NEWS YOU CAN EAT

7 things to know in Austin food right now: Tex-Mex barbecue favorite fires up in the ’burbs

Buda will soon be smokin'!

Editor’s note: We get it. It can be difficult to keep up with the fast pace of Austin’s restaurant and bar scene. We have you covered with our regular roundup of essential food news.

Openings

Buda, get ready to smoke ’em when you get ’em — brisket, that is. One of Austin’s best barbecue operations and official Austin FC vendor Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ is set to make the move to Austin’s neighbor to the south. According to pit master and founder Miguel Vidal, the forthcoming brick-and-mortar space (located in the historic Buda Mill & Grain Co. shopping center at 306 S. Main St. alongside such operations as Nate’s Coffee and Cocktails and Sweet Cakes 4 U) will feature vastly expanded seating and prep space. Per the company’s Instagram account, the move is set to take place “within the next year or so,” with Valentina’s continuing to operate out of its South Austin location at 11500 Manchaca Rd. until then, as well as slinging tacos and sammies within the newly debuted Q2 Stadium during Austin FC home games.

Say goodbye to your waistline because one of Austin’s most indulgent pandemic-era pop-ups is returning for good. Coming to dog-friendly Yard Bar in North Austin this summer: Fat City, the nostalgic, family-friendly slider operation from the team behind Asian-fusion favorite The Peached Tortilla. Founded as a way to keep Peached employees afloat during the lockdown, Fat City is already known for peddling classic beef and fried chicken sliders, plus golden crinkle fries, tots, and soft-serve desserts. Peached Tortilla founder and owner Eric Silverstein’s team will also be renovating the Yard Bar patio space, refurbishing four of the original mini-golf holes on the property and adding a turfed kids’ play area with games. While Yard Bar, located at 6700 Burnet Rd., will stop serving food items in late May to allow for the Fat City transition, Yard Bar’s dog park and bar will remain open noon-10 pm daily. Park day passes and memberships are both available for visitors and can be purchased at the park or online.

Other news and notes

If you add kimchi atop an order of fries — like Austin’s own K-Mex fusion icons Chi’Lantro first did back in 2010 — and everyone loves it, what’s the obvious next step? If your answer is “kimchi burger,” then you’re ready for the concept’s latest collaboration with high-profile burger kings Hopdoddy. This new menu item from Hopdoddy head chef Matt Schweitzer and Chi’Lantro founder Jae Kim takes the form of a Korean barbecue-inspired burger featuring a certified Piedmontese beef patty topped with Chi’Lantro’s Korean barbecue-marinated Angus steak and caramelized kimchi. The burger is the first in a series of menu collaborations Hopdoddy will roll out to celebrate its “legacy for quality through an inventive lens.” Starting May 19, the Kimchi’Burger will be available at Hopdoddy Austin locations for dine-in service, pickup, and delivery. Visit the Hopdoddy website to order.

The future looks bright for the next generation of Austin farmers. Thanks in part to generous financial backing, the Texas Farmers’ Market Ag Producer Support Fund is expanding to include a scholarship for prospective black, indigenous, and people-of-color farmers who’d like to become vendors at TFM-sponsored markets (which operate on Saturdays year-round at 11200 Lakeline Mall Dr. and 4209 Airport Blvd.). The new $1,350 scholarship will cover the initial annual fee for agricultural producers joining TFM, plus six months of booth fees. All sustainable fruit and vegetable farmers that self-identify as BIPOC and are located within 150 miles of Austin are encouraged to apply via the TFM website. (Note: When applying for the scholarship, applicants need to fill out the agricultural vendor application at the same time. The $25 application fee will be waived as well).

As the weekend brunch crowds begin returning to Austin’s mid-morning/afternoon meal purveyors, two such local operations are receiving a bit of high-profile recognition. Last month, humble east side taco truck Granny’s Tacos — operated by Armando Vasquez, father of Reyna and Maritza Vazquez, the founders of Austin taco truck icon Veracruz All Natural — earned the No. 7 spot on Yelp’s list of the top 100 brunch spots in the country. With such offerings as Granny’s masterfully crunchy chilaquil con mole taco, it’s easy to see why. Further down the list, the only other Capital City operation to earn a spot was Bee Caves-based Austin Tea Xchange, clocking in at No. 65.

Three of Austin’s hottest Asian concepts are teaming up for a good cause. In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Tso Chinese Delivery has added limited-edition collab dishes with Bom Bakeshop and Jjim - Korean Braised BBQ to its menu. The dish from Jjim, which recently opened in South Austin, is a short rib Rangoon, featuring Jjim’s signature braised beef short rib stuffed into a wonton with Tso’s crab Rangoon stuffing then fried until crispy. (Insert drooling emoji here!) Additionally, Bom Bakeshop will make a mandarin orange mochi donut, which will be paired in a two-pack alongside a chocolate glazed mochi donut with rainbow sprinkles. The short rib Rangoon costs $10, while the donut two-pack will be sold for $9. Both items are available via online ordering. A portion of proceeds from these special dishes will benefit #TsoGiving, a campaign founded and operated by Tso Chinese Delivery that works to provide meal assistance to those facing hunger in Austin.

Texas’s prohibition-era ban on Sunday liquor sales has a new challenger: NASCAR Xfinity Series racing team Sam Hunt Racing. The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States announced May 10 that in the upcoming Pit Boss 250 race (taking place at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas May 22), the No. 26 Toyota Supra will proudly carry the message that Texans should “Boot the Ban,” the rallying cry of a campaign that aims to remove the antiquated ban on distilled spirits sales on Sundays in Texas. To get involved in the “Boot the Ban” campaign further, fans and viewers can text “Boot the Ban” to 52886 or visit the website. There, they can make a request to their legislator to end the ban and provide more choices for consumers and more opportunities for local businesses.

tacos brunch barbecue burgers

Omakase for Everyone

New South Austin restaurant swims against current of expensive omakase

Photo courtesy of Tancho Sushi

Tancho Sushi keeps things simple.

Austin had no shortage of beautiful sushi restaurants, but a new one at Lantana Place is doing drawing the trend away from the center of the city and sticking a lower price tag on the experience. Tancho Sushi, offering "everyday omakase," is now open at 7415 Southwest Parkway.

The thought of casual omakase feels like a bit of an oxymoron in Austin, where the service style — which tasks the chef with choosing what the diner will eat — is almost synonymous with something fancy and expensive. Factor in the interior design at Tancho, which certainly doesn't look pedestrian, and it's hard to believe it's actually an everyday meal.

But all things considered, these prices seem reasonable: $29 for the lightest dinner option, and capping out at a $59 feast. Lunch is even less expensive, starting at $24.

Tancho Sushi interior The airy space takes advantage of its surroundings outside of the city.Photo courtesy of Tancho Sushi

In some omakase experiences, the chef might factor in a diner's taste, the special ingredients that are available that day, and any number of other factors to determine what hits the table. But at Tancho, these prix fixe options are predetermined, doubtlessly contributing to the more accessible pricing.

The 50-seat restaurant also uses a clever marketing angle to get diners in who aren't necessarily experienced in sushi, or might otherwise be intimidated by letting a chef choose unfamiliar foods. "With thoughtfully curated preset menus, Tancho simplifies the dining experience by eliminating the guesswork so guests can focus on enjoying their meals," a press release announcing the opening says.

The release was sent November 22, but it looks like Tancho has been serving customers in a soft opening capacity for about a month, based on its Google reviews (which are stunningly high for a new restaurant at 4.7 stars).

Offerings at Tancho are simple.Photo courtesy of Tancho Sushi

Although each menu is different, there is a shared arc. All four experiences start with sunomono salad, a cucumber-based dish with red seaweed and sesame. Then there's tuna sashimi with smoked yuzu ponzu and scallions, and the rest depends on what the diner chooses.

Some standout items across the dinner service are sea bream on the light menu; akami (very red meat along the spine of a tuna) on the standard omakase menu; a lobster open hand roll on the rolls-only menu; and a tuna flight on the grand omakase menu.

No menu item is especially complicated. The focus is on doing each ingredient right, including the temperature the fish is served at and even the flavor of house-made soy sauce and ponzu.

“We keep the focus on the ingredients,” said co-founder Brad Van Otterloo in the release. “By stripping away unnecessary flourishes, we allow the quality of our fish to take center stage. This is a Texas-born concept through and through, and we’re proud to contribute to Austin’s growing sushi reputation.”

The open hand rolls are a signature for the restaurant.Photo courtesy of Tancho Sushi

Despite all this talk of omakase, it is possible to order à la carte items: some appetizers, nigiri (sliced fish on top of rice), and rolls. There's also a carefully curated beverage program, which largely focuses on sake. That includes the Kubota Manju or “Ten Thousand Celebrations" ($79), renowned in Japan for its complex layers and smooth mouthfeel.

“As Austin continues to grow, we wanted to introduce a fresh take on the sushi experience,” said Van Otterloo. “We’re here to make sushi approachable for Austinites while honoring the integrity of this cuisine. It’s about creating a space where everyone can discover and enjoy sushi at their own pace – no pressure, no pretense.”

Tancho Sushi exterior This restaurant is meant to be approachable.Image courtesy of Tancho Sushi

Tancho Sushi is located at 7415 Southwest Parkway, Building 4, Suite 300. It's open daily from 11 am to 10 pm, offering both dine-in and takeout. There are no reservations.

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