Japanese food in Austin: sushi, ramen or a table to share?

Midori Sushi: sushi and cooked dishes in Northwest Austin

Midori Sushi at 13435 US-183, Suite 301, gives a mixed group room to choose. Its menu includes nigiri, sashimi and rolls alongside kitchen dishes such as teriyaki, tonkatsu and tempura udon. If one person wants fish from the sushi bar and another wants a cooked main, compare those sections before deciding what to share.

For a larger sushi order, the Family Boat brings sushi, sashimi and a choice of signature rolls together. Ask about the current selection and how much to order for your group; a platter name alone does not tell you how many appetites it will cover.

Lunch specials are listed daily from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at base menu prices of $15–$19.50, before tax, gratuity and extras. The lunch menu includes raw items even in bentos with cooked entrées, so check the whole combination if that matters to your order.

Browse Midori’s full menu or the daily lunch specials. For a closer comparison within this part of town, see our Northwest Austin sushi guide.

Uchi: plan a South Lamar dinner around sushi and tastings

Uchi’s original Austin restaurant is at 801 South Lamar Boulevard. Its official page describes a contemporary approach to Japanese food, with signature tastings and seasonal omakase alongside dishes from the sushi bar.

This is a useful option when you want to make dinner the main event. Decide whether you want to choose dishes yourself or explore a tasting format, then look at the current menu and reservation choices. The location accepts reservations and walk-ins, though a preferred seat or time is easier to plan around a booking.

Use Uchi Austin’s location page for the South Lamar menu and reservations. Be sure the booking is for this location, as the group has several different Austin restaurants.

JINYA Ramen Bar: start with the broth at Esperanza Crossing

For a noodle-centered meal, JINYA’s Austin location is at 3210 Esperanza Crossing, Suite 130. Its local menu has a dedicated ramen section, plus toppings, small plates and rice dishes.

Choose the bowl first, then decide whether you want to add a side. Look at the broth and toppings together instead of assuming every ramen has the same base. Check the Austin menu when choosing: offerings at another city’s JINYA may differ.

The Austin food menu and location page provide the current options and hours. This address is in North Austin, so include the drive when comparing it with South Lamar or East Austin plans.

Kemuri Tatsu-ya: an East Austin evening of shared plates

Kemuri Tatsu-ya, at 2713 East 2nd Street, brings Japanese izakaya dining and Texas smokehouse cooking together. It is a different direction from a sushi-only plan: the restaurant describes an evening built around sharing plates.

For a group, look through the menu before ordering and decide which dishes everyone wants to try. Treat the table as one shared meal, with room to add another plate, rather than assuming every dish is an individual entrée.

Kemuri’s menu is linked from its official site, along with reservations. Published dinner hours start at 5 p.m. Monday–Thursday and 4 p.m. Friday–Sunday; confirm the current schedule for your date.

Match the meal to your route

If you are already near US-183, Midori is a place to compare sushi with cooked Japanese dishes. On South Lamar, Uchi offers a dinner and tasting format. At Esperanza Crossing, JINYA puts ramen at the center. In East Austin, Kemuri offers a Japanese-and-Texas shared-plate approach.

These choices answer different questions, so there is no single winner. Start with the menu you want, check the location, then confirm service hours and booking needs. If a group includes people who avoid raw fish, check every part of a combination rather than relying on its entrée name.

For more options, browse Japanese restaurants in Austin. Each Roundmoa profile connects the address with official restaurant information.