Cover Story
Over 100 of the Best and Brightest Restaurants in Austin
Our favorite restaurants broken down by neighborhood
Austin’s Own Miss Kitty Litter Joins Camp Wannakiki Cast
Local drag star will compete for the ultimate Queen of Camp badge
Five Arty Things To Do this Weekend
What’s happening in the Austin arts scene this weekend?
Local Married Couple Flaunts Public Comedy Habit
Chloe and Lane Ingram are … Chlane
Stream the Synth-Pocalypse on Pinkish Black’s Concept Unification
Texan twosome shares new LP and email Q&A
Slamming With Damien Abraham For Viceland’s The Wrestlers
The hardcore singer grabs hold of the global pro-wrestling explosion
Mayor, Jolt Leader Respond to Trump’s Immigration Threats
As 2020 campaign begins, the president promises massive deportations
Former Snack Bar Owners Launch GoFundMe for New Bar
Funds raised will help open Bobo’s Snack Bar in Cherrywood
Listen: Amigo the Devil Revisits “Cocaine and Able”
Bridge City Sessions offers sparse vision of dark folk soloist
Austin-Travis County EMS Saves Real Lives on First Responders Live
Why are local emergency medical services on Fox’s popular TV show?
First Look: Frances Ferguson
Take a look at the newest sly drama from Bob Byington
Screening of Willie Nelson’s Red Headed Stranger Announced for Luck, Texas
The Eighties Western comes to the town built for the movie
AAAFF Review: “Sister”
Short film is a letter to the children of China’s One Child Policy
Review: black girl love: an adaptation project
GenEnCo play emphasizes range of gender roles, relationships
Watch: Big Cedar Fever’s New Western Swing
Barnstorming Hill Country swing trio drops new EP and video
Division Head Steps Down at Rooster Teeth Animation
Studio to address worker stress, conditions
First Look: The Obamas Become Producers With American Factory
Upcoming Netflix documentary finds culture clash within global trade
Greg Abbott Signs “Beer-to-Go” Bill at Austin Beerworks
Texas becomes final state in the country to allow such sales
East Austin Planned Parenthood Safe … For Now
New state law shouldn’t impact East Seventh clinic
A Roe v. Wade Conversation With Wendy Davis and the Attorneys Who Argued the Landmark Case
Sarah Weddington and Linda Coffee on abortion rights today
AAAFF Review: Omotenashi
Japanese/Taiwanese family story is a glimpse into tradition
6 Austin-Based Podcasts You Should Be Listening To
These homegrown podcasts are original, diverse, and sure to entertain
WWC: Previewing the Group Stage Finales
Four more days of group stage games climax with U.S.-Sweden on Thursday
First Look: Attack of the Demons
Austin animator Eric Power debuts latest at Cinepocalypse today
Protesters Descend On Leander Family Pride Event
LGBTQ activists and allies turn out to support attendees
American Hasi takes comedy from L.A. to India and Back Again
Comedian Tushar Singh quests for connection in this new documentary
Mr. Natural – A Family Affair
The Mendoza family runs the Eastside restaurant and store with love
Weekend Wine
Faustino’s Crianza, a bright red Rioja wine
The Ones Who Will Take Your Dead
Director’s real life experiences with gang members inspire horror
WWC: What We Know So Far
The Women’s World Cup: Results so far, plus a look ahead.
Congressional Candidates Begin to Multiply
Six Austin districts pointing to March primaries
Bullock Museum Commemorates 100 Years of Women’s Suffrage in Texas
“Sister Suffragist” tackles the timeline of women’s rights
The Dead Don’t Die
After the vampiric bite of Only Lovers Left Alive, Jim Jarmusch shambles through this zombie flick
American Woman
Sienna Miller pulls pages from a journal of loss in small town
Men in Black: International
The MiB stay Earthbound in a sequel saved by its stars
Shaft
Three Shafts are definitely worse than one in this failed revival of the blaxploitation classic
The Last Black Man in San Francisco
A gentle, poetic look at gentrification that shimmers with the winds of history
Los Coast Album Review
Samsara (New West)
Texas Platters
Again teaming up with Spoon drummer and producer Jim Eno, Adult finally begins to define Walker Lukens’ unique sound. Amid the local glitch groover’s kitchen-sink approach to his third LP, he torques intoxicating beats. Opener “Tear It Out My Heart” blasts a touch of classic Ghostland Observatory and “We See U” slinks along coyly. Where…
Former Austin Firefighter Faces New Sex Charges
Marcus Reed now accused of indecency with a child and aggravated perjury
L’Oca d’Oro
Chef Fiore Tedesco – half rock & roll, half rigatoni ragù – wants to cook you up some unpretentious but downright luxurious Italian cuisine based on local and sustainable produce and meats. He wants to serve it to you with wine, in his elegant Mueller-based dining rooms, all the while making admirable waves in progressive…
Dean’s One Trick Pony
If Arlo Grey (by celebrity chef Kristen Kish) at the LINE Downtown is a little too chichi for your tastes, perhaps the hotel’s more casual Dean’s is more your speed. That is, if your speed is Don Draper’s backyard cookout: burgers, hot dogs, hot chicken, and a wedge salad, for God’s sake. Don’t forget the…
Ramen Tatsu-ya
Many of us became obsessed with noodles thanks to an affection for Eighties and Nineties Asian crime dramas: In almost every film, there is a scene of a meal shared between cohorts, cops, or often just regular people. And they slurp those noodles, and they spoon that broth, and we’re like, “That looks like the…
la Barbecue
LeAnn Mueller carries on the family name with her East Austin BBQ joint, specializing in locally sourced, grass-fed meats smoked low and slow, served alongside classic sides and house-made pickles or in crazy sandwich combos.
Eldorado Cafe
Walk into this bustling restaurant at literally any time between open and close and you’re immediately hit with a cacophony of conversation, sizzling plates, and clanking paloma cocktails. All of these converge into a wonderful mélange, from the acutely attentive and tireless staff to that short rib salpicon with the cheesy rice. The vibe here…
Beirut
No matter where this truck goes, hungry Austinites follow in search of smoky baba ghanoush and sumac-topped falafel spreads. This Lebanese trailer is a delight for both vegetarians and carnivores, and there’s always a delicious twist on the classics (love the rose-flavored lemonade).
Li’l Nonna’s
When this vegetarian pizza trailer ditched the dairy for an all-vegan menu last fall, Austin vegans rejoiced. But herbivore or not, their house-made vegan mozzarella is unparalleled, as are pies like the Meat Out (who knew beeteroni was so satisfyingly delicious?) and VBR (verde bianco rosso) with balsamic glaze, roasted garlic, and fresh arugula.
Juliet Italian Kitchen
Sure, Juliet’s menu of scratch-made classic Italian-American fare includes treasures like cioppino, spaghetti Bolognese, and grilled octopus, but they also boast a solid $16 prix fixe power lunch with crowd-favorite chicken piccata. And yes, they’ve still got rosé all day for brunch – perfect for sippin’ on their poppin’ patio.
Pool Burger
So, you’re by a pool … and you want a burger? If you’re near Deep Eddy, you’re in luck: This part-permanently-parked-Airstream/part-cinderblock-and-jukebox hang zone sits between the popular spring-fed pond and Deep Eddy Cabaret. It’s best you add crinkle-cut fries to your choice of tasty buns and Wagyu beef patties, along with tiki drinks, craft beer,…
Austin Asian American Film Festival Raises Its Profile
Asian cinema is back on the calendar and AAAFF celebrates its filmmakers
Texas Platters
Two solo albums already logged, Matthew Logan Vasquez punches in ambitious and exploratory on Light’n Up. The ex-Texan examines his heartland heart from across the Atlantic, with his new Norwegian lodgings name-checked on the LP finale. Pointillistic touches like somber, sitar-like bass runs and Parisian accordions elevate tales of growing pains, working blues, and fatherhood…
Mum Foods
Pastrami sandwiches just got a colorful upgrade with bright slaws and pickled vegetables layered atop pastrami so good that it’ll make you question why putting this quintessential deli meat in the hands of Texans who love to smoke low and slow wasn’t done long before.
Emmer & Rye
Heirloom grains meet dim sum-style small plates at one of Austin’s most innovative restaurants. A global perspective translated via hyperlocal seasonal ingredients manifests as pork loin with barbecued loquats, roasted carrots with wild pecan mole, and a variety of pastas made with thoughtfully chosen grains.
Titaya’s Thai Cuisine
We’ve sampled so many delicious selections from this incredibly popular Thai restaurant, from yum nuer (a wonderfully spicy variant on steak salad) to endless combinations of fried rice and a selection of curry that has no equal. But there are two dishes (both staff favorites) that we return to time and time again: the pork…
Launderette
Leave it to Austin’s beloved Rene Ortiz and Laura Sawicki to create an East Austin institution out of the “global comfort food” concept, often trotted out by hotels and restaurant consultants to middling effect. Ortiz’s time in New York, Australia, and beyond coupled with Sawicki’s continued pastry mastery (and whimsy) make this mélange of influence…
Épicerie
Sarah McIntosh’s Rosedale French-meets-Cajun mainstay succeeds by consistently delivering the craveable favorites diners love to return to. Fried oysters? Beef tartare? French onion soup? All present and accounted for. A comfortable brunch – try the egg Roxanne with dirty rice, coddled egg, house hot sauce, green onion, and a honey butter biscuit – and hearty…
Biderman’s Deli
Please stop crying about Katz’s, FFS, Austinites. Biderman’s Jewish-inspired joint has your deli-jones well covered, featuring classic sammiches with everything from lox to pastrami to chicken salad, a plethora of bagels, and more. What are they – chopped liver? No, but it’s on the menu!
Plow Burger
Even nonvegans rave about Plow Burger, which now boasts two food trailer locations (at Buzz Mill Coffee and the Flag Store of Hyde Park). With Beyond Meat patties, gooey vegan cheese, chef Isaac Mogannam’s version of special sauce, and weekly specials often featuring local makers, it’s finger-lickin’ vegan junk food for the masses.
Loro
If Aaron Franklin’s chocolate and Tyson Cole’s peanut butter joined forces, Loro is the decadent peanut butter cup, combining the best of both local and international cuisines. From char siew pork belly to a brisket sandwich with papaya salad, the menu is a celebration of East meets Central Texas.
The Switch
When Stiles Switch enlisted both Todd Duplechan and an all-star team of pitmasters for second restaurant the Switch, Austin barbecue fans rejoiced. The resulting restaurant is fancier than most barbecue joints, with cocktails, welcoming booths, and framed photography – but the food is exactly what you hoped for. It’s a great road trip for out-of-town…
Seadrift Tells the Forgotten History of Vietnamese Americans in a Texas Town
Austin director Tim Tsai shares a murder on the Gulf
Texas Platters
“You’ve never heard anything like this before” is a hoary cliche that’s nearly never correct, but damned if it isn’t true when it comes to Atlas Maior. The Austin quartet seemingly dreamed about a nexus between Middle Eastern music, Latin groove, and jazz, then created it instead of finding it. Riptide, the group’s fourth full-length,…
Old Thousand
Perhaps the name says it all: Referencing Chinese slang for “clever/wily,” this modern Chinese brasserie could be disguising itself as a standard take-out spot. But there’s nothing run-of-the-mill about it, what with the dim sum cart (and brunch!), hip-hop always on blast, and brisket fried rice. An eatery serving #dopechinese is what the next generation…
Holy Roller
Callie Speer’s Downtown diner has been outspokenly gluttonous and fun from the get-go, and Austinites have embraced the layering of comfort food, stoner snacks, and brunch, eschewing the suggestion that the punk rock angle might have been gimmicky. Holy Roller gives us permission to play with our food again.
Via 313
The Detroit Tigers may be in a rebuilding phase this season (fingers crossed!), but this Detroit-style pizza has enraptured Austin since the Hunt brothers’ first trailer opened in 2011. The cheesy, crunchy, thick signature squares topped with just the right amount of marinara are to credit for their now legendary winning streak, but the thinner…
Licha’s Cantina
“A comfortable cantina serving Mexico City-style botanas,” we wrote in our original review in 2014, and that remains true and tasty. So much tequila and mezcal is available at this Eastside eatery, you could forget your own name – but even then, you’ll remember the meal’s savory depths.
Fluff Meringues & More
Who’d’a thunk that someone could turn an airy concoction of egg whites and sugar into dang ol’ art? Yet that’s exactly what owner Kristin Collins has accomplished at her cosmopolitan meringue-centric cafe on Burnet Road, along with patisserie and a deep tea list. For the savory babes, Fluff has you covered with Antonelli’s cheese and…
Charm Korean BBQ
Charm boasts traditional Korean barbecue, but that doesn’t make it commonplace. This far-north outpost brings to Austin something it doesn’t have enough of: a cuisine that’s both exotic in flavor and comforting in delivery. Don’t skip the mandoo dumplings, but make them steamed for a homemade dose of love.
Rosita’s Al Pastor
“It’s the best al pastor, ain’t it, Sheriff?” “If it ain’t, it’ll do ’til the best gets here.” Rosita’s has more than seasoned pork on a spit, but even if it didn’t, it would still be worth a visit to Riverside. Sometimes, the best is enough.
Odd Duck
Although it started out as a trailer, Odd Duck has grown up to play a starring role in putting Austin on the U.S. foodie map. Ten years after it debuted, the restaurant continues to serve up vivid, inventive dishes that keep its reputation for a colorful palette intact.
Local Exhibitions Point to Ways People of Color Were Freed but Still Aren’t Free
The Carver Museum asks: Freedom when?
House of Hummingbird Explores the Adolescence of a Woman and a Nation
South Korean drama screens at the Austin Asian American Film Festival
Texas Platters
Austin’s ascending DIY act references grunge, garage, noise, and post-punk over old-school pogo rock and hardcore’s mosh pit hyper-locomotion, but they rarely slight the “punk” part of the equation. A 2-year-old partnership between Baltimore transplants Lauren Warner (vocals) and Joshua Gage (guitar) and Austin natives Joe Osteen II (bass) and Guy Davis aka Dr. Buns…
Paperboy
Serving next-level breakfast and brunch fare since 2015, Paperboy continues on with two trailers and a brick-and-mortar restaurant on the way. When a place can crank out crave-worthy concoctions like a breakfast sandwich with bacon, egg, and pimento cheese, the more the merrier.
La Volpe
New on the crowded Italian scene, “The Fox” offers one of the best cheese/charcuterie boards in town. Add to that a two-story ceiling, blue velvet, and candlelit chic plus a seasonal menu of grilled proteins, handmade pastas, delicate seafood, and a dark chocolate tart that will have even the most savory of your crew sneaking…
Bento Picnic
What’s in a name? A picnic with any other spelling might only match the bright array of tastes and freshness of Leanne Valenti’s Japan-inspired joint, an Eastside delight with indoor and outdoor seating and plenty of grab-and-go meals at the ready.
Pitchfork Pretty
With ingredients harvested straight from a garden just one mile away from the restaurant, Pitchfork Pretty serves up the soul of the South through family-style creations. Pitchfork Pretty also offers vegan, veggie-forward, and gluten-free options fitting for a variety of diners. But fear not, meat lovers – you can feast on their popular beef ribs…
Foreign & Domestic
Sarah Heard and Nathan Lemley’s F&D 2.0 has been a seamless transition: the local sourcing, unconventional proteins (venison tartare, fried pig ear!), and neighborhood vibe remain. The duo’s skill with pasta (eggplant fettuccine!) and vegetable dishes (charred turnip!) shines in added menu breadth; there’s now something for every reasonably adventurous diner. Be brave, and experience…
DFG Noodles
Their slogan sums it up: “Go ahead, get addicted.” Serving up flavors of Southeast Asia, DFG doesn’t have just any old menu – they have a “menu of goodness.” From chicken nuggets marinated overnight in “DFG Magic Sauce,” to the Empress, a creamy coconut-curry stew delight, you’ll be daydreaming about your next flavor fix from…
Soursop
Yes, we’re shameless hams for Soursop. We write about ’em every year and dammit, you’re gonna hear about ’em again this year, too. Soursop’s overall generalities haven’t changed – they still operate out of the backyard of St. Elmo, they still sling the city’s best pan-Asian fare, and they still pair best with a Carl…
Pinthouse Pizza
Pinthouse’s pizza empire grew to three stores this year (welcome, Round Rock!) and, as is typical with anything these hop-prophets do, the masses went north along with it. Let’s face it, PHP could serve cold Domino’s on fancy Chinet and people would still flock there like migratory animals because their beer program is so ridiculously…
Los Coast Doubles Down on Its Psych-Soul for Label Debut
Local fivepiece embraces the spirit of wandering
Penfold Theatre’s Henry V
This production in the park makes Shakespeare’s epic history into a satisfying show for a summer evening
13-0!
U.S. goalfest puts exclamation point on the first round of the WWC group stage
Patrizi’s
You think this truck-based Italian joint in the Vortex yard, this extension of Nic and Matt Patrizi’s grandfather’s culinary legacy, features some of the best pasta-forward noms in our embiggening metroplex? Just wait ’til you check out their upcoming brick-and-mortar next to Dai Due.
Le Politique
This Downtown French brasserie boasts a menu that will take diners from Brittany to Paris and all the way down to the French Riviera. The words sprinkled with accents make the dishes sound haute gamme (aka fancy), but the important thing to know is that because butter and bread are used in abundance (tiny puffed…
Boteco ATX
Brazilian street food at its finest, this bright yellow neon sign of a food truck serves up tasty yuca fries and empanadas. But the pièce de résistance is probably the picanha grelhada with sirloin steak, rice, beans, and a fried egg.
Republic Diner
Donuts by day, burgers by night? Republic Diner pulls off the Two-Face look nicely. Starting at 5am, you can get fresh, marvelous donuts like bourbon vanilla glaze and peach cake. Then at night, the place flips and serves a delightful smashed burger on a potato roll. Republic is the trailer Gotham deserves.
Komé
The expanded digs just a few blocks down from the original Airport Boulevard location have made this casual spot for delicious Japanese meals and sushi even more welcoming – irasshaimase, indeed – especially with those wallet-friendly lunch specials and happy hours.
Fat Dragon
Honestly, maybe a fat dragon would have saved that last season of Game of Thrones. Here, you’ll find a family joint specializing in a rotating menu of excellent dumplings. Forget Los Angeles – you don’t need to travel west to find tasty Asian fusion inside of a strip mall.
Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ
When a food truck can take the Tex, add it to the Mex, and slather the whole thing in barbecue goodness, that’s a magical thing. Now, with Valentina’s set to move into a proper restaurant, the culinary wizardry is guaranteed to continue. May the serving of brisket tacos never cease.
Bar Peached
The Peached Tortilla’s latest restaurant is bar-focused, offering fusion drinks like margaritas with Thai basil tequila alongside Tex-Asian comfort food. A big, tree-lined patio full of color and charm offers a staycation-worthy setting to keep patio sippers and shareable plates coming all day and night. Tropical shirts are optional; having a peachy time is not.
Council Members Look to Tax Previously Exempted Waterfront Homes
Correcting the “Mistake on the Lake” could fund city initiatives
The Top 10 Austin Restaurants According to the Chronicle Food Editor
Jessi Cape names her favorite eateries of 2019
ColdTowne Theater’s Bigfoot, The Musical
ColdTowne brings the rarely seen creature into the spotlight for a show that’s rarely without laughs
Battle Lines Drawn on Convention Center Expansion
Arguments escalate on how to spend hotel occupancy tax revenue
Abo Youssef Mediterranean Food
Since the weather’s trending hotter and hotter – oh, stop denying it – this silvery Manor Road trailer dispensing mouthwatering marvels of falafel and shawarma, of heavenly hummus and mint lemonade, of birthday-worthy baklava, will only become more indispensable as time goes by.
Sassy’s Vegetarian Soul Food
After less than a year on the highly competitive Austin restaurant scene, Sassy’s has proven you can serve up all the comforts of soul food without meat and from a food trailer. Owned by local blues singer Andrea Dawson, Sassy’s is an homage to Black Southern food culture – from fried cabbage and cornbread to…
El Naranjo
Chef Iliana de la Vega has been focused on tradition for much longer than her Oaxaca-City-come-Rainey restaurant has been offering a taste of interior Mexico (since 2012, ftr). She’s a veteran of the local masa-making, comal-toasting, mole-crafting scene, so brave the hordes to taste her mole negro (featuring chilhuacle negro, guajillo, mulato, ancho, and more)…
The Brewer’s Table
The most magnificent element of TBT is its commitment to being an ever-evolving workshop of thoughtfully creative dishes that pair with complex, robust beers. Sure, we support drinking beer and eating indulgent food in all forms, but TBT has provided a master class in how to treat beer as a reciprocal tribute to food. And…
Salt & Time Butcher Shop & Salumeria
Come for the hand-butchered steaks and bespoke salumi, stay to dine on house-made pasta, burgers, steaks, and brunch. The iconic Eastside butchery-cum-restaurant will soon open a cafe at the recently renovated Republic Square in Downtown.
Kreyòl Korner
Having recently upgraded her trailer and completed a culinary degree, chef Nahika Hillery impresses customers with Haitian fare that is difficult to find in Texas. Griot (fried pork shoulder), mayi moulin (Haitian grits), soup joumou (traditional Haitian beef and pumpkin soup), fresh guava punch, and fried sweet plantains stand out, but the rice and beans…
Garbo’s Fresh Maine Lobster
Central Texans can thank Heidi Garbo for bringing New England’s legendary fish dishes down South while leaving the weather up North. Now, in addition to the classic lobster rolls, a new location inside Whole Foods Domain boasts specials like lobster Cobb salad and grilled East Coast oysters. The grilled brisket and sirloin burger doesn’t mess…
The Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co.
Good news! The ABGB is the perfect joint to please both the beer snobs and the pizza snobs in your life, so you’re not going to regret visiting the reigning national “Large Brewpub of the Year” three years running. And while you’ll never wanna sleep on any of ABGB’s pie specials (hat tip to the…
The Beer Plant
Since most beer is vegan – and most cocktails are, too – why not pair the best crafted adult drinkables with a 100% plant-based menu? That’s what happens at this Westside venue, a popular gastropub where a sandwich called Banh Fire, especially, will please your spice-craving palate.
Concrete Mix Plant Vexes Southwest Neighbors
Residents concerned over safety, noise, and pollution
A Beginners Guide to Japanese Food in Austin
Where to find traditional dishes beyond sushi and ramen
Hideout Theatre’s Dystopian Teen Future
In this take on Hunger Games and Divergent-style tales, the improvisers struggle to find a plot or laughs
Luv Doc: A Little Bit Metro
Some people defy sterotypes
Atia’s Kitchen
Seducing folks with his samosas (grass-fed halal beef or turmeric potato), magical green sauce, and daily scratch tea and lemonade, chef Sajjad of Atia’s Kitchen is setting a new standard for food truck hospitality. Anybody, including vegans, can find something comforting and aromatic on the unpretentious Pakistani menu.
Sour Duck Market
When Odd Duck and Barley Swine are just too heavy a lift, now Bryce Gilmore offers up super casual snacky American cuisine with a bake shop and bar, and a bonus outdoor seating area perfect for family outings.
Polvos
Named Best Place to Start Off the Weekend by the Chronicle way back in 1999, Polvos has remained a mainstay. Offering a variety of interior Mexican dishes in a very casual setting, Polvos keeps you chill with its affordable brain-buster margs. This South First institution recently brought its something-for-everyone watering hole menus to Downtown in…
Bufalina
Sometimes you want NY-style pizza. Sometimes Chicago-style. Sometimes one of those Detroit-inflected pies. And sometimes you want ’za like it came directly from Naples, but with local ingredients (house-made mozzarella!), and on perfectly crisped dough via a wood-fired oven. And that’s when you come here.
Sauce Odyssey
This truck boosts small-batch, artisan saucemakers by showcasing their low-heat sauces (pepper, BBQ, and salsas) at their sauce bar, complete with free tours. In the same shady space, guests can mix-and-match their way through a chef-driven, snacky menu created to be a canvas for the sauces. Rotisserie chicken and root vegetables are the big draws…
Le Bleu
That irresistible combination of bright lemongrass and cilantro on top of marinated meat sandwiched between an airy French baguette is served up in a multitude of combinations at Le Bleu. Not feeling a bánh mì? There’s also pho, bún, and Bò Lúc Lắc to tantalize taste buds with the fresh tang and deeply rich flavors…
Haru Sushi
They used to be called Hanabi, but like old Shakespeare said, “Sushi by any other name will knock your Harajuku socks off when it’s done this well.” (It’s rumored that Shakespeare was actually four other fellows – and they’d all be glad to dine at this omakase-forward venue.)
Joann’s Fine Foods
Elevated diner and Tex-Mex food check into a swanky midcentury setting at the Austin Motel. Dine on classic enchiladas, patty melts, and chicken-fried steaks, then enjoy iconic and modern cocktails poolside. Note that the “sides” menu includes a “pack of smokes,” for the complete hairnet-turned-chic vibe.
Better Half Coffee & Cocktails
This smallish West Fifth joint from the Wright brothers (of Wright Bros. Brew & Brew) and partner Matthew Bolick is a stealthily impressive Southern-influenced restaurant with biscuit sandwiches in the morning and steak & eggs and hot chicken sandwiches in the evening. In between, they offer coffee and cocktails, rendering all your excuses not to…
Austin at Large: Money Changes Everything
Or, scenes from the class struggle in Silicon Hills
10 Global Kitchen Utensils & Gadgets to Spice Up Your Kitchen
Scale up from that upcycled wine bottle rolling pin
Day Trips: San Antonio
Tree of life displays feats of clay
Mr. Smarty Pants Knows
In 16th- and 17th-century Europe, physicians, butchers, and executioners alike hawked the salutary effects of Axungia hominis, more commonly known as human fat. It was used to treat wounds, sprains, broken bones, arthritis, hemorrhoids, and as a painkiller for sciatica and rheumatism. According to the May 4, 2019 issue of The Economist, there are more…
Bird Bird Biscuit
That’s what you call it when a Thunderbird – the coffeeshop run by Brian Batch and Ryan McElroy – gives birth to a concept that’s made biscuit believers out of bagel heathens and taco turncoats: golden brown and buttery goodness stuffed with chicken, with eggs, with gravy, with jammy perfection all day long.
Hopfields
This Guadalupe mainstay has been serving French-inspired pub fare and just about any craft brew (kombucha included) your heart desires since 2011. Seamlessly flowing from wooden communal benches near the bar to romantic nooks tucked behind black fringe and velour to a high-ceilinged screenwriting class meeting ground, the space is as accommodating as the menu…
TLV
Fareground food court 86’ed Easy Tiger and Antonelli’s stalls earlier this year, adding TLV and an offshoot of rustic Italian restaurant Italic to existing Ni-Komé (Komé Sushi/Daruma Ramen mash-up), Contigo (satellite location with rotisserie chicken), Henbit (Emmer & Rye’s little sister), and Dai Due Taqueria. At the bite-worthy distillation of chef-author-hunter Jesse Griffith’s cooking-as-ecological-responsibility ethos,…
Casa Colombia
Casa Colombia is Austin’s best reminder that not everything from below the border comes from Mexico. This South American staple features some of the world’s best comfort food with dishes that have universal appeal and regional roots.
Spicy Boys
Spicy Boys, parked at Zilker Brewing, is the second endeavor from the team behind Soursop. If that alone isn’t enough of an endorsement that you immediately need a pint of Marco IPA and whatever delicious commodities Spicy Boys are pushing (spicy fried chicken!), then how about some iron law suggestions from us: sambal jumbo wings,…
MezzeMe Mediterranean Kitchen
You’ll find more than falafel in this Turkish kitchen. Think kofte meatballs (traditional beef and lamb patties), roasted local veggies, and chicken shish kabob piled onto grains, pita, or spring mix and topped with tasty add-ons like hummus and roasted eggplant, collectively called mezzes (get the name now?). Don’t forget the baklava!
Himalaya Kosheli
Chicken chili momos and hearty, delicious curries serve as a great reminder that comfort food is at its best when it has spice and style. With a (slowly) expanding list of Nepalese restaurants popping up around Austin, we welcome this newcomer with open arms.
Lenoir
A romantic treasure curated by husband-and-wife chef team Todd Duplechan and Jess Maher since 2012, Lenoir recently switched from prix fixe to an à la carte menu – more flexibility for the snack-minded diner! The warm-weather food – inspired by Indian, Thai, Italian, and Mexican cuisine – is perfect for sitting pretty in the wine…
Cafe Josie
Surviving and thriving on the West Sixth corridor since 1997 is award-worthy enough, but factor in Austin’s first and only fine dining all-you-can-eat prix fixe for a mere $45 and now you’ve got a restaurant set on stratospheric success. “The Experience” includes a smorgasbord of elevated choices like blackened pork belly with confit cauliflower, frisée…
How to Host an Amazing International Dinner Party
From Spanish tapas to Korean banchan, the dishware makes the meal
Looking Back on 15 Years of the Townes Van Zandt Documentary
Producer/Director Margaret Brown revisits her movie
Despite Protests, Leander’s Drag Queen Story Hour Will Go On
Local church saves event
Camila’s Tacos
The tiny red trailer parked in the Monarch Food Mart lot next door to Cherrywood Coffeehouse is slinging some of the tastiest breakfast tacos in town. Norma Flores makes both flour and corn tortillas by hand every morning, and by the 7am opening, there’s a line. Don’t worry: Her tacos fly out of the sugar-skull-decorated…
Olamaie
When talking about foods that define the Southern culinary experience, you’ll likely receive a variety of opinions. But there’s nothing more Southern than a good biscuit – and Olamaie nails it. In fact, they’re so good there’s a whole tab on their website dedicated to biscuits. Once you get past the fluffy buttery perfection, the…
Wu Chow
Chef Ji Peng Chen offers Downtown a thorough sampling of regional Chinese food. His menu features specialty dumplings, a shrimp-centric dim sum menu, and not-your-mama’s tiki cocktails in addition to an expansive menu with a decidedly true-to-farm emphasis, especially when it comes to proteins. Order the striped bass or Beijing whole duck 24-48 hours in…
Eden East
Even if Eden is a faraway place with irresistible produce, Austin has the next best thing: Eden East. Bountiful Texas fruit and vegetables are plucked, prepared, and then presented on a rotating weekly menu that focuses on highlighting nature’s production in vibrant ways.
Suerte
Suerte’s popularity has soared in the past year since its opening, including nabbing the No. 2 spot in Food & Wine’s annual Best New Restaurants in the country list. But, y’all, we knew all that praise was well-deserved long before the rest. Executive chef Fermín Nuñez is serving up captivating Oaxacan-Austin food in a uniquely…
Picnik
Not just for the paleo set – though if that’s you, and you haven’t imbibed Picnik’s butter coffee, shame on you – this multiple-location biz has a little something for everyone, and it’s all gluten-, corn-, peanut-, and soy-free. Find trendy avocado toast, citrus fennel salad, or bone broth for sippin’.
Honest Mary’s
With a second location opening this year in Rosedale Village, the family-owned grain bowl mecca raised the bar for locally sourced nourishment without a fine-dining-type time and money commitment. With both a set menu and an option to build your own, this one-stop shop works for any diet, preference, or hankering. All of the grains,…
LeRoy & Lewis
Yes, this food truck’s slogan boasts “New school barbecue and old school service,” but don’t let that first part scare you: It’s traditional ’cue done even better, with alternative cuts of meat and modern twists on side dish classics that keep winning awards year after year.
Jack Allen’s Kitchen
At the intersection of Southern classics and Southwestern flavor, you’ll find Jack Allen’s Kitchen. After you shovel down that house pimento cheese, try slow-braised beef barbacoa enchiladas or chicken-fried meatloaf smothered in green chile gravy. Not only is this a safe space to dine out with the in-laws (don’t forget their small barrel whiskey program),…
A New Wave of Elegant Dinnerware in Austin
Eliana Bernard elevates everyday dining
InfoWars Crashes Drag Storytime in Austin
Alt-right rags want to end LGBTQ-inclusive children’s events
Cherrywood Coffeehouse
Dynamic offerings have defined this homey, eclectic, and spacious neighborhood favorite since 2009. Known for their filling brunch (great value on more-hippie-than-not breakfast tacos), quality baked goods (pie options!), and specialty coffees – not to mention a build-your-own smoothie menu – Cherrywood also features diverse daily programming, from morning yoga classes to open mic comedy…
Texas French Bread
Since 1981, Texas French Bread has been linking Austinites with European bistro culture. With fresh takes on recipes that savor of Mediterranean fare, there is sure to be a fresh-baked baguette alongside every dish for a bite of authenticity.
Uroko
Uroko works as three different concepts – a counter service temaki (hand roll) bar, a sushi class space, and, on the weekends, a 45-minute sushi omakase. Omakase has made serious gains in popularity, and it’s paying off. Trust your chef.
Il Brutto
In a town full of trendy restaurant concepts, this sleek East Austin spot succeeds by keeping it simple and nailing the basics. Order a cacio e pepe (all the pasta is handmade), margherita pizza, and Negronis for a perfect date. Or treat yourself to Monday’s limoncello and lasagna night. Little-brother restaurant La Matta, also blessed…
Sweet Chive
Owned and operated by Austin restaurant veteran Phoenix Pai, Sweet Chive centers on Taiwanese cuisine, including a panoply of dumplings, noodle dishes, and daily cold samplers devoted to seasonal produce. Get fired up with some beef noodle soup, then cool things down with a bubble tea.
T22 Chicken Joint
Nashville-style fried chicken, yummy sides, fresh pies, and local beers and cocktails are the hallmarks of this NoBo family restaurant. Dip your fries in comeback sauce for some Deep South flair.
Rosarito
Baja cuisine in an office park might be a surprise, but Rosarito brings ocean cuisine to various parts of Austin every day. Items like the ahi tuna tostada and tempura-fried fish taco satisfy a certain craving, but the chile relleno taco is Mexican vegetarian done right.
Mattie’s
Mattie’s manicured mansion lawns, creaky floors, and preening peacocks make a dinner here feel special; thankfully, the food matches the setting. While the Southern accents speak strongest here, the flavors are balanced and reach for nontraditional ingredients to pique the diner’s interest. One of Austin’s finest wine lists completes the package – this is date…
Lin Asian Bar + Dim Sum
Lin’s cozy and charming atmosphere is reason enough to visit, but the consistent quality of the dim sum (especially the soup dumplings) and seafood mains like the Volcano Crispy Shrimp make return visits inevitable. Weekend dim sum brunches – complete with both pineapple and curry beef puffs – are bustling; a workday lunch with green…
14 Fabulous International Bakeries Right Here in Austin
From macarons to kolaches to milkshake cookies, we got you covered
LGBTQ Activists Urge AISD to Better Support Queer Youth
Activists want AISD to do more with church money
Country Boyz Fixins
No, Country Boyz Fixins isn’t a rap/country crossover group that won America’s Got Talent – it’s a soul food restaurant in East Austin. Come here for oxtails, smothered pork chops, and peach cobbler. Eating at Country Boyz is just proper self-care.
40 North
The Austin pizza space is pretty tight these days, but we are blessed with a Neapolitan-style restaurant that specializes in pies both classic (margherita, pepperoni) and quirky (dandelion, boar) while also showcasing the versatility and deliciousness of vegetables.
Yuyo
Peruvian cuisine (itself quite multicultural) as seen through the eyes of a Bolivian American chef? Not the most obvious concept, to be sure, but Maribel Rivero’s vision has already led to a James Beard semifinalist nomination. From cebiches to lomo saltado, the kitchen’s work is always good and often great, giving locals an ongoing education…
Intero
What do you get when a chocolatier (Krystal Craig) and her chef husband (Ian Thurwachter) launch an Italian restaurant focused on using the whole animal and locally sourced produce? An ultramodern sustainable restaurant that’s just as kind to the palate as it is to the planet.
101 by Teahaus
Sample a variety of Asian cuisines at 101, including Korean bulgogi tots and basil fried chicken, Taiwanese noodles, and Japanese curries. This Airport Boulevard offshoot is globalism (with a teensy nod to colonialism via the London Fog panna cotta dessert) at its finest.
Tio Pepe Chicken
Pepe Garcia’s cozy-yet-casual counter service spot brought Portuguese flame-grilled chicken to the Linc last year, showcasing the spicy, vinegary Peri-Peri marinade. As if tender birds basted in a sauce of your choice and grilled to order weren’t enough, the variety of dipping sauces, unique appetizers and sides, and diner-esque desserts will send you over the…
Sip Saam Thai
You’ve got “13” problems, but finding a good Thai restaurant in North Austin ain’t one, not when this welcoming eatery keeps five separate curries among its taste-forward offerings – and plenty of cold beer and wine to cool you off.
Otoko
There are only 12 coveted seats in this SoCo haven of omakase delights, with chef Yoshi Okai and his team fusing locally sourced goodness together with the best fish jetted in from Japan. Close your eyes, or focus on the stark black-and-white interior, while you celebrate a multicourse combination of sushi and kaiseki that’s earthbound…
Otherside Deli
Otherside Deli isn’t messing around. Mounds of fatty, spiced pastrami and corned beef dominate a menu that sits right on the seesaw’s fulcrum, with unabashed use of American cheese on one side and condiments made via in-house fermentation on the other. If you’ve got an obsession with patty melts, the Roddy might just be the…
17 Austin Bars With Great Food and Drinks
These one-stop shops are known for more than booze
Headlines
See Ya Later: AISD principal accused of discriminating against immigrant parents has resigned. Gabbie Soto, principal of Andrews Elementary since 2018, allegedly told parents they could not attend a field trip or serve as campus PTA officers because of their immigration status. Soto has called the allegations “false.” ¡Dale Austin FC! MLS fans around the…
Discada
There’s something refreshing about a business that only offers a single product. Not only do we love Xose Velasco’s exaltation of his family recipe – based in a Chihuahuan regional cooking technique – but the tyranny of choice (read: FOMO) for us is also eliminated. Besides, these tacos contain multitudes.
ATX Cocina
Corn and family take center stage in this cocina. Much like what the restaurant’s menu does for the humble maize plant, the kitchen takes Mexican street food and elevates it to family-style dishes that feature grilled, smoked, and charred meat and peppers in combinations that will make you want más.
Arlo’s
If you ask an Austinite where to eat vegan food, 99.9% of the time, the immediate response is, “Arlo’s!” Plant-based but designed with carnivores in mind, the menu caters to late-night cravings, and they’ve absolutely mastered the art of meatless cheeseburgers with their famous Bac’n Cheezeburger. That Frito pie ain’t nothing to sneeze at either,…
Juniper
Since originally opening, Nic Yanes and the Juniper team have kept their vision intact, while moving from a more delicate approach to one based around adept interpretations of the classics. The self-described “Northern Italian meets Central Texas” menu interprets local ingredients through an Italian lens, and not an element is out of place.
Barley Swine
Recognizing the potential to highlight specific places at certain times in Central Texas, James Beard darling Bryce Gilmore and his team focus on supporting farmers and ranchers and their seasonal offerings. The team in the kitchen turns that challenge into an opportunity for greater creativity, reaping delicious rewards.
Uchiko
Tyson Cole is a man of restraint: Despite the perennial praise and packed houses, he mostly expanded his empire over time by refining his interpretation of Japanese food and letting his talented team riff on it in other locations (or, now, cities). Uchiko is remarkably consistent, precisely because it funnels creativity through a precise editor’s…
Veracruz All Natural
Winner of endless “Best of Austin” awards, Veracruz All Natural is all about authentic Mexican cuisine. And with four locations in Austin, you’re never far from taco nirvana. Fill up on migas tacos, tortas al pastor, or chicken tostadas and wash it all down with a fresh juice or agua fresca.
Sway
This is not your typical Thai joint. At Sway, lights are dimmed, seating is intimate, portions are shareable, and dishes pack some heat, enhancing the entire sensory experience. Blue prawns and toasted cashews elevate classic dishes like pad thai, and fresh tropical drinks incorporate authentic ingredients like galangal to complement the spiced-to-thrill food.
The Pickle House
Sam Addison, local Pogue Mahone pickle master, opened a Southern fare restaurant with a focus on, you guessed it, pickles. In addition to the 12-varieties-deep pickle bar with crisp dill & garlic, atomic-smoked, and serrano-lime fermented cukes, the menu features classics like a Reuben sandwich, meatloaf, house-made tuna and chicken salads, and, of course, a…
Qmmunity: On Finding Queer Joy
Plus, more Pride events to help you forget it’s hot outside
Quote of the Week
“The governor should apologize to the people of Texas for lying.” – U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, seeking accountability from Gov. Greg Abbott for his involvement in the failed voter purge scheme. For more, see “Castro, Doggett Demand Voter Purge Documents,” Jun. 14.
The Doughminican
Austin’s first Dominican food trailer offers a regional twist on classic Latin fare and an Austin staple: empanadas. Chef Melvin Mendez whips up crowd-favorite beef picadillo, shredded chicken, and vegan ratatouille empanadas in addition to tostones and quipes (beef and bulgur rolls stuffed with ground beef and raisins).
Ciclo
The cycle of Mexican and Texan cuisine influencing each other is almost never-ending in Austin. However, that cycle may stop and start at Ciclo, where a barbecued octopus can elicit as much excitement as locally sourced cabrito on gnocchi.
Guero’s Taco Bar
If, in the hallowed halls of your restaurant, Bill Clinton grabs a classic taco special and Quentin Tarantino shoots part of his Austin-based Death Proof (but not really), it’s fair to say you’re recognized as an Austin institution. But the venerable Güero’s Taco Bar needs not that shimmer of celebrity to shine. For over 30…
Justine’s Brasserie
Pierre Pelegrin and Justine Gilcrease have been dazzling us for close to a decade now, having cultivated an enduring energy that keeps devoted locals coming back, and a legacy that pulls tourists and celebrities from all corners of the globe. In a city of too many choices, the small but memorable French menu and well-executed…
Be More Pacific
There’s almost no way to be more specifically unspecific when defining what exactly Filipino food is. It’s a little bit Malaysian with a dash of Chinese and a hint of Spanish influence, resulting in a whole lot of character perfectly captured in this standard-bearing restaurant.
Uncle Nicky’s
Inviting like Grandma’s Northern Italian kitchen, Uncle Nicky’s casual cafe is Hyde Park’s newest meeting ground, thanks to the folks behind Juniper, Via 313, and Nickel City. The menu accommodates a full range of social encounters: bambinos seeking afterschool gelato, business types strategizing over prosciutto sandwiches, and happy hour groups washing down Aperol spritzes.
888 Pan Asian Restaurant
True to its moniker, this restaurant serves up Asian delights of all kinds, from pad thai to tom kha gai, plus a whopping 15 varieties of pho. As per usual in Asian eateries, the menu is extensive, but if you can’t pick just one entrée, there’s always the buffet.
Carpenters Hall
Your taste buds will road trip across our great state to explore a variety of influences, from chicken schnitzel for two to Gulf Coast seafood. Echoing the chic, updated-vintage elegance of its surrounding hotel, dishes nod to keeping it real, like hackleback caviar served with a bag o’ chips. End your flavor journey with a…
Pieous
Can one live off pastrami and pizza alone? Guests are tempted to find out at Pieous. A move toward Dripping Springs last year added a larger kitchen and a modern dining room, but the core menu remains intact and as good as ever. Pieous also has a gift for dessert – try the pies or…
Austin’s Best Food and Drink Events This Week
Dinner parties, farmers’ markets, beer, wine, and more for the week of June 13, 2019
Faster Than Sound: Austin Terror Fest Crosses Over
Two birthdays and a dark christening
Supreme Court Weighs in on Fetal Burial Law
Indiana law upheld, Texas suit to move ahead
Habesha Restaurant and Bar
Ethiopian fare is a great excuse to get hands-on with your food – scoop up an array of flavorful wots with torn-off hunks of the slightly sour, delightfully spongy injera. The aromatic spices alone will be enough to tempt a reach across the table. (Good thing it’s family-style.) Definitely order the lentil sambusas and doro…
Comedor
On the heels of the surprise closure of his North Burnet French joint Bonhomie, Philip Speer tackles modern Mexican Downtown with his partners Gabe Erales and Alan Delgado. Here, au courant techniques mingle with ancient dishes, resulting in soul-satisfying moles and the kind of daring, out-of-the-box desserts upon which Speer built his reputation.
Hoover’s Cooking
It’s the chicken-fried chicken, y’all. Many of the Southern comfort food pleasures on the menu at Hoover’s Cooking, a two-decades-and-counting Manor Road eatery, have made it an icon: their enormous and delicious pepper-fire soaked and smoked chicken wings, sweet potato coffee, banana pudding, and a side of broccoli that looks like one of the tree…
Kemuri Tatsu-Ya
First they brought Japanese soul food to Austin, and now they’re adding Austin soul to Japanese food. The chefs behind Ramen Tatsu-ya have blended their roots with the influence of this barbecue-proud state to create brisket ramen, meat skewers smoked over mesquite, and banana pudding made with miso caramel.
The Big Kahuna
The owners don’t have to boast about their island flavor or aloha spirit – patrons insist that the freshness and large portion size of the ahi tuna poke and popcorn shrimp will make an instant convert out of you. That, plus the vibrancy and presentation of the sides, will make you forget you’re dining in…
Vamonos
Aiming at approachable but slightly elevated Tex-Mex, Shawn Cirkiel opened this Airport Boulevard eatery in the space formerly known as Bullfight. Chef Chris Martinez relies heavily on open fire (think rib eye and redfish grilled on Texas oak), but the school-style taco salad wins over our hearts.
Artipasta Italian Food
Ugo and Annamaria serve straightforward scratch pasta inspired by their home city of Mantova. Featuring local produce and offering lasagna, gnocchi, maccheroni, casarecce, tagliatelle, and – of course – spaghetti alla carbonara, they’ve carved out a distinct family-friendly niche in the pasta truck scene (as Italians offering Italian food, the focus is on pasta as…
Dee Dee
There are many Thai joints in Austin, but none have made quite the splash that this plucky little food truck did when it popped up on the Eastside a few years back and started racking up accolades almost immediately for its Northern Thai street food, including pork skewers, spicy papaya salad, and cooling mango &…
InterStellar BBQ Shoots for the Stars
The team behind Noble Sandwich brings traditional barbecue to Northwest Austin
Texas Platters
Bill Callahan built a 30-year career with his eyes fixed on the outside world, matching existential pondering about landscapes vast and small to soundscapes equally grand and intimate. Seventh studio album under his own name, Shepherd in a Sheepskin Vest narrows its focus to his immediate sight line: domestic life. Since 2013’s Dream River, the…
Joaquin Castro and Lloyd Doggett Demand Voter Purge Documents
If state leaders have “nothing to hide, why wouldn’t they turn those documents over?”
Hank’s
You: It’s too early to start drinking. Friends: Yeah, but think of the SAVINGS. That’s essentially what happy hour is, and Hank’s has a good one – solid bar banter, draft frosé and palomas, and if you sit there long enough, reverse happy hour. Washing down a couple of drinks with baked ricotta, braised meatballs,…
Cookbook Bar & Cafe
This cafe allows diners to check out the world’s different cuisines all in one place. Inspired by cookbooks that are part of the library’s catalog (including our very own Virginia B. Wood’s memorial library), there is a certain cohesion to the family-photo-album approach in the kitchen. That’s what allows tamarind-peanut chili sauce to happily stand…
Hopdoddy Burger Bar
The great philosopher Jimmy Buffett was likely prophesying Hopdoddy with “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” and fellow wordsmith Jean-Paul Sartre boldly proclaimed that “hamburgers are other people.” No, wait, that might have been Charlton Heston in that Soylent Green film. Regardless, no other local burger joint has struck such a chord as this purveyor of all things…
Killa Wasi
Peruvian food ain’t just ceviche, and chef Kati Luedecke will gladly introduce you to the wide range of bright flavors and bold ingredients Lima is known for. The aji amarillos, ubiquitous in Peru, are bountiful here, too, sliding perfect amounts of flavor and heat into this inspired, must-try Peruvian-Texan menu.
Brama
You could probably replace therapy with Eastern European cuisine – let the pierogi, halusky, and stroganoff at Brama seamlessly work out your issues. There’s something wonderfully out of place about hearty Russian and Polish cuisine in the heart of Texas, but the flavors don’t miss a beat. Brama is a must if you crave comfort.
Van’s Banh Mi
Van’s Báhn Mì is a slice of Vietnamese comfort food located in the heart of North Loop. With daily fresh-baked bread and meats flame-grilled to order, this little trailer serves up three different kinds of Vietnamese sandwiches, along with mouthwatering egg rolls and vermicelli plates for non-sandwich folks. Now all you have to decide is…
District Kitchen & Cocktails
While there’s plenty of U.S.A. on the menu of this New American mainstay in Circle C (a second location recently opened on Anderson Lane), an international flair is also present in dishes like falafel fritters and Moroccan lamb kebabs that join the Texas Wagyu steak and a bison burger.
High Note
They call themselves “a healthy, boozy place to eat, drink, and live well,” and we’ll be damned if that’s not exactly what they are. Well, yes – because the tasty menu is totes different, but this just-south-of-the-river venture is from the same team that brought us Kerbey Lane Cafe.
Taste of Black Austin: Joi Chevalier Talks Green Book
Honor the story of African American travelers during Jim Crow
Texas Platters
“They treat me mean/ But I know that this creation keeps my heart beating,” sang Jackie Venson on 2016 track “One Step Forward.” The 29-year-old Austin native made her name behind fleet-fingered blues/rock/R&B wizardry, but latest studio LP Joy showcases remarkable songwriting capacity. Constantly advancing, she sounds refreshingly raw on her most polished creation to…
Mixed-Use Riverside Project Moves Forward
Planning Commission recommends rezoning to Council
Kyoten Sushiko
Renowned chef Otto Phan opened a widely acclaimed Chicago restaurant, but reopened his beloved Mueller omakase spot under the helm of chef Sarah Cook. As with any omakase experience, you are asked to put your complete trust in the chef, who will guide you through roughly 20 different dishes centered around sublimely fresh fish. Kyˉoten…
Dai Due Taqueria
Fareground food court 86’ed Easy Tiger and Antonelli’s stalls earlier this year, adding TLV and an offshoot of rustic Italian restaurant Italic to existing Ni-Komé (Komé Sushi/Daruma Ramen mash-up), Contigo (satellite location with rotisserie chicken), Henbit (Emmer & Rye’s little sister), and Dai Due Taqueria. At the bite-worthy distillation of chef-author-hunter Jesse Griffith’s cooking-as-ecological-responsibility ethos,…
Kerbey Lane Cafe
We suppose there’s a sentiment around 24-hour diners like Kerbey Lane that inevitably boils down to “it’s open,” but there are spoons that rise above the greasiness. Most of the locations maintain those endless hours (keep them in your thoughts), and Kerbey Lane has been doing this town a public service for going on 40…
Kurry Takos
Indo-Mexican cuisine sparks a big “hell yes” when it’s from the wheeled kitchen of chef Ravi Chandra, a tandoori-trained talent who can put the best of both traditions on a paratha flatbread and win your tummy’s devotion every time. Habla tikka masala? ¡Sí!
Easy Tiger
Already a bastion of superlative baked goods, cured meats, and brewskis, the Tiger roared into greater might with their expansive, sun-dappled, music-friendly, and smartly-designed Linc venue that’s like a home away from home, complete with Austin’s best brews and a set of pingpong tables. Don’t sleep on that almond croissant.
Vaquero Taquero
Vaquero Taquero brings their version of taco traditionalism to Austin by way of the Rio Grande and Monterrey, and North Campus has been the prime beneficiary. Their Hyde Park truck has since been joined by a restaurant on East 31st. More al pastor, por favor.
Jaipur Palace
If you’re going to eat vegetarian, we implore you to skip the MorningStar burgers and non-synthetic veggie dogz. Indian food is a champion of vegetarian cuisine, and Jaipur doesn’t disappoint with its wide selection of paneer and lentils weaved through delicious kormas and curries. Fear not, carnivores: There are still plenty of stewed meats like…
It’s Italian Cucina
In typical Italian fashion, culture, cuisine, and camaraderie come together under one roof. Under this particular roof, owner and chef Al Fini literally brings back edible inspiration from his frequent trips to Northern Italy that he uses to fuse the Old World with the new one he’s created in his restaurant.
