Yoshi is simply a master. My boyfriend and I love a dedicated and quality eating experience and we love love any omakase experience. Yoshi and his team not only nails the pairings of such stunning aesthetically pleasing dishes , he really does add the rock and roll texas bbq smokiness to traditional Japanese dishes. It's done so seamlessly and so well... The entire dining experience to starting with a cocktail in the bar to the dining experience with Yoshi and his team describing each dish was just so memorable and personal. You will never forget it! You will be full! Starve yourself before you go!!! 20 courses .. the price and the experience brings so much value and richness. You only live once. read more

One of the best dining experiences ever! Chef Yoshi is a genius and his team is absolutely amazing! The food is truly art and watching him and his team was a privilege. It is an intimate setting and you almost forget they are a business but more a group of friends creating a wonderful experience just for you. The food was modern omakase and the drinks were very creative. There were a couple courses I could have done without, the egg custard was super savory and the 2nd dessert with the rice cakes. However, I did like finishing with the saki. Perhaps a little editing is needed. But overall, spectacular! My only advice, go hungry it's a 20 course marathon tasting menu. read more

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An amazing experience! 20 course omakase where every bite is off balance (in the best way) and delicious. The ambiance created by chef Yoshi Okai is rock n' roll meets perfectionist with complex cocktails and food, that together, creates a confluence of joy in your mouth. read more

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I book @otokoaustin every year for my birthday. It's one of the most unique experiences in Austin. Sooo many amazing flavors and delicious pieces. Sadly, I'll be out of the country this year. But I may try to sneak it in before I leave... read more

OTOKO - Japanese Near Me - Austin, Texas

Arguably best restaurant in Austin, albeit pricey. I first ate here here many years ago in 2017 shortly after it opened. It was $150 for tasting, or $200 for a larger menu on Wednesday only (which I did at the time). In 2022 my wife and I tried to get a reservation for many months, probably close to a year, and there was never availability for months out. They increased the prices a bit ($250 currently) which seemed to lower demand and making it reasonable to get a reservation, which all things considered was a win for me. We went here for the anniversary of our first date with my wife in September. We liked it so much I went back for my birthday in December (which we fairly easily made a Saturday reservation for in mid-October). read more

We ate here on a Wednesday night. On Wednesday nights they offer the sushi omakase which is slightly different from their standard classic omakase. From my experience that night and looking through pictures from others, it looks like the sushi omakase is 95% nigiri vs the classic omakase includes some other items (like a small tempura course). There were sooo many courses that I felt full about 3/4 of the way through. My husband tried to eat for two the rest of the way but sadly we did end up leaving some of our remaining dishes half eaten. It was a lot of raw fish overall and I probably would've enjoyed something with a little bit more variety (beyond just raw fish). I also ordered the wine pairing and felt that was just ok. They offer 5 wines and the pours were very generous. I wasn't a huge fan of their wine selection. I felt it was a bit too adventurous and funky. For example they served an orange wine and a funky red. I wouldn't mind if just one of the wines was funky but I really didn't enjoy 3 wines out of 5. At $120 for the wine tasting, it was a real disappointment to not enjoy the majority of the wines. Overall the experience was enjoyable but I'm just not sure it's worth the price. It is really cool to sit at a chefs table and see the chef working right in front of you. read more

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On our anniversary vacation in Austin , I was fortunate enough to get a reservation at this great restaurant that I can't stop talking about .. I know it can be pricey for some, and also not that typical for some others but for myself and my husband it was an experience!! And a great one!! It started with the location (we almost missed it ) .. hidden dining space behind a cool / speakeasy looking bar .. and then it moved on with the way you're brought in/ introduced to the space .. about 12 seating at the bar, 2waiters in the background that bring you and tell you your dishes, the chef and his assistant, bright light behind the bar and amazing sounds playing from his playlist in the background !! And then the food comes.. one after each other,hand made in front of you and presented by the chef.. tuna, amberjack, barracuda, oyster, sea urchin .. I don't even wanna say anything else and leave the curiosity come to you!! We paired our dishes with delicious sake which I would recommend!! read more

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Otoko!!! Mind blowing! A must do in Austin. A travel destination restaurant. I had the privilege of having the opportunity to eat at Otoko. It's a 20 course omakase menu by Chef Yoshi Okai. Its a reservation based 12 seat restaurant located in the beautiful Congress Hotel. This place reminds me of taking a trip to Europe. I've never been to Japan, but I can only surmise it is on par with what you would expect from a top notch Japanese omakese restaurant. We are lucky to have something this incredible in Austin. I've eaten in New York, Paris, Rome and in a number of the other big player cities--and this was seriously out of this world. Also, have a pre-dinner drink at Watertrade. All their cocktails are on point. Probably best cocktail bar in Austin. Highly recommend. Thank you Yoshi. read more

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Otoko is a KO! First thing I want to say is that does this live up to the hype in being a fine dining and exquisite Japanese cuisine experience, with a tiny flare of Austin flavoring. YES! Otoko certainly delivers but of course the price is reflected with in that, if you are looking for a unique and intimate kind of experience offered within Austin, then you won't want to pass this one up. The moment you walk in you offered to wait at the bar while they setup but they give you a complimentary glass of champagne, small but a nice way to set the mood. When they are ready for you you are seated in a small room that sits about a total of 12 people in a L shaped table. This is where the magic happens 3 chefs, including Chef Yoshi himself (The main sushi chef), prepare your meals right in front of you and even give you little bits of details on what process they are doing or what kind of ingredients they use. Makes the experience a bit more intimate and also informative. Most importantly, the food, Wow! Each course (about 20 different dishes total including the sushi bites), has their own unique taste ranging from different variations of savory all the way to sweet with different kinds of textures. Truly authentic and best of all delicious. I was just amazed by how flexible fish can taste after this experience, especially when prepared and handled properly. Thank you Chef Yoshi. Oh! Also don't forget to grab your menu when you leave since they're personalized just for you. Utilize the South Congress hotels valet parking, it's free! You won't want to miss a moment of this. Personalized and remarkable and delicious, words almost don't do this restaurant justice as to how well themed and luxurious the experience is. Treat yo self! I'm quickly looking for an excuse to return as every visit is different due to the menu being seasonal. read more

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Everything about this place is special. We arrived about 30 minutes early and enjoyed a very creative cocktail in the lounge along with some great conversation with very professional mixologists. They were friendly and gave us lots of insight as what to expect for dinner. The dinner portion was very well orchestrated. 20 courses that we had opted for the wine pairing with. 20 courses sounds like quite a lot but to be honest, you don't leave feeling like you overdid it. Each course is a one bite Nigri that is completely composed with nothing more to do besides popping it in your mouth and enjoying. Every course was unique and well thought out. The last few courses were a little more involved. The Nigri is complete and you enjoy a variety of crudos and a finishing dessert course of delicate Mochi with a Nori wrap, a tiny sesame cookie A small shot of a warm creamy Matcha drink. Definitely one of my high points in sushi dining. read more

We came here for my friend's birthday. It was just our party for the entire venue. It's a small venue that is essentially one long bar in front of the chefs. The experience was pretty cool. The drinks were good. I really liked the Murasaki Kumo drink. All in all, it was a good experience. For all the dishes we had, I only recall a few dishes blew me away. The last 3 or 4 were not at all aligned with my liking. I wish they didn't finish dishes with crystals of salt. It was a bit jarring and distracting to be chewing on salt. For the price, I'm not sure I would come back for the food. It might be too unique for my taste buds. But it's an interesting experience to try at least once. read more

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Lazy and pretentious. Used to be amazing.... now.... Just another "used to be trendy" sushi spot. Omakase is chefs choice except the head chef didn't even bother to show up. Service was rushed, dishes were unimaginative. They are charging the price of an airplane "ticket" with the promise of the experience "transporting you somewhere else" and they indeed made me want to be somewhere else. In fact the service was so bad, we grabbed the bill and skipped the last 4 courses all together. They will keep trapping tourist... but I'll never waste another dime here and recommend you avoid it too. read more

What an insane experience! I came here for a work celebration with 5 of my coworkers and you are truly treated like royalty from the moment you walk in. We did the sake pairing and got to try at least 5 different types of sake during the 20 courses we tasted over the course of the night. My coworker did the wine pairing and raved about it as well (I was jealous). They explain every single thing that you're tasting and are happy to answer any questions you may have (although I was so distracted, I couldn't tell you half the things we tried). Getting to sit right behind the glass and watch Yoshi and his team prepare everything was the best part of the experience. They even personalized our menus, congratulating the team on a great Q3. Thank you to the Otoko team for a great night! read more

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Foodies of Austin, this is what you have been looking for!! This has to be one of the best sushi restaurants I have been to that not a lot of people know about. So you have to reserve a spot by purchasing tickets on the Otoko website. The location is in the courtyard of the South Congress Hotel. You might miss it because the sign is hidden from plain sight. Just look for the industrial staircase. They inform you to come 30 minutes before the meal to have a drink at the bar, which is socially distanced. At the start of dinner, we were moved by party to the restaurant. The staff inform you as well of what is going on and what you are eating. My fiancé has an egg allergy and they accommodated his dessert, tempura batter and substituted edamame or soy for the egg dish. This was so nice because he never felt excluded from the experience. The food was amazing and I was constantly mind blown from the freshness and different flavors. I can't stop thinking about the amazing textures and new flavors I experienced like the super fresh fish and oyster with the soba pancake and golden berries and the mushroom tempura had like a meat-like texture and the batter was soft and crispy. And the golden berries made me feel like I was taking a morning hike when the dew was still fresh and ate a golden berry at the very top of the hill while breathing in the fresh morning air. And i would like to add i was not hungry leaving the omakase i was full. read more

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Hoping to indulge in the widely celebrated dinner experience at Otoko, my wife and I forked over our $500 payment a month in advance, all in anticipation of a memorable wedding anniversary evening. What we received, however, was far from the luxury and refinement we were promised. From the very moment we stepped foot inside the restaurant, the staff greeted us with a cold indifference that bordered on outright rudeness. The bartenders, in particular, stood out for their dismissive refusal to even let us sit at the bar, offering no explanation and instead treating us as if we were inconveniences to their elite space. Left to fend for ourselves, we found seating--if you could call it that--on a disgustingly filthy couch that looked like it had been dragged out of the back of a fraternity house basement. The entire atmosphere reeked of pretension, with the staff seeming more interested in making us feel unwelcome than in enhancing what was supposed to be a special evening. When it came to the food, the preparation team was clearly working hard, but the results were laughable at best. Each dish was a tiny, unimpressive morsel that failed to justify the astronomical price tag. Worse, the lack of basic hygiene was alarming. Not one member of the kitchen team wore gloves or hair nets. While that might be acceptable for this so-called "elevated" Japanese dining, it's definitely not acceptable to find a stray hair in your fish! Then came the final insult. The waiter, an obnoxious caricature of the worst kind of snob, saw fit to publicly humiliate my wife with an unprovoked comment. When I asked for an apology, he didn't just refuse; he fled across the restaurant, leaving us to pour our own tap water (yes, believe it or not, $500 got us only tap water). To top it all off, the manager's response was as appalling as her team's behavior. When I voiced concerns about the treatment we received, she dismissed them entirely, further reinforcing the toxic environment we had been subjected to all evening. Realizing the evening was beyond salvage, we did what any rational people would do: left Otoko and went across the street to Vespaio (a place I highly recommend). Some of you might have good luck at Otoko, as a few reviews suggest, but our experience was nothing short of a high-priced nightmare. Save yourself the time, the money, and the regret--we certainly won't be back, and I'll be spreading the word about this disastrous excuse for fine dining! read more

Otoko is like a fleeting sweet dream from which you don't want to wake up. As I am writing this review, my eyes are closed so that the memories in my taste buds can be awakened, distilling the essence of whole dining experience. Otoko feels very intimate and personal in a space lit with soft-white lights and accommodating only 12 guests in an L-shape counter. There is an aspect to this experience that is Zen-like when it comes to the decor as well as incense burning at the beginning. Chef Yoshi works in harmony with 2 other chefs to bring 20 courses to each diner, taking turns as the others prepare for the next course. The food is so aesthetically pleasing and light. It's not heavily dressed in sauce or garnishes and lays naked for you to see, to taste, and to savor. The flavors linger on your tongue while your brain tries to decipher the complexity in the simplicity. For once, you believe that less is more. The sake pairing is impeccable and brings the experience to another level. It accentuates the after-taste of the food. One sip, two sip; you are happy and start losing count. The whole experience lasts roughly 1.5 hours. If you arrive early, relax with some pre-dinner drink at Watertrade. If you didn't book drink pairing with the omakase, I'd recommend that you get something from the bar that you can enjoy while dining. Also, there is wine and tea pairing besides sake. Valet parking is free in front of the South Congress hotel, so you don't have to tire yourself out with finding a parking space before the meal. The bill might break your piggy bank but the experience is priceless. Treat yourself to this bliss. read more

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Going to Otoko is now one of my favorite food experiences in Austin. Chef Yoshi and his team lead you through an elevated chef's tasting (omakase) from amuse bouche through to dessert and will also leave you with a pleasant wonderment of "what just happened? I don't know but my heart, mind and soul are al happy." Starting at Watertrade, their bar, the cocktails and spirits menu is overwhelming with the amount of options. From $15 Simple cocktails to rare whisky pours that cost more than $150. I'm not much for hard spirits so I got a tropical frozen whiskey based drink. It was delicious. Wife got another bandy-pisco cocktail last night which also hit the mark. At most chefs tastings, every course won't be my favorite but when it came to this menu, pretty much every course was better than the last. There was only one exception which was the tempura course but even that was interesting as part of the journey. In any race you've gotta have last place. I'm not going to go into each course because it's truly an experience and the menu changes. Just know that you're in good hands if you trust Chef Yoshi with your evening. read more

Absolutely amazing experience and worth a revisit. I'm so glad we decided to show up early and visit the bar; the cocktail selection is both creative and delicious (and the portions are huge!) The omakase itself is fun, delicious, high quality (the freshness of the fish is on par with what we've had in Japan), and insanely filling. After 20 courses, I could barely move. While the small venue means getting a reservation is hard, I enjoyed being able to sit up close and see the chefs at work. My only complaint would be that some of the dishes were quite salty. Once all the flavors meld together in the mouth, it works, but the initial hit to the tongue can be overwhelming. Overall, love this place and can't wait to come back again in a different season to see how the experience changes. With the ambiance, quality of food, and the service style, I genuinely would not be surprised if Otoko eventually wins a Michelin star (if that becomes a thing in Austin). read more

Took my boyfriend here for his birthday in December and it was perfect. We got there early and enjoyed complimentary champagne at the bar next door. The whole experience reminded me of New York. We went on a Wednesday when they offer a sushi-only omakase. It's pricier than the other nights where the menu is kaiseki style dishes. The sushi was amazing and plentiful. I was so full by the end. The fish was fresh and reminded me of when we were in Tokyo. The chefs weren't very interactive unless it was to describe the dish. I could sense some quirkiness in Chef Yoshi but we didn't have much interaction with him either. But no matter, the sushi was delicious and definitely worth trying especially since you can't get this experience anywhere else in Austin! read more

This place sucks, food is way overpriced and the dishes are very small. After eating here I left and went to another restaurant because i was still hungry. Seriously, each plate had like 3 little pieces of thinly sliced fish. i guess if you already ate somewhere else and are not really hungry then this is the place for you. read more

The best sushi I've ever had in my life. Came with my husband on the all nigiri omakase night and was blown away. The whole experience from the chefs and the hosts to the to-die-for nigiri and drinks were amazing. We got to have all our favorite nigiris and even tried new ones that we've never had before. For a long time Uchi was my favorite spot for nigiri but I think Otoko has claimed that spot in my heart now. read more

OTOKO - Japanese Near Me - Austin, Texas

Quite an experience that may have ruined all other sushi for me now. This place is not a restaurant, but more of an experience. Reservation based for the quite intimate seating. There are only a few seats but it doesn't feel crowded. A soft white light so you'll never know that it's pitch black in the night a couple steps away. The food is simply spectacular. I did not take any pictures because there is no need. This is a place you seek out yourself, no sort of picture will do any justice. Explaining the food will also not do you any good. You will just have to make a reservation to fully understand what words cannot relay. However, I will say that I think matcha oil on fish is a new thing that I discovered I love. I had a wine pairing as well. Absolutely amazing and great service. Explained them in a way that added to the experience elegantly. The one with orange notes was probably my favorite, but all were great. It was great and I enjoyed my time. It will make you like the things you didn't think you'd like (for me, oysters). Also, the chefs have really cool tattoos! read more

Otoko is proof to me there is great sushi in Austin. My fantasy of helicopters flying in fish, oysters, and meat from around the world is partially confirmed after my experience here. The setting is dark and mysterious upon entry. But the open kitchen is brightly lite emphasizing the reason you made reservations; the courses. The wait staff is attentive and knowledgable in the best way possible (read not annoying). We visited in January 2020 and the menu had some very memorable dishes. Hon maguro from Kochi, Japan. My favorite nigiri of the night and perhaps ever. The sushi rice was warm and fish cool. I cried as it melted in mouth. Pure joy. Ezobafun uni from Hokkaido, Japan. Best uni dish I've ever had. The ingredients melded into a delicious sea flavored mixture in your mouth. Other highlights included a yakimono (grilled/pan fried) dish of hamachi from Kumamoto, Japan with smoked tamari search with a flaming piece of binchotan (charcoal wood). Something about the char flavor with salt hit my tastebuds super hard. For context I've had a few omakase meals in San Francisco and this exceeded those experiences. Thank you Yoshi and team! read more

Out of the world experience. We've had Omakase at several top places in Austin and Bay area. Otoko is a step above any other sushi omakase we've had. Chef Yoshi's passion and his talent shines through every piece. read more

I'm almost a week out from visiting but the experience was awesome. The Badass Babes of Booze did not disappoint, and the special menu for this event was superb. The staff were all busy but never once allowed for a pause in checking that all was well, suggesting something based on our answers to their questions based on a genuine interest in our pallette, and there was always warmth in the smiles. The oysters were delicate, allowing the uni on top to really shine on equal footing. The trout was my wife's favorite and the mochi was fabulous. All the drinks were great and we did try them all--my wife and I picked LadyLuck as our favorite, which surprised us both given we just dabble in Mezcal. Honestly, I'm hoping to return for my birthday for a full omakaze, but this was a nice and easy entry into a promising hot spring of flavors in what was a very quaint, trendy, and romantic setting. I'm looking forward to returning. read more

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I tried the omokase last night with this guy and it was amazing! I did not think I would get so full from it, but you definitely do after trying all the sushi and sashimi they prepare in front of you. They also explain where the fish is from and the other spices or juices they add to it and what not. Also each time I went to the restroom the waitress girls would get the seat out for me and wait for me to take my seat. They also said pardon my reach and cleared our plates each time. My favorite was the wagyu, but there were others I enjoyed and if you like yuzu, I recommend it! read more

What an amazing experience!!! I wanted something special for my husband's birthday last week, so I purchased tickets to dine at Otoko. I am not going to go into a lot of details about the food, simply because it was a blur. Don't get me wrong, the food was simply amazing, but there were so many courses and so many explanations of each item, I finally just decided to sit there and enjoy it rather than trying to keep track of everything. I will attach pictures of the menu and also some of the dishes. Every bite was phenomenal and the experience was beyond words. What a memory! You are simply treated like royalty...you will never want for anything. You have the chef and his assistants preparing and explaining each course they are serving you, along with 3-4 additional folks making sure you have the right utensils, water, drinks, etc. Watertrade is there for Otoko patrons, but open to the general public as well. It is a wonderful experience, too. A sexy collection of dark wood, dim lights, leather and brass paired with amazing cocktails (large selection of sake, wine and liquor as well...including a freakishly extensive selection of Japanese whisky. We love Japanese whiskies and I never knew there were that many!) Upon sitting down at Watertrade before we went into Otoko, they asked me what I liked to drink. I said I was on a mezcal kick and I don't like sweet drinks. They gave me a bowl of yumminess with an ice cube topped with habanero granita (Blondie on the cocktail menu). Bottom line, if you are looking for something unique and memorable, you cannot go wrong with a special night at Otoko with a preliminary visit to Watertrade. read more

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What a beautiful experience to celebrate a special occasion. We were in good hands with chef in his selections. Can't wait to go back!

Simply a great omakase meal in Austin. Perhaps the priciest meal in the city but worth it for a special occasion. Social distancing is definitely active here with 3 seatings of 2 people per 2 hour window. The meal itself comes fast and furious. And really that's my only complaint is that the food came too quickly. Dishes were small and most 1-2 bites, but still the active pace of the kitchen made the meal feel a bit rushed. About half a dozen nigiri and tons of interesting small plates and desserts. The River crab, uni, fatty tuna, and tempura were the stars for me but truly each dish worked and even the fish dishes were unique in flavor, sauce and presentation. Japanese liquor is the specialty here but the bartender can make anything. Lots of sake available for under $80. Beer list is limited but lots of interesting cocktails to try around $14-18 each. Surprised it took so long to try Otoko. Mela was great and this restaurant could excel in any city. Waiters explained the dishes well and the chef was able to accommodate for food restrictions prior to the day of dining. Parking validated and they make the experience easy with paying up front and only footing the bill for drinks on day of. read more

Inventive and truly a unique dining experience. Chef Yoshi was in his element and it's a pleasure to see! Every dish was incredible! I haven't found Uni that rivaled the one I had in New York years ago, up until I met Yoshi and dined here. He introduced me to Hokkaido uni which shares similar climate as the east coast BUT Hokkaido is better, creamier, smoother! Oh yum!!!!! You can never have any other uni after this!!!! The staff is knowledgeable and so helpful and neat! We had uni ice cream.... yes, uni ice cream and it was magical!!! Their tempura batter didn't need any dipping sauce. At first it was odd until u take that first bite and realize what a genius idea! Come here fly trusting the chef and have a great time. This review would be pages long if I wrote every thought that came to my head. It is very pricey especially if u do the sake pairing. It's $175 a person without the Sake pairing. If I recall correctly it was an additional $75-150. You will leave so full! So full and content without going uncomfortably full. read more

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This place was more an experience than a restaurant. You start in the bar which feels like a speakeasy. Multiple bartenders attend to your group with great recommendations and extensive knowledge. Then they move you into the next room around the bar where your endless courses are prepared in front of you. You don't make any choices except sake or wine. I went wine and felt the were nicely matched to the courses, only skipping one glass. What an amazing night. read more

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Otoko is a very special place, and I believe that it offers the best dining experience you can get in Austin. Yes, at a glance, the price to get a seat at the table can be a huge barrier. It was for me for the longest time. However if you're willing to splurge on a special night, you'll walk away knowing that it was money well spent. Parking: Otoko is located in the South Congress Hotel courtyard area, so valet services are available. At the same time, there's usually plenty of parking either along South Congress or in the surrounding neighborhoods. Wait: Otoko offers seating based on you purchasing a ticket for a seat online. Therefore, the concept of waiting for a table doesn't really exist here. However Otoko only offers 12 seats per each dining period, so the type of wait you may experience is not being able to find availability for certain dates. It used to be that the restaurant was booked 1-2 months out. Thankfully, their availability has eased to where you can typically reserve seats within the month. Atmosphere: I can't get over how intimate the atmosphere is at Otoko. The bar area gives off a speakeasy type feel but without the noise, and since their restaurant only seats 12 people, it offers the most intimate restaurant experience you'll find. At the bar, the bartenders are extremely knowledgable, friendly, and have fun. The lightning in the bar is perfectly lit to where it sets a calming mood. The restaurant is setup to where the chefs prepare your dishes in front of you. They're also very friendly and knowledgable about the food they're preparing for you. Most nights, you'll frequently see head chef Yoshi walking around and preparing many of the dishes himself. For our multi-course meal, not only were we given complimentary champagne, but we were also given personalized menus. This was a very fine touch to the evening that made the experience even more memorable. Drinks: Otoko offers an extensive collection of sake, Japanese whiskeys, unique cocktails, and beers. The last time I went, the bartenders were offering a special punch that they had concocted Best drink I had was an ounce of their Komagatake 1453 Japanese whiskey. It was a recommendation from the bartender, and it's the smoothest whiskey I've ever had. Food: Best sushi in Austin. The multi-course omakase-style offering that Otoko does reminded me a lot of some of the dining experiences I had in Tokyo. The food tastes fresh and is prepared perfectly. I still dream about their Hamachi, so if you go, hope that they'll include this in one of your courses. Service: the intimacy of the service matches the atmosphere. At the bar, the bartenders are fun and helpful. In the dining room, you're attended to very well without feeling like you're being intruded on. It's a fantastic experience seeing every dish prepared in front of you. If price is the biggest issue for you, then I recommend going on the first Thursday of any month of the year. Like many of the restaurants around South Congress, Otoko changes things up with their offerings, and they typically do an a la carte menu. It gives you a chance to experience this incredible place without having to commit to the multi-course menu. I can't speak highly enough of this place, and I know that when you go, you'll feel the same way. read more

OTOKO - Japanese Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Over the last several years, I've been on a quest finding THE BEST omekase experience in Houston/Austin area and this is the spot. Closest thing to traditional Japan omekase one can get with a little twist by Yoshi. From the reservation, to seating, drinks, food, service, personalized menu, and ambiance, you will feel in another world! Come with an open mind and palate and let yoshi tame it! N.b. There was one dish I did not care for with chicken... which was just out there and did not blend with the other courses. read more

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Nothing says hip and cool better than no sign and a hidden entrance. Dinner was a nearly three hour experience, not including some time in Watertrade before seating. Watertrade is a cool space. Very dark, very handsome, excellent seductive music (Maxwell) at just the right volume. Great bartender and fabulous cocktails. Do start your dinner here. Be adventurous, do not get your usual. Dining room in Otoko is also a well thought out cool space with the brightly lit wall and ceiling fixture. 20 something courses, first a series of sushi, each impeccably fresh, beautifully presented by Yoshi and delicious. Then on to cooked - grilled, steamed, fried - courses. You'll probably leave full but not at all stuffed. Yoshi was fun and clearly having a good time. It was a bit duller on the far end of the bar where we sat. I liked the music, mostly oldies rock, with a little Queens of the Stone Age thrown in. It suited the place and fit in as part of the overall decor/experience. Presented with attractively bound menus of the night's courses. Lost a point in execution that I was never asked when making the reservation who else was dining in my party, and the menu thanked me "and guest". Now there's a big buzz kill to romance that they could have avoided. High percentage of hits on the dishes, just a few that I didn't care for, and I think that was more my personal taste since I couldn't complain that they weren't fresh and imaginative. They have no dessert chef and it showed with the 2 dessert courses being perhaps the least successful of the evening. Valet parking is convenient, and mentioning I'd come for Otoko, was not asked when leaving for any additional charge, even though we were there well over 3 hours. Best comparison in my local experience has been Qui Tasting Room and Counter 3-5-7. Otoko is the most peaceful of the three. Qui's tasting room experience was a notch above in consistency of dishes and the feeling of really being treated by a team of excellent chefs, but Otoko does not have far to go to get to that level. Now that the choices would be Counter 3-5-7 or Otoko, our first return visit would be to Counter 3-5-7. It seemed to me like a little more leadership would raise this spot to a truly stellar level; I wondered several times if Paul Qui's absence was having an effect. But overall, great fun experience and worth the high price. read more

OTOKO - Otoko counter dining - Japanese Near Me - Austin, Texas

If you appreciate a sensory experience like no other that can be found right here in Austin, get yourself some tickets to Otoko. 12 seats total in this bar-seating-only utopia of Otoko - that's it - the seclusion, privacy, exclusivity and intimacy of the entire experience (at Otoko and Watertrade) is one of my favorite things of all ... You pay when you reserve your tickets online (I recommend at least a month in advance for best availability), including tip. You also let Otoko know at this time what your specific requests are for your meal - we chose no bugs. Yeah we're picky like that. You wait in anticipation. And the experience does not disappoint. When you arrive to South Congress Hotel and do the free valet, you go to the courtyard, and once you climb the staircase and open that door, you've left Earth as you know it. Positively the most on point, personalized, perfectly timed service I have ever received anywhere - from that first step in to the last step out (both at Watertrade and Otoko). We checked in with the very cordial host and then had a drink at Watertrade. We were escorted into the barely noticeable door of Otoko when Chef Yoshi was ready for us - you're called in sets of two as the evening progresses. We were second at 5:30 on Saturday night. What a delight to be served dish after dish of beautiful and delectable perfections of edible art at your pace - around you and your experience. So amazingly unique and contrasted yet balanced with explosions of flavors, temperatures, and textures. How incredible it is to see the pride Chef Yoshi takes in his creations and the happiness it brings him to see you enjoying it. I noticed he likes to elaborate on things about the dish if he sees your eyes roll into the back of your head with pure bliss! I personally do not think you could find fresher sushi anywhere in the US - if you can, it's not in Austin and it damn sure isn't anywhere in Texas. Every. Single. Dish. Was. Mind-blowing. In. Every. Way. Possible. Between Otoko and Waterade this is by FAR the sexiest, most authentically and perfectly indulgent place in Austin. On every level. read more

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Had drinks and appetizers here. A very high quality spot here in Austin. One of the top sushi restaurants in the city.

Once you go Otoko, you can't go back. Seriously. Now I can never eat at another sushi restaurant ever again. From the freshness of each bite to to experience itself, you won't find anything like it elsewhere in Texas. Maybe in NY or somewhere in Cali. First, off a heads up before you dine here: make reservations, go HUNGRY, do a Sake pairing. The experience we had was a 20-course meal. This is why I say go HUNGRY. Sake to go with almost every few courses was an amazing choice, because 1) Sake is amazing and 2) If you're going to spend money on drinks it might as well pair well with your meal IMO. Chef Yoshi and his team were amazing and I felt very well taken care of from the moment we stepped foot inside the restaurant. They wait on you hand and foot. Everything was memorable and delicious. Can't wait to go back! read more

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My wife and I had a fantastic experience. I cannot give enough stars for this dining experience. I honestly how absolutely nothing negative to say about this restaurant. The entire experience was mind blowing. Service and atmosphere are top notch. It's the kind of dining experience that ruins all restaurants for you. The sushi made Uchiko sushi look like HEB sushi (and I love Uchiko). I will just leave it at that. Ask for Zaddy. He's incredibly fun. read more

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Amazing..... my wife and I went here to celebrate our birthday. It was so good that I told her we should do this every year for our birthday. Every dish was amazing. Chef Yoshi was very easy to talk to. We arrived very early and were confused at first because there was an event going on. When we got to the restaurant the bar gave us complimentary champagne. I won't go into detail but every dish was amazing. The menu was personalized for us. The only thing we didn't really enjoy was the dessert dishes. There were two but my wife and I were not fans of. But overall, everything was amazing and I wold recommend this place to everyone! read more

OTOKO - Japanese Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Otoko was an unreal experience. I've been to many omakase style meals in other major cities, but Otoko was really something special. First off, you feel like you're in a cool underground sushi restaurant in Japan. The service is incredibly attentive, and every sushi chef is super knowledgable and very eager to please. Stand outs were the hon maguro - some of the best tuna I've ever had - and the uni / caviar combo. Everything melted in my mouth to make the best broth you could possible imagine. If you are a sushi connoisseur, you could not ask for a better spot than Otoko. read more