Tancho brings affordable omakase to Southwest Austin
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
The interior of Tancho. Photo: Courtesy of Tancho Sushi
We recently stopped by Tancho Sushi, which opened in the West Oak Hill neighborhood this fall.
The big picture: The restaurant joins a growing number of omakase-style spots in Austin, but co-founder Brad Van Otterloo says he wants to make the experience more accessible.
What they're saying: "As Austin continues to grow, we wanted to introduce a fresh take on the sushi experience," Van Otterloo said in a statement. "We're here to make sushi approachable for Austinites while honoring the integrity of this cuisine. It's about creating a space where everyone can discover and enjoy sushi at their own pace — no pressure, no pretense."
Between the lines: It's nearly impossible to get a reservation at Austin's most popular and well-regarded omakase restaurants, which often have seating for just a handful of customers at a time and experiences that start around $100 and go up from there.
Zoom in: Omakase traditionally leaves the meal up to the chef, and at Tancho, guests can choose from four omakase experiences, depending on how hungry they are, for lunch and dinner.
- Each omakase begins with a salad made with cucumber, red seaweed and sesame, followed by tuna sashimi.
- Tancho's lightest omakase starts at $24 for lunch and $29 for dinner and goes up from there. The "grand omakase" ($54 for lunch and $59 for dinner) includes 10 selections, including a salad, hand rolls, sashimi, nigiri and a tuna flight.
🍽️ Dig in: We were happily stuffed after making our way through the grand omakase.
- The lobster open-hand roll — held together with soy paper and topped with bubu arare for a nice crunch — was a standout.
- The grand omakase menu also includes a tuna flight, which was an exciting addition to a meal already filled with fresh, delicious fish.
The menu also includes sake, wine and beer, along with a la carte appetizers, nigiri and rolls.
- Don't skip Tancho's handmade soy sauce and ponzu.
📍 If you go: Find them at Lantana Place shopping center at 7415 Southwest Parkway, Building 4, Suite 300 from 11am-1pm daily. No reservations.