Favorite Austin Eats: Fresh Sushi at Tomodachi Austin

Want fresh sushi in Austin? Try Tomodachi Austin.

While Austin’s newest restaurants get the majority of the buzz in the media, consistent Austin restaurants, like Tomodachi Austin, fly under the radar and have no problem filling their seats. And it’s not only warm bodies trying out the restaurant for the first time. It’s loyal patrons coming week after week to enjoy fresh sushi, an enthusiastic atmosphere and the talents of their favorite sushi chefs.

The dishes steal the show. Chef Steve is talented and creative, and he’s taught his chef team very well. They bring a fire to your table with the Volcano roll or let you be the chef with the hot rock. You can find tasty rolls like the Ex-Girlfriend and typical dishes like edamame or tonkatsu on their menu. My go-to dishes aren’t necessarily on the menu the servers put in front of you but the ones displayed on small chalkboards on the wall behind the sushi bar. It’s a list of the day’s fish offerings. Pick the fish you want and your waitress and the sushi chefs know what to do. Their fish selection is one of the freshest in town, and I love the variety of fish too. We’ve found that you get the most inventive and interesting dishes when you let them do what they do best.

Fresh Mackerel and Fried Skeleton (edible!)

If you’d like to order from the menu, try:

Nobu New Style Sashimi: sashimi dressed with garlic yuzu soy, ginger, chives
Yellowtail Sashimi
Tomoviche: very light with citrus, sea salt, cilantro, and sriracha; great with Japa Tai/Snapper fish
Quail Egg Shooter
Spicy Edamame
Cucumber Sake

As for the service, seeing the same faces over several years is evidence to how much the team enjoys their jobs. They’re always friendly and welcoming, even when it’s a full night and they’re running around to keep up. I appreciate their eagerness to recommend dishes to try, and they rarely steer us wrong.

Tomodachi Austin Sushi — Stack includes: roe, uni, scallops, monkfish liver

Since the restaurant doesn’t do reservations, weekend nights around 7 p.m. can easily have you waiting for 30-60 minutes, especially if your party is larger than two. Try arriving earlier or be prepared to wait. If you want the best seat in the house, sit at the sushi bar! You’ll be able to watch the chefs craft the dishes and get more insight about sushi.