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Shokunin

4.2 (19 reviews)
Closed 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM

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Cam H.

This is a great spot if you care most about high-quality fish and clean, simple nigiri without heavy sauces or garnishes. The fish itself was excellent : fresh, silky, and buttery in texture. You can really tell they focus on letting the seafood shine rather than masking it with extras. That said, the rice was much more vinegary than I personally prefer. I know some people love that sharper style, but for me it slightly overpowered the fish at times. My scallop handroll had a ton of wasabi inside, it was extremely strong and ended up overwhelming the delicate scallop. It was too much for me. I also don't think the sukiyaki was worth $32 but it was decent. The interior has romantic, cozy vibes and feels perfect for a date night. You can sit at the sushi bar for a more intimate experience or choose a table if you're dining with a larger group. Overall, a solid choice for sushi purists who prioritize fish quality above all else!

Heather F.

Best sushi I have ever eaten! A small intimate space that provides a one of a kind experience. The chefs were wonder, explaining the options, aging process and how to best eat each piece. The Madai was exceptional. The aged Wagyu also did not disappoint. But one surprising highlight the in house made ginger and soy sauce. Worth every dollar.

Scallop, hamachi and hamachi belly
Shveta M.

From the owner of Sushi By Scratch, Pasta Bar and NADC Burger, comes Shokunin, a '90s LA sushi concept now open on East 6th! I went in for my 2nd time today since they opened, and the sushi was just as fantastic and fresh as last week. They don't take reservations and are only open Th-Mon 5-9pm. Went in at 5:45 on a Monday and the estimated time on the waitlist was 75 minutes. It ended up only being 25 though which is much better than 75! They have an excellent wine and sake menu if you choose to imbibe. I say skip that and chow down. Definitely get the baked green mussels to start. It's like nothing I've had before. You pick from nigiri, hand roll or sashimi for the fish. I recommend skipping the hand roll. Definitely order the scallop, tuna, toro, salmon, salmon belly, hamachi in nigiri form and the salmon sashimi! Save room for the matcha affogato and the bon bon! Service is best at the sushi bar but the staff throughout are very nice and helpful! Our server, Noah, today was very attentive! The sushi is high quality, and you'll spend a pretty penny, but it's worth a visit and the splurge!

Sushi
Krystyna L.

Excellent addition to the Austin sushi scene - a la carte with an optional omakase but not required. The restaurant maximizes the seating without making you feel too crowded. If you aren't in the neighborhood and on feet or bike, there is street parking on 6th and garages nearby on 5th. Each dish and bite were fresh, delicately prepared and delectable.

Negi toro
Sandra P.

Friendly staff! Luckily walked in right when they opened on a Thursday so had no problem finding seating right at the bar. It's very clean. Staff is super attentive and helpful with recommendations. Our sushi chef was wonderful and provided great recommendations. It's a good casual sushi restaurant with above average pricing. I wish the nigiri pieces were more tightly packed and neat, but the fish quality was great. I'm basic but would love to see miso soup or more standard appetizers on the menu!

Angela B.

Been wanting to try this place since they opened a few weeks ago. Everytime I walked by it was packed with a wait. Found out they are now have a waitlist available so you can be notified 20 min before your table is done so you're not sitting there waiting. Pros: Music selection was fantastic. Definitely 90's. Quad city DJs, Bone thugs and harmony, No Doubt, Biz Markee. Classic. Vibe was laid back and chill, sitting at the sushi bar gets you a front row set to everything that is going on. Food was delicious and unique flavors. I did an omakase which made life easy. No choices for me! Cons: Sitting at the sushi bar lets you see everything. The downgrade in star comes from hygiene. The plates for the sushi were handled by multiple people...as in servers handling the plates (where food goes) after assisting guests. One server took a plate from the chef, then walked into the back room to drop off a used plate. Now I know air doesn't per se have issues, but taking fresh food into an area where things are cleaned seems a bit odd. The chefs also weren't keeping it above board with one specific memory of touching other stuff (reserved seating plaques, for example) then going right back to making sushi. The host placed the plaques so why wouldn't they pick them up? To keep the chefs hands as clean as possible? I know no where is perfect however when dealing with raw fish, I do expect to have a chain of hygiene followed. Washing hands if touching stuff other than sushi or hell, using gloves. If I didn't sit at the bar and see all of that, 5 stars cause I wouldn't know. Will I return? Perhaps.

Emily K.

No complaints. I loved the intersection of quality and à la carte. The salmon nigiri was possibly the best salmon I have ever had. Josh waited on us and he was prompt and helpful and gave great recommendations. The music was a little loud but nothing we couldn't work around and the casual vibe made it enjoyable and not stuffy at all while being able to enjoy absolutely top tier food.

Janrai G.

Overall the experience was great.. we knew there would be some "ironing out" moments in their procedures which is what is expected from a new spot... especially for the notoriety Chef Phillip has.. The fish was top notch always been a huge fan of his from when they first came to Austin and even in the chaos he kept his crew calm and everything was very pleasant for it only being open 5 days when we went. Chef Phillip really made the evening special since my mom came in town for her birthday so grateful for all they did!

Tonight we went back to Shokunin for what was nothing less than an absolutely spectacular experience. From the moment I walked inside we were greeted with smiles and amazing vibes. The food was nothing short of remarkably delicious. We were all stunned that each course was somehow better than the last. My favorite tonight was the Sawara, the texture and taste was new and amazing. Their knowledge and care for the highest quality ingredients was meticulous and precise. The value Shokunin brings to our community is amazing, if you enjoy the best sushi this is the place for you. The value of the Omakase menu is actually insane $140 for 15 courses! You may want to wear your stretchy jeans! They have updated the way seating works and now you can get in line from home and they will hold your spot even if you are a few minutes late. You can definitely get in now without any frustrations with the new system. The music is not too loud and you can hear the chefs and the people in your party. We would like to thank many of the team at Shokunin by name. Phillip Franklund Lee, first thank you so much for having us back and taking the time to share a great conversation and some of your knowledge with us tonight, that was something I won't forget! Your attention to detail and the way you were checking in on every single guest even if they may have not known was incredible. To Chef Christian, Chef Yoji, Chef Makow, & Chef Lorenzo thank you all for an absolutely excellent experience, watching yall work was mesmerizing. To Wails and the exceptional hospitality team, thank you for making this THE experience we had hoped for from the moment we walked in the door, simply amazing. We will be back as often as we can and have already started planning family birthdays as this is the place to bring everyone together for a true foodie experience, even joking (maybe not so much of a joke) that this is our new Saturday spot after the gym! Thank you to everyone that made our evening as memorable as it was, our group talked about the meal the whole way home and how we can't wait to return.

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5 months ago

Absolutely wonderful experience. Food was top notch. Sushi chef and rest of staff were very friendly. Vibe and music was great.

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6 months ago

Still dreaming about this sushi. Literally so good and I can't wait to come back! Such a cute date night spot with great service.

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Shokunin - japanese - Updated May 2026

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