My Wife and I came here to enjoy the Omakase prepared by Chef Yoshi Okai for my birthday. Met a couple sitting adjacent to us who comes to this spot every single year right before their house gets swarmed with activity for the holidays. I love the calm before the storm put yourself first feeling and we might do that too! Chef and his assistants were all amazing & intentional when serving, plating, and crafting each piece for us. Wait staff was very polite & professional as well. Felt luxuriously taken care of. Will for sure go back. This is one of my favorite spots in Austin. read more

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Otoko is one of the best omakase restaurants in Austin. The rice is perfectly made. The food tastes sublime. I went for both the traditional and sushi-focused omakases. It's a personal preference but I liked the sushi-focused omakase better, but you can't go wrong with either. read more

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For those who love hidden gems, find the rusted door upstairs the courtyard of the South Congress Hotel. Otoko comes with layers of secrets. Behind the rusted door, you'll be greeted by a hostess who will direct you to your dining experience either at Watertrade &/or Otoko. Otoko requires a reservation (& advanced payment) to snag one of their 12 seats in its intimate dining room. There, Chef Yoshi Okai, originally from Kyoto, serves a blend of Tokyo-style sushi and Kyoto-style kaiseki. For context, what most of us think of as "Japanese sushi" is actually Tokyo-style -- slices of raw fish layered over vinegared rice. Kaiseki, on the other hand, is Kyoto's refined counterpart, emphasizing the seasons, fresh ingredients, and elegant, colorful plating (ie: soups, sashimi, and grilled dishes). I was surprised by the variety of the omakase. Whether it's your first or tenth time, the menu rotates and is personalized to the diner. For us, we did the 20 course omakase ($200pp). The highlights were the Tokyo-style sushi pieces and the desserts. While the kaiseki courses were artful and beautifully presented, they weren't our personal favorites--we would have happily opted for more sushi. read more

We were running late due to traffic and I appreciate how accommodating they were. It started off really nicely. The first few dishes were delicious and the sushi was high quality and I thought the flavor profile was interesting. But it was unbearably cold to the point I couldn't enjoy my food and couldn't wait to leave. Dishes also tasted similar and became repetitive to me (sour & salty). Dessert was really good though read more

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One of the best omakase spots in Austin, paired with some of the best cocktails and inventory of Japanese whisky at Watertrade (WT), makes this spot one of my favorite places in the city. My partner took me here for my birthday last year, so this is a late post, but one of my favorite ones! ---- Review Summary Pros: - Speakeasy-like bar (WT) - Separated spaces (WT/Otoko) - Full bar and incredible inventory - Fresh sushi - Validated parking (hotel) Side Notes: - Make reservations in advance - Closed Sun/Mon - 12 seater omakase What We Got: - 20 course omakase - Sake and wine pairing ---- Detail Review Design/Space: You walk upstairs from the SoCo Hotel's ground level and get to the entrance to Otoko/Watertrade. Once you enter the space, you are greeted by a speakeasy-like Japanese bar (WT) with every Japanese whisky you can think of, and Otoko is hidden away to keep both spaces separated but connected. When you walk into Otoko, it's bright enough, and the space has items from Japan that make you feel you are in a modern timewarp of something from back in the day, yet in a modern 12-seater space. Food/Drinks: They should have received a Michelin star at this location for what they offer the city. It ranks high against the other Michelin spots I've visited from SF to NYC. Drinks: Japanese-based old-fashioned cocktails are one of my faves, so we started with a Goma Fashioned and a Nine-Tailed Fox, both incredible. We then waited for the omakase to start and had the wine and sake pairing. Pace yourself because we got LIT, haha. There were pairings we never saw before, and I don't know if it was because we were getting tipsy, but everything felt balanced with the sweet to savory. Food: The fish wasn't overly sized as some spots in Austin, and the rice was perfect. Fresh sushi flew in, from the uni from Hokkaido to the tuna selections; every bite was delicious. I wish I remembered which was which, but I put my phone down after a moment to relish the moment. The presentation of each dish is gorgeous as well! Staff: Knowledgeable and friendly. I love that they knew different whisky histories, from Japan to where the fish was flown in. Engaging in the science of what they do so well perfectly enhanced the overall experience. Opportunities To Improve: There is not much to improve here, but they could use glassware for OF drinks at Watertrade that feels more "elevated," such as Crate & Barrels Double OF Natala (it feels fancier, haha). ---- Overall Summary Watertrade is one of the best spots in Austin. If you haven't been, go. If you need a place for incredible cocktails, reserve it. However, if you can experience the omakase and Watertrade at once, do that, too. It was one of the most memorable experiences we've had to date, and we will be back again in 2025! read more

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I would not be surprised if this wins a Michelin in 2026. The attention to detail in every dish with the quality of service makes this an easy win. Tucked behind the South Congress Hotel, it almost feels like a speakeasy. What I love is how they invite you for a drink before, either a sparkling wine or sake, while you wait for your turn to be taken into the official dinner space. I loved the contrast from the bar to the restaurant. I loved how the chefs take their work very seriously but are also very playful. I can't stand a stuffy room and this was quite the opposite. This is a must try if you're ever in Austin! read more

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Otoko was ROBBED of a star - plain and simple. Chef Yoshi and his amazing team deliver each and every time (we have been 5 times since moving to Austin 3 years ago). Otoko was our first Austin omakase experience and it remains our favorite (and yes, we've done all the others). The staff always create art and the setting itself showcases their profound talent while maintaining an intimate and thoughtful experience. Start the evening in the cozy bar area and be delighted by the speciality cocktails being shaken up by the amazing mixologists and then enjoy being whisked away into Yoshi and team's world. Our omakase last night brought back the fun little fried soft shell crab (this was on the menu the first time we enjoyed Otoko and it's truly a delight visually and taste wise). Then, the team presents meticulously curated sushi bites - each one delightful. My favorites were dressed with Meyer lemon zest, the fatty tuna, and the waygu. Halfway through, the bites become much more substantial and I personally wonder each time if I'm going to be able to eat the whole menu. The staff dazzle, the bites delight and the menu is always a fantastic curation of culinary expertise. Again, they remain the premiere omakase spot on Austin, and who cares if a tire company recognizes that or not. read more

I've been to a few omakase places and this one is very unique from the rest.. it's fast paced but on everyone's speed limit.. the sake pairing was the best I've had! The bites were all unique .. less rice more flavor.. rock star staff.. you feel at home here.. the ambiance is like you're inside the mastermind chef Yoshi's mind! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! read more

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Unbelievable experience. Chef Yoshi is the man. Anyone who likes sushi needs to try this once in their life. Totally worth it. Every piece of sushi was packed with unique flavor and felt very intentional. The menu was pre selected. Ambiance was so cool. Definitely want to go back. read more

OTOKO - Japanese Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Otoko service was fantastic. The vibe was immaculate, decor, the music, personalized menus. Everything felt modern, a little alternative. We did miss the first course which I don't factor into our rating because that was on us for arriving late. Be sure to plan to arrive 15 minutes early to secure parking on the street or in a garage and find the restaurant which is in a courtyard and up a flight of stairs. The oyster and uni courses were the most memorable. The chef's special charred dish was a little too charcoal-y for our taste and the dessert was allergen friendly though that felt like it inhibited the texture. There were multiple pork/meat based dishes which was unique particularly the mushimono with fois gras and iberico ham. The salmon/leek soup shirumono was also a nice touch but a little sweet for my palette. The fish courses were all done well, but hard to name standout ones. It's clear that the menu is a brainchild of the chefs having done this creatively and in their personal style over many years. For the price point, we would likely opt for other omakases in Austin, but it was great to see this expression of art from Chef Yoshi and team read more

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AMAZING experience! Made reservations for classic omakase on a Thursday evening. They contacted us frequently asking questions like names, allergies, and special occasions. Located in the South Congress Hotel, we first came to watertrade, a very cool Asian inspired bar where we got a toast of sake and tried some of the drinks from the menu. I recommend the Summer Samurai. We then went to the sushi bar Otoko which was super intimate and beautiful. Chefs carefully explained all courses and we got custom menus that described everything we got, from sushi to salads to tempura, everything was carefully and meticulously done to please us. Chefs were also super engaging in conversation and entertaining as well. Will definitely be back and well worth the price tag! read more

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My boyfriend surprised me with this dinner for my birthday and it was phenomenal! 10/10 experience on food and service. It's very small and intimate but would highly recommend. Definitely on the pricier side but for a special occasion it's worth it. They personalize the menus and let you keep them. The food was high quality and delicious!! I'm still thinking about the wagyu and toro read more

OTOKO - Japanese Near Me - Austin, Texas

A decent attempt at omakase but falls short in a few areas. Perhaps I'm being a touch unfair, but I am comparing this to Michelin starred omakases I've had around the world. It makes an attempt but falls a bit short in the little things that make the difference. Generally the food was ok. Only stand out dish was the seared hamachi that uses the binchotan coal and sears the fish directly. However some feedback. Everything is too salty. Even the sushi is salted which is uncommon. Perhaps it's to suit local tastes. Sushi rice also was too loose and even though I was eating with my hands it felt like it was going to fall apart if I wasn't careful. The food comes too quickly as well. While that could be seen as good, I got the feel that it was pre-prepared too much. Would rather see it being made in front of me instead of having the next dish show up immediately after my prior dish was finished. The verbal presentations are also too rushed. It feels like they are rushing through their lines. Tough to catch it all and felt rushed. Refinements could be better. Mats wiped between dishes, making sure that the serving dish was always clean, little things lacked refinement. Location is beautiful as it looks like we are sitting in a light tunnel. Being located beside a cool bar is nice. Overall it's a reasonable attempt. But it could be done much better in my opinion. read more

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This was an amazing experience if you love Japanese food. I took my boyfriend here for his birthday and we were blown away by the attention to detail in both the food and service. We arrived 30 minutes before our reservation and were seated at the bar next door to enjoy a welcome drink, and then we ordered a couple cocktails while waiting. The counter seating at the dinner was very intimate, and it seems they stagger the seating times so the groups next to us were ahead by a few courses. One of the other guests went out of her way to recommend we get the uni add on - we took her advice and were very glad we did! All the dishes were very flavorful, and seemed to be a fusion of traditional and modern. I loved the smokiness of the hamachi, and flavor of the foie gras chawanmushi was so savory. The menu was personalized with a birthday message and it was helpful to have so we could refer back to it while we enjoyed the dishes. We also got to keep it as a 'souvenir' which was a nice touch. Overall the pacing was good, the dishes were very unique, and I think it was great value for the price (we did the kaiseki-ryori). Would highly recommend for a special occasion! read more

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First Omakase and it was a great experience! My favorites are the nigiri with lemon/lime zest as well as the olive oil ice cream! So delicious!! Service is great-we have our chairs pulled out and the course ingredients are explained. They validate parking too! We start by toasting at the Watertrade bar (part of Otoko, but you may also come to just this separately), and then guided upstairs to enjoy 12 courses. Sushi shown in the Instagram reel in order @chelseatsushi: Escargot Lubina Kanpachi Jack's Point Oyster Hamachi Ocean trout Kamasu Hon maguro Madai White sea bass Hamachi Tofu Mushroom tempura Soy milk savory dish Olive oil ice cream read more

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I got a recommendation to try this place from a friend at work. I've only been to one other Omakase place in Austin, but the friend who went here told me it was so good that if she only had one one meal left to have in Austin, she would come here. I made a reservation for the first Thursday of the month because that is the day that they do a discounted and shorter version of their traditional omakase so basically you get a 15 course meal,Including a "toast," or glass of wine or sake before the dinner starts for $200 (including tax and service charge). if you come on this Thursday. Otherwise I think it's a $200 before the tax and tip with a service charge for the regular 20 course menu. Overall, the vibes of this place are truly immaculate. I did go to the free toast before dinner which started at watertrade, the bar just outside of the restaurant itself. The low light vibes are very sultry and inviting, they also have some nice seating areas within the restaurant in addition to seating at the bar. The menu is fairly long, it also has a really cool seasonal theme to each of the cocktails, but you can order any cocktail at any time of year, regardless of whatever the seasonal theme was that inspired the cocktail. As for the service - it's really immaculate. I put in my reservation that I was celebrating the end of my second year residency, and literally every person on the staff went out of their way to wish me congratulations when I came for dinner, which I thought was such a nice touch. They also had personalized the menu to include a congratulations note on the back of it with my name and everything. The food itself was really phenomenal, there was a great variety and I certainly still left full even though it was a shorter course menu than the regular one. I also had a cocktail I ordered separately for $17, it was called the tongue cut sparrow, and it was always recommended to me by the bartender when I asked him for a drink that was a little bit sweet, but not too sweet. When we were back in the main area where the food is, there's only one single bathroom for use, but it's very clean and spacious. Overall, they do an excellent job with ambience here, you get exchange of your cutlery and plates in between courses, and you also get a warm damp towel to wipe your hands with in between some of the courses. I really appreciate the effort they made to provide a variety of different dishes, and of course, the effort that both the chef and the servers made to describe all the dishes and answer questions about it. I ended up meeting a guy at the bar who was really friendly and happened to order the sake flight add on, and he let me try his sake since I didn't buy it. The sake actually was really good despite the fact that I'm not a big fan of hard liquor - the third of three tastes a lot like Makgoli (Korean rice wine). Something to be aware of is that the parking is a little bit confusing; you should try to get into the hotel garage from Monroe Street as opposed to Milton Street. I had to circle after turning on to Milton and I was confused about it. You get validation on the ticket that you get from the garage entrance once you get inside in the restaurant. Basically they'll put a sticker on your receipt and when you're leaving, you scan the barcode on your original ticket and then scan the barcode sticker they give you to get out. In addition - the spots in the garage are pretty small. I parked in the farthest corner I could find and there was some old furniture there that was VERY difficult not to hit while getting into the spot... so that's not great but it's kinda the only option. One other thing is that the first Thursday of the month the other restaurant inside the South Congress hotel (Maie Day) hosts an event where people can come basically to drink and party with live music. Otoko had reached out to me by text telling me there was going to be an event, but I didn't realize it was going to be an event like that (it was QUITE crowded outside the restaurant). When I came out of Otoko from dinner, there were a lot of people dancing and partying kind of like in a club except it's outside in the courtyard of the hotel; it was quite loud throughout the whole time I was going in and out of the restaurant, but while you're inside the restaurant you actually don't notice it. They did have drinks outside at that event, but they were not for free so I didn't stick around. That said, the live did seem kind of nice. Overall, i had a really fantastic experience despite parking confusion and I would absolutely come here again if anybody invited me; however, I'll I won't be coming frequently just because of the price which is a little bit expensive. That said, for omakase it's really not that bad. Give it a try if you're in or around Austin! read more

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I can't do 3.5 but would have graded it as such Otoko Omakase has its highs and lows. The service was a lowlight this time, lacking the attentiveness / friendliness you'd expect, and we felt rushed from dish to dish as if they wanted to get us out early. However, some of the bites were highlights, showcasing their potential. A high point is the personalized menu with the date you dined and the names of the people in your reservation, which is a very nice touch. I remember coming here 6ish years ago, and that was a far superior experience compared to our last visit. I really wanted to love it since I had fond memories but we've tried several omakases in Austin that provided an overall better experience. The menu is divided into sections and clearly identified, which is very nicely described. They start with a Zensai (appetizer), move on to sushi, mukouzuke (palate cleanser), yakimono (grilled, fried, or broiled), mushimono (steamed dish), agemono (deep fried), sirumono (soup), and kanmi (sweets). I'm glad it was described in the written menu because we really didn't get the full experience of a well-explained dish during dinner. If you haven't been, it's worth a visit with a few tips in mind: Try their small omakase offered every first Thursday to avoid a big investment. Note that parking in the lot comes with a hefty charge, so street parking might be more economical. Don't miss the welcome drink - the vibes & ambiance in the welcome lounge is a good experience. read more

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This is the best sushi we have had in Austin, and by far the best Omakase. Highly recommend coming here for a special day (or everyday if you can afford it). The parking situation is a little iffy. There is a garage on the side of the SoCo hotel that I think is supposed to be the valet, but when we pulled up they instructed us to self park. Regardless, at least its free? I would have expected valet for such a nice place though. The ambiance is fantastic. Its small, personal, but the design is perfect. The lighting is really nice - no glare - the speakers are tucked into the decor and not too loud, the venetian plaster is beautiful, and the actual omakase room has a the really cool diffuse lighting portal - a five star interiors for sure. The service is also fantastic. Friendly bartenders, the host was welcoming and very nice, and the chef was working very hard but still smiling. The food is fantastic, and its different. You can expect to have escargo, crickets, and truffle - but its done so well. The sushi itself is top notch - it brought us back to the fish market in Tokyo. Very fresh tasting, melt in your mouth, and cut perfectly. The crudo was my favorite dish of the night, but so many were up there. This is the must try omakase in Austin, I didn't feel it was over-hyped like I did other spots. Highly recommend. read more

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OM(G)akase the best omakase I had in Austin and it was up there in my experiences in Japan. Some were mind blowing delicious and some plates were okay, which overall still made for an incredible meal. I guess not every plate can be a home run! All the nigiri were outstanding and I wished there were more of it during the omakase. The smoked hamachi was nothing like I had before. I would put Otoko over Sushibar since the food is more toward my liking of traditional Japanese cuisine and the service was exceptional! read more

OTOKO - Japanese Near Me - Austin, Texas

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The Good: :: it's a local business! :: really great interior, very stylish and sleek :: service was very attentive :: very professional presentation and description of the food being served :: fish is extremely fresh and flavorful :: this is the only place in town where I actually enjoyed eating uni (sea urchin). they did it that damn well and that flavorful, so hat's off to the team! :: you will leave this omakase experience very full The Bad: :: felt like the team didn't really engage much. compared to other omakase places in town, there seemed to be less engagement, less warmth, less fun. it felt a bit pretentious is the best way i'd describe it, and I don't think it's what they intended but execution is what matters The Ugly: :: they finish some of the nigiri off with too much salt! the reviews I saw before I went made me nervous but they were accurate, unfortunately. being one of the most (if not THE most) expensive omakase experiences, they should have their A-game in place. however, with the multiple oversaltiness experienced serving after serving, it really took away from the entire experience Would I go back? Probably not. It's a bit insane that for the price you pay, you aren't able to speak to the food confidently due to the level of saltiness. This place is OUT. read more

Honestly one of the must try places in Austin. Yoshi is a master of his craft and the omakase is a scintillating experience. There's only several seats available per night so book ahead. They seem to seat 4 at a time so there's points where it feels like private dining. I completely understand other folks reviews that some foods were a bit salty and that is completely fair. I thought that the fried escargot and the blue fin sashimi really popped. Everything else paired well and the fish was fresh. Definitely go early and get a drink at the attached bar. The ambiance is great and feels Iike a speakeasy. The cocktails were unique and the sake tasting pairing was excellent. read more

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My most disappointing dining experience in Austin where I took my parents hoping they would have a memorable experience. Checked-in ~7 minutes late (certainly my fault to some degree trying to make an early reservation after work) but also because they offer valet parking but there was no attendant so had to self-park. Otoko then proceeds to not serve us the first couple opening courses and printed a shortened menu without notice. When I asked, they claimed we were over 10 minutes late which was not true. To not give a little grace period and also overstate our late time felt heavy handed and just petty for a $250+ per person experience. If your schedule is really that rigid, then be transparent and send a reminder of your strict rules in advance. Furthermore, they didn't tell us until we sat down that Executive Chef Yoshi went to serve a private event. Not a big deal in most instances but pretty critical for an Omakase experience where the show is watching the sushi chef mastery in front of you. Again, the point is be upfront and give customers full information. Overall, I would have hoped for a little more flexibility, transparency, and hospitality but instead their reaction was poor form and almost arrogance where it feels like they can do what they want because they collected the full payment with 20% gratuity upfront. Spoke to the manager about the course cutting who said she would talk to the chef the next day and no follow-up response. read more

Wow - what an experience! Went for my birthday in 2022 and it didn't disappoint. When you arrive, you meet at the cocktail lounge next door, grab a drink or two and wait to be seated by the hostess (later found out that these were not included in the food/drink package we previously purchased). Then you're guided to your seats and the courses began - of course, some things were out of my comfort zone such as eating an entire tiny crab (shell included) (tasted like popcorn) and fried crickets in the vanilla ice cream at the end of the meal, but it was so good! Definitely pushed the boundaries in the most explorative way. Highly recommend for special occasions. read more

I guess this is one of those places you go for "the experience" and the exclusivity. Very high end. Visually beautiful. Personalized menu where they print out your name. There was a lot of dishes but I thought that only a few stood out. It's such an expensive place that I expected more from the food, not just complexity. read more

Incredible. A great experience. A special occasion spot. Looking forward to going back. read more

OTOKO - Japanese Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I came here with my boyfriend for his birthday and we both really enjoyed it! We got here a little too early so we ended up getting drinks from watertrade, which is the bar right next to otoko. Moody, beautiful, with low lighting, it was such a perfect little space with amazing drinks. The drink came with a stamped ice cube and the attention to detail was great. As for Otoko, we loved the personalized message in the menu for my boyfriend's birthday. The dishes included more than just sushi and my favorite was the shirumoni which was an asian pear soup. All the sushi was incredibly fresh and delicious. Definitely a great spot for a special occasion. read more

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The service is always good and the food is great and they also have a very nice drink menu.

The 21 courses were exactly what we expected. Unfortunately, we felt rushed and then we were hushed by our server for being too loud. The price didn't match the experience. We won't be back. read more

What to say about Otoko. Out of this world experience, from the service to the ambiance to the food itself. You start off with a drink at the bar that is connected and then are moved into the small but very well setup sushi counter. From there the full experience starts, service watching everything making sure you need nothing. The only 2 things I'll point out on service is they never offered the wine tasting, which I probably would have done if I had known about it, and after finishing my first drink it took them a while after clearing my glass to ask if I wanted something else. But these are quite minor. The food... each bite was better than the previous. The sushi chef was fun and engaging making the whole experience a blast. read more

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What an unbelievable culinary experience. The setting is intimate and the food is nothing short of amazing. Go with an open mind and open senses and let the tangy, sweet, spicy, savory flavors of the mini masterpieces wash over you. Every one of the 20 courses is unique and tantalizing. It's pure joy watching Yoshi and his master chefs create bite size works of art. I can't get over how good each dish tasted. Nothing here is boring. Also get the Saki tasting add on. It's a unique aspect that really elevates the meal even more. The service staff is incredible and will make you feel at home. This was truly an amazing experience that was worth every dime. read more

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What a treat! Learned about Japanese whiskey ahead of dinner and loved it! The meal was outstanding and very fresh with a unique blend of tastes. All around, the staff was great and the ambience delightful. What was extraordinary was the customer service! When I didn't feel well toward the end of my meal - - not at all related to the food quality or preparation - - the staff took great care to ensure that I had what I needed and even came outside with me as I waited for my car. Impressive and I can't recommend Otoko enough!!! I'll be back and will bring my friends! Thank you so much! read more

I was not impressed at all. For the price, you would think that the menu would be better, but there were a lot of strange dishes that were incredibly salty. I remember reading someone's review about how they felt like the dishes were trying too hard to be complex but fell right on their faces because it was just so salty, and I wholeheartedly agree. I would not pay the same price for this kind of menu, and trust me when I say there are cheaper omakase options in Austin that are 10x better. It's a really pretty and gives quite a modern feel to the entire traditional omakase experience, but it hypes you up for a menu that is quite mediocre. From the starting plates to even one of the last dessert dishes, I was left feeling like I overpaid for an overhyped and elitist experience that I definitely could've done without. Don't come here. read more

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I think I died and went to Otoko. The omakase was an awesome experience. We really enjoyed the staff and the ambiance of the place. Seems like it could be the #1 sushi spot in Austin. read more

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This is by far the best omakase experience I've had in Austin - the whole dining experience is such a vibe!! Located inside the South Congress Hotel, I love how seclusive the restaurant is and how intimate your dining experience could get. We were told to arrive at least 30 mins early and the servers greeted us by taking us to the WATERTRADE bar for some welcome drinks while we wait. The bar itself is off the hook and surprisingly they also have a wide selection of Taiwanese teas. The sushi counter could accommodate 10+ish seats so everyone was well taken care of throughout the 20-course omakase. I love the mixture of rock n roll and traditional Japanese vibe that Chef Yoshi Okai creata and everything on the table was impeccably delicate, including the customized menu that you can bring home. It's a perfect dining experience for special occasions and I'll keep coming back for sure! read more

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one of the best dining experiences out there! add this to your must try list! a new dish was brought out almost instantaneously after finishing the last - this 20 course omakase was absolutely amazing! some of my favorites were the mishima wagyu, ocean trout, & the hamachi! thanks @otokoaustin for such an outstanding time! read more

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Reservations are done through Tock and it's prepaid including tax + tip. The classic omakase is a progressive marathon of 20 dishes. My first impression based off the starting platter of small bites, had me really worried. It's meant the rev up your palate and get you excited for the upcoming courses, but it fell flat. Mainly due to the pickled seaweed and baby cuttlefish, it ate mushy and crumbly which left an odd feeling. Thankfully though next was the sushi (nigiri) courses and it was smooth sailing from there. Each fish was uniquely showcased with each bite being better than the last. Personal fav was the uni! After that was a series of hot and cold composed dishes, like mini entrees. Standouts for me was the charcoal seared hamachi, a umami rich version of it with the smoked tamari. After this though my palate started to tire out, even though I wasn't full or overstuffed. The steamed egg custard, tempura and miso were all savory and very umami heavy. They're all good but when hit with them back to back you're left wanting something tart, herbal or sweet. All in all it was a nice food experience to try out. Would I do it again? Hmm only if someone else pays for it lol. My main issue was that the progression didn't feel balanced especially at the end and could've used some editing. read more

What a magical omakase experience - each bite meticulously crafted with love and admiration for the chef and cuisine. All of the staff were top notch, enhancing the experience along the way. There are two easy to follow rules: leave your gold plate on the counter for plating and don't put ginger on your sushi, simple and sensible. Our neighbors could not follow the two rules which was a little distracting. We however excelled at following along. What a special meal, maybe the best I have had in Austin! read more

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This is definitely a top 5 or sushi spot in Austin. Each piece was nice and buttery soft. You can't order more pieces at the end but the experience was pretty cool. Loved the decor and lighting in here. read more

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I was finally able to try Otoko after years of having this one on my list of places to go. We celebrated my husband's birthday and the staff and service were really exceptional from start to finish. The food was truly amazing and you could see the exquisite care yet hard work that went into every dish. The presentation was also stunning. Every dish was a work of art. I was literally dancing in my seat when trying each bite. Incredibly delicious. I was a little nervous that the ambiance would be too tight of quarters amongst strangers, but it was very intimate and the staff again made everyone feel very comfortable and special. We had a wine pairing with our meal and they matched perfectly with the apps, sushi and desserts. Extremely impressed with this restaurant and hope to return again for another tasty experience. read more

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INCREDIBLE omakase experience for our group of 6. It took us a couple of months to get in, but we waited patiently and it was well worth the wait. We loved having the private experience to ourselves and it allowed us to get as loud as we wanted to as well as talk to the chefs and find out interesting facts about them which made the experience that much more great. I am a huge fan of Uchi and Soto and was just as floored with Otoko; particularly after learning that the chef was once the head sushi chef at Uchi. Every bite of our 21 courses was scrumptious and the presentation was executed perfectly. The service was impeccable and the added touch of thanking us by listing all of our names on the back of the menu was priceless. We all left vowing to come back and that is a promise! read more