Fukumoto Sushi & Izakaya Reviews

Good food, but very expensive and VERY bad service. None of dish was served at time (together with other dish). $400 for 5 persons (no wine or extras)!!!

Izakayas are not plentiful anywhere. So when my son told us about an Izakaya restaurant, we were very excited to try it.And we were glad we did! What a dining experience! We ordered sushis and sashimis and tofu, makis and rolls...all very fresh and delicious. We also tried the izakayas...the chicken hearts,gizzards, chicken thighs, pork belly, snails, baby river crabs were amazing!,baby octopus was the highlight in my mind.. ebi tempura was good,,tofu salad i really enjoyed.,and we also tried the Topo Chico, the Planet Oregon, Sagawani Benitoro,Mikan dai and sake kama. OMG everything was so good!!! TheMille crepe dessert is a must try. Really, it's unusual and very good! Service was point on and friendly. To me, price was reasonable because evrything was very good and satisfying. Ill be back.

Very authentic Japanese cuisine, we had multiple rolls, corn flakes shrimp, tempura vegetables and two different types of unfiltered sake that made my Monday all better. I recommend this joint for a weekday getaway/nice dinner. Try to notice the Japanese pop music to get in the vibe.

We had been hearing a lot about this place so we decided to give it a try. It's a quaint little place just East of I35 between 5th and 6th. It's quite pricey but worth it for an occasional meal of celebration event. We started with Miso soup and it was, well- Miso soup ($4.50 a cup). The King Salmon skewer ($7 each) was outstanding although it is small so order at least 1 for each guest. The Tekka Roll ($8) was good but also small so one each is likely best. The Sashimi Teaser ($30) and the Sashimi Moriawasa ($60) are 10 pieces and 12 pieces respectfully. Both contain nice sized cuts of very fresh fish. The Uni at $36 for two small pieces was a disappointment. The Ube Tiramisu ($15) is absolutely delicious and worth making the visit for all by itself. Service through out the meal was professional and courteous yet personal.

I went to Fukumoto specifically to try the yakitori. I had been craving good yakitori since returning from Japan, and Fukumoto did not disappoint. In fact, their yakitori specials included my two favorites: bonjiri (chicken tail) and kawa (chicken skin). The bonjiri and kawa were both expertly prepared in terms of seasoning and texture, crispy on the outside and slightly chewy but unctuous in the center. I also tried the shiitake yakitori, which was both sweet and savory, almost like a roasted marshmallow texturally, and topped with green onion and a delicious sauce. I tried a couple fried appetizers as well: oysters and sting ray. The oyster appetizer was only $4 as part of happy hour. The oysters were large and tasty. I feel like sting ray is more of a novelty item, but the ray I had at Fukumoto was better than that I had in Japan. It’s crispy and salty, similar to a chicharron. I also tried a few pieces of nigiri: saba, myoga (a pickled ginger blossom), and orange-fed snapper. All three bites were quite good, especially the saba and the myoga, whose stronger flavors held up well to the vinegar content of the rice. The orange flavor in the snapper was beautiful and unique but overall was a bit too delicate to live up to the vinegar in the rice. I would try it again as sashimi. I enjoyed the atmosphere. The service was excellent. The concept is a cool and welcome addition to Austin. The prices are a little high but entirely fair. I’m looking forward to going back.

EVERYTHING WAS IMPECCABLE! Fresh, and delicious. Anything on the menu will make your taste buds go, WOW! Service was great too!

My wife and I have been going here for years simply because the service is always super friendly and the food is always perfect.It' has a nice classy vibe, with a big window for people watching or you can sit in the middle for a more intimate date. I don't know how, but every time the servers are great, rare find in Austin, and the staff always says good bye when you leave, sometimes all together in a chorus! They have a rotating wine list, super fun, and the presentation and portions are very appropriate for the price point here. It is a bit higher than DK's, but less than Uchi, so it's just right for us. After, you can walk up and down E Side, or head on over to the White Horse, so it's basically a PERFECT DATE NIGHT! Try the Amberjack, it's better here than anywhere in the city ;)

I lived in Japan as a child and LOVED yakitori so I was excited to hear of this restaurant and the great review from a man from Japan. I loved the yakitori! The Daikon radish and fried oysters were great.. My daughter had the eel and sushi and loved it as well. The owner and I talked about Japan and it was my birthday weekend. They were so kind and giving. Highly recommend.

This is a simply delicious restaurant with good service, great variety of food, sake, beer and even wine. Rich, salty miso, excellent karaage and a Chashu Don special. Love the Japanese pop tunes too. Very good and easy to dine solo.

Visiting Austin, Texas for the first time, we relied on friends to guide us to good restaurants. Fukumoto’s Sushi topped their list. And what a start to our week-long visit. The entire staff was welcoming and knowledgeable and encouraged us to relax and enjoy the experience. They recommended making our meal a true dining experience ordering one or two things at a time-savoring them. The wait staff took time with every question and offered suggestions. We had an incredible array of outstanding dishes, each one a masterpiece in presentation and taste. The memory of Fukomoto’s will forever activate my taste buds. A must visit while in Austin.

I came here for an early dinner during happy hour last week and had a fantastic experience. First off, the service was top notch, the decor and atmosphere good, and the food was incredible. I got the sushi happy hour special, which was 3 very good sized pieces of nigiri that were incredibly fresh and tasty for just $10. I was also very impressed with their Yakitori menu. If you haven't had this before, it's a bunch of small skewers of different style meats that are grilled over an open flame with incredible sauces or glazes that really gives the meat great flavors, typically for just $3 or $4 a skewer. Some of the best ones I had was the king salmon, the miso pork belly, and the chicken hearts! The bacon wrapped mushrooms was also very tasty. Get in here and try it!

Just finished a fabulous dinner with friends. The sushi selection excellent with the rare appearance of Hokkaido scallops. You absolutely must eat at the east Austin resturant before the uchi refugees find out about this place.

This is the most traditional Japanese restaurant in ATX! Owned by Japanese w/Japanese employees! Highly recommended! I recommend the Sushi,Yakitori,Uni Pasta,

Excellent! The sushi is really good. Definitely order the king salmon and beef tongue yakitori and pair with sayuri, a sweet unfiltered nigori.

Wow, we are so impressed with the quality of the sashimi they serve! Every piece melts in your mouth. They are fresh and high quality. The waiter is great and gave us some great tips on ordering Yakitori and they were delicious as well. This definitely is on our list of restaurants to revisit again.

A great find slightly off the beaten track. Top notch yakituri, delicious sushi, energetic and fun stuff and a good selection of beers. The pork skewered and the grilled squid were highlights. What’s not to like?

We happened upon this place while walking down 6th street, and it started to rain so we decided to give it a try and boy did it not disappoint. What a find!! Everything was fantastic, from the host, to the waiter, to the food and the seating. And the best part was the price - it was so cheap!! We had the Corndogs and Karaage (fried chicken) for our starter, then we tried the Enoki Bacon (bacon wrapped shrooms) and finished with the Matcha Blanc dessert and drank Topo Chico which is made in Austin. All of the food was delicious and although it was served in appetizer portions, it was enough because you can get plates to share. The waiter was very personable and recommended stuff and we sat right at the window so we had a perfect view. You have to try this spot if you come to Austin.

On the East side of Austin in a great neighborhood for nightlife. - Great sushi and good teppanyaki grill - $$$$. - Four adults $175 pre tip. - Great fresh local veggies and lots of traditional dishes makes this a great Japanese experiences. - Negiri is served by single pieces and are priced as the two piece sushi we're accustomed to. - Beer, wine and sake only, no full well drinks available or traditional sodas available. - We would definitely go back to Fukumoto when we come back to Austin. - Save room for the desserts. We got both, very creative different and delicious! A few full bites for all four of us was just right. - Be sure to go to the wash room even if you don't have to. It different and fun...;) Great spot!

When I travel I often judge a place by how good the sushi is. Well, I guess I love Austin because Fukumoto was amazing. The fish was very fresh and rice was prepared with such a unique flavor (I asked what was in it but I guess it is the chef's special secret). We also tried several of the appetizers. All around it was a great experience.

It's a local favorite and now I know why. Excellent quality of food, not too fancy, not too boring. Staff are well educated and super friendly. Overall it's a must experience

Visiting Austin for the first time, Fukumoto was the first place my wife and I ate to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We were not disappointed! This place is not your ordinary sushi restaurant. We sat at the bar and were treated to delicious dish after delicious dish. From the sushi bar, we were able to witness first hand the care that they put into creating each and everyone’s dish. They were passionate with their craft and it shown through with every bite we had. The service was excellent, and our server was attentive while allowing us to enjoy the experience at our own pace (we were there for more than 2 hours.) To cap things off, we were treated to a delicious, complimentary crepe dessert. It was such a nice surprise and made the experience extra special. Highly recommended!

Ate here on Saturday night with girlfriend. The food was great, the service was a little lacking on this night though. Overall, I really liked the atmosphere and the way the menu is set up (sushi and sashimi available by the roll or by the piece, many other items available in "appetizer" portions so you can try and share many things). Server was friendly if not a little preoccupied or absent-minded. I'd still go back.

You're greeted and welcomed by the entire staff at this fun and friendly sushi spot. They have chef specials every night! The sushi is top notch and the kitchen is quick to turn orders. Save room for dessert, their pastry chef is creative!

Trip advisor gave a good review so we decided to check it out. We did not have reservations and sat at the bar across from the owner who was working and prepared and recommended many lovely dishes for us. Small portions, small prices and great authentic Japanese!

Incredible experience. Great food and great service. Our server Trevor guided us through the menu and recommended off the menu items. Some of the best Japanese food we have ever had. Thanks for a great experience. We are already planning our next visit.

We had a great time with the food and service. The food was great but nothing spectacular. The menu is extensive and confusing but the wait staff are very knowledge and helpful.

Our first visit, so glad to have a good sushi joint on the East side. Excellent service from all the staff; every dish we had was really good - spot on recommendations from our server to accommodate our preferences. Enjoyed our wines, walked away satisfied and "just right" full. Will definitely be back!

Really well run and nice surprise with the yakitori grill with grilled chicken hearts, beef tounge, eel etc….Great fried chicken Japanese style! A must try. The UNI was the freshest I have had in a good long while, had to have seconds. They also have a nice selection of cold saki. You will love the atmosphere and vibe.

Wow, some of the best Yakitori in the US! Very fresh sushi toooo!! From chicken neck to chicken hart and pork belly!!On top of the Yakitori the have probably the largest selection of Saki and Japanese beers in Austin!!

We came to Fukumoto based on other reviews. I must say I was highly impressed with the quality of food and staff. Our waiter Eric was wonderful we gave him free reigns over our orders and told him to surprise us. Boy did he ever. He made this a wonderful experience. The food he picked was delicious and would have been stuff we would have never attempted to eat in the past. He paired our food with excellent drinks and even told us in which order to eat them to get the full experience. I definitely would return!

Chef Kazu Fukumoto has leveraged his Japanese heritage as well as his Japanese training and his years of experience at another Austin sushi restaurant to start his own operation in the trendy and burgeoning Central East Austin neighborhood at the corner of 6th and Medina. Parking is free (with a stamp) in the garage in the building. Nice decor. Good selection of sake. Someone items are a bit pricy, but ALL are good! Open kitchen concept. Authentic Japanese bathrooms! Private dining available. Check it out...

This was my first visit to Fukumoto, but I was seriously impressed by the service & amazing menu. Even on a Friday night the wait was very reasonable (about 25-35min.), & there was space at the bar to chat & order drinks while we waited. The restaurant is small & does not accommodate a large capacity, but I actually enjoyed that cozier feel. There are daily dinner specials as well as a regular menu ranging from fresh-spins on sushi rolls & tempura. I think this is a great spot for someone with a more adventurous palette, but there is also something for someone just looking to try a twist on a classic sushi bar entree. I'm looking forward to my next visit for sure.

It's a sign of the times that East Austin now has arguably one of the best sushi restaurants in the city. FYI, as much as I love rolls, this is not the place to go for them. The menu is geared toward creative dishes with fresh fish. There are standard sushi entrées though there are many other restaurants catering to that niche with more selection if that's what you're after.

We had dinner at Fukumoto during our recent trip to Austin for the US Grand Prix. Our server, Agnus, was great and explained the menu and assisted us in ordering our dinner. The dinner was excellent with the highlight being the hamachi kama which was so good we had to order a second one. Also, if you like sashimi, the toros, king salmon and tuna were excellent and melted in your mouth. I must say it was some of the best sushi I have had!

Really nice place to go. We came on Thursday around 8PM and we were seated right away. Staff is very, very nice and friendly. We ate some good quality sushi/nigiri and rolls and yakitori. Other food looked delicious to explore too. I'll definitely come back.

Two co-workers and I visited here while on a work trip in Austin. The sushi and saki were delicious, and came with fresh ground wasabi. The service was very helpful. The tempura and other small plates like the shishito peppers were also great. Highly recommended, and walkable from many nearby hotels. At the time of this writing Tuesdays are happy hour all day and night.

This was a great find and I will definitely be coming back. I was looking for sushi and came across this location near downtown Austin, it had great sushi but also they treated me to a culinary experience. I tried everything from chicken hearts to a meatball with raw quail egg and pork belly and ill tell you it was gooooddd!! The traditional sushi was great as well so if you are looking for that you wont be disappointed. Great food, good service and awesome atmosphere, cant beat that!!

Everyone raves about Uchi. Well just wait until the masses find out about Fukumoto! Arguably the best in town - yes, even better than Uchi. I took my wife and her family there to celebrate her birthday. Generally the do not allow reservation for parties less than 8, but they made an exception for us. The manager promptly returned emails, and even called a couple days before the reservation. I was impressed before even sitting down. The food is legit. The sake is amazing. We ordered a couple rolls and just asked for the chefs recommendations for sushi and to keep it coming until we were stuffed. Highlights: pork belly, housemade tofu, fatty salmon. To top it off, the staff sang to my wife and gave her a birthday desert, which of course embarrassed her, but was the highlight of the night. Will definitely go back when we can continue exploring the menue.

We tried this place two weeks ago and had quite a few dishes on the menu. The Yakitori was amazing and creative! What I didn't love was the sushi. Having been a fan of Musachino for a while I was disappointed to see such tiny thin slices of fish. Not only is the sushi more expensive here you are getting a slice of fish about 1/3 the thickness of a normal piece. The service was great, if I return I will stick to the Yakatori.

I had dinner there with my husband and the food is excellent, they have a few specials and I recommend you to try it! The service is the best also, always available to explain something or just to see if everything was ok, even with a full restaurant. And it is a cool environment, young and not so uptight. Defitenily a good place to try it if you like Japanese food!

Exceptional! Our server Yuki-San was so attentive and wonderful. The food was outstanding! After living in Japan for 2 years and traveling there many times since, it was a true Iziakaya experience. The food is amazing as is the atmosphere! Do not pass up the opportunity to go there for a truly Japanese experience in the states.

This place is disgusting. The sushi was the worst I’ve had in my life. This sushi was premade and sat in the cooler waiting for people to order it. The rice was cold and the fish was not fresh. HUGE disappointment. I would never in my life go back to this place and do not recommend it at all. So upset I wasted my money and palate at this restaurant.

This place has excellent service, a great menu (with daily specials), good sake list. Parking can be a challenge but it's easily walkable (or ride-share-able) from Downtown as it's on the east of 35 side of Dirty 6th, across the street from Helm Boots. Opens for lunch beginning SXSW.

Sat at the bar here. Ordered exclusively sashimi and it was extremely fresh and delicious. It is pricey but I think the food is worth it.

I tried making last minute reservations at Fukumoto and the restaurant was completely booked. The host mentioned that they take walk ins. With some luck I was able to secure a table by the bar with some friends. The omakase here is different. The minimum is $50 and just tell the waiter what you like and choose your pricing options in increments of $25. We ordered the tuna and salmon flights which featured some buttery fresh tuna. Well worth it and you save around the $4. Some of the highlights of our meal include the pork belly, mackerel, salmon collar yakitori. Definitely ask them for more of the Japanese mayo and they have this yuzu infused dipping sauce which was really yummy. The uni pasta is a must order! Creamy pasta with fresh uni, furikake and salmon was absolutely delicious. My friend ordered the cha shu don. The braised pork belly was cooked and seasoned perfectly. The combination of tender pork, runny egg and warm rice added some great textures. The sake and drink menu in general here is very extensive. We ordered the Noujun, Taru and Everlasting Roots. All very delicious, gave us a light buzz and unique in their own way. We really enjoyed our experience here. I had the chance to meet some of the servers and the hostess. Everyone was really knowledgeable about flavors and textures. For the price we paid, I think it was definitely reasonable. Quality ingredients with strong flavors. The yakitori here is a must try if you love skewers. Would I recommend the omakase probably not. You may be better off just ordering off the menu and adding extra yakitori, rolls and side entrees. Parking is really easy to find, but its best to park in the garage as they validate up to 3 hours.

In the city known for Texas barbecue, migas, and SXSW, you have a new food option. Real authentic, honest to goodness straight from Japan, Izakaya. Fukumoto fits the bill, and does it as well as any Izakaya in Tokyo, the land of Mt Fuji, Mothra and Godzilla. The menu is extensive, with a variety of hot, cold and raw options. And the menu is very traditional, available in a hand written paper, just like the Izakaya’s in Tokyo. The place is a lot of fun. You can sit at the counter, and interact with a host of chef’s. Not just one – many. One of the chef’s works the grill for yakitori. Another works the sushi. And yet another works cooked items. They speak Japanese too. So if you’re there solo, or want to sit with your friends, sit at the counter and have some fun. The food is good too. Some items, while very simple, are very tasty. For example, the simple tamago from a typical sushi menu is available, but Fukumoto puts three pieces on a skewer and puts it on the yakitori grill with a little sauce. Man, it’s good. Some items, such as the grilled peppers, were just boring. Other items, like the Japanese pickles, are straight out of Tokyo. The dessert was really, really good and very unique. I tried the pancake, which was awesome. Depends on what you order, you can make the meal either affordable or expensive. You can get by pretty inexpensively, or you can spend a load. Your choice. But the staff is very friendly, and the atmosphere is great. Sitting on the counter are a bunch of books on Japanese cooking and Izakaya’s. If you’re looking for a real Izakaya, head to Fukumoto. Great fun and great food.

I ate here after a long day of meetings, to reward myself, and because it was near where I was staying. I’m not new to sushi, it’s one of my favorites and I’ve eaten it all over the country. One look at the limited menu nearly made me leave, but I’d already ordered wine (good, but it was gone before I finished eating, with no offer of more), so I gave it a try. I first ordered what I thought was going to be octopus nigiri, but what ended up being gelatinous goo in seaweed. My fault for not asking questions but the menu should have been more clear. The roll I picked ($13) was small and loosely rolled, with little flavor. It wasn’t bad, but not worth the cost, and light on the yellowtail that was supposed to be in it. I then ordered cornflake crusted ebi because I was left still hungry, but again it had no flavor. Even the unidentified pink sauce it was served with had none. I’m sure there was a shrimp in there, but the breading was so thick, I couldn’t taste it. All in all, a very disappointing meal, especially for the price. The location was hip and trendy. Clearly that was the draw for the young crowd that was there.

We ordered a number of dishes to taste across the range of their repetoire. We had the fried river shrimps (no river crabs today), karaage, kurobota sausage, miso-glazed pork belly, king salmon, grilled salmon collar, grilled chicken thigh, fatty tuna, salmon, a couple of rolls & grilled short ribs. First - portion is small (even smaller than a typical izakaya in Japan or decent US izakaya in SF or NYC). Taste wise - just OK. The highlight is the fried river shrimps and the sushi rolls. Grilled salmon collar is super rich. Short ribs comprised two thin slices (split in two pieces each) and set you back $ 16! Ditto with the salmon collar... So, to summarize - expensive, small portion and just decent taste...

Loved every bite! A must try! On East 6th street! Free 3 hour parking in garage! Great selection of Japanese beers and Saki and some of the best sushi and Yakitori!

The food was amazing and authentic! We have been to Japan several times and loved eating at a Izakaya. The offer a variety of foods from different areas. I would have left five stars for food; however, our server got us on the tasting of sake. My bad for not asking the price of the sake. When we ordered the cheaper sake, according to our server, it was $50 for a carafe. You can buy a whole bottle at Texas Sake off North Lamar for half the price, and it is a 750 ml bottle. This was disappointing! I never have been charged something like that for Japanese sake, even when in Japan. I will say their earl grey infused plum wine is reasonable and very good. Again the food was amazing, and I thank the chefs; however, don't order the sake...or at least ask them the price. The sake was truly not worth the price...especially if that was their cheap one. I hate to know what they charged for the expensive one. I brought back sake from Japan that I purchased in the courtyard of the Imperial Palace, and it was a whole bottle and in a traditional barrel for half the price. Ugh! Go for the food only, and you will not be disappointed. We tried a variety of things: bacon wrapped scallops, lemon seaweed, an okra dish, cornflake ebi, a chicken dish not on menu, and a crepe. It was all delicious! If I could get over the bad sake deal, I might consider going back some time. I applaud the chefs...just not our server!

Ate here on a Friday night around 8pm. Parking was tough to find, but ended up getting a spot right in front of the restaurant. The wait for the first available table for two was about 45 minutes, but we were able to have a few glasses of wine in the meantime. We ended up eating at the sushi bar, where everything is prepared right in front of you on an order-as-you-go basis. The sushi was truly amazing and fresh, and we couldn’t get enough! The staff was friendly, and we never had to ask for anything. Our glasses were always full and our used plates were always removed quickly. It’s a little pricey, but definitely worth the money for the food and experience!

We went here for a friends birthday, there were 5 of us total which allowed us to order a variety of things from the menu. The specialty Maki rolls were wonderful, their take on friend chicken was perfect and every skewer we had was amazing. I also enjoyed the cocktails which were light and refreshing on a hot Texas night.

Hip. Fun. Loud. Tasty. These are the words that come to mind when thinking about Fukumoto. Some say it's expensive. It is. Some say portions are small. They are. But if you want delicious and inventive food, this is your place. We sampled a lot. Our faves were the tempura green beans with dipping sauce, the toro nigiri, the salmon Yakitori, and the hazelnut dessert. We would pass next time on the cornflake shrimp, the pickled veggies, and the fried oysters. Oh, and if a special occasion, get the 7th Heaven sake and ask for Sheena to be your server.

This was a great culinary experience! They serve traditional Japanese food. The sushi is flown in from Japan and was very fresh! Home made tofu was amazing. The Yakitori (grilled items) over bentochan was great! The rolls and hand rolls are very fresh and delicious! I highly recommend this restaurant! Great prices for the quality!

If you learn one word today it should be the word for grilling in Japanese = Yakitori. Skewered and flame roasted everything..The traditional technique of Yakitori is craftily practiced at this new restaurant in the Near East Austin district just off the famous part of Austin called 6th Street. This self proclaimed casual style of sushi which is good and well presented but don't miss the abundant specials card and if it's under the Yakitori Grill section don't miss it if it is something you like. For us it was King Salmon & Shiitake Mushrooms. Perfect as appetizers and a drink while you mull over the rest of the menu. Again no pressure to hurry and exceptionally helpful staff and servers. We had multiple people serve directly our plates straight from the kitchen and our main server was excellent. We'll go back and dress up less.

Granted that one of us found the tastes of some of the early dishes different from expectations, being more spiced than usual (but we had started with the Laos red curry dish) but this reviewer enjoyed all the dishes tried Service was friendly and generally attentive. Ambience was pleasant, with nicely spaced tables Sometimes overall costs of a meal with so many small dishes can mount up to unwelcome high levels but this not happen here as prices are fair.

We had a large birthday party of people, who love to try everything. I believe we ordered one of everything, but not really sure we did. Our waiter, Maurice, brought out waves of heavenly food. He decided what to start with and contnued through out the evening with more delicious food. Everything tasted will have you going back again and again.

We went for an early dinner mid week.Laid back East Austin “vibe”,enthusiastic and charming staff.We tried some sushi including Saba,Ikura,Amberjack and salmon.All were ok but not great.Yellowtail collar yakitori was good.Nice range of saki plus full bar.Service and prices fine.