Where to eat now

Where to eat in Austin right now: 6 strip-mall restaurants that deserve more hype

If there’s one lesson everyone should take home from 2017’s tragicomic Fyre Festival, it’s that hype has little correlation to quality. That goes double for Austin restaurants in 2019, where some of the hottest new eateries have less value than an old Ja Rule tape.

This month, we are ignoring the buzz and instead exploring some of the Capital City’s unsung eateries. Their strip mall locations might not be fashionable, but their vibrant global flavors sizzle where it counts.

Andiamo Ristorante
Like a favorite cashmere sweater, this unsung North Austin Italian joint has a lived-in feel that guests want to return to time and time again.That’s not to say it’s not without its surprises. Penne pasta tossed with roasted seafood and sun dried tomatoes is amped up with ground coffee, and duck breast in a balsamic black current reduction slow burns with green chilis. More often than not we snuggle up with a spaghetti carbonara knitted with specks of rich guanciale — a true classic needs no other flash.

La Bodega Gourmet
This charming Bee Cave shop is packed to the ceiling with gourmet treats, including imported cheeses, organic coffee, Spanish wines, and infused oils. There’s also a scattering of paella pans should you choose to attempt to master the famous Catalan soccarat at home. But why bother when chef Eric Paz makes an inspiring new version every day? Enjoy it with a glass of sangria between 6-9 pm on Wednesday and Thursday for only $15.95.

Saffron
Asian fusion may have gained steam in the haute kitchens of the 1980s, but the cross-pollination of foodways was far from a new idea even then. Long before Wolfgang Puck was tossing fried wonton chips on an American chopped salad, Nepalese cooks were borrowing ideas from India, Thailand, and China to create a distinctive hybrid. It’s most glorious creation is arguably the momo, an enthusiastically spiced Himalayan dumpling. Order both the veggie and chicken versions at Saffron to enjoy with an orange wine brought from home.

Tomodachi
With so much of the buzz in Austin sushi coming from the city’s core, it’s easy to forget that big names don’t have the monopoly on quality Japanese fare. A trip north to Steve Riad and Tina Son’s strip-mall stunner quickly disproves that theory with just-caught escolar, toro, and horse mackerel. Those with reservations about raw fish will find much to like, such as delicately battered rock shrimp tempura and udon noodles tangled in a soothing broth.

Troy
Most of Austin’s Mediterranean restaurants butcher meze (they might as well call it meh-ze). The spots offer forlorn pools of hummus and baba ghanoush instead of offering a proper prelude to a feast. Thankfully, there is at least one local eatery that gives meze its proper due. Yes, the familiar eggplant and chickpea spreads are there — and both radiant. Troy also serves acuka (a spicy walnut pâté) and a vegetarian tarama that sneaks in carrots in place of the traditional cured roe. Each are available individually, but we’ll bet you order them all in the grand “best of” plate.

Vazquez Restaurant
There are now three locations of this family Mexican restaurant, but the Braker Lane original still does it best. Visit at breakfast for zesty huevos divorciados, textbook migas, and chilaquiles beefed up with barbacoa. By mid-morning, the eatery is usually bustling with regulars, which might make those seeking hangover relief wince. Never fear, succor comes easy with a michelada rimmed with tajín.

La Bodega Gourmet cooks up a new variety of paella every day.

La Bodega Gourmet/ Facebook

La Bodega Gourmet cooks up a new variety of paella every day.

breakfast chefs where-to-eat dinner

Festival fare

Where to eat in Austin right now: 12 hot spots to feed your face during SXSW

Photo by Dillon Burke @FOHNYC

Fareground.

The time has finally arrived, Austin. SXSW is back in all its in-person glory, so it’s time to cash in those work-allotted sick days, drink copious amounts of water in preparation for the inevitable hangovers, break out the comfy walking shoes, and set your event plan. Austin’s spring festival season has begun.

Of course, part of setting your spectacular SXSW plan involves cooking up a scheme for sustenance. A festivalgoer can’t survive on pocketed energy bars and freebie nibbles alone!

Plus, the Austin restaurant industry is ripe for an influx of hungry South By’ers — and can certainly use your patronage after a rough couple of years. In fact, according to the Texas Restaurant Association, this year’s SXSW event will have an estimated $16 million consumer-spending impact on local bars, restaurants, and other hospitality businesses, a staggering economic payoff that, as TRA notes, will have them welcoming festivalgoers with “open arms, menus, and bar tabs.”

“So much of what makes Austin special can be found in our food, our hospitality, and our people. That is why people come year after year,” says Emily Williams Knight, president and CEO of the TRA.

“This community and these businesses navigated the COVID-19 pandemic with incredible resilience, innovation, and tenacity,” she continues. “Now that SXSW is back with a full in-person lineup March 11-20, Austin restaurants, bars, and venues are ready to welcome back visitors and Austinites alike to celebrate all that we’ve overcome and the innovation that lies ahead.”

Okay, you’re sold, right? You’re ready to support local restaurants, bars, and venues with your dollars during SXSW, and you’re probably already champing at the bit to stuff your face with festival-fueling grub.

We’ve whipped up a few nosh-worthy recommendations for where to eat near the festival happenings — as well as where you can score a scrumptious meal when you want to escape the festival madness.

Stay safe, festival adventurers, tip your restaurant staff, and don’t forget to stay hydrated. Let’s get this fest feast started!

Downtown
If you are truly immersing yourself in the SXSW experience, you’ll be spending a ton of time in and near downtown Austin. And grabbing a bite to eat in the vicinity of your next must-see show is a piece of cake. In fact, most spots serving up great chow are within walking distance, and some are even offering SXSW specials during the fest.

Here are our picks for where to eat and drink downtown:

Tacodeli
Start your festival days off in Austin style by chowing down on tacos at this local institution’s location in the heart of downtown, at 301 Congress Ave. Tacodeli offers an expansive menu of breakfast tacos, and beef, chicken, seafood, and veggie tacos, making it easy to grab a quick bite and get on to the next SXSW show. But with a dog-friendly patio and plenty of seating, it’s also ideal for hanging around for a bit of queso snacking and agua fresca sipping. The downtown location is open until 3 pm daily, so even if you get a late start, your tacos will be waiting.

Fairground
Sometimes festival brain can lead to an inability to satisfactorily feed your cravings. But thanks to this one-stop dining and drinking downtown spot, which features two full-service bars and six eateries, catering to your cravings is easy as pie. Options include dumplings from Little Wu, falafel and hummus from TLV, pizza from The Market, burgers from Henbit, and more than 120 other globally inspired dishes. Every day starting at 5 pm, Drink is offering $4 house cocktails, draft beers, and house wines, and $5 mimosas and Bloody Marys are available during weekend brunch. Fareground’s weekend brunch runs 11 am-5 pm and offers something for everyone. Fareground is located at 111 Congress Ave., inside the One Eleven Congress building.

Kinfolk Lounge & Library
Downtown Austin’s newest cocktail bar — hidden within the historic cellar at Moonshine — offers a nearby escape from the festival. And with only 20 seats and no windows, it really does offer a chance to unplug for a bit. Kinfolk serves a refined list of cocktails, as well as a unique selection of whiskey, scotch, mezcal, tequila, and more. Kinfolk is open Thursday through Saturday 5-10 pm, and is located at 303 Red River St.

The Roosevelt Room
Award-winning mixologists Justin Lavenue, Dennis Gobis, and Matthew Korzelius know all there is to know about crafting specialty cocktails, so it’s no wonder The Roosevelt Room’s 80-drink beverage program consists of a menu covering the essential periods in cocktail history, as well as innovative house creations. The perfectly moody bar also offers a menu of nibbles, charcuterie boards, and desserts to pair with all those fancy cocktails. The Roosevelt Room opens at 3 pm on Sundays, 4 pm every other day, and happy hour runs from opening to 7 pm daily. The bar is located at 307 W. Fifth St.

Hot Tacos
The ladies of popular Mexican eatery Veracruz All Natural are rolling out their Hot Tacos pop-up for SXSW. The Hot Tacos food truck will feature tacos like the vegan al pastor cauliflower and cochinita pibil with consommé, as well as brand-new recipes and new spins on traditional tacos, all with grilled tortillas and flanked by aguas frescas, homemade chips and salsas, and quesadillas. Hot Tacos will be parked at 75 Rainey St. starting Friday, March 11 and running through the entire SXSW festival. It’s open daily 11 am-2 am.

Analog
Switch off from the festival frenzy for a spell at Analog, the bar and eatery located within the new Hilton Garden Inn Austin University Capitol District. With an interior bar that flows into a covered outdoor patio, Analog offers dishes inspired by local food trucks, like fried green tomatoes, triple barbecue sliders, and Grown-up Grilled Cheese, along with signature cocktails and local craft beers on tap. Analog diners also have access to the 17th floor rooftop deck, a cool space with lawn games and impressive views of downtown. SXSW’ers should also check out the late-night menu, available from 10 pm-midnight and featuring salted caramel popcorn, dill pickled green beans, shrimp cocktail, rosemary cashews, and salami and brie sandwiches. Analog is located at 301 W. 17th St.

East Austin
If you have a hankering to get out of downtown for a bite, nearby East Austin offers lots of tasty spots to sink your teeth into. Some closer-in east side locales are within walking distance, although it’s also easy to catch a pedicab or ride your bike if you want to give your trotters a rest.

Here are our picks for where to eat and drink in East Austin:

Easy Tiger
This beloved local bakery, restaurant, and bar will likely be your east side go-to during SXSW (and you may even spot some fest celebs among the throngs of Easy Tiger groupies). Stop by before panels and must-see events for a reprieve with freshly baked pastries and coffee — or grab them and go. You won’t regret hanging out on the huge lawn while devouring giant sandwiches made with house-baked bread, and you can even check in on your social pages with the free Wi-Fi. While Easy Tiger is an excellent spot to break bread with buddies, it’s also ideal for enjoying a few craft beers and ridiculously good hot pretzels after checking out a show. Easy Tiger East is located at 1501 E. Seventh St., and is open Monday through Thursday 7 am-10 pm, Friday 7 am-11 pm, Saturday 8 am-11 pm, and Sunday 8 am-9 pm.

Old Thousand
Keep the festival’s hip-hop vibes dropping with a post-show visit to this East Austin joint where “dope” Chinese food meets Texas flair. Old Thousand’s menu features an eclectic blend of flavors and ingredients, with the eatery specializing in modern interpretations of classic American-Chinese recipes, including brisket fried rice, Xiao mian, and General Tso’s Chicken. The menu is vegetarian- and vegan-friendly, so it’s a great option for your whole party, and the fun environment makes for an ideal festival pit stop. Old Thousand is located at 1000 E. 11th St. and is open Tuesday through Thursday 5-10 pm, Friday and Saturday 5-11 pm, and Sunday noon-10 pm.

Revelry Kitchen + Bar
The spacious patio, excellent food and drink menu, and party vibes make Revelry the perfect destination for — um, yeah — some SXSW revelry. The weekday happy hour, which runs all night on Mondays and 4-7 pm Tuesday through Friday, includes $5 appetizers, $2 off house cocktails, and $1 off local beers. For bites, gobble up the crispy chicken sandwich (made with spiced buttermilk battered chicken, slaw, sriracha mayo, and house pickles) or and the hefty RK Burger made with Angus beef. Revelry is located at 1410 E. Sixth St. and is open Monday through Thursday 4 pm-midnight, and Friday and Saturday 4 pm-2 am.

Off the beaten path
While the immediate festival surroundings offer plenty of restaurants and bars to feed your party-exhausted face, sometimes you want to take a break from the madness and sink into the serenity of a spot off the well-trodden SXSW path. Austin has more than its fair share of delightful eateries scattered throughout the city, so you can’t go wrong no matter where you’re headed.

Here are our picks for where to eat and drink off the beaten path:

Vinaigrette
This lovely little salad bistro has just the nourishment you need to shake off all the fried grub and booze you’ve likely been consuming during the fest. Vinaigrette’s farm-to-table offerings also include soups, sandwiches, and some super yummy snacks and sides that are ideal for al fresco noshing on restaurant’s serene, oak-tree-shaded patio. But just because you’re eating healthy doesn’t mean you can’t imbibe a bit, so check out Vinaigrette’s craft cocktails and curated wine selection, as well as tinctures and tonics that nourish both mind and body. Vinaigrette is located at 2201 College Ave., just off South Congress Avenue. It’s open every day 11 am-9 pm.

Yard Bar and Fat City
Give your dogs a rest from all that walking while giving your four-legged friends a chance to burn off some energy at North Austin’s Yard Bar, an outdoor bar and dog park that serves handcrafted cocktails and mocktails, local beers, and wine. The off-leash dog park area includes tables and chairs for folks to lounge at while your pups enjoy a fun, safe space that also has agility and play equipment. While you’re there, get your hands on a fat stack from Fat City, which shares a space with Yard Bar. This slider joint, a concept from the culinary virtuosos at The Peached Tortilla, has a family-friendly and nostalgia-focused menu of sliders, chicken tenders, crinkle fries, and more. Yard Bar and Fat City are located at 6700 Burnet Rd. Yard Bar is open daily 11 am-10 pm. Fat City is open Monday through Thursday 4-9 pm and Friday and Saturday noon-9 pm.

Honey Moon Spirit Lounge
Delight your senses with the elegant yet playful fare at this charming Hyde Park neighborhood eatery, which features a French antique-inspired aesthetic and unique food and beverage offerings that will leave you feeling wined, dined, and dazzled. Along with its regular dinner menu, Honey Moon’s happy hour, offered Tuesday through Friday 4-5:30 pm, is the best reason to hang out on the vast, plush patio for a while. On Wednesdays, grab half-priced bottles of wine and $2 oysters all night. The restaurant’s newly launched Sunday brunch service, which runs 10:30 am-3:30 pm, is also an Austin standout, with highlights like biscuits and foie gras gravy, caviar service, Seoul hot chicken biscuits, and stuffed shokupan French toast. Honey Moon Spirit Lounge is located at 624 W. 34th St. It’s open Tuesday through Thursday 4-10 pm, and Friday and Saturday 4-11 pm.

Fareground.

Photo by Dillon Burke @FOHNYC

Fareground.

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