Aburi Group Opens TORA, a Sushi Restaurant with Robotic Cart Service in Tech Ridge East Village

February 14, 2026

Aburi Restaurant Group opened TORA this week at Tech Ridge's East Village, located at 3500 E. Parmer Lane, Suite 8110. The restaurant represents Aburi's second Austin effort, following a Fareground pop-up last year, and marks its first permanent location in the city.

Founder Seigo Nakamura designed the space around a tech-driven dining flow, where guests place orders through a digital interface. Plates arrive on motorized carriages that run along an interior lane, a service style that builds on robotic delivery work introduced locally by Rikki Wang at Space Cowboy in 2024.

The dining room favors a restrained, cinematic aesthetic, with slate gray booths and slick gunmetal finishes that create a low-light, intimate atmosphere. Large screens display scenes of rainy Tokyo streets, contributing to a focused setting that contrasts with the open layout of traditional conveyor-belt sushi restaurants.

Menu offerings emphasize Aburi's signature seared technique and precise seasoning. Diners will find a wide selection of seafood, including scallop, sea urchin, eel, bluefin, and various cuts of fatty tuna, alongside specialties like aburi oshi shrimp and seared prime squid.

Specific bites highlighted by the kitchen include tender red prawn and maguro nigiri, sea urchin wrapped in seaweed, and a shrimp preparation served with a creamy, earthy sauce. Side dishes and desserts round out the menu, with oyster fries and a rich chestnut cake among the selections.

Rice is prepared with red vinegar to support texture and flavor, and the kitchen aims to present dishes that need no extra seasoning at the table. While robotic carts deliver most food items, curated beer, wine, and sake selections are brought to guests by hand.

TORA positions itself as an upscale option for North Austin diners and as part of Tech Ridge's effort to expand East Village as a destination for high-end dining. The restaurant lists details and reservations on its website, aburitoraus.com, and is open to the public now.

Visitors and neighbors can expect a blend of modern service technology, deliberate presentation, and the Aburi group's established approach to sushi and small plates, all under one roof in the new development.