Downtown’s New Pacific Asian Restaurant Feels Like a Slice of Tropical Paradise

Pacific Asian restaurant She’s Not Here opens today, Wednesday, August 15 at 440 West 2nd Street. The undeniably gorgeous downtown Austin restaurant from Ben Cachila and Christian Romero (formerly of Uchi) is open for dinner only, but plans for lunch are in the works.

The interior of She’s Not Here was styled after tropical hotel lobbies from the 1920s, with lots of wood, fans, flowers, and fronds. The floral theme continues with an exterior mural from street artist Mez Data, who also did the interior mural of a woman with a hibiscus in her hair amidst various greenery.

The menu is a mix of small plates and bites like nigiri and temaki (hand rolls) as well as larger entrees like adobo pork and soft shell crab. Expect bento boxes when the restaurant opens for lunch service (the space might function as a coworking area during the daytime). The house cocktails have a tropical spin, with ingredients like roasted coconut, hibiscus-infused rye, and tiki bitters.

Eater photographers Robert J. Lerma and Courtney Pierce sampled dishes and took in the space in the heart of what is becoming quite the bustling 2nd Street District.

Robert J. Lerma/EATX

Robert J. Lerma/EATX

Robert J. Lerma/EATX

Courtney Pierce/EATX

Courtney Pierce/EATX

Courtney Pierce/EATX

Courtney Pierce/EATX

Robert J. Lerma/EATX

Courtney Pierce/EATX

Robert J. Lerma/EATX

• Downtown Pacific Asian Restaurant Opens Soon With Sushi and Tropical Cocktails [EATX]
• All Coverage of She’s Not Here [EATX]