Methods and apparatus for token-based admission control for replicated writes are disclosed. Data objects are divided into partitions, and corresponding to each partition, at least a master replica and a slave replica are stored. A determination as to whether to accept a write request directed to the partition is made based at least in part on one or more of (a) available throughput capacity at the master replica, and (b) an indication, obtained using a token-based protocol, of available throughput capacity at the slave replica. If the write request is accepted, one or more data modification operations are initiated.