The Loren Hotel Welcomes Moody Tongue for its First-Ever Pop-Up Experience In Texas
The World’s Only MICHELIN Starred Brewery now open at The Loren Cafe, Offering an Exclusive Sushi & Beer Pairing Experience Through October 2026
AUSTIN, Texas — The Loren Hotel Austin, the city’s award-winning destination hotel, has partnered with Moody Tongue Sushi, the acclaimed sushi concept in New York City from the world’s only MICHELIN-starred brewery founded in Chicago. Beginning Thursday, July 2, The Cafe at The Loren Hotel Austin will transform each evening into an intimate à la carte sushi and beer pairing experience, starting at 5:00pm, Tuesday-Saturday. The notable culinary offering will be available to hotel guests and locals through October 2026.
Moody Tongue Sushi will showcase a seasonally-driven menu helmed by Executive Sushi Chef Hiromi Iwakiri. He brings over 25 years of Japanese culinary expertise and has led the Moody Tongue Sushi kitchen since the brand’s New York City debut in 2023. The menu will feature à la carte maki rolls, hand rolls and nigiri crafted with premium proteins and local, seasonal ingredients, alongside Moody Tongue’s celebrated beer portfolio. Highlights include the Sesame Salmon Maki Roll with scallion, sesame seeds, sesame oil, ginger and cilantro; the Torched A5 Miyazaki Wagyu Ribeye Hand Roll with garlic, breadcrumbs and wasabi horseradish cream; and the Spicy Tuna “Sushi Taco” with Calabrian chili spicy mayo, sesame and scallion. The food menu is complemented by Moody Tongue’s celebrated beer portfolio, including the Toasted Rice Lager, Daidai Pilsner, Juiced Lychee IPA, Orange Blossom Belgian Blonde, and Allstar Peach Sour, as well as a curated selection of specialty martinis ranging from the bright and fruity Clementine Martini and Lychee Martini to the savory Blue Cheese Olive Martini and the indulgent Espresso Martini. Pairings are encouraged but entirely optional, and guests are welcome to order as much or as little as they like.
“We look forward to sharing the Moody Tongue experience with our guests and the Austin community for the first time in Texas. Our collective brands are built on the idea that details matter and the most memorable experiences come from genuine craft and intentionality,” says Michael Chin, General Manager, The Loren Hotel Austin. “Moody Tongue is a perfect addition to our culinary offerings and we look forward to showcasing their unique approach that combines the art of sushi with the technique of brewing to deliver a stellar dining experience.”
Founded in 2014 by cousins Jared Rouben and Jeremy Cohn, Chicago’s Moody Tongue Brewing Company is built on the philosophy of culinary brewing, appealing to those who keep a discerning palate, or as they describe it, a “moody tongue.” A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and the Siebel Institute of Technology, brewmaster Rouben worked in several MICHELIN-starred kitchens before turning to brewing. He approaches every recipe with a chef’s mindset to highlight layers of flavor and aromatics in carefully balanced beers. Moody Tongue is the only wholesale brewery in the world to hold a MICHELIN star, appearing in the Chicago MICHELIN Guide every year from 2021 through 2025 for The Dining Room at Moody Tongue in Chicago’s South Loop. Their sushi concept, Moody Tongue Sushi, which is located in New York City’s West Village, holds MICHELIN selection status.
Reservations are open to the public and hotel guests and are available now here, with a limited number of walk-in seats available.
ABOUT THE LOREN HOTEL AUSTIN:
The Loren Hotel Austin features 108 well-appointed guest rooms and suites, all with lake and city views. The hotel welcomes guests to a greenhouse in the park, complete with destination restaurant Nido, milk + honey spa, 24-7 access fitness center, Cafe, rooftop terrace with infinity pool and signature event space with 180-degree views. The hotel was recently awarded two highly-esteemed travel accolades after being included in both Conde Nast Traveler’s and Travel + Leisure’s 2023 List of Best New Hotels in the World. Ideally located in close proximity to downtown Austin, guests can easily explore the city via the pedestrian bridge across the street from the hotel or complimentary e-bikes available upon request. The Loren Hotel Austin joins the brand’s flagship property, The Loren at Pink Beach in Bermuda, which opened in 2017. For more information, please visit https://www.thelorenhotels.com/austin.
