Toyo Eatery

If you know anything about fine dining in the Philippines, you know Toyo Eatery. Chef Jordy Navarra and his wife, May, opened the restaurant in 2016. Toyo, the Tagalog word for soy sauce, is a nod to their dedication to Filipino cuisine and purveyors. The way they highlight local ingredients and honor Filipino dishes and techniques illustrates the beauty of their menus.

When it comes to design, the restaurant is industrial chic with concrete edges, soft lighting, and touches of greenery. A glass partition separates two dining rooms. One room offers a closer view of the bustling exhibition kitchen, while the other houses the bar. In this fine dining restaurant, they create a casual feel with hip-hop music and simple uniforms. The service is attentive, kind, and gracious, and you get the feeling that the team is truly a family.

Toyo Eatery has been winning awards from the World’s 50 Best Restaurants since 2018, including the Best Restaurant in the Philippines for the last six years, and it earned a Michelin star when the guide arrived in Manila in 2025. They also made Asia’s Best Restaurants list; they are 71st out of 100 on the 2025 list.

Menu at Toyo Eatery

Toyo Eatery presents Filipino food through masterful dishes full of complementary and bright flavors. Their partnerships with farmers and producers

There are two menus at the restaurant: the 8-course tasting and the kamayan menu. They serve the kamayan menu from 6-8 pm and the tasting menu at 8:15 and 8:30 pm seatings.

Kamayan is a traditional, casual, communal Filipino feast. They present food on banana leaves, and guests eat with their hands. Toyo Eatery’s kamayan menu features seafood, pork, rice, and dessert, and they cannot accommodate dietary restrictions.

While the tasting menu is advertised as 8 courses, you technically receive 21 different dishes, including 5 desserts! While a few things are lighter at 2 or 3 bites, the meal is hearty overall, so get ready to feast.

Tasting Menu – Savory Dishes

This was a fantastic meal featuring a variety of Filipino dishes and flavors.

Gulay at Sabaw (Vegetables and Soup) – The first dish was a delightful soup made from vegetable trimmings. The table centerpiece features the vegetables in this dish.

The second part was a do-it-yourself lumpia featuring a variety of vegetables under dehydrated vegetables made to look like soil.

Halaan (Clam Soup)

Sawsawan (Dipping Sauce) – The next section featured their dipping sauce. Our server encouraged us to try shrimp two ways (poached and fried) with and without the sauce.

Mga Kilaw (Filipino Ceviche) – This course featured three different dishes. The mackerel was lightly “cooked” with vinegar like a ceviche. The disc was crunchy with goat floss on top. Cooked similarly to the mackerel, the tuna was finished with pickles and coconut cream. Next came grilled barbecue pork skewers.

Saluyot, Okra, Labanos at Pipino (Jute leaves, Okra, Radish, and Cucumber) – They presented a broth featuring typical Filipino vegetables in a cool bowl, and it was a good way to segway into the next dish.

Kabute, Kamatis, Kamias, Mangga, Soy Beans (Mushrooms, Tomatoes, Sour Tamarind, Mango, Soy Beans) – This vegetable dish was one of my favorites. It featured hearty grilled oyster mushrooms with a presentation of a soy bean base and a bright orange sauce.

Alimasag, Gata, Palapa (Crab, Coconut Milk, Sweet and Spicy Condiment) – The next dish was one of their most innovative. It featured steamed blue crab, a coconut milk sauce, and crispy fried shallots. Again, our server encouraged us to try each section on its own before combining them to create different flavor profiles.

Silog sa Palayok (Garlic Fried Rice in a Clay Pot) – A staple of Filipino cuisine, Toyo Eatery’s variation of garlic fried rice also includes corn and greens.

Chicken, Cassia Leaf, Paminta (Chicken, Cassia Leaf, Black Pepper)

Pinirito at Ensalada (Fried Fish and Light Salad)

Tasting Menu – Sweet Dishes

Finally, it’s time for dessert! I was excited for multiple dishes.

Tostadong Bigas (Toasted rice) – This rice pudding was like a halo-halo variation with jellies and shaved ice layered in.

Palitaw (Sweet Rice Cake) – While palitaw is a traditional rice cake, this version was more like a pudding.

Leche Flan Ice Cream at Asin Tibuok (Leche Flan Ice Cream with Sea Salt) – Made with seawater and coconut husks, “dinosaur egg” sea salt is handcrafted in the Bohol region. Our server ground the salt onto the ice cream tableside.

Cassava at Tsokolate (Cassava cake and chocolate) – To finish the meal, we enjoyed traditional cassava cake and chocolate bonbons.

It’s hard to pick a favorite dish! My favorite savory dish was the Mga Kilaw bites, and my favorite sweet dish was the palitaw.

How to Make a Reservation

Reservations release every Thursday at 3 pm Manila time, three weeks in advance. They share their release schedule on Tock, the booking website they use.

I set my alarm for 2 am Austin, TX, USA time and had no issue getting a reservation for the day I wanted. Comparatively, there were still reservations available six hours later, at 8 am, but only for limited days and times.

There are two dining options at Toyo Eatery. The 8-course tasting menu is ₱6,500 per person (about $106 USD) while the kamayan menu is ₱3,900 per person (about $64 USD). These prices are inclusive of 12% VAT and exclusive of 10% service charge. With the service charge, the price is about $117 USD for the tasting menu and $70 USD for the kamayan menu.

How to Get to Toyo Eatery

Toyo Eatery is located at The Alley at Karrivin in Makati. You’ll find the development, which has a couple of art galleries and restaurants, tucked back from the main street in a tight parking lot. Use the address for The Alley for the clearest wayfinding.

Now that you have all the details, if you find yourself traveling to Manila, make plans to visit Toyo Eatery. You won’t be disappointed!

Toyo Eatery
2316 Chino Roces Ave, Makati City, 1231 Metro Manila, Philippines
https://toyoeatery.com/

Want to try more great restaurants in Asia? See these posts:

• Kaiseki Michelin Meal at Yugen in Osaka, Japan
• Dining at Nahm in Bangkok, Thailand
• Dining at Room 4 Dessert in Ubud, Indonesia

The post Dining at Toyo Eatery in Manila, Philippines appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Now, a little over a year after opening, they not only have community accolades and a full reservation book to show their success, but they also have a coveted Michelin star, one only awarded to seven restaurants in Austin.

If you’re going to experience a sushi omakase in Austin, I hope it’s this one!

Craft Omakase

Craft Omakase’s co-owners and co-partners are no strangers to sushi and Austin. Chefs Charlie Wang and Nguyen Nguyen, and front-of-house expert Tim Boyer worked at Uchiko for eight-plus years. Chef Charlie left Uchiko and looking for inspiration, decided to stage at an omakase restaurant in town. He said he went home the first day and knew exactly what he should do when his non-compete period was up. Having the depth of experience with sushi and in the Austin culinary industry certainly helps an omakase restaurant find success.

The structure of an omakase excels here because Chefs Charlie and Chef Nguyen know their craft, focusing on the five principles of Japanese cuisine: seasonality, tradition, technique, comfort, and balance. You can taste the fish yet it is also elevated with light sauces and accompaniments. The dry-aged fish program is an important part of enhancing the fish’s flavors simply.

Craft Omakase presents the full package: welcoming and attentive service, sushi expertise, delicate and elevated bites, and knowledgeable chefs. It’s an experience I can’t wait to enjoy again.

Our Sushi Tasting

You should dine here if you enjoy nigiri and sashimi without a load of toppings.

The 22-course omakase presents hit after hit of nigiri with a few composed dishes like tartare and aguachile in between. The first part of the menu is lighter and you’ll end with winners like uni and bluefin tuna.

Standard and reserve drink pairings of sake and wine are also available. These range from $75-110. They also have an extensive beverage menu with wine (red, white, sparkling, sake), beer, cocktails, and zero proof.

Arrive 20 minutes early to enjoy a complimentary cocktail.

Here’s the menu we enjoyed in October 2024.

Oyster, fried apple, cucumber

Tartare, bluefin tuna, nori tart, parsnip, kombu

Suika, watermelon, tomato, tofu

Madai (sea bream), honey yuzu vinegar, yukari

Muki hotate (Japanese scallop), ponzu, akakosho

Mizudako (giant pacific octopus), ponzu, preserved meyer lemon

Hirame (fluke), soy, lime juice, zest

Aguachile, pink shrimp, leche de tigre, japanese sweet potato

Bluefin Akami (lean tuna), wasabi, soy

Kurodai (black snapper), ginger fish sauce

Shima Aji (striped jack), ponzu, shiso, ume

Masu (ocean trout), wasabi, soy, furikake

Crudo, hamachi, grape, ume

Gai lan, shittake, green tea, brown butter

Kanpachi (amberjack), cold smoke, wasabi, soy

Shiro Maguro (albacore), wasabi, soy, chili oil

Masaba (japanese mackerel), wasabi, soy, negidare

Sakana No Nitsuke, ocean trout, smoked trout roe, corn

Bafun Uni (hokkaido sea urchin), wasabi, soy, ikura

Bluefin Chu Toro (medium fatty tuna), wasabi, soy, truffle

Bluefin Otoro (tuna belly), wasabi, soy, caviar

Dessert – peach, orange, toasted rice

They present bite after bite of remarkable fish. From their service to their presentation, they do everything perfectly but in an unpretentious and welcoming atmosphere. It’s hard to pick a favorite bite, but the kanpachi and chu toro were great.

How to Get Reservations for Craft Omakase

Reservations open every Sunday at noon for a rolling schedule. For example, on December 8, reservations for January 1-12 were made available. So tune in every Sunday for new reservations.

Reservations are available on Tock. The cost is $175 plus taxes, fees, and 20% gratuity. The full amount will be charged at the time of booking.

Details for Your Visit

Here’s a quick list to summarize the restaurant.

• Cuisine: Japanese sushi
• Meal offered: Dinner, set tasting
• Ambiance: Lively, adventurous
• Attire: Casual
• Noise Level: Average
• Pricing: $$$
• Dietary restrictions: Could accommodate dairy
• Reservation: Required
• Seating: Bar
• Parking: Free parking lot

Craft Omakase
4400 North Lamar Boulevard #102, Austin, TX 78756
https://craftomakase.com/

P.S. If you’re looking for more sushi omakase posts, check these out:

• Sushi Omakase at Tare Surprises with Texas Flair
• Otoko’s Multi-Course Sushi Omakase
• Sushi Omakase at Sushi Punch in Tokyo, Japan

The post Why Craft Omakase’s Sushi Tasting Became the Best in Austin appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Birdie’s

The fanfare was swift when Birdie’s opened in Austin in July 2021. The next year, the restaurant would win “Best Restaurant” accolades from top publications, including Eater Austin, Wine Enthusiast, Esquire, Food and Wine Magazine, and Bon Appetit. This year, they received a James Beard nomination for Best Chef: Texas and Food & Wine’s Top 20 Restaurants in the U.S.

Birdie’s restaurant model presents high-end food (high-quality ingredients, dishes, perfect execution) in a no-frills, counter-service restaurant. The dishes are inspired by Italian and French cuisine. Don’t be fooled by a casual setting. It’s part of the dinner party vibe and an opportunity to make quality food more accessible.

The husband-and-wife team of chef Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel and Arjav Ezekiel are a power duo in the heart and front of the house. From a customer’s view, it’s a well-run restaurant that moves quickly with a focused energy.

But the restaurant model doesn’t stop at how they present their food. They care for their team, providing them fair and liveable wages and health benefits, paid partly through a 3.5% health and wellness fee on all checks. This supports the ongoing discussion of how hospitality professionals, especially those who have made it a life-long career, can survive in one of the lowest-waged industries.

Dining at Birdie’s

The menu changes by the day, depending on local purveyors. Since I dined a few months ago, the things I ate may be similar, varying by an ingredient or two. Typically there is a pasta dish and soft serve, two of my favorite things on the menu.

The menu is divided by snacks ($7-13), small share plates ($14-24), larger share plates ($35-36), and dessert ($13-14). (Referenced prices based on a recent menu.) The two of us split the following four dishes.

Deviled eggs with Calabrian chili and bottarga ($12)

Cucumbers, cantaloupe, Birdie’s yogurt, fried bread, and herbs ($16)

Tortiglioni with homegrown tomatoes, parmesan, basil, chili ($24)

Minute steak, field peas, smoked peppers, charred red onion agrodolce ($36)

Sweet corn soft serve with peach jam & Sicilian olive oil ($12)

If you’re a fan of wine, be sure to order a glass or bottle. You’ll find wines with minimal intervention on the menu.

They want the dining experience to feel like a dinner party at a friend’s house, and it’s this unfussy feeling and good energy that livens Austin’s restaurant scene.

Details for Your Visit

Here’s a quick list of what to know before your visit. One important thing to note is there are no reservations at this counter-service restaurant. Come early and be ready for a short wait.

• Cuisine: Italian and French Inspired
• Meal offered: Dinner
• Ambiance: Cheerful, laid-back
• Attire: Casual
• Noise Level: Average
• Pricing: $$
• Dietary restrictions: Accommodating
• Reservation: None. First come, first serve counter service
• Seating: Bar, indoor, covered outdoor
• Parking: Free street parking

Birdie’s
2944 East 12th Street, Unit A, Austin, Texas, 78702
https://www.birdiesaustin.com

Want more restaurant recommendations? Check out these posts:

• Intero Restaurant in Austin Impresses with Farm-to-Table Italian Cuisine
• Why You Should Try El Naranjo, a Mexican Restaurant in Austin I Love
• Dining at Barley Swine, One of Austin’s Best Restaurants

The post Why Birdie’s is Austin’s Best Restaurant for Casual Vibes and High-End Dining appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Nixta Taqueria

If you’re an Austin foodie, you’ve probably heard about or even visited Nixta Taqueria. This restaurant opened in 2019 and quickly earned accolades for focusing on maíz. This heirloom corn sourced from a family farm in Oaxaca, Mexico is the base of their menu. Quality and care should be rewarded, why Nixta Taqueria and Owner/Chef Edgar Rico, who staged at Pujol, has a long list of awards. Some of their honors include James Beard Best Emerging Chef, Food & Wine’s Best New Chef, TIME Magazine Most Influential People, and Eater Austin Best Restaurant.

At Nixta Taqueria, you have to order what they’re most known for – the duck carnitas taco, full of flavor and tender meat.

For a unique dessert, try the sholeh zard. It’s Mexican arroz con leche meets Persian sholeh zard, a rice custard with cardamom, turmeric, pistachios, cinnamon, and strawberry powder.

Masa Omakase

While Nixta Taqueria is a counter-service restaurant with an open patio, their masa omakase is a way to stretch their creativity and offer a unique tasting experience.

Let’s back up for a second. It starts with heirloom corn. This Oaxacan family has been farming for multiple generations and their corn is open-pollinated. The corn is then taken through the nixtamalization process, dried, steeped, and milled, to make masa dough. The masa is made into delicious things like tortillas and sopes, which you’ll find on the omakase menu.

The masa omakase is available Thursday through Saturday with seatings at 6 pm and 8 pm. The 6-course menu is $85 per person with options of a $45 non-alcoholic drink pairing or a $60 wine pairing. Omakase reservations can be made online on Resy.

Tasting Menu Details

The menu changes with the seasons and availability of ingredients, but here is what I enjoyed during my dinner (August 2024).

Radish with kohlrabi, pickled corn aioli, tomato puree

Hamachi Crudo with kumquat aguachile, macha chile oil, smoked trout roe

Heirloom Frijoles with northern great and anasazi beans, tomatillo pico, buffalo nata, costeño oil

Sope de Calabasa with smoked corn and squash, tahini, pickled corn, pepita pesto, green goddess

Smoked Lamb Belly with pomegranate, jardin chimichurri, preserved cherry, buffalo feta, pistachios, mint

Jardin Nicuatole with lemon verbena yogurt, fennel gelatin, fennel granita

Yum, what a FUN meal! All the dishes were excellent, with the smoked lamb belly as one of my favorite things I’ve eaten this year. I was impressed with the different flavors, surprise spices, and overall cohesiveness. There is an opportunity to order additional dishes, like their popular duck carnitas taco, but I found the menu to be satisfying.

Details for Your Visit

Here’s a quick list of what to know before your visit.

Omakase: reservation, indoor
Regular restaurant: counter-service, outdoor

• Cuisine: Mexican
• Meal offered: Lunch, dinner
• Happy hour: Tues-Thurs 5:30-6:30, Fri-Sat 5-6, 25% off wine bottles, $3 off glasses of wine, $2 off beer, cider, cocktails
• Ambiance: 
• Attire: Casual
• Noise Level: Average
• Pricing: $$
• Dietary restrictions: Available
• Reservation: Available for omakase only
• Seating: Outdoor for regular menu, indoor for tasting
• Pets: Welcome on the patio with a leash
• Parking: Free small lot or street parking

Nixta Taqueria
2512 E 12th St, Austin, TX 78702
https://www.nixtataqueria.com

Looking for your next dining experience in Austin? Check out these restaurants.

The post Masa Omakase at Nixta Taqueria is a Tasting Menu Must-Try appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Intero Restaurant

When Intero opened in 2018, I was excited about its focus on farm-to-table and sustainability. They aimed to source primarily from local farms and use whole ingredients. For example, this could look like utilizing produce scraps or animal bones for broth, among other uses. In short, the innovation and the accountability this restaurant offered were notable and something I wish every business strived for.

While some of my past visits had some snafus, a recent visit was impressive and reminded me about what diners want in Austin: great food, thoughtful ingredients and process, attentive and knowledgeable service, and a comfortable and attractive setting. Sometimes it seems like too much to ask, but thankfully, Intero knows what they’re doing. It’s a solid choice in Austin and one you should try for yourself!

Intero is led by Executive Chef and Co-Owner Ian Thurwachter and Pastry Chef/Chocolatier and Co-Owner Krystal Craig. The husband and wife team, both Austin unicorns, have long been inspired by food. The restaurant in East Austin has a rustic atmosphere with a wood-fired oven, intimate seating, and a spacious patio.

Dining at Intero

Intero’s menu changes continuously, based on the available ingredients from farms, but you will typically find small plates, handmade pasta, protein entrees, and pizza. The contemporary Italian dishes are hearty and flavorful.

A mainstay on their menu is the sourdough focaccia, and you must order it. We almost didn’t and it wouldn’t have been on my “best eats of the year” list! It comes with house-made ricotta, wildflower honey, and garden thyme. It’s a perfect bread dish that I would order again.

For starters, we also ordered the wagyu beef carpaccio with gribiche, horseradish, crispy potatoes, and a greens salad. Both were delicious and I would enjoy them again, but I would prefer to try other dishes first. I would consider what’s best in the season. For example, anything watermelon or tomato in the summer could be excellent.

You should order a pasta or pizza dish. On the recent visit, we enjoyed the bucatini, which was rich. We also had the risotto with quail and broccoli, which had great flavor. Because the dishes change frequently, dining here is a great time to go with a main ingredient you love – like risotto or bucatini – and enjoy the form of the dish and accompanying ingredients that day. It also keeps things interesting, so you could dine here month after month and always get something different.

One dish I hope they never change is the brown butter cake. It’s presented with cinnamon gelato and pecans, and to be, this is the perfect dessert. My preference is a cake with some ice cream and the perfect blend of distinct yet unique flavors. It’s another dish on my “best of the year” list!

I’m so glad Intero exists. It’s a reliable dinner spot with familiar dishes, but they surprise and delight by enhancing the beauty of local ingredients.

Details for Your Visit

Here’s a quick list of what to know before your visit.

• Cuisine: Italian
• Meal offered: Dinner
• Happy hour: Tues-Thurs, 5-6:30 pm, $2 off pizzas, small plates, cocktails, wine glasses
• Ambiance: Intimate, lively
• Attire: Business casual, no dress code
• Noise Level: Average
• Pricing: $$
• Dietary restrictions: Available
• Reservation: Available and encouraged
• Groups: Contact directly for groups larger than 5 people
• Seating options: Table, high top, outdoors
• Outdoor Seating: Yes
• Pets: Dogs welcome on the patio
• Parking: Small lot

Intero
2612 E Cesar Chavez St Suite 105, Austin, TX 78702
https://www.interorestaurant.com

P.S. Need more restaurant recommendations? You may like:

• Dining at Barley Swine, One of Austin’s Best Restaurants
• APT 115, East Austin Wine Bar, Delights with Chef’s Tasting Menu
• Dinner at Emmer & Rye for a Memorable Night

The post Intero Restaurant in Austin Impresses with Farm-to-Table Italian Cuisine appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

The number of new sushi omakases in Austin (and sushi restaurants in general) has grown in the past few years. I’ll guess why. Omakases have simplicity in executing a chef’s tasting menu, a higher per-person price, and a small space needed to host a dinner. Sushi is delicious, and the number of talented chefs coming from local favorites Uchi and Uchiko is high. I’m not complaining because I love sushi, but the space does get a bit muddled. That’s why I like what Tare is doing.

Tare

In Japanese, tare is the sauce used to add a bit of flavor. As the restaurant explains, tare is used “to accentuate but not overpower the flavor.” It’s the perfect name for this omakase. The fish is always the star, the main character. Every other ingredient is simply there to enhance.

Chef and Owner Michael Carranza trained in multiple local sushi restaurants before founding a business for in-home sushi meals. Tare was a pop-up restaurant for about three years before opening in their North Austin location in January 2024. It’s an unexpected space in an office building, but that’s normal for a sushi omakase, and it feels right and familiar, like a speakeasy.

Chef Carranza takes his origins in South Texas, his decade of culinary experience in Central Texas, and the best fish from Japan to create a uniquely Austin, Texas omakase experience. It’s fun and delicious!

Don’t forget credit to co-founder Danielle Martinez. She’s the Pastry Chef of the operation and I would order a sheet cake of her tres leches.

Sushi Omakase Menu

When I say Texas flair, I mean you’ll see ingredients like salsa verde, chicharron, and even a tamale as part of the bites. I love the creativity, especially because it complements and enhances the fish.

The menu is 15 courses with 12 of those courses being nigiri. The menu builds from lighter to heavier fishes. There are plenty of accompaniments to tie the meal together and make the bites stand out. Nevertheless, my favorite bites were in the second half of the menu.

Here’s the full menu as it was in April 2024.

• Chawanmushi, dashi, garlic, negi
• Ishidai/Knifejaw, salsa verde, shallot, lime
• Madai/Japanese Sea Bream, goma shio, shiso, lemon
• Kinmedai/Golden Eye Snapper, salsa macha, negi, lime
• Shima Aji/Striped Jack, dill, lime
• Aji/Horse Mackerel, ginger, negi
• Aguachile, grapefruit, lime, serrano
• Negi Toro/Bluefin Toro, chicharron, negi
• Hotate/Hokkaido Scallop, shiro dashi aioli, chorizo, lemon
• Umi Masu/Ocean Trout, truffle honey, ginger, lemon
• Amaebi/Japanese Sweet Shrimp, queso fresco, chili oil, lemon
• Akami/Lean Bluefin Tuna, foie gras
• Chu Toro/Fatty Bluefin Tuna, negi dare, kizame
• O Toro/Extra Fatty Bluefin Tuna, Black River Caviar, black truffle
• Tres Leches, matcha, whipped cream

While everything was great, the bites that were the most memorable were:

• Hotate – delicately melts in your mouth
• Amaebi – this is the one on top of a tamale and it goes perfectly together, so creative
• All of the bluefin tuna dishes – each unique and exquisite
• Matcha Tres Leches – perfect on-theme dessert to end the meal, light yet flavorful

This was a fun meal and I recommend it to sushi fans!

How to Make Your Reservation + Pricing

Reservations are available on their website. The restaurant is open Thursday through Sunday with two seatings per night – 5:30 pm and 8:00 pm. 

The cost is $135 per person. Beverages are extra.

Make your reservation here: https://www.tareaustin.com/reservations

Details for Your Visit

Here’s a quick list of what to know before your visit.

• Cuisine: Sushi
• Meal offered: Dinner
• Ambiance: Intimate, classy, 12 seats
• Attire: Business casual, no dress code
• Noise Level: Average
• Pricing: $$
• Dietary restrictions: Maybe
• Reservation: Available and suggested
• Groups: Contact directly for groups
• Seating options: Sushi bar
• Outdoor Seating: No
• Parking: Lot

Tare
12414 Alderbrook Dr, Austin, TX 78727
https://www.tareaustin.com/

P.S. Need more restaurant recommendations? You may like:

• Otoko’s Multi-Course Sushi Omakase
• Eating Sushi Chef’s Tasting at Uchi Austin
• Sushi Omakase at Sushi Punch in Tokyo, Japan

The post Sushi Omakase at Tare Surprises with Texas Flair appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

I recently dined at Olamaie again for my birthday, and wow, what a tasty dinner! I was excited to return to Olamaie, and this post shares more about the visit.

Olamaie

When Olamaie first opened in 2014, Austin’s restaurant scene looked quite different. It was an exciting time in Austin (circa the years 2010-2014) because of the number of creative, quality restaurants opening. So, Olamaie opened with fanfare, and the growing number of foodies in Austin welcomed this unique concept – farm-to-table Southern cuisine in an upscale environment.

Fast forward to nearly a decade. In many ways, Olamaie is still the same; it’s a solid restaurant where you can enjoy excellent Southern food in a classy setting.

But don’t miss the details in the fabric. The restaurant has a list of accolades, including being named best restaurant in Austin several times. Olamaie branched off to Little Ola’s Biscuits as a to-go endeavor a few years ago and it was so popular, it became its own restaurant. Chef-owner Michael Fojtasek has also won awards for his culinary contributions and continues to bring new concepts to the market like Maie Day. The restaurant’s team members have gone on to open new restaurants and bars of their own in Austin.

How many years does a restaurant have to be open to become a classic? Or maybe it’s less about quantity and more about the ways that Olamaie has continued to be a community favorite. I know I’ll keep recommending it!

What We Enjoyed

We started with cocktails, which range from $15-19. They also have mocktails, beer, and wine.

The dishes are fairly hearty. We went with two starters, an entree, two sides, and a dessert, which was the perfect amount of food for us. It depends on what ingredients you’re craving and which dishes you gravitate towards.

For our starters, we got the beef tartare and warm brassicas, which ended up being gai lan (Chinese broccoli). The beef tartare was an interesting presentation with beets and egg yolk. I loved the warm brassicas more because of the buttermilk whip on the side. We considered the guest favorite crudo dish but saved fish for the entree.

For the entree, the blackened dayboat fish quickly caught my eye. It comes with this incredible buttery blue crab sauce on Carolina gold rice that makes the dish. It reminded me of the rice and trout dish at Lutie’s.

Some of the other entrees on the menu include grilled pork chop, okra gumbo, and steak.

Of course, we had to order biscuits and also got the autumn salad with beef fat vinaigrette. Both were excellent, and I’d order them again.

Dessert is a must for birthday dinners! We got the delicious sweet potato pie semifreddo with a miso marshmallow on top. The team also gave us a lovely ice cream sandwich as a birthday surprise. They also had carrot cake on the menu for a more classic dessert.

To save your sticker shock, one thing to note is that the tip is already included in their dish pricing. They call this an employee wellness charge.

Details for Your Visit

I love Olamaie for celebrating a special occasion. Here’s a quick list of what to know before your visit.

• Cuisine: Upscale southern
• Meal offered: Dinner
• Ambiance: Homey, classy
• Attire: Business casual
• Noise Level: Average
• Dietary restrictions: Vegetarian and vegan options available
• Reservation: Recommended
• Parking: Metered street parking
• Groups: Contact restaurant for groups of more than 6 people
• Seating Options: Standard, bar, covered patio

Olamaie
1610 San Antonio St, Austin, TX 78701
https://www.olamaieaustin.com/

The post Olamaie is the Place for Upscale Southern in Austin appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Keep reading to hear all about our experience.

Yugen

When I travel, I like to try a variety of food experiences, from street food tours to extravagant coursed meals. Did you know there are over 400 Michelin-starred restaurants in Japan? This speaks to Japan’s high-quality ingredients. I thought trying a Michelin-starred restaurant would be a unique and fun experience for the group. 

Picking Yugen, which has one Michelin star, was a fairly random choice. I used the Omakase website, a Japanese restaurant reservation website, to narrow down the options and looked for restaurants serving Japanese food in Osaka. (Many nicer restaurants serve French or Italian food.)

Yugen serves a kaiseki meal (traditional, multi-course Japanese meal), and it was a tasty way to see traditional and simple types of cooking. This preparation allows the ingredients to play the main role.

The word yugen is directly translated as “mysterious” but can be translated as “delicate beauty,” which is a good way to describe the restaurant. It has an unassuming entrance in an office building and when you enter, the restaurant is minimally yet cohesively constructed as a peaceful space. 

Delicate beauty is also a good way to describe our meal, which I’ll share more next!

Kaiseki Tasting Menu

Chef Keisuke Mifune and his team presented a beautiful and seemingly effortless meal. The flavors are seasonal and bright and overall, while there are eight courses, the meal is light. The ingredients aren’t smothered in heavy sauces or spices. The menu was simply a delicate preparation to highlight Japanese ingredients and enhance the natural flavors.

Here’s the meal we enjoyed.

Appetizer: Barracuda, Chrysanthemum greens, Maitake mushroom

Soup: Steamed crab paste cake soup

Seasonal Dishes:

• Eggplant soup
• Persimmon, carrot, radish, cucumber, sesame cream
• Vinegared mackerel
• Deep-fried pacific saury
• Japanese pear with mushed tofu
• Mukago (yam)
• Baked peanuts

Sashimi: Bonito and squid sashimi

Grilled Dish: Grilled Spanish mackerel with tempura edamame beans

Boiled Dish: Boiled herring, burdock, spinach

Rice: Rice mixed with chestnuts; miso soup

Dessert: 

• Yamazato (sweet yam paste bun stuffed with white bean paste)
• Grape, muscat, apple sorbet

Accompanied by our dessert was fresh, warm matcha

It was a lovely meal! We also sat in the front room and was able to watch the chef and team prepare the meal. It was neat to see the different techniques, like using a charcoal grill, and the careful movements. The experience was thoughtful and the dishes were satisfying. I’m glad we were able to enjoy this delicious meal!

Below is a sneak peek at their dish drawer. I wonder if they name their dishes like The French Laundry does?

How Much is Yugen

Lunch and dinner options are available at Yugen. Lunch is $85.55 USD per person and dinner is $153.99 USD. This pricing is through the Omakase website, so there is a service fee added on. This is the best way to make a reservation online.

How to Make a Reservation

The most direct way would be to call the restaurant as they don’t have their own online reservation system.

I made a reservation on the Omakase website about three weeks before our meal, so it is fairly easy to get a reservation. Omakase is a Japanese reservation website, which is especially helpful for diners outside of Japan. They do take a fee when you make a reservation; from my calculations, it’s about $10 USD per person.

When you make the reservation, a credit card is required, and you’ll be charged the full cost of the meal. After your meal, you can settle the additional bill for any beverages you order.

Yugen is closed on Wednesdays.

How to Get to Yugen

The closest train station is Osaka Uehommachi Station from the Kintetsu Osaka Line. It’s about a 5-minute walk to the restaurant.

When you arrive at the address, you’ll see this corner. Go down the stairs on the left side and you’ll see a door on the right with colored curtains.

Details for Your Visit

Here’s a quick list of what to know before your visit.

• Cuisine: Traditional Japanese
• Meal offered: Lunch or dinner
• Ambiance: Peaceful
• Attire: Business casual
• Noise Level: Quiet
• Dietary restrictions: Notes made during reservation
• Reservation: Recommended for larger groups
• Seating Options: Counter or private room

Yugen
14-14 Ishigatsujicho, Tennoji-ku, Osaka, 543-0031, Japan
+81 50-3628-4385
Restaurant Website: https://kdrr500.gorp.jp/

P.S. Want to see more meals in Japan? Check out:

• Wagyu Tasting at Tsurugyu in Osaka, Japan
• Sushi Omakase at Sushi Punch in Tokyo, Japan

P.P.S. Read more restaurant adventures in my travel eats category.

The post Kaiseki Michelin Meal at Yugen in Osaka, Japan appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

We didn’t have plans to travel to Kobe – it’s about a 35-minute train ride from Osaka – but we knew it was still possible to taste great wagyu in the foodie city of Osaka. So, I found this restaurant in my research that offered a beef tasting. This would be a good opportunity to try different cuts, and we walked away very pleased with the experience!

Keep reading to learn more.

About Beef

First, a beef primer. Wagyu beef is one of the best in the world because of its marbling (read: tender meat). There are four breeds of wagyu but the majority are Japanese Black. Now, various areas of Japan have their own brand of wagyu. Trademarks were allowed starting in 2006 and there are 11 registered brands, Tajima beef and Kobe beef are two of them. Kobe beef is the highest quality of Tajima beef. The certifications indicate their bloodline, how they were raised, and other criteria.

In the U.S., food labeling is lax, so you’ll see the Kobe name thrown around for marketing, but there are fewer than 40 restaurants that actually serve Kobe beef. You may also see A5 Wagyu, a high-quality beef from Japan but it’s not Kobe beef.

In Japan, restaurants must pay for their designation to advertise Kobe beef, but it’s not a requirement to serve it. There’s no shortage of places serving Kobe beef and if you want to be 100% sure you’re eating Kobe beef, check the designation website and go to one of these registered restaurants, though it will probably cost you more.

In short, I didn’t check the website and booked Tsurugyu because I read that they serve Kobe beef. Could I have tasted the difference between Kobe and Tajima? Probably not. Did I have an incredible meal? Yes!

Tsurugyu

Their menu is available on their website, and they’ll also provide a menu in English at the restaurant. Here’s what the menu looks like:

We had already decided we wanted to do a set tasting, which they have three options: 7,700 JPY; 8,800 JPY; or 9,900 JPY. The more expensive courses have added sashimi, noodles or rice, or dessert. We went with the 7,700 JPY (about $50 USD) course and subbed the intestines for sirloin.

In Japanese, they call Tsurugyu a “yakiniku” restaurant or one where you cook pieces of meat on a small grill with charcoal in front of you. They set up our grill when we arrived and after we chose our course, the dishes started arriving, one by one.

Our tasting included:

• Kimchi, Namuru (boiled vegetables), Salad
• Sio Tan (salt and tongue)
• Keta (cubic)
• Salt Kalbi (rib)
• First-class bara (belly)
• Special first-class Misuji (shoulder)
• Steak in cube
• Sirloin

I thought it was cute that our meal ended with a shot of blended veggies and tea.

It was plate after plate of meat, but it was a satiable amount. And did you see the meat marbling? So many pieces simply melted in the mouth! Each meat also had a specific way of enjoying it. Most had a specific sauce to use, one had vegetable accompaniments, and another was a lettuce wrap. They were great ways to vary the meal and enhance the flavors.

How to Make a Reservation

I made a reservation through their website about three weeks before our meal. Their website is connected to a reservation service called Retty. I believe they will try to call to confirm your reservation and charge your card, but I didn’t receive a call and my reservation was not canceled. It seemed like they had room for walk-ins, so if you’re interested, call ahead on the day or walk by to check.

How to Get There

The restaurant is near Dotonbori in Osaka, about a 10-minute walk to Nippombashi Station. The outside of the restaurant looks like this:

Details for Your Visit

Here’s a quick list of what to know prior to your visit.

• Cuisine: Beef
• Meal offered: Dinner
• Ambiance: Casual, cool
• Attire: Business casual
• Noise Level: Quiet-average
• Reservation: Available online and recommended
• Groups: Available to book online

Tsurugyu
3 Chome-5-14 Kawarayamachi, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0066, Japan
https://tsurugyu.foodre.jp/
https://www.instagram.com/tsurugyu/

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Sushi Punch

This restaurant went viral on Instagram, which is probably how I found it! Chef Yuichiro Sasaki opened his restaurant during the pandemic, serving local clientele, but as Japan opened up tourism again, a few foreign visitors shared their meals on social media. Now, 80% of Sushi Punch’s clientele are foreign travelers, and Chef Sasaki is considering opening a Los Angeles location!

With his chef skills and reserved charm, Chef Sasaki provides an entertaining omakase experience. As many have said, he may be the fittest and most photogenic sushi chef in the world!

The lunch omakase is about 9-11 courses while dinner is about 14-18 courses. Each meal ends with miso soup, as Japanese meals commonly do. You’ll be able to taste specialty dishes as well as nigiri. Throughout the meal, Chef Sasaki was excited to share the preparation for the nigiri, especially if there were certain processes like aging and marinating.

Keep reading to see our meal.

Chef’s Tasting

We enjoyed 19 courses of cooked dishes and nigiri. The first four dishes were specialty, cooked dishes, except for one dish of sashimi.

Here are the dishes we had. Note: there is one piece of nigiri I didn’t get the name of and I missed getting a photo of the Hokkaido Prawn.

Steamed Egg

Yellowtail Sashimi

Grilled Fish – I didn’t catch the name of this one but it was a flakey white fish and one of my favorites of the dinner!

Fried Spring Roll

Herring

Squid

Bluefin Tuna

Saury – This is a very common fish in Japan, but was unique to us

Spanish Mackerel

Slow Cooked Oyster

Crab with scallop, rice, onion jelly

Salmon Roe

Kohada

Monkfish Liver

Chūtoro (Fatty Tuna)

Anago (sea eel) – One of my favorites!

Sweet egg and chestnut

The meal was so delightful! Every piece was perfect and delicious. We each had our favorite pieces, but we were pleased we ended our trip with this meal.

How to Make a Reservation

You can make a reservation online on the TableCheck website. You must enter your credit card information but you are not charged until after your meal is completed.

Lunch is 12,000 yen (about $80) per person and dinner is 18,000 yen (about $118) per person. The pricing includes a 10% service charge.

If you cancel seven days before your reservation, you will have to pay 50% of the price. If you cancel three days or less before your reservation, you will have to pay 100% of the price.

How to Get There

Sushi Punch is located in the Azabujuban neighborhood of Tokyo. Following Google Maps will get you to the correct location. (It is called Sushi Panchi on Google.) When you get to the address, you’ll see a lit sign with eight squares. Go past the sign on the left to the elevator on the right. The restaurant is on the 7th floor. On the left is a photo of the outside from Google:

Details for Your Visit

Here’s a quick list of what to know prior to your visit.

• Cuisine: Sushi
• Meal offered: Lunch at 12 pm, dinner at 6 and 8:30 pm
• Ambiance: Formal, bright
• Attire: Business casual
• Noise Level: Quiet
• Dietary restrictions: Information requested on the reservation
• Reservation: Available online 2 months in advance
• Groups: Contact the restaurant for groups of more than 6 people

Sushi Punch
〒106-0045 Tokyo, Minato City, Azabujuban, 3 Chome−3−9 Vort麻布十番II 7F
https://www.instagram.com/sushi__punch

Looking for more Japan foodie experience? Check out these posts:

• 8 Best Foodie Experiences in Japan
• Kaiseki Michelin Meal at Yugen in Osaka, Japan
• 20 Best Eats and Drinks I Had in Japan
• Wagyu Tasting at Tsurugyu in Osaka, Japan

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