If you’re going to blow well over $300 per person on dinner, the sushi restaurant Otoko is where to do it. The futuristic design of the dining room set in a light tunnel makes it feel like you’re in a fancy spaceship, cruising along to a soundtrack of Bowie, Sun Ra, and Fugazi, with a chef who looks like he could have just hopped off any of their stages. Start with a cocktail at Watertrade next door (it has one of the biggest collections of Japanese whisky in town) then buckle up for a series of small plates that range from ultra-traditional bluefin tuna nigiri topped with fresh wasabi, to a few bites of white sea bass with Mexican marigold, chayote squash, and ume ponzu.

Few experiences can rival the kaiseki-style meal presented by Chef Yoshi at Otoko, which to describe as a “sushi restaurant” feels far too pedestrian. “Kaiseki” essentially refers to a traditional multi-course Japanese meal, prepared using select seasonal ingredients. The establishment itself inside the South Congress Hotel is gorgeous, and features only 12 seats for a truly intimate dining experience.

The newer omakase restaurants in A-town aren’t the only ones strict about guest participation. Otoko’s 12-seats mean the same effort must be made to enjoy a multi-course omakase experience helmed by Chef Yoshi Okai. You purchase tickets ahead of time, and reservations are available the first of every month on a rolling three-month basis.

Watertrade + Otoko – For an elegant night out at one of the original speakeasies in Austin, walk up the stairs above Manaña to Watertrade, which serves as a holding room for guests before they enjoy omakase at Otoko. Watertrade now has food so if you don’t want a $200+ omakase, you can walk in or make a reservation at the bar, have a couple drinks, and make a meal out of Watertrade’s short Izakaya menu. They have the largest list of Japanese sake, whiskey, shochu, and more, and you can get Smoked Hamachi, a sushi roll, and a Churro Ice Cream Sandwich for a steal.

Located at the South Congress Hotel, Chef Yoshi Okai works wonders in this intimate omakase-style Japanese restaurant that blends Tokyo-style sushi and Kyoto-style kaiseki. The omakase experience, which means, “I’ll leave it up to you,” includes a unique tasting menu hand-selected and prepared by Chef Okai and his team. Even though you are not able to choose what you are eating, Otoko boasts that “you can expect to partake of a series of unique, intriguing and brilliant dishes.” The experience is $195 per person and can be reserved at otokoaustin.com.

While this South Congress hot spot typically requires making a reservation three months in advance, trust us when we say that Otoko is worth the wait. The 12-seat Japanese kaiseki omakase-style spot is tucked in the South Congress Hotel with an attached and intimate Japanese-inspired cocktail bar, Watertrade (which does not require a reservation to sit at the bar, but does take them for their cocktail tables if you like planning ahead). Chef Yoshi makes the experience so fun, and if you’re lucky, you might get to see him break down a whole tuna.

Only open since March 2016, this 12-seat Japanese omakase restaurant quickly made waves locally and nationally—and its chef, Yoshi Okai, was named one of Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs last month. After enjoying a craft cocktail at the elegant Watertrade bar, sit down for a 20-course feast of perfectly executed nigiri, sushi, grilled courses, desserts and more. The restaurant does six nightly seatings of four guests for the classic omakase; for sushi nights, it has four nightly seatings of six guests.

Kyoto-born Yoshi Okai made his way to Austin via San Francisco chasing the music scene, and you can still see that influence in the chef’s approach to sushi inside his futuristic 12-seat tasting counter at the South Congress Hotel. While he does serve a seasonal 20-course omakase menu that’s structured kaiseki-style, with fish flown in primarily from Japan, it’s not an ostentatious temple to sushi burdened by moody lighting and hushed tones. No, this place is ready to rock.

Situated at 1603 S Congress Ave in Austin, TX, Otoko is a unique dining experience that combines art, culture, and gastronomy. This intimate and exclusive restaurant features a chef’s tasting menu that showcases the creativity and precision of the culinary team. With a focus on Japanese cuisine, Otoko takes guests on a multi-course journey of carefully crafted dishes that highlight seasonal ingredients and expert techniques.

Otoko is an intimate restaurant featuring an incredible multi-course omakase experience, putting together tokyo-style sushi and kyoto-style kaiseki. It reminds me of the best sushi I’ve had in Tokyo and the delicate courses I enjoyed in Kyoto. There’s nothing quite like stepping into Otoko and being transported directly to Japan through the beautiful setting and delightful dishes of each course.

1603 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704512-994-0428 Visit Website. Inside of the South Congress Hotel in Austin lies one of the most inventive high-end omakase experiences you’ll find in America. Here, chef Yoshi Okai presides over an intimate 12-seat dining room that leverages seasonally available ingredients to blend both Tokyo-style and Kyoto-style omakase for a meal you won’t soon forget.

A 12-seat Japanese restaurant in the South Congress Hotel, Otoko makes every meal an intimate and unique occasion. Encounter culinary genius at the hands of Chef Yoshi and his team, who serve up unforgettable multi-course omakase and Kyoto-style kaiseki with many flavors and buttery soft fish. Make your reservations online through their ticketing system.

Otoko is a 12-seat Japanese restaurant featuring a curated menu based on ingredient availability and seasonality. The restaurant boasts an elegant interior and a neighboring intimate omakase-style cocktail bar called the Watertrade — a word synonymous with decadent Japanese nightlife. Burger King Japan Introduces the King Yeti: A Burger Adventure

Otoko, a 12-seat Japanese restaurant located at the South Congress Hotel, offers a multi-course omakase-style ticketed dinner that incorporates influences from Kyoto's kaiseki and Tokyo’s sushi traditions. At $295 per person for sushi omakase or $250 for the classic omakase, the multi-course journeys from chef Yoshi Okai are one of Austin

Award-winning chef Yoshi Okai leads this 12-seater at the South Congress Hotel. On Wednesdays, he offers a Tokyo-style dinner with 20-plus courses of nigiri and sashimi, and on thursdays through Saturdays, his 2-hour Kyoto-style kaiseki omakase includes hot and cold dishes. A shortened 12-course kaiseki omakase occurs once monthly.

Otoko has a similar style - omakase only, limited seating - but with the advantage of not being a pop-up. Chef Yoshi Okai brings together Tokyo- and Kyoto-style dishes. They release tickets on the first of the month and if you snag one for the 12-seat restaurant, prepare yourself for an incredible night of flavor artistry.

I like cocktails that have umami and blend salty and sweet, and I also like uni (sea urchins), which has a briny salty mouth-coating sweetness, but I never thought of putting uni in a cocktail until I visited Watertrade, a Japanese-style bar with an extensive Japanese whisky list connected to Otoko, a 12-seat restaurant.

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account. Located at South Congress Hotel, Otoko specializes in Tokyo-style sushi and Kyoto-style kaiseki. This 12-seat Japanese omakase restaurant boasts a menu composed of a wonderful mix of modern omakase, sushi, kaiseki, and cocktails.

In addition, there are only 12 seats available at per seating. It’s a guaranteed intimate dining experience of sushi kaiseki, which is a luxurious 10 course meal that comes with sushi and variety of cooked small dishes including dessert. This is the dining experience that brings you a little bit of Kyoto.

When you want a sushi experience in Austin like no other, Otoko is the place. This 12-seat Japanese restaurant located inside the South Congress Hotel exclusively offers a multi-course omakase tasting menu that changes based on season and availability. Just don’t plan on walking in without a reservation.

Talk about high end, we know sushi doesn’t come too cheap, but this is a whole other level. The restaurant in Austin, TX seats 12, so you’ll need a reservation. With its ever-changing chef-selected menu, we’d say it’s perfect for those special occasions, or if you’re looking to treat yourself.

The Tokyo-style sushi and Kyoto-style kaiseki tasting menu make this 12-seat omakase restaurant one of the hottest tickets in town, thanks to the unparalleled precision of chef Yoshi Okai – a Food & Wine Magazine Best New Chef awardee – and impossibly fresh seasonal ingredients.

I had the chance to dine at OTOKO, and it was such an amazing experience. The restaurant is located on south congress avenue, and from the moment I walked in, I could tell it was special. The chef, Yoshi Okai, made every dish feel unique with the omakase tasting menu.

You have to get tickets (rather than reservations) to visit this trendy omakase experience in South Austin. It’s a tiny 12-seat Japanese restaurant that offers a unique tasting menu that is truly the most unique sushi restaurant in Austin.

Otoko blends multi-course omakase style with an intimate and curated dining experience. With limited seating, this restaurant offers meticulously crafted Tokyo-style sushi courses, thoughtfully paired with a selection of premium sakes.

Otoko is strict about your participation in their multi-course omakase experience thus a reservation is required. You purchase tickets ahead of time. Each dining experience is meant to be completely different.

This place is one of the best if you want to catch up with some friends over sushi. They have a chill vibe, which goes well with their laid-back but classy interior. To add, they also have some great tunes.

- Rating: 4.6/5 (147 reviews)- Price level: $$$$- Address: 1603 South Congress Ave. Austin, Texas - Categories: japanese, sushi bars, seafood- Read more on Yelp

Located in the South Congress Hotel, this dining spot with a mirror ceiling is a crowd favorite for its amazing Japanese dishes served in a 12-seat space.