Hopdoddy An Uninviting Smash Hit; Another A+ For A+A Sichuan China

Two reviews from the Chronicle this week. First up, Virginia Wood decides Austin does, in fact, have room for yet another hamburger store, and declares Hopdoddy "a smash hit" with one wee little issue: "I found the space itself completely uninviting." In the second, Mick Vann falls head over heels for A+A Sichuan China: "The dishes are authentically flavored, wonderfully spicy, and cooked with fresh ingredients, and chef Joe is a genius." [Chronicle]

Meanwhile, Mike Sutter at the Statesman offers the odd combo of a review of the Noble Pig and an interview with its owner/chef John Bates, and declares the food to be an 8.9/10; also, his kids recommend the house specialty, the Noble Pig sandwich. [Statesman]

The Fearless Critic declares Sushi A-Go-Go to be among the best cheap sushi in Austin: "Sushi A-Go-Go gets its Fearless cred from its confident navigation of traditional, non-masses-catering items: natto (fermented soybeans—nutty and superfunky), kanpyo (brightly sweet squash), and plum paste with cucumber." [FC]

The Fearless Critic also heads to Hopdoddy, and runs into similar issues as Wood did: "Hopdoddy’s like that diner in Back to the Future II, upon Marty’s 21st-century re-arrival...The space is chilly and modern, but the fare hails back to Howdy-Doody times." [FC]

Hopdoddy. [Photo: Hopdoddy.]