Kinda no words - the food is mind blowing and such incredible cocktails too. Hard to get in, so plan ahead for sure!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Megg Dunlap
Incredible omakase experience worth the splurge. It’s an incredibly thoughtful and well paced experience, from the second you walk through the courtyard you know it’s going to be special. The service was top tier. We did the wine pairing and it ever glass was new and unexpected. I don’t even know how to put into words how incredible the food is. Every bite more exciting than the next. The quality of fish they source is unmatched in Austin. Highly recommend the splurge for your next special occasion!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Colin Pear
Disgusting! I will never eat here. In July 2025 they put lab grown salmon meat on their menu. Texas just put a ban on it. Look up imortal cellular lines. These are cancer tissue cells. This is so disgusting. I am nausiated as I write this post.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
John Johnstonbaugh
OTOKO delivers an intimate, masterfully executed omakase experience that stands out among Austin’s finest dining offerings. Tucked away in the South Congress Hotel, this Japanese gem showcases dedication to seasonality and precision. From the delicate opening courses to the perfectly executed sushi and sashimi, each dish arrived as a small work of art. Whether you are celebrating a special occasion or simply appreciate elevated Japanese cuisine, OTOKO is absolutely worth the visit!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Benjamin Modleski
Everything exceeded our expectations. We loved this restaurant and it's perfect for special occasions. If you're looking for a meal that's a true experience, you've come to the right spot! Additionally, don't miss out on the bar area beforehand. It's also 5 star!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amit Nandi
Phenomenal experience! The attention to detail by the entire staff was off the charts. Each course was meticulously created and made for an amazing experience. Could not recommend enough!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Teresa D
The absolute best hidden gem! We stopped in just for one drink and ended up staying for far longer. Josh and Xteve are not just amazing mixologists (the drinks are SO good), but they created the absolute best experience. We felt like we found a home there. 10/10 recommend and will be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kishan Ramachandran
some of the courses were quite good but some missed the mark. sushi was good but some of the other courses were too salty or were bitter, i didnt finish a few of them. not terrible but i wont be coming back at this price
From the outside, this restaurant is not easy to find, but once you step through the door, it feels like entering a completely different world. The ambiance is intimate, refined, and immediately sets the tone for a special dining experience.
We chose the 22-course omakase menu to celebrate our anniversary, and it was nothing short of phenomenal. Every course was carefully crafted with precision, balance, and creativity. The flavors flowed seamlessly from one dish to the next, creating a journey rather than just a meal.
The service was equally impressive. Our server was professional, highly knowledgeable, and patiently explained each wine pairing alongside the food. Their expertise elevated the experience, allowing us to appreciate the subtle connections between flavors and textures even more.
This is not just a dinner—it is a carefully curated experience that combines artistry, hospitality, and culinary mastery. For anyone looking to celebrate a special occasion or simply indulge in something extraordinary, this omakase restaurant is truly an exceptional choice.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cathy
Unique omakase worth a try just for the creative dishes. Amazing drinks. Beautiful presentation. Really nice ceramics/tableware, if you’re into unique kitchen pieces.
Food was on the saltier side. Sea salt was added to practically every dish, and it was a bit overpowering sometimes. The Wildtype salmon was superbly smooth with a milder taste than regular salmon—unlike any salmon I’ve ever had.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Yutong Wu
Unfortunately, I was disappointed with my dining experience at OTOKO and did not feel that the $250/pp kaiseki omakase was worth the price.
Several dishes were overly salty, and overall, the flavors and presentation were not particularly impressive for the cost. The pacing also felt rushed. All savory courses were served within about 70 minutes of seating, which diminished the experience. They also do a timed cyclic seating every half hour, which disturbs the flow of the meal.
Additionally, I was surprised to be served lab-grown salmon as I expected the ingredients to be natural and fresh. Its unnaturally bright color and squishy texture were off-putting.
We came here for our anniversary and it definitely did not feel like a celebration. Food is also disappointing so I do NOT recommend this place.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 2
Wayne Barkus
This is a review for Watertrade-which was an absolute vibe. Dim lit, leather couch. Amazing staff to explain the plethora of cocktail options. Our summer samurai was amazing and we will definitely return with a larger group.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sasha Hennessy
Absolutely incredible! We’ve experienced many omakases in LA, New York, and Japan, but this one truly stood out. The balance of nigiri and kaiseki dishes was exceptional. We were celebrating our anniversary, and the team went above and beyond with their attention to detail - we felt so special and cared for. We’ll definitely be coming back!
Come for the sushi. Stay for the shovel spoons
Sushi omakase was good the other non sushi was ok
Kinda no words - the food is mind blowing and such incredible cocktails too. Hard to get in, so plan ahead for sure!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Incredible omakase experience worth the splurge. It’s an incredibly thoughtful and well paced experience, from the second you walk through the courtyard you know it’s going to be special. The service was top tier. We did the wine pairing and it ever glass was new and unexpected. I don’t even know how to put into words how incredible the food is. Every bite more exciting than the next. The quality of fish they source is unmatched in Austin. Highly recommend the splurge for your next special occasion!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Disgusting! I will never eat here. In July 2025 they put lab grown salmon meat on their menu. Texas just put a ban on it. Look up imortal cellular lines. These are cancer tissue cells. This is so disgusting. I am nausiated as I write this post.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
OTOKO delivers an intimate, masterfully executed omakase experience that stands out among Austin’s finest dining offerings. Tucked away in the South Congress Hotel, this Japanese gem showcases dedication to seasonality and precision.
From the delicate opening courses to the perfectly executed sushi and sashimi, each dish arrived as a small work of art. Whether you are celebrating a special occasion or simply appreciate elevated Japanese cuisine, OTOKO is absolutely worth the visit!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Everything exceeded our expectations. We loved this restaurant and it's perfect for special occasions. If you're looking for a meal that's a true experience, you've come to the right spot! Additionally, don't miss out on the bar area beforehand. It's also 5 star!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Phenomenal experience! The attention to detail by the entire staff was off the charts. Each course was meticulously created and made for an amazing experience. Could not recommend enough!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The absolute best hidden gem! We stopped in just for one drink and ended up staying for far longer. Josh and Xteve are not just amazing mixologists (the drinks are SO good), but they created the absolute best experience. We felt like we found a home there. 10/10 recommend and will be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
some of the courses were quite good but some missed the mark. sushi was good but some of the other courses were too salty or were bitter, i didnt finish a few of them. not terrible but i wont be coming back at this price
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 4
Restaurantji Recommends
From the outside, this restaurant is not easy to find, but once you step through the door, it feels like entering a completely different world. The ambiance is intimate, refined, and immediately sets the tone for a special dining experience.
We chose the 22-course omakase menu to celebrate our anniversary, and it was nothing short of phenomenal. Every course was carefully crafted with precision, balance, and creativity. The flavors flowed seamlessly from one dish to the next, creating a journey rather than just a meal.
The service was equally impressive. Our server was professional, highly knowledgeable, and patiently explained each wine pairing alongside the food. Their expertise elevated the experience, allowing us to appreciate the subtle connections between flavors and textures even more.
This is not just a dinner—it is a carefully curated experience that combines artistry, hospitality, and culinary mastery. For anyone looking to celebrate a special occasion or simply indulge in something extraordinary, this omakase restaurant is truly an exceptional choice.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Unique omakase worth a try just for the creative dishes. Amazing drinks. Beautiful presentation. Really nice ceramics/tableware, if you’re into unique kitchen pieces.
Food was on the saltier side. Sea salt was added to practically every dish, and it was a bit overpowering sometimes. The Wildtype salmon was superbly smooth with a milder taste than regular salmon—unlike any salmon I’ve ever had.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Unfortunately, I was disappointed with my dining experience at OTOKO and did not feel that the $250/pp kaiseki omakase was worth the price.
Several dishes were overly salty, and overall, the flavors and presentation were not particularly impressive for the cost. The pacing also felt rushed. All savory courses were served within about 70 minutes of seating, which diminished the experience. They also do a timed cyclic seating every half hour, which disturbs the flow of the meal.
Additionally, I was surprised to be served lab-grown salmon as I expected the ingredients to be natural and fresh. Its unnaturally bright color and squishy texture were off-putting.
We came here for our anniversary and it definitely did not feel like a celebration. Food is also disappointing so I do NOT recommend this place.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 2
This is a review for Watertrade-which was an absolute vibe. Dim lit, leather couch. Amazing staff to explain the plethora of cocktail options. Our summer samurai was amazing and we will definitely return with a larger group.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Absolutely incredible! We’ve experienced many omakases in LA, New York, and Japan, but this one truly stood out. The balance of nigiri and kaiseki dishes was exceptional. We were celebrating our anniversary, and the team went above and beyond with their attention to detail - we felt so special and cared for. We’ll definitely be coming back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Loading...