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

Love a good omakase and love a good speakeasy, but the two together? Amazing. Second time here and…read moreit took a hoooot minute to get the first reservation, second one not too challenging. Helps that it's always a reservation for one...vs multiple people. This is tucked inside the Holey Moley in the rear....reservation for 8:30 and they come out to welcome everyone before ushering into the restaurant. Nice, quaint chefs counter space inside and I believe the idea is to give a traditional Japanese local restaurant feel so the space is designed to just be big enough. This used to be a bedroom when the building was a hostel. I was pleasantly surprised when Nicole, upon checking me in remember who I was and welcomed me back. Not only that the chef did as well! They are both amazing and so full of knowledge. After being sat they go through several things about the history, items in the restaurant, and then drink service is offered and the meal begins. You get to select the chop stick holder and chop sticks you'd like to use. I asked, they have at least a dozen I believe different chop stick holder options. They also do s personalized wood coaster with your name burnt into it. The selections were amazing with each one having a unique flavor that melted in your mouth. I added the sake and cocktail pairing which Nicole does amazing. I let her know I still kept the origami crane she last time was still on my counter at home. They are toooo damn cut to just throw away. I mean look at them! Anybody during the service they are interactive with everyone engaging in different conversations. With such an intimate space it's great to get introduced to others and's have as great evening.

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 -

I have loved this place for years! They have great gluten-free options and options for non-fish…read moreeaters. Drinks are also EXCELLENT!! Highly recommend!

Lucky Robot is a popular sushi spot right on South Congress, so it naturally attracts plenty of…read morefoot traffic and a wide range of diners. Your experience will probably depend on what kind of sushi you prefer--more traditional and authentic, or casual and Westernized. Lucky Robot definitely leans toward the latter, with creative rolls and a more modern approach. At regular price, it can feel a little expensive for what you're getting, especially if you tend to prefer more traditional sushi. That said, their happy hour is fantastic and makes the experience much more enjoyable at a better price point. Overall, it's a fun, approachable spot for casual sushi and drinks, especially during happy hour, as long as you go in knowing what style of sushi to expect.

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.

Tenten has one of my favorite sushi happy hours in Austin, and I keep coming back for a few…read morespecific menu items. My favorite maki rolls are the scallop chirashi and the A5, but the scallop maki is the one I crave most--it's so good. Their lychee martini is also delicious and not overly sweet. The Kyoto Blush, on the other hand, was far too sweet for me, so I wouldn't order that one again. I've tried a few other dishes as well. The wagyu sando wasn't quite what I expected, since the meat had more of a patty-like texture that I didn't think paired especially well with the milk bread. The wagyu donburi had a nice layer of crispy rice at the bottom after mixing, but there were too many sour and pickled components, which threw off the balance of the dish a little. Overall, Tenten is a solid spot, especially once you know which menu items you like. Service can be a bit hit or miss, but nothing bad enough to keep me from coming back.

Amazing food, great interior and good service!…read more I walked in on a Thursday for lunch and was able to grab a table at the bar. The uchiba salad was fantastic. I loved the shaved cheese, so fluffy with the greens and the crunch from the hazelnut bits. The nasu katsu bao was delicious and gone in a second. Great soft bun with yummy filling. The origiri was yummy too. Very different from what I'm used to with origiri but in a fun and delectable way. Loved the crunchy fried outside and the texture of the rice inside. I would love to try more of the menu in the future!

Went to Uchiba for dinner today and it was quite yummy and a good ambiance on the patio (which is…read moredog friendly!) It's upscale sushi and izakaya. Our favorites were the Hama chili (yellowtail dish), the otoro (fatty tuna) and the hot rock Wagyu beef. The staff was incredibly knowledgeable of the menu and what pairs well together, very friendly to our dog, and overall just a delight. They even offered a few dishes complimentary. The menu is on the pricier side but we want to come back for happy hour omakase.

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.

I usually don't like leaving bad reviews, but wow--that was FOUL. I ordered the rice medallion…read moresauté with the recommended pork belly as my protein and asked for no mushrooms. The girl taking my order was friendly and even double-checked if it was an allergy--I told her no, I just really don't like mushrooms. But when I got home and started eating, everything in that dish tasted like mushrooms--or at least had that same gross, slimy, squishy texture. Even the pork belly (I think?) was soft, squishy, and honestly disgusting. Pork belly can be amazing when it's grilled or fried and crispy, but this was the total opposite. I don't get the hype around Koriente at all. The only good thing was the friendly and honestly super fast service.

I've ordered from Koriente through Uber Eats before and have really enjoyed the food--it's…read moreconsistently flavorful and satisfying. I recently visited in person and got my usual order, the shiitake tofu, which was just as delicious as I remembered. That said, the overall dine-in experience could be improved. I tried the tea for the first time and, unfortunately, it wasn't quite to my taste. That was the main reason my rating is a bit lower this time. Also, a small note on the bento box: it typically comes with a tea included, but this wasn't made very clear during ordering. My friend didn't realize it was complimentary until someone else in our group ordered, which led to some confusion. It might help to clarify that more up front to avoid any misunderstandings. Still, I really appreciate the quality of the food and will definitely continue to order again!