Austin’s 2025 Eater Award Winners | Eater Austin

"Hitting the sweet spot between fancy and casual, this North Austin favorite can be whatever you need: a quiet lunch of donburi or ramen with iced tea for about $20, or a splurge with fatty bluefin tuna, multiple plates of rolls, miso-glazed fish collars, and aromatic sake. Opened in 2011 by Také and Kayo Asazu, it earns “regular” status through consistency and range: a big menu with thoughtful specials; pristine sushi and sashimi for purists; and playful rolls for those who want toppings, sauces, and even something fried. The space is calming—natural wood, soothing blue tiles and artwork—with a small patio; the drinks list includes surprisingly good house wine, beer, and sake. Lunch-only options are satisfying, from ramen to loaded donburi bowls like the rich hokkai-don with salmon sashimi, ikura, and scallops, and there are crowd-pleasing starters like brie tempura plus creative rolls such as the sunshine roll with salmon, mango, and avocado, with luxe cuts like otoro nigiri when available. Open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, with friendly, attentive service, it’s the kind of place that keeps calling you back." - H. Drew Blackburn