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    Soto South Lamar

    4.3 (743 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 2:30 pm, 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM

    Soto South Lamar Japanese Restaurant Photos

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    Spring L.

    Soto Austin has one of the best happy hour deals in town - great value considering how exceptional the quality is. The fish is always incredibly fresh, and the chefs have a real talent for pairing unique flavors that enhance, rather than overpower, the delicacy of the seafood. Honestly, I'd take Soto over the Uchi chain any day. The balance, creativity, and precision here are unmatched. Their truffle risotto and uni pasta are must-orders - rich, elegant, and deeply satisfying. For anyone who appreciates refined Japanese cuisine without the pretension, Soto truly stands out.

    Scott T.

    Soto on South Lamar is easily a 5 star experience every time, one of those spots that just nails both the food and the vibe. The sushi is incredibly fresh, beautifully presented, and the flavor combinations are next level, you can tell a lot of care goes into every dish. The space feels upscale but still comfortable, perfect for a date night, or a nice dinner out without feeling stuffy. And yes, the famous flaming salmon dish is fun and delicious, but definitely get more than just that, the rest of the menu deserves attention too, especially the specialty rolls, nigiri, and seasonal fish selections. There is a lot of depth here beyond the showstopper plate. Andy is great, attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely makes you feel taken care of without hovering. Service like that really elevates the whole night. Between the quality of the fish, creative menu, and standout service, Soto continues to be one of my favorite sushi spots in Austin.

    Morgan-Emilee A.

    We made a reservation to celebrate while we were in town. The location was easy to find, and parking was not an issue. We had a great sever and she was attentive and kind all night. Everything we ordered was really good. Not one thing was bad. It is expensive. Expect to pay $150 plus for two if you're eating and drinking. If we didn't get drinks we probably could have spent $100 plus tip. The quality of everything was impressive and the environment was relaxing and quiet. Perfect date night. Can't wait to come back!

    Les Z.

    Personal favorites: Giant clam nigiri, ebi nigiri, Uni sushi (forgot the official name for this one) - The giant clam is refreshing and sweet. Not fishy or slimy at all. It's a thick piece so you can really feel the chewy and crunchy texture! - Uni is on the small side. They taste creamy and sweet, exactly what I expected. - The ebi one has some nice citrusy flavor to it, again very nice texture and flavor. Overall the food has very exquisite taste, fresh ingredients, and beautiful plating! We enjoyed everything we ordered. If I had to share one feedback, it's the uni pasta - I think they use something like instant noodle, not the Italian pasta kind. Still delicious though. I'd like to mention the creative seasoning pairing choices. I've been to Japan many times, but Soto surprised me with some unexpected combination of fried garlic, yuzu, truffle, etc. It's very delightful and unique. Will definitely come back.

    Habiba A.

    I had the pleasure of dining at Soto for Valentine's and their omakase did not disappoint!! Our server was incredibly friendly and did a great job at explaining each item and drinks to pair with them! It's such a fun dining experience, and it's so classy- you'd almost forget it's across the street from Gibson! Definitely recommend and will absolutely be coming back

    Soto 2.0
    Christina L.

    We were visiting from out of state and wanted to try something local in Texas. The restaurant is beautifully decorated -- classy, warm, and elegant. Perfect date night vibe. The service was amazing too; our server was super knowledgeable and made the whole experience enjoyable from start to finish. We started with the miso soup, which was delicious and had a unique touch with mushrooms added in. For rolls, we got the Soto 2.0, and we loved it. The toro was rich, savory, and just melted in your mouth. Under the cold section, the hamachi chili was one of our favorites -- the bite was perfectly balanced with fried jalapeño and scallions on top. The massugo maguro was another pleasant surprise, especially with the crispy rice underneath adding the perfect crunch. For nigiri, we had the seared sake toro, which was good but not as standout as the others. The hamachi toro (fatty wild yellowtail), though, was beautifully presented with smoke -- it had a rich, smoky flavor that paired perfectly with the fish. We also tried the housemade potato chips, which were a fun and crunchy snack. From the seasonal menu, the bafun uni was fantastic -- buttery, custard-like, and honestly comparable (if not better) than the Santa Barbara uni we've had before. The kama toro with caviar was incredibly rich and delicious. And the highlight of the night was the truffle masuter -- our server recommended it, saying the chef won an award for it, and we could absolutely see why. It was one of those "Ratatouille" moments where the flavors just come together perfectly -- an unforgettable bite. We ended with the uni pasta, which lived up to the hype. The creamy sauce and the egg on top tied everything together beautifully. All in all, Soto was a hidden gem for us and made our first visit to Austin even better. We'd definitely come back next time we're in town!

    Sandy G.

    It's becoming an annual tradition for me to celebrate my birthday here. We always opt for their omakase course, which comes with 18 bites. They also have a premium option that comes with 20 bites and includes more selections from their specialty menu but we're pretty content with just their standard omakase. You're also able to tell your server your preferences which is a huge plus for me because I'm not a fan of shellfish so they were able to customized their omakase selection a bit to exclude things we don't want. It's hard to pick a favorite dish because everything was plated delicately and also tasted superb - definitely very close to the quality you'll get in Japan. One of most memorable dishes for me was the wagyu on the hot stone. It definitely reminded me of Japan. Their homemade potato chip, which left me craving more, also deserves an honorable mention. They have a fantastic drinks selection as well. All in all, Soto is a great place for a celebratory meal. I'm already looking forward to my next visit.

    HH menu
    Dawn S.

    I popped in to grab HH before my movie at Alamo. The HH menu is great! My bartender was Son. He was helpful and friendly. He told me his favorites. I got the Chili Hamachi, Mini Sushi Tacos, Hamachi Nigiri, and Masu Nigiri. There were all fantastic. I was even surprised with a little extra sushi from the chef. Lucky me! Sorry Alamo, this food is way better than yours! ;) Happy Hour: M-F : 4-6 S-S : 3-6 In the words of A.S., "I'll be back."

    Kassilynn T.

    First time here and I thoroughly enjoyed it. We opted to sit outside since the weather was beautiful and we loved every minute. Our waitress was sooo sweet and made my daughter feel so special. We tried so many different things from their happy hour menu along with some from their regular menu. The sushi was phenomenal and I'll def keep them in mind for another Sunday fun day adventure.

    Shishito Pepper
    Erin Y.

    The food is incredibly fresh and full of flavor, with a great assortment that makes it hard to choose just one thing. Everything we've tried has been consistently excellent, but the nigiri really stands out; simple, perfectly prepared, and lets the quality of the fish shine. You can tell a lot of care goes into every dish. It's become one of our go-to spots when we're craving top-tier sushi in Austin, and we'll absolutely keep coming back!

    Dining
    Rishi P.

    Great service and quick too. Modern place located by other small restaurants too. Plenty of garage parking. Menu was thorough. Sushi was tremendous and best one was hamachi apple. White tiger was good but the arugula was best part of the Apple one. Appetizers the crab cake was delicious with the sweet sauce, the pork pot stickers had a spicier sauce which was worth keeping for the sushi. Dessert the matcha was surprisingly great. We had a great server as she tossed in a free dessert mango one at the end. She was quick and gave great recommendation. Will be back

    matcha mousse
    Megan Y.

    Have now been here twice. The first time we didn't order much & went to a different restaurant for the second half of dinner. We came for my sister's birthday & it was a lovely experience all the way through. We got two of their rolls, several nigiri, and two hot plates (classic uni pasta & truffle risotto). Everything was delicious except one of the nigiri's I felt was either not fresh or under seasoned. It may have been the scallops. They gave us their two signature desserts for free as well (due to the birthday) - Each course came out quickly, especially because my family doesn't really get lost in conversation when we eat out; we fully invest in eating our food! Service was great, we had two different servers take our group photo and the valet person outside also delivered quality work.

    Nigiri
    Ryan B.

    The staff was absolutely wonderful here. Everyone was very helpful and constantly made sure our water was filled. They made recommendations and checked in regularly. All of the rolls we tried were great but the nigiri was terrific. I would love to swing by again and load up on nigiri!

    Chili hamachi

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    Page 1 of 19

    Soto South Lamar Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Soto South Lamar

    What are their happy hour specials/discounts?

    9$ lychee martinis and margaritas and a few other drinks And basically a bunch of rolls/… Read more

    Do you offer a soy paper option?

    yes we do offer soy paper

    Is this place kid-friendly at dinner time?

    On my 2nd visit, there were families at dinner. There were no issues. Enjoy!

    Gluten free options?

    Plenty! They are super accommodating for allergies, especially gluten. They can do just about any menu item gluten free, even tempura!

    How long will the dining experience take if you do the omakase?

    Omakase tends to take about 1.5-2 hours depending on how busy the restaurant is

    What's the dress and ambiance like? Trying to do a slightly fancy/dressier dinner.

    For Dinner I would definitely say it's a nicer restaurant. It's in line with a nice steak restaurant or Uchi. No coat/tie needed but you definitely would not look out of place with coat tie either. It would be a really nice date night place.

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    Upstairs at Caroline - Upstairs at Caroline backyard

    Upstairs at Caroline

    4.3(684 reviews)
    1.5 miDowntown
    $$

    A total vibe! I loved this spot and the outdoor bar area. It's lit up by twinkle lights with plenty…read moreof TVs to watch the game. They had a frozen watermelon rose I tried which I really like, if you get an additional shooter to go with it, make sure you mix it in! They have a good amount of drinks to choose from, it's a great place to chill with friends and enjoy the weather. Lots of seating and picnic table style seating. I've been twice and would definitely go back!

    I recently visited Upstairs at Caroline for a Logitech SXSW installation event, and the experience…read morewas a great mix of creative energy and Austin atmosphere. The venue itself has a lively, open feel with an urban backyard vibe and plenty of space to move around, mingle, and actually take in the installation without feeling crowded. What stood out most was how well the space complemented the event. The layout made it easy to engage with the installation while still enjoying the social vibe. They had space for working virtually as well as displays to test some of the technology. There's a nice balance between indoor comfort and that signature rooftop-style setting, which gives it a relaxed but elevated feel. The staff was friendly and kept things running smoothly, and the overall setup felt thoughtfully organized. Whether you were there to focus on the installation or just take it in casually, the environment supported both. The line was somewhat long to get into the event as it was at capacity and could only allow more people as people were leaving the event. I was given a drink ticket and got to try the Patio Pounder with ilegal mezcal, primo aperitivo, tropical citrus, coconut, grapefruit soda. The bartender was efficient even though the lines were long. The cocktail was enjoyable with the balance of smoky and citrus flavors. They also had a variety of food bites available including chips and queso. creamy street corn, and sliders. The food was gone relatively quickly due to the crowds but it would be replenished periodically. Overall, Upstairs at Caroline proved to be a solid venue for a creative SXSW event versatile, welcoming, and very on-brand for Austin's arts and tech scene.

    Photos
    Upstairs at Caroline - Upstairs at Caroline interior

    Upstairs at Caroline interior

    Upstairs at Caroline - Bites of tacos and chips

    Bites of tacos and chips

    Upstairs at Caroline

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    Powder Room - Craft Cocktail Bar

    Powder Room

    4.0(135 reviews)
    1.3 miWarehouse District, Downtown

    Upon stepping in I felt like I was transported to Miami in the 70s or 80s. Once you enter you turn…read morein your phones making it easy to lose time in connecting with your company. The staff was super nice and attentive our waitress came by multiple times and drinks were good and quick. They have a fun magazine style menu and plenty of options including mocktails. The mocktails were well balanced and not too sweet and my husband enjoyed every drink he tried. We ordered the French fries which were so good the perfect blend of freshness and salt. Would definitely come back for the ambiance and the no phones was a great reminder to connect to who your with and be present.

    The vibes are great, but I'm not sure they are worth the wait. There are two lines: one for…read morewalk-ins and one for those with reservations. We waited maybe 15 minutes at the walk-in line as others progressively started to pile on behind us. Then again, even people in the reservation line were waiting. This is definitely the kind of place that wants you to wait. The kind of place that wants to build a line outdoors to intrigue onlookers. We were treated nicely, but we definitely could have gotten in right away. By the time we walked in, the place was probably at 60% capacity. It was standing room only at the bar, but not overcrowded by any means. There is a dress code, but it's not entirely clear what it is. Some guy dressed to the 9s got turned away for not having sleeves whereas I got in with sneakers and a t-shirt. They ask for your cellphones upon entering and give you a key in exchange, but there doesn't seem to be any security to enforce it if you don't want to give them up. I have no problem with their policy, but I bet a lot of customers do. Interestingly, their little social experiment seemed to have a positive effect, where we ended up talking to strangers and vice versa. The Powder Room may be making America social again.

    Photos
    Powder Room - Spicy margarita

    Spicy margarita

    Powder Room - Leaving Powder Room

    Leaving Powder Room

    Powder Room - Craft Cocktail Lounge

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    Craft Cocktail Lounge

    Fortune Teller - Bar

    Fortune Teller

    4.9(30 reviews)
    3.6 mi

    Parking? Easy. They have a front lot off Congress and another one off Sandra (just South on…read moreCongress after you pass the bar). The drinks? Oh my gaaahhd. I'm usually not a fan of 'craft cocktails' out bc they're overpriced and not nearly as good as what my partner makes at home, but these were glorious. These drinks had layers of flavor. And fresh ingredients. And they were reasonably priced. Honestly, I don't even remember the last time we had such good drinks out (ok that's a lie but another review and it was at that place where Crowbar used to be - but these win hands down). The bartenders were nice and knowledgeable (Did I mention they make amazing drinks?). The outside has a similar feel to Cosmic but more secluded which is nice. They have plenty of seating, mostly outside, and food from an onsite truck, Sabor Tapatio. Honestly, I feel like this place is a unicorn. 78745 low key vibe but also with some old school Austin feels (I'm talking 2005 mid-Noughties - not 20-teen Rainey Street batch cocktails). They also have coffee in the mornings which we'll be checking out sooner rather than later. 10/10 recommend.

    Met a friend here on a sunny Sunday afternoon. I was happy that it wasn't overcrowded - one of us…read moredid have to utilize the add-on parking in the back. There are plenty of different seating options but very few seats inside. The place is chill, ordering drinks took some time even with no rush. Seems like they have some pre-mixed type of cocktails. Honestly, neither of us liked our drinks much. We actually left it behind. The food truck is nice to have though we didn't get to try. Happy that South Austin is finally seeing some nice spacious outdoor hangout spots.

    Photos
    Fortune Teller - Outside

    Outside

    Fortune Teller - Great patio .

    Great patio .

    Fortune Teller

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    Whisler's - Left On Read - Delicious! (Tequila, Amaro, Bitters, Strawberry, Citrus, Spice, Egg White )

    Whisler's

    4.3(675 reviews)
    2.4 miEast Austin
    $$

    These are moments I think why do I live in San Antonio ( and often work in Austin ) when I can just…read morelive here and enjoy great restaurants, bars and weird gothic haunts like this with weird dark goth decor, a scent of palo santo , superb music, a great crowd and amazing drinks! College me would have lived here !! Enjoyed a French 75, my husband enjoyed a smoked Old Fashioned and it was a great place to grab a drink prior to seeing Springsteen at the Moody seated amongst candles , a weird alter of sorts while enjoying some Stevie Wonder as is playing now though some weird NIN or Type O might have been more appropriate

    I went to Whisler's and had one of the worst bar experiences I've ever had…read more I had one drink. I was completely sober for all intents and purposes. The bartender claimed I was drunk and cut me off anyway. I was at the bar talking to a girl while waiting to get a drink (the wait was long because the service is very slow, despite the bar not being very busy at all). She was clearly into me, and the bartender kept jumping in trying to talk to her too (instead of doing his job making drinks). He was doing all sorts of things to try and flirt with her and make her laugh: pulling out and showing her buckets of pre mixed cocktails, running and sliding under the bar, etc. She was engaging with both of us , and right in the middle of that, I get cut off out of nowhere. No explanation other than claiming I looked drunk, which I very clearly wasn't. It felt very clear what was going on--he wanted me out of the way. I left and asked the bouncer on my way out if I seemed drunk. This was literally two minutes later. He said no, not at all, and asked me why I would even ask that. I then told him exactly what happened and asked him to let the owner or whoever was in charge know about this extremely unprofessional conduct so they can discipline the bartender. His response was that the bartender has discretion to cut anyone off, and let me know the bartender is supposedly married so he couldn't have been flirting with any of the customers. Well, sounds like his logic is flawed--not only COULD he flirt with his customers, he WAS, and was therefore cheating. I hope his wife finds out. This is perfectly representative of Austin customer service lately and not normal in other places. I was in Tampa for an entire month earlier this year and this would've been unthinkable there. I'm not coming back.

    Photos
    Whisler's - Side bar

    Side bar

    Whisler's - Inside seating

    Inside seating

    Whisler's - Main bar

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    Main bar

    Sign Bar - More booths and sitting areas

    Sign Bar

    4.3(131 reviews)
    8.1 mi

    I always see this bar on social media and I finally decided to give it a try. This bar exceeded my…read moreexpectations with the drinks, the size, events, games, and shops. The actual bar is to the left of the entrance. I love that they have a variety of drink specials as well as nonalcoholic beverages. I was hoping to get a taste of the food, but the kitchen doesn't open until 4pm. I would also suggest coming later if you want to catch a show from the live band or explore their seasonal mazes. There's plenty of photo ops, jenga, corn hole, pool, foosball, connect four, pacman, and a few other arcade games. This place is completely filled with 80s, 90s, and early 2000s' nostalgia. It's the perfect spot of tourist and for native austinites. There also a lot of vintage signs from old stores and restaurants that were local to austin as well. I would say this spot is worth the hype! I also give bonus points for the shops & food trucks outside of the bar. The perfect place to hang out with friends and have some fun.

    This place has showed on my Social Media feeds several times and while we were in the area on…read moreSunday we stopped by. Really great assortment of old signs, like walking through the Neon museum in Vegas but filled with old Austin haunts. We took a bunch of pictures and really liked the layout of the place, we gotta come back at night, as I am sure its even better.

    Photos
    Sign Bar - Entrance

    Entrance

    Sign Bar - Entrance to the Sign Bar

    Entrance to the Sign Bar

    Sign Bar - Entrance

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    Entrance

    Edge Rooftop

    Edge Rooftop

    4.3(214 reviews)
    1.3 miDowntown
    $$

    Entering from the lobby, it felt like a maze trying to find the right elevator and then figure out…read morewhere to go once I got off. After exiting the elevator, I ended up meandering through what felt like the entire rooftop pool deck with rows and rows of seating, a beautifully laid-out space, and a huge outdoor area before finally reaching the actual bar on the other side of the building. Verdict: best pool, least impressive late-night drink options. The rooftop space itself is massive and gorgeous, with seating spread around fire features and plenty of room to roam. It's the kind of place that makes you want to book a stay just to have access to the pool and outdoor area. Drink-wise, though, the menu was very limited, and they didn't have any mocktails listed. I asked for "anything mocktail," and they brought me a virgin Lady Bird. It was mostly juice, but still tasty and refreshing for $8.

    My friends and I had a FABULOUS time here. The ambiance is beautiful and so cozy! Without a res on…read morea Friday evening (around 6:30/7) we were able to get a nice, big cabana area. The couches were so comfortable and the ambiance was so pretty. In terms of the drinks and food, it was okay! Got the job done, but nothing to rave about. I enjoyed the sliders the most. I enjoyed my drink as well (5th Floor Cooldown) once we added the extra sweetener we requested. Without it, I wasn't a huge fan (wasn't sweet, despite being told that it was). Valet parking is only $15 (for 2 hours) with validation. I appreciated that, as it made parking not a headache.

    Photos
    Edge Rooftop
    Edge Rooftop
    Edge Rooftop - Views of Lady Bird Lake from Edge Rooftop + Bar

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    Views of Lady Bird Lake from Edge Rooftop + Bar

    Soto South Lamar - japanese - Updated May 2026

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