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This is a running roundup of every restaurant and bar opening throughout the Austin area in 2023 so far. See an opening that Eater Austin missed? Let us know over at austin@eater.com. There’s also a separate food truck opening list. And with openings come closings, and Eater is also tracking those elsewhere.
September 2023
EAST CESAR CHAVEZ — Brand-new bar Daydreamer opened in late September with loads of cocktails, champagnes, and snacks. (1708 East Sixth Street)
ROUND ROCK — North Austin halal barbecue restaurant Usta Kababgy is expanding with a second location up further north on September 29. (1400 East Old Settlers Boulevard, Suite 110)
CLARKSVILLE — From the team behind new downtown bar Swank Cocktail Room (see below), seafood restaurant Pearl Dive Oyster Bar opened in late September. Under chef Peter Klimov, there are cold and hot seafood dishes, oysters, and seafood towers, as well as wine and sparkling options. (1611 West Fifth Street, Suite 105)
ROUND ROCK — National bakery chain Crumbl Cookies opened another location up in the north-of-Austin suburb in mid-September, as reported by Community Impact. (3021 South I-35, Suite 140)
NORTH AUSTIN — South Austin bar Bouldin Acres expanded with a second location up north in mid-September, serving drinks, food from on-site truck CM Smokehouse, and more. (1806 West Braker Lane)
OAK HILL — The next Austin-area location of charcuterie chain Graze Craze opened in the Oak Hill Centre shopping plaza in mid-September. (6705 West Highway 290, Suite 609)
SLAUGHTER CREEK — Ever-expanding Texas juice chain JuiceLand opened another cafe in mid-September. (1807 West Slaughter Lane)
EAST CESAR CHAVEZ — National chain Brooklyn Dumpling Shop opened its first Austin location in mid-September. The automat-service spot serves up traditional and new-school dumplings, with dine-in space. (1401 East 6th Street, Building 1, Suite 201)
BUDA — Austin coffee shop Progress expanded with a new somewhat delayed location in the south-of-Austin suburb in mid-September. (750 Farm to Market Road 2001)
CEDAR PARK — National fast-casual restaurant chain the Great Greek Mediterranean Grill opened its first Austin-area location in mid-September, as reported by Community Impact. (3101 East Whitestone Boulevard, Suite G100)
RAINEY — Controversial Austin chef Gabe Erales opened a new Mexican restaurant in downtown Austin, Bacalar, focusing on the Yucatán region, in mid-September. (44 East Avenue)
DOWNTOWN — Veracruz All Natural expanded with its seventh location within the Travis County Civil and Family Courts Facility in early September. (1700 Guadalupe Street)
EAST CESAR CHAVEZ — South Austin’s Cosmic Coffee & Beer Garden expanded with a second location in East Austin in early September. Along with its bar serving coffee and drinks, it opened a first-time restaurant Cosmic Tacos. (1300 East Fourth Street)
WEST CAMPUS — Growing hospitality company NoCo opened its next spot, sports bar Victory Lap, in early September. The bar serves beers and cocktails alongside food like smash burgers and chicken wings. (504 West 24th Street)
ZILKER — The South Austin location of Wanderlust Wine Company opened an on-site hidden wine cave tasting room in early September. Wanderlust Wine Cave offers wine tastings focusing on rotating regions as well as tapas. Reservations should be made online. (1601 Barton Springs Road)
MUELLER — The teams behind ice cream truck Merry Monarch and dog park and coffee shop Neighbors opened casual cafe Bottega in early September. There are Philadelphia-style ice creams as well as appetizers, tinned fish boards, and snacks. (2100 Robert Browning Street)
ROLLINGWOOD — National burger chain Whataburger opened its first digital kitchen with no people-to-people ordering services in Austin in early September. (3201 Bee Caves Road)
August 2023
NORTH AUSTIN — A new Afghani restaurant, Afghan Village, took over what had been the original Usta location, sometime in the summer, serving kebabs (per Instagrammer Austin Halal Eats) and karahi (per Instagrammer Lucky Fatima). (9717 North Lamar Boulevard)
ROUND ROCK — Hawai‘i-based shave ice chain Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice opened its first Texas location in late August, serving the icy treat in all sorts of fruit flavors, as well as coffee, chocolate, etc., plus the option to add ice cream or azuki beans. (4500 East Palm Valley Boulevard, Suite 116)
SPICEWOOD — Out on far west Austin, new casual cafe Winston’s opened in late August with coffee, breakfast (sourdough toasts), wood-fire pizza, and pastries. (4900 Bee Creek Road)
DOWNTOWN — After the splitting of Sammataro the pizza truck and Sammataro the restaurant, the latter renamed itself La Volta in late August. (900 West 10th Street)
EAST AUSTIN — Austin members club and venue Pershing took over what had been the Greater Goods’s space and turned it into the Pershing East Cafe in late August, serving coffee and food. (2501 East Fifth Street)
SOUTHEAST AUSTIN — National restaurant chain L&L Hawaiian Barbecue opened its first Austin location in late August, as reported by Community Impact. The menu includes classic dishes such as loco moco, Spam musubi, and an array of bowls and plates. (3601 West William Cannon Drive)
WEST CAMPUS — Longtime recently shuttered bar Cain & Abel’s reopened in a new location in the same neighborhood in late August, still serving drinks and sports bar-ish food. (907 West 24th Street)
DOWNTOWN — Likewise, what had been shuttered Rainey Street bar Reina reopened in a new downtown location in late August. (214 Trinity Street)
MUELLER — Chain Detroit-style pizzeria chain Jet’s opened a new location in Austin proper in late August. (1201 Barbara Jordan Boulevard, Suite 1420)
ROUND ROCK — Chain pizzeria Mod Pizza opened a new location in the northern suburb, as reported by Community Impact, within the Round Rock Crossing plaza, in late August. (119 Louis Henna Boulevard, Suite 101)
MCKINNEY — French farmers market stand Paris 13 opened within ghost kitchen hub Ghostline in mid-August, serving quiches, Creole samosas, crepes, and madeleines. (3400 Comsouth Drive)
HYDE PARK — New bookstore-slash-cafe First Light made its debut in mid-August, serving coffee, pastries, snacks, wines, and beers. (4300 Speedway)
MCKINNEY — Ghost kitchen restaurant Panang Future opened within shared hub space Ghostline Kitchens in mid-August, serving Thai dishes like the namesake panang curry, kai-tod (fried chicken), as well as fusion items like panang burritos. (3400 Comsouth Drive)
DOWNTOWN — Former Italian food truck Il Saporis opened its first restaurant in mid-August. Sapori Italian Roots serves pastas, burrata, desserts, and more. (800 Brazos Street, Suite 215)
CEDAR PARK — Coffee chain Black Rock opened a new location up north in mid-August, as reported by Community Impact. (1909 East Whitestone Boulevard)
GEORGETOWN — Chain restaurant Ike’s Love & Sandwiches opened another Austin-area location up in the north-of-Austin suburb in mid-August. (1021 West University Avenue, Suite 105)
BLACKLAND — Vegan tasting-menu restaurant Fabrik opened in early August, serving five- and seven-course meals with high-end vegan dishes and desserts. (1701 East Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Suite 102)
DOWNTOWN — Downtown bar Eden Cocktail Room opened a new comparatively more casual bar dubbed, yes, Yup Lounge, in early August. There are draft cocktails, beers, and more. (607 San Jacinto Boulevard)
THE TRIANGLE — Beer bar chain the Brass Tap returned to Austin in early August with its first new location since the Domain one closed in 2017 (there’s one in Round Rock though). (815 West 47th Street)
July 2023
ZILKER — Exciting New Texan pop-up Elementary opened its physical restaurant in late July, serving dishes like al pastor tortellini and cocktails. (2026 South Lamar Boulevard)
ZILKER — And then Elementary also opened its nearby neighboring bar Hopscotch, focusing on wines, other cocktails, and small dishes making use of leftover ingredients from Elementary’s kitchen, also in late July. (2032 South Lamar Boulevard)
EAST AUSTIN — Closed Mexican restaurant Takoba turned its back-section into a new bar, Seven Spirits, in late July. It focuses on Mexican spirits like mezcals and raicillas, while also serving food. (1411 East Seventh Street)
CEDAR PARK — A new Brazilian steakhouse opened in the northern Austin area in late July. Bitelo Brazilian Steakhouse serves lots of meats and other such dishes. (1850 South Lakeline Boulevard, Suite 200)
EAST CESAR CHAVEZ — Venue and group hotel Inn Cahoots opened up three new bars in late July. There’s ground-floor indoor Bar Mischief, rooftop speakeasy IYKYK, and patio bar Austin Garden & Studio, each serving its own cocktail menu. (1221 East Sixth Street)
ROUND ROCK — A new vegan bakery with fantastical decorations and elements, Unicorniverse Bakery & Cafe, opened in late July, as reported by Community Impact. (2400 South I-35, Suite 130)
HIGHLAND — Very popular global bakery chain Uncle Tetsu opened its first Austin location in late July, bringing along those Japanese cheesecakes. (6929 Airport Boulevard, Suite 151)
DOWNTOWN — Growing Chicago trendy store chain Foxtrot opened its third Austin location in the City Hall building in late July. (306 West Second Street)
DOWNTOWN — Restaurant/bar entrepreneur Gabriela Bucio opened her next spot, dance club Mala Fama, in late July, taking over the former Buckshot bar in Dirty Sixth. (422 East Sixth Street)
SAN MARCOS — National burger chain Shake Shack opened its first location in the south-of-Austin city in late July within the Tanger Outlets. (4025 I-35 South, Suite 5400)
NORTH AUSTIN — Chef Thai Changthong opened his new food stall, P. Thai’s Khao Man Gai, dedicated to Thai-style khao man gai inside of the Hong Kong Supermarket in mid-July. (8557 Research Boulevard)
ROUND ROCK — Fast-casual Texas hot chicken chain Urban Bird opened its first Austin-area location in mid-July, serving up chicken tenders in varying spice levels as well as waffles, fries, and a vegan iteration. (200 University Boulevard, Suite 600)
DOWNTOWN — A new bar, Swank Cocktail Room, opened in the Warehouse District in late July, with drinks and bottle service. (117 West Fourth Street, Suite 101A)
FAR SOUTH AUSTIN — Joining the growing number of bars along Menchaca Road, a new video game bar opened in mid-July, as reported by Community Impact. Reset Arcade Bar offers themed cocktails (Bloody Mario, etc.) and actual games. (10402 Menchaca Road, Unit B)
DOWNTOWN — A new bar with fun vibes and correlating cocktails opened in mid-July. Saturn features what owner Steven Smith calls “disco cocktails.” (906 Congress Avenue)
PLAZA VOLENTE — A new drive-thru touting falafel and beef burgers opened near Anderson Mill in mid-July. Falafel Burger serves burgers made with chickpeas, as well as beef-based kofta ones, along with falafel, hummus, and baba ganoush. (11506 North Ranch to Market Road 620)
CEDAR PARK — Austin-based grain bowl cafe Honest Mary’s opened its third store in late July. (4701 US-183A, Suite B300)
MUELLER — Texas pizzeria and beer bar mini-chain Aviator Pizza & Drafthouse opened a new location in the Austin neighborhood in July. (1905 Aldrich Street, Suite 115)
OAK HILL — Bubble tea chain Gong Cha opened another new location in South Austin in mid-July, as reported by Community Impact. (4220 West William Cannon Drive, Suite 140)
FAR NORTH AUSTIN — Pizza truck Pedroso’s opened a ghost kitchen location within the Prep ATX hub in mid-July. (1300 East Anderson Lane, Building D)
HUDSON BEND — The past is never dead: what had been shuttered fine-dining restaurant Hudson’s on the Bend is back again with a more casual approach and under new ownership and a new chef as of early July. (3509 Ranch Road 620 North)
LAKEWAY — The first Austin-area location of charcuterie chain Graze Craze opened with all sorts of grazing boards in early July. ( 2127 Lohman’s Crossing Road, Suite 304.)
GEORGETOWN — New restaurant the Palomino opened in early July with burgers, bratwursts, and beers, as reported by Community Impact. (305 East Morrow Street)
GATEWAY — New Vietnamese restaurant the One Pho opened with stone pot pho and other dishes in early July. (10721 Research Boulevard, Suite B110)
CEDAR CREEK — The Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa opened two new restaurants on its grounds in July: Southern restaurant Maude’s Bar & Terrace and Texas roadhouse-style Maverick’s Roadhouse. (575 Hyatt Lost Pines Road)
CHESTNUT — While, yes, July is next week, Nixta is opening its tasting menu spinoff Flor Xakali on Wednesday, July 5 at the restaurant’s front patio. The menu will span chef Edgar Rico and his family’s histories through a several-course service. (2512 East 12th Street) [Ed. note: currently this is on hiatus as Nixta deals with permitting issues.]
June 2023
NORTH LAMAR — A new Vietnamese restaurant, Bep Co Tham, opened in the Chinatown Center plaza, in late June. (10901 North Lamar Boulevard, Suite A101)
WESTLAKE — New Japanese restaurant Yuki Handroll Bar opened in late June with a menu full of temaki rolls (hand rolls), as well as sushi and sashimi. (6317 3 Farm to Market Road 2244, Suite 330)
ANDERSON MILL — Now-closed Lakeline Mall restaurant Taconmaye opened a new spot in late June, Conmaye Mexican Bar and Grill, with tacos, nachos, and drinks. (10700 Anderson Mill Road, Suite 109)
LAKE CREEK — New seafood restaurant Juicy Claws opened in late June, serving all sorts of raw, cooked, and fried seafood dishes. (13729 Research Boulevard)
CEDAR PARK — A new Neapolitan pizzeria with pies, focaccia, and more, Pizza Tova, opened in late June. (200 Buttercup Creek Boulevard, Suite 128)
FAR SOUTH AUSTIN — The team behind South Austin Beer Garden opened a new bar with 1990s vibes in late June. Bodhi’s Hideaway, taking its cues from popular movie Point Break, offers tropical cocktails, within the Stinson Yard. (10402 Menchaca Road)
FAR SOUTH AUSTIN — National chain Clean Juice opened its first Austin location in late June. (611 South Mopac Expressway, Suite 600)
HIGHLAND PARK WEST — A new pretty Greek restaurant, Yamas, opened in mid-July, serving a variety of coastal Mediterranean dishes plus wine, beer, and cocktails. (5308 Balcones Drive)
ROUND ROCK — A new brewery with video game theming opened in mid-July, 3rd Level Brewing, with sours, IPAs, and retro games. (201 East Palm Valley Round)
HYDE PARK — After JuiceLand shuttered its Duval Street location in April, it decided to reopen in the same space in July, sharing it with new gelato shop Gelatoro (see below). (4500 Duval Street)
BUDA — Essential Austin-area truck Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ turned into a full-blown physical restaurant in mid-June within the Buda Mill & Grain mixed-use development. This means lots of barbecue, tacos, and first-time cocktails in an indoor space. (306 South Main Street)
NORTHEAST AUSTIN — Austin brewery Austin Beerworks opened its second tasting room in mid-June. The space is serving beers with a disc golf course to come later. Also, Interstellar BBQ is opening a taco truck on the premises at some point. (10300 Springdale Road)
OAKMONT HEIGHTS/ROSEDALE — Chain Perry’s Restaurants opened a second restaurant of its live-fire spinoff Carve American Grille in the Grove development in mid-June. This means meats like prime ribs, pork chops, a butcher’s room, and more. (2613 Perseverance Drive)
FAR EAST AUSTIN — Steeped in Austin’s past and current restaurant worlds, new spot Sign Bar serves up drinks amid many, many, many of the city’s iconic signs and neons as of mid-June. There are also rotating food trucks on site. (9909 FM Road 969, Building 3)
CHESTNUT — Very excellent bakery pop-up Comadre Panaderia opened a physical location in early June, where it will offer preorder pickups and walk-in orders of its Mexican-Texan baked goods. (1204 Cedar Avenue)
NORTH LOOP — Austin coffee shop Barrett’s and vegan food truck the Vegan Nom opened a joint restaurant-slash-bar in early June. Double Trouble offers vegan breakfast tacos, nachos, flautas, and more, alongside cocktails and coffee. (111 North Loop Boulevard)
HYDE PARK — A new gelato shop and bakery took over the former JuiceLand location. Gelatoro serves up gelato in flavors like stracciatella and birthday cake; fruit sorbets; seasonal specials; coffee; and baked goods since early June. (4500 Duval Street)
BOULDIN CREEK — Chicago-based convince store and cafe chain Foxtrot opened its second location, considered to be its Austin flagship, in early June. It serves up food and drinks as well as retail goods. (1804 South First Street)
ROUND ROCK — Chain Tropical Smoothie Cafe opened a Round Rock location in early June, as reported by Community Impact. (17420 RM 620, Suite 110)
May 2023
LOCKHART — A bit further out there, but we’ll include it: barbecue pop-up Barbs B Q opened its physical restaurant in the barbecue capital of the state. The restaurant is only open on Saturdays serving the trio’s fantastic South Texas takes on smoked meats. (102 East Market Street)
ALLANDALE — Taking over the shuttered Sap’s on Burnet space is another Thai restaurant that opened in late May. Khon Thai Kitchen by Seeda includes a menu of Thai dishes and drinks, from the team behind the Japanese food truck Seeda. (5800 Burnet Road, Suite 400)
ALLANDALE — Austin pizza mini-chain East Side Pies opened its fourth location in late May, taking over the former Hey Cupcake physical space. (5530 Burnet Road)
DRIPPING SPRINGS — Texas iced tea chain HTeaO opened a new location in the Hill Country, as reported by Community Impact, in late May. (12680 West US 290, Suite 500)
NORTH SHOAL CREEK — National poke chain Pokeworks opened a new location in North Austin sometime in late May. (3022 West Anderson Lane, Unit B)
WEST CAMPUS — Excellent Japanese noodle soup restaurant Sazan Ramen opened a new restaurant in mid-May with both casual and omakase services. Daiboku serves up shoyu and miso-style ramens, along with drinks and cocktails. (609 West 29th Street)
HIGHLAND — Taiwanese boba shop chain ChiCha San Chen opened its first Texas location in the city in mid-May. On deck are various teas with optional bobas, jellies, and taro balls. (6501 Airport Boulevard)
DOWNTOWN — Taking over the original downtown Truluck’s location is this new lounge/bar/restaurant/flower shop as of mid-May. Estelle’s features a New American menu with lots of seafood and floral cocktails in a pretty space. (400 Colorado Street)
ROSEDALE — Downtown modern Chinese restaurant Wu Chow turned the space of its former sibling restaurant Rosedale Kitchen into a second location in mid-May. On deck is the same menu, plus exclusive dishes and more family-style options. (3800 North Lamar Boulevard, Suite 170)
BEE CAVE — Austin-based Detroit-style pizzeria chain Via 313 opened another new location on May 15. (3944 South Farm to Market 620 Road)
ROUND ROCK — Chinese food delivery restaurant Tso opened its fourth new location in mid-May. (2000 North May Streets, Suite 108)
ZILKER — South Austin tapas restaurant Barlata has a new owner, who turned the space into something new. Under new owner/chef Laila Bazahm, her new restaurant El Raval serves tapas taking its cues from the Barcelona neighborhood of the same name, starting in mid-May. (1500 South Lamar Boulevard)
ROUND ROCK — Austin frozen sweets chain Amy’s Ice Creams opened a new location up in the suburb in mid-May. (2132 North Mays Street)
CEDAR PARK — Austin burger drive-thru chain P. Terry’s opened its 31st location in the suburb in mid-May. (851 West Whitestone Boulevard)
BOULDIN CREEK — New Korean American wine bar/restaurant/retail shop Underdog opened on May 10 within the Willa development by co-owners Claudia Lee and Momofuku alum Richard Hargreave. (1600 South First Street)
CHESTNUT— The team behind downtown bar Coconut Club and record label Growth in Decay opened this new cafe/listening room in mid-May. Community Garden serves up acai bowls and non-alcoholic drinks during the daytime, and then turns into a wine bar in the early evenings with snacks and music. (1401 Cedar Avenue, Suite 2)
CRESTVIEW — A new wine cafe/wine shop/cafe opened in early May, taking over what had been Violet Crown Clubhouse. The Violet Crown includes wines by the bottle and glass, espresso drinks and drip coffee, snacks line tinned fish and cheese, baked goods, and weekend doughnuts. (7100 Woodrow Avenue)
WESTGATE — Austin coffee shop mini-chain Jo’s opened its fifth location in South Austin in early May. On the deck’s an indoor/outdoor/drive-thru space with coffee, tacos, and sandwiches. (5532 Menchaca Road)
DOWNTOWN — A new restaurant and lounge opened in early May. Bill’s Oyster offers a raw bar with oysters and seafood towers alongside dinner entrees like steak tartare, burgers, and seared snapper, plus house and classic cocktails. (205 West Third Street)
THE LINC — Chinese boba chain Happy Lemon opened its latest Austin shop in early May. (6406 North I-35, Suite 1301)
HOLLY — A new bar took over the former Counter Culture physical space in early May. Lovebirds is from the brothers behind vegan food truck Arlo’s, featuring pretty cocktails including that one served in a bird-shaped glass. (2337 East Cesar Chavez Street)
STEINER RANCH — Texas chain Moonie’s Burger House opened its sixth location in Austin in early May with an American food menu plus a children's playground. (5145 North Road to Market 620, Building C)
DRIPPING SPRINGS — Family-friendly Mexican restaurant, bar, and venue Paloma Dining and Events opened in early May, as reported by Community Impact. (235 Sports Park Road)
DOWNTOWN — The Austin Proper hotel added another new bar to its grounds: the Quill Room opened in May with a French-ish cocktail menu, wines, and foods. (600 West Second Street)
FAR SOUTH AUSTIN — Cafe truck Radix House opened a first-time physical restaurant in early May, as reported by Community Impact. The new space, Radix House Southside Cafe & Pizza, serves up a cafe food menu, coffee, as well as products and foods that are infused with CBD or THC. (11600 Menchaca Road, Suite A) [Ed. note: this location shuttered in May.]
GEORGETOWN — This is more of an opening within an establishment, but we’ll count it: German bakery TexBrötchen German Bakery is now serving baked goods and bread within Rentsch Brewery’s taproom in mid-May. (2500 Northeast Inner Loop) [Ed. note: it seems as though this brewery operation shuttered sometime in the fall but the bakery is still serving online orders.]
April 2023
HOLLY — The restaurant group behind Emmer & Rye/Hestia/etc. opened a new Texas-Mediterranean in late April in the former Pitchfork Pretty space. Ezov, led by executive chef Berty Richter of the former TLV, features Tel Aviv vibes and food such as chicken shawarma, kofta, and baklava. (2708 East Cesar Chavez Street)
FAR SOUTH AUSTIN — Texas-Mexican-Indian restaurant Nasha expanded with a second spot in late April. The menu remains the same with its Tex-Mex-Indian fusion dishes. (8900 South Congress Avenue, Building 2)
WEST OAK HILL — Mexico City-based restaurant La Popular opened its second U.S. location in Austin in late April. The menu boasts tacos, enchiladas, queso fundido, desserts, and loads of agave-based cocktails. (7415 Southwest Parkway, Building Five, Suite 100)
DOWNTOWN — As part of the recent food stall switcheroos within the Fareground, El Pasoan-Jewish Austin restaurant JewBoy Burgers opened a new location in late April. The second JewBoy Sliders features a menu with items from its various locations, including sliders, latkes, and queso. (111 Congress Avenue)
HIGHLAND — An all-you-can-eat hot pot restaurant opened in late April, Soupleaf Hot Pot. There’s a variety of soup bases from tomato to spicy Chinese mala, along with unlimited noodles, vegetables, and dumplings, plus seafood and meats available at additional costs. (6929 Airport Boulevard)
WEST LAKE HILLS — The team behind Vietnamese restaurant PhoNatic opened a new pan-Asian restaurant, Lee’s Kitchen + Cocktails, with dishes like Hainan chicken and shaken beef and drinks in late April. (701 South Capital of Texas Highway, Suite G7000)
SOUTHEAST AUSTIN — It turns out that Austin Tex-Mex restaurant Polvos opened a third location within the Barton Creek Mall plaza in April. (2901 South Capital of Texas Highway, Building 7)
ROUND ROCK — Originally from California, new soul food restaurant Bernie’s Soul Kitchen opened within the poker club and bar 52 Social Club serving pork chops, catfish, jerk chicken, and more since late April (2400 South I-35 Frontage Road, Unit 160)
DOWNTOWN — HandleBar is now closed and became a new cocktail bar named El Cockfight in late April. (121 East Fifth Street)
FAR NORTH AUSTIN — New pizzeria Boss Pizza focuses on New York-style pies since mid-April. (7318 McNeil Drive, Suite 109)
BRENTWOOD — Austin taco chain OneTaco debuted its eighth location in mid-April, inside of the Little Woodrow’s. (5425 Burnet Road, Suite 110)
NORTH AUSTIN — Texas Brazilian mini-chain Casa Do Brasil opened its first Austin location in mid-April, featuring churrascaria and the such. (10515 North Mopac Expressway)
DOWNTOWN — Downtown restaurant the Well opened a second cafe within new fitness spot Studio Three in mid-April, featuring to-go yogurts and snacks, plus coffees and smoothies. (501 Brazos Street)
ZILKER — South Austin hotel the Loren opened a cafe on its property in mid-April. Cafe at the Loren serves during the daytime and evening with pastries, tacos, sandwiches, and more. (1211 West Riverside Drive)
SWEETBRIAR — New Korean restaurant boasting all-you-can-eat grill-it-yourself meats opened in early April. Gangnam Korean BBQ features table grills, as well as a la carte dishes and a bar. (1100 Little Texas Lane)
NORTH BURNET — Austin food truck Churro Co. opened a new physical bakery courtesy of the new owners of the Gabriela’s Group in early April. It serves up those traditional and new flavors of churros along with funnel cakes, coffee, milkshakes, and more. (11101 Burnet Road, Suite A140)
ROUND ROCK — Austin noodle mini-chain Xian opened its fifth location in the suburb, with its noodles, sushi, and more, as reported by Community Impact. (311 University Boulevard, Suite 500)
MUELLER — Austin taco mini-chain Veracruz All Natural opened its newest restaurant in early April. Veracruz Fonda & Bar is a table-service spot with tacos, picadas, and larger entrees, plus coffee and a full bar. (1905 Aldrich Street)
CEDAR PARK — South Texas chain Taco Palenque opened a new location in Cedar Park in early April, as reported by Community Impact. (1535 Cypress Creek Road)
HUDSON BEND — A new Mexican restaurant took over what had been Kitchen Del Mar Seafood, Bar, & Grill (which closed in late 2022) in early April, as reported by Community Impact. Tulum Mexican Restaurant and Tequila Bar serves fajitas, enchiladas, and more. (3519 A Ranch Road 620 North)
ZILKER — Wine tasting room Wanderlust Wine Company opened a third location in early April, taking over what had been SquareRut Kava Bar’s space near Zilker Park. Along with wines, there’s a coffee menu courtesy of Vision Coffee and tacos from TJ Tacos. (1601 Barton Springs Road)
ROUND ROCK — Austin Japanese mini-chain Bluefin Sushi & Ramen opened a third restaurant up in Round Rock, serving the same sushi and ramen menu, in early April, as reported by Community Impact. (2200 East Palm Valley Boulevard, Suite 125)
HUTTO — New Japanese/Korean restaurant Sushi Zoa opened in early April with sushi, sashimi, sake mac and cheese, for some reason paellas, donburi, and much more. (4909 Gattis School Road, Suite 120)
March 2023
ROUND ROCK — Indo-Chinese restaurant Bamboo Garden opened in late March with a halal menu. (3107 South I-35 Frontage Road)
GOVALLE — A superstar bar and restaurant opened in late March, from co-owners John DiCicco (Kinda Tropical) and Erin Ashford (formerly of Olamaie) along with executive chef Peter Klein. The result is Holiday, a nice and easy bar with plentiful alfresco space for cocktails and snacky bites. (5020 East Seventh Street)
NORTHWEST AUSTIN — A new Indian restaurant, Aha-Ruchi Indian Cuisine, focused on South Indian cuisine opened in late March, as reported by Community Impact. (13729 Research Boulevard, Suite 695)
DOWNTOWN — As part of the recent food stall switcheroos within the Fareground, Canadian chain restaurant Freshii also opened a location in late March. The fast-casual restaurant offerings salads, bowls, and other dishes of that nature. (111 Congress Avenue)
NORTHWEST AUSTIN — Ohio-based chain Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream opened its first Austin shop in late March, serving its frozen scoops in pints, scoops, blends, and pops. (11521 North Farm to Market Road 620)
PFLUGERVILLE — Bakery Cranky Granny’s Sweet Rolls is back with a new physical location in late March, serving its variety of sweet rolls. (16051 Dessau Road, Suite F)
DOWNTOWN — Non-alcoholic spot Sans Bar opened a new downtown location in late March within Swift Fit Events space. (918 Congress Avenue, Suite 100)
EAST AUSTIN — Uptown Sports Club, a New Orleans-ish bar and restaurant courtesy of James Moody and Aaron Franklin, with chef de cuisine Rene Garza, opened in late March, full of po’ boys, a raw bar, and cocktails. (1200 East Sixth Street)
VERY FAR WEST AUSTIN — A new Tex-Mex restaurant, Catrina’s Tacos & Margaritas, opened in late March within the Jester Village Shopping Center, as reported by Community Impact. (6507 Jester Boulevard, Suite 105)
ROSEDALE — Austin Italian restaurant Gusto opened a new Mediterranean restaurant, taking over what had been Fluff Meringues, in mid-March. Gràcia’s menu centers on seafood, but there are non-seafood options too. (4800 Burnet Road, Suite 450)
CEDAR PARK — Austin Japanese noodle soup chain Ramen Tatsu-ya opened its sixth restaurant up in the suburb in mid-March. (14028 Highway 183, Building G, Suite 310)
GEORGETOWN — A new Indian and Nepalese restaurant, Namaste Dine-In, opened in mid-March, as reported by Community Impact. (103 North Austin Avenue, Suite 105)
ALLANDALE — Portland chain Voodoo Doughnut opened its second Austin spot in early March, taking over what had been Lucy’s Fried Chicken. (5408 Burnet Road)
CLARKSVILLE — Austin seafood spot Garbo’s Lobster opened a second restaurant near downtown in early March, taking over what had been Counter Cafe’s North Lamar space. The menu includes those lobster rolls and other lobster- and seafood- dishes, plus pies. (626 North Lamar Boulevard)
FAR WEST AUSTIN — Austin chain Soup Peddler opened a new store in early March. (3720 Far West Boulevard, Suite 105)
NORTH LOOP — The restaurant that replaced Russian House’s ATX Grill is a New European/American spot named Rosé Gosé, which opened in early March. There’s a raw bar, poke bowls, burgers, and pretty cocktails. (5201 Airport Boulevard)
CHERRYWOOD — Austin cafe Civil Goat opened its third location in early March, serving coffee, breakfast and lunch foods, beer, wine, and other drinks. (2610 Manor Road, Unit B)
ZILKER — A multi-part restaurant serving pizza, tacos, and subs, Tailor Shop Foodery includes a relocation of Menchaca Road gas station spot Pizzeria Grata, which opened in early March, and 1836 Tacos & Salsa, which opened in late March, joining the already opened Coast 2 Coast Subs (see February). (2700 South Lamar Boulevard)
TRAVIS HEIGHTS — Hotel Magdalena debuted a new cocktail/record bar in early March. Equipment Room’s partners include Mohawk’s James Moody and the co-owners of Breakaway Records. There are cocktails, snacks, and easy record listening. (1101 Music Lane)
MUELLER — Xian Sushi & Noodle opened a new restaurant dedicated to Asian bento boxes in early March. Bento Teppanyaki Asian Cuisine offers standard entrees ranging from General Tso’s Chicken to dumplings to noodles paired with rice and rolls and the such. (1201 Barbara Jordan Boulevard, Suite 1230)
EAST AUSTIN — A new bubble tea shop, Terrazzo Tea, opened in late March with a variety of boba drinks with loads of fruits and veggies. (1923 East Seventh Street)
FAR SOUTH AUSTIN — Austin brewery Thirsty Planet Brewing opened its new taproom in late March, as reported by Community Impact. (8201 South Congress Avenue) [Ed. note: this location shuttered in August.]
February 2023
DOWNTOWN — An ambitious new restaurant and bar took over what had been Boiler Nine in the Seaholm development. First, there’s the basement bar Subterra Agave Bar which opened in early February, and then there’s the multi-level Ember Kitchen & Subterra restaurant, with a live-fire dish menu that leans heavily in the Latin American angle, in mid-February. (800 West Cesar Chavez Street, Suite PP110)
CHERRYWOOD — Coffee roasting company Progress is back with a new physical cafe in Austin as of late February. The cafe includes coffee, a full bar with beers, wines, cocktails, and food from Pueblo Viejo and Burro Cheese Kitchen. (3421 North I-35)
MUELLER — Salad chain Sweetgreen opened its fourth Austin location in late February. (1900 Aldrich Street, Suite 140)
SCOFIELD FARMS — Mega-exciting Japanese-Mexican pop-up-turned-restaurant Ramen Del Barrio opened its physical location within the Hana World Market food court in mid-February, serving mash-up ramen bowls and yakitori tacos. (1700 Parmer Lane, Suite 100)
WEST OAK HILLS — One of Austin chef Ling Qi Wu’s many forthcoming area restaurants includes Ling Wu Asian Restaurant, which opened in mid-February with a general Chinese/Asian food menu. (7415 Southwest Parkway, Building 3400)
CEDAR PARK — A new Northern Indian restaurant, Rana Indian Cuisine, opened in mid-February, as reported by Community Impact. (111 North Vista Ridge Boulevard, Suite 201)
NORTH AUSTIN — Bay Area boba chain Teaspoon opened its first Texas shop in Austin in mid-February. (10515 North Mopac Expressway, Suite B215)
ROSEDALE — Chicago-based convince store and cafe chain Foxtrot opened the first of many Austin locations in mid-February, with prepared foods, beers, drinks, and more. (4800 Burnet Road, Building F)
LAKE AUSTIN — H-E-B opened a new location in mid-February, a mega-two-story supermarket with locations of its house-brand restaurants True Texas BBQ, SouthFlo Pizza, and Lake Austin’s Coffee Shop. (2652 Lake Austin Boulevard)
ST. EDWARDS — New bubble tea shop AusTea opened in mid-February with all sorts of boba drinks. (500 East Ben White Boulevard, Building D, Suite 700)
EAST AUSTIN — Austin gets more bubble tea courtesy of the new shop Love Bubble Tea, which also opened in mid-February. (1614 East Sixth Street, Suite 107)
BRUSHY CREEK — The former Brushy Creek Cafe has been turned into a new coffee shop called Drinkle in mid-February, as reported by Community Impact. There are coffee drinks, breakfast tacos, baked goods, and more. (601 Conservation Drive)
CEDAR PARK — A new pan-Asian restaurant, King Noodle & Sushi, opened in mid-February with lots of rice plates, dumplings, noodles, and hibachi-cooked items. (100 East Whitestone Boulevard, Suite 130)
TARRYTOWN — Wine bar/bottle shop Flo’s and New York-style pizzeria Allday Pizza opened with lots of glasses, bottles, slices, and soft serves in early March. (3111 West 35th Street)
DOWNTOWN — San Antonio chef Steve McHugh opened his first Austin restaurant and bar this year, both found within the Hyatt Centric Congress Avenue Austin as of early February. Luminaire is the ground-floor restaurant focused on New Texan fare with Spanish inflections, plus a whole charcuterie program. Las Bis is the eighth-floor bar with tinned fish and cocktails plus a patio overlooking downtown. (721 Congress Avenue)
DOWNTOWN — Nashville distillery Standard Proof Whiskey Co. chose Austin for the location of its first out-of-state tasting room in early February. The bar offers flights of whiskeys, including many of its infused ryes, as well as cocktails and food such as hot chicken and pulled pork. (51 Rainey Street)
ZILKER — That multi-part restaurant Tailor Shop Foodery (see March) debuted with the relocation of Menchaca Road gas station spots Coast 2 Coast Subs in February. (2700 South Lamar Boulevard)
MUELLER — Sandwich chain Ike’s opened a fourth store in February. (1201 Barbara Jordan Boulevard, Suite 1210)
DOWNTOWN — A new coffee shop opened right near the Texas Capitol building in early February, as reported by Community Impact, in the former Starbucks. Capitol Cafe is actually run by former Texas State Rep. Dan Huberty. (1001 Congress Avenue, Suite 180)
January 2023
PFLUGERVILLE — A new restaurant featuring loaded baked potatoes, fried seafood, and other Southern dishes, TaterQue, opened in late January. (1202 Farm to Marker Road 685, Suite B5 B6)
FAR NORTH AUSTIN — New South Indian restaurant Desilicious opened in late January, as reported by Community Impact. The menu includes idlis, dosas, and other chaats and chai. (4101 West Parmer Lane, Suite C)
CEDAR PARK — A new seafood restaurant, Sweetwater Oyster Bar, debuted in mid-January, helmed by executive chef Poc Saenz Reyes, formerly of Grizzelda’s, P6, and now-closed Rosedale Kitchen and Bar. There’s a large raw bar menu, including oysters, Gulf shrimp cocktails, and a seafood tower; along with soups, salads, seafood plates, and more. (1500 East Whitestone Boulevard, Suite 200)
CEDAR PARK — A sprawling entertainment-restaurant-bar-lounge space, Spare Birdie Public House, opened in late January with loads of activities, foods, and drinks. There’s a bowling alley, augmented reality golf, pool tables, a dine-in restaurant, cocktails, and so much more. (1400 Discovery Boulevard)
DOMAIN NORTHSIDE — The Archer Hotel expanded its hotel bar mini-chain AKB into the former Second Bar + Kitchen space in late January. There’s a New American menu courtesy of executive chef Kendal Duque and chef de cuisine Mario Medina, as well as cocktails. (3121 Palm Way, Suite 101)
TRAVIS HEIGHTS — The vegan restaurant teams of Mission Street Burrito and Fair Game opened a burger-centric spot, Mission Burger Co., in mid-January, taking over what had been many a now-closed vegan restaurant corner within River City Market. There are burgers made with Impossible patties, along with vegan chicken sandwiches, nuggets, and tenders. (2209 South Congress Avenue)
CEDAR PARK — Austin Thai restaurant Sap’s opened up a third restaurant dubbed Super Saps in mid-January, as reported by Williamson Reporter. (12160 West Parmer Lane, Suite 190)
CENTRAL EAST AUSTIN — New bar and restaurant Lucky’s opened in mid-January, with a chef and beverage director both from Chicago. There are what it describes as Mexican fusion dishes — quesadilla with kimchi, sweet chile chicken wings — as well as cocktails, frozens, and beers. The eventual patio will be dog-friendly when that opens. (1050 East 11th Street)
DOWNTOWN — A new sports bar, Champions, opened near two downtown hotels this mid-January. It serves food all day, from breakfast to lunch to dinner, with an American menu, along with beers and cocktails. (300 East Fourth Street, Suite 1)
PFLUGERVILLE — Texas-Cajun chain restaurant Willie’s Grill & Icehouse opened a new location in mid-January, serving up crawfish, loads of fried chicken and seafood, burgers, and much more. (19200 Colorado Sand Drive)
DRIPPING SPRINGS — Mighty Fine, the Austin-based burger chain, opened its seventh location out in Dripping Springs in mid-January. (165 Hargraves Drive, Suite T100)
SOUTH AUSTIN & GEORGETOWN — Oregon chain Dutch Bros Coffee is still growing quickly in the greater Austin area. It opened two new locations — complete with its drive-thru and walk-up window — in mid-January. (9605 Menchaca Road; 1309 West University Avenue)
CEDAR PARK — Detroit-style pizza chain Jet’s opened a location in mid-January, as reported by Community Impact. (1420 Cypress Creek Road, Suite 400)
ZILKER — Masa Y Más is a new Mexican restaurant that opened in early January, backed by the co-founding partners of Hopdoddy Burger Bar among other restaurants. Chef and operating partner Roberto Campos focuses on regional Mexican fare at the casual counter-service restaurant, with items like tortas, tacos, and more. (1817 South Lamar Boulevard)
NORTH AUSTIN — With the closing of Vietnamese-Texas barbecue restaurant Smokin Beauty, co-owners Thao Phan and Matt Roth decided to open Walnut Creek Pub in its place in early January. The casual bar includes mixed drinks, beers, and American pub foods. (11806 North Lamar Boulevard)
CEDAR PARK — Austin restaurant Sip Saam Thai opened its third restaurant, Cilantro Grill By SipSaam Thai, in early January, as reported by Community Impact. The menu is Hawaiian and Thai, featuring dishes like barbecue meats paired with macaroni salad, rice, and grilled pineapples; loco moco, spam musubi; pad see ew; curries; and more. (325 North Bell Boulevard)
TRAVIS HEIGHTS — Food truck Vision transformed into a physical coffee shop in early January. The menu includes coffees, matcha, and teas with what co-owners and sisters Adara Ostdiek and Sabra Stratford describe as adaptogenic ingredients. (601 South Congress Avenue, Suite 500) [Ed. note: this location has relocated into Wanderlust Wine on Barton; see April.]
WEST DOWNTOWN — Pizza truck Sammataro turned into a physical restaurant, taking over what had been fellow pizzeria 40 North’s space in mid-January. On deck are pies along with appetizers and cookies. (1108 East 12th Street) [Ed. note: this location has turned into a new restaurant; see August.]
