While some businesses are taking the holiday weekend off, lots of Austin restaurants are viewing July 4 as a good time to get new faces in. Hope you're ready for two openings, a smoky ramen special, and milestones for restaurants that still only have a year or less under their belts.
Openings and closings
A Dallas café with a mission has landed in Austin. La La Land Kind Cafe opens July 4 at 1400 S. Congress Ave., Ste. A102 — right next to Perla's and Hopdoddy Burger Bar. This café is famous for its employment program for people exiting foster care. However, its reputation for matcha lattes is as shining as its bright white-and-yellow color scheme. Hours are daily from 6:30 am to 7 pm.
Easy Tiger announced that its South Lamar location is temporarily closing while the space gets a remodel. The restaurant calls it a "summer break," but a new anonymous Reddit user has cast doubt on this terminology with a post about a layoff, a narrative that made it into Instagram comments as well. In May 2025, CEO Todd Coerver announced that he had left the company after only a year, as reported in the Austin Business Journal. The journal says Coerver alluded to "some restructuring" within the company.
Speaking of social media, Paw Paw's BBQ has been teasing a reopening for a few weeks. The team acquired a new trailer and is officially set for a soft opening July 4, from 10 am to 3 pm. Parked at 9815 Anderson Mill Rd., they'll be serving brisket, chicken, sausage, pinto beans, creamed corn, potato salad, and banana pudding. On Facebook, guests are encouraged to stop by for a free hot dog. There's no word yet on when the trailer will be open after the soft launch, but it seems like more updates aren't far behind.
Finally, another Reddit user noticed that Nancy’s Sky Garden is now open at 13609 N. Interstate Hwy. 35, Building 6, Ste. D. It celebrated its grand opening April 22, but it slid under the radar for many foodies. The restaurant specializes in vegan bowls and rolls made with large rice paper wraps, but it also offers chicken and fish as add-ins, plus some poke bowls. Nancy's Sky Garden is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 11 am to 8 pm, with takeout closing at 8:30 pm.
Colorful food is the norm at Nancy's Sky Garden.Nancy's Sky Garden/Instagram
Other news and notes
Folks who miss BBQ Ramen Tatsu-ya have the next best thing for "multiple weeks" with an unspecified end date. A limited edition bowl called Texas Tonk is once again has Ramen Tatsu-ya combining Japanese and Texan elements: pork bone broth, smoked shoyu, Thunder Oil (blackened garlic and chili oils), Hakata-style noodles (thin and straight), smoked brisket, smoked and pickled jalapeño, and a few other standard toppings. Chef and founder Tatsu Aikawa says the recipe is more than a decade in the making. Guests can also order Big Red while the bowl is available.
Cousin Louie’s, an Italian American restaurant that opened in February 2025, is embarking on an ambitious quest to represent the regions of Italy for the next year, starting July 7. Every other month will bring guests to a new "destination," featuring different specials. The first stop in July and August is the Amalfi Coast, which means fried squash blossoms stuffed with ricotta, pan-seared branzino, seafood ravioli, and veal francese. There will also be suggested wine pairings and special spritzes. The "tour" will also highlight dishes from Milan, Rome, Naples, Tuscany, Campania, and more.
Cousin Louie's is cooking up some classics from the Amalfi Coast.Photo courtesy of Cousin Louie's
Chalmers, a West Texas-inspired bar and eatery by team members from Armadillo Den and Murray's Tavern, is celebrating its first anniversary July 11. Despite the bar's usual devotion to West Texas, this time it's going for a Miami Vice aesthetic, calling in a press release for loafers and pastels. The best dressed guest will win a $200 gift card to Chalmers. DJs Sonrizas, Fetish, and Nostalgix will play sets, and there will be boutique booths and a new Cowboy Pool to take a dip in. Drink specials will feature Flor de Cana, Espolon, Aperol, and Weber Ranch Vodka. Guests must be 21 and older.
