Lucky Robot is one of the few places in Austin where you can get Nikkei cuisine, which means that for every piece of maguro nigiri you find on the menu, you’ll also see things like grilled chicken skewers with salsa macha ponzu. It’s equal parts sushi and hot bites, in a space tight dining room decorated with hanging flowers and swings you can dine on. There’s a lot of creativity going on here—and some of it works better than others—but when you’re in the mood for some solid sushi that you don’t have to book a month in advance, this is your spot. There’s also a great Happy Hour, where you can get half priced bottles of sake and select food items. 

photo credit: Nicolai McCrary