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Japanese RestaurantJapanese Restaurant Near MeTexasTravis CountyAustinChestnutJapanese Restaurant in East 12th StreetLittle Nishi
Little Nishi ico

Little Nishi

Sushi restaurant ★5.0

1906 E 12th St unit 2, Austin, TX 78702, USA

5.0
- H A
Little Nishi Overview Intro Menu Detail Photos Location Reviews

Little Nishi Introduce

Welcome to Little Nishi, an Austin, Texas culinary gem that is redefining the local Japanese dining scene. Nestled in the heart of the city, this restaurant offers more than just a meal; it provides a truly authentic and vibrant cultural experience. For Texans in search of genuine Japanese cuisine, from meticulously crafted hand rolls to a diverse selection of appetizers and desserts, Little Nishi is a must-visit destination. This guide will walk you through everything that makes Little Nishi special, from its delectable menu and welcoming atmosphere to its convenient location and unique features. Whether you're a longtime fan of Japanese food or new to the experience, Little Nishi’s commitment to quality and tradition promises a memorable dining adventure.

In a city known for its eclectic and diverse food scene, Little Nishi stands out by focusing on the art of traditional Japanese cooking while adding its own unique flair. The menu is a testament to this, with each item prepared with care and attention to detail. From the moment you step inside, you'll feel the passion and dedication that goes into every dish. The warm and inviting atmosphere, combined with exceptional service, creates a perfect setting for a casual dinner, a special celebration, or a relaxing evening out. Little Nishi is not just a place to eat; it's a place to gather, share, and enjoy the rich flavors of Japan right here in Austin.


Location and Accessibility

Little Nishi is conveniently located at 1906 E 12th St unit 2, Austin, TX 78702, USA. This prime spot in Austin's vibrant East Side makes it easily accessible for both local residents and visitors. Finding the restaurant is straightforward, and for those who drive, free street parking is available, taking the stress out of your dining experience. The area itself is known for its energetic and diverse community, making it a great destination for a night out.

The restaurant prides itself on being accessible to everyone. The establishment features a wheelchair-accessible entrance, ensuring that all guests can enter and enjoy their meal comfortably. Additionally, assisted listening devices are available to ensure everyone can enjoy the full dining experience, including the live music and lively atmosphere. The commitment to accessibility and inclusivity makes Little Nishi a welcoming space for all members of the Austin community and beyond, including those who are LGBTQ+ friendly.


Services Offered

Little Nishi is committed to providing flexible dining options to fit every customer's needs. The restaurant offers a variety of services to ensure you can enjoy their delicious food however you prefer.

  • Dine-in: Experience the full ambiance of Little Nishi by dining in. The restaurant offers comfortable seating in a relaxed setting, perfect for enjoying a meal with friends or family. The friendly staff and vibrant atmosphere make for a wonderful dining experience.

  • Takeout: For those on the go or who prefer to eat at home, Little Nishi offers convenient takeout services. You can easily order your favorite dishes and pick them up to enjoy them wherever you'd like. This is a great option for a quick lunch or a cozy dinner at home.

  • Outdoor Seating: Enjoy Austin's beautiful weather while you dine. Little Nishi provides outdoor seating, offering a fresh and open-air dining experience. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy a meal and soak in the local atmosphere.

  • Catering: Planning a party, corporate event, or special gathering? Little Nishi offers catering services, bringing the authentic flavors of Japan to your event. Treat your guests to an unforgettable culinary experience with a diverse selection of sushi, hand rolls, appetizers, and more.


Features and Highlights

Little Nishi is more than just a place to grab a bite; it’s an experience filled with unique features that set it apart from other restaurants in the area.

  • Live Music: One of the standout features of Little Nishi is its live music. The restaurant hosts live performances, creating an energetic and entertaining atmosphere. This adds a unique layer to the dining experience, making it a perfect spot for a fun night out.

  • Extensive Menu: The menu at Little Nishi is both diverse and thoughtfully curated. You'll find a wide range of options, from classic hand rolls and sashimi to unique Izakaya dishes and appetizers. The restaurant also caters to various dietary needs with its excellent selection of vegan and vegetarian options.

  • Full Bar: Little Nishi offers a comprehensive selection of beverages to complement your meal. The bar onsite serves a variety of drinks, including beer, wine, cocktails, and happy hour drinks. This is perfect for those looking to unwind with a drink after a long day.

  • Late-Night Food: For those late-night cravings, Little Nishi has you covered. The restaurant serves late-night food, making it a great spot to grab a delicious and satisfying meal after a concert, a movie, or a night on the town.

  • Merchandise: Show your love for Little Nishi by sporting their branded merchandise. The restaurant sells unique items like T-shirts and hats, allowing you to take a piece of the Little Nishi experience home with you.


Contact Information

Ready to plan your visit or place an order? Here’s how you can get in touch with Little Nishi.

  • Address: 1906 E 12th St unit 2, Austin, TX 78702, USA

  • Phone: (512) 815-0619


What Is Worth Choosing

Choosing Little Nishi is about more than just finding a good sushi restaurant in Austin; it's about selecting a place that offers an authentic, high-quality, and all-around enjoyable dining experience. The menu is a highlight in itself. For hand roll enthusiasts, the variety is impressive, ranging from classic options like Avocado and Spicy Tuna to premium selections such as Lobster and Maguro Toro. Each hand roll is a perfect balance of fresh ingredients and expert preparation.

Sashimi lovers will be delighted by the fresh, high-quality cuts available. The Yellowtail, Salmon, and Blue Fin Tuna are all excellent choices, prepared to perfection to highlight their natural flavors. Beyond sushi, the menu expands to include delicious appetizers like the Roasted Chili Sesame Edamame and the savory Ribeye Kushiyaki, as well as comforting Japanese dishes such as Chicken Kara-Age and Miso Soup. The sweet tooth will also find satisfaction with a range of Japanese snacks and desserts, including various flavors of Mochi Ice Cream and traditional Taiyaki.

Little Nishi's commitment to a great atmosphere is also a key reason to visit. The live music creates a festive and lively environment, making it an ideal spot for a fun night out with friends. The location on E 12th St is central and easy to get to, and the availability of free street parking is a major plus. The restaurant’s inclusive and welcoming nature, with a stated commitment to being LGBTQ+ friendly, ensures that everyone feels at home.

In short, Little Nishi stands out for its exceptional food, vibrant atmosphere, and dedicated service. It's a place where you can find delicious and authentic Japanese comfort food, enjoy live music, and feel a true sense of community. For anyone in the Austin area looking for a top-tier Japanese dining experience, Little Nishi is undoubtedly the place to be.

Little Nishi Menu

  • Little Nishi - Temaki

    Hand rolls, 1 piece per

  • Avocado $6.00

    Avocado, peach miso, crispy, shallots

  • Garden $6.00

    Avo, cucumber, roasted cherry tomatoes, shiso, fresh ginger, garlic, spring mix, chives, whiskey ponzu

  • Kappa $6.00

    English cucumber, cashew puree, togarashi, shiso, whiskey ponzu.

  • Maguro $7.00

    Blue fin Tuna, nikiri, toasted sesame

  • Sake $7.00

    Atlantic Salmon toasted sesame, nikiri

  • Hama $7.00

    Yellowtail, roasted sesame, nikiri

  • Aji $7.50

    Horse mackerel, cucumber, shiso, fresh ginger, chives, garlic, roasted cherry tomatoes, nikiri

  • Spicy Tuna $7.50

    Yellow fin tuna, hony chili puree, avocado

  • California $7.50

    Krab salad, avocado, English cucumber, roasted sesame

  • Yaki Sake $8.00

    Grilled salmon meat with Crispy salmon skin, Yama gobo, cucumber, peach miso, fresh herbs

  • Ebi Tempura $8.00

    Shrimp Tempura, Shiso, chives, citrus soy glaze, avocado

  • Unagi $9.00

    Salt water eel, citrus soy glaze, smoked brie, sansyo

  • Lobster $10.00

    Lobster salad, avocado,

  • Sake Toro $9.50

    Salmon belly, shiso, yuzu powder, roasted garlic, ikura

  • Hama Toro $9.50

    Yellowtail belly, Avocado, roasted sesame, fresh herbs, crispy shallots, whisky ponzu

  • Maguro Toro $10.00

    Bf tuna toro, kizami wasabi, shiso, chives, nikiri

  • Madai $11.50

    Sea bream, shiso, cucumber, fresh ginger, blood orange puree, gold tobiko.

  • Little Nishi - Specials

    Limited items and merchandise

  • T-Shirt $18.00

    100% cotton choose size in notes

  • Little Nishi Hat $27.00

    Small and large sizes. Flex fit

  • West Coast $11.00

    Atlantic salmon, Santa Barbara sea urchin, avocado, shiso, peach miso, roasted garlic, ikura

  • Red Ryo Temaki $10.00
  • Little Nishi - Appetizers

    Miso, dashi, wakame, green onion, tofu

  • Seaweed Salad $5.00

    Marinated seaweed, sesame seasoning, fresh cucumber

  • Spring Salad $4.00

    Konbu dashi marinated fried tofu pieces, spring mix, carrot, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, fried shallots, Coconut sesame dressing

  • Roasted Chili Sesame Edamame $5.00

    Edamame, olive oil, truffle, sea salt, garlic

  • Azuma Tempura $6.00

    Tempura fried purple sweet potato. Togarashi, roasted garlic, sesame, citrus soy glaze

  • Tamago $7.00

    Japanese egg omelet, sushi rice, peach miso, chives

  • Ribeye Kushiyaki $11.00

    Panko fried slow roasted pork belly, au jus, spring mix, pickled onion.

  • Chicken Kara-Age $8.50

    Marinated breaded boneless chicken thigh, fresh herbs, toasted sesame, wasabi honey

  • Miso Soup $4.00

    Vegan'. Dashi konbu stock, green onion, tofu

  • Side Sushi Rice $3.00
  • Side Peach Miso $1.00
  • Side Wasabi Honey $1.00
  • Side Citrus Soy Glaze $1.00
  • Sunomono $3.00
  • Little Nishi - Sashimi

  • Yellowtail - SH $9.00

    Yellowtail, seasoned soy, shiso ice

  • Salmon - SH $9.00

    Atlantic salmon, seasoned soy, shiso ice

  • Blue Fin Tuna - SH $11.00

    blue fin tuna, kizami wasabi, shiso ice, seasoned soy

  • Yellowtail Toro - SH $11.00

    yellowfin belly, cilantro, crispy shallots, whisky ponzu

  • Salmon Toro - SH $11.00

    Salmon belly, yuzu crème, roasted garlic, shiso ice

  • Sea Bream - SH $13.00

    Three fresh sliced pieces of sea bream, shiso, nikiri, blood orange puree, gold tobiko

  • Little Nishi - Snacks and Desserts

    Fermented soy bean

  • Wasabi Peas $4.00

    Wasabi flavored green peas

  • Rice Crackers (Large Bag Individually Wrapped) $5.00

    sweetened crispy rice cake crackers 10 each

  • Natto $4.00

    Fermented soy beans, sushi rice, ponzu, mustard, ginger, chives

  • Taiyaki $4.00

    Fish shaped fried waffle cake with red bean filling

  • Mochi Ice Cream Strawberry $1.25
  • Mochi Ice Cream Green Tea $1.25

    Textured mochi filled with green tea flavored ice cream

  • Mochi Ice Cream Vanilla $1.25

    Textured mochi, filled with vanilla flavored ice cream

  • Mochi Ice Cream Mango $2.50
  • Mochi Ice Cream Coffee $1.25
  • Mochi Ice Cream Black Sesame $2.50
  • Alforte Japanese Chocolate $4.00

    Bourbon flavored Japanese chocolate cookies

  • Honey Butter Chips $5.00
  • Little Nishi - Drinks

  • Rambler - Original $2.00

    Sparkling mineral water

  • Rambler- Grapefruit $2.00
  • Rambler - Satsuma $2.00
  • Green Tea $3.00
  • Ramune- Original $3.50
  • Ramune - Peach $3.50
  • Fanta- Orange $4.00
  • Calpico- Strawberry $4.00
  • Sangria Soda $4.00
  • Bottle Water $1.00
  • Cold Brew $4.50
  • Mexican Coke $3.00
  • Lychee Milk Tea $4.00
  • Temaki

    Hand rolls, 1 piece per

  • Avocado $6.00

    Avocado, peach miso, crispy, shallots

  • Garden $6.00

    Avo, cucumber, roasted cherry tomatoes, shiso, fresh ginger, garlic, spring mix, chives, whiskey ponzu

  • Kappa $6.00

    English cucumber, cashew puree, togarashi, shiso, whiskey ponzu.

  • Maguro $7.00

    Blue fin Tuna, nikiri, toasted sesame

  • Sake $7.00

    Atlantic Salmon toasted sesame, nikiri

  • Hama $7.00

    Yellowtail, roasted sesame, nikiri

  • Aji $7.50

    Horse mackerel, cucumber, shiso, fresh ginger, chives, garlic, roasted cherry tomatoes, nikiri

  • Spicy Tuna $7.50

    Yellow fin tuna, hony chili puree, avocado

  • California $7.50

    Krab salad, avocado, English cucumber, roasted sesame

  • Yaki Sake $8.00

    Grilled salmon meat with Crispy salmon skin, Yama gobo, cucumber, peach miso, fresh herbs

  • Ebi Tempura $8.00

    Shrimp Tempura, Shiso, chives, citrus soy glaze, avocado

  • Unagi $9.00

    Salt water eel, citrus soy glaze, smoked brie, sansyo

  • Lobster $10.00

    Lobster salad, avocado,

  • Sake Toro $9.50

    Salmon belly, shiso, yuzu powder, roasted garlic, ikura

  • Hama Toro $9.50

    Yellowtail belly, Avocado, roasted sesame, fresh herbs, crispy shallots, whisky ponzu

  • Maguro Toro $10.00

    Bf tuna toro, kizami wasabi, shiso, chives, nikiri

  • Madai $11.50

    Sea bream, shiso, cucumber, fresh ginger, blood orange puree, gold tobiko.

  • Specials

    Limited items and merchandise

  • T-Shirt $18.00

    100% cotton choose size in notes

  • Little Nishi Hat $27.00

    Small and large sizes. Flex fit

  • West Coast $11.00

    Atlantic salmon, Santa Barbara sea urchin, avocado, shiso, peach miso, roasted garlic, ikura

  • Red Ryo Temaki $10.00
  • Appetizers

    Miso, dashi, wakame, green onion, tofu

  • Seaweed Salad $5.00

    Marinated seaweed, sesame seasoning, fresh cucumber

  • Spring Salad $4.00

    Konbu dashi marinated fried tofu pieces, spring mix, carrot, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, fried shallots, Coconut sesame dressing

  • Roasted Chili Sesame Edamame $5.00

    Edamame, olive oil, truffle, sea salt, garlic

  • Azuma Tempura $6.00

    Tempura fried purple sweet potato. Togarashi, roasted garlic, sesame, citrus soy glaze

  • Tamago $7.00

    Japanese egg omelet, sushi rice, peach miso, chives

  • Ribeye Kushiyaki $11.00

    Panko fried slow roasted pork belly, au jus, spring mix, pickled onion.

  • Chicken Kara-Age $8.50

    Marinated breaded boneless chicken thigh, fresh herbs, toasted sesame, wasabi honey

  • Miso Soup $4.00

    Vegan'. Dashi konbu stock, green onion, tofu

  • Side Sushi Rice $3.00
  • Side Peach Miso $1.00
  • Side Wasabi Honey $1.00
  • Side Citrus Soy Glaze $1.00
  • Sunomono $3.00
  • Sashimi

  • Yellowtail - SH $9.00

    Yellowtail, seasoned soy, shiso ice

  • Salmon - SH $9.00

    Atlantic salmon, seasoned soy, shiso ice

  • Blue Fin Tuna - SH $11.00

    blue fin tuna, kizami wasabi, shiso ice, seasoned soy

  • Yellowtail Toro - SH $11.00

    yellowfin belly, cilantro, crispy shallots, whisky ponzu

  • Salmon Toro - SH $11.00

    Salmon belly, yuzu crème, roasted garlic, shiso ice

  • Sea Bream - SH $13.00

    Three fresh sliced pieces of sea bream, shiso, nikiri, blood orange puree, gold tobiko

  • Snacks and Desserts

    Fermented soy bean

  • Wasabi Peas $4.00

    Wasabi flavored green peas

  • Rice Crackers (Large Bag Individually Wrapped) $5.00

    sweetened crispy rice cake crackers 10 each

  • Natto $4.00

    Fermented soy beans, sushi rice, ponzu, mustard, ginger, chives

  • Taiyaki $4.00

    Fish shaped fried waffle cake with red bean filling

  • Mochi Ice Cream Strawberry $1.25
  • Mochi Ice Cream Green Tea $1.25

    Textured mochi filled with green tea flavored ice cream

  • Mochi Ice Cream Vanilla $1.25

    Textured mochi, filled with vanilla flavored ice cream

  • Mochi Ice Cream Mango $2.50
  • Mochi Ice Cream Coffee $1.25
  • Mochi Ice Cream Black Sesame $2.50
  • Alforte Japanese Chocolate $4.00

    Bourbon flavored Japanese chocolate cookies

  • Honey Butter Chips $5.00
  • Drinks

  • Rambler - Original $2.00

    Sparkling mineral water

  • Rambler- Grapefruit $2.00
  • Rambler - Satsuma $2.00
  • Green Tea $3.00
  • Ramune- Original $3.50
  • Ramune - Peach $3.50
  • Fanta- Orange $4.00
  • Calpico- Strawberry $4.00
  • Sangria Soda $4.00
  • Bottle Water $1.00
  • Cold Brew $4.50
  • Mexican Coke $3.00
  • Lychee Milk Tea $4.00
  • Izakaya - Izakaya

  • Tsukemono $5.00
  • Tokyo Tempura $11.00
  • Karaage Alfredo $13.00
  • Egg Salad Sando $10.00
  • Matcha Tres Leches $6.00
  • Strawberry Monaka $4.00
  • Izakaya

  • Tsukemono $5.00
  • Tokyo Tempura $11.00
  • Karaage Alfredo $13.00
  • Egg Salad Sando $10.00
  • Matcha Tres Leches $6.00
  • Strawberry Monaka $4.00

Little Nishi Details

  • Service options

  • Outdoor seating
  • Takeout
  • Dine-in
  • Highlights

  • Live music
  • Accessibility

  • Assisted listening devices
  • Wheelchair accessible entrance
  • Offerings

  • Alcohol
  • Beer
  • Cocktails
  • Comfort food
  • Happy hour drinks
  • Late-night food
  • Small plates
  • Vegan options
  • Vegetarian options
  • Wine
  • Dining options

  • Dinner
  • Catering
  • Dessert
  • Seating
  • Amenities

  • Bar onsite
  • Restroom
  • Crowd

  • LGBTQ+ friendly
  • Parking

  • Free street parking

Little Nishi Photos

Little Nishi Picture 1Little Nishi Picture 2Little Nishi Picture 3Little Nishi Picture 4Little Nishi Picture 5Little Nishi Picture 6Little Nishi Picture 7

Little Nishi Location

Little Nishi

1906 E 12th St unit 2, Austin, TX 78702, USA

Little Nishi Reviews

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