I really want Sugar Pine to succeed. It has everything going for it. Asian inspired. Tons of plants in quaint pots. A lot of windows for that Instagram lighting. Plentiful parking. Charming employees. And 5 star ice cream. So why the 3 star rating? That 2 star food. I came with some friends when the restaurant opened to nab a table. We ordered 2 sets (karaage and chicken katsu), onigiri and soba noodles. The food came out a little slower than expected, considering we were one of the first people there. And it came out one at a time. Our first dish was spicy tuna onigiri served with a side of pickles. The onigiri started to crumble as soon as it was set on the table. I wasn't crazy about the filling. Too sweet and too scant. And the rice was wrong. Onigiri should not crumble. Then we got the katsu and karaage sets. The katsu was heavily breaded in flour and panko. It was thicker than the actual chicken. The breading completely separated from the chicken every time we tried to pick it up. Although the chicken was tender, it was not well seasoned at all. And it should have been served with katsu sauce on the side because it needed it very badly. In fact, the whole set was horribly under seasoned. The miso soup was so diluted I thought they may have been going for a low sodium healthy mixture. The sets came with a salad, pickles and cookie as well. I loved the texture of the cookie and the taste. The salad was fine except for that horrid dressing. What was this?? It was definitely my least favorite item in the whole restaurant. It reminded me of thin, sweet yogurt. This weird, unpalatable dressing also served as the dip for the karaage, which was frankly a crime against karaage. I liked the karaage but refused to eat it with the sauce so I asked for Siracha. They didn't have it so they offered a spicy chili oil, which is not appetizing. Why would I dip a fried thing in oil? Lastly, we got our soba. The noodles were undercooked. A little too al dente. You can make your own sauce but the sauce again was heavily diluted and needed so much more flavor than what was given to us. We added all the wasabi, ginger and bonito and nothing could fix it. I would definitely come here for is the ice cream. It's tasty and fresh. I like the watermelon basil sorbet. I love sesame and taro as well. But I would not stick around for the savory foods. It's very pretty but I would take ugly and tasty over Instagram likes any day. read more

I was looking for a place that served onigiri and saw this place in my Instagram feed. I got very excited and knew I had to stop by for lunch one day. I did not regret my decision. My onigiri was made fresh and delicious. They have ice cream and even though I did not try them yet, they look so good and refreshing. Next time I visit, I will make sure to try one. The inside of the restaurant looks amazing and looks like a cool place to bring your friends. They have a ton of different selections for everyone in your party. If some people are looking to eat a meal, snack, or dessert, Sugar Pine can fulfill all your needs. If you are looking for something different and are around the area, I suggest giving Sugar Pine a shot. read more

Food was great, tried almost every entree. And it was all delicious. Ordered 3 entree to share with 4 adults but ended up having to order more and tried the whole menu! We had 4 little ones and I'm sure they made a mess. sorry for that, but it food was great all around! Will be back! read more

You know for awhile I would look at this place after watching a Tottenham game at Mister Tramps and was intrigued by it. What is it? I know it's a restaurant but what are they going to serve. I made my way to Sugar Pine and all I can fit in my stomach was a friggin' affrogato. It was a good affrogato with toasted coconut ice cream and espresso. They also had other ice cream flavors which intrigued me such as Black Sesame Ice Cream. Maybe next time if I feel adventurous I will go ahead and try it. The menu looked good with it's small Japanese influenced menu. If only I had enough in my stomach to stuff I would have something to eat. Also another cool thing about this place it's across the street from Mister Tramps. After watching a Tottenham game, I can relax and chill or get depressed at Sugar Pine. They have their own parking lot and their own wifi. Once I have an empty stomach I shall venture back there. Meanwhile just enjoy my affrogato and bakery photos. read more

See all

The love and care that is going into Sugar Pine oozes through every offering here. In spite of its location smack dab on the 183 access road, the atmosphere is cozy and relaxed. The onigiri and soba were such a delightful throwback to my Tokyo days, and the ice cream flavors were exceptional. They did not have enough miso caramel swirl ice cream for a full scoop so they scraped what they had into a cup and gave it for us to try as a treat. The owners are sweet and very hands-on, and the little touches to their dishes - especially the delicious Japanese pickles! - make even the simplest of offerings exciting. I'll definitely be a regular. read more

Very Unique food selection as well as generous portions and delicious udon noodles. Would definitely recommend as a takeout or dine in spot.

Food is really underwhelming. It's also really expensive for the portion size. Best onigiri outside of Japan? Not even close. And the service is slow and not very friendly on both occasions I visited. No reason for me to go back a third time. read more

This place is owned by a super sweet couple, they spent a year building it before it opened. The restaurant is SO cute inside. It's a great coffee shop, dessert place, and restaurant. My family and I tried the garlic steak chop, chicken karaage, soba and two types of onigiri. I highly recommend all of those dishes- especially the onigiri. The drinks are also great; I had the ice coffee ($2) and asked for it sweetened and with milk. I believe they put condensed milk at the bottom, it was both sweet and strong. I will definitely be returning! read more

See all

Their ice creams are A.m.a.z.i.n.g!! I'm at that place in my life where if I eat dessert, it better be worth it. And their ice creams and sorbets ARE :). Everything I've tried has been delicious -- flavorful, rich. Like their basil watermelon, the mango, the white chocolate Thai tea, the miso caramel, the black sesame ... read more

I had the spicy tuna and steak onigiri and both were so good! Also tried the latte and it was strong just how I enjoy it. The place itself was well decorated with lots of plants and the window lets natural light come through read more

We love coming here as a family. Yummy ice cream for the kiddo. My son likes the purple taro and gummy bears. And I like their tuna and salmon onigiri (and sometimes a drink!). I've also had the Katsu Plate which is really good. My husband is also a fan of the plates. We often let our son just eat rice and some pickles which he is happy to take a few bites of before running to the ice cream counter. read more

Rating is only on the food, which was disappointing considering the high avg rating. I was kind of excited to try the place, so we ordered a number of dishes between two people. We got the spicy onigiri, salmon onigiri, chicken karaage, the soba, the chicken katsu with curry, and finally the coconut and matcha ice cream. So... the onigiri rice was too mushy for my liking. Rice balls also tend to need saltier / more flavorful fillings so it's not too bland with all that rice. Unfortunately, both onigiris were very bland. The blandness continues with the soba - the dipping sauce wasn't flavorful and the wasabi wasn't pronounced. Sadly the noodles were also not done well - they hardened like two balls. This is not a good sign. It's as if they toned down the flavor profile by a few notches than what it's supposed to be. Luckily, the chicken karaage was tender - this was the only dish we kind of liked. After all that, we were still hungry so we ordered the chicken katsu and curry. The curry was too watery and the chicken a bit dry. The katsu dish alone was $17. We figured we were already there and everyone seem to like the ice cream so we tried it as well. This was good - the coconut flavor tasted like toasted coconut chips. The matcha flavor wasn't too sweet. Overall, this place is not a winner for me when it comes to taste or texture. read more

See all

I love their sushi balls. It's sooo good. I keep coming back for spicy tuna and beef ones

This is a great spot for a full meal, small plates, desert, or take out. I've been ordering lunch from Sugar Pine once or twice a week since shortly after they opened. Initially, I would grab a couple freshly made onigiri. The salmon and the tuna are my favorites. With winter here, I've moved onto their chicken udon soup. In my opinion, this is the best udon soup in Austin. Every Japanese restaurant has an udon soup on the menu. They're all good, and pretty much the same. Sugar pine has added a twist with some additional ingredients and a healthy dose of spiciness. My coworkers love the set dishes, usually opting for the chicken karate or grilled salmon. So far, I haven't found anything I wouldn't recommend. read more

I really enjoyed this place! This was my first time experiencing a rice ball and it was amazing. I also got to try their delicious ice cream flavors and tea. Me and my friend just sat in here a while and chilled out. It's such a cute chill place and right up my alley I will definitely be back! read more

perfect ice cream, delicious onigiri and friendly service. my new favorite summer restaurant for a quick bite, drink and cool desserts. best taro and matcha ice cream that I've ever had in Austin read more

SUPER YUMMY ONIGIRI!!! Absolutely love the way they season their onigiri rice. Staff is always super sweet and the food is consistantly on point. read more

I don't know if I have been visiting the wrong places, but this is the only place in central Austin that has a great variety of Onigiri. I ordered the veggie tempura, avocado onigiri and tofu onigiri. It was amazing! Beautiful presentation, cooked perfectly, and high quality tasty ingredients. On top of that, they also have a vegetarian miso soup which can be relatively hard to find at most of the best Japanese restaurants in town. Their staff is very friendly and the interior is super cute. I have already told many of my friends about this place. My only gripe about the restaurant is that I wish I would have known about it sooner. read more

I went a few months ago in early March. It was okay... I remember the other sauce besides the tonkatsu sauce on the pork katsu tasted very weird and was not a good flavor combo. The miso soup was the cloudiest i've ever seen, and I love miso soup, but it gave it a really unappetizing appearance. Besides the food, the design of the restaurant itself is very chill, aesthetically pleasing, and nice to be in. read more

Sugar Pine - pork katsu - Japanese Near Me - Austin, Texas

See all

I had been waiting to try this place since it was announced back in March, especially the made to order onigiri. The ambience and decor was great, but I was a little put off by the price. Also, I want to say that this review is only for the food, not ice cream. I bought four onigiris ($4/each) and tried the garlic steak chop ($15). The garlic steak chop came with rice, miso soup, a small small salad, and a small cookie. Both the meat and vegetables were too saucy and I wasn't a fan of the bell peppers in the mixed vegetables, so I was a little disheartened that I paid the same amount I would've paid at a fancier Japanese resturant for the meal. The fact that there was more sauce under the rice made me sadder. The grocery store, Asahi Imports, makes way better onirigi for less money. Also, there are much better places to get Japanese entrees. I wish I had tried the sweets though, that easily could've swayed my review. read more

This is a hidden gem. I had dinner and was happy to see thst they have gluten free options. I got the chicken but was amazed by the quantity of food they give you. Not a ton but a cute little assortment of main dish, salad, soup and pickled vegetables(so good) with the most surprising delicious tiny cookie. They leave you satisfied but not too full to enjoy ice cream and they're ice cream is unique. I got the taro root ice cream of all things with lemon meringue puffs on it, it was so different. The black sesame ice cream was so different as well and definitely worth it to go back to try, also the toasted coconut and salted caramel something. I should probably just get 4 scoops next time, it was cheap and fast too! read more

Stopped in a hot summer day for an afternoon break. We were the only customers other than one other family at 3pm. Ice cream flavors are limited to the artisan Japanese inspired palate so make sure you have adventurous kids (and adults!) My daughter actually loved the taro ice cream and the watermelon basil sorbet. Onigiri was beautiful and yummy. When they say spicy tuna, they mean it! I liked the salmon the best. Being a little pricey, this can't be an everyday stop...All in all a nice trip to this sweet little cafe. read more

I came here for dinner with a few friends not expecting much. I can say, for sure, that I was pleasantly surprised by everything. The Karaage was solid - crispy and flavourful. The snack sized was enough to satisfy me (I don't eat much though). The thing I was most interested in was the onigiri, which is something not easily found in Austin. The salmon onigiri was satisfactory, and the tuna was okay. However, the thing Sugar Pine did great on was rice texture. It was a perfect sticky consistency, enough to keep the onigiri in its triangular shape. One criteria I take seriously is whether or not my rice doesn't fall apart when picked up with chopsticks, which this place passed with flying colours. Surprisingly, the best part of the meal was the ice cream, which is what got it the 5 stars. The flavours were unique, but they definitely succeeded in incorporating them into a creamy concoction. I tried the White Chocolate Thai Tea, Taro Root, and Miso Caramel Swirl. I would definitely come back for the first flavour. The Thai Tea was strong, but not overwhelming, and the hint of white chocolate sold it for me. The taro tasted standard. Now the miso... It really tastes like it. My friend really liked it, but honestly, I think you need an acquired taste to really appreciate it. The ambiance was nice. Low key jazz, like a coffee shop. Decent amount of seats. Nice sink to wash hands. However, maybe too many succulents and decorations on the seating area near the window. read more

We found this cute Japanese style cafe when we were actually driving to Ramen Tatsuya. Their menu looks simple, but boy, they're good! Onigiri is freshly made when you ordered, and set menu is really tasty too. Ice latte is similar to what we had when we were in Tokyo. We also ordered their ice cream: taro root and miso caramel with matcha waffle cone. So good! Sugar Pine, if your goal is to bring Japan vibe to Austin, you've achieved it. We definitely will come back again. PS: the sugar pine nut cookie is really really good! read more

With its interesting offerings made from high-quality ingredients, Sugar Pine was high on my list since it opened -- and during lockdown has been one of my go-to places to pick up honestly healthful meals. (In fact, I'm kind of amazed at the freshness of their produce, considering what restaurants and supply chains are going through these days.) Still working our way through the menu but favorites so far are the SET entrees (protein surrounded by lots of interesting and well-made side items) and loaded spicy udon soup. Yes, we love vegetables around here, and Sugar Pine does them well. Just the thing to balance out the rice balls (onigiri) and of course the ice cream. Oh, the ice cream. Oh, my. read more

Amazing!!! Salmon plate was so yummy. Ice cream made in house:) Service was incredible and COVID friendly. read more

Sugar Pine - Matcha ice cream - Japanese Near Me - Austin, Texas

See all

Cute decor, good food, decent service. I've been to Sugar Pine twice. The first time before their recent grand opening and then on grand opening day. The first time I went in I thought they only had ice cream, however, I learned that they actually sold food so I ordered the Fish and Chips which was a great and light snack. I then was able to try their ice creams and landed on Taro and Miso Carmel. Both delicious! The second time I went in hungry and wanted to try one of their meals. It's listed just as Steak, but comes with rice, salad, miso soy, pickled veggies and a small cookie. I also had an iced red tea with lemon. It was a bit strange to receive a small cup of lemon juice on the side as my lemon but overall fine. I ended up seeing a friend and we had lunch together. She also said her food was good, however, she ordered edamame which was forgotten about until she told the waitress. The 5th star is lacking because they could overall do better in service and the order process. There is a lack of guidance on where you go when you walk in. There's no signage that tells you to how to order or where to order. Also since the ice cream is the first counter you arrive at, it's almost assumed that is all they have. The menus are only on the monitors above the register so you end up standing in front of the register even if you aren't ready to order which can make you feel rushed to choose. In terms of service, I think it had to do with the fact that you order and pay first and then they serve you like a waitress would. Harmless, except the waitress I had seemed new and nervous and kept coming back to take try to things away before we were done. Overall a lovely place that just needs to get through their new kid phase! read more

Delicious food , impeccable service . I had the Spicy Miso Soup and the Katsu Curry - both were really really good . Why not check it out and support a local business while you're at it . I'll definitely be back read more

We ordered 2 onigiris (spicy tuna and shiso ume) they were both delicious! They had the seaweed wrapper separate from the rice so it would t get soggy. I haven't seen a place do that since I've been to Japan! They were super tasty! We also go t a Katsu Set and a Chicken Yaki Udon. Both were super yummy and really big portions. Their to-go containers are super sturdy. Nothing spilled and the food was still hot by the time we got home. Overall, super tasty and worth it! read more

The soba noodles were smile worthy. The onigiri was simple yet yummy I'm happy I got to go here

We ordered the coconut ice cream and taro root ice cream with waffle cone. The waffle cone was just made and fresh. The coconut ice cream had bits of coconut in it which was nice. The taro root ice cream was a pretty purple color and mild flavored. Also very good. We also had a latte, which was pretty strong. The steak rice ball was good but I would describe more like chopped beef vs. chunks of steak . Service was nice & friendly and super cute decor! It's a hidden gem in the area. read more

See all

Yummy, unique ice cream flavors! A little overpriced, especially for the location.

The food is awesome, period. My favorite items were the pork katsu and the spicy tuna onigiri. The downside is that this restaurant is right on the highway (although the design is thoughtful and they did an impressive job of making it feel as closed off as possible from the highway noise). I got the taro root ice cream, which I also recommend. Worth making the trip to check this place out. I'll be returning soon. read more

A fun, neat, and new place to try! Went there with a group of friends this past week and I had the Grilled Atlantic Salmon ($15). Great flavors + Crispy Skin, but it was a bit undercooked. Loved the pickled veggies on the side with Chili Oil, as well as the salad and soup. Lots of variety, and then the ice cream is out of control yum. They were generous with the samples, but ultimately we chose Black Sesame, Toasted Coconut (my personal favorite), and Miso Caramel. The ice cream is reasonably priced, $3 one scoop, $5 two scoops, $7 three scoops...and my friend got an ice cream sandwich for $5 with GIGANTIC cookies. All the food is thoughtfully prepared and we felt that the service was very friendly and fast. Go out and try something new! read more

Amazing food and amazing service. Stopped by after work for a quick snack and ended up getting a full course meal. Very fresh food and good choice of drinks. read more

Friendly and efficient service. Cool decor and vibe. White choc Thai tea ice cream is bomb.

We had their ice cream and onigiri. It hit the spot for a quick snack. Staff were really friendly and helpful. Will definitely visit them and try out different items. read more

Very good food and great atmosphere. Maybe the best tempura I've had in Austin. I don't think I've ever had cold soba in the US, but it was really good here with good dashi. I think I'm going to crave it again especially on a hot day. My wife really enjoyed their ice cream with unique flavors too. read more

Great concept I hope they succeed this place would kill in hipster vile east Austin. Small bites Asian inspired looked great, I didn't order any just the ice cream. The watermelon Thai basil was amazing. Refreshing sorbet great for a hot Texas day. Please try this spot. read more

Fun new addition to the neighborhood. You stop in for a set lunch and leave ordering ice cream. Excited to see if the menu expands over the next few months read more