OVERVIEW: Definitely a top 3 omakase experience for me (and I've been to Japan!). The ambiance is the biggest part of what makes this so great. The intimate, speakeasy setting is such a vibe! Hidden behind a bookcase tucked away in Holey Moley, Chef Saine and his small team bring you an incredible 14-course experience with top-tier ingredients sourced directly from local farmers in Japan. With only 6 seats per session, this is a cozy experience and one I definitely could not recommend more. QUICK FACTS: - Parking? Yes, located in East Austin, there is plenty of street parking. - Reservations can be tricky to land, but you can grab weeknight ones if you're flexible. - Pricing is about $170/person, with the option to add on drinks and extra bites (3 extra for $45/person). Tax and tip not included. My favorite bites were the maguro blue fin (an incredible start to the night!), the buttery Kanpachi amberjack, and the Wagyu ribeye with salted egg yolk (steak and eggs). Everything is stellar, and the Belgium chocolate ice cream finish with a little serenading from Chef is a great way to wrap up the experience. Service is top notch! read more

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Once you've passed through the speakeasy bookshelf door, you enter a beautifully built out 6 seat sushi restaurant, complete with many Taylor Swift references if you look closely. The omakase is beautifully orchestrated by Chef Saine Wong. Each bite more delectable than the last. What a wonderful, special meal. No notes. It's easy to lock your bike up out front, street parking is more limited as it is mostly resident sticker required, but there is the garage at Saltillo nearby. read more

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TL:DR: Intimate omakase experience with limited seating, good food, great drinks (the Wagyu Old Fashioned was the best I've had). It's inside Holey Moley (arcade/golf-course) which made the experience more interesting in a good-weird way. You walk in and it's an arcade... then there's this hidden bookcase and suddenly you enter another world. It's a very intimate setting (only 6 ppl) but that actually makes it better since you get more dedicated attention and can interact with the chefs. It's pricey (as most omakase experiences are), but this one felt special. Tip: Book ahead of time, as spots fill up quickly. read more

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Very small restaurant. Hard to book a reservation. Just put yourself to waiting list. The food quality is better than Michelin one Star. My favorite is fatty tuna, ribeye, amber jack and uni. 17 dishes. read more

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Rating: 4.8/5 Toshokan is a speakeasy-style omakase spot hidden behind a bookshelf inside the Holey Moley Golf Club. Chef and owner Saine Wong designed the experience to be highly personal and intimate, with only two seatings per night and a maximum of six guests per seating. It's quite difficult to get a reservation, as they're snatched up quickly once released. We were super lucky that someone canceled their spot for the 8:30 PM seating the day after my husband's birthday. They start promptly, so plan to arrive early to allow time for parking. Each guest receives a custom coaster with their name on it to help find their seat--such a thoughtful touch. They also do an icebreaker so everyone, including the staff, can get to know one another a bit more. Before dining begins, you get to choose your own chopsticks and chopstick rest, which adds to the fun and personalized feel. Chef Saine is joined by two team members: one handles the drinks, and the other assists with food prep. The service is impeccable--after each course, they even wipe your plate clean if you spill soy sauce. We opted to split the sake/cocktail pairing ($115), and the bar manager (I believe her name was Maddie) kindly split each drink for us. Every cocktail was thoughtfully crafted to complement the sushi. I'm usually not a fan of sake, but the one they served was surprisingly good! They also offer individual drinks, so there's something for everyone. There's a lot of conversation and interaction throughout the meal, which made the experience even more enjoyable. Toward the end, Chef Saine offered additional add-ons before serenading us with a few songs on the guitar. He sang happy birthday to my husband and happy anniversary to the couple next to us, which was such a sweet gesture. We even had a mini karaoke session before wrapping up around 11 PM. The 14-course omakase costs $170 per person, and I truly believe it's worth it for the unique, immersive experience. Food Breakdown: The blue fin bird's nest-looking starter was delicious--one of my favorites. I loved the contrasting textures. I don't normally eat oysters, but I gave it a try. Can't say I loved it, but it wasn't bad. The salmon was from New Zealand. It was good, though I've had better. This was a deconstructed nigiri, and you could really taste the house-made rice and soy sauce. The tuna belly was solid, but nothing particularly unique. I don't usually eat sea bream, but this one was excellent! The hamachi was seasoned to taste like a spicy margarita and ended up being my favorite of the night. I'm not a fan of amberjack's texture, so this one was just okay for me. The spot prawn was good, but not as sweet as I expected. The scallop was plated on a green sauce that I absolutely loved--I could've licked the plate clean. I don't recall the exact market special, but I think it involved crab. The wagyu was, as expected, amazing. Chef even showed the certification of authenticity. The unagi was one of the best I've had. The bone marrow was served on toast. It was good but didn't stand out. The dessert was a rice-based ice cream that had subtle flavors and level of sweetness. It was just okay for me. I enjoyed the wasabi on top and think they should infuse it in the ice cream. read more

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Other than Saine being a beautiful human being and you can taste all the love and his sourcing of the finest ingredients for his bites . It's a highly informative and entertaining dinner . We have gone probably 4-5 times taking different guests with us . The ambiance has changed over the years outside (from bar hostel to Pershing east back to a mini golf spot) the bookshelf door but this inside has always been the same intimate vibe . Prepare a couple hours to enjoy drinks alongside your bites and be prepared to get to know your neighbors and saine ! So cute always read more

My friend and I celebrated our birthdays there last night, and it was one of my favorite birthday dinners to date! Every detail was immaculate and well thought out. Favorite dishes included Sea Bream, Tuna Belly and Bone Marrow. Highly recommend adding on the three additional dishes at the end. Those were all outstanding. From the custom happy birthday wood plaques with our names on them to singing happy birthday and all of the dishes in between, the team went above and beyond for it to be special. Thank you!! read more

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We love omakase and knew we had to try this speakeasy style spot as soon as we could get a reservation (this is definitely difficult to achieve)! First, the great things - the staff/chef. They're incredible and truly make the experience a little gathering of strangers-turned friends. They're great at engaging the 6 people who are gathered in conversation while presenting gorgeously assembled bites and sips. The chef is also a super swiftie having attended 13 of the global eras tour events who brings out his guitar at the end to do a little Taylor tribute - he even did my missed surprise song DBATC and I loved him for it! We chose to split the sake/cocktail pairing. We've never asked to do this (split the pours between two) and we were so glad they were able to accommodate. We aren't drinkers but love to do a pairing so splitting the pours was absolutely perfect. The pairings were incredible - highlights for me were the cocktails - the welcome cocktail (that's included with the meal) was perfection, the adult apple-tini was delicious, and the waygu fat washed old fashioned was sublime! I also really enjoyed the final dessert sake and dessert pairing! I kept going back bite and sip it was so good. The space/decor itself is meticulously curated and the little take home personalized coaster is fab. The line up and composition of bites was also fantastic. While some argue here with 4* because the bites are "basic" I found them to be classic selections of favored fish (expect an oyster, tuna, salmon, yellowtail, scallop- the sushi standards) meticulously assembled and dressed beautifully. We also said the dessert was our favorite omakase dessert to date. Absolutely fabulous and the additional melted Belgium chocolate on top chef's kiss. The ONLY meh moment for me was when we didn't get seated promptly at 6pm - we were the first of the 6 to arrive but we weren't that early. Of course austin traffic is terrible but if the invite says arrive by 6 or you'll miss the fun then plan accordingly. We didn't end up getting seated until after 6:15 so for people who make it a point to arrive early and given the warning that the fun will begin on time regardless, this was the only bummer of the evening. This is another great omakase spot in Austin and if you can get a reservation, definitely go! I purposefully never snap every plate for these experiences because you really have to be in the moment and just enjoy! read more

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One of the best meals I've ever had in my life. I'm a somewhat awkward nerd, went alone, and the "chat with the chef and fellow patrons" experience made me anxious but actually went by so smoothly. They host an incredibly enjoyable space. read more

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We've managed to eat here twice in the past few years and by no stretch of imagine was it easy to get reservations, was a concerted group effort both times that required luck as much as anything else. Starting out, it's not cheap, and if you include drinks, assume you're basically spending a solid amount of money on a single meal, no sugar coating that. For us, this is a very rare, super special occasion type meal since dropping a decent portion of a mortgage payment on a dinner for 2 or 3 is not in our typical financial playbook. Beyond that though, we're foodie people, we plan vacations around food even. I cannot overstate how impressed we've been with toshokan both times we've been there both in the food and the staff and overall experience. I won't exaggerate, the first time we went was the best meal we've ever had, full stop. The intimacy of the restaurant, quality of the food and care and preparation, and the staff, are honestly something rarely seen anywhere. Every single dish was like the best version of anything like it we'd ever had. It such an awesome experience and both times we've left more or less speechless. It really is that good. Pictures are from both of our visits, I'll just stop it here, toshokan speaks for itself and if it's within your ability to try it, it's worth it. read more

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Cute omakase hidden behind a bookshelf inside Holey Moley, the golf course! Love the bookshelf idea since toshokan means library in Japanese. I heard that it was hard to get a reservation here and was actually on the waitlist. Luckily, I was able to snag a reservation. I had high expectations since it was listed as a recommended restaurant by Michelin and I'm a huge fan of sushi! That being said, I have tried many sushi places before and expected to be blown away. They have six seatings right in front of the chef and assistant so it is a very intimate atmosphere. It started off well, I really like the crunchy tuna dish. However, all the dishes following didn't really wow me. They are definitely great dishes but I felt that I can easily buy these from an ordinary sushi restaurant. Service was great and the chef engaged us in conversations. It's cool how he is a Swiftie and has a map showing all the concerts he's been to. He also pulled out his guitar, sang a Taylor Swift song, and sang the birthday song for me, which was super nice! I do want to note that we noticed the assistant dropping things a few times, so there was a lack of detail. There is an opportunity to add more dishes before dessert, which we are not obligated to do, but we still had to wait for others to finish eating, which I felt was unnecessary. I was underwhelmed with the mint ice cream. On the plus side, the wooden coasters in front are super cute. They have our names engraved on them, and we can take them home! It was a good experience but I feel like creativity in the dishes was lacking. read more

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Meh. Toshokan is hidden behind a bookshelf inside Holey Moley, a golf course. I love the entrance that is hidden behind a bookshelf as toshokan in Japanese means library. The food is not bad, but there is nothing special. I don't think the price can be justified, for an omakase. Hospitality/service is great, however, the assistant dropped dishes a few times and it was a bit unprofessional. They gave us custom coasters with our names on them for us to take away. My favorite is the first dish. It was crunchy and fresh. The other 13 courses were ok. I was still hungry after the 14-course meal. The mint ice dessert was ok, you could probably get the ice cream from the grocery store. (I'm normally not a fan of mint). It was a good experience but probably wouldn't return. I think there are better omakases in Austin. read more

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I have been trying to get in here for years and it was definitely worth the wait and the price. A 6 person Omakase is such a fun intimate experience! And wow the food is definitely going to deliver. These were some of the best bites I've had. I loved being able to ask questions about all the things. And to top this all off, I had a delicious Sake cocktail made my Nadia and we had ice cream with chocolate "raclette style." Thank you Chef, Nadia and team for a fantastic anniversary dinner! read more

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Doesn't get better than this. This was my second time at Toshokan but first at the new location. The food is absolutely incredible for starters that I wish it was easier to get a reservation...I would splurge on this meal at least once a month. The fact he doesn't have a Michelin star is beyond me. C'Mon Michelin folks! I love how he walks through where your fish was sourced and why. I had the cocktail pairing this time. I rarely get cocktails because they are typically too sugary. I mentioned that to the mixologist and she crafted my cocktails as I wished! The 8 person intimate setting is like no other experience I've had. Ugh, I love this place. read more

Toshokan - Cocktail - Sushi Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

Saine Wong, is the Executive Chef and Owner. Originally hails from Los Angeles and moved here during the pandemic. He curates the meal by talking you the journey of the ingredients and menu. He has a map with pins that highlight where what places he's been and another color of where the evenings omakase ingredients are from. The restaurant accommodates six people for an intimate experience. There's a sake pairing and/or sake & cocktail pairing you can add one. Chef Wong, interacts with everyone and it really was a fun experience. So glad I FINALLY got reservations. When they release openings, act fast as they fill up quickly! P.S. Bring your wallet, because you'll need it. Oh, he's a BIG Taylor Swift fan and travels to see her. You just might see him pull out a guitar and sing a song for you or with you. read more

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Such a fantastic dining experience. In a post-Covid world where I have anxiety being in crowded places, this was the perfect, intimate dining experience to enjoy superb sushi and unwind after a hectic week at work. The service was incredible and the staff and chef really make you feel like you're having dinner with close friends. I loved the cocktail and sake pairings. The sushi itself was delicious and a great variety of fish and flavors. I've been waiting to get a reservation here for over a year, so happy to finally get that experience. Would definitely return again and again. read more

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Wow. What a great experience. I need to come back. I've eaten a lot of sushi in a lot of different cities and countries. I think toshokan is in my top three favorites in Austin. I'd say it's in my top ten out of all the places I've had omakase. Quality of ingredients is amazing. Everything about the space and experience feels intentional. It's small, 6 seats. There isn't anything extraneous or showy. It's just you, the chefs, the bartender, the food. If you don't like to meet new people or converse with other patrons, this is not the experience for you. It's so few people dining together, it's a really nice and friendly atmosphere between patrons and the chefs and bartender. I think if this was 8-12 seats, you could get away with not really taking part in conversation. But my dining experience included four people because two people didn't show (which is wild because these reservations are SO hard to get??) so it would've been difficult to not converse. Food is amazing, drinks are amazing. You learn about the food and where it's sourced, and the bartender is really knowledgeable about what she serves patrons. I'm definitely coming back! Parking is free in the sand/dirt lot in the back, if you can find a space. You arrive through the back, and wait by the bookcase to get checked in. You're welcome to explore the holey moley space if you arrive early. read more

Really amazing experience! We came here for my birthday for an omakase. I loved that it was kind of like a speakeasy vibe since the space is hidden behind a bookcase. The chef was extremely personable. I've been to a couple omakases in Austin and this felt the most welcoming. He spent a lot of time chatting with us in addition to telling us stories about where each food item came from and how he came up with some of the recipes. Everything was really delicious and fresh. Had a great time and we were lucky to snag a reservation. read more

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Nothing to complain about here! Another great omakase choice in Austin. Casual vibes, modern and fun twists, nice people, good food, you just can't go wrong! The only difficult part to swallow is how much you have to fight for a reservation, but Chef Saine really helped me secure mine after a cancellation while honoring everyone as fairly as possible. Can't extend my gratitude enough! This 6 seat omakase experience located behind a locked bookshelf in the Native Hostel hosts a globally inspired menu for a fancy dinner with a loved one. Leave the snooty attitude at home because the staff consists of a talkative and wisecracking professionals that encourage conversation. You're greeted with a small alcoholic sipper before being escorted to your seat with a coaster you can keep. Without spoiling any surprises, you can expect every bite to be great with my favorite being the chutoro. As most do, you can choose to have a wine or sake pairing (or just order cocktails a la carte as I do) or extend the meal with some off menu options as well. Great drinks, great food, great fun (might just repeat that again and again). Getting a whole package with pairings, more food, your reservation, and tip can run you over $600 for two people, but this can be cut in about half for the standard omakase experience. Although this place is open only a few days out of the week, I suggest trying their omakase at least once if you're an omakase junkie like me! Beats at least half of the ones in Austin so far, and I can see myself coming here again (but maybe for a special celebration since we can't lie that it's on the pricier side of most here). read more

Toshokan - Sushi Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Phenomenal Omakase experience.....especially this being my first time trying Omakase. Each course was a work of art, beautifully put together, showcasing fresh, top-notch ingredients. Chef Saine Wong and his staff were very attentive and such a pleasure to be around. I will admit this omakase experience was more than I wanted to pay, but I'm so glad I did it. I would love to come back for a second time! read more

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I almost don't want to go into a lot of details here and ruin any surprises. Just know this, it's amazing. Hands down one of the best experiences you'll have in Austin food wise. The attention to detail, hospitality, and food will leave you wanting to come back within a week to enjoy again. The Chef/Owner is incredible, and the staff pairs perfectly together with him working the room of just six people eating at a time. I'm also missing about 8 more photos of other dishes, tried to just enjoy the event. About a 14+ or so Omakase Bring your Amex card and have fun! (That is....If you're lucky enough to snag a reservation!) That damn scallop dish! Sweet Baby Jesus. read more

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Toshokan is a relatively new Omakase experience in Austin, just opened its doors in March 2022. Their reservations are highly sought after- typically fully booked within seconds of dropping. They have been nice enough to drop reservations at different times of the day, for the following month. Best to follow their Instagram account for announcements on reservation drops. It's easy also easy to transfer reservations (just send them a message in IG). This is a 14-course experience ($125) with an optional $85 sake pairing (6 drinks). You may also order drinks by the bottle or glass. Toshokan is located inside Native Bar/Cafe, and you are welcomed with a complimentary cocktail in the waiting area, while waiting for others (each experience has 6 seats), before moving past the 'bookshelf' that opens up into the restaurant. At your seat, you'll find a customized coaster engraved with your name, which you get to keep. Chef Saine Wong crafted his courses beautifully and obviously with utmost passion. He tells the story of how his business was started (he was previously at Sushi | Bar) and talks enthusiastically about Toshokan as his dream. He is very attentive and deliberate with his ingredients- he does not take shortcuts and crafts his courses in the very exact way he intends the audience to taste them. He is also passionate about the experience, limiting to 6 people for an intimate setting and encourages interaction between different parties to enhance the experience. The experience ended with a surprise performance by Chef Wong, who not only an amazing sushi chef, but also a talented musician who sings/plays the guitar! The best ending to a delicious meal. read more

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Omakase? Yes! Speakeasy? Yes! Incredible food married to Vibey music situated in dark, neat interiors. There's personal touch to everything here and much thought and care has gone into the planning. I'd ruin it if I get into the details but to sum it up, every bite of food will wow you and it is worth every penny. Apart from the immaculate presentation of food and the high experienced passionate people behind this - the have great sake list & pairing options and get creative if you have a specific cocktail in mind working with the bar at native. Reservations are hard to get, understandably, so grab one if it's ever available, this gem tucked away in native hostel is a must experience for every sushi lover! Ps : there was a sushi first timer in my seating and they were blown away! Even if your dates last choice is sushi (ermmm I mean, who doesn't like sushi? Haha) they'd love it here! Promise! read more

Toshokan - Sushi Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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A sushi speak easy. Sometimes things sound too good to be true at times, but not many times do those good things often turn out to be true. For the case of Toshokan this absolutely nailed every aspect promised. From the initial opening of the bookcase, to the friendly imitate vibe of the dinner, all these come together to make for a master piece of an experience. Atmosphere: Being located behind a "bookcase" of course nails the vibe of secrecy and intimacy. From initial steps you already know you're in for a different and unique experience that just simply cannot be replicated elsewhere exactly. This honestly though maybe the highlight for me as it really setup this place where strangers can meet in a friendly manner and be able to share an experience together that all can enjoy. Be prepared to possibly make new friends. Food: Chef Wong is really dedicated to his craft, from presentation, setup, and then finally delivery all of these steps in his process he nails and gladly takes you along the journey. Of course this comes along omakase style so dishes will vary upon each visit, but I have a good feeling that no matter what courses are served, they will all be delicious and you will leave generally full. Get those cameras ready, these are going to be share worthy. Service: With all the above included, of course service would as well be just as outstanding. Chef Wong and his staff really make you feel like home and will try to include you in the conversation and/or be happy to talk with you as well. Cliche as it sounds it really does help to make one feel apart of the experience. Bonus points is that they give you your own coaster with your name on it, so when they call you out by name it's as if you are being visited someone whom is already invested into you and would like to hear from you as well. One of the few experiences I can say that as pricey as it was, it was worth it for all the experiences above working together, and also one of the few that'd I without hesitation would come back to given the chance. Thank you Chef Wong and staff for this amazing opportunity, and looking forward to more themed events in the future. read more

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Located within the Native, discretely hidden behind a bookshelf, the appropriately named Toshokan ("Library" in Japanese) is a beautiful new addition to Austin's blossoming omakase culture. Chef Saine Wong, who previously had been at Sushi|Bar, masterfully helms the ship here with seamless help with sake pairings and service from two amazing women. There is no ego here evidenced by Chef even coming by to refill water glasses. Reservations are made online in advance and open up on the first of each month for the following month. There are two seatings (6:00pm and 8:30pm) from Wed-Sat. I recommend getting the 8:30 seating so you can feel less rushed because there is no seating after. Before the meal, we were greeted by Yaya who offered us a welcome drink and guided us to the bookshelf. Upon entry, we feasted our eyes on a stunning live edge table for the omakase counter seating that accommodated 8 guests (the website says 6 seats but our seating had 8, which may be a new change or a special case for our seating). Our table settings were personalized with a hexagonal wooden coaster with our names burned into them - a welcome practical souvenir to take home to both use and remember the meal. This 14-course tasting costs $125 per person with an optional sake pairing of $75 per person but we opted to buy a bottle of one of the more affordable sake options ($48) that was delicious and paired well throughout the meal. After the meal, Chef offered additional bites to those that wanted to continue the journey. We weren't ready for it to end, so we happily agreed to the Foie Gras and Escolar. And to finish, we had a beautiful S'mores-like dessert topped with a table side raclette treatment melting a huge block of chocolate over ice cream and graham crackers. Toshokan is not a traditional omakase like Otoko or Tsuke Edomae but it doesn't overly deviate from traditional flavors or experiences like some bites of Sushi|Bar did. Even with Toshokan's use of Peruvian salsa verde, Chinese chili crisp, key lime and Thai chili, I still felt like the fish was always at the center and every ingredient served to bring out the flavor of the fish. My favorite bite of the meal was the Hamachi that was topped with key lime and Thai chili. It had the most well-rounded flavor progression, starting with the bright key lime and finishing with the sharp spice of the Thai chili. Other standouts were the Madai with the powdered miso, the double smoked Unagi, the Short Rib atop a potato pave, and the optional Foie Gras is not to be skipped. There really was no bad bite, and the experience overall was so lovely. All the staff had good rapport and the vibe was light and fun and everyone was easy to talk to. I love omakase, and it's one of the few things I enjoy coming back to every season to experience menu changes. Toshokan is a solid addition here in Austin and might actually be my new go-to (if I can still snag a reservation). read more

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Amazing experience. 10/10 sushi and the chef is really friendly. The drinks are amazing and overall it's a wonderful experience. Only thing I don't recommend is doing the optional add on dishes at the end - it was meant to be $300 for 14 plates each which is fair for 2 of us with the flat rate. But it somehow ended up a $700 with one of us getting the 4 additional plates and the other getting 2 additional. That's the only reason for it being 4 instead of 5 stars. Besides that huge jump not making sense to me I'd definitely recommend this place for a date night! read more

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I have had the pleasure of enjoying every omakase experience that ATX has to offer and I was thrilled to finally be able to add Toshokan to my list. While there are not too many differences between your omakase experience's, what stands out the most at Toshokan is the fact that it is a hidden speakeasy with incredible music, the personalized coasters are a great keepsake and I loved the fact that Chef Saine has a map with pinpoints to not only show you the countries where he has traveled, but also highlights where your meal for the evening has come from! Previous reviews have mentioned how hard it is to secure a reservation and I can concur. Reservations are released on the 1st for the following month and while they are typically released at the 10:00am standard time associated with Tok, sometimes the release time changes and for that reason, it is best to check and or follow them on IG. I do suggest setting your alarm as the minute reservations are released, they are sold out within seconds! It was a wonderful experience and we will definitely be back! read more

Delightful! This was my favorite omakase experience ever. The food was great, but the service is what made it exceptional. Chef Saine is so charismatic and you can tell he loves what he does. This was worth the wait for the reservation. I'm so happy we were able to go! read more

More than anything, what deserves the 5 stars at this restaurant is the ambience! Not only is it hidden behind a bookshelf with a true speakeasy experience and a welcome cocktail while you wait to be let in, but also the staff are super friendly, the music is bumpin, and if at least 5/6 people order the sake pairings, the chef will do a singalong at the end of the night on his guitar. Where else do you find that kind of experience? It felt like being invited to an exclusive house party! Sushi wise, Chef Saine definitely does his own twists on a traditional omakase, such as including a steak and egg inspired nigiri and foie gras nigiri. If you're a sushi purist, you should consider Tsuke Edomae's omakase instead, but if your focus is to experience new flavor combinations you haven't had in sushi, this is an excellent experience. For an entry point of $135 per person it's one of the more affordable omakase dinners in town. That being said, with the $85 sake pairing, and other add-ons at the end of the night you can easily take that to $300 per person if you're not careful. If you manage to snag a reservation to this place, you can be sure you'll have a fun time! read more

AMAZING EXPERIENCE! The ambiance was great. It was lively and filled with so much revelry for only having 6 guests at a time. Each course was meticulously done and was delicious. Chef Saine, Nadia, and Ian were attentive and a joy to be around. They catered to our allergies and dislikes very well. The price is as much as any omakase around Austin. Recommend going in pairs. Honestly, I can't wait to go again! read more

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I had been unlucky snagging rezzys here since they first opened and I was tired of losing sleep on the midnight drop. They switched the times to the morning so I figured I would try again and I finally got lucky and snagged some! We went back in August at their new Perish location. The whole experience exceeded my expectations. I was a little worried about parking upon arrival after reading some negative reviews about Pershing if you are not a member, but thankfully the gate guard was very polite, and it's gated parking so your vehicle is safe. Once you are seated with the others in the lobby, the amazing bartender does a meet and greet game with everyone along with your first alcohol sampler that was very unique and tasty. Once you are seated at the bar for dinner, you get a custom coaster with your name on it that's a keepsake, a nice little touch. The chef has a map of where he sources his food which is really neat to see as well. Every bite was unique and delicious, there wasn't a single bite I did not enjoy. I did not do the alcohol pairings and I am so glad I opted out for that because the old fashions were mind-blowing. It was made with Japanese whiskey and A5 wagyu rendered fat that was just dreamy. Pairing that with the A5 Wagyu sushi bite was a match made in heaven. The bone marrow was also one of the best I have had in this city. I had more reservations a couple of weeks ago and gave them to a buddy of mine, who sat next to an F1 driver. You never know if someone famous might be in your group! In the end, the chef played 6 or so songs that we all drunkenly sang along with him too, the cherry on top of a perfect night. Can't wait to come back! read more

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Loved the speakeasy experience. The sushi pieces were great but not perfect. There was a little too much rice for each piece and the flavor was slightly off. read more

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One of the newest of several exclusive omakase experiences in Austin, Toshokan is unique in its "speakeasy" concept--which is hidden behind a bookcase within Native. When we first arrived, we were greeted by Yaya, who gave us a complimentary sake cocktail and explained the dining experience to us outside the establishment inside of Native. When the bookcase was finally opened, we were greeted by Chef Saine, who further explained the details of the night. I opted for the sake pairings, whereby specially selected sakes were served alongside certain dishes throughout the night. The sake pairing is an additional charge, but if you are into sake, I would recommend it for this experience. The interior of the establishment was quite interesting and had a very unique vibe to it the did add to the experience. I find that these intimate omakase experiences are highly dependent on the personality of the sushi chef, and Chef Saine was thoroughly entertaining the entire time--discussing his travels all over the world, his earlier life in LA, and what ultimately inspired him to pursue sushi. Without going dish by dish, the experience lived up to what you'd expect from an exclusive omakase dinner. In general, this place deviates from the more traditional styles of sushi and has more a modern fusion take on omakase (admittedly, I still tend to prefer the stricter, more traditional omakase, like at Tsuke Edomae). However, its departure from the more traditional style is not a bad thing, since many of the more "fusion" dishes were fantastic, particularly the foie gras nigiri and the scallops served in a delicious South American verde sauce. It's well known that this is one of the more competitive sushi experiences to get a reservation for in Austin and it is well worth it! read more

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I am so grateful to have had a chance to dine at Toshokan ("library" in Japanese), one of the hardest reservations to score in Austin. I love the speakeasy feel, an intimate 6-seat sushi counter hidden behind a bookshelf. We were first greeted next to the Native Hostel bar by Wyn, the beverage director. Among the diners, we did a few ice breakers to get to know each other a little. Definitely sets the mood for the night, especially given there are only 6 of us! She then led us to the bookshelf, where we were greeted by Chef Saine and welcomed into the omakase room. The 14-course omakase was everything I wanted and more! We started with the signature maguro atop crispy thin potato, as featured on the cover of Austin's Tribeza magazine. Closely followed a few courses later by the juicy, soft otoro... that melt-in-your-mouth feeling (iykyk)! Chef Saine adds some unique twists of his own to his sushi, too! Loved the spicy marg-inspired hamachi - reminds me of the hamachi-chili/serrano pepper/ponzu combo that many sushi places do as a sashimi course, but this one had bolder citrusy notes on it. I also liked the Kona kanpachi with chili oil, with that added sweet-spicy kick! If I had to choose a favorite of the menu, it would be the Hokkaido hotate with Peruvian-inspired salsa verde and chili oil. I haven't visited Peru (yet... it's on my list!), but this makes me hella excited. I've never had such a combination with the scallop before, but it works so well! That, followed by the "steak and eggs" A5 wagyu... It's not fair at that point - game over! I added on 3 extra courses as chef's choice, which turned out to be Hokkaido uni, escolar, and foie gras... MY GOODNESS. They just knew the way to my heart! Honestly, I have no words to describe how happy I was during my dining experience. I had the sake pairing - which, to be honest, I struggled a bit to finish due to my low tolerance... But I highly recommend it if you're a sake fan! Wyn has quite the palate for pairing the sake to the sushi courses! I loved watching the chef work seamlessly with his sous chef, Hunter, to slice the fish and place the finishing touches before delicately placing each piece in front of each diner. He makes it seem easy, carrying light convos with each diner and creating a lively atmosphere while delivering excellent quality. Thank you so much, Toshokan team, for such an incredible night! 100% worth the hype and beyond! read more

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The Good: :: it's a local business! :: it's got this great speakeasy-style vibe to it without being pretentious :: intimate experience--there is limited seating (6 diners at a time only) but it feels cozy and accessible, and conversation flows quite easily among the diners and the staff :: the 14-course omikase experience is to die for. every single thing you eat is a delight on the palette. i've had the fortune of dining there a couple of times already, and they have not disappointed either time. every bite is balanced, allowing the highlight (whether fish or beef or something else) of the serving to really stand out in a pronounced way, accentuated by the few selective flavors they use to bring a burst of flavor in every course served :: they give you personalized name coasters, and there was even a hilarious customized coaster with "waitlist wednesday" on ours one time when we got in as part of a waitlist! love the personalized touch :: they do substitutions when necessary (e.g., you don't eat beef, they will use something else that you do eat) :: the alcohol pairings are fantastic--i always choose the sake path but they have other alcoholic beverages available as well :: the service is great--friendly, easygoing, honest, and will help you optimize based on your preferences The Bad: :: it's extremely hard to get reservations--however, you can try your luck at getting on the waitlist The Ugly: :: none Would I go back? Absolutely YES. If I can get a seat, you will find me and my big belly and gigantic rump ready to feast. Chef Saine is awesome and I'm looking forward to the next time I can snag a spot to dine there and see what he cooks up to serve his guests. This place is IN. read more

6/5 best dining experience of our life. Intimate and close event. Great, amazing, bartender and chefs. Well educated on the cultural background of the food they are preparing, and beautiful presentation. It is expensive, so please expect $135+ per person minimum, and can exceed $400+ quickly with two people and tip!!! Totally worth the money if you're willing to spend it. It's a nice anniversary, birthday, or even single person dining experience. I would do it once every few months due to budget haha, but that's cause I don't make big bucks! Really nice people who engage in conversation so don't feel uncomfy on a solo date. Add yourself onto the waitlist and keep an eye on your email! That's the way I got in. read more

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All I'll say here is Toshokan is ABSOLUTELY worth the hype! I'm not entirely clear why Austin has spurred the creation of multiple highly specialized omakase eateries the past few years, but I've dined at most of them, and Toshokan is hands-down the best. If you're already familiar with Austin, you might be surprised that the restaurant is housed at the Native Hostel, which was forced to axe its accommodations business due to the pandemic (but which has pivoted to leasing its former sleeping spaces to local businesses). By design this insures zero crowds and complete focus on the cuisine (and beverages - probably stating the obvious that they have a stellar sake menu). A few pro tips: first, they open reservations for the *subsequent* month on the 1st - meaning they opened their May reservations on April 1st - and they do so at exactly 10am CST. I'd strongly suggest signing up for Tock (their online booking service, also used by plenty of other eateries) beforehand so you can quickly book: all you do is sign in, pick a time, & check out - problem being you might have a couple thousand other people trying to do the same thing at the same time. Also, assuming you don't mind dining solo, you can always try to snag a spot on their wait list; I've successfully done so several times. (You can put yourself down for two or more seats, but you're much less likely to snag a seat.) read more

It's a bit of a hassle to get a reservation but when you do, it's totally worth it! It's also overall, one of the more affordable Omakase experiences given that it's seats only 6 and the sake pairing is also fairly prized to where you'll spend only a little over $200 for the course and pairing or just $125 for the 14 course Omakase. The secret entry with the book shelf is a nice touch, the chef and the host are fun and personable and the fish is delicious. Tbh though, the courses are a bit more traditional and there isn't a significant flair with the presentation so you might not be impressed if you've had other Omakase experiences. If it's your first time, this is 100% the place to start because it gives you a solid baseline to compare all subsequent experiences. read more

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My friend made a reservation and invited me to join. I had no idea it was a private omakase experience until we arrived and was blown away. The vibe of the chef, staff, and our dinner mates was so welcoming and the intimate space was perfect. The food was incredible. Every bite made my mouth tingle with delight and the sake pairings were on point. We added several a la carte items after the 14 courses and might have overeaten, but it was worth it. One of the most memorable meal experiences in Austin! I will be back :) read more

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Dining at Toshokan is an experience. I came here solo for my 33rd bday. Each plate is intentional, engaging, & delicious. The intimate setting creates conversation between strangers, and connection through the love of sushi. Chef Saine crafted a deliberate dining experience that, for the 2 hours you're there, forces you to be present and forget anything outside of that restaurant exists. Totally worth it. 100% recommend read more

Toshokan - 14 course omakase and sake pairing - Sushi Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas