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.

Sicc Palate

Austin chef Deepa Shridhar is back cooking her invention Texas-Indian fare under the pop-up series/Substack newsletter/podcast Sicc Palate. The current iteration is a monthly four-course dinner at the Training Kitchen. Then there’s also her collaboration with South Congress Hotel restaurant Maie Day as part of the block’s First Thursday festivities, featuring Southern and South Indian bites and cocktails.
Dates: The Maie Day event is on Thursday, June 1 from 5 to 9 p.m.; the next Training Kitchen dinners are on Thursday through Saturday, July 6 through 8.
Where: Maie Day, 1603 South Congress Avenue, Travis Heights; TBA
How to Book and Attend: First Thursday tickets are $45; the dinner tickets are $102.

Austin Oyster Co.

The oyster shucking company throws regular pop-ups at Still Austin Whiskey Co. with half and full dozen oysters. Then it’s participating in fellow seafood business Huckleberry’s anniversary party.
Dates: The first and third Friday of every month from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., with the next one on Friday, June 2; the party is on Saturday, June 10 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Where: Still Austin Whiskey Co., 440 East St. Elmo Road, Building F, East Congress;
How to Attend: Free to attend, purchase food there; there are free RSVPs to attend the party

Zee’s Wiener System

Chef Zak Drummond focuses on Rhode Island-style hot dogs for his pop-up. He has a mostly residency at East Austin bar Kitty Cohen’s for the summer (see the Instagram to make sure the team will be there) starting this week on May 12. And then there’s a separate pop-up at Salt & Time’s wine bar this weekend took.
Dates: Fridays at 5 p.m. in the summer at Kitty Cohen’s; Saturday, June 3 at 4 p.m. at Salt & Time Wine.
Where: Kitty Cohen’s, 2211 Webberville Road, East Austin; Salt & Time Wine Shop; 1912 East Seventh Street, East Austin
How to Attend: Free to attend, purchase food there.

Comadre Panaderia

The Eater Award-winning Latin American pop-up bakery from James Beard semifinalist Mariela Camacho is going to transform into a physical space, but until that is ready, she is still offering baked goods on a preorder pop-up basis out of her new address on the weekends. Expect conchas, cookies, empanadas, cakes, tortillas, and much more. Some days will feature advanced preorders, others with walk-up availabilities.
Dates: Saturdays and Sundays, check Instagram for exact dates and service-styles
Where: 1204 Cedar Avenue, Central East Austin
How to Book and Attend: Online for preorders, in-person for walk-up days.

Bom Bakeshop

The mochi doughnut pop-up from Teresa Kwon and chef Anthony Kim has been popping up with pickup orders. For June, the flavor array focuses on tropicalness with items like guava, lychee rose, matcha yuzu, and ube rainbow, among others.
Dates: Saturday, June 3, from 2 to 7 p.m. or until everything is sold out.
Where: Dia’s Market, 812 Justin Lane, Crestview
How to Book: Online, with some walk-up availability.

Osome

The omakase pop-up/at-home dining service is hosting a series of tastings at East Austin wine bar Cape Bottle Room on Thursdays starting in mid-May through the end of June. It’ll include 10 courses of nigiri and the such paired with South African wines.
Dates: Thursdays starting on May 18 through June 29
Where: Cape Bottle Room, 500 San Marcos Street, Suite 102
How to Attend: Tickets are $125.

Jimjam’s Biscuits

The pop-up is all about biscuits in so many ways: sandwiches, smothered, etc., etc. It’s participating in Austin rock band Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol’s one-day music festival in June, along with Bad Larry Burger Club, Chilli’s Phillys, and Chef’s Kiss.
Dates: Sunday, June 4, doors at 4 p.m.
Where: Mohawk, 912 Red River Street, Downtown
How to Attend: Tickets are $20.

Chilli’s Phillys

The Philadelphia-centric pop-up is serving up food at Austin rock band Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol’s one-day music festival in June, along with Bad Larry Burger Club, Jimjam’s Biscuits, and Chef’s Kiss.
Dates: Sunday, June 4, doors at 4 p.m.
Where: Mohawk, 912 Red River Street, Downtown
How to Book and Attend: Tickets are $20.

Midnight in the Garden

This supper club series highlights local and traveling chefs in a decadent atmosphere. The next dinner will take place in mid-June, with the chefs to be announced later. Previous dinners have included Distant Relatives chef Damien Brockway, Foreign & Domestic, and mysterious pop-up Emma Diner, among others.
Date: Saturday and Sunday, June 10 and 11
Where: TBA after purchase.
How to Book: Price TBA, book online.

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. Keep an eye on its Instagram for pop-ups, but also there’s one scheduled as part of Austin rock band Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol’s one-day music festival in June, along with Chilli’s Phillys, Jimjam’s Biscuits, and Chef’s Kiss.
Date: Sunday, June 4, doors at 4 p.m.
Where: Mohawk, 912 Red River Street, Downtown
How to Attend: Tickets are $20.

Monty Paitan

There’s another new ramen pop-up contender in town, whose name is a pun on the comedy group of the somewhat similar name Monty Python, and who works at Austin cafe All GImmicks Coffee. The next pop-up will take place during a movie screening of Spirited Away, with help from ramen pop-up-turned-restaurant Ramen 512. The two bowls are a paitan and a very garlicky one with optional spice bombs.
Date: Monday, June 12, with food from 5 p.m. until everything is sold out.
Where: Vacancy Brewing, 415 St. Elmo Street, East Congress
How to Attend: Free to attend, purchase food there.

Big Ugly’s Burgers

Yes, there’s another burger pop-up, this one is also dedicated to smashburgers.
Dates: Saturday, June 17 at 5 p.m.; Monday, June 19 at 6 p.m.
Where: June 17th at Progress Coffee, 3421 North I-35, Cherrywood; June 19th at Vacancy Brewing, 415 St. Elmo Street, East Congress
How to Attend: Free to attend, purchase food there.

Austin Kuih Co.

Ava Pendleton’s pop-up focuses on Malaysian desserts and sweets. Her next event is an online cooking class in June.
Date: Saturday, June 24
Where: TBA
How to Attend: TBA

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