17 Most Anticipated Austin Restaurant and Bar Openings of 2023

There’s yet another exciting year in store for Austin diners for 2023. From a new restaurant from an acclaimed Puerto Rican chef to Mexican fusion ramen to a New York-exported Irish bar, the city’s options continue to expand and grow.

A few projected openings are holdovers from 2022: Aaron Franklin and James Moody’s sandwich shop Uptown Sports Club, the expansion of Uchi’s casual Japanese Dallas restaurant Uchiba, chef Ling Qi Wu’s new Asian restaurants, and wine bar/restaurant Underdog.

Read on for 2023’s most exciting restaurant openings, listed in chronological order. This guide will be updated as the year continues.

Ember Kitchen & Subterra Agave Bar

Address: 800 West Cesar Chavez Street, Seaholm
Opening: January 2023

Puerto Rican chef María Mercedes Grubb is taking over the former Boiler Nine space in Seaholm for a new restaurant, Ember, that focuses on live-fire cooking within the Puerto Rican, Dominican, and general Caribbean cuisines. That means dishes like prawns with hibiscus or roasted squash with salsa macha made with Marcona almonds.

Luminaire

Address: 721 Congress Avenue, Downtown
Opening: February 2023

Six-time James Beard Award nominee Steve McHugh, of San Antonio’s Cured, is opening a restaurant in the new Hyatt Centric Congress Avenue Austin hotel. It will serve seasonal Texas fare and charcuterie, while rooftop bar Las Bis offers another place to grab a cocktail with skyline views.

Day Dreamer

Address: 1708 East Sixth Street, East Sixth
Opening: March 2023

There’s a powerhouse hospitality team behind this forthcoming neighborhood bar — the partners come from wine bar Birdie’s, East Austin patio cocktail spot Kitty Cohen’s, honky-tonk dive bar the White Horse, East Austin retro bar High Noon, and East Riverside bar Frazier’s. There will be hand-cranked cocktails from a Crawler Champion Shaker and Allday, a truck with pizza, meatballs, and soft serve from two of the founders of Sammataro.

Vegan Nom/Barrett’s Coffee

Address: 111 North Loop Boulevard, North Loop
Opening: March 2023

This power restaurant duo is moving into the former Phara’s location in North Loop, teaming up to offer coffee drinks, breakfast tacos, cocktails, and new vegan entrees like mole wings in a fast-casual, all-day environment. Vegan Nom owner Chris Rios said he hopes to open before South by Southwest in March.

Holiday

Address: 5020 East Seventh Street, Govalle
Opening: Early 2023

Three Austin industry vets — bar wizard Erin Ashford, chef Peter Klein, and John DiCicco — are opening a fanciful new bar in East Austin. From Ashford, expect agave, amaro, and gin cocktails, which they’re calling “fancies;” from Klein, look out for general thoughtful food; and from DiCicco and company, expect soft and lush vibes.

Tiny Grocer

Address: 4300 Speedway, Hyde Park
Opening: Early 2023

The South Austin grocery store-slash-deli is opening a second location across the river. Owner Steph Steele is doing something different too: along with retail goods and foods, she’ll add a whole counter-service cafe with French comfort foods for dinner and weekend brunch,

Ramen del Barrio

Address: 1700 Parmer Lane, Scofield Farms
Opening: Early 2023

This Mexican fusion ramen spot will open within Hana World Market in North Austin. Owner Christopher Krinsky initially found success serving ramen out of his garage, and he will offer dishes like menudo ramen.

P. Thai Khao Man Gai

Address: 8557 Research Boulevard, North Austin
Opening: Early 2023

Thai Kun chef Thai Changthong is opening a new counter-service food stall within Hong Kong Supermarket dedicated to Thai-style khao man gai, a chicken and rice dish. he’s making use of his mother’s own recipe, and there will be steamed chicken and fried chicken versions.

Underdog

Address: 1600 South First Street, Bouldin Creek
Opening: Mid to late February

South Austin is getting a new wine restaurant and retail store courtesy of couple/partners sommelier Richard Hargreave (who is a Momofuku alum) and Claudia Lee. Wine-wise, expect biodynamic wines from smaller wine producers and winemakers. The menu will include wine-friendly dishes with Korean influences.

The Dead Rabbit

Address: 204 East Sixth Street, Downtown
Opening: Spring 2023

Acclaimed New York Irish bar the Dead Rabbit is taking over the former B.D. Riley’s this spring. It’s known for Irish whiskies, Irish coffee, and a menu that includes fish and chips, Scotch eggs, and the like.

Ezov

Address: 2708 East Cesar Chavez Street, Holly
Opening: Spring 2023

The Emmer & Rye team is opening a new Mediterranean restaurant with chef Bertie Richter (TLV, Ladino) at the helm. The menu will draw influence from the Galilee region of Israel, and will also serve cocktails and wine. It’s opening in the former Pitchfork Pretty space.

Uchiba

Address: 601 West Second Street, Downtown
Opening: Spring 2023

Austin’s well-known Japanese restaurant, run by chef Tyson Cole, is bringing its Dallas-based casual spin-off Uchiba into Austin (not to be confused with its other spin-off Uchiko) this year. The menu will include yakitori, and if the original location is any indication, dumplings, bao, and lots of sushi and sashimi.

Murray’s

Address: 2316 Webberville Road, East Austin
Opening: Summer 2023

The Nickel City-Juniper teams are opening a new New York City-ish tavern this year. Named after co-partner Travis Tober’s grandmother (Murray was her maiden name), the bar will offer classic cocktails, including Rob Roys and frozen Brandy Alexanders, alongside go-to tavern pub food.

Hattie B’s Hot Chicken

Address: 2529 South Lamar Boulevard, South Lamar
Opening: Fall 2023

Nashville hot chicken spot Hattie B’s is moving into the former Maria’s Taco Xpress on South Lamar. It will serve its signature spicy fried chicken in sandwiches and platters along with desserts (banana pudding, cobblers), and cocktails (like boozy slushies).

Flo’s Wine Bar & Bottle Shop

Address: 3111 West 35th Street, Tarrytown
Opening: 2023

Two friends — Flo Clemons and Adair Belisle — are opening their perfect neighborhood hang with this wine bar-slash-bottle shop. The long wine list will be available for to-go bottles and on-site drinking by bottle or glass. Also on deck will be another location of Allday Pizza, boasting pies and slices, along with salads, meatballs, and soft-serve gelato.

Ling Wu Asian Restaurant and Ling Wu at the Grove

Address: 7415 Southwest Parkway, Lantana Place; 2625 Denali Summit Pass, Rosedale
Opening: 2023

Chef Ling Qi Wu — of Chinese restaurants Lin Asian Bar and Qi, is opening her fourth and fifth Austin restaurants next year. Ling Wu Asian Restaurant, the south restaurant, will add raw fish dishes like ceviches to the menu, while Ling Wu at the Grove will focus on lighter Asian cuisine with locally sourced ingredients.

Uchiba [Austin]

601 West Second Street, Austin, Texas 78701 Visit Website

Ling Wu Asian Restaurant

7415 Southwest Parkway, Building 3 Suite 400, Austin, TX 78735

Day Dreamer

1708 East Sixth Street, Austin, Texas 78702 Visit Website

Ezov

2708 E Cesar Chavez Street, Austin, TX 78702 Visit Website

Flo’s Wine Bar & Bottle Shop

3111 West 35th Street, Austin, Texas 78703 Visit Website

Holiday

5020 East 7th Street, Austin, TX 78702 Visit Website

Underdog

1600 South First Street, Austin, Texas 78704 Visit Website

Ling Wu at the Grove

2625 Denali Summit Pass, Building 2, Suite B, Austin, Texas 78731

Murray’s

2316 Webberville Road , Austin, Texas 78702

Tiny Grocer [Hyde Park]

4300 Speedway, Austin, Texas 78751 Visit Website

The Dead Rabbit [Austin]

204 East Sixth Street, Austin, Texas 78701 Visit Website

Luminaire

721 Congress Avenue, Austin, TX 78701 Visit Website

Ember Kitchen & Subterra Agave Bar

800 West Cesar Chavez Street, Suite PP110, Austin, Texas 78701 Visit Website

The Vegan Nom/Barrett’s

111 North Loop Boulevard, Austin, Texas 78751 Visit Website

Ramen Del Barrio

1700 Parmer Lane, Suite 100, Austin, Texas 78754