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 -

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.

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.

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.

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.

I took my husband here for a belated birthday on 4th of July for lunch. I was able to book a…read morereservation on the 1st of July pretty easily. The place was really nice and modern! The staff were super friendly and they even got provided a birthday treat for my husband. The food and drinks were delicious! Now that I've been to the one in Austin, I want to go to the one in Dallas since it's closer to home. Thank you for a great afternoon!

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.

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.

Authentic Korean food Very good glass noodles…read moreGood portions of chicken overall Free pickled vegetables for the lunch special Kim Chinwaa authentic Overall, great venue for lunch or dinner.

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.