My Fiancee and I sat at the counter by the kitchen and absolutely loved our experience. The kitchen and wait staff were very friendly and knowledgeable with their recommendations. Tried about 15 different food items and everything was delicious.
We were so sad to hear that Qui, our favorite place to do a tasting menu, closed... But then we heard that Paul Qui had opened a new concept, Kuneho, in its place. We went on our anniversary last night, and we were not disappointed! If you're looking for a place to sit and not be rushed and try multiple items that are amazing, then this is it! Incredible staff, awesome food... give it a try!
Some interesting items to try. Sitting at the bar can be hot but fun to watch the open kitchen and the cooks. Enter the parking right under the sign that says "no turn". The building has only one sign of "Kuneho" vertically on the outside corner - may be difficult to find the first time. The menu is somewhat cryptic - make sure you ask at length in order not to miss some interesting items to try out.
I took my parents to Qui and it was a great experience. The food was perfectly cooked and the service was on par. I think my favorite thing was the drinks- they had a wide variety of different cocktails for all palettes and they constantly change the menu to keep it fresh. I also really like the newer bar food menu- definitely good for someone who doesn't want to spend too much for a fancy meal but still wants to try the place out.
We sat at the chefs counter and loved it. The service staff had the bartender prepare a wonderful mocktail for me. Every single small plate I ordered was wonderful. Our chef/guide was knowledgeable and friendly as well, he was an expert guide for our experience. One of the managers came by and checked on our meal which was very nice. I will be back!!!
I love the venue. It's simple and clean but very modern and elegant. The kitchen is mostly open so you can see the chefs prepping your food which is always interesting to me. My fiance took me here for my birthday and I loved every bite. The plates are a bit small and hard to share but so worth it. The flavor combinations seem strange on paper but are divine. Paul Qui and his staff definitely know how to make your senses excited. Paul Qui was present that night and even delivered an off the menu/on the house birthday surprise that was just as incredible as everything else I devoured that night! Definitely top of my list!
Great atmosphere, with open view of the huge kitchen and all the activity therein. Good pacing, allowing for an enjoyable time for our large group (7). I was pleased with the items I ordered; I found the items I did not order but sampled from my friends' plates to be hit or miss - some great, some not my cup of tea (I didn't order those items myself for a reason). Only downside was we did have a reservation, but still had to wait about 15-20 minutes for our table to be ready, so that's something to consider when planning your trip.
This was actually one of the most amazing sushi restaurants that I have ever been to and we have visited multiple places in multiple states and countries. The night I went there with my daughter we met the top Chef, Paul Qui and he couldn't of been more gracious. Actually, I have to say this is one of the best sushi restaurants that I have ever been to with so many options and so many different ways of making sushi. I recommend it highly and plan to go back as often as I can. Also, the staff is so polite and so accommodating I could go on and on with positive statements. The best ever
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I came to qui for a birthday dinner and was blown away by both the food and the experience. While typically closed on Sundays, they opted to open during ACL weekend. Fortunately for us, no one seemed to realize this change and we had almost the entire restaurant to ourselves. Perhaps as a result of this, the service was exceptional and probably the best I've ever experienced. Our waiter exuded professionalism and had an impressive knowledge concerning the intricacies of every dish we were served.
We ordered both of the prix fixe options (regular + vegetarian) and shared the dishes. Each dish was perfectly composed and the presentation beautiful. My only complaint is that some of the servings were somewhat meager. I guess that's just a tradeoff at these kinds of upscale restaurants.
The modern decor of this establishment is well-suited to the culinary offerings. The dishes and utensils were all unique and often had a story behind them (just ask the waiter!). While much too expensive for regular dining, qui is a fantastic place for a big date. Just be sure to make the reservation at least two weeks in advance to guarantee a reasonable timeslot.
Hernan "The Essence" made our night an unforgettable one!!' My wife and I were celebrating our 3 year anniversary and we decided to go with the taste testing menu! My wife has a tolerance to sugar so they did their best to make sure to remove any sugar they could such as add ins or sauces that have not already been added.
The whole staff were friendly from the beginning and the food was outstanding! When it came to dessert, the back of the house were able to make my wife a sugar free dessert which was fresh and tasted delicious! It was the first time a restaurant was able to accommodate my wife when it came time to enjoy dessert! Thanks for making our night an enjoyable one, and next time you go to Qui, make sure "The Essence" takes care of you and your friends!
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Since it's owned by Paul Qui of Top Chef fame (even though he's much more accomplished than just that), I had to come try this place, even if it was by myself. I ordered Paul's Picks (which is their version of the tasting menu) and it was fabulous.
Location: The restaurant itself is located in an area that is a bit grungy (lots of food trucks around and music etc) but the atmosphere inside was airy, spacious with an open kitchen so you see all the action. There's also an outdoors patio (with a different bar menu) but you don't have to wait in line. You can also sit at the chef's counter if you want to get closer to the action.
Food: I had high expectations of this place mainly because Paul kicked ass on top chef and he's like one of the stars in Austin. I checked some reviews and saw that the Rabbit 7 Ways is amazing (but they didn't have it on the menu that day). The tasting menu consisted of Oyster, Fish Toaste, Salad, Ode to Michael Bras (veges), Kare Kare, Dinuguan (Gnocchi), Halo Halo (Traditional Filippino desert). The oyster started off ok, a bit salty but I'm like, ok, let's see what else but everything else was amazing. I was shocked at how good the veges were, the sauce, the freshness and the perfect balance of flavors. The Gnocchi was so soft like pillows and some people love the sauce which they give you brioche bread to dip into but I'm only so so. To finish off the Halo Halo was amazing, it had so much flavor and a perfect end to the meal. I generally don't love Asian Fusion food but the food here was very very good. Highly recommend.
Service: Had a dedicated person who was extremely friendly and helpful in recommending drinks and food. Paul is also there to help out in the restaurant and on the floor. He wears extremely skinny jeans with cowboy boots - which is kinda cool, something I cannot fit in even if I wanted to.
Overall, everything was great and would love to come back when I'm next in Austin.
From beginning to end, meeting Alex Gonzalez, sorry for any spelling errors sir, to getting a drink to eating the cuisine, you obviously have everything "clicking" here!! The food is so good it makes you want to shed a tear!!😂 Top Chef Paul Qui has the most amazing back story/bio I have read in a long time!!!! The dedication that his staff has to excellent service and extraordinary food is by far the best I have ever tried!! Thank you so much for treating my wife and I!!💯
We originally came to Qui for a date night, and I think it ended up being a great choice. The atmosphere is more casual than I expected for an upscale restaurant, but the food was easily upscale quality and worth the money. While waiting for a table, you can sit at the bar and order delicious cocktails. It honestly didn't feel like waiting at all.
We ordered the Ode to Michel Bras (a vegetable dish) and a sashimi dish to start. Both were good. However, I was not blown away until our main course: Rabbit 7 Ways. It was a splay of rabbit cooked every way imaginable, from rabbit-infused Miso soup to rabbit confit, and every bite was an amazing experience.
To top off our meal, we ordered the Cheddar Cheese Ice Cream sandwich and it was "OH MY GOD" good! Salty, savory, and sweet, crunchy and creamy all at once in a heavenly morsel of deliciousness. Easily one of the best desserts I've ever had.
Overall, I highly recommend Qui if you are looking for a new and impressive dining experience.
Qui's food is renown - fresh seafood with some Texan flair that's hard to category - and amazing but I want to cover other aspects. The architecture and scenery is amazing. Indoor seating allows full view of all chefs plying their craft and outdoor seating provides covered and open-aired views of night life along bustling E 6th. The bar has an extended range of liquors from around the world and offers unique cocktails meant to challenge the palate just as much as the food does. Every employee is extremely knowledgeable of the menu and can drop a ton of knowledge on you if you're so inclined to learn. Qui's prices aren't cheap as they've moved to a tasting menu indoor but if you're looking for a top of the line experience in a great atmosphere it's second to none, in Austin or otherwise.
awesome, even though i thought it would be full, find a good time to go nomrally right after work in a weekday, the place will have space, several waiters to help you out which is awesome for a place that tends to get busy (anyone could take your order) you get to see the kitchen and chefs, everyone is nice, polite and helpful, and are not afraid to state their opinions about the menu.
dessert is amazing, i normally tend to disregard it, but there's no way cheddar cheese ice cream sandwiches could not be extraordinary
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As a huge Paul Qui fan, I have been anticipating the opening of Qui for a long time. Before they officially opened I saw a fb status saying they were doing a soft opening. My girlfriend and I rushed out the door and headed straight there at 5pm.
Decor - The exterior of Qui is a little out of place from the rest of the buildings next to it; the best way to describe it is a very modern looking house. Walking up the front patio we were slightly confused as there weren't that many people dining. We even thought this was the wrong restaurant. But an employee assured us that this was indeed Qui and that they technically weren't open yet but were taking in customers. The interior is all decorated in wood, which my girlfriend loves (haha). We were immediately seated and the waiter never gave us a menu. The reason being is that the menu was already nicely tucked inside the napkin. The waiter later told us that the menu was for us to keep as a souvenir when we leave.
Food - So far we heard a lot about the Cheddar Cheese Ice Cream Sandwich, but we wanted to try other stuff on the menu. We got the Catfish Like Unagi and it was very tender and full of flavor. I will never look at catfish the same way again. Since we were tight on a budget, we went straight for the ice cream sandwich next and it changed my life. It was definitely not what I expected, and was everything I expected. Moto says "Do not share" this dish. I wish I had ordered more like the Ode to Michel Bras and the Rabbit 7 Ways. I really want to try the prime dry-aged ribeye but it's really expensive. I would recommend sharing all the dishes with a group to split the costs and to taste everything at the same time.
Another thing I like about Qui is that Paul uses local Austin businesses to make Qui unique. The aprons the employees wear are all handmade yet each apron is uniquely designed. The dish plates are also all handmade and each one is different. I love how Paul can utilize different local businesses in a restaurant, even if they have relatively no relation whatsoever.
Lucky for us, they gave each of us a $20 coupon to use on our next visit. Since they have officially opened, I have heard the wait time to be between 1 hr 45 mins to 3 hrs. I'll probably try to go early on a weekday to avoid the long lines...but it's definitely happening no matter what.
What a fun and quirky restaurant in East Austin! Try Qui's Pulutan Menu to get a taste of some of the quintessential FIlipino dishes! They are just the perfect size of a few flavorful bites. It seems like there's a lot of fun and delicious events happening at Qui this summer. They are starting a prix fixe tasting menu only type of service this week. Tonight, they also had Kabob Rob's at Qui's fun patio which offers $2 kabobs and $2 beer slushies. It was a hopping atmosphere on a Wednesday night! We can't wait to come back. Oh, Paul stopped by our table three times to check on us and serve our last dish. Friendly and efficient service from all the service staff not just from Paul.
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