Cancel

Open app

Search

Kitsu Nori

4.2 (101 reviews)
Open • 11:00 am - 2:30 pm, 4:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Updated 3 months ago

Kitsu Nori Photos

KITSU NORI ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Hipster
Intimate
Romantic
Happy hour specials

You might also consider

Recommended Reviews - Kitsu Nori

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Menus
Erica D.

We came here for the first time during their happy hour which is a pretty good deal. Positives - nice intimate ambiance inside; great cocktails and happy hour deal makes them worth it; Fast service; mushroom and scallop hand roll both good. Negatives - if we hadn't come for HH, would not really recommend to anyone. The handrolls are pretty crazily priced for decent fish (don't care for the chopped up texture and watching how they make it with it squirted out of a bag wasn't quite appetizing!). The crudo was good but again insanely tiny portion. Server also kept pushing how many pieces we needed to order per person, which is always a no-go for me. Overall pretty disappointed honestly. Had high hopes!

Hand rolls
Nawal A.

Incredible concept and execution!! I am so impressed. From flavor, to service, to the ambiance Kitsu Nori nailed it. Parking is a little tricky so be wary of that and count in extra time for that. We came for the happy hour (5 minutes left) and our server was so informative and attentive going over the menu. I was fairly hungry and I ordered 5 hand rolls and they were the perfect amount of food. I ordered the spicy tuna (my fav), fatty tuna (good quality but not my fav), scallop (another fav), crab, and mushroom (amazing texture and flavor profile). Everything was delicious and flavor profile was incredible. Also the price during happy hour is unbeatable. I will definitely be returning here and want to try the lobster hand roll next! Their appetizers all look delicious too

Hamachi Crudo
Daniel S.

Kitsu Nori is definitely a vibe! This small yet intimate spot specializes in seafood and sushi, with a few steak and vegetable dishes rounding out the menu. I stopped by toward the end of happy hour, and the place was absolutely packed. We took advantage of the half-priced hand rolls and ordered the lobster, crab and spicy tuna. All three were excellent, but the lobster was the standout. It was unique, generously filled with meat and easily my favorite of the bunch. To round out the meal, we also ordered the hamachi crudo and Wagyu steak. Both were packed with flavor and complemented the hand rolls really well. The restaurant also has a charming outdoor patio and a full bar, making it a great spot to enjoy a drink when the weather is nice. My only real drawbacks are that the dining room gets pretty loud because of the small space and parking is extremely limited, which makes visiting a bit less convenient. That said, the food and atmosphere were impressive enough that I'd happily give the late-night happy hour a try next time.

Menu
Alanis S.

The food at Kitsu Nori was absolutely delicious! We went during happy hour, when most of the hand rolls were half off, which was such a great deal. We also got the hamachi crudo, which was delicious, although the portion was pretty small with only four pieces. We sat outside at the bar, and the setup could definitely be improved. The ground wasn't level, there were only three chairs, and it seemed to be the only part of the outdoor area without much shade or fans blowing, so it got a little uncomfortable. The inside, including the indoor bar, is reservation-only, so I'd definitely recommend booking ahead if you want to sit inside. Service was just okay--the host wasn't the friendliest, and the bartenders could have been a little more attentive. That said, the food was good enough that I would absolutely come back, especially for happy hour!

Emily H.

Such a great experience! We love trying new spots for our weekly date nights, and this one did not disappoint! The food was amazing, and the service was even better. Our waitress was wonderful, and the manager was incredibly kind and attentive. He paid attention to all the little details throughout our meal and even surprised us with dessert! Such a thoughtful touch that made the night even better. We will definitely be back! And whatever you do, save room for dessert!

American Wagyu NY Strip
Matt L.

I recently visited a couple good friends in Austin, and we checked out Chef Paul Qui's new South Austin hand roll bar, Kitsu Nori. We stopped in right when they opened to take advantage of Tuna Time (happy hour), where crudos and most hand rolls are 50% off. It's one of the best deals in town. Kitsu Nori puts a unique spin on the hand roll experience, serving each roll so you wrap it yourself right before eating. The nori stays perfectly crisp, and the freshness of the seafood really stands out. The Matcha Colada paired perfectly with the meal and was especially refreshing on a hot Texas summer day. The Uni and Lobster hand rolls were my favorites, while the Yellowtail Crudo and Cucumber Salad were standouts as well. The biggest surprise of the meal was the American Wagyu New York Strip, one of the best steaks I've had in a long time. It helped make this one of my Top 10 meals of 2026.

Salmon, Cucumber, & Wagyu A5 Miyazaki Beef hand rolls
Tara R.

I visited Kitsu Nori last week, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since. It honestly feels like a new crush. All jokes aside, I had such a great experience here. I stopped in for lunch, grabbed a seat at the bar, and happened to come during a slower time, which I really enjoyed. I was told their happy hour gets packed, so reservations are definitely recommended if you're planning to visit then. They actually have two different happy hours, one during the day & also a late night one--which I find extremely inviting (I'll use any excuse come back). The lunch menu is a bit more limited than dinner, which features larger, more enticing entrées that have already convinced me I'll be returning sooner than later. Even so, everything I tried was fantastic. The miso soup was rich, comforting, and deeply satisfying. I also ordered an assortment of hand rolls, caviar, and the scallop ceviche. The scallop ceviche was beautifully presented & one of the most unique dishes I've had in a while--the scallops were plump and melted in your mouth while the rest of the dish was bright, refreshing, and bursting with incredible flavor. I also loved that they serve Ora King Salmon hand rolls. My favorites were the Brown Butter Lobster, Wagyu A5 Miyazaki Beef, and even the simple cucumber hand roll, which was ultra refreshing between the richer bites. To finish, I had their tres leches-style Ube Twinkie, and it was absolutely OUT OF THIS WORLD. Overall, Kitsu Nori absolutely lives up to the hype. From the warm service and immersive ambiance to the thoughtful execution of every dish, it's easy to see why this place has earned such a following. I can't wait to come back for dinner.

Eggplant, fatty tuna (x2), salmon, spicy salmon (x2)
Irene T.

Came here for happy hour and got lucky being able to walk in without a reservation. They also don't actually take reservation so it's first come first. Each piece served in its own individual wooden holder that you use to pick up the hand rolls. They give you nori on the side to wrap around each piece yourself, plus soy sauce in a little dropper bottle so you can control exactly how much you add. We got a nice variety including eggplants, salmon, spicy tuna,... Great happy hour deal for the quality you're getting!

Ellie N.

You won't even notice this place when you drive on south lamar. The entrance is the very underwhelming, but inside and the backyard is very upscale and nice. The hand rolls are delicious. Happy hour prices make is very reasonable. I'll be back

Daniela B.

Great value for HH. My favorite role was the salmon role. The decor is nice and modern inside with a good amount of outdoor seating too. I recommend booking in advanced to make sure you get seated. Now the service... it took about an hour to get the food out and I get that it's busy but I would've appreciated a heads up so that I could go ahead and order more instead of ordering in two occasions because by the time the food came, HH was already over.

Salmon Butter
Joy C.

I made a reservation for Kitsu Nori on my trip to Austin. We decided for bar seating since it was so humid outside. We were placed by the register which was interesting. Maybe I'm not used to Austin weather, but there were a lot of flies in the restaurant in front of us where they were prepping the food to the point they had to put a fan in front of us to prevent them from touching our food. We started our meal off with the chip and dip which on the menu made it seem more blue crab. It came and maybe 3/4 of the cup was sour cream. It was a little off putting for us and they ended up removing it off our bill which was nice. We also got the hamachi crudo which was wonderful! It was great with the supremes and the sauce! Would recommend this. We were hungry still so we got the Salmon Butter ($24) which we assumed would be enough to supplement our hunger. We were kinda shocked at how small of a portion it was for the price. The inside wasn't fully cooked but considering the place, we thought it was fine to eat. The flavors all worked well together and we enjoyed it. Again, sour cream made it on this plate despite not being on the menu. For hand rolls, I got the fatty tuna, salmon and scallops. All of them tasted good and had unique flavors to each. I would say they're missing just a little something to elevate the flavor. I didn't love having to make my own hand roll though I understand why it was designed like that since they give it all at once and don't want it to get soggy. All of our servers were incredibly kind throughout our meal and very attentive! I enjoyed aspects of our meal but next time I might stick to more of the cold fish/menu.

Kailey C.

Overall, I had a good experience here. We went for happy hour and the hand rolls were very reasonably priced. How they presented the hand rolls was fun to be able to build them yourself. The only cons I'd say is the service took awhile and it was pretty noisy inside. The patio is very cute and would be nice once it starts cooling down.

yellowtail
Rachel B.

We arrived right at opening time (4 PM), and the restaurant wasn't quite ready for guests. The entry door in the back is so dimly lit that you can barely see through it, and the host swung it open and hit my hand when we tried to enter. Inside, the layout feels off. The dining room tables are packed so tightly together that getting into the booth requires physically moving the table. You're essentially seated inside your neighbors' conversations. Between the noise level and the cramped spacing, it felt more like a loud club than a restaurant that's supposed to feel intimate or upscale. Even at only about half capacity, it was difficult to hear both our server and the person sitting across from me. The handroll concept looks fun in theory (sliding the fish and rice onto fresh nori yourself), but in practice, it felt awkward and messy and made me feel stupid not being able to follow their verbal instructions. The rice sticks to the wooden serving surface, so instead of feeling elegant or interactive, it just felt clumsy. The pricing also felt wildly disconnected from the actual quality of the fish. Most of the handroll fillings are minced, which came across more like a way to disguise mid-tier fish while charging premium prices. The whole experience felt more focused on novelty and presentation than quality. There were also several minor issues throughout the meal. Our server forgot 2 of the 12 hand rolls that we ordered, and we were initially charged incorrectly for the happy hour miso soup. After we mentioned it, they removed those charges from the bill. That said, there were a few highlights. The miso soup had a rich, hearty flavor, the nori was impressively fresh and crisp, and the seared wagyu handroll was easily the best thing we ordered (HH pricing $25 for one). Overall, this felt like a gimmicky dining experience that's relying on trendiness and presentation to justify luxury pricing without delivering the quality or atmosphere to match. Even at happy hour pricing, I wouldn't recommend it.

Ube Twinkie dessert of the day

See all

10 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Kitsu N.

Kitsu N.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1
Photo of Tony T.
36
5
394

10 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Ashley M.
366
53
15

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Ann M.
1
36
18

6 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Jess H.
129
66
8

8 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0
Photo of Alex D.
38
71
59

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Kitsu N.

Kitsu N.

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Kitsu N.

Kitsu N.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Kitsu N.

Kitsu N.

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Page 3 of 3

Ask the Community - Kitsu Nori

What's everyone's favorite dish?

The mushroom hand roll!!!!! By a landslide!

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

You might also consider

Sushi Roku - Fluke kumquat

Sushi Roku

4.5(249 reviews)
2.3 mi•Warehouse District, Downtown
•$$$

Loved it!! Came in not that hungry but everything was great so ended up over eating. We ordered:…read moreHamachi Serrano (ended up getting a second order) Rokus fish fry Yellowtail hanabi Wagyu hanabi Organic garden salad Gensai roll Waterloo ichi roll Chocolate lava cake All soo good!!!

We came in for Restaurant Week and really wanted to have a great experience, especially because I…read morelove that the restaurant is participating and supporting such a great community event. Unfortunately, the service was pretty disorganized. Throughout dinner, food meant for the table next to us was brought to our table multiple times. At one point, the table next to us was accidentally given two edamame appetizers. When they pointed out the mistake, they gave the extra one to our table, which we thought was a nice gesture considering all of the mix-ups. Then our bill came and we had been charged for the edamame we never ordered and were specifically given because of their mistake. We had to point it out and ask for the charge to be removed. Mistakes happen, especially during a busy event like Restaurant Week, and I completely understand that. But charging a table for an item they didn't order after your staff specifically gave it to them because of an ordering mistake was pretty frustrating. Overall, the experience just felt much more disorganized than it should have been and took away from the tasty sushi.

Photos
Sushi Roku
Sushi Roku - Assorted nigiri

Assorted nigiri

Sushi Roku - Sapporo

See all

Sapporo

Toshokan

Toshokan

4.9(50 reviews)
2.6 mi

Toshokan is honestly one of my favorite omakase experiences I've ever had!! The entire experience…read moreis just so unique from start to finish. It's located inside what I think is a mini golf place (or some kind of entertainment venue haha), and the restaurant itself is hidden behind a bookshelf like a speakeasy. I had never heard of the place before, but I thought the whole concept was SO cool. The omakase itself is incredibly intimate with only a handful of seats, which makes the entire experience feel really personal. Chef and his small team are all so warm and welcoming, and one of my favorite parts was that they actually encourage everyone to get to know each other throughout the meal. It ended up feeling like one big group dinner rather than everyone quietly eating their own meal. My friend and I were even watching the Super Bowl with everyone during our seating, which made the night even more fun! The fish was, of course, phenomenal. Every piece was prepared with so much care and precision, and you could really tell how passionate Chef is about his craft. I'd say the menu falls somewhere in the middle between a super traditional Edomae omakase and a more modern, creative one, which I personally loved. Everything felt incredibly thoughtful without being overly experimental. I also have to give a shoutout to their cocktail program because every drink we had was AMAZING! I don't even think there's a traditional drink menu. Instead, their bartender just asked each of us what kinds of flavors we usually like and created custom cocktails based on our preferences. Every single drink she made for my friends and me was SO good and paired perfectly with the meal. One thing to keep in mind is that each seating is pretty long--we were there for close to three hours! It definitely felt like an experience rather than just dinner, but honestly, the time flew by because everyone was chatting, eating, and having such a great time. It is definitely on the expensive side, but for the quality of the fish, the hospitality, and the overall experience, I thought it was absolutely worth it. One of my favorite little details was that the room is filled with Chef's personal belongings, books, and little collectibles, which makes the space feel so cozy and lived in. He genuinely welcomes guests to ask him about anything in the room, and you can tell he's just such a well-rounded and passionate person. More than anything, this was just such a FUN omakase experience!! If you're looking for something that's intimate, interactive, and a little different from your typical omakase, I can't recommend Toshokan enough!

Toshokan is one of those Austin gems that feels like you've stumbled into another world. Luckily I…read moresnagged a reservation a few weeks in advance. Tucked away inside a mini golf course and hidden behind a bookshelf, the whole experience has this playful speakeasy energy before you even sit down. Once you step inside, the interior immediately transports you to the late‑night streets of Tokyo--moody lighting, intimate vibes, and that cinematic feeling like something special is about to happen. There are 6 seats. My boyfriend and I had such a fun, personal experience. The staff were incredible--warm, engaging, and genuinely excited to guide us through each course. The food itself was delicious, beautifully crafted, and felt customized in a way that made the night feel unique to us. It's the kind of omakase that doesn't take itself too seriously while still delivering seriously good dishes. I also highly recommend the sake and cocktail pairing. The bartender customizes it based on your preferences. I told her my favorite drink is an espresso martini and she made this really fun espresso, strawberry latte concoction. There is also a special house sake with an homage to the owner's cat. I love those personal details. It's always a great time at Toshokan, and I'll definitely be back again. PS it's a great place to celebrate your birthday or special occasion! They broke out a guitar to serenade me lol

Photos
Toshokan
Toshokan - Bone Marrow

Bone Marrow

Toshokan - [Extra bite] Salmon

See all

[Extra bite] Salmon

Lucky Robot Restaurant - Voltron Roll

Lucky Robot Restaurant

4.1(1.8k reviews)
1.6 mi•SoCo (S. Congress Ave.), 78704 (South Austin)
•$$

First time coming here, and definitely not my last! Walked in and was immediately greeted with the…read morebest hospitality out there. Our server, Josh, made this place feel comfy and like home. Sitting in front of the sushi bar was also comforting. The food was amazing as well. 10/10 would recommend and bring friends!

Def would recommend this place. Nice fusion restaurant and the inside is quaint and cozy. They have…read morea few seats that are swing benches and if I had a plus one would have totally snagged one. Sat at the sushi bar and for a Thursday night was pretty quiet. There were four chefs and sitting at the sushi bar you got to see the goodies as they were made. Austyn was the person who took care of me and they were wonderful. Very polite and provided great recommendations for the night. Got the sake flight and all three I'd get again. Started with the Barbacoa dumplings....ummmm amazing, soooo flavorful. Next up was the Brussels sprouts and y'all those left with the bowl empty. The only rec I gave Austyn was to tell peeps to stir them to get all the sauce goodness mixed in. Didn't realize there was a sauce until the end soooo that would have probably made me lick the bowl! Also got the Toro fig and I'm not gonna lie I was shocked. Never thought pairing fig with tuna would be good, again rec I gave was to give a spoon so you could sip all that sauce goodness!!! Last on my dining journey was the Prime Market Nigiri Moriawase. This was the chefs choice of five nigiri pieces and they again were delicious. The downside was the omakase was for 2 people, portion size sooo I need to find a plus one, any takers?! I'd go back to try other items and get a few of the same.

Photos
Lucky Robot Restaurant - Dining Area

Dining Area

Lucky Robot Restaurant - Bees knees

Bees knees

Lucky Robot Restaurant - Interior seating

See all

Interior seating

TenTen

TenTen

4.3(580 reviews)
2.2 mi•Warehouse District, Market District, Downtown
•$$$

We had a fantastic night and savored every dish that was served. To our lucky surprise we came…read moreduring happy hour, so we ordered many things off of the happy hour menu. Both of the sandos were perfect. The wagyu beef sando had a little bit more flavor but it was slight and both are worth trying. Every roll was enjoyable and I felt like each had a little twist that really made the flavors explosive, like a shaved onion or a crispy puff on the side of the roll. The service was stellar and they were easy to book on OpenTable I also tried the green tea mocktail and found it to be light and refreshing and I was happy that it wasn't super sweet My two favorite items were: 1. The Edamame - which were charred in a way that I feel like I've never experienced it before and had such great flavor. 2. The scallop roll had a thinly sliced shaved truffle on top that made the roll simple yet out of this world. Shout out to the manager who came by just to check in. I always think that is such a sweet gesture.

Stunning Japanese restaurant in downtown Austin, perfect for date night! Romantic, moody atmosphere…read moreand $10 drinks on Thursday night. We indulged in some delicious lychee martinis topped with a lychee foam. Yum! For food, we ordered: 1. Hamachi Carpaccio - light, fresh and melt in your mouth good. I enjoyed the flavors on this one. 2. Chicken Karaage - breading was so delicious! We enjoyed a generous portion, served atop a tasty aioli for dipping. 3. Scallop roll - this was bursting with flavor. The truffle was such a unique addition! 4. Hamachi sashimi - I enjoyed this very much and particularly appreciated the thick sliced pieces of fish. Phenomenal flavors when paired with a little soy sauce. I will say this place is expensive and definitely more for a special occasion date night! Look forward to dining here again in the future.

Photos
TenTen
TenTen
TenTen

See all

Uchibā Austin - Kanpachi Sashimi

Uchibā Austin

4.4(303 reviews)
1.9 mi•Warehouse District, Downtown
•$$

Uchiba offers a fantastic lunch deal that lets you choose your own appetizer and main course for a…read moregreat price. I always go for the hama chili--it's fresh, flavorful, and consistently hits the spot. The lunch special is a great way to enjoy Uchiba without committing to a longer or more expensive dinner. Lunch aside, Uchiba is also an excellent choice for a date night or special occasion. I came here with my then-fiancé to celebrate our engagement, and the staff went out of their way to make the evening feel extra special. Their thoughtful service made an already memorable occasion even more meaningful. Overall, Uchiba combines great food, a fun atmosphere, and genuinely attentive hospitality. Whether you're stopping by for the lunch deal or celebrating an important milestone over dinner, it's a spot I'd happily recommend and return to.

My friend loves Uchiba and brought me to the original years and years ago when I visited her. I…read moresee they've now expanded to three locations so she booked this one for us to have dinner while in town a few weeks ago. It was about 110 degrees during the day and probably still 97 when we sat out on the patio at 7pm. Our server was kind but our meal was exceptionally slow. We sat for two hours and it was minimum 20-30 minutes between every small single serving of sashimi. They did eventually tell us there was something going on and the sushi kitchen was backed up, obviously. We ordered the fried milk for dessert and asked if it was going to take 20 minutes bc if so, I wanted to leave. It was probably out in less than 10 and it was stellar. As always - sushi and sashimi was delicious, fresh, and they had options that you can't easily find elsewhere. I like this location right in downtown and we walked around for a bit afterwards.

Photos
Uchibā Austin - Inside :) lots more tables to both my right and left

Inside :) lots more tables to both my right and left

Uchibā Austin - Fatty tuna

Fatty tuna

Uchibā Austin - Lychee martini

See all

Lychee martini

Uchi Austin - Asked for soy, sent it back! Everything is perfection, no intervention required.

Uchi Austin

4.4(3.2k reviews)
1.1 mi•Bouldin Creek, South Lamar District, 78704 (South Austin)
•$$$$

Uchi's one of the best restaurants in austin. Mainly for its unique flavor combinations and texture…read morecreativity. Went to uchiba but thought it was average in general and recommend uchi more. Have gone twice and its been consistently good Hiramasu karai- 4.5/5 - really enjoyed the hint of garlic salt and savory w the slight sweet pear and texture of the fish combined. Enjoyed that mix of tastes Corn gunkun- 3/5- ok not sure how to feel, initial taste is this vinagretty saucy then the corn flavor hits and then the warm rice Yasai cure- 5/5 must get, vegan version. Actually liked it personally better than the machi cure. But both the dishes are grt. The yucca chips are just grt Machi cure- 5/5 must get, a bit smokier taste than the yasai cure. Similar besides the smokier fish that adds a slightly more savory taste Akami te- 4/5- liked it but wouldnt necessarily have to get again. Very refreshing taste bc of the watermelon. Slight overlying spice. If u like more fruity items youd prob like Wagyu skewer- 4/5 the meat itself is good but not w the brown sauce. Would recommend eating the wagyu itself. Its flavorful and savory. Mapo dofu 4/5- nice the sichuan flavors rly came out in the celery ribbons and the shitake is pretty flavorful Walu walu- 4.3/5 - i liked the ponzu sauce w the fish a lot i will say the fish itself felt a bit hard to cut and chewy. But the flavor was nice Hot rock wagyu- 4/5- very tender and a fun experience. Flavor wise is nice but more regular Pork belly pumpkin- 4.5/5 - nice flavor combo w the pumpkin and jalapeno. Pork belly crisp was nice and pumpkin was gud Banana bread - 6/5 would get again, so good in terms of just flavor has a nice coffee like cream that makes it really classic good Jasmine cream 4/5- enjoyed it in the sense that the textures was interesting. The hard cracker at the bottom has a nice contrasting bite Tapioca- 4/5- i liked the experience. Flavor was ok and interesting. But enjoyed the experience of many textures and then the tapioca coming through

We always enjoy eating at Uchi Denver and wanted to try out the OG while visiting Austin…read more Reservations were tough to find during the weekend but we were able to lock in Sunday 4pm and were happy to see a happy hour menu with so many choices! The place was already full by the time we arrived, buzzing with staff and customers. Our server Jennifer was attentive and helpful with descriptions and recommendations. There were so many servers bringing different plates. One was even so thoughtful to notice and bring my mom a new napkin when hers had slipped onto the floor. We were very impressed with everyone we interacted with, even those who waited to allow us to pass as we walked to the back of the restaurant. You just felt the pride and courtesy extended by everyone working there. Well done by creating this ambiance and culture. Beautiful place and wallpaper, attentive servers, and fresh seafood made this visit a memorable one for us. Plates we loved: Blue fin nigiri (we ordered it many times) Hama chili (bring me a spoon!) All the hand rolls Gyudon Wagyu beef, crispy beef and broccoli (my mom doesn't like raw sushi) Shag roll Tasmanian ocean trout Sake Tom kha So many great flavors. We found it very consistent with Denver and can't wait to come back!

Photos
Uchi Austin
Uchi Austin - Salmon handroll

Salmon handroll

Uchi Austin - Pork belly and kabocha

See all

Pork belly and kabocha

Soto South Lamar

Soto South Lamar

4.3(757 reviews)
0.9 mi•Bouldin Creek, Zilker, South Lamar District, 78704 (South Austin)
•$$$

This place serves happy hour from 4-6PM Monday - Friday, so we obviously had to come check out the…read morediscounted drinks food items! HIGHLIGHTS: 1. Lychee Margarita -- It was refreshing to see a margarita version of the traditional Lychee Martini. 2. Chicken Kara-age -- I loved their tangy and sweet dipping sauce that came with the fried chicken bites. It tasted like it had some fish sauce infused if you like that flavor. 3. Mini Sushi Tacos (2pc) -- Very delicious twist on the traditional taco! It was the perfect ratio of rice, fish, and avocado, and the crispy sushi shell worked perfectly! I wish they were bigger though haha. The stars of the show were definitely the Wagyu Land & Sea Sushi Roll and their infamous Uni Pasta. The Wagyu was very tender (almost melted in the mouth) and it felt like eating a "Surf & Turf" but on a roll! As for the pasta, WOW! The poached egg made the pasta extra creamy and the sea urchin and truffle flavors complimented each other so well. I'm so glad they waited to serve us this dish at the very end -- couldn't have ended the experience in a better way! Although our table size was small for our party of 2, the waiters were diligently taking dishes off of our table as we finished them. The service was wonderful, and we'll definitely be back again!

Soto is a sleek sushi spot with fresh, well-crafted rolls and nigiri. The flavors are balanced, the…read morefish tastes top-notch, and the presentation is always on point. The vibe is modern and inviting, and the staff is friendly and attentive. Perfect for a casual date night or a sushi craving that hits just right

Photos
Soto South Lamar - Sushi prep bar

Sushi prep bar

Soto South Lamar - Bontan ebi

Bontan ebi

Soto South Lamar - White Tiger

See all

White Tiger

Kitsu Nori - japanese - Updated October 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...