New Places:
1. Leroy & LewisIt's so far south that it takes me between 45 minutes to an hour to drive there, it's not inexpensive (although it's not super expensive for good barbecue), but even with those caveats, this is still my favorite new place on the list. I've been down there a few times this year for BBQ, and I usually get the beef cheek and either tri-tip or flatiron (I still haven't ever tried their brisket) along with the beef fat potato chips and one of their other excellent sides. I also arranged a group to go to one of their early steak nights, which was *phenomenal*, and was my first time trying their onion rings, which are my favorite onion rings I've ever had.
2. Canje
I only went once, but it ranks high because it was the best meal I had all year. I'd been hearing about this Caribbean restaurant for a while, and it was one of the early outings for my new foodie group, and we were all taken with the food. The roti especially was life-changing, but the Boar Pepper Pot and Oxtail Beef Patties were also really memorable, as was the super spicy Jerk Chicken. Can't wait to go back in 2025.
3. Ramen del Barrio
Another "I've been hearing about this place forever," this place lived up to the hype. I really like the Mexican fusion ramen, but I often go there just for the tacos and karaage chicken, both of which are in my opinion among the best in town.
Another "I've been hearing about this place forever," this place lived up to the hype. I really like the Mexican fusion ramen, but I often go there just for the tacos and karaage chicken, both of which are in my opinion among the best in town.
4. Taste of Home Dumplings
This place is super close to me, and it's become my go-to for dumplings. The soup dumplings are really good, I love their lamb cilantro dumplings, and their bao are my favorite in town.
5. P. Thai's Khao Man Gai
Recently moved from a space in the shopping center near Ramen Tatsu-Ya and Julie's Noodles, this Thai spot has a menu I've barely explored, but I love their signature dish, especially the fried chicken and chicken fat rice version.
6. Nando's Peri-Peri
I try to focus my interest as much as possible on locally-owned spots, but this South African chain of Portuguese chicken shops has been on my radar for a while now, and since they opened, I've been twice and its been really excellent both times. The sauces are the big secret, but their basic grilled chicken is a really good delivery system for those sauces, and their sides (especially the brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes) are great.
7. Sate
A food truck turned brick and mortar, the food truck was in South Austin so I never got there but the brick and mortar is very near work, and quite tasty. It's simple, just skewers (pork, chicken, or beef, the pork is my favorite but they're all good) and rice, but it's always good. I wish they were open on Mondays and Tuesdays, because those are big lunch days at work, but this has gone into the regular lunch rotation for me.
8. New Fortune
Not entirely new, but the third location for New Fortune is a bit of a comedown from the giant ballroom they had pre-pandemic, but is rapidly catching up to where they were in terms of quality dim sum. you have to get there early (they theoretically open at 11, but if you're not there by 10:15 or so, you're gonna be waiting a while for a table), and it's only cart dim sum on Saturdays and Sundays, but it is still, having sampled several, the best dim sum in town. And my favorite salt and pepper shrimp.
9. Atlas Sandwich
Down in the campus area, this one requires some parking finagling, but their Greek sandwiches are really tasty. I've only managed to get there twice so far, but I will definitely be visiting more often in 2025.
10. Zoe Tong/Si Baby Q
Truthfully, this upscale Asian food place and Asian-influenced barbecue spot would have been much higher on my list, but they are closing on New Year's Day, and it bums me out. I'm glad I got to have three good meals here before they closed.
11. Delucca Gaucho Pizza
All you can eat gourmet pizza with an incongruous free offering of lobster bisque, this was my choice of birthday meal this year. I liked it but I don't know how often I'd hit it up.
12. Texan Cafe
Pretty solid southern diner fare, but the pie selection is out of this world. Need to get back out to this Hutto spot again.
Austin BBQ Ratings:
1. Leroy & Lewis
2. Interstellar
3. KG BBQ
4. Franklin
5. Stiles Switch
Favorite Burgers:
- Jewboy Burgers
- Buddha Burger
- Hopdoddy's
Favorite Sandwiches:
- Firehouse Subs
- Baguette House
- Jersey Mike's
- Jewboy Subs
Favorite Tex-Mex:
- El Dorado Cafe
Favorite Fried Chicken:
- Gus's Fried Chicken
Other Favorite Places:
- Gangnam Korean BBQ
- Jack Allen's
- Kenney Fort Pub
- Kerbey Lane
- Texas Roadhouse
- Pinthouse Pizza
- Ramen Tatsu-Ya
- Snooze
- Soupleaf
- Stuffed
- Y'all's
Lunch Options:
- Kebab Shop
- KFC
- Wendy's
- Whataburger
- P. Terry's
- Panda Express
- Popeye's
- Raising Cane's
- Shake Shack
- Short Stop
- Smoky Mo's
- Tsos Chinese
- Tumble 22
- Velvet Taco
