Sake, Sushi & a Little Fruit Ninja at SOSU
An intimate chef’s-counter date where dinner became part meal, part show.
Our night at SOSU
For this Tuesday date night, we headed to SOSU Izakaya & Sushi Bar on Burnet Road. SOSU is still a relatively new addition to the Austin restaurant scene, and this turned out to be one of those date nights where we walked away thinking, we’d definitely come back.
We didn’t need a reservation on our Tuesday night and were able to grab seats at the sushi bar—which, in our opinion, is exactly where you want to sit at a sushi restaurant. You get a front-row seat to the craft, a chance to talk with the chefs, and dinner becomes part of the entertainment.
The head chef gave us several recommendations throughout the evening, and watching everything being prepared right in front of us was part of the fun. Some of the sushi was almost too beautiful to eat, especially the rose-like creations the chef put together behind the bar.
A little Fruit Ninja while we wait
And when we say there was a little Fruit Ninja involved, we mean it literally. While we waited for our first dish to arrive, Mark spotted a Fruit Ninja game and couldn’t resist the temptation to embrace his inner child and give it a go.
Because apparently a date night can include sushi, sake and a high score.
What we ordered
We started with edamame with a little spicy kick and a comforting bowl of shiro miso soup.
From there, we worked our way through several dishes, including sashimi, sushi and a hand roll, accompanied by sake. We honestly don’t remember every single thing we ordered—and that’s one of the reasons we keep this journal—but we definitely remember how much we enjoyed it.
The dish that both of us still remember weeks later was the pork belly rice bowl that finished our meal. Rich, comforting and exactly the right way to end dinner. Well… other than another sip of sake.
The vibe
What really stuck with us wasn’t one particular piece of sushi. It was the whole experience: a quiet, intimate room, two seats at the sushi bar, beautiful food being made right in front of us, a chef willing to guide us, sake to share and nowhere else we needed to be.
We also liked being able to order a few things at a time instead of trying to plan the entire meal upfront. Sit at the bar, start with a couple of dishes, see what looks good as the chefs work, and ask for a recommendation.
That’s our kind of sushi date.
Mark & Jen’s take
Grab two seats at the sushi bar, tell the chef what you like, order some sake and leave room for a recommendation or two. Sitting shoulder-to-shoulder at the bar makes the whole experience feel a little more connected—and you get to watch your dinner become art.
Good to know
We didn’t need a reservation on the Tuesday night we visited. Garage parking is available, which also made this an easy date night without having to circle Burnet Road looking for a spot.
This isn’t necessarily the night we’d put in the budget-date category, but for a quieter dinner where the food itself is part of the experience, we’d happily recommend it.
Would we go back?
Absolutely.
Several weeks later, we may not remember the name of every piece of sushi that crossed the bar, but we remember that we had a really enjoyable dinner, loved that pork belly rice bowl, had fun talking with the chef and left wanting to come back.
And sometimes that’s a better review than remembering every detail.
Best for: A quieter sushi date · Sushi-bar seating · Sake lovers · Foodies · Couples who like chef recommendations · A nicer Tuesday night out
Mark & Jen’s verdict: ❤️ Recommended