Chronicle Discovered Excellent Udon at ‘Hidden Gem’ Daito

While The Chronicle’s Brandon Watson typically shies away from the phrase "hidden gem," he couldn't help but think of the tag when it came to Japanese restaurant Daito. Every item he tried blew him away, from the strong and accessible sake game to the freshest cuts of fish he could imagine. There’s also the handmade udon, which he described as a "canvas" for any given variation:

The cold, dipping-style curry tsuke udon ($9) was a luxurious brown, as deeply colored as a gumbo, thick enough to grab the slippery noodles. The spike of salt and spice, enriched by pork, were a nice foil against the blander base. The more nuanced zaru udon ($8.20), also served cold, is perfect for the waning days of Austin heat.

Vox Table’s brunch is better than its dinner service, according to Jolene Bounchon at Austin Monthly. She found the evening dishes to be uneven, with lows like the disappointing Sazerac sundae and crispy butternut squash, to the near highs of the almost right tongue and cheek buns. Where dinner failed, though, brunch wholly delivered:

We enjoyed every bit, from the rich, toasty coffee to the cocktails (that bloody mary comes with a pony of Miller High Life) to a rich yet seemingly weightless crab Benedict tucked into Yorkshire pudding and accompanied by thick prosciutto chips. And the hash thoroughly satisfied, with substantial bites of the tangy-salty pork and sweet potato, layered with an egg, fresh charred corn and just-crisp slices of zucchini. Even the chile-flecked Mexican fruit bowl managed to impress.

THE BLOGS: South Austin Foodie was impressed by Cheke’s Takos, Dine With Shayda visited the bakeshop-less St. Philip’s, and it’s still so many tacos for Mike Sutter.