Hi, y’all! Here are 5 Austin restaurants that I’ve recently tried and enjoyed, and I think you might like them, too!
Four of them are brand spankin’ new, and one is an older restaurant that’s still (somehow) a hidden gem in Austin.
As always, if you try any of these and love them, tag me on instagram so I can see your beautiful food pics! And if you’re looking for more more posts in the “5 Restaurants You Need To Try” series, click here!
Ok, ready? Here are 5 restaurants that you need to try in ATX:
1. The hottest new restaurant in Austin: DipDipDip Tatsu-ya
DipDipDip Tatsu-ya is a new-school shabu-shabu restaurant in North Austin. It’s been extremely popular ever since it opened (it has the Tatsu-ya name behind it, so it already has some street cred), and here’s what you should know:
- Reservations are hard to get! It’s already mostly booked through the end of August. It’s a small restaurant that’s only open 5 days/week. If you want to check it out, book fast!
- This restaurant is great for date night! The food is very interactive, so if you have a first date and you’re nervous to keep the conversation going, go to DipDipDip! The fast-paced experience ensures there will be no award pauses in conversation. 🙂
- The Omakase (chef selections) are the way to go if you’re new to the whole shabu-shabu experience. They’re offered at three price points; I tried the middle one and the most expensive with Nate. When I go back, I’ll go with the middle price point (Tatsu-ya Omakase) because my pregnancy means I couldn’t enjoy the raw wagyu with the expensive omakase (The Baller Omakase), and I didn’t really care for the “Keep Austin Dippin'” Queso addition, either.
- You have a choice of 4 dipping broths. I tried the Miso Smokey and LOVED it! Nate had the Tonkotsu, and we both agreed it wasn’t quite as flavorful as mine.
WEBSITE | 7301 Burnet Rd
2. New East Austin restaurant: Vixen’s Wedding
Todd Duplechan (Lenoir) is the chef at this brand new Goan-inspired restaurant. It’s located in the ground floor of the brand new ARRIVE East Austin hotel, and it’s absolutely stunning!
I gathered with friends a few weeks ago and tried a bunch of happy hour bites from the small plates side of the menu (I still haven’t been back to have the larger plates for a full dinner, but I intend to go soon!)
I loved the flavors of the cheese pao, the yummy idli pork buns with tamarind and cilantro chutney, the chaat fried okra, and the methi paratha with mango chutney. My friend Shruthi went for a full dinner and left this review, which could be helpful if you’re planning to make a reservation here.
WEBSITE | 1813 E 6th St
3. Modern Mexican Restaurant: Comedor
Comedor has been open for about three months, but I put off trying it because I thought, “REALLY? Another modern Mexican restaurant?”
But Nate said he wanted to take me out for my birthday last week, and I picked Comedor and absolutely loved it!
For starters, the building design is stunning. It’s a brand-new free-standing build in Downtown Austin (DANG! That must have been expensive..) that has a speakeasy-vibe because it’s all black brick from the outside, but the inside is flooded with natural light from the tall ceilings.
We ordered the Bone Marrow Tacos (<- they stole the show for sure), the Hausbar Nopal & Guacamole Tostada, the Masa Spaetzel, Esquites, Burnt Corn Husk (absolutely delicious, but probably the least memorable dish of the night), and the Pork Belly & Cochinita Pibil Memela, Xni-Pec. Chefs Philip Speer and Gabe Erales have done a beautiful job crafting a unique menu in a restaurant category that already has some big names in Austin.
WEBSITE | 501 Colorado St
4. Word Of Mouth Bakery
Oh my soul…I’m obsessed with this little bakery, and I’m not sure how it’s still as under-the-radar as it is! The bakery has been open for about three years (located very close to the Texas State Capitol), and the catering component to it has been function for about 30 years.
I met Caitlin for a breakfast/work session (we both drank coffee, ate pastries, and worked on our laptops), and then I stayed for lunch.
The chocolate croissants and pull-apart monkey bread muffins were outstanding, but I saw about a dozen other things in the pastry case that I also wanted to try. For lunch, the soups, salads, and sandwiches are all really moderately priced (most salads are under $10 WITH added protein, which is such a steal!)
For lunch, I loved the lemon kale salad and the grilled citrus chicken sandwich.
WEBSITE | 917 W 12th St
5. Lefty’s Brick Bar
Lefty’s Brick Bar is a cajun-inspired restaurant located on the ground floor of the new ARRIVE East Austin hotel. They serve bahn-boys (a Bahn mi/po-boy hybrid), boozy snow cones, ice cream sandwiches, and other snacks.
My thoughts? It’s a fun place to hang out if you’re already in the area! I wouldn’t consider this a destination spot, but east Austin has sooo many fun places, so you’re likely to be in the area at some point and it’s worth stopping by Lefty’s for lunch, a light dinner, or a late night snack.
*One quick note about Lefty’s and Vixen’s: I had some…mmm…awkward service situations at both places. They’re both new restaurants inside the new ARRIVE hotel, so I’m sure they’re still working out the kinks. Food and ambiance were both excellent, but the service aspect needs improvement. But again, they’re both new and I’m sure they’ll get it all worked out with time.
WEBSITE | 1813 E 6th ST
Want to check out more posts in the “5 Restaurants You Need To Try” series? Click here!
Happy weekending, and happy eating!
