Toshokan
Sushi restaurant · Swedish Hill Historic District
807 E 4th St, Austin, TX 78702
Highlights
Intimate omakase featuring global flavors & chef-led entertainment
Intimate omakase featuring global flavors & chef-led entertainment
"Toshokan is an eight-seat omakase spot behind a bookshelf in the back of a mini-golf course in East Austin. First, take a second to unpack that sentence. Second, set your timer for the first of the month, because that’s when reservations go live, and to say they book up fast is an understatement. Dinner runs about 14 courses, varying from nigiri topped with bruleed brown sugar tangerine to a toasted marshmallow ice cream served with chocolate melted tableside—a s’mores version of raclette that instantly locks the eyes of all eight guests in the room. It’s an intimate atmosphere that feels a bit like you’re eating in Harry Potter’s cupboard under the stairs, if it had been decorated with a live-edge sushi bar and cute Japanese toys, and set to a soundtrack of old-school hip-hop. Tickets to Toshokan are released on the first of the month, usually at midnight (but occasionally at a different hour that they’ll announce on Instagram the day before). And if you want to snag a seat, you should probably start refreshing your browser right at 11:59pm—these go fast. And if you don’t manage to grab one right when the hour strikes, try again in about 10 minutes when unpaid shopping carts expire and a few stray tickets sometimes get re-released into the wild." - nicolai mccrary, matthew jacobs
"Verdict: Austin is home to a handful of very good omakase-only spots, and we put Toshokan up there near the top. Here, you’ll eat your way through about 14 courses that range from super classic nigiri (like otoro nigiri simply dressed in soy and wasabi) to more inventive bites with globally inspired flavors (like Hokkaido scallops with Peruvian salsa verde). The food is inventive without feeling over the top, the atmosphere is fun and intimate, and you’ll probably leave the tiny dining room feeling like you just made five new friends. Tickets to Toshokan are released on the first of the month, usually at midnight (but occasionally at a different hour that they’ll announce on Instagram the day before). And if you want to snag a seat, you should probably start refreshing your browser right at 11:59pm—these go fast. And if you don’t manage to grab one right when the hour strikes, try again in about 10 minutes when unpaid shopping carts expire and a few stray tickets sometimes get re-released into the wild." - nicolai mccrary, raphael brion
"A six-seat omakase led by chef Saine Wong that prioritizes adaptability and personal connection, molding the meal to diners who want to learn, chat, or simply have fun. The chef blends storytelling into the service—keeping a map of travel pins and describing influences such as scallops served with a salsa verde learned from a Machu Picchu guide—while also catering to conversational guests by staying current on pop culture. The experience is intimate and performative without feeling like a show: Wong juggles conversation, eye contact, and precise sushi-making (even using a guitar on the wall to turn a dinner into a jam session)." - Erin Russell
"The East Austin Japanese spot won Eater Austin’s best omakase of 2022 award after its opening and has remained one of the city’s best omakases ever since. Hosted in a space within the indoor mini-golf course Holey Moley, executive chef Saine Wong offers an intimate, 14-course meal to just six diners at each seating. Expect well-crafted nigiri made with supple cuts of fish and other bites like tuna, seared wagyu, and soft shell crab, served in a setting that feels like a fun dinner party. Reservations can be made online, but be sure to have your countdown timer ready: It books up quickly. Know before you go: While the food is seriously good, Toshokan is a place to have fun. Wong can occasionally be persuaded to take out his guitar and serenade guests with Taylor Swift songs." - Erin Russell
"The East Austin Japanese restaurant has to be the only Michelin-recommended sushi spot operating within a mini-golf course (don’t worry, after passing through the secret door, the interior reflects the high-end omakase experience this is). Chef Saine Wong treats every omakase seating at the sushi speakeasy-like a dinner party with friends, occasionally pulling down his guitar for a serenade. Toshokan’s mix of creative and traditional sushi plus a great cocktail and sake program earned it an Eater Austin Award for the best omakase of 2022. Reservations are essential and should be booked as soon as they drop." - Nadia Chaudhury
