New Japanese Restaurant Soto Opens on South Lamar Soon

Cedar Park Japanese and sushi restaurant Soto is opening its South Lamar expansion, Soto South, in mid-October. It makes its debut within the Lamar Union complex, taking over Italian restaurant Cantine’s old corner location.

Soto South will host limited hours from Tuesday, October 17 through Thursday, October 26, but all tables are already booked. Then it will open its reservations up to the public starting on Friday, October 27.

The menu is decidedly higher end than the usual casual sushi spot (there’s plenty of truffles, uni, and caviar on the menu). Soto's original chef Andy Okamoto oversees the second location's kitchen as well.

There’s a lot of sushi, with nigiri and sashimi pieces from cuts of bluefin tuna (from lean to fatty), salmon, eel, a particularly decadent-sounding truffle uni, as well as other non-fish bites like foie gras and mushrooms. There’s a small roll selection (truffle with caviar, wagyu beef,) soups, and small plates from foie gras gyoza to seared duck breast to uni pasta.

The restaurant’s revamped space features a bar and cocktail area, dining room with two- and four-top tables, and the ten-person sushi bar.

“We want to give people the opportunity to have a nice dinner, get a little dress up, and feel fancy,” said general manager James Gregory. Though, he does emphasize that Soto South doesn’t have a dress code.

Once it’s fully open, Soto South’s hours are from 5 to 10 p.m. Sunday and Tuesday through Thursday; and 5 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

• New Sushi Restaurant Replaces Cantine on South Lamar [EATX]
• Soto South [OpenTable]