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

I loved the outdoor seating of this place. I'm assuming during the evening they may have people come and perform either music or other shows on the stage outside. They have a small kids area to play. This place is right next door to the tattoo place. They had a good size menu. I ordered the pork belly bao bun sandwich and it was mouthwatering. Such huge pieces of pork belly. My husband got the spicy chicken sandwich and he really enjoyed it. We also got the rice and a side of fries. Everything we ate was good! The guy working the counter was very nice and offered his suggestions on food. read more

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Awesome food! Their beet fries and tofu bowl are awesome. Their food trucks are delicious too but I love the vibe so much at their dine in location. Definitely worth stopping in. read more

The $17 bento box is the perfect option to try a little bit of everything-ish that ESK offers. I was surprised how much I liked the Brussels sprouts salad! The karaage, pork belly bun, pickled veggies, and rice rounded out the offerings and hit the spot just so. They have a canned brown sugar boba latte that I almost threw myself over the counter to get, as I was so excited to find a boba drink in this neighborhood. Sadly, the boba is more gummy than tapioca but if you're into that, you might like. They have a cute lil' bodega (really, a shelf!) of Asian snacks, too, so grab something fun from there before leaving. Plenty of Indoor seating and they share a back patio with the other businesses in their little strip, so if sitting inside isn't your jam, check that out. read more

I LOVE all the paintings on the walls. The person at the desk was really helpful and nice. The food was really good too. A teeny bit too spicy, though. read more

Everything is SO good I'm so happy to announce that we go here again!!! We get the bento boxes and enjoy the flavors w the jalapeños and chicken and veggies! read more

My friends recommended this place and raved about it so we went to check it out and it was good! Food was delicious and a good size serving and the red chili wontons were delicious! read more

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

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The place has got a super hipster vibe. The second you walk in you are pulled by the delicious smelling food. I would say this was a great find. Being a vegetarian having yummy Asian option is starting to become more common, but it is still hard. We tried the avo buns, the veggie bento, and the tofu bowl. Personally I would say the veggie bento is definitely a bang for you buck. You get to try a bunch of different things all at once. The avo buns were delicious and hit all the right spots, I also really enjoyed the Brussel sprout salad that comes in the bento. It was super light and refreshing. One thing I might critique this joint would be for their Thai tea, I wish it was more substantial! Felt a little watered down and powdery! read more

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

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Been a customer of ESK for years way before their brick and mortar store, but their parking lot is TERRIBLE. Parked in the lot adjacent to the back of the store to do a pick up (~1 min) and came back to a guy in the middle of booting my car. The signs the store has out just aren't visible enough to alert drivers - especially at night. I called in to provide feedback and was told that it's out of their control. Sad to say, but this establishment has lost my business. Have a better experience for your guest, ESK. read more

I live across the street from this location and have been coming here since 2020. The food was incredible to me- pricey, but worth it. I would go faithfully at least once a week and would even spend $40+ just for me when I went alone. I have brought so many friends here and raved to them. In the past three years not only has the price gone up, but the food quality as well as portions have decreased dramatically and I can no longer go there. It actually makes me sad driving past it every day because it used to be my favorite in all of austin. I guess I'm hoping there's a chance the owner will see this & know that regular patrons of his restaurant have noticed the steady decline. I don't see this place surviving much longer. Loro is across the street with similar food & price as well as a spectacular outdoor eating area. ESK has a prime location in the plaza and a nice outdoor area that can be better enjoyed while going to Irie Bean. I suspect inflation and real estate are to blame for these sacrifices, but I wish they would just raise the price to keep the quality- I would pay $50 for a bento box from 2 years ago. Although, sadly, if ESK did that they could no longer attract the tourist population from the neighboring tattoo & piercing place (because surely there are no locals who can calls themselves regulars). Also- the tips are pooled with the cooks & I have noticed without fail they will disregard my requests if I don't tip/tip a lot. Can't even hate on them I get it, but as a service industry professional I can see this animosity starts from the top. RIP ESK. I'd honestly rather an actual bodega there. At least it would provide something useful to our neighborhood. read more

Stopped by before our appointment with the cat cafe next door and got a snack. It was really good! We got the pork belly buns and edamame and absolutely enjoyed it! Great flavors and quality, we'll definitely be back! read more

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Great buffet with lots of options. Great service and tasty food. I'll be back next time I'm in town.

I'm upset I wasted $40. This place is usually good when I'm a couple beers in at Liberty. S Lamar location really fell flat. What I ordered: Ramen Burger(0/5) Brussels Sprout Salad(2/5) Chicken Tori (2.5/5). Ramen Burger: The most un-flavorful thing I've eaten in my life. Imagine taking a packet of ramen noodles with no seasoning from the pack, then totally socially distancing the burger patty from any salt in the restaurant. From there they deep fry it and put large raw slices of white onion on the bottom bun and package it up for 9ish bucks. Brussels Sprout Salad: Ok flavor, still super against the use of salt. What got me was them putting total of 4 Brussels halves in the box then filling it with cabbage and cilantro and selling it for like 13 dollars. Please rename salad. Chicken Tori: the saving grace of the meal. Unfortunately due to the fact that everything else wasn't good my partner and I had to share this small entree. read more

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We came around 2 for a late lunch and ordered a sandwich and a bowl. The food was just ok. The staff didn't seem thrilled to have customers. And I feel like we overpaid for what we got. 8 really wanted to like this place too! read more

This place is very cute and has a great kind of park-like outdoor dining environment. But overall the food is not that great and pretty overpriced PORK BELLY BUNS are the best thing on the menu BEET FRIES are not worth getting. Dry and not flavorful but the sauce is good BENTO BOX W/ BRUSSELS SPROUTS SALAD is not good, practically inedible HAND ROLLED RED CHILI WONTONS are good but weirdly oily LOX SUSHI ROLL is amazing (Not pictured) but do not get the RED CHILI EDAMAME it's horrendous, no salt, and the sauce has a weird, very processed, aftertaste read more

East Side King - Red Chili Wontons, Beet Home Fries, Brussels Sprouts Salad, Pork Buns (2), Classic Bento, Lox Sushi Roll - Asian Fusion Near Me - Austin, Texas

A lot of fun and delicious menu options. Bites: Brussels Salad - 4/5 Beets - 4/5 Bowls: Kara-age - 4/5 Hand-Held: Moto Dog - 5/5 The brussels and beets are both unique and have good flavors. The beets were cooked really well, and tasty but some pieces had more flavor than others. The karage was good too but I'm not a fan of all the Thai basil and cilantro they mix in with it. Other than that it's really well cooked and the sauce is super tasty. The moto dog is excellent. Nice flavors and has that crispy pop when you bite into it. Best thing on the menu. read more

Perfect weeknight spot to get your fill of Japanese cuisine! The first time we went I ordered the classic bento to get a taste of a few menu items. The second time I ordered the chicken katsu meishi plate. 3rd times a charm I ordered the veggie bento. My husband and I love this place! Naturally when you find a place you like a lot, you frequent the spot! You order at the counter and they bring it out to you. The Brussels sprout salad is one of my favorite items! It's sweet, spicy, and refreshing with mint leaves and jalapeños. The chicken karage is so good too! I think the most unique item on their menu are the beet fries served with a aioli sauce. The avocado bun and pork belly buns are bomb.com! The BEST, best, item on the menu are the chili wontons and they are definitely not as as they look but they pack all the flavor! read more

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Their lunch boxes are the tastiest bento I've found in Austin by far. If you want katsu or sashimi bowls this is your place!!

I'm a big Top Chef fan so this was a must-visit in Austin. I've been to a number of Top Chef restaurants and have never been disappointed. East Side King joins this list of innovative and delicious Top Chef-affiliated places. We had the classic bento, the kim-cheese lumpia and the red chili wontons. Everything was delicious, and honestly my favorite part was how carefully chosen everything was. The little touches like the pickled ginger or the hints of mint and basil. I only wish we could have eaten everything fresh and piping hot in the restaurant, instead of taking it to-go. There's a cute patio in the back but a storm was coming. Even so, the kimcheese lumpia were deep fried to perfection even after driving home. I could eat those everyday. read more

This place is my favorite go to when I have family or friends over from out of town. Their Brussels Sprouts Salad and Karage Chicken is to die for. I've been coming here for 5 years and sure some meals have been a miss but I've had more positive than negative experiences here. My boyfriend who always got the Maine Root drinks from their fountain drinks machine isn't so happy their change to this wanna-be Pepsi nastiness that they've swapped out for now but we come for the food and not the drinks. I would suggest for any new comers to try the Classic Bento as it has a little of everything and so much food lol. Also how can I not mention the BEET FRIES.. omg... with the kewpie mayo? If anything please try the BEET FRIES. You won't be sorry. I love the fun decor and feel of the place. I love to look at all the fun things people write on the blackboard wall and scribble things myself on there all the time. It's fun and part of the charm. When it's not melting hot outside or freezing the patio behind the building is shared with Irie Bean and has an open bar that's sometimes open and plenty of space to eat outside to listen to live music or just to chill. It's pet friendly out on the patio too! I believe they have a special on weekdays between 4-6 for the half portions which is nice for those of us who want to eat everything on our plates even if we're too full. My only complaint are the prices... I wish it wasn't so expensive but I've noticed that everywhere in Austin you're looking to spend a good bit for quality food (and even for some places that aren't so high quality as well). The parking can be a pain but just be patient and a spot will open up or you can park in Chipotle's parking lot. (At least you used to be able to, just watch for signs) read more

East Side King - Brussels Sprout Salad - Asian Fusion Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Two thumbs up!! The pork belly curry is phenomenal!! The staff seems super on top of it & they're really sweet! Super cute inside too! I can't stress how much I love this pork belly curry! read more

Had dinner there the other night with a few friends and family for the first time in quite a while. Sorry that it's been so long. They really have a nice selection of various Asian based fusion style dishes. The people are friendly and helpful. You order at the counter and they bring your food out to you. I had the tempura shrimp on a bed of excellent rice. My wife had a chicken Bento box. Although I generally don't like dark meat chicken, their thighs were crisp, tasty and fresh. The brussell sprout salad was great too. We also had some excellent Thai Iced Tea. Dinner was quite reasonable and exceptionally pleasant. read more

I like a few things I like a lot on the menu, but only a couple. Need more things to choose from. Their covid pickup system is pretty slick though, and I like ordering online, they have a great system I'd get the bento box, best dish on menu, but the chicken karagi is also very good read more

East Side King - Still open! - Asian Fusion Near Me - Austin, Texas

Love east side king been a frequent customer for years! The restaurant seems to be in some transitional period as of late possibly new mgmt? Few changes to the dishes like fried beets instead of rice in the bento. few things slipping through the cracks simple errors in food orders and general customer service for instance asked for a bigger water cup and was told I will have to pay for a fountain drink kinda lame but hoping things will smooth out with whatever is changing it certainly won't stop us coming back. read more

Went during the happy hour at 4-6. They offer a lot of their options at a discounted rate for half portions that still feel like you get a lot of bang for your buck. Was able to try nearly everything for a little over 20$ this way. An interesting flavor combination though I will admit, it felt too spicy to me. Not in the "hot" kind of way, more like "too much" of certain things that overwhelmed the taste. read more

East Side King - Pork belly bun, chicken katsu, beet fries, liberty rice - Asian Fusion Near Me - Austin, Texas

So I pretty much pass this place at least once a week. For some reason I have never thought to come here until my fiancé's brother comes into town and wants to go to an Austin local spot. I've had their food a while back at a trailer outside of a bar, but let's just say that's post bar experience so we'll just leave it at that. And then I had trailer experience at a hosted Dell party where I tried their ceviche - which was amazing!!!! By far the best ceviche I have ever tasted. To my disappointment, I was told by them that none of the sister restaurants served this and it was only on the "cater" menu. So I guess I need to have a party... Talk about a long prelude...Back to the food ;) Poor Qui's Buns - bun was perfectly soft and fluffy. Pork belly was perfectly tender that each bite was a good clean bite and you didn't have to pull. Beet Home Fries - I definitely like beets. This was good, not sure if I'd order again. The beet was good though, cooked not too tender and not too hard. For those who are iffy about beets, it didn't have the overpowering earth/dirt flavor. Liked the kewpie mayo and green onion touch. Only change, maybe if they could batter it in the tempura batter that they use for the tempura shrimp. It would add a nice crunch and flavor to the beet. Tako Taco - Yum! the octopus was perfectly poached to where it's not too chewy and not to soft. The flavor was light and refreshing, and the crunchy outer taco shell was a nice surprise and an awesome touch. Just wish it had more octopus. Ebi Ebi Taco - ditto on the Yum for this one too. The tempura fried shrimp was perfectly crisp and a good light batter to shrimp ratio. The flavors of everything else in the dish also made it refreshing. The ratio of shrimp to slaw was good as well so I don't feel like I was being cheated in that aspect. Overall food was pretty good, I will have to say the prices are just a tad bit high for the portion sizes. More so, I would have just liked the tacos to be bigger, but I guess I need to remember that the octopus and shrimp were good quality and cooked really well. So the answer to your question...yes, I'd go here again. read more

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Beware of parking. The first thing you see when you walk towards East Side King's entrance is a parking warning. Park towards the south side, between Chipotle and East Side King. This location is an actual order and dine in restaurant, not a food truck. There are 5 various East Side King (ESK) locations. We arrived around noon after yelping restaurants for lunch. The restaurant is hip, laid-back, and casual. There is a lot of graffiti/art in this place.... If I remember correctly, you can draw your own piece of art with chalk somewhere. Seating can be limited, but this ESK has a back patio! You simply order, pay, receive a number for the order, and sit. Drinks are next to the sauces. I was pretty impressed with the gochujang sauce (Korean). I'm not too sure what other sauces ESK had, for I wasn't the one who picked the sauces. Sooner or later, someone brought our order. It was probably a 15 minute wait before the food arrived. FOOD: Poor Qui's Buns (4/5, Roasted pork belly in steamed bun, hoisin sauce, cucumber kimchee*, green onion): Honestly, the best item I tried at ESK. Soft and fluffy buns. Pork belly was extremely tender, fell with each bite. The cucumber kimchi was okay in my opinion, added a twist to the taste but wasn't the biggest fan about it. Beet Home Fries (2/5, Shichimi togarashi, green): All of us weren't big fans about this. I ordered this due to Yelpers recommending this but wasn't blown away. I really did not see how this was one of the popular dishes. The sauce that came with this was like sriracha mayo. Spicy Chicken Taco (3/5, Chicken thigh marinated in achiote and sambal bajak*, with Yuzu Kosho salsa, cabbage, avocado, onion, basil, cilantro, mint, crispy chicken skin on white corn tortilla): Basically, the basil stole the show. This was decent with a slight hint of spicy. The salsa and lime were great additions to the tacos. I had a few bites of this. Ebi Ebi Taco (3/5, Tempura fried shrimp with gochujang sauce, kewpie mayo, avocado, cabbage, basil, cilantro, mint on white corn tortilla): I liked the crisp of the shrimps... Light batter but wasn't that fresh. The gochujang wasn't that prominent, but I'd probably try a different hot sauce for this taco. Ratio of everything in this was perfect though. Lengua Beef (3/5, Beef tongue, cabbage kimchi, egg miso, cotija, green onion, jalapeño): This was probably my favorite taco out of all 3. It was pretty moist, like how all barbacoa should be. I tried some dry ones... Yeah, no. Anyways, the kimchi was light and didn't over power the rest of the ingredients. Would I come again? Sure if someone wanted to come visit one of the ESK locations in Austin. I'd personally go try other food trucks in Austin before coming back again. read more

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Reading all about Paul Qui while doing my research for a vacation in Austin, I had his East Side King at the top of my list of places to try. Perhaps those high expectations leant a bit to the disappointment I felt after a big lunch here. It wasn't for lack of trying, as we practically ordered the entire menu: - Beet Home Fries ($7) This seems to be one of the most popular items here, but I just didn't get it. They still just tasted like beets, with a slight crisp on the edges. If you are going to eat something fried in oil, do not waste yourself on these. - Spicy Chicken Taco ($6) This was one of the better things we tried. Closer to a small burrito than a taco, there were chicken thighs and some other veggies rolled in a moo shu wrap. The chicken was juicy and had some great flavor. - Tako Taco ($8) Another "taco" that's not really a taco, the biggest draw of this item is the clever name and the novelty of the massive dish. It's a huge hard taco shell overflowing with tons of octopus and vegetables, sprinkled with tobiko on top. I think you really need to love octopus to appreciate this, which I do not, so I was done after one or two bites of the overwhelming rubberiness. - Brussels Sprout Salad ($7) This was my favorite thing we tried - fried brussels sprouts in sweet and spicy sauce with pieces of fried bread on top. The addictive flavor of the sprouts and the crispy bread strips made this the only dish that I really wanted to finish. - Poor Qui's Buns ($7 for 2) Just another rendition of those fatty pork buns that everybody loves, except for me. I don't like eating pure fat, but if you do, then get these because you will love them. - Tori Meshi ($8) This is a combination of two menu items, the Chicken Kara-Age and the Liberty Rice. It was decent, but the rice was pretty ordinary and the chicken would have been better if it were crispier. I hoped something sweet might improve things a bit, but unfortunately there was no dessert on the menu. I didn't visit any of the truck/bar locations, but this brick and mortar one was really nice. There are tons of fun decorations and cool art covering all of the walls. There is also plenty of outdoor seating as well. Unfortunately, I don't think the food was good enough to warrant another visit. read more

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I am so mad at myself for not making it a point to come here sooner. I've wanted to try East Side King for months, literally, months. We came in around 12 on a Sunday and it was empty. The guy ringing us up was super friendly and helpful. The menu is daunting, there are so many delicious sounding options. I wanted it all. But I settled on sake bombs, tako taco (butter poached octopus, tobiko, and veggie ceviche), and beet home fries (deep fried roasted beets, kewpie mayo, shichimi, togarashi, and green onion). Probably one of the best meals I've had. The veggie ceviche had an overpowering fish sauce to it but I'm part Vietnamese so I love me some fish sauce. The octopus was divine, tender and not overdone. Even the deep fried taco shell was perfect, just the right amount of salt. The beets were so f***ing amazing. They were warm and tender! I love beets and the home fries reaffirmed why. I liked East Side King so much I ordered the tori meshi (Thai chicken karaagie with liberty rice) to go! Even better was the fact that it was the special for the day making it only $6. I cannot wait to come back here and try more things. I really like the vibe of ESK too, super chill and laid back. The chalk wall is awesome. read more

East Side King - Sake bombs, tako taco and beet home fries - Asian Fusion Near Me - Austin, Texas

This was a pretty disappointing experience since I really like Chef Paul Qui, and he was amazing to watch on Top Chef. I came in for an early dinner and it wasn't that busy around 6pm on a Saturday. I loved that they have "bento box" options, so you get to try a taste of an assortment of items, which is perfect for me! You get in line to order and pay first (this spot is super casual), then take a seat and they bring your food to you. I tried: -Classic Bento (Chicken Kaarage, Brussels Sprout Salad, Poor Qui Bun, Jasmine Rice, $12.50, http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=Zc36pUnXAXanxrc3ElO9jg&userid=76vIFZcC7owykCBjMfGVXg): The kaarage was the highlight, since the chicken was super crispy and seasoned well. The brussels sprout salad had good flavor, but the brussels needed to be more crispy. The Poor Qui Bun was disappointing, since I didn't think it was that flavorful. -Assorted Dipping Sauces (http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=DDvrQqIis4RXt4I0vFXHEg&userid=76vIFZcC7owykCBjMfGVXg): Just ok, and nothing special. The sweet and sour was probably my favorite. They also have a Veggie and Moto bento boxes available so you can try a little of different items. I loved the concept, and I felt the food was really close to being amazing, but just slightly missed the mark. I would consider coming back if I were in the Austin area, but go to the other location of East Side King since their menus are different. There is super limited parking but they do have their own lot. Do NOT park in the lot behind theirs or you will get towed! read more

I have had many friends tell me all about the awesomeness of ESK and I finally got to experience it myself on NYE. Knowing that there was a lot of drinking in my future that night, I may have went a tad overboard with ordering, but everything I got and tasted was awesome! I ordered the Thai Chicken Kara-agé, which is gluten-free even though it is fried, which made it that much more awesome and delicious, Poor Qui's Buns, Brussels Sprout Salad (if I see brussels sprouts on the menu, I can't help but order them), and the Liberty Rice. One of my friend got an order of the Beet Home Fries. I had never tasted a beet before in my life, but if they can taste as good as they did in this dish, call me a beet fan. This place has Austin written all over it, from the location to the artwork to the staff, which makes me like it that much more considering I'm a born and raised Austinite. There is an ESK behind a bar very close to my apartment and I think I might become a frequent eater there very soon. Paul Qui, you rock BTW! read more

East Side King - Liberty Rice, Brussels Sprouts, Poor Qui's Buns, and Thai Chicken Kara-agé - Asian Fusion Near Me - Austin, Texas

East Side King shows up on the south side. We all know south Austin is the best part of the city. South Lamar has a huge list of great places to go eat at, and now Paul Qui's trailer has a physical location. 2310 S. Lamar between Chipotle & Shell station. Parking lot is on the south side of the building. Open late till 10pm. Excellent artwork and look in the store. Service was very friendly and helpful. Plenty of seating indoor and outdoor. The menu has a wide variety from chicken, pork, veggie, or even octopus. Austin Beer works is available. I ordered two items, #1 Fried Chicken Thigh $8 and #2 Pork Belly bun $7. Order came out quickly. The #1 chicken is very fresh, cooked well, and served with mint thai leaves, jalapenos, onions, basil and special sweet/sour sauce. Anyone should enjoy this simple dish. It has a great zesty flavor to it. #2 The Pork Belly is tender and served on a steamed bun with hoisin sauce & cucumber kimchee. Big on flavor but tiny on size. Pork was cooked great with excellent texture and the steamed bun goes perfect with it. If you want unique tasting flavor food, this place is it. It is certainly not your ordinary menu. You can see they have a variety of different tacos to order from. Many Austin people know of the famous Paul Qui and ESK has been around for several years. This location is very convenient on S. Lamar. Now I usually only rate taste in my reviews, but I will have to bring up the price. For #1 & #2 no beverage was $16.24 with tax. Both dishes tasted great, but I still felt hungry when I left. I understand for higher quality ingredients, it will certainly be reflected in the food price. However, I thought the value was hurt by this just by the item sizes. Oh yeah, I did spot a hipster here and there. Many people in ATX think Paul Qui is a chef god. Dude is pretty good, and I bet his main restaurants are amazing. I liked ESK, the flavor was new and tasty, but it did not amaze me. I just wanted a bit more from this place. I think based on all the factors I describe, a 4 star Yelp rating makes sense. read more

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So nice when a place lives up to the hype! Atmosphere was laid back and clean. "Authentic Austin" as my dining partner commented. I ordered the CHICKEN KATSU MESHI and was not disappointed! A delicious fusion of flavors and the chicken thigh was perfectly cooked. My friend got TOFU MESHI and judging from how he was scraping clean his serving box, he enjoyed his meal too. Serving staff was chill hipster, courteous and attentive. Wish they had a north location. Guess I'll just have to make the pilgrimage again. read more

Beware! These business run a scam on parking. Their lot has one small sign that says you can't park in their lot to eat there. We walked in and as we were going in a guy runs out and boots our car. We were parked right in front of the restaurant. 100$ to take it off. The food simply isn't worth the scam of the parking lot. We were also taking our daughter to the Cat Cafe there but after all that we left for places that actually welcome patrons. BEWARE!!!!! read more

Licked the bowl it was SO good. Can't go wrong with the bento box (pictured). The patio in back is pleasant as well and appears to be dog friendly. Highly recommend!! read more

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

It was pretty decent Favorite was the new dessert they came out with, the strawberries and cream It's like shaved ice with pocky and saw berries and cinnamon toast crunch and other good stuffs, good to share You cant order just one thing on the menu for a meal.. But if its like a snack type thing, then one should be fine Good service, one of the dishes was a bit off Good prices, I like their home gochujang sauce! read more

East Side King - The super amazing strawberries and cream dessert! - Asian Fusion Near Me - Austin, Texas

The food was quite good and ready on time. The bento boxes were both good and a large size. However we were very disappointed that the tuna bowl, which appeared to be an entree and had a price that seemed like an entree, was the same size as the "small bites", which were appetizers. The size of the tuna bowl was so surprising I tried to contact the restaurant through their website form to find out if there had been a mistake. read more

I tried the ESK awhile back when the cedar park location was still opened, and really enjoyed their food thoroughly. So my partner decided he wanted a good rice bowl which is why we had a to go from their south Lamar location as the menu had a more items than the 6th street location. Placing the order and pick up was extremely seamless, and was great. The food however had changed a little since our time at cedar park. I saw another reviewer mention that the rice was no longer sticky and that's absolutely true. It seems like they made the pivot to use basmati rice, which isn't the worse because it was still fragrant and was not dry (it is easy to make dry basmati rice). However it was really hard eating with chopsticks, and that is coming from a person who regularly uses chopsticks. The food has also become pretty expensive, and the portion was only decent for the price. The chicken (we got the katsu and the kaarage) was nicely fried and crispy and the sauces were a good flavor match with the chicken but there was a sauce on the rice that made it pretty salty. I had to drink a lot of water after the meal. There was also an over abundance of aromatics which kind of ruined the flavor profile of the rice. In general it's still a solid rice bowl, which is why I gave it a 4/5, but I don't know if it's worth the price for me anymore. read more

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

I was looking forward to this place and was honestly a little disappointed. The staff was great, really friendly but I wasn't too crazy about the food. The chicken katsu is good but the rest of the sides not so hot. read more

East Side King - Staff is friendly and helpful, gave us pointers on what's good. Cool artwork, can't eat inside yet. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Austin, Texas

We've been coming here since the opening. A great place to take out out of town/ visitors, before they depart. It's always fun to leave them with a true authentic feel of Austin. Mouth watering! read more