Utterly charming. Carefully curated without seeming to try too hard, Sugar Pine feels like a genuine kissaten teleported straight from Japan. The dining room is bright, airy, and calm, as a soothing oasis in an overstimulating desert. They've been on the scene for over 7 years, though it's still as busy as ever. The menu is compact but thoughtful, centered around Japanese comfort food with an eye for detail and utterly immaculate presentations. The sautéed tofu set truly an ideal, complete meal. With such a variety of dishes comprised of equally diverse flavors, colors, and textures, it puts the average bento box to shame. You get a steaming bowl of miso soup, pickled veggies, furikake-topped rice, and even a soft pine nut cookie to compliment the star of the show, which is a perfectly portioned serving of tofu and vegetable stir fry. I could happily eat this every day and. The yaki udon is a great standalone entree with tons of staying power thanks to those thick, chewy noodles. Plenty of tender-crisp vegetables and crispy tofu balance things out with all the protein and fiber you need to make it from lunch to dinner without any struggle. There are tons of lovely little bites, too. Onigiri are possibly their signature snack, and for good reason. Both the pickled vegetable and avocado varieties were beautifully formed and deceptively simple, letting the quality of each ingredient shine. Simple as some dishes may seem, they're made thoughtfully, and exceptionally well. read more

Me and a couple of friends were going to Hi Tunes for some karaoke and wanted to grab some food on the way so we put in a to go order at Sugar Pine. We didn't stay to eat but the shop is such a cute little spot! If I lived more north I think I would make this a regular spot; parking is a little limited but it wasn't super busy when I stopped by on a Saturday a bit before 6. The staff was friendly and I really liked the vibe/decor inside, and that you can get food, ice cream, coffee, or a beer! Whatever you are in the mood for! We wanted some finger food so we got a variety of onigiri, some potstickers, chicken karaage, and spicy edamame. There was a short wait past the time quoted but it wasn't long, the staff was very communicative about it, and the food was fresh and hot when I received it. I'd rather have hot food a little late than lukewarm food any day! When we got to karaoke and dug in everything was still hot and delicious. I think my favorite were the potstickers but those are just one of my favorite things anyways lol, the onigiri was great, chicken was juicy, and the edamame just a little bit spicy. This was a great choice for a fun night and I can't wait to try more off the menu! read more

A great experience. The food service is really nice for a go to the counter and order type restaurant. It was fast and everything looks so nice from the presentation of the food to the ambiance of the restaurants decor. The place is clean and set up nicely for a small business. I ordered the pork cutlet plate. I liked the amount of food that was served and thought the value was good. The pork was a little thin and therefore I felt overcooked just a bit. But the other dishes were excellent. There is also ample parking in front of the establishment. I even met a couple of customers that added to the experience. Thank you Sugar Pine! read more

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Sugar Pine has some of the best onigiri I've had in Austin (better than Asahi). The spicy tuna especially was an Austin-level spicy. They were beautifully presented and the spices they put on the outside were surprisingly tasty. We also really enjoyed the potstickers and shrimp tempura. The katsu set was solid overall, and I absolutely loved the pickled vegetables that came with it. They also sell the pickles up front as grab-and-go containers, which I was very tempted to take home. The karaage was probably the only thing I wouldn't order again, and the miso soup was unfortunately very plain and watery compared to everything else. A small touch I appreciated was the cookie that came with the set. It was simple but really nice. They were out of the ice cream flavors we originally came for (black sesame), which was disappointing, but we ended up trying the miso caramel flavor and it was surprisingly delicious. The waffle cone was a little old, chewy, and stale. One thing that really stood out was the service. The cashier had one of the most genuine, sincere smiles and was such a pleasure to order from. Overall, definitely worth visiting for the onigiri. I already want to come back to try the matcha and black sesame ice cream flavors next time. read more

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We love this spot - easy counter service and the food comes out quickly! Our favorites are the pork katsu and the salmon with the sets (miso/rice/cookie/veggies) It's a perfect total meal - salmon is cooked with some veggies in sauce - so good!! The meal feels balanced and the pork katsu is perfectly fried Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating as well - seems dog friendly!! They also make their own ice cream - we are def going to try an affogato here next time we come! I tried the matcha limeade as well and loved it - light and refreshing Staff was super helpful and friendly / cute interior space read more

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What can I say, I love a good fried tofu (I'm not vegan) and Sugar Pine does it right! Simple and satisfying! Also, if you love pickles, their pickled veggies are delicious too! Maybe I can be a vegan i appreciate a place that doesn't rely on social media or influencers. Though the interior is definitely "instagrammable", counter style service, Asian flavored ice creams(taro, thai tea, miso...), unique dishes, snacks, and drinks (matcha limade). There's even a nice patio and private room for events. And there is PARKING! A place without parking these days will make me think twice about going. Just saying... read more

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I was really craving onigiri so I came here and left still craving a good one. The presentation is adorable but the flavor just wasn't there and all meats were pretty dry. We ordered the chicken, salmon, spicy tuna, pickled veggies, and steak. Also the rice may have been soft and fresh but it caused all 4 to crumble completely apart after 1 bite. read more

Dropped in for a Friday lunch date with a friend. Cute, casual spot off of 183 serving up Japanese dishes, fresh onigiri, coffee bar drinks, and house-made ice cream! Overall it was a little on the pricier side for a nicer lunch, but everything was tasty and service was really friendly and great! QUICK FACTS: - Parking? Yes, they have their own parking lot. - Reservations? No, this place is very casual! - Happy hour? Yes, 3-6pm they have some discounted items. FOOD RATINGS: - Chicken katsu set (4/5): Generous set with rice, miso soup, seaweed salad, pickled veggies, and even a cookie! Everything was tasty and made well. - Salmon onigiri (3.5/5): Personally I thought these were a little overpriced but they were a decent size. Soft and filled with filling. Fell apart pretty easily so messy to eat, but not bad. - Ice cream (5/5): So good! They let us sample flavors and we ended up getting the chocolate chip coffee one. Really good ending to the meal. You can order by the scoop or in a cone! read more

Sugar Pine - Chicken katsu curry set, salmon onigiri - Japanese Near Me - Austin, Texas

Thank you Madhu, Gio, and team for having us for our club meet up! The cozy space was perfect and accommodating for our larger group and the food and drink as always was fresh and delicious! read more

Sugar Pine - Yaki Soba Tofu. My first time trying it, very filling, very delicious. The veggies were fresh and cooked to perfection. - Japanese Near Me - Austin, Texas

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The vegetable gyoza and onigiri were so good I'm still thinking about it a week later. read more

Sugar Pine - Coconut matcha - Japanese Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Sugar Pine has been a favorite of mine for a while. I pretty much enjoy whatever I order. It's Japanese food, located on the service road off 183. You order at the counter, self-service water, and they bring the food to your table. They also have a surprisingly good drink selection for a counter-service spot, beer, sake, coffee, tea, and other options, plus happy hour! The menu has a lot going on in a good way. Tons of choices, and the sets are especially fun. They're kind of like a bento experience without the box, you get to try multiple items in one meal. They have noodles, rice dishes, and onigiri, the Japanese rice balls, which are always great. My absolute favorite part, though, is the ice cream. They have Japanese-inspired flavors you don't see everywhere. The black sesame is incredible, and you can get it in a regular cone, matcha cone or cup. Get the matcha cone. Where else are you going to do that? They also have matcha ice cream and a few other flavors, and you can even buy pints to take home. The space itself is small, maybe around a dozen tables, including one larger communal table that's usually reserved for groups. Bathrooms are clean. The only slightly odd thing is the chairs, they're these padded, fabric chairs that almost feel like they belong in a fancier or older dining room, while the rest of the restaurant feels more modern. Totally minor and kind of funny more than anything. One thing I'd avoid is the patio. There are outdoor tables, but they're right under 183, so it's noisy and not exactly relaxing. Inside seating is much better. Prices are a little high for counter service, but the portions are decent and the food quality has always been worth it for me. Sugar Pine is a place I'm always happy to recommend. read more

Sugar Pine - Karaage set, with an almond cookie that is just hidden behind the chicken dish - Japanese Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I came back with a larger group to study and it was still as comfy as I remembered! I got the coconut matcha, black sesame latte, black sesame ice cream and karaage. All were delicious! The coconut matcha was solid but a little expensive for the amount IMO. The black sesame ice cream isn't nearly as good as the thai milk tea and the taro ice cream tasted fresh but not my favorite either. read more

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Took me a while to get to this review but...terrible service. Very difficult to review the food when your order takes so long to prepare that you just have to give up and cancel it. read more

WOW!! The food here is absolutely INCREDIBLE!! This is our 4th time going here and every time is better than the last! We LOVE the chicken teriyaki (the soft-boiled tea infused eggs are to die for)! The katsu is also amazing if you're in the mood for that as well. We love the chilled soba noodles, gyoza, and matcha limeade are spectacular!! The only thing I would say is that the onigiri are a bit rice-heavy, but the salmon is the best!! LOVE the thai tea ice cream and coffee!! The service is outstanding and ambiance is trendy yet comfy. 10/10 would recommend read more

Sugar Pine - Pork katsu meal - Japanese Near Me - Austin, Texas

Went here on a Friday with a friend for lunch. There's parking out front and also on the side of the building so if you don't see initially just check around the corner. Service was great here and everyone was super friendly! I got the pickled veggie onigiri, salmon onigiri, salt and pepper tofu and a black sesame latte. Plus some black sesame icecream after. My favorite was the pickled veggies onigiri, I liked the salt and pepper tofu I just wish there was a little more flavoring in the batter. I'm not sure how but their ice-cream is extra cold which was great since it took longer to melt. Definitely felt like a cute little cafe with lots of-welcoming vibes and plants everywhere. Will definitely come back to try more of the menu, plus they have a rewards program now! read more

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Ambiance: peaceful with some music in the background. Clean with self-serving water and utensil station after ordering. Parking lot available that shouldn't be hard to find a spot. Kid friendly with high chairs available. There's a nice little section in the back with sofa for more of a chill vibe with a bigger group of friends. Food: onigiri were good. Nice presentation, portions had good filling proportion. Curry katsu not so good. The katsu itself was good, not heavily breaded and didn't feel like drenched in oil but the curry sauce was a huge letdown. Not your typical Japanese style and honestly the premade Japanese instant curry mixes you can buy at Asahi or 99 tastes better than this. Pricing is fairly expensive, feel like this place is more for the younger crowd with money to spend. read more

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I have been coming here since last year. This is by far my favorite place, the only thing I regret is not finding this restaurant sooner ! Everyone here is so nice and friendly, obviously the food is great that I buy lunch here for the most part every day no joke ! The Spicy tuna onigiri is my go to to snack through out the day And all the other dishes are just amazing. Their ice cream (black sesame ice cream) is my go to, my daughter loves their food too that I have to order extras to take home. The owner noticed how much I order from his restaurant that he has shown me love through a gift card in my order :) Lovely people and amazing food, you will always leave with a smile read more

Sugar Pine - Japanese Near Me - Austin, Texas

came just for the ice cream and they had such a good selection of flavors! it was super tough choosing them, but we went with taro and black sesame. I tried the thai tea and coconut as well and they were also tasty. black sesame had a strong flavor which I appreciated. I will say that their stuff is a little too sweet for asian desserts, which are typically less sweet imo. read more

Sugar Pine - black sesame and taro - Japanese Near Me - Austin, Texas

Love this place for a hearty lunch, happy hour, snack or dessert. They have something for every time of the day really, The employees are always helpful with menu recommendations, read more

Sugar Pine - Chicken Karaage - Tray - 4 portions - Japanese Near Me - Austin, Texas

This a good not so hidden gem. Very unique vibe and the food is very good. I really enjoyed the relaxed feel and loved the assortment of entrees I shared with my family. Staff was friendly and helpful. read more

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- Menu: 5/5 (drinks, small bites, full plates) - Drink adjustability: 4/5 (alt milks for $1 extra, adjustable sweetness) - Seating: 6 small tables, 2 large, 2 sofas, bar seats - Crowd: quite empty on a Thurs afternoon - Parking: huge lot :) - Features: lots of outlets/seating/free WiFi- study friendly! Self serve water (fresh), 2 stalls/restroom I'm always hunting for places to work, and this place is amazing. The surrounding area is a bit seedy but the cafe is cozy, with friendly servers and quick service. Tons of seating and outlets, doesn't seem to get too crowded. Great place for a working afternoon or to catch up with friends. I tried the hot matcha latte with soy milk, half sweet. She really did make it half sweet (don't recommend w matcha but she followed instructions!). I liked it a lot. Most people get food here which smelled incredible. Give this place a try! read more

Sugar Pine - Inside seating. Outlets along the wall - Japanese Near Me - Austin, Texas

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We live in the neighborhood and for the longest time we thought it was just an ice cream shop, and boy were way off. What a gem to find. Great food, really friendly counter staff, in particular Madi. We find ourselves craving sugar pine regularly. I'd love to see a spam onigiri, at some point. read more

Ambiance was very chill, JPop in the background. Service was kind and quick for lunch. Lots of options b/w icecream, coffee, sides, onigiris and dishes. Food was overall delicious and will try out more dishes in the future. read more

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I enjoyed all the dishes that were ordered here but the obvious one that this place is known for is their onigiri (rice balls). They are generously proportioned, the tuna/salmon filling are fresh and finished off with the right umami-filled toppings. The katsu chicken curry set was a perfectly balanced meal that included seaweed salad, miso soup, and the curry had a flavorful consistency which complemented the crunchy fried chicken. If you're looking for something light to cool you down, the cold soba noodles dipped into sauce is a fun chewy bite. This place is well-rounded from their main entrees to desserts (they have fun asian-inspired flavored ice creams such as black sesame or taro). Solid place for classic Japanese comfort food, great for lunch or a quick dinner! Not to mention the cashier was super patient and helpful when deciding what to order. The food came out quickly and not too crowded on a weekday afternoon, the place was also clean and tidy. read more

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Picked up some chicken katsu, salmon onigiri, and a side of curry. I don't even like curry and haven't had it in years but was very surprised! Not overly spiced and had enoki mushrooms! Everything was very very good. I'll be back and I'll bring a friend! read more

Yum yum! An amazing place to either get your own set of food or share a bunch of smaller plates. Me and my friend shared the small kaarage and the tofu and each got an onigiri. The fried chicken was perfectly crispy and came with a yuzu sauce that was super unique and tasted delicious. The tofu was crispy on the outside and super soft on the inside and the sweet sauce that came with it was amazing too. We also shared the miso caramel and black sesame ice cream- they let you sample as much as you want! The onigiris were so yummy and I loved how they all look different on the outside depending on what filling you want. Inside there are lots of comfy chairs and tables and a great place to do work or chat with friends. Service is always great here as well, and I never worry about parking since they have a small lot! read more

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Was excited to try this place but a bit thrown off upon arrival. The area was a little sketchy but decided to give it a try anyways. The interior is clean and nicely decorated. You order at the counter. We got the shrimp tempura, pork katsu, and tofu set plate. The shrimp tempura had too much batter and cost $10 for 3 which is a bit steep. The katsu was good and I really like the flavor of my tofu but there was only 5 tofu pieces on the plate. The set cost $18 so I feel there could've been a few more pieces of tofu, it's not costly. The miso soup was overwhelmingly salty so I only had a few sips. I liked the pickled veggies on the side. Overall I found it a bit overpriced and the whole meal was too salty. read more

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Found this place on Yelp. It was raining and we were driving back to Kansas. Soup sounded yummy. The spicy miso udon broth was sooooo good. The chunks of ginger were lovely. I really liked it a lot. Only complaint was the shrimp had a weird taste to them. But I ate around it and it was delish! So no harm no foul. We got the spicy tuna and tofu kimchi Onigiri. Both were really good. My husband got the pork katsu. I kept stealing bites of it haha. It was good. I'd get it next time! Got a soy matcha latte as my little treat for after the meal. I really like when matcha isn't super sweet. So it was perfect. We will be back! read more

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Really enjoyed my lunch here. The chicken teriyaki bowl had tons of flavor and was a really good portion. Maybe a bit more on the basic side but yummy nonetheless! A good option for a casual bite. Also they had lots of fun drink and dessert options to try, and the staff was friendly. The set up was order at the counter and the food gets served to you, which made for a more casual experience, and the food came quickly. read more

Sugar Pine - Chicken teriyaki bowl - Japanese Near Me - Austin, Texas

We had a little time before catching our flight, so we stopped by this place to get some dessert and something light to eat. We chose the watermelon basil and black sesame for our ice cream flavors and added a matcha waffle cone. The flavors were so delightful, but the cone was a little stale. Our onigiris did take a while though. We got the kimchi chicken, ume shiso, and salmon. They were presented so nicely. One was triangular shaped and the other two were little balls. Overall, a great little cafe! read more

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I adore this place! It's my go to every time I am driving in from work trips back home. The location is spotless and inviting, and the service is quick and friendly. My favorite food here are definitely the onigiris - they are wrapped so cutely and are very flavorful. I also think the karaage here is out of this world! The for-here tea presentation is so nice with the clay pots that keep the tea piping hot during your visit. Can't recommend this place enough :) read more

Sugar Pine - Japanese Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Housemade ice cream in a housemade waffle cone. The white chocolate milk tea was great - doubled it up with a scoop of taro too. They need a location in South Austin badly - say off of S. Congress or S. 1st? read more

Sugar Pine - Japanese Near Me - Austin, Texas

Took a new guest here. Just love of place! We haven't tried anything here we didn't love, from the entrees to the onigiri... from the drinks to the ice cream... do good! They have had great music playing every time we've been there. It's a bright, cheerful place, yet very casual. And the food is all elevated. You order at the counter, but the woman who took our order was very friendly. After, she let us taste some of their ice creams. We enjoyed each one we tried, but ordered a scoop of toasted coconut and a scoop of taro. I didn't expect to like taro root ice cream but it was extremely good. They have a room in the back you can back ahead to reserve for private parties. The prices are reasonable but not inexpensive, especially for an order-at-the-counter experience. But it's worth every penny. They focus on high quality ingredients, they will, and they know what they're doing in the kitchen? read more

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I've been wanting to come here for a while, and I'm glad to have finally come! This was a great spot for a nice dessert date-- I'm curious about what the food is gonna be like, and would want to try next time, although it does seem overall more like a dessert spot. Their Asian offerings ice-cream flavors were unique such as a miso caramel, and toasted coconut and black sesame, but some of them seemed a bit icy in texture in the freezer display. I shared a double-scoop with my date, and they gave good portions to the point where it was more than enough for us, as it was a bit sweet. I'd come back because I'm curious to try the food, and I think it could also be a great work/study spot in the future! But while I'm glad I tried the ice-cream, I might go somewhere else in the future for ice-cream in specific. read more

Sugar Pine - Toasted Coconut + Taro Root Ice-cream (~$6.50) - Japanese Near Me - Austin, Texas

This place is counter service, you order and get a number and they bring out your food to your table. There are a lot of options on the menu to pick from. I went with the spicy tuna onigiri and the vegetable miso udon noodle soup. The onigiri is good, I've had better in Austin. The udon soup was more soy flavor than I'd like but I liked the variety of vegetables given! I was so full I couldn't get ice cream but I will be back for it! read more

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This place was really nice. The food wasn't over seasoned and fresh. The lemonade was nice and refreshing as well. read more

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Katsu pork (tonkatsu) Comes with miso soup and a chewy cookie, which I love! The tonkatsu itself is consistently breaded and yummy. Adding some kind of dressing on the veggies would be nice. The seats inside are super soft and comfy. There are a few parking spaces outside. read more

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A super cute, casual restaurant! Decorated really nicely inside and there's also a few tables in an outdoor section. I ordered the chicken katsu ($16.95) - tasted as expected and had a great crunch! The pickled veggies were a great addition and the tiny pine nut cookie was surprisingly delicious! However, the menu items are pretty pricey. read more

Sugar Pine - Katsu Pork Set - Japanese Near Me - Austin, Texas

This place is a total gem! Fair prices, easy to find location, parking directly in front of the building. The happy hour is $2 off starters and $2 off tap beer and wine. We took advantage ordering spicy edamame, sweet potato fries and karagge. So good. The sweet potato fries were some of the best I've ever had. Like they sliced the sweet potatoes in store. Not pictured is the karagge which was lights out good. Perfect fried texture with tender chicken. read more

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Sugar Pine packs the options is but doesn't fail in flavor. Upon waking in you see the ice cream options before ordering which can be tempting. We ordered and americano, matcha limeade, green tea and honey lemonade. In a hot Austin summer day they were refreshing and garnished to perfection. We ordered the avocado and steak onigiri. Both were packed with flavor but the avocado was the favorite. The small plates are $2 off during happy hour. We got chicken karate, chicken Goya, edamame and shrimp tempura. The fry on the karate and tempura were to perfection! The edamame fell short but everything else a 9/10!!! Additionally we had katsu-pork with all the fixings. Every items was eaten to the last bit. All in all the food was phenomenal and great location to central Austin. I recommend stopping by especially if you need some time to kill in afternoon traffic and the service is welcoming! read more

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