Chen's Noodle House
This tiny hole-in-the-wall seems airlifted directly from a Chinese street corner. The kitchen rolls out inexpensive yet first-class meat dumplings and makes hand-cut noodles for their warming soups (beef and lamb) and stir fries. The stunning green onion pancakes flake apart like butterfly wings, while lamb skewers are seasoned with plenty of salt and curry.
8650 Spicewood Springs Rd. #127
512/336-8888
chensnoodlehouseaustin.com/
More First Plates awards