Everything tasted good! Hamachi was the best dish. Not a lot of indoor space. Our server was very helpful read more

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Interior is lovely - it has seating around the bar as well as tables around the perimeter. Outside seating is tucked away from South Lamar and is also a very nice setting. We came for the happy hour with half-off hand rolls (except the lobster), as well as half off the crudos. We ordered both of the crudos, the hamachi and the sake. The crudos were not my favorite part of the meal. While the ingredient combinations were creative, the fish did not seem to be of very high quality. We also ordered the tuna, crab, salmon, and scallop hand rolls. The concept, as many have mentioned, is quite fun and makes for a fun experience. I agree that portions of fish are not so generous. Our favorite was the tuna, as the crab was a bit overwhelmed with the heavier sauce and the scallop was a very small portion. For happy hour it is a fun experience though! read more

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Unbelievably delicious sushi and great ambiance. We felt extremely cared for by our server, who was knowledgeable about the menu and helped us choose the most flavorful dishes. Will definitely be back again. Posh atmosphere with a local flair. read more

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Two words, mushroom handroll - get it! It was MY FAVORITE! Would come back and order 5 of them for my meal. Chips and crab dip is also good. Other rolls were OK, not as outstanding as the mushroom. Also tried the Toro Cashew app, wasn't a fan of the sauce, needs some citrus. They keep the nori (seaweed) separate and you get to assemble the handroll together before eating . This keeps the nori from getting soggy if pre-assembled. There is a parking lot and you enter behind the building. read more

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Second time and everytime we had a great experience from the host, server and sushi chef. The place from the outside you can overlook it. Once you enter from the patio you have sense of good social setting to grab a bite outdoors. When you go inside you have a choice for table or bar and the light makes it a very intimate environment. The food comes at a very pleasant timing. Its not so fast that you feel anyone rushed. Its not slow to where you feel forgotten. The hand rolls come with the seaweed paper separately to ensure freshness not soggy bites. The filling is filled and its so refreshing. Their happy hour is so good. Honestly with those prices i see why its always packed. Love their fatty tuna my husband and I kept talking about it. His favorite was the crab overall. It didn't have the sea taste. It was sweet and didn't smell. We enjoyed it very much. read more

Kitsu Nori - Fatty tuna, salmon, uni, crab soooo good - Japanese Near Me - Austin, Texas

Came here with my son and really enjoyed it! The hand rolls were super fresh, and I loved the interactive concept of putting everything into the wrap yourself. The inside was pretty loud, so we sat outside, which was perfect, the outdoor area has a great vibe. We spent around $134.00 on hand rolls for the two of us, which I thought was very pricey. The hand rolls are small so you need to order plenty to feel satisfied. Overall, though, the quality was great and we had a good experience. I'll definitely be back, but next time I'm checking out happy hour! read more

4.5 stars Beautiful space. Food was generally pretty good. Food: Hamachi crudo - delicious A5 wagyu handroll - very good but didn't think it was worth the $25 Toro handroll - delicious Mushroom handroll - delicious Scallop handroll - very good Blue crab - very good read more

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Came for their 2nd happy hour (later at night). Love the concept, good prices for yummy food. You build your own hand roll, which I'd never done before ,but you get the hang of it quick. Drinks and service were great, they brought our dog a water bowl. read more

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Kitsu Nori offers one of the best handroll happy hours in Austin, and it's clear that locals know about it because this place gets absolutely packed. I'd definitely recommend making a reservation well in advance, or arriving early and being prepared to wait. With most handrolls at half price and $10 cocktail specials, happy hour is a great deal. The handrolls are more than solid for the price, and I love that they serve the seaweed separately so it stays crisp with every bite. Their hamachi crudo also seems like a more affordable take on Uchi's hamachi chili, and it's surprisingly similar for a fraction of the price. I'd skip the salmon crudo, though, since it was overly simple and the portion was quite small. Overall, happy hour is definitely the best time to visit. I'm not sure I'd pay full price for the handrolls, especially since they can take around 20 to 30 minutes to come out, but at happy hour prices, it's absolutely worth checking out. read more

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Had a really great experience at Kitsu Nori! The food was delicious and everything tasted fresh and well-made. The quality definitely stood out, and I'd happily come back for it. Great server Dondi, who was amazing throughout our visit. He was super friendly, attentive, and took the time to explain the menu and answer our questions, which made the experience even better. The interior is also adorable--cozy, and very welcoming. It has a warm vibe that makes you want to stay and enjoy your meal. Overall, great food, excellent service, and a lovely atmosphere. Definitely recommend! read more

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I think we ordered every roll on the happy hour menu lol they probably have one of the best HH in town. It's 50% off for all hand rolls. My favorite was the lobster handroll. It was so creamy and buttery. One unique thing about this place is that the nori/seaweed comes out on the side and you have to wrap it yourself to ensure it's crispy when you are ready to eat vs at other places, the seaweed can taste too soft/soggy by the time you get to eat it. Outside of HH, seems like it's pretty expensive for the portion you get. I like that this place has both outdoor and indoor seating. Very cool atmosphere! Service was very slow but everyone was polite. read more

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A friend and I checked out their Happy Hour this Monday and had a great time! The parking situation was a bit challenging, but I ended up finding a street spot not to far away. Jayce was our awesome waiter and Phil was one of the sushi chefs and we had fun chatting with both of them and the others. They have 1/2 off certain rolls and items. And $10 cocktails. Unfortunately, no sake specials. They were out of their junmai by the glass so they offered a discount on a similar one which was delicious. They served up the handrolls in a unique way and show you how to wrap each with seaweed paper. So yummy and such a cozy, fun experience! The salmon was so buttery!! Phil gave us a couple of tasters on the house, which we really appreciated! They turned on the US v Belgium World Cup soccer game after the customers thinned out after HH ended. We got there at 5pm and left close to 8:30 pm! I hope to make it back here again soon! read more

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Visited for the first time in March. Food was delicious. They were still getting their bearings straight and got very slammed during HH. Even though my friends and I ordered at the same time, my food came out dead last after everyone was done eating. They did make sure to get everything sorted out for me, so I'll definitely go back. read more

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Kitsu Nori is located on South Congress in the same complex where East Side King was. I was expecting just a small restaurant but it also encompassed the whole hidden courtyard patio that you actually enter from in the back. That space is really nice and spacious, and almost feels like an outdoor sports bar with its own bar and TV. I came here for dinner on a Thursday night. I made a reservation but it wasn't too busy yet so it wasn't needed, as I don't think people have quite caught on. We sat at the really nice sushi bar counter. The inside got decently busy while I was there but there was still a lot of room outside if needed. I got a glass of the junmai sake and it's a very generous pour in a large wine glass. If you want better quality, some of my go-to favorites like Dassai and Demon Slayer are on the menu. We tried a few things on the menu: - Chips & Dips - Tasted like a cleaner version of a smoked fish salad with chunks of crab and nice bright bursts of salmon roe. I can see this as a solid appetizer for the upscale sports bar feel outside. - Hamachi Crudo - My favorite bite of the night. Perfectly balanced. The hamachi flavor is enhanced by the bright sweet and sour citrus from the orange pieces, bergamot oil, soy and yuzu from the ponzu, and spice from the slivers of serrano. I was able to taste every element as they all enhanced one another. - Spicy Tuna Handroll - Comes topped with their own chili crunch. They said their chili crunch doesn't have salt, which would normally be fine but I do feel the handroll as a whole was lacking salt. I didn't get any bright flavors and it tasted muted and one note. - Fatty Tuna Handroll - Really enjoyed this handroll because it's similar to one of my favorite tuna sushi preparations - a negi tori gunkan. Minced tuna and green onions are a match made in heaven. I love getting it at Kura Sushi and the convenience stores in Japan. - Maine Scallop Handroll - I love scallops but this ate a bit too sweet to me. If I got it again, I'd prob add a few drops of soy. - Uni Handroll - I love uni and this handroll honors it by keeping it simple and pure. The uni pieces were large and plump, and were sweet and fresh with no fishiness. If anything, there may have been too much of the aged temari on it but I also may prefer uni just on its own with rice and nori. The handrolls here come presented in a very smart way to ensure optimum nori texture on your own timing, as well as wiggle room if there's delays in service getting it to your table. The server explains if it's your first time - pulling out the filling from the wooden block it is on and dropping it on a fresh sheet of nori. It took me a few tries before settling into the appropriate muscle memory (mine was tipping it on its side a bit left of center, and sliding it off onto the nori by pulling the block to the right and up). I also envision this would be the best way to have handrolls delivered. I've actually gotten Yuki's handrolls delivered as a test and the seaweed was so wet and chewy by the time it got to me. As we were closing out, our wonderful server told us about the amazing happy hour they have from 4-5:30pm with half off handrolls, crudos and I think some beverages. Definitely will come back to take advantage of that. Also pro tip: Kitsu Nori is on the inKind app where you can pay your bill, so you can get rewards, use offers, as well as purchase dining credits at a discount. Costco also consistently has $100 e-gift cards for $75. read more

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We came here with 2 other couples for a friends date night and we really enjoyed it. The space is small and intimate, the staff was amazing. For food, the hamachi crudo is a must. For the hand rolls, I really liked the presentation and enjoyed putting it together with the nori wrap. Everything we ordered was good, but my favorites are the Scallop and Fatty Tuna. Lastly, the fact we can pay using inKind is a plus. read more

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We came across Kitsu Nori when we were wanting handrolls and safe to say we were very impressed - each one was fresh, flavorful, and nicely balanced. You can really taste the quality of the ingredients. The only downside is that service tends to slow down once it gets busy, so be prepared for a bit of a wait during peak times. Overall, still a solid spot for satisfying handroll cravings! read more

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We decided to come here after seeing that they had half off happy hour from 4-5:30pm. Parking is very limited. We had to circle the lot a couple of times before someone left so I recommend coming a bit before 4 if you want to do their happy hour. Another parking tip is to not park in the big lot in the back. I did not see until I started to walk that we were not supposed to park in the big lot behind the place as it is only for the stores behind them. This place has a cool concept where you make your own handrolls by taking the seaweed and pulling out the fish from the container they give you. Everything was delicious for the most part. I got a chance to try the salmon, spicy tuna, fatty tuna (my fav!!), hamachi, and mushroom handrolls. We also ordered the hamachi crudo and tuna sashimi. I prefer the hamachi crudo (the sauce carries). The staff here are friendly and helpful. I enjoyed my time here and would definitely recommend this place to anyone in Austin looking for a good handroll place! read more

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One star for terrible reservation management. I've come here thrice now as my partner reminded me, early for my reservation and each time had a super long wait. For my reserved table of 3 or 4. They have good food and nice hosts but the restaurant management can't get this simple stuff in order when they know at what duration and frequency their tables turn. It's not like they are new anymore. And I feel for the customer facing staff. read more

Great service - love the decor. Happy hour was fantastic. $2 miso soup is a must. The hand rolls were fantastic we got one of each from the premium menu. Lobster was our fave, they brought us a free crudo which was delicious. This is an amazing happy hour spot. I would have a hard time justifying paying double the price for normal hour pricing but will be here for happy hour and late night happy hour FOR SURE! Also that matcha colada was BOMB. read more

Kitsu Nori - Crudo - Japanese Near Me - Austin, Texas

Didn't even make it in. Saw this place on TikTok, had a rough day at work, and figured I'd catch the tail end of Friday happy hour. Mistake number one: driving 35 minutes to find out. The layout is basically: you walk in through the back, which is an open-air dining area with communal tables, a few 3-4 tops, and a bar. When I got to the host stand, I was told they were fully booked. Fair enough. So instead of turning and taking the L, I had just driven out of the way and wanted to try one more time since I realized there was more of a "bar bar" outside, mistake number two: asking if the outside bar was open seating. Bars usually are, right? That's when I met, I think his name is..Josh? I asked one simple question and he looked at me like I'd asked him to explain quantum physics. Didn't know. Didn't care to find out. Told me to go ask the host - not helpfully, just dismissively, like I was an inconvenience for wanting to spend money at his job. Wild concept: working the floor and knowing how the floor works. I burned gas and 35 minutes there and back for the privilege of being ignored by someone who apparently doesnt like his job as much as I now don't like this place. I'll book a flight to Japan before I willingly drive back & give them my money. Nobody forced you into customer service. Do better, or do something else. read more

Had a chance to come by again and sit at the bar. The bar experience is slightly different since the hand rolls are made for you so no assembly required! Just grab and eat read more

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Update for my 2nd experience: was very excited to come again after my first experience, however I don't think I'll be back. Was unable to make any reservation for 1, I arrived 10 mins before opening so was one of the first people to walk in. I asked to sit at the bar (as a party of 1 does-I was told there was no availability, except for outside at the bar at 93 degrees out). This is frustrating because if you don't allow a party of 1 to even make reservations, don't answer the phone, or allow enough walk in seating at the bar I'm stuck outside? Your seater was also incredibly rude, I was in direct sun and directly next to a couple when there were other seats available at the outdoor bar top and she sarcastically walked me to the far left side of the bar with a random chair sitting over a bush and said I could sit there. Zero fans in the middle of the bar where I was, nor shade available. I was in and out within 25 mins because it was not enjoyable. As for the quality of the food, I was much less impressed this time around. Not consistent-the salmon had a fishy taste that I didn't experience the first time around so that was disappointing. Probably won't be back after this time, considering I drove from NB to have a poor experience and rude staff. read more

Kitsu Nori - Blue crab, salmon, tuna, fatty tuna, scallop & hamachi app - Japanese Near Me - Austin, Texas

Food: 3/5 Service: 2/5 Ambiance: 2/5 Kitsu Nori didn't live up to my expectations, and unfortunately, everyone in my party agreed that it was subpar in nearly every aspect. Service: 2/5 After we were seated at 5 p.m., everything went downhill. The indoor dining room was only half full, but it seemed like the staff were still setting up. There were so many staff members idling and chatting that we were confused as to why no one was helping us. Even after we were finally able to place our orders, it took a very long time for the food to arrive. It was frustrating because we could see that only two of the four kitchen staff members were actually working. We were also offered a water refill only once during the entire dining experience. Food: 3/5 We primarily ordered the hand rolls, and they were decent. The nori arrived separately, and we had to assemble the rolls ourselves. That seemed unnecessary, especially because there were functional issues with the wooden planks used to serve them. We encountered broken planks, and the planks were thicker than the length of the nori sheets, making it difficult to slide the hand rolls off cleanly. The sushi rice was pink and overwhelmingly sour. We had to dig through the reviews to discover that it is seasoned with beets. I wish that had been stated on the menu or explained by the server beforehand. The strong flavor overpowered the delicate taste of the raw fish in some of the hand rolls, which was disappointing. Ideally, at a Japanese restaurant that serves food meant to be eaten by hand, guests should be offered wet towels or wet naps to clean their hands between courses. That was sorely missed on this occasion. What really bothered me, however, was that the person expediting the food was touching the monitor and handling the nori and accompanying items, but was also scratching his beard and touching his face in between handling the food. Yuck. Ambiance: 2/5 Lastly, the environment was not conducive to conversation. The music was so loud that I felt like I was in a club. I could barely hear the people in my party, so we essentially sat in silence while waiting for our food. Overall, this experience fell well below our expectations. As soon as we got into the car, everyone complained that the restaurant's push for a trendy vibe ruined the elegance and simplicity of what should have been a traditional Japanese meal. read more

Kitsu Nori - Menu June 2026 - Japanese Near Me - Austin, Texas

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An exceptional meal from start to finish. Every dish we ordered was outstanding, beautifully prepared, and full of flavor. The only downside was not having enough room to try more, which simply gives me the perfect excuse to return. We started with the crab dip, which was incredible. I'm usually not a salmon roe person, but we practically licked the plate clean, it was that good! The toro cashew, hamachi crudo, and negimaki were also exceptional. As for the hand rolls, I was completely obsessed with the spicy tuna, uni, caviar, and wagyu. Every bite was memorable. The vibe was just as impressive as the food. We ended the night with a drink at their patio bar, which was the perfect way to wrap up the meal. I truly can't wait to go back and I can already tell it'll be especially beautiful there in the summer. read more

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Kitsui Nori was a fantastic experience. The sushi was exceptional--fresh, thoughtfully prepared, and clearly made with high-quality ingredients. We really enjoyed the hand roll concept, which made the meal feel fun, approachable, and a little different from a typical sushi dinner. We appreciated the layout, design and artwork including the outdoor dining area. The pricing was also very reasonable for the quality of the food. The staff could not have been nicer, and Paul (Owner/James Beard Award & Top Chef Winner) took time to speak with us about the restaurant and the care that goes into sourcing and preparing the food. We will definitely return and I highly recommend others try Kitsui Nori as well. Looking forward to the pizza and Italian restaurant he is opening next door. read more

Odd menu. Bad service. The food and drinks are expensive. I am not typically a huge fan of hand rolls, but these hand rolls were actually really good. My friends and I went here on a Wednesday night. The restaurant was busier than I expected. The hostess told me a party of 4 would need to be seated outside. Fine. The hostess seated us at a coffee table. There were 3 or 4 other open tables available. I said we cannot eat dinner at a coffee table, we need something table-height. She insisted the other tables were reserved and this is the only place we could sit to eat. We went back and forth a few times. Finally she offered to sit us somewhere else. We were re-seated, however it was a hot night and we were mostly in the direct sun. We ordered some drinks, and I asked if we could move to a table that was not in the sun. Again, the waiter insisted those tables were reserved, and we cannot sit at another table. In total we were at the restaurant for about an hour and a half. The outside area was noticeably less and less busy as the night went on. When we left about 7:00, we were the only people sitting outside. The tables mentioned were absolutely not reserved. The wait staff just could not be bothered to accommodate us, even though we were all uncomfortable where we were sitting. The service was incredibly slow and the waiter was a bit smug. Overall, it was not worth the money and none of us will go back. read more

This place is solid. I would definitely come back for happy hour but I'm not sure it's worth it at full price. The quality of the fish didn't seem to be amazing, so if you're just coming for the raw fish/handroll situation I would opt for another sushi or handroll spot. (Unless it's happy hour of course) The steak and other options looked good - and I will note that the server highlighted the lobster, steak, crudo and a lot of the small plates. So maybe the hand rolls aren't meant to be the main event. Vibes were good all around. We did not have a reso so glad they had some space but we did end up at a low very casual outdoor table - so if you're not looking for that vibe I'd grab a reso. read more

Kitsu Nori - Fatty tuna, salmon, and hamachi handroll. And miso soup. - Japanese Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Handrolls were fresh and good. It was fun sliding the handroll off the display and wrapping it with seaweed. Will definitely be back for more and want to try other options offered. read more

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Nate & Zuri were excellent, providing immaculate service and killer recommendations for both drinks and the menu The Ginger-Lychee Margs are absolute gas -- quite strong & incredibly tasty (would say 3 is a solid "gotcha" limit) The scallop ceviche was also incredible, featuring a unique Mexican-style horchata base, which complimented the scallops & fruit exceptionally well Swung by for lunch so got the "Nine" & some additional hand rolls: - Tuna Sahsimi: Excellent w the soy sauce - Spicy Tuna: The chili crisps are - Salmon: Fuji apple was a nice twist - Yellowtail: Genuinely solid - Crab: Also genuinely solid + Uni: My first time trying uni, was literally shipped in a couple hours before.. (didn't disappoint) + Uni+A5: My favorite of the round by far The dessert was also exquisite.. a homemade-twinkie ube-tres leches (elite ball knowledge here ) The inside is quaint & cozy with a distinct zen vibe, an ambiance that effortlessly exudes to its exterior (perfect for a date or solo side questing) Indubitably will be coming back for HH [oh .. plenty of vegan options too!] read more

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Finally got to try Kitsu Nori after the holiday. They're still in a "soft open" phase (limited drinks etc.) but we had a wonderful experience. We had a reservation and were greeted and seated right away by friendly host staff. Food wise, we shared the Hamachi crudo and ordered 4 hand rolls each. (A good amount of food for two people unless you're super hungry.) Everything was delicious, but the crudo absolutely stole the show. Spicy broth, deep flavors, and perfectly textured fish.100% getting this again. Possibly every time I visit. All the hand rolls were great. Our favorites were the spicy tuna, crab, and hamachi. The mushroom was surprisingly delicious for those craving veggie options. It's a little pricey, but the food was worth it. The only real challenge is parking. The lot gets full pretty easily, so be prepared to find street parking one block north. Overall, really excited for this place. It's a great addition to the food scene in this area. Absolutely check it out. read more

Kitsu Nori - Japanese Near Me - Austin, Texas

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We tried Kitsu Nori in late December right after it opened, and it was good. Then we returned in March and omg it totally knocked our socks off! The difference is before they served the hand rolls with the nori already underneath the rice and toppings. That meant that the nori - which is extra special really crispy and fresh - would lose some of that crispiness. Now they have the nori on the side and the finer slides the topping on keeping the nori fresh and crispy. You wouldn't think this would make such a difference but it does! Plus - they have a fabulous happy hour now called tuna time which offers many items at half price as well as drink specials. Our favorite rolls - mushroom, cucumber, avocado and lobster. And do not miss the sinónimo which is fabulous! read more

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Had a great experience here last night. All dishes were super fresh and delicious. Service was friendly and courtyard was really cool. Stayed after dinner in courtyard for an espresso martini. read more

Kitsu Nori - Fatty tuna and uni hand roll. Side of caviar. - Japanese Near Me - Austin, Texas

Run don't walk to this wonderful new restaurant by Paul Qui. Every single bite we had was amazing. Beautiful interior and lovely courtyard in the back. Can't wait to go back ! read more

Fantastic meal and experience. The fatty tuna was incredible. Happy hour is tough to beat and our server Dondi was immensely helpful and attentive. Will be back soon! read more

The food exceeded expectations and the recommendations of the staff were on point! It was my birthday dinner and was the perfect meal to celebrate. Donde was our server and his attention to detail was excellent. Our food came out as ordered and in the correct order. 10/10 for taste and presentation and service. read more

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Dondi was a great server! Explained everything very well. The food highlights were Toro Cashew, the Eggplant hand roll, and salmon handroll. Nice ambiance inside and a very cool outdoor area. We will definitely be back! read more

The hamachi crudo was so refreshing!! Dondi gave us amazing service Must try the Fatty Tuna Handroll read more

Kitsu Nori - Left: Tuna Sashimi Right: Hamachi Crudo - Japanese Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Ambiance: beautiful dark blue walls. Spectacular ambiance. Intimate sushi bar setting. Chefs are fun and personable. Always a treat to watch them work. Food is delicious overall. For me, scallop and mushroom stood out as delicious and good value. Maybe crab and lobster as well. I would've liked to add roe or caviar on top of the crab. I'm not the biggest lobster fan in general but it's definitely worth trying. Wagyu is a miss for me. It's not melt in your mouth, which is a problem with $25 per bite price tag. Tuna hand roll was a great bite, not blow your face off but a great bite. Toro appetizer was also delicious. I liked the raisin addition. My partner did not. It's good but I'm not writing home about it. Such a finicky business but I thought it was a good mix of flavors and texture. Chefs are passionate, talented, and innovative. The rice is infused with beet as a natural sugar so it's tinted pink. I thought it was delicious. They're going to try to source fish from Texas gulf, which I think will be fun to see how it goes. Much of the fish "from Japan" actually comes from other parts of the world including the US so it will be exciting to see what they can do with different fish from the gulf. I think they have great chefs and staff who are excited about the work and inspire confidence in its future. Their drink menu is thoughtful but their Japanese whiskey is limited. Their house junmai was easy drinking w fish. Overall, I'm glad we came here before it gets crazy busy. It has all the markings of a restaurant where reservations will become tough. read more

First time visiting and I was blown away. The vibe is great and the playlist is banger after banger. Went with my gf for her birthday with no expectations and I kept finding myself stopping mid story to savor the hand roll bites. Dondi took care of us and made the right recommendations for food and set up the pace for dish after dish. We'll be back to try more soon. read more

Kitsu Nori - Sushi bar - Japanese Near Me - Austin, Texas

Dondi was great!! Food was AMAZING!! Love the handrolls!!! And the miso soup was good. I would definitely recommend coming during happy hour because the deals cannot be beat! Cute atmosphere as well! read more

Kitsu Nori - Japanese Near Me - Austin, Texas