What is it? A Michelin-starred omakase restaurant with a seasonal 22-course menu featuring seafood sourced from Japan.
Why we love it: “Omakase” translates to “I’ll leave it up to you” in Japanese, and at Craft Omakase, that trust in the chef pays off. In just a short amount of time since its 2023 opening, the restaurant has managed to rack up an impressive number of accolades, including a coveted Michelin star and a spot on Texas Monthly’s Best New Restaurants list. There’s good reason for this: Chefs Charlie Wang and Nguyen Nguyen have a knack for sourcing some of the finest cuts of seafood, from lean fatty tuna to sea urchin, while harmonizing texture and flavor to deliver the perfect bite. Chefs reiterate this sentiment through reminders to eat the nigiri as soon as it hits the plate to ensure peak freshness and flavor. The menu changes seasonally, but previous standout bites include the ginger mint mignonette oyster, medium fatty tuna and cold smoked kanpachi. A spacious omakase counter that seats 12 serves as the perfect intimate backdrop for any special occasion, be it birthdays, wedding anniversaries or date nights.
Time Out tip: Since receiving its Michelin star, reservations have been hard to come by. Luckily, Craft Omakase releases reservations each Sunday at 12pm CT for the next 35 days, giving you a chance to secure your spot.
Address: 4400 N Lamar Blvd Suite 102, Austin, TX 78756
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 5:30-11pm; Fri-Sat 4:30-11:30pm; Sun 3:30-11pm
Expect to pay: $175 per person.