El Raval Opens Where Barlata Used to Be, Wu Chow Expands, Mueller Scores Big (Again), Bouldin Creek Welcomes Underdog, Tso Is So North Now, 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.

Here's just some of the food from chef David Whalen at the new Underdog on South First. Mmmm, wanna race us there?

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

Oh! There are more changes afoot in the big city! (One might say: Well, duh.) After 10 years at 1500 S. Lamar, chef Daniel Olivella folded his tapas restaurant, Barlata, and sold it to Laila Bazahm, most recently of Eberly. And now, on Fri., May 12, Bazahm will unveil El Raval – named for the diverse neighborhood in Barcelona where she used to live and work. El Raval's hours will be Mon.-Thu., 4-10pm; Fri.-Sat., 4-11pm; and Sun., 4-9pm. And there's more details right here…

On the Friday after that – Fri., May 19, to be precise – the Chameleon Companies group is opening (at 38th & Lamar) a second location of their modern Chinese restaurant Wu Chow. In addition to longtime favorites on the classic menu, Wu Chow North will also feature large-format, family-style dishes specific to the new location…

We’ve “complained” before, haven’t we, about how the Mueller community seems to get all the good things? The Alamo Drafthouse. Kerbey Lane Cafe. The Thinkery. Lick Honest Ice Creams. Marufuku Ramen. Rebel Cheese. Origin Austin Hotel. That especially gorgeous H-E-B. And, well, now look: The sprawling mixed-use development in Central East Austin have announced that Hopdoddy Burger Bar and Honest Mary’s will join its Aldrich Street strip in 2024. Heaven help us if Mueller ever decides to secede from Austin, right?

And hello, Bouldin Creek! Underdog, a new wine bar, restaurant and retail space, has opened in that neighborhood (as of May 10), at 1600 S. First, on the ground floor of the StoryBuilt development. Underdog will serve a wine-friendly food menu from chef de cuisine David Whalen (a native Texan who’s worked in Michelin-starred kitchens in San Francisco and Chicago) and Morgan McGlone (from Belles Hot Chicken in Sydney, Australia, and Husk in Nashville). Among other delicious dishes, the menu will include a Korean version of McGlone's fried chicken, handmade noodles with mentaiko and uni, smoked eel terrine, and a crispy potato & leek pancake with caviar…

And Sushi|Bar ATX, the popular Eastside bastion of sea-forward goodness, is doubling in size and taking over the entire building (2600 E. Cesar Chavez) previously occupied by (the sadly missed) Bento Picnic…

And at that nearby powerhouse of Korean American cuisine, Oseyo (1628 Cesar Chavez), the delightful Anju Baju pop-up is happening every Thursday night (4:30-10pm through the end of this year), featuring live music, a special menu of affordable, street-food-style plates like K-dogs, perilla fritters, veggie pancakes, furikake popcorn, and more – as well as natural wine and cocktail pairings…

Meanwhile, even farther south, the newest iteration of Via 313 is preparing to debut at 3944 FM 620 S. in Bee Cave – with an actual ribbon-cutting ceremony on Mon., May 15, 6-10pm…

Also, to the north a bit – okay, all the way up in Round Rock, tbh – the newest outpost of Tso Chinese Delivery will be opening (at 2000 N. Mays#108 in that burgeoning suburb) on Sat., May 27, at 11am. Yes: Round Rock. Funny how most everything worthwhile seems to leapfrog over good ol’ Pflugerville, hmmm?

And Mike Warnock's offerings at Juniper? How they say, *chef's kiss*

And, let’s see – what else, what else? Mother’s Day dining options, yes, we have them for you (we recommend this one, especially)… and Estelle’s Social Lounge – which we can safely assume is a lounge in which one may pleasurably socialize – will soon be revealed at 400 Colorado, from the movers-and-shakers of NoCo Hospitality… and Antonelli’s is showcasing a seven-course cheese tasting (and chocolate flight) at the Driskill Hotel on the evening of Thu., May 25… and Haris Qureshi tells us “Where to Find Desi Pizza in Austin”… and even RM Beedit would be glad to know that the Italian restaurant Juniper (2400 E. Cesar Chavez) is offering an à la carte menu by chef Mike Warnock for the first time since those ’ronas came to town… and look away if you want dirt or dissing, because we’ve got little but a happy rave about what’s up at Fogo de Chão’s new location… and, speaking of exquisitely cooked beeves, the terrific Texas team behind Perry’s Steakhouse will be opening the second location of their CARVE American Grille concept in June – at the Grove (2613 Perseverance)…

WUXTRY! Austin’s favorite barbecue maestro, Aaron Franklin, will be signing copies of his newest book, Franklin Smoke, at the Little Longhorn Saloon (5434 Burnet Rd.) on Sat., May 13, at 6:30pm…

Now eat as well as you can, tip like it’s going out of style, and remember that two days at a time is probably one too many.