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    Haiku Japanese Restaurant

    3.7 (464 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Haiku Japanese Restaurant Photos

    Business Info

    HAIKU JAPANESE RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Quiet
    Good for groups
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Haiku Japanese Restaurant

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    Lychee martini
    Cass P.

    I absolutely love their specialty rolls! All of their fish is super fresh. The lychee martinis are phenomenal. Try the seaweed salad! The atmosphere is always pleasant with the sweetest staff. I totally recommend for happy hour and sushi!

    Chicken Fried Rice
    Efrain S.

    Randomly came here as our brunch plans went down the drain. Wasn't expecting much since the ratings were pretty low but after trying this place I was pleasantly surprised. Sushi Boat 4/5: At first sight it looked like the boat wasn't gonna be enough food for 3 people since its advertised for 2. After a few bites we were surprised how quantity wise they filled the boat pretty good. Everything was fresh as it can be & I would say the thing that stole the show for me was the Sashimi. The service was exceptional, our waiter was constantly coming with refills & always asked if everything was fine.

    Harimaki
    Garrett O.

    Great visit to Haiku, which feels like a hidden gem in Southpark Meadows. There are lots of other restaurants nearby (fast food, sit down Mexican, Italian, Vietnamese, Indian, etc.), but this is one of the only Japanese spots in the area. We had no trouble getting a table on a Friday evening around 7pm, so thankful we didn't have to wait in a long line or make a reservation. There was also plenty of seating at the sushi bar for those that appreciate a more traditional viewing of the chefs in action. For starters, I recommend the Harimaki as the favorite. For sushi rolls (which, see photos, they are sizable portions), the Longhorn roll was the table favorite. No drinks on this visit, but looks like they've got a solid option of cocktails and Japanese brews to try next time.

    Love Boat (for Two)
    Linda S.

    My husband and I loved the Love Boat! There was a good variety of meat and sushi and the price was excellent!

    Maria S.

    I would rate this place a 11/10 I loved the happy hour prices! It was so good! The rolls were Amazing and everyone there was so helpful! You need to come out their happy hour prices and lunch deals!!!

    Sushi appetizer very delicious fresh perfect size.
    Chriselda J.

    So far, we have quick service very quiet, not overpowering with the weight staff. Perfect balance. Food is delicious and tempura. The ambience is very calming, which is exactly what I was looking for right now before I go and paint with the twist.

    Justin M.

    As you leave Austin, the quality of sushi goes downhill fast. Haiku provides a great alternative to fighting traffic to get to the better places. The ambiance is nice, staff is quick to serve and genuinely cares and the environment is clean. The seaweed salad is so good. It's fresh with a nice spike of sesame oil and dressing are good but not so much it waters down the seaweed and cucumber. The miso soup is very flavorful with little pillows of tofu and a light dashi note in the background. The tempura app is great as well if you want traditional Japanese fried food including shrimp, broccoli, sweet potatoes, etc. As for rolls, the volcano roll is a good starter, fresh and not to adventurous. My favorite roll was the dynamite roll. Indulge with fried shrimp, avocado, cucumber wrapped in nori (seaweed) and topped with tasty and slightly spice sauces. My go to wrap is always the rainbow roll. Basically it's a California roll topped with fish like tuna, salmon, shrimp, white fish and sometimes avocado. What sets Haiku apart is the quality of the fish. Fresh and flavorful. Again, if you like further south and want a great sushi alternative to Austin, give this establishment a shot, you won't regret it.

    The Sushi here is fresh, delicious and beautifully plated. Kyle and scorpion roll.
    Candace B.

    I intend to come back and dine in in the future. It just so happens that the last couple of times I've ordered from here I've had to do to go due to time constraints. The the sushi here is excellent. Large rolls, great flavors, fresh and enough to share. Until next time.

    California Roll Spicy Tuna gyoza
    April C.

    Haiku is our go to date night casual sushi spot. It's located in Southpark meadows it's quiet and a hidden gem. The sushi is always fresh, we usually sit at the bar and chat with the owner who is super sweet and treats us well. The happy hour is great if you can catch it, it's from 5 to 6:30 I believe. We usually like to stop in before we go to a movie. Stop in and show them some love if you are in the area.

    Harimaki & lycheetini
    Marcy C.

    Reviewing after two visits on the same week! Picked up some Boba and wanted a small bite. I was surprised to see that they were having a sushi happy hour. So I selected several rolls from the menu including the appetizer. I paired it with a lycheetini. It was not too sweat, not strong, and not week. It was perfect. The service was great too. Tip: sit near the sushi bar to watch the rolls being made. See pics.

    The Sushi spot!

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    2 months ago

    Great food ,friendly environment .had a great time will come back for food ,and hospitality again was great

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    4 months ago

    Great food! The owner is very nice and accommodating. Would definitely recommend. I go here once a week.

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    6 months ago

    Awesome place, amazing miso soup and love their Buda Roll and honey wasabi shrimp. Service and food quick and well plated.

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    Page 1 of 12

    Ask the Community - Haiku Japanese Restaurant

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    Fortune Teller - Bar

    Fortune Teller

    4.9(30 reviews)
    3.2 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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    Equipment Room - Mocktail.

    Equipment Room

    4.5(121 reviews)
    6.8 mi78704 (South Austin)

    It's a rainy night in Austin. My girlfriend is in town because my cousin and her fiancé are getting…read moremarried in Austin. It's also the weekend of our one year anniversary. An hour ago it wasn't raining, but now it's pouring. A few months ago, I heard of a newer bar and experience called Equipment Room just right off of South Congress. Music means everything to me. Nothing can express emotions and instill a feeling in 3 minutes like a song can. I live for that. Equipment Room is inherently Japanese in concept. Existing in Japan for over 50 years, listening bars combine high fidelity audio equipment with impressively crafted cocktails and alcohol combining the passion of music in a space to gather with comfortable chairs and a beautiful atmosphere. The concept has expanded westward as all cool things inevitably do, but I would never think a spot would be successful in Austin like it would be in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and so on. As I back my car into a parking spot on South Congress, I grab the umbrella out of my trunk and walk my girlfriend and me to the entrance trying to not get ourselves soaked in the process. This is not the first time we have tried to go to Equipment Room. We tried to get a walk-in table just to see out of morbid curiosity and that was a failure. I booked her and me a table for this night and I was madly looking forward to it. As we got to the small entrance, we were introduced to the hostess who brought us from the stairs into the main underground space and to our seats on the couch in a large wraparound sofa with other parties sitting near us. The music is faint from the entrance, but once you walk through the main walkway, a wave of sound hits your eardrums. You're immediately engrossed into the music like walking into a concert hall or putting a fresh pair of headphones on for the first time. As we sat down, selections from Outkast's Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik were playing through the speakers. Our hostess introduced us to their "User Manual" (their menu) where it contained all the snacks and drinks you could get your grubby hands on. There's more than just drinks and food on the menu. The first page introduces the concept and gives a few house rules. The second page shows all the equipment this so-called room has, from the premium Klipsch speakers, their preamps and amplifiers as well as their turntables and mixers. It's a dream page for music nerds. I want a $15k speaker in my apartment, but those noise complaints would never end. Our waitress came by shortly to give us water and take our order. Their menu is quite expansive, but the main pages we were told to check out were their A-side drinks or the classics and their B-side drinks, which are more experimental. We had to go with experimental for starters because who knows when you'll get to try something similar again. I started with a Goca Dünya while my girlfriend ordered a Deceptacon. The Goca Dünya was a vodka based floral drink with pistachio foam and Amaro Nonino, an Italian herbal liqueur. The Deceptacon was a rum-based cacao drink with a touch of lime and mint. It took a little time for our drinks to come out, clearly, as they are quite intricate. I loved my drink, bluntly. The pistachio foam was a great balance to the herbal flavors at the bottom. My girlfriend and I continued to enjoy each other's company as the music continued. The space we were in was decorated with posters and memorabilia from legendary artists coming through Austin and some general music decor like that purple album from that Prince guy. The DJ-curator that night was on a tear playing incredible soul music holding the bar hostage with a taste of funk. Jimmy Smith came next before transitioning to a few tracks from Bobbie Gentry. The last albums he pulled out were Steely Dan's Aja (a stone cold classic) and Stevie Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life (a top 10 album of all time). Not only was he playing classics like Isn't She Lovely, but he threw down some deeper cuts like Black Man and Contusion. Incredible. We both got another drink with my girlfriend getting their A-Side Espresso Martini while I got the Brown Sugar from their B-Sides. It was a seaweed and mushroom infused whiskey with a few more bells and whistles and it was super unique. Quite a bit of their menu is Japanese-inspired in homage to the originators of listening bars. This includes Japanese beer, sake, and Japanese-inspired food and beverages on their menu. Very cool. The worst part of the night came when our hour and 45 minute reservation came to a close. I could've stayed there for another 3 hours and never grown tired, but with how popular this space has become, they gotta kick you out at some point. This is an experience you have to have. It's worth it. I'll be strolling back in soon enough because there is nothing like this in Austin and it's truly a special space. RIYL: Actively listening to music.

    I visited The Equipment Room tonight to celebrate my wife's birthday, and unfortunately our…read moreexperience at the entrance was disappointing. When we walked in, the hostess asked us to return to the first room because she was not at the seating area. She then told us there was no available seating, which was surprising since I had just been inside and saw multiple open seats, including two that had just been vacated. The hostess--her name sounded like Constanza--explained that the room was full because of Memorial Day weekend. When I said we didn't mind waiting since it was only midnight, she then stated they would be closing soon at 1 a.m., even though the posted closing time is 2 a.m. These explanations contradicted each other, and her tone came across as dismissive. She avoided eye contact, offered no real assistance, and ultimately suggested we check for seats ourselves, which felt unwelcoming and unprofessional. For a venue with such a strong reputation, especially on a special occasion, the interaction fell far below expectations. I hope the team can ensure more consistent and courteous service at the host stand moving forward.

    Photos
    Equipment Room - XS made NA -- Lustau Fino Sherry, Giffard NA Pineapple Liqueur, passionfruit, lime, blue spirulina, mirin, dragonfruit syrup, Liquid Rizz

    XS made NA -- Lustau Fino Sherry, Giffard NA Pineapple Liqueur, passionfruit, lime, blue spirulina, mirin, dragonfruit syrup, Liquid Rizz

    Equipment Room - Beautifully simple bar tops

    Beautifully simple bar tops

    Equipment Room - Bar area

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    Bar area

    Lala’s South Pole

    Lala’s South Pole

    4.4(30 reviews)
    3.2 miCherry Creek

    If you've been to Lala's Little Nugget you know what to expect here, except…read more.. Imagine Lala's feels like a chill, comfy neighborhood bar where you can actually enjoy yourself, and the ambiance, and have a conversation with whoever you came with, instead of a tourist clogged beehive? Because BOOM that's Lala's South Pole. I'm not even a big Christmas person, and I am smitten. Charming, quite, festive. It feels like a hidden gem. I probably shouldn't be reviewing it so it can stay that way, but no one like a gatekeeper. Also, absolute baller pizza from Brooklyn Pie Co. I had to really talk myself down from going back the next night just for more pizza. The service is... well what you would expect from a "trendy" Austin dive bar, as in... None, but that's part of the charm kind of? I've actually tried a lot of new pizza places lately and this is what stands out in my mind. Drinks wise? It's a bar. They serve you alcohol. Nothing special, but nothing wrong with it either.

    I've been to Lala's Little Nugget a whole bunch of times but never to this location. We were there…read morefor Nickel City's holiday party (yes, in February) & had a fab time. They've got a huge back outdoor patio as well as a front patio. Brooklyn Pie Co. is set up inside to take care of your food needs. For those that don't know, Lala's South Pole (& Little Nugget) are year-round holiday bars. While Little Nugget really goes all out, South Pole isn't too shabby at all. Great decor, wonderfully curated holiday cocktails and mocktails, beers, spirits, and more. Super service. This is a place where there's no way you could ever feel sad or down and out because it's just pumpkin' with happy holiday vibes.

    Photos
    Lala’s South Pole
    Lala’s South Pole - Countdown to Christmas...

    Countdown to Christmas...

    Lala’s South Pole

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    Haiku Japanese Restaurant - japanese - Updated May 2026

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