Japanese Restaurants in Austin

Once upon a time, there were not many Japanese restaurants in Austin. Fortunately times change. As a city with a major university, numerous tech companies and a wonderful quality of life, Austin continues to grow a restaurant scene to accommodate its diverse population. If you are looking for an excellent Japanese restaurant in Austin, there are many to choose from. Whether looking for an affordable lunch, a quick fix or a fine dining experience, diners have much to enjoy.

Uchi

801 S Lamar Blvd
Phone: (512) 916-4808
http://www.uchiaustin.com/

Recently chef Tyson Cole competed in Iron Chef America against one of his inspirations, Morimoto. While Cole the battle, Austin wins with his wonderful Japanese restaurant Uchi. Combining a variety of citrus flavors and Texas ingredients with his superb knife work, Cole produces some of the most exciting and flavorful sashimi and sushi in town. Uchi also offers entrees that play with traditional flavors, and has tempura and yakitori offerings. A daily menu is posted by 5pm on the website and takes advantage of seasonal fare. Uchi also employs one of the best pastry chefs in town, Phillip Speer. The cracked black pepper sorbet is amazing. The restaurant is located in a converted home off South Lamar, with a modern, hip atmosphere. parking can be tricky, and waits for tables can run long due to the immense popularity of Uchi. The prices are higher than many other place in town. But the quality and presentation of the dishes makes it worth every penny. But as far as Japanese restaurants in Austin go, Uchi is one of the most innovative.

Zen

(Multiple locations around town)
2900 West Anderson Ln, Suite 250
Phone: 512-451-4811

1303 South Congress
Phone: 512-444-8081

3423 Guadalupe
Phone: 512-300-2633

5207 Brodie Lane
Phone: 512-899-2222

Austinville Center at Anderson Mill & 183 (Coming late 2008)
http://www.eatzen.com/

On the other end of the spectrum of Japanese restaurants in Austin is Zen. Zen promises "fast" but healthy and delicious Japanese food, a promise it frequently delivers. With the speed of a chain burger house and the funky, spare atmosphere of a quirky Japanese place, Zen brings out great food. They offer a wide selection of items, all of which can be served over white rice, brown rice or their super delicioussoba noodles. The spicy shrimp with scallions has incredible zing, and the hibachi bowl is full of stir fried fresh vegetables. There are also numerous prepared items like sushi rolls, gyoza, lunch time bento boxes and their delicious ahi tuna appetizer. The tuna is barely seared with a spicy pepper crust and served with a refreshing watercress wasabi. There are also plenty of vegetables and tofu to suit vegetarians, and extra vegetables can be added to anything. Best of all, it won't cost any more than a combo from the burger house.

Osaka Restaurant

13492 Research Blvd. Suite 160
Phone: (512) 918-8012

Osaka is another excellent Japanese restaurant in Austin that won't empty the wallet in one sitting. It is a popular lunch spot, and sometimes service can slow down with the crowd. It is worth the wait however. Osaka is one of the older Japanese restaurants in Austin, and offers an excellent variety of sushi rolls and sashimi . They serve a Texas roll stuffed with tempura shrimp and jalapenos that is spicy and enjoyable. The menu is colorful and full of pictures for those with little sushi familiarity. At Osaka, it is easy to sample a wide variety of sushi and sashimi at affordable prices. The wait staff is helpful and friendly. Longtime residents of Northwest Austin keep returning to Osaka which is a testament to its quality.

Sushi Sake

9503 Research Blvd
Phone: (512) 527-0888

Back in the Dot Com Boom, Sushi Sake was the Japanese restaurant in Austin if you had a tech job or spent much time in Northwest Austin. it has a sleek interior with wood accents cut in geometric shapes and angles and atmospheric lighting. While the crowds are not nearly so difficult to navigate, it is still a popular place to dine. The Spicy Carlos is one of the most popular rolls, with an addictive and tangling sauce. Sushi Sake doesn't have quite the same level of food that several other Japanese restaurants in Austin have. While many of the rolls are excellent, other menu items don't have the same flavor and quality. Sushi Sake does serve very tasty ramen. Be warned that service can be hit or miss, especially when the restaurant is busy.

Musashino Restaurant

3407 Greystone Dr
Phone: (512) 795-8593
http://www.musashinosushi.com/

Before there was Uchi, there was Mushashino. It remains one of the top Japanese restaurants in Austin, for it's beautiful presentation, atmosphere and food. Mushashino offers cooked and raw sushi items, as well as a few standard surf and turf entrees. There's a large selection of rolls, ranging from the traditional to the Marilyn Mon-roll and the Evil Knevil. They pack a lot of flavor into small bites. Presentation is pretty and fairly simple. Musashino is located on the ground floor of the long time Austin favorite Chinatown. It can feel a bit claustrophobic when crowded, but service is consistently good. The desserts are sadly forgettable. Diners are better off wandering upstairs to enjoy a drink at the classy, modern bar in Chinatown.

Midori Sushi

13435 US Hwy 183 Suite 301
(512) 257-1411
http://www.midorisushiaustin.com/index.html

Midori is a relative newcomer to town, but promises to be a great addition to the Japanese restaurants in Austin. Hidden away deceptively in a strip mall far North, the interior is lush without being overwhelming. The cool colors and high walled booths are soothing at lunch and dinner. The tinted glass at the front of the restaurant reduces glare and contributes to the ambient lighting. Midori's menu has many rolls not found at other Japanese restaurants in Austin. one of the tastiest and most unique is the Mango Fandango which combines sweet mango with smoked salmon, avocado and cream cheese. The Austin roll, full of shrimp tempura, is served with seaweed salad on top and acknowledges the city's "green" atmosphere. There is also a wide selection of sashimi and more traditional rolls. Weekdays, Midori has some of the best lunches in town.