Otoko

One of the best omakase spots in Austin, paired with some of the best cocktails and inventory of Japanese whisky at Watertrade (WT), makes this spot one of my favorite places in the city. My partner took me here for my birthday last year, so this is a late post, but one of my favorite ones! ----Review SummaryPros:- Speakeasy-like bar (WT)- Separated spaces (WT/Otoko)- Full bar and incredible inventory- Fresh sushi - Validated parking (hotel)Side Notes:- Make reservations in advance- Closed Sun/Mon- 12 seater omakase What We Got:- 20 course omakase- Sake and wine pairing----Detail ReviewDesign/Space: You walk upstairs from the SoCo Hotel's ground level and get to the entrance to Otoko/Watertrade. Once you enter the space, you are greeted by a speakeasy-like Japanese bar (WT) with every Japanese whisky you can think of, and Otoko is hidden away to keep both spaces separated but connected. When you walk into Otoko, it's bright enough, and the space has items from Japan that make you feel you are in a modern timewarp of something from back in the day, yet in a modern 12-seater space. Food/Drinks: They should have received a Michelin star at this location for what they offer the city. It ranks high against the other Michelin spots I've visited from SF to NYC. Drinks: Japanese-based old-fashioned cocktails are one of my faves, so we started with a Goma Fashioned and a Nine-Tailed Fox, both incredible. We then waited for the omakase to start and had the wine and sake pairing. Pace yourself because we got LIT, haha. There were pairings we never saw before, and I don't know if it was because we were getting tipsy, but everything felt balanced with the sweet to savory. Food: The fish wasn't overly sized as some spots in Austin, and the rice was perfect. Fresh sushi flew in, from the uni from Hokkaido to the tuna selections; every bite was delicious. I wish I remembered which was which, but I put my phone down after a moment to relish the moment. The presentation of each dish is gorgeous as well! Staff: Knowledgeable and friendly. I love that they knew different whisky histories, from Japan to where the fish was flown in. Engaging in the science of what they do so well perfectly enhanced the overall experience. Opportunities To Improve: There is not much to improve here, but they could use glassware for OF drinks at Watertrade that feels more "elevated," such as Crate & Barrels Double OF Natala (it feels fancier, haha). ----Overall SummaryWatertrade is one of the best spots in Austin. If you haven't been, go. If you need a place for incredible cocktails, reserve it. However, if you can experience the omakase and Watertrade at once, do that, too. It was one of the most memorable experiences we've had to date, and we will be back again in 2025!

Otoko was ROBBED of a star - plain and simple. Chef Yoshi and his amazing team deliver each and every time (we have been 5 times since moving to Austin 3 years ago).Otoko was our first Austin omakase experience and it remains our favorite (and yes, we've done all the others). The staff always create art and the setting itself showcases their profound talent while maintaining an intimate and thoughtful experience.Start the evening in the cozy bar area and be delighted by the speciality cocktails being shaken up by the amazing mixologists and then enjoy being whisked away into Yoshi and team's world.Our omakase last night brought back the fun little fried soft shell crab (this was on the menu the first time we enjoyed Otoko and it's truly a delight visually and taste wise).Then, the team presents meticulously curated sushi bites - each one delightful. My favorites were dressed with Meyer lemon zest, the fatty tuna, and the waygu.Halfway through, the bites become much more substantial and I personally wonder each time if I'm going to be able to eat the whole menu. The staff dazzle, the bites delight and the menu is always a fantastic curation of culinary expertise. Again, they remain the premiere omakase spot on Austin, and who cares if a tire company recognizes that or not.

My most disappointing dining experience in Austin where I took my parents hoping they would have a memorable experience.Checked-in ~7 minutes late (certainly my fault to some degree trying to make an early reservation after work) but also because they offer valet parking but there was no attendant so had to self-park. Otoko then proceeds to not serve us the first couple opening courses and printed a shortened menu without notice. When I asked, they claimed we were over 10 minutes late which was not true. To not give a little grace period and also overstate our late time felt heavy handed and just petty for a $250+ per person experience. If your schedule is really that rigid, then be transparent and send a reminder of your strict rules in advance.Furthermore, they didn't tell us until we sat down that Executive Chef Yoshi went to serve a private event. Not a big deal in most instances but pretty critical for an Omakase experience where the show is watching the sushi chef mastery in front of you. Again, the point is be upfront and give customers full information.Overall, I would have hoped for a little more flexibility, transparency, and hospitality but instead their reaction was poor form and almost arrogance where it feels like they can do what they want because they collected the full payment with 20% gratuity upfront. Spoke to the manager about the course cutting who said she would talk to the chef the next day and no follow-up response.

My boyfriend surprised me with this dinner for my birthday and it was phenomenal! 10/10 experience on food and service. It's very small and intimate but would highly recommend. Definitely on the pricier side but for a special occasion it's worth it. They personalize the menus and let you keep them. The food was high quality and delicious!! I'm still thinking about the wagyu and toro

AMAZING experience!Made reservations for classic omakase on a Thursday evening. They contacted us frequently asking questions like names, allergies, and special occasions.Located in the South Congress Hotel, we first came to watertrade, a very cool Asian inspired bar where we got a toast of sake and tried some of the drinks from the menu. I recommend the Summer Samurai.We then went to the sushi bar Otoko which was super intimate and beautiful. Chefs carefully explained all courses and we got custom menus that described everything we got, from sushi to salads to tempura, everything was carefully and meticulously done to please us.Chefs were also super engaging in conversation and entertaining as well.Will definitely be back and well worth the price tag!

I can't do 3.5 but would have graded it as such Otoko Omakase has its highs and lows. The service was a lowlight this time, lacking the attentiveness / friendliness you'd expect, and we felt rushed from dish to dish as if they wanted to get us out early. However, some of the bites were highlights, showcasing their potential. A high point is the personalized menu with the date you dined and the names of the people in your reservation, which is a very nice touch. I remember coming here 6ish years ago, and that was a far superior experience compared to our last visit. I really wanted to love it since I had fond memories but we've tried several omakases in Austin that provided an overall better experience.The menu is divided into sections and clearly identified, which is very nicely described. They start with a Zensai (appetizer), move on to sushi, mukouzuke (palate cleanser), yakimono (grilled, fried, or broiled), mushimono (steamed dish), agemono (deep fried), sirumono (soup), and kanmi (sweets). I'm glad it was described in the written menu because we really didn't get the full experience of a well-explained dish during dinner.If you haven't been, it's worth a visit with a few tips in mind: Try their small omakase offered every first Thursday to avoid a big investment. Note that parking in the lot comes with a hefty charge, so street parking might be more economical. Don't miss the welcome drink - the vibes & ambiance in the welcome lounge is a good experience.

A decent attempt at omakase but falls short in a few areas. Perhaps I'm being a touch unfair, but I am comparing this to Michelin starred omakases I've had around the world. It makes an attempt but falls a bit short in the little things that make the difference. Generally the food was ok. Only stand out dish was the seared hamachi that uses the binchotan coal and sears the fish directly. However some feedback. Everything is too salty. Even the sushi is salted which is uncommon. Perhaps it's to suit local tastes. Sushi rice also was too loose and even though I was eating with my hands it felt like it was going to fall apart if I wasn't careful. The food comes too quickly as well. While that could be seen as good, I got the feel that it was pre-prepared too much. Would rather see it being made in front of me instead of having the next dish show up immediately after my prior dish was finished. The verbal presentations are also too rushed. It feels like they are rushing through their lines. Tough to catch it all and felt rushed. Refinements could be better. Mats wiped between dishes, making sure that the serving dish was always clean, little things lacked refinement. Location is beautiful as it looks like we are sitting in a light tunnel. Being located beside a cool bar is nice. Overall it's a reasonable attempt. But it could be done much better in my opinion.

I recently celebrated a birthday here, and it was one of the best dining experiences I've had in Austin.Everything, from the food to the service to the ambiance, was flawless from start to finish. We began at the cocktail bar, Watertrade, which offers an extensive selection of drinks. I chose the milk punch for its presentation, and it was delightful to drink. We then moved on to Otoko next door, where the night only got better.Otoko staggers seating times, allowing for full attention from the chef and staff. We enjoyed a 13-course omakase experience, with each dish being impeccable. While I can't recall all the names of the dishes, the pictures speak for themselves.The chef thoroughly explained each dish, and we had the opportunity to watch him in action. The staff was incredibly attentive and even personalized our menus for the special occasion.While it's not an inexpensive meal, I would return here in a heartbeat for any special occasion as it was truly unforgettable.

This was an amazing experience if you love Japanese food. I took my boyfriend here for his birthday and we were blown away by the attention to detail in both the food and service. We arrived 30 minutes before our reservation and were seated at the bar next door to enjoy a welcome drink, and then we ordered a couple cocktails while waiting. The counter seating at the dinner was very intimate, and it seems they stagger the seating times so the groups next to us were ahead by a few courses. One of the other guests went out of her way to recommend we get the uni add on - we took her advice and were very glad we did! All the dishes were very flavorful, and seemed to be a fusion of traditional and modern. I loved the smokiness of the hamachi, and flavor of the foie gras chawanmushi was so savory.The menu was personalized with a birthday message and it was helpful to have so we could refer back to it while we enjoyed the dishes. We also got to keep it as a 'souvenir' which was a nice touch.Overall the pacing was good, the dishes were very unique, and I think it was great value for the price (we did the kaiseki-ryori). Would highly recommend for a special occasion!

What a treat! Learned about Japanese whiskey ahead of dinner and loved it! The meal was outstanding and very fresh with a unique blend of tastes. All around, the staff was great and the ambience delightful.What was extraordinary was the customer service! When I didn't feel well toward the end of my meal - - not at all related to the food quality or preparation - - the staff took great care to ensure that I had what I needed and even came outside with me as I waited for my car. Impressive and I can't recommend Otoko enough!!!I'll be back and will bring my friends!Thank you so much!