicy, they were not. And the fried beets were also good but they could have just as easily been potatoes. Total was around $50 read more

I live near this East Side King and it's a staple, I keep coming back. Their bento is a great value- reasonable price for a lot of food and variety. I always sub the beets for rice. they're delicious. The flavors are always excellent. I'm a vegetarian so I get the tofu. The fry on all the items is perfect! I usually get takeout but the location is really nice to eat at too. Love the draft beers read more

One of my favorite spots in town! I've been a loyal fan of ESK since the first time I had them in their truck behind Liberty (RIP) and am beyond lucky to live in walking distance. Also let me just say this so I don't bury the lead: UBE SOFT SERVE!! My go to order is the Classic Bento and Cucumber Salad; this will usually give me 2-3 meals based on how hungry I'm feeling. *Pro tip: mix together everything in the bento box (except the pork bun) for a yummy bowl! Classic Bento: - kara-age; sweet and spicy fried chicken bites with jalapeño and onion - brussels; perfectly fried brussels sprouts with onion and jalapeño, cabbage, and sweet + spicy sauce - pork bun; pork belly, hoisin, cucumber kimchi - steamed riced Cucumber Salad: Chopped cucumbers in a spicy garlic vinaigrette and roasted peanuts (I always ask for extra) Don't forget the Ube Soft Serve! So yummy, so velvety, so purple. Another YUMx10 dessert option: Japanese cheesecake :drool face: Fun fact: the artwork is done by local artist Peelander Yellow! read more

East Side King - Cucumber salad, classic bento - Asian Fusion Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Beware , don't park in the parking lot that is facing the side of Eastside King . There's a guy waiting to boot your car for $100. I was in there 5 min picking up food to go. I actually thought I was parking in the correct parking lot . I find it unethical practice because the signage is unclear which business's are part of this parking lot making you reasonably believe the parking lot is for Eastside King. Apparently, there's some unpleasant history between the landlord and Eastside King. I will boycotting this restaurant and the business's in this parking lot. There's too many places in Austin that are forgiving and kind with good vibes . read more

Got food from East Side King for lunch today, and it was good but not great. I ordered the pork Katsu and chicken karage bowls. The pork had good flavor, however was a little thin. The chicken karage bowl was on the spicier side but also good. I wish the chicken karage bowl had more veggies included other than the onions and jalapeños. However, the sauces included with both dishes were very good. Overall, it was good but a little pricey and I don't see myself rushing to return. read more

East Side King - Pork Katsu - Asian Fusion Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Newbies here, ESK was amazing so flavorful, paired perfect with the cucumber salad That cucumber salad was so tasty full of herbs and a kimchi type paste 10/10. Would go back 1 million times. Natalie was especially helpful. read more

East Side King - Cucumber salad and fries - Asian Fusion Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Cute spot hidden in plain sight. Thought it was a tattoo spot at first and none of the foodie sites even mention this spot. Food: Pork katsu sando - delicious Kara-age bowl - decent read more

Food was very good and even in takeout, although I thought I'd love the karage most which was actually my least favorite in the bento box. The chicken katsu curry is excellent along with the pork belly bao buns. read more

Food was overcooked and soggy. Parking is always a nightmare with the malicious parking company and limited parking at Chipotle. Not worth the hassle- much better food down the road. read more

I get lunch delivered to work and I thought I would try them out. I LOVED the pot sticker, the sauce they were in was great. Would definitely go in and try more items. read more

Tried and true, Austin staple. Yummy buns and Japanese curry with chicken katsu pickled onions and greens and rice. read more

East Side King - Chicken katsu curry - Asian Fusion Near Me - Austin, Texas

I went to East Side King on a lunch break about 30 minutes after opening and was the only one in there when I arrived. I quickly ordered and grabbed a seat and then sat around for a good solid 20-25 minutes before my food arrived. I did one of the bento box meals and overall thought it was decent value and decent flavor. Not bad by any means but nothing too special either. Would be open to trying some other stuff from the menu if I happen to be close by again. read more

This place is an institution. Their Brussels Salad [fried brussels sprouts, herbs, onion, jalapeño, cabbage, sweet and spicy sauce + fried bun] is not to be missed. The juxtaposition of the brightness of the fresh mint and basil combined with the spice from the jalapeño is wildly refreshing. Also, try the Deep-Fried Roasted Beets with japanese mayo. I haven't tried the Avo Bun yet but that sounds awesome as well. The staff is very hip: not quite as sweet and accommodating as you might hope for but still authentic and hard-working. read more

East Side King - BRUSSELS SALAD (fried brussels sprouts, herbs, onion, jalapeño, cabbage, sweet and spicy sauce + fried bun) - Asian Fusion Near Me - Austin, Texas

Atmosphere - it's fun, colorful, exciting with spray painted walls, plants, and asian snacks for purchase. And you order at the counter. Service was not bad but they didn't have any spoons, only chopsticks and forks, and they had to pull some from the kitchen. Weird for a place that sells rice bowls. Wonton - not quite your traditional chili oil wonton. The chili oil was more sweet than spicy. The wontons were good but a little mushy on the inside. Generally not worth 5 wontons for $7. Pork Belly bowl - the pork belly itself was crispy, fatty and tasty, but everything else was fairly bland. The rice, kimchi, greens mix all didn't add much and detracted from the pork belly flavor. There was too much rice in portion to the tasty parts and the rice itself wasn't fluffy or fragrant, tasted like something you could cook at home. Overall, could've been better. read more

We came here after a game of pickleball. We were hungry and needed some fuel before heading home. Located in South Lamar area, it's a pretty lowkey spot. We ordered the house fries (not worth the price), the karaage bowl (pretty filling), and the pork bun (prob our favorite). The house fries came with two different dipping sauce that were house made, but we didn't like either. read more

Underwhelmed and overcharged. For an Asian restaurant, you better bring your a-game with your wontons. Unfortunately, their chili wontons scored an F in that department! They were so mushy that the filling fell out when I would pick them up with my chopsticks. I've also had better chili crisp off of Amazon. Their bento box also left much to be desired. The chicken karage lacked seasoning and was totally unimpressive. The only good thing about this dish was the delicately pickled jalapeño garnish. Their steamed pork belly bun was dry all around--the pork belly, the sauce, the steamed bun itself... dry, dry, dry. I've never had a steamed bun crack in half on me but somehow they managed to do that. It honestly tasted like it had been left out all day. Their one and only standout was their Brussel sprout salad. It had a light vinegar dressing that made you want to go back for more. I'm deducting an additional star for a shifty "staff wellness" charge on my ticket. It feels totally deceptive when you don't advertise a charge like this, especially when they just flip their iPad over and ask you for a tip, but don't show you the itemized bill. I wouldn't have know had I not had the receipt emailed to me. read more

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Upon entry, the restaurant design, plants and artwork come at you with its colorful array spread throughout. After a few visits I've grown very fond of the pork belly buns. The buns are always served soft, the pork belly is tender and sweet, and comes with a nice savory sauce and pickles. Due to their size, I normally order the buns as an addition to another entree. I like the chicken katsu bowl a lot. The serving size is fair, the rice is seasoned well, chicken served fresh and tender, and the side sauce is a great add on for extra zingy flavor. I think this restaurant is a great trendy spot, with good flavor, but if you are looking to really satisfy a big appetite your meal can become a little costly. read more

East Side King - Hallway art - Asian Fusion Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Wow, what an amazing hole in the wall place! I'm giving it: 4.5 stars. The flavors here are out of bounds, and your taste buds will thank you! Walking in here it looks like a quiet spot, but you will be amazed with the meals you have. It doesn't have a huge menu, but it will hit your taste buds. The Asian/Mexican fusion is definitely worth experiencing, but I would like to see more meat! I always envisioned Texas to be the meat paradise of the world. The Chicken Katsu is amazing, but where is the meat! I had to knock it down 1/2 star for that. This place is flavorful & amazing, but I need more. I guess being from New Jersey we get fed pretty well. So coming here and experiencing this delicacy I was happy, but left hungry for more. What amazed me was that they have a patio (backyard) with a bar, tables, and a mini stage for some live appearances. Definitely a good find! read more

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Such a funky and fun vibe and atmosphere from the second you enter the restaurant. Graffiti-painted walls and colorful decor greet you. Menu items are enticing and it is difficult to choose what to order - we settled on the Ahi Tuna bowl and Kara-Age, sweet and spicy friend chicken. While sauces were flavorful, the meat and fish did not taste quite as fresh as I would have hoped. However, it is impossible not to want to go back to try the other menu items including items like deep-fried rosted beets and house fries with curre kewpie, banana ketchup, and nori. Also, as others are saying beware of parking - we parked nearby and after reading these reviews am glad we did not get a boot on our car! read more

I've eaten here a couple of times now - before COVID and just this past weekend via delivery. I love the concept but each time has somewhat fallen flat for me. This most recent time, I ordered the spicy wontons and the fried chicken sandwich. The prices don't look bad but the portion they give you is really small. For example, for almost the same price, the 101 by teahaus fried chicken sandwich is 3 times more food (and tastier). And the fried chicken sandwich here feels unloved -- the flavors have a lot of potential but the whole thing is kind of thrown together like a plain McDonald's hamburger (see the pic). There was a smear of Kewpie mayo (yay) and then a smattering of asian pickles (see the pic for how they were unevenly tossed in)..and nothing else. The chicken itself was dry. The wontons were somewhat better, but did not hit it out of the park. The flavors were good and the chili crisp is great, but the wontons themselves were small, the skin was too mushy and it generally felt like they had just been reheated. I really want to love this place, but its overpriced for what you get. Whoever curated the menu clearly has a great palate for flavors but the execution is unfortunately very mediocre. read more

East Side King - Fried chicken sandwich with an unloved smattering of pickles - Asian Fusion Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Used to hit up S. Lamar location on the regular and crave it all the time. Absolutely incredible dishes. Miss the happy hour but it is what it is. Popped over to the Cesar Chavez truck recently because I was in the neighborhood and had been thinking about the karaage bowl for a while. Honestly, was very disappointed. Nothing tasted fresh and it was a whole different flavor experience than my SoLa location. So while I definitely recommend a visit, please go to South Lamar or I will feel I have steered you wrong. read more

My friends and I were looking forward to eating at this restaurant but ended up being very disappointed. Unfortunately, the fried chicken sandwich was dry and overcooked. The sandwich looked completely charred. Our group ordered 3 chili wontons and found the texture very mushy. We opened up the wontons and saw that they were all raw inside. We notified an employee about the wontons, and he offered to redo all 3 dishes. Unfortunately, the 2nd round was even more undercooked. I'm not sure if we went on an off day but I would recommend staying away from the wontons read more

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They have the most amazing bowls. There's a spicy tofu one that has a little bit of cilantro on it to cool it off. Also, every time I've been there, the staff has been extremely helpful and patient with all of my questions. Also, the atmosphere is kinda cool. They have tables inside, but outside in the back they have tables and even some playground equipment for the young and young at heart. read more