Chef Behind Affordable Omakase Trailer Is Opening a New Restaurant in Mueller

The chef behind popular $29 omakase spot Tsuke Honten is opening a new physical restaurant, Tsuke Edomae, in Mueller. It will take over the former space of Kyōten Sushiko at 4600 Mueller Boulevard in March 2021, with the blessing of Kyōten’s founder and chef Otto Pham. Reservations will be available starting on Sunday, February 21 at 9 a.m. with updates found on its Instagram page.

At Tsuke Edomae, chef Michael Che is planning an omakase focusing on edomae-style sushi, which includes curing methods developed during the Edo period of Japan. Che plans to keep his sushi relatively ungarnished, instead relying on the flavors of the fish and rice. The 11-course omakase will be $79, with the option to add a la carte nigiri at the end of the meal.

Tsuke Honten, Che’s original trailer at North Burnet brewery Hopsquad Brewing Co. that opened earlier February 2020, will stay open. However, it stopped serving omakase at the end of 2020 (reservations are sold out until then) and focus on its grilled skewers instead. Monika Vasquez is taking over as the trailer’s head chef.

Che told Austin360 that Pham changed his understanding of what sushi could be (he has previously worked at Kyōten). He was already looking for a restaurant space, and Pham was looking for someone to take over the Kyōten lease. Che says Pham offered the space after trying the omakase at Tsuke Honten.

Che says that when restaurants’ dining rooms were closed due to COVID-19, he only had 10 percent of his usual business through to-go sales. He says sales are back up now that he can use Hopsquad’s bar as a stage for in-person omakase.

Tsuke Edomae will have two nightly seatings at 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Che plans to only offer reservations in pairs to maximize the space available with COVID-19 precautions in place when the restaurant opens.

Update, February 12, 2021, 3:15 p.m.: This article, originally published on November 9, 2020, has been updated to include reservation information.

Note: Currently, Tsuke Edomae, plans on opening for dine-in service only, and there are still safety concerns surrounding indoor dining in Austin. For updated information on coronavirus cases in your area, please visit the City of Austin website. Studies indicate that there is a lower exposure risk when outdoors, but the level of risk involved with patio dining is contingent on restaurants following strict social distancing and other safety guidelines.

• Tsuke Edomae [Instagram]
• Lauded Sushi Restaurant Kyoten Sushiko Closes in Mueller [EATX]
• All Coverage of Tsuke Honten [EATX]