FRESH MEAT

Iconic homegrown restaurant chain woos Austin with new burger concept

The new burger concept will be operated out of Z'Tejas' Sixth Street kitchen.

Courtesy of Woo Woo Burgers

Sometimes, when you bite into a classic juicy burger with all the fixins, there’s only one thing to say: Woo woo! And that’s precisely what the proprietors of Austin’s newest ghost-kitchen burger concept hope locals will say about their new offering: Woo Woo Burgers.

Launching appropriately on National Burger Day, Friday, May 28, Woo Woo Burgers is the latest concept from the restaurateurs behind Austin’s beloved Z’Tejas Southwest Grill. Operating out of Z’Tejas’ Sixth Street location, Woo Woo Burgers will offer online ordering for home delivery via third-party services and curbside pickup, with the proprietors noting the recent increase in demand for such food services.

“We’re excited to launch this new concept,” says Robby Nethercut, chief operating officer of Woo Woo Burgers. “Woo Woo Burgers is a passion project of ours. It’s the delicious, simple type of food that we love made with the best ingredients.”

Dubbed a “throwback concept with a straightforward menu,” Woo Woo Burgers will serve up fresh, never frozen, hormone-free beef burgers and chicken sandwiches and sides — with nothing you can’t pronounce, a release says.

The signature Woo Woo Burger is a 1/3-pound patty made with an 80/20 Angus chuck and brisket blend then topped with tomato, red onion, pickles, and lettuce. A Woo Woo cheeseburger and bacon cheeseburger will also be available. The Woo Woo Grilled Chicken Sandwich comes with lettuce, pickles, and mayonnaise. And the Woo Woo Club Chicken Sandwich kicks things up a few layers, with smoked bacon, cheese, lettuce, pickles, tomatoes, and mayo.

Ghost-kitchen concepts have ramped up in recent times, in part due to pandemic-related restaurant closures and more demand for diversity in food delivery. Austin even recently welcomed the largest multifunctional kitchen community in Texas: the 55,000-square-foot Prep ATX, which just announced new tenants Tiny Pies and Brooklyn Breakfast Shop, among others. And prior to that company’s entry into the Austin market, Kitchen United Mix, which features an array of local concepts, was holding its own in the ghost-kitchen space.

While Woo Woo Burgers is structured differently than those ghost-kitchen concepts, in that it’s located within a Z’Tejas location, the launch of the burger brand coincides with Z’Tejas’ local expansion, including the addition of a third location opening this fall in Northwest Austin.

In celebration of the launch, Woo Woo Burgers will donate 10 percent of total sales for the first 10 days to Special Olympics Texas.

“Burgers represent American culture: backyard gatherings, barbecues, nostalgia of the good ol’ days,” says Diego Bolanos, Woo Woo Burgers’ executive chef. “I see Woo Woo Burgers as a great opportunity to connect to the community and our guests.”

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World-famous chicken chain Nando's Peri-Peri roosts in Austin

Photo courtesy of Nando's PERi-PERi

Nando's has made this South African staple a global phenomenon.

After much anticipation, Nando's Peri-Peri is ready to open its first Austin location at 1825 McBee St. on November 13. The South African chain specializes in a spicy Portuguese-African style of barbecue chicken, and has locations around the world, including three existing locations in Texas.

Announced in August of 2023, this newcomer has been in the works for more than a year.

"Peri-Peri" (sometimes piri piri) refers to a pepper that was introduced to South Africa via former Portuguese territories in Africa — namely Mozambique, where most of Nando's peppers are grown — so it's traveled a long way. Nando's was founded in 1987 in Johannesburg, South Africa, and has since become very popular in the United Kingdom; so much so that some Austinites may not realize it's not a British brand.

$\u200bNando's PERi-PERi Austin interior$ There are some cool African elements sprinkled throughout the interior.Photo courtesy of Nando's PERi-PERi

It's a great culinary match for Austin, though, considering how similar peri-peri chicken is to American barbecue (although Texas barbecue specifically is a bit more minimalist with the spices). This type of chicken is spicy without knocking diners off their feet, plus a bit tangy. Nando's says its 24-hour marinade features salt, garlic, lemon, onion, oil, and vinegar.

There are varying levels of spice available, but the peri-peri pepper is about 20 times hotter than a jalapeño, so there will always be a little heat, even if diluted.

The menu at Nando's gets its variety from sides, but the star of the show is always the chicken. Diners can pair with it rice, mashed potatoes, corn, coleslaw, fries, or other sides; add it to a salad; enjoy in a sandwich, and more. For beverages, guests can enjoy beer and wine on tap or bottled, plus cocktails.

Nando's PERi-PERi Austin interior This fast-casual restaurant is a bit more upscale than others in the arena.Photo courtesy of Nando's PERi-PERi

“Austin has a reputation for welcoming bold flavors and experiences, so we’re thrilled to be opening our doors in the vibrant Mueller neighborhood," said Sepanta Bagherpour, the chief marketing officer of Nando’s North America, in a press release. “This location has elements you won’t find at any other Nando’s, from exclusive South African art to handcrafted furniture pieces. We’ve gone above and beyond to create an atmosphere as exciting and dynamic as our menu.”

Michael Hsu Office of Architecture — the firm behind P. Terry's flagship, several Hai Hospitality projects (Uchi, Uchiko, Loro), and many other restaurants and hotels — designed the 61-seat space. According to the release, pendant lights by Mash.t Design reference Johannesburg’s skyline, shades by Ashanti Design support communities in Madagascar and Malawi, and a woven waiting bench by Dokter & Misses in collaboration with Katlego Tshuma also ties in more African aesthetics.

Nando's PERi-PERi Austin patio A patio is a must-have in the Mueller neighborhood.Photo courtesy of Nando's PERi-PERi

Nando’s Peri-Peri in Mueller is now open daily from 10:30 am to 10 pm.

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