A Guide to the Most Exciting Pop-Ups in Austin

Pop-ups have consistently flourished in Austin, serving as an exciting way to explore and experiment with dishes and cuisines in temporal settings. Here is Eater’s guide to the best of Austin’s pop-ups so far in 2023, listed in somewhat chronological order. This list will be updated throughout the year.

Zee’s Wiener System

Chef Zak Drummond focuses on Rhode Island-style hot dogs for his pop-up. His next pop-ups include a Halloween one at Fairweather (red snapper hot dogs, baked beans, creamy coleslaw, Whoopie Pies), and early November ones at Kitty Cohen’s and Marlow.
Dates: Fairweather Cider: Tuesday, October 31, 6 to 10 p.m; Kitty Cohen’s: Friday, November 3, 6 to 10 p.m.; Marlow: Sunday, November 5, 5 to 8 p.m.
Where: Fairweather Cider Co., 10609 Metric Boulevard, North Austin; Kitty Cohen’s, 2211 Webberville Road, East Austin; Marlow Bar, 700 East Sixth Street, Downtown
How to Attend: Free to attend, purchase food there

Bad Larry Burger Club

It’s a simple pop-up from Matthew Bolick, the co-owner of Better Half/Brew & Brew/Little Brother/etc., etc., all about beautifully crafted smash cheeseburgers. And, yes, the Eater Award-winning burgers are that good. The next ones include a Halloween one at King Bee with live music and the bar’s ongoing Black Lagoon pop-up; and then an early November one at Community Garden.
Date: King Bee: Tuesday, October 31, 6 p.m.; Community Garden, Saturday, November 4
Where: King Bee, 1906 East 12th Street,, Central East Austin; Community Garden, 1401 Cedar Avenue, Suite 2, Chestnut
How to Attend: King Bee: there’s a $10 cover charge to attend, purchase food there; Community: free to attend, purchase food there

Bom Bakeshop

The mochi doughnut pop-up from Teresa Kwon and chef Anthony Kim has been popping up with pickup orders. October’s box includes a bunch of Halloween-ish flavors.
Dates: Tuesday, October 31
Where: Dia’s Market, 812 Justin Lane, Crestview
How to Book: Online, with some walk-up availability.

Le Beef

This particular burger pop-up is run by Justin Huffman, who is the executive chef of French restaurant Justine’s. He knows his burgers: he spent time at Los Angeles burger pop-up Kronnerburger. The next one is a Halloween pop-up at the White Horse.
Date: Tuesday, October 31, with food starting at 7 p.m.
Where: The White Horse, 500 Comal Street, East Austin
How to Attend: Free to attend, purchase food there

Popiola

This pop-up focuses on Polish foods. Its next event takes place with South Congress retail shops Imogene + Willie and Sabah as part of their First Thursday thing. The menu includes pierogi, grilled chicken with dried plums, and poppyseed babka.
Date: Thursday, November 2, 5 to 8 p.m.
Where: 1401 South Congress Avenue, Travis Heights
How to Attend: Free to attend, purchase food there

Austin Oyster Co.

The oyster shucking company’s current pop-up is a regular residency at Austin whiskey distillery Still, with East Coast oysters available by the half-dozen, dozen, and two dozen.
Dates: The first and third Fridays of the month: November 3 and November 17, 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Where: Still Austin Whiskey Co., 440 East Saint Elmo Road, East Congress
How to Attend: Free to attend, purchase food there

Chilly’s Phillys

The Philadelphia-centric pop-up is back this fall, with early November pop-ups at Brew & Brew (for the cafe’s 10th anniversary) and the Cat’s Pajamas (for Philadelphia Eagles football games).
Dates: Brew & Brew: Saturday, November 4; Cat’s Pajamas: Sunday, November 5, 4:15 p.m.
Where: Brew & Brew, 500 San Marcos Street, East Austin; the Cat’s Pajamas, 610 Nueces Street, Downtown
How to Book and Attend: Free to attend, purchase food there

Sicc Palette

Austin chef Deepa Shridhar is back cooking her inventive Texas-Indian fare under renamed pop-up Tamilian Texan Kitchen, which takes the form of a monthly three-day four-course dinner at the Training Kitchen. The next series is for Diwali in November with a Thanksgiving theme to boot, with dishes like chicken-fried quail and coconut-fried onion naan croissants and green bean casserole.
Dates: Thursday, November 9 through Saturday, November 11, 6:30
Where: The Training Kitchen, 1901 Matthews Lane, South Austin
How to Book and Attend: Tickets are $115

Gan Bei Gals & Penang Shack

The Asian pop-up from Gabby Phi, Jackie Fu, and Michelle Kao have varied in the past, ranging from in-person hot pot dinners in the before times to virtual hot pot dinners for Lunar New Year. The next one is with other Austin pop-up, Penang Shack — which focuses on Malaysian food by sometimes Eater Austin photographer Nicolai McCrary. It’s a cooking class where people will learn how to make curry laksa.
Date: Thursday, November 9, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Where: Dottiewood Studios, 1601 Headway Circle, Suite B, North Austin
How to Book and Attend: Tickets are $75

Midnight in the Garden

This supper club series highlights local and traveling chefs in a decadent atmosphere. The mid-November dates have been announced but the chef hasn’t been revealed yet. mysterious pop-up Emma Diner, Penang Shack’s Nicolai McCray, L’Oca d’Oro co-owner and executive chef Fiore Tedesco, among others.
Date: Saturday and Sunday, November 11 and 12.
Where: TBA after purchase.
How to Book: Price TBA, book online

Chef Bar

Staffers from Clarksville restaurant Bar Peached have been running their own pop-ups as a way to celebrate the local hospitality community. The next pop-up will be with forthcoming Austin restaurant Mockingbird
Date: Monday, November 27, 6 to 11 p.m.
Where: Bar Peached, 1315 West Sixth Street, Clarksville
How to Attend: Free to attend, purchase food there

Austin Kuih Co.

Ava Pendleton’s pop-up focuses on Malaysian desserts and sweets. Keep an eye out on her Instagram for future pop-ups.
Date: TBA
Where: TBA
How to Attend: TBA

Big Ugly’s Burgers

Yes, another burger pop-up, this one is also dedicated to smash burgers. Keep an eye out on their Instagram for future pop-ups.
Dates: TBA
Where: TBA
How to Attend: TBA

Jimjam’s Biscuits

The pop-up by chef James Durham (who will be cooking at forthcoming bar Busty’s) is all about biscuits in so many ways: sandwiches, smothered, etc., etc. While there’s nothing on the docket, keep an eye out on its Instagram for future pop-ups.
Dates: TBA
Where: TBA
How to Attend: TBA

Mama Kong Cambodian

The Cambodian food pop-up, run by couple Sherry and Brandon, is a fun one taking on many different focuses and formats through the years. Keep an eye out on their Instagram for future pop-ups.
Dates: TBA
Where: TBA
How to Book and Attend:: TBA

Mordisco

This new pop-up is all about Mexican seafood with ceviche tostadas and the such. However, it’s currently on a hiatus until January 2023.
Dates: TBA
Where: TBA
How to Attend: TBA

Supper Friends

Sawyer & Co.’s supper club series is back. However there are no scheduled pop-ups as of the updating of this guide.
Dates: TBA
Where: 2 Dine 4 Fine Catering, 3012 Gonzales Street, Govalle
How to Book and Attend: TBA

Yaya’s

This pop-up, courtesy of a working Austin nurse, focuses on Laotian dishes. However there are no scheduled pop-ups as of the updating of this guide.
Date: TBA for Austin
Where: TBA for Austin
How to Book and Attend:: TBA for Austin

Know of any pop-ups taking place in the city? Let Eater Austin know through austin@eater.com