Is This Uchiko Dessert the Most Iconic in Austin?

Uchiko might be known in Austin for its sushi but don’t pass up a chance to try one of their most popular desserts!

I’ve been to Uchiko a few times but I HAD to go back for some “research” recently. Dining there reminded me of everything that makes them a favorite restaurant in Austin. So, let’s talk about sushi and dessert.

Omakase at Uchiko Austin

If you’re looking for a place to eat sushi in Austin, Uchiko should be one of your options. The quality is consistently top-notch, and along with its sister restaurant Uchi, it’s one of the most popular restaurants in town.

For a “have the chef choose the adventure” meal, opt for the omakase. This is a good option if you’ve never been to Uchiko and are up for anything. The menu consists of 10-12 dishes chosen by the chef and your server. It can be tailored to have more sushi or more cooked dishes.

For our omakase, we enjoyed nigiri pieces of amberjack, sea bream, kanpachi, snow crab, scallops, wagyu, tuna, and mackerel. The wagyu was something unexpected but so incredible! I loved the scallops and the buttery kinoko. We also tried three different types of mackerel side by side and it was mind-opening to taste the differences.

The omakase pricing is about $100 per person.

Happy Hour at Uchiko

If you want to give Uchiko a try and are trying to stay on a budget, their social hour is absolutely the way to go. From 4 – 6:30 p.m. daily, an extensive menu of their most popular dishes is available for special pricing. Some of my favorite dishes on this menu:

Hama chili – Japanese yellowtail with ponzu, thai chili, and orange
Sake maki – a roll with Scottish salmon, cucumber, apple relish, and white chili aioli
Don’t forget to order your favorite nigiri! (Mine is salmon.)

Dessert at Uchiko

Now, what is this dessert that’s a must order? It’s the Jasmine Cream!

On the bottom is the honey tuile, which tastes like a crunchier graham cracker to me. On top of that is the jasmine cream, which is a light and airy whipped cream infused with jasmine flavor. On top of that is the cilantro granita, cold and refreshing. And finally on the very top are chunks of fresh pineapple.

When you eat it, you need to dig down and get a little bit of each layer for the perfect bite. The flavors together are perfect and have a unique composition that makes this dessert memorable.

Since it’s a light, summery dessert, it may come off and on the menu, but if you see it, you should try it! My friend Janna and I might have (ok, we did) ordered one each last time we went to Uchiko. It’s $6 for happy hour and $10 during regular hours.

How to Reserve a Table at Uchiko

Making a reservation is recommended. They take walk-ins, but your best bet for a walk-in spot is for happy hour when they open at 4 p.m. Their interior sushi bar is one of the best seats in the house and is available by reservation. Get there early to fully enjoy happy hour!

Online reservations are available a month in advance on a rolling basis, so mark your calendar to book a specific date. (i.e. to book the 15th of the month, check on the 15th of the month before) If you don’t see availability online, try calling to double-check.