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Industry Experts Name Austin's Top Restaurant Standbys of 2015

The best go-to dining spots.

Veracruz All Natural on Cesar Chavez
Veracruz All Natural on Cesar Chavez
Veracruz All Natural/Official
Nadia Chaudhury is the editor of Eater Austin covering food and pop culture, as well as a photographer, writer, and frequent panel moderator and podcast guest.

Since the end of 2015 is near, Eater asked a group of friends, industry types, and local bloggers for their takes on the past year. The annual survey spans eight questions from dining surprises, best dining neighborhoods, to restaurant grievances. All answers will be revealed as the week rolls on—cut, pasted, (mostly) unedited, and in no particular order. Readers, add your answers in the comments below. First up:

What were your top restaurant standbys of 2015?

Kathy Blackwell, editor in chief of Austin Way
Justine's Brasserie, Olamaie, Barley Swine, Hopfield's.

Jolène M. Bouchon, critic for Austin Monthly
Dai Due and Komé. Dai Due is where we take friends when they're visiting town, where I direct out-of-towners looking for a great dining experience in Austin, and where we go to celebrate something (anything, really). And, we love Asian food of all types, but we continually return for the homey, fresh food at Komé.

Katie Friel, editor of Tribeza
Launderette. I think I dined there more than any other restaurant this year (except maybe Tamale House East). What chefs Rene Ortiz and Laura Sawicki have created—the food, the drinks, the ambiance—is super special. Olamaie has also been a standby. Michael Fojtasek and Grae Nonas are so talented and the Austin food scene is made better thanks to them. Lately, I've been loving what the newly-opened Emmer & Rye is doing. I can't wait to see how they blossom in 2016.

Melody Fury, freelance food writer, blogger at Gourmet Fury, and contributor of Eater Austin
In one breath: Counter 3.Five.VII for a special occasion, Fixe for an indulgent evening, Vox Table for a boozy brunch, Bullfight for happy hour tapas, Bufalina for a casual night out, Daito for my noodle fix, Thai Kun for food truck eats, and Italic for a solid lunch.

Dan Gentile, staff writer at Thrillist
Kome, Via 313, Veracruz All Nautral, Taco Joint, Parkside, Uchiko, Ramen Tatsu-ya, Micklethwait Craft Meats.

Melanie Haupt, freelancer writer and Eater Austin contributor
Torchy's Tacos, Halal Corner, Curra's Grill, Kerbey Lane, Tam Deli, Top Notch, Thai Kitchen, Stiles Switch, Kome, East Side Pies, Daily Juice, and Bribery Bakery for special treats.

Jane Ko, editor of A Taste of Koko
Kome, East Side Pies, Hopdoddy, and Tacodeli.

Veronica Meewes, editor of Zagat Austin
I recommend my top standbys to friends visiting town because they consistently produce incredible food and really represent what Austin is all about. Odd Duck and Contigo are both committed to local food and present it in a casual, fun atmosphere that's great for groups and celebrations. Uchi, Uchiko and Lenoir are great options for a more "fine dining" feel or date night. For still-more casual options for lunch, you can't go wrong with Salt & Time, Epicerie, and Henri's.

Patricia Sharpe, executive editor and food writer for Texas Monthly
I always recommend Barley Swine when people visit from out of town. It’s very cosmopolitan and creative, yet has such an Austin vibe. And now it’s moving closer to my neighborhood!

Sofia Sokolove, assistant editor of Tribeza and contributor of Eater Austin
Launderette, Olamaie and Bufalina are where I found myself the most this year, for all kinds of meals, from casual to indulgent to late-night. Beyond that, Ramen Tatsu-Ya and Pho Van for my spicy soup fixes, and Tamale House for my tacos. And for a serious slice of East Coast pizza, Little Deli.

Tom Thornton, food and drinks editor of CultureMap Austin
Noble Sandwich, Veracruz All-Natural/Radio Coffee, Valentina's Tex-Mex, East Side King/Thai Kun, Second Bar + Kitchen, Rosita's Al Pastor.

Anastacia Uriegas, contributor of Thrillist
My gentleman friend and I can never decide what to eat. We browse Yelp. We reject each other’s suggestions. We browse Yelp again. Then we get in the car and just drive until one of us says, "Let’s just go to Second Bar," and the other eagerly agrees. The food there is solid; there are healthy-ish options, insanely good fries, and fantastic cocktails. Or we go to King Bee for their super cheesy pizza.

Brandon Watson, food editor of Austin Chronicle
With a busy review schedule and constant new openings, I never get the chance to become a real regular, so I am somewhat grading this on a curve. Dai Due for breakfast; Kome and épicerie for lunch; Launderette for brunch; Fixe for cocktails and snacks; Olamaie and Gardner for special occasions; Patrizi's for after-work snacks; Thai Kun, Salty Sow, and Uchiko for happy hour; Veracruz All Natural for tacos; Via 313 for pizza; and Swift's Attic for embarrassing stories.

Nadia Chaudhury, editor of Eater Austin
First and foremost, Veracruz All Natural and Radio Coffee, which I will still frequent despite having moved away from the street. Ramen Tatsu-ya for warming bowls of ramen in winter or summer. Odd Duck for dinners with out-of-town friends and family because it's always consistently great. Qui for the amazing variety of experiences it offers to diners. Home Slice for the closest thing to New York pies in Austin.

Tam Deli & Cafe

8222 North Lamar Boulevard, , TX 78753 (512) 271-6817 Visit Website

Uchiko

1801 Post Oak Boulevard, , TX 77056 (713) 522-4808 Visit Website

Launderette

2115 Holly Street, , TX 78702 (512) 382-1599 Visit Website

COUNTER 3. FIVE. VII

315 Congress Ave Ste 100, Austin, TX 78701 (512) 291-3327

Swift's Attic

315 Congress Avenue, , TX 78701 (512) 482-8842 Visit Website

Salt & Time

1912 East 7th Street, , TX 78702 (512) 524-1383 Visit Website

Olamaie

1610 San Antonio Street, , TX 78701 (512) 474-2796 Visit Website

The Halal Corner

1200 Barbara Jordan Boulevard, , TX 78723 (512) 480-0048 Visit Website

Taco Joint

6434 East Mockingbird Lane, , TX 75214 (214) 821-8226 Visit Website

Daily Juice

205 W 3rd St, Austin, TX 78701 (512) 243-6532 Visit Website

Contigo

2027 Anchor Lane, , TX 78723 (512) 614-2260 Visit Website

Komé

4917 Airport Boulevard, , TX 78751 (512) 712-5700 Visit Website

Hopdoddy Burger Bar

1400 South Congress Avenue, , TX 78704 (512) 243-7505 Visit Website

Justine's

4710 East 5th Street, , TX 78702 (512) 385-2900 Visit Website

Bufalina

2215 East Cesar Chavez Street, Austin, TX 78702 (512) 524-2523 Visit Website

Radio Coffee & Beer

4204 Menchaca Road, , TX 78704 (512) 394-7844 Visit Website

Dai Due

2406 Manor Road, , TX 78722 (512) 524-0688 Visit Website

Via 313 [Rainey]

61 Rainey Street, Austin, Texas 78701 (512) 609-9405 Visit Website

Hopfields

3110 Guadalupe Street, , TX 78705 (512) 537-0467 Visit Website

Stiles Switch BBQ & Brew

6610 N Lamar Boulevard, Austin, TX 78757 Visit Website

Curra's Grill

614 East Oltorf Street, , TX 78704 (512) 444-0012 Visit Website

East Side Pies

1401 Rosewood Avenue, , TX 78702 (512) 524-0933 Visit Website

epicerie

2307 Hancock Drive, , TX 78756 (512) 371-6840 Visit Website

Ramen Tatsu-ya [Research Boulevard]

8557 Research Blvd, #126, Austin, TX 78758 (512) 834-8810 Visit Website

Valentina's Tex Mex BBQ [Relocated]

7612 Brodie Lane, Austin, TX 78745 (512) 363-8520 Visit Website

Henri's

2024 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704 (512) 442-3373 Visit Website

Patrizi's

1705 Cuernavaca Drive North, , TX 78733 (346) 241-1350 Visit Website

Rosita's Al Pastor

1801 East Riverside Drive, , TX 78741 (512) 442-8402

Second Bar + Kitchen

200 Congress Avenue, , TX 78701 (512) 827-2750 Visit Website

Tacodeli

1500 Spyglass Drive, , TX 78746 (512) 732-0303 Visit Website

Salty Sow

1917 Manor Road, , TX 78722 (512) 391-2337 Visit Website

Vox Table [Closed]

1100 South Lamar Boulevard, Austin, Texas 78704 (512) 375-4869 Visit Website

Daito

2716 1/2 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78705 (512) 474-7770 Visit Website

Lenoir

68 Wentworth Street, , SC 29401 (843) 534-9031 Visit Website

Kerbey Lane Cafe [Campus]

2606 Guadalupe Street, Austin, TX 78705 512 447 5717

Torchy's Tacos

4211 Spicewood Springs Road, , TX 78759 (512) 291-7277 Visit Website

Uchi [Austin]

801 South Lamar Boulevard, Austin, Texas 78704 Visit Website

Micklethwait Craft Meats

1309 Rosewood Avenue, , TX 78702 (512) 791-5961 Visit Website

Veracruz All Natural

111 East Cesar Chavez Street, , TX 78701 (512) 665-2713 Visit Website

Emmer & Rye

51 Rainey Street, , TX 78701 (512) 366-5530 Visit Website

Thai Kitchen

738 Thompson Lane, , TN 37204 (615) 385-9854 Visit Website

Phó Vân

8557 Research Blvd, Austin, TX 78758 (512) 832-5595

Little Deli & Pizzeria

7101 Woodrow Avenue, , TX 78757 (512) 467-7402 Visit Website

Parkside

2135 North Willis Boulevard, , OR 97217 (503) 719-6826 Visit Website

Italic

123 West 6th Street, , TX 78701 (512) 660-5390 Visit Website

Bullfight [Closed]

4807 Airport Boulevard, Austin, Texas 78751 Visit Website

Odd Duck

939 South 2nd Street, , WI 53204 (414) 763-5881 Visit Website

Noble Sandwich Co.

4805 Burnet Road, , TX 78756 (512) 666-5124 Visit Website

Bribery Bakery [Closed]

2013 Wells Branch Pkwy Ste 109, Austin, TX 78728 (512) 531-9832 Visit Website

Top Notch

7525 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78757 (512) 452-2181 Visit Website

East Side King Thai-kun

1104 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702 (512) 407-8166

Barley Swine [Closed]

2024 South Lamar Boulevard, Austin, TX 78704 Visit Website

Gardner

1914 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78762 Visit Website

Qui [Closed]

1600 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702 (512) 436-9626 Visit Website

Tamale House East

1707 East 6th Street, , TX 78702 (512) 495-9504 Visit Website