Veracruz All Natural Is at Mueller, Yellowbird Is at Taco Bell, La Popular’s at Lantana, Truluck’s Is Gonna Move, Here Comes Songkran Again, and More

Here’s some of what's happening in Austin's culinary scene – as wrangled from numerous PR releases, words on the digital street, and even the occasional (verified) IRL eavesdroppings.

Yes, citizen, it’s your “Food News Buffet” for the third week of April.

Veracruz All Natural used to look like this – but wait 'til you see the new brick & mortar!

So much going on in this town right now, we’ve been spitting out the posts like whoa with all sorts of news. About how Austin’s Yellowbird Hot Sauce has teamed up with Taco Bell … about the closing of Hyde Park’s JuiceLand location … about what the barbecue savants at LeRoy & Lewis are opening in South Austin … about JewBoy Burgers moving into Fareground with a new Sliders concept … about how Project Pollo, the local vegan chicken sandwich chain, has been sold to a national buyer …

We already told you about how Aaron Lyons’ Dish Society is coming to the Mueller neighborhood this fall, and now there’s this: Reyna and Maritza Vazquez of Veracruz All Natural have opened a new restaurant right across the street from Mueller Lake Park (1905 Aldrich #125). The new table-service eatery is called Veracruz Fonda & Bar and boasts a modern, traditional dinner menu, specializing in antojitos and plates inspired by the sisters’ mother’s restaurant in Veracruz. There’s a full bar, too, developed with Osvaldo Vazquez of Bitter Barrel, featuring original signature cocktails, beers, and wines …

Meanwhile – the temporal concept, yes, not the brewery – meanwhile, at Lantana Place (7415 Southwest Parkway), a new upscale restaurant called La Popular is preparing to bring the culture and cuisine of Mexico City via chef Cesar de la Parra and his menu of authentic dishes. And, as above, there’ll be primo booze in this source of superlative sabor, too: An extensive agave-centric cocktail program featuring more than 80 labels of tequila and mezcal, curated by La Popular’s beveragemaster Trevor Tyler …

And the so-called Dirdie Birdie is open now, too – bringing its elevated, immersive, locally themed, 12-hole mini-golf course and accompanying fancy noms to the bright new space at 10920 Domain Dr. Yes, chef Nic Yanes will be whipping out the culinary brilliance while you and your pallies (only ages 21+ after 6pm, please note) putt and sip cocktails and make like Sam Snead in paradise for only $18 …

Say, is that Downtown Austin or a game of Tetris? Remember how Brazilian steakhouse Fogo de Chão shifted just a few blocks away from its previous locale earlier this year? Now Truluck’s, that bodacious bastion of superior seafood, is scooching over to 300 Colorado. The new venue will dazzle with a two-level restaurant featuring a main floor bar and dining room and a mezzanine-level dining room, bar, and outdoor patio with sweeping views of the city skyline. For real: Sweeping views! But we, jaded metropolitans all, care more about the food: miso-glazed sea bass (served with crab fried rice and chilled cucumber slaw), sesame-seared tuna, prime king crab, South African lobster tails, and all the rest of the oceanic treasures rising like a delicious tide from the acclaimed kitchens. When? Sometime this May, they tell us …

Mmmmm, the Prawn Stir Fry at Sway really puts a Songkran in our heart …

And, let’s see – what else, what else? Songkran – that celebration of the Thai, Lao, Cambodian, and Burmese New Year – is upon us again, hurray, and we’re glad to note that Sway’s got a weeklong feast going on, and Fierce Whiskers is hosting a party with chef Bob Somsith on Saturday … and chef Michael Carranza is workin’ the CBD edibles from Calibrate for a 10-course omakase next Thursday … and our A. Richmond has a review of Southwest Austin’s Golden Hour restaurant and wine bar …

WUXTRY! One Wednesday each month, the contemporary American restaurant Acre 41 (1901 San Antonio St.) opens its private dining room for “Pour the Record,” an experience where whiskey and vinyl tunes mingle for an unforgettable evening. This month's iteration (Wed., April 26, 6-8pm) will feature an exclusive whiskey tasting from Jefferson’s Bourbon …

Now eat as well as you can, tip like it’s going out of style, and please give yourself a break every now and then – because you deserve it.