The Sunny Side

Long-awaited Hopdoddy with rare breakfast is ready for Mueller debut

Eggs feature heavily on Hopdoddy Burger Bar's Boozy Breakfast menu.

Photo courtesy of Hopdoddy Burger Bar

A long-anticipated Hopdoddy Burger Bar location is almost ready to make its debut. The new Mueller location at 2005 Aldrich St., which was announced in 2023, will open August 5.

Hopdoddy is an Austin institution, having originally opened in the city in 2010. The chain is known for big burgers with bold flavors, as well as sourcing commitments like cage-free poultry and partnerships with farms that prioritize animal wellfare.

The new location will stand out as one of only two serving a Boozy Breakfast menu from 9-11 am on Sundays. Some of the items on offer include the No Snooze Smash Burger with hash browns and a fried egg from Vital Farms, the Hot Bird Biscuit with Nashville hot fried chicken with hot honey and an egg patty on a biscuit, Dirty Breakfast Fries with green chile queso and other toppings, and brunch cocktails like a Long Island Iced Coffee or a Bloody Mary garnished with a slider.

The first 100 guests on opening day will recieve scratch-off tickets for prizes including Hopdoddy "swag," free shakes, and free burgers. Every ticket will win something.

That's just the beginning of opening festivities; the official grand opening party will take place Sunday, August 23, from 9 am to noon. There will be a ribbon-cutting, live music, and things to see on the sidewalk, plus a booth from the Ag Producer Support Fund, a partner of the Texas Farmers Market at Mueller. Hopdoddy will support a farmer through the fund. The party will welcome its first 100 guests with a t-shirt and burger, and more prizes will be given throughout the day.

Guests at the party will also get an entry to a giveaway for joining the Hopdoddy loyalty program; they may be one of three winners to receive free burgers for a year.

Only a month ago, in June, the chain announced that it was sold to Founders Table Restaurant Group. The new owner specializes in non-traditional licensing, which usually means opening in places like educational settings and transportation centers. That clearly doesn't apply to the Aldrich Street location, which is almost as prime as real estate can get for a casual eatery.

The location is between Mueller Lake Park and Mary Elizabeth Branch Park, which locals probably know better as the venue that hosts the weekend Texas Farmers' Market. Hopdoddy also shares the block with other fast-casual restaurants with Austin roots: Chuy's and Honest Mary's.

“Mueller has such a fun, vibrant community, and we can't wait to become part of it,” said Hopdoddy president Kenny Jett in a press release. “Whether it's celebrating a big win, a family outing, catching up with old friends, or just grabbing a great burger, we hope our Mueller outpost will serve as the go-to spot for the neighborhood.”

The Mueller Hopdoddy will operate Mondays through Thursdays from 11 am to 10 pm, Fridays from 11 am to 11 pm, Saturdays from 11 am to 11 pm, and Sundays from 9 am to 10 pm.

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A visit from the Cal-Italians

San Francisco Italian eatery visits Austin for exclusive hotel residency

Photo by Max Burkhalter

Che Fico makes Italian food with a California twist.

A San Francisco "Cal-Italian" restaurant has taken up a fancy Austin home away from home for the rest of 2026. Che Fico, by executive chef and co-owner David Nayfeld, has started a residency at Soho House on South Congress Avenue through December 31.

Soho House is an international members' club that made its Austin debut in 2021. For most of the population, Soho House is a luxury hotel. For members, it's a landing pad where social ties and routines can at least be somewhat maintained around the world. People who are not members but are curious about Che Fico will have to book a nightly stay or ask a member to invite them as a guest.

Che Fico at Soho House Austin Fresh flavors make up a large portion of the Che Fico menu.Photo by Max Burkhalter

Che Fico ("how cool" in Italian) combines Roman-Jewish culinary traditions and a Californian lens, a press release says. Chef Nayfeld was a semi-finalist in the 2023 James Beard Awards, and has worked in some of the most famous kitchens in the world, including Eleven Madison Park, Nobu, and Joël Robuchon. The pop-up started in June, and Soho House hosted a media dinner in July so that local publications, including CultureMap, could get a taste of some — but not all — of the dishes.

San Franciscans might recognize some of the dishes on the menu, while others are exclusive to Soho House Austin. Most of the dishes at the press dinner focused on fresh flavors, such as a pillowy focaccia with whipped mascarpone and Sicilian olive oil, and an insalata tritata (chopped salad) with baby gem lettuce, radicchio, salami, peperoncini, hered ricotta salata and dill. Fresh-pulled mozzarella stuffed with Tsar Nicolai golden osetra caviar was mellow and sweet, while a corn pudding with demi-sec wine and Early Girl tomatoes (an early-ripening hybrid) was bold with acidity.

Che Fico at Soho House Austin The pop-up menu combines Che Fico favorites and location exclusives.Photo by Max Burkhalter

Among the more hearty dishes was a mostly classic chicken parmigiana, elevated for the occasion with strong herbal flavors and the same house-made mozzarella, and an agnello arrosto (wood oven roasted lamb loin) was less expected, especially paired with watercress and salsa verde.

Guests who love a classic Italian American menu may also gravitate toward the sourdough pizzas and handmade pastas (manicotti with bolognese and bechamel, the release teases). The desserts also have a classic bent, especially the fluffy tiramisu, while the panacotta's vanilla bean flavor is dramatically amplified by balsamic vinegar.

Che Fico brought more than just food. Its cocktail specials are only Italian-inspired, like the Odd Even Rule with tequila, watermelon, Quinquina (an aperitif), tarragon, Chareau (a California spirit), lime, and Pica Limon (sour candy); or the Viaggiatore with makrut lime aperitif, fig leaf, pineapple rum, prosecco, and citrus.

Che Fico at Soho House Austin Cocktails at this pop-up are layered with unexpected ingredients.Photo by Max Burkhalter

The pop-up is located in a chic, light-filled dining space that emphasizes this particular Soho House's desert proximity. For hotel guests, this is the kind of flavor that makes eating onsite worth it.

Soho House Austin dining room The dining room where guests will try these dishes.Photo by Max Burkhalter

Che Fico at Soho House Austin opens at 5 pm daily. A full menu (containing much more than the dishes listed above) is available via sohohouse.com .

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