It seems to me this place gets a bad rap, or at least mixed reviews, particularly by the sushi die hards, but we really like it for what it is, for a few reasons. They've got great non-sushi items, and the sushi rolls and appetizers that we have had have been great. Most of all though, this place has a good atmosphere and incredible happy hour specials on both food and drinks, and during the meat of the week, their grilled skewers are a great deal for a snack or really light dinner.
Last night we missed happy hour but sat at the bar and had some shared plates, which included their grilled chicken wings ($8 for eight, $4 during happy hour), their tuna and avacado nachos ($15), and their Heat of the Moment roll ($10).
First off, the chicken wings are great. Marinated in lime, garlic, teriyaki, and sriracha, they are grilled to perfection resulting in a nice char flavor on the outside, while staying very juicy on the inside. At $4 during happy hour, these are an essential go to, and are healthier than a fried chicken wing alternative elsewhere.
The tuna and avocado nachos, unfortunately not on the happy hour menu, are one of the more expensive appetizer options, but they don't skimp at all on the tuna, so you feel like you get your money's worth. This is probably the best item that we've had there, and one of the main reasons that we go back to Maiko. The nachos, four of them, and I apologize I forgot to take a pictures, are served on a crispy wonton, which are mounded with a racquetball sized portion of chunked raw tuna and chunked avacado mixed with cilantro, jalapeno salsa, and a tequila lime sauce. It's got an incredible fresh taste, with a great citrus and pepper bite.
The roll we had was a good one, one we haven't had before, but which we'll get again. Basically it's a spicy tuna roll +, made spicier by the samurais in back topping each piece with a slice of fresh jalapeno and a homemade spicy mayo. What really makes this roll though, is the torching they give it before it comes out
which partially blackened the top most layer of rice, giving it a depth of flavor that a typical roll lacks.
So, as if it's not apparent, we vouch for this place. This is Maiko, it's a friend of ours.
A few other things worth trying during the happy hour, while you're sipping on sake or chugging bombs (both $2), include the Smoked Pork Udon soup ($4) and the Explosivo roll ($7), which features hamachi, cilantro, and a roasted jalapeno salsa.
As far as the atmosphere goes, it's, um...interesting. The place is great, particularly the bar, in one of those old Austin buildings with interior brick walls, a nice big bar and plenty of high tops. The crowd, well, that's where it gets interesting. I'll tell you who was there at the bar with us and you can draw your own conclusions. A Dallas-looking douchebag working REALLY hard to woo a Dallas-looking cougar, four gay men, two together and two flying solo, two near-hot college or early 20s chicks, and a bearded midget dressed as a lumberjack eating with a 280 pound black man. Several others there, but these caught my eye.
Don't let that scare you though, try it out. Give it a shot at happy hour if you never have. At the very least you'll get a nice rice wine drunk, and can walk down the street to any number of bars on west sixth, without having broken the bank.
Summary
Atmosphere: trendy, kind of
Food: sushi and more
Dog Friendly: would you want dogs around your raw fish?
Crowd: 20somethings, 30somethings, hotchicks, solo diners, lumberjacks, and steelworkers
When to Go: happy hour
What to Order for the First Timer: grilled chicken wings, tuna and avacado nachos
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