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The Vitals: the spot: Endo Sushi 609 W 29th St, Austin, TX 78705 the eats: 20 course omakase sushi experience the bucks: $180 per person before drinks the full nelson: Cheaper than a flight to Tokyo for sushi that tastes like you went

A 20 course chef driven sushi meal.

That clocks in close to three hours too. I was invited earlier this year to try out Sushi Endo, helmed by chef Endo Yasuhiro. His resume includes high end sushi restaurants from coast to coast including working under Chef Daisuke Nakazawa who in turn worked under legendary Jiro Ono of Jiro Dreams of Sushi fame. This all makes for a compelling reason to consider spending close to $300 for a dinner(the omakase is $180 before drinks and tip. The following might help you understand what this level of sushi entails. Perhaps not surprisingly, the meal is not unlike a omakase I had many years ago in Boston at Cafe Sushi. Interestingly enough that was 16 courses for $110 and back in 2017, I considered that a deal. Regardless of whether this kind of meal is beyond your means or not, allow me to share what this high level of sushi entails. It goes beyond rolls and copious amounts of fatty belly pieces. There are classic Japanese dishes along with types of fish seldom scene at more casual sushi restaurants. Let's begin.

Endo Sushi courses 1-4

1. Goma Dofu(upper left). This was tofu bathed in a shoyu dashi
2. Otsukuri(upper right). Mature yellowtail and Tilefish. The latter tastes scallop like.
3. Nasu Orandani(lower left): Eggplant. These are the kinds of dishes that make me realize I clearly know nothing about cooking vegetables.
4. Shiro Giso and Tomorokoshi Ago: a fried fish called sillago and a fried corn fritter. I want to say the green powder was wasabi.

Just so you know I won't bore you too much with statements like "this tasted _____". Trust that it was good and let the documentation speak to the uniqueness of the menu they have composed.

Endo Sushi courses 5-8

1. Akame(upper left). Bluefin tuna nigiri
2. Zuke Akame(upper right).Bluefin tuna nigiri marinated in soy sauce.
3. Aji(lower left): Horse Mackerel.
4. Tamago: Japanese Omelette

I adore the tamago at Sushi Uroko but this was truly a level beyond.

Endo Sushi courses 9-12

1. Sakura Masu(upper left). Cherry Salmon nigiri.
2. Kinmedair(upper right). Golden Eye Snapper nigiri.
3. Suzuki(lower left): Seabass nigiri.
4. Umi Masu: Smoked Steelhead Trout

The Sakura Masu would be that salmon sashimi you order over and over and over. The sweetness was there as far as salmon goes. The Umi Masu was smoked with hay at the bar as well.

Endo Sushi courses 13-16

1. Inada(upper left). Young yellowtail nigiri.
2. Chawanmsuhi(upper right). Steamed Egg custard with Uni, crab and Salmon roe.
3. Toro(lower left): Tuna belly nigiri.
4. Wagyu with caviar nigiri

One might assume the most over the top moment here would be the Wagyu with caviar but it was the Chawanmushi for me. This dish will haunt me.

Endo Sushi courses 17-20

1. Temaki(upper left). Tuna Belly handroll. This followed up the Wagyu splendidly.
2. Anago(upper right). Sea Eel Nigiri
3. Akadashi(lower left): Red Miso soup
4. Chokoreto: Chocolate Mousse with cocoa powder, green tea sauce and strawberries.

The picture of the Temaki doesn't do it justice. Eel isn't my favorite but this was quite silky. I was scratching my head at how a bowl of miso soup could be so satisfying after all those heavy hitter courses but it was. And who doesn't love chocolate mousse? Like I said, whether you swing for the fences and spend this kind of money, know that this is what a real deal high end sushi experience looks like. The next time I go to Japan I am going to have to go for a proper splurge for comparison but for now Endo Sushi is up there with the best I have ever had in the US.  

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The Vitals: the spot: Marugame Udon locations globally, tested at 2310 Kūhiō ave Honolulu HI  the eats: Tonkotsu , Nikutama and Chilled Udon  the bucks: $ the full nelson: global Udon phenomenon worthy of a visit when in Honolulu 

The Udon that got me hooked on Udon.

Straight out of Japan and with a thousand locations that literally span the globe, Marugame Udon's Sanuki style Udon speaks volumes to the success that can happen when a restaurant concept hits a nerve. I know I'm hooked and I'm not even the world's greatest noodle lover.

Made to order yet built for speed.

Marugame Udon is known for long lines but they move fast. Despite the noodles being made to order, the place moves like a well oiled machine. The only guaranteed pause is when you have to decide what to order when it is your first visit.

Marugame Udon Tonkotsu

Billed as "most loved" on the menu, my son chose the Marugame Udon Tonkotsu. He is the official noodle head of the family and the one who pulled the trigger on trying Marugame Udon for our first meal in Honolulu. And that was after only going a day since our last Asian noodle soup meal, in Kauai. Turns out we were well rewarded for his noodle obsession.

Nikutama Udon

I'm an Udon noob so I opted for the Nikutama because like the Tonkotsu, this noodle soup carries the menu description of "most loved". Loaded with shaved sweet beef and a soft boiled egg, it was a hearty choice. The Sweet beef, the rich egg yolk and the chewy thick noodles would make anyone an Udon fan. Pro Tip - grab the chili powder and give it a healthy shake. The heat balances the sweet beef well.

Chilled Ontama Udon

Remember how I said we just had our last Asian noodle soup fix like 24 hours ago? That's what prompted the Mrs. to try a chilled Udon. Going with a soft boiled egg and the "BK sauce"(same at the Nikutama) the dish can be served cold and it totally works. A great change of pace and worth trying when it's hot out or when you are eating Asian noodle soups daily. I'm hooked on this brand. There is one in Dallas so my guess is I'll be back at Marugame Udon before I'm back in Hawaii. But I would absolutely return to Marugame Udon in Honolulu too. In the words of my tween: "this Udon is fire".  

The best food in Austin Texas: June + July 2024

Summer in Austin means traveling and that I have been doing. Still, I found plenty of great spots to share when it comes to the best food in Austin for June and July. You might want to break out the stretchy pants because daddy is on a diet after taking down plenty o' pizza, mozzarella sticks from heaven, Prime rib lunches and a mac n cheese bbq burrito. The Vitals: the spot: Maie Day 1603 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704 the eats: Prime Rib Special  the bucks: $$ the full nelson: The family friendly Prime Rib deal in Austin The ultra hip steakhouse vibes fit right in on South Congress avenue, at least in 2024. Situated next to boutique shops one might find on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills or the Design district in Miami, Maie Day should be that chophouse that carries major sticker shop. Unless you come in for lunch on Fridays. That's when Chef Michael Fojtasek wheels around a Prime Rib cart, offering a full slab of sous vide than seared Prime Rib perfection for a mere $19. Make it a meal with mashed potatoes and creamed spinach for another $9. Or stick to that caveman diet you have been working on ever since you saw that TikTok. Speaking of TikTok - my IG video(ok not TikTok) netted over 200k videos: Maie Day Prime Rib,  so if you don't believe what you read, believe what you see. And what you are seeing is clearly a top gun when it comes to value and the best food in Austin.   The Vitals: the spot: Bufalina 2215 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702 the eats: Any pizza you fancy but get adventurous  the bucks: $$ the full nelson: Best happy hour for pizza and wine lovers Prime Rib isn't the only way to save a buck. Bufalina is the type of craft pizza one tends to think about when the words "best food in Austin” are brought up. But the savvy foodies know to swoop in for happy hour on weekdays from 4pm-5:30pm and save some serious bucks. That’s when every pizza is half off as are bottles of wine, under $100. I've found the more adventurous you get with the pies here, like the Fresca which skips the tomato sauce or the Anchovy pie, become the most memorable slices. So get crazy and save a glass of Lambrusco for me. The Vitals: the spot: Bambino 79 Springdale Rd Suite 153, Austin, TX 78702 the eats: Any pizza you fancy but get adventurous  the bucks: $$ the full nelson: Best happy hour for pizza and wine lovers There is a lot going on at Austin's buzziest pizza place to add to the list of best food in Austin. Fiore Tedesco offers a signature pie that muses with ingredients that would make Chris Bianco jealous to a no flop crust that would draw at least an 8 from David Portnoy. But no, I'm not highlighting the pies or even the burger of the day special. I'm talking Mozzarella sticks. Chef Tedesco is ingredient and process obsessive from the Buffalo milk mozzarella blend to the three stages of breading. The kicker though is the Cacio e Pepe ranch that only leaves us asking this question: when will he roll out the chicken wings? The Vitals: the spot: Rollin Smoke BBQ 1108 E 12th St, Austin, TX 78702 the eats: G Thang Burrito the bucks: $$ the full nelson: Central Texas BBQ meets late night munchies Just when I think I have seen it all with barbecue I hit up a food truck like Rollin Smoke that marries Texas meat smoking traditions with late night food truck vibes. Originally serving till the wee hours, Kyle Stallings has scaled it back till 9pm and 10pm on weekends. We all gotta grow up but that doesn't mean we can't like a reckless teen either. Case in point: the G Thang Burrito. Stallings smokes Prime Briskets uses them in a Tejano braise called Carne Guisada. He puts that hearty TexMex beef stew into a flour tortilla along with smoked mac n cheese, and a dual hit of salsas(jalapeno and chipotle crema. It's a burrito that should satisfy a late night craving at any hour. Though thankfully the temptation to eat one at 3am(his old last call) is no longer an option. After all, daddy is on a diet.  

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Even on a family vacation . . .

I will make a few delicious pit stops. My Kauai restaurants were a round up off suggestions from this thread on Threads and netted almost 40 responses. A BIG THANK YOU to everyone and for what its worth, folks had more to say about where I should go in Kauai then Honolulu. Go figure.

The Vitals: the spot: Kauai Sushi Station 2405 Ulu Maika St, Lihue, HI 96766 the eats: Hamachi sashimi, New Zealand King Salmon nigiri, Spicy Tuna roll the bucks: $$ but can easily go to $$$ if you're starving the full nelson: Sushi Food Truck with actually really impressive fish

Kauai Restaurants Round Up #1: Kauai Sushi Station

There is something charming about finding a place to eat as soon as you get off the plane. Way better to settle in your new surroundings at a new local eatery than your hotel room. Located in Lihue, minutes from the airport, Kauai Sushi Station is a good stop to make either coming off a plane ride or when you need to eat before one. The fish was fresh as one might expect. Coming off an all star Omakase experience recently, I'm a lot pickier these days about rice, which isn't a strength at Kauai Sushi station but in the context of a food truck, it's pretty solid. The hamachi sashimi with thin slices of jalapeño was the star of the order and something I would order every time I'm here. The Vitals: the spot: Koloa Fish Market 3390 Poipu Rd, Koloa, HI 96756 the eats: Spicy Tuna Poke, Tuna Avocado Poke, Salmon Poke, Octopus Poke, Smoked Marlin the bucks: $-$$ depending on appetite  the full nelson: A must stop for every Poke lover

Kauai Restaurants Round Up #2: Koloa Fish Market

I love Poke and I don't think I've had it any better than at Koloa Fish Market. This was another spot recommended from my Threads post and nothing missed here. The Spicy Tuna poke, usually an all star hit, was the least interesting because Koloa Fish Market makes the usually forgettable stuff, well, unforgettable. It was across the board great, but the dressing in the octopus poke would be reason enough to buy a cookbook that Koloa Fish Market puts out. My only regret here was not eating here twice. The Vitals: the spot: Stevenson's Library 1571 Poipu Rd, Koloa, HI 96756(located in the Grand Hyatt hotel) the eats: assorted sushi, rolls, sashimi the bucks: $$$  the full nelson: A lovely bar with pricey munchies

Kauai Restaurants Round Up #3: Stevenson's Library

You go to Stevenson's Library because it is a lovely bar and most likely you're also staying at the Grand Hyatt Kauai so it's just an easy decision. While it is cheaper than say dining at their formal restaurants, Stevenson's Library does serve sushi that carries a the typical hefty price tag. The fish is fresh, which is no surprise and like the sushi food truck, the rice is fine but far from exceptional. The bar rocks and has a deep and varied selection of spirits, notably the whiskey. I'd recommend this place for the bar experience primarily. The Vitals: the spot: Hamura Saimin 2956 Kress St, Lihue, HI 96766 the eats: Specialty Saimin, chicken and beef skewers, fried dumplings the bucks: $ the full nelson: Cheap Eats Kauai staple

Kauai Restaurants Round Up #4: Hamura Saimin

It makes total sense that this local gem also took home a James Beard American Classics award. Hamura Saimin was also recommend via Threads(see a pattern here?) and it slapped hard. The name of the game here is Saimin: a Hawaiian noodle soup with serious ramen vibes. I got the special Saimin which adds, ham, egg, veggies, fish cake, wontons and roast pork into the mix. We got a large to split and it was a solid lunch when shared. The skewers and meaty fried dumplings were all great as well. This was a particular highlight and was my fav along with the poke. Kauai is all about being chill to the tune of staying at your hotel/beachfront hacienda but the food is worth renting a car and taking a cruise. Highly recommend Koloa Fish Market and Hamura Saimin folks. And both are solid Cheap Eats too.

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