Austin, TX
Sushi Roku in Austin: An LA Sushi Staple Goes Texan – The Texas Tasty
We were thrilled to be invited to the soft opening of Sushi Roku’s newest location in Austin, which officially opened its doors on February 16th. Owned by the renowned Innovative Dining Group (IDG), Sushi Roku now expands its reach from popular locations in Manhattan Beach, Santa Monica, Pasadena, and Las Vegas to establish its first Texas location in Austin. The menu offers a wide variety of choices and introduces exclusive dishes. The ambiance, with its dim lighting, sets the perfect backdrop for a night out or a romantic date night.
The Menu
Sushi Roku’s menu is full of shareable plates, offering a good mix of cold and hot options that cater to both garden and sea preferences. We started with the delightful Hamachi Serrano with its zesty yuzu ponzu and the spicy Cucumber Sunomono from the cold section. We also loved the truffle-infused Brussels Sprout Chips and the customizable Hanabi crispy rice, especially with spicy tuna and avocado, which stands out amongst the hot options for the unique flavors and textures. The Brussels Sprout Chips and the avocado Hanabi were our favorites of the night hands down. Not only are they delicious, but they are also great options for vegans or for those who don’t eat fish. We also enjoyed the Popcorn Shrimp Tempura and the Wagyu Potsticker Gyoza, which showcases Sushi Roku’s skill in blending traditional Japanese culinary techniques with innovative touches. Anticipating our next visit, we’re excited to try more, especially the Baked Cod and Japanese Fried Chicken “Tatsuta-Age”.

The sushi bar and rolls menu also offers a broad variety of sushi and sashimi choices, ensuring an unforgettable culinary journey for every diner. Our experience was highlighted by the Albacore sushi, dressed with garlic aioli, arare, and ponzu. The classics like Salmon (Sake) sushi, with its fresh lemon zest and yuzu salt, and the Tuna Maguro sushi, accented with kizami wasabi and tosa shoyu, stood out, with the latter two being instant favorites due to their delicate melt-in-your-mouth texture and harmonious flavors. Moving on to the roll selection, we were impressed by the White Lotus roll, a mix of popcorn shrimp tempura, avocado, asparagus, albacore and crispy onions. Moreover, the Austin-exclusive Waterloo Ichi Roll, combining fish like tuna, yellowtail and snow crab with mango and avocado, is also a must-try.

The dessert menu wrapped up our dining experience with an unforgettable finale. We were treated to the spectacle of the Carnival Cake, an Austin-exclusive dessert that truly performs at your table. Imagine a cheesecake adorned with berries, alongside cookies and cream ice cream, all dramatically unveiled beneath a torched pink cotton candy dome – a presentation that dazzles as much as it delights. Our sweet journey didn’t end there; we also indulged in the Pot de Creme and the Chocolate Volcano. The Pot de Creme offers a lighter take on chocolate mousse, perfectly complemented by crunchy crumbles. The Chocolate Volcano, a petit gateau filled with warm chocolate ganache, paired perfectly with vanilla ice cream. While each dessert was a star in its own right, the Pot de Creme ultimately stole our heart, being the standout favorite of the desserts.

Our Final Take on Sushi Roku
Sushi Roku showcases a well-executed blend of traditional and modern culinary techniques. From our first bite of the Brussels Sprout Chips to the final bite of the Pot de Creme, each dish stood out for its unique flavors and creativity. The addition of Austin-exclusive selections, like the Waterloo Ichi Roll and the Carnival Cake, introduce unique combinations that heighten the dining experience. Sushi Roku is a place we’re already looking forward to returning to soon, eager to explore more of the menu.
Austin, TX
Athletes Race at USA Triathlon Cross National Championships in Austin, Texas
2026 USA Triathlon Cross National Championships Full Results
Austin, Texas | April 18
Off Road/Cross Triathlon National Championship
1500m swim, 29k mountain bike, 10k run
Complete Results
Overall Male Andy Lee, 2:25:17
Overall Female Jennifer Schmidt, 3:08:37
M17-19 Michael Balbin, 3:07:57
M20-24 Ryan Chaudoin 2:39:03
M25-29 Adam Holomoucky, 2:46:30
M30-34 Chase Krivo, 2:41:52
M35-39 Andrzej Stadnik, 2:26:34
F35-39 Kate Hector, 3:44:19
M40-44 Kyle Grieser, 2:30:58
F40-44 Jessica Thiel, 3:31:57
M45-49 Trent Niemeyer, 2:36:28
F45-49 Jennifer Schmidt, 3:08:37
M50-54 Andy Lee, 2:25:17
F50-54 Erin Trail, 4:03:32
M55-59 Stephen Judice, 2:39:58
F55-59 Jeanne Hoffman, 3:25:37
M60-64 Mike Carter, 2:58:35
F60-64 Janet Soule, 3:13:05
M65-69 Cliff Millemann, 3:04:24
F65-69 Maureen Sanderson, 5:01:15
M70-74 Ken Gibson, 3:13:21
M75-79 Alan Moore, 3:50:08
Off Road/Cross Duathlon National Championship
5k run, 29k mountain bike, 10k run
Complete Results
Overall Male Jacob Hull, 2:19:49
Overall Female Tiffany Schwartz, 2:55:45
M30-34 Kyle Dow, 2:27:13
M35-39 Jacob Hull, 2:19:49
F35-39 Tiffany Schwartz, 2:55:45
M40-44 Derek Armer-Derner, 2:51:48
M50-54 Jay Moncel, 3:27:42
F50-54 Heather Anderson, 4:38:10
M55-59 CJ Stafford, 4:57:04
F55-59 Yun Saksena, 4:09:05
M60-64 Robb Reece, 3:24:41
M65-69 Brent Peacock, 2:50:00
M70-74 Mark Lindsey, 4:18:47
Off Road/Cross Triathlon Sprint National Championship
750m swim, 12k mountain bike, 5k run
Complete Results
Overall Male Tavish Quinn, 1:16:29
Overall Female Michelle Lingenfelser, 1:52:31
M14- C. Lockett, 1:35:47
M15-19 Tavish Quinn, 1:16:29
M35-39 Michael Schleckser, 1:50:47
M40-44 Justin Young, 1:45:18
F40-44 Laura Marinaro, 1:59:40
M45-49 Daniel Rossi, 1:24:42
F45-49 Nicole Morgan, 1:54:49
M50-54 Angel Martinez Ineriano, 1:31:35
F50-54 Michelle Lingenfelser, 1:52:31
M55-59 Stephen Schwarze, 1:25:14
M60-64 Curtis Miller, 1:40:54
F60-64 Nancy Hopf, 2:07:36
M65-69 Mark Drangsholt, 1:46:218
F65-69 Gunilla Gard, 2:10:15
M70-74 Steve Cole, 1:36:54
F70-74 Susan Griffin-Kaklikian, 1:57:23
Off Road/Cross Duathlon Sprint National Championship
2.5k run, 12k mountain bike, 5k run
Complete Results
Overall Male Saxby Stradinger 1:09:25
Overall Female Monica Doval, 1:38:49
Overall Clydesdale Trevor Horton, 2:23:56
Clydesdale 0-39 Trevor Horton, 2:23:56
Clydesdale 40-59 Bramer Owens, 1:47:40
M15-19 Callen Quinn, 1:34:58
M30-34 Brian Scheel, 1:43:43
M35-39 Saxby Stradinger 1:09:25
M40-44 Bryce Fluker, 1:11:52
F40-44 Morgan Aldridge, 1:39:23
M45-49 Michael Szermer, 1:34:03
F45-49 Monica Doval, 1:38:49
F50-54 Anonymous, 2:04:11
M55-59 Travis Wales, 1:19:48
F55-59 Lupe Nelson, 2:08:03
M60-64 Steve Smith, 1:14:18
F60-64 Kim Wagner, 2:23:41
M65-69 Joseph Swartz, 1:46:33
F65-69 Christine Knight, 1:57:14
M80-84 Bill Arnerich, 3:30:30
Austin, TX
Central Texas aquifers could see slight boost after week of rainfall
AUSTIN, Texas – This week’s rainfall across Central Texas could help to bring a much-needed boost to the region’s aquifers, which have been operating at dangerously low levels.
The backstory:
On Tuesday, the Austin area saw over an inch of rain while Georgetown received close to six inches, as the San Gabriel River rose over six feet throughout the day.
But the heavy downpour was a welcome sight for Shay Hlavaty, the communications and outreach manager at the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District.
Created by the state of Texas in 1987, the District oversees segments of the Edwards and Trinity Aquifers, stretching from South Austin to southern San Marcos.
In total, the portions of the aquifers they oversee provide water to around 100,000 people.
“Groundwater is a significant water source, you know. It’s kind of the unsung hero of Texas,” says Hlavaty.
But over the last few years, the region’s groundwater levels have been in decline.
“Since January 2022, we are missing over a year’s worth of rainfall. So, in the Austin area, we get about 32 to 34 inches a year. And so over that time, we have, you know, a 30-plus inch deficit,” says Hlavaty.
Since October, the District has been under a stage three exceptional drought. Those conditions are determined by two indicators: spring flow at Barton Springs and groundwater levels at the Lovelady Monitor Well.
If either of these locations drops below a drought threshold, the District could declare a more intense drought stage.
By the numbers:
Some of the latest data shows that Barton Springs isn’t performing as it needs to support the ongoing growth of the region.
“To put it into reference, the average since about 1978 at Barton springs is 60 CFS. That’s cubic feet per second. And one cubic foot is about the size of a beach ball, an average beach ball. So, 60 beach balls of water coming out every second from Barton Springs. Before this rainfall, we were closer to 12 CFS, so only 12 beach balls coming out every second, so that’s less than a quarter of average,” says Hlavaty.
That same data also shows that the Lovelady Well is 453.8 feet above mean sea level. That’s only 5 inches above the Stage 4 Emergency Response Threshold.
“This isn’t something that’s going to go away. Even if we busted this drought and get out of it, the next drought is going to be around the corner,” says Hlavaty.
Dig deeper:
But this week’s rain did provide a small boost, helping to prevent the district from potentially falling into a deeper stage of drought.
“So, we’re still in that stage three exceptional level, and this rainfall will help us stay out of that stage four emergency,” Hlavaty told FOX 7. “It’ll help stabilize, if not increase groundwater levels and spring flow.”
The total rainfall for the Austin area in April so far is 4.14 inches, well above the typical total average for the month, which is 2.42 inches. But that sort of above precipitation must continue if there is to be any chance of drought levels decreasing.
“We really need to have above average rainfall for months, if not years, to bust this drought,” says Hlavaty.
What you can do:
As May approaches, which typically brings the most rainfall throughout the year, Hlavaty urges people to cut back on water use when they can, especially watering their lawns, which can consume large amounts of drinking water.
And as Central Texas continues to see a boom in population, combined with hotter than average temperatures for February and March, conservation is as important as ever.
“It’s important to remember that a little bit of rain here, a little bit of rain there, isn’t going to best the drought. So, we all have to do our role to help conserve resources in the meantime,” says Hlavaty.
The Source: Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin’s Marco Bitonel
Austin, TX
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