Bay Area chain Curry Pizza House opened its first Texas location in Cedar Park in December 2021. The fast-casual restaurant serves pizza with South Asian toppings (think: aloo chaat pizza) alongside more traditional ones (cheese, pepperoni). Curry Pizza House is open for dine-in, to-go, and delivery via third-party apps.

South Texas taco chain Taco Palenque opened its first Austin-area location in November 2021, with an all-hours drive-thru up in Round Rock. The taco shop is known for its pirata taco — filled with fajitas, refried beans, and cheddar cheese — but also offers plates like chilaquiles, burritos, fideo, and more. It’s open for to-go service.

Joseph Gomez’s taco truck Con Todo pays homage to his Rio Grande Valley roots with tacos like barbacoa and carne asada, chorizo quesadillas, wheat chicharrones, and buñuelos. The truck opened at Celis Brewery’s new outdoor space in October 2021.

This casual pizzeria from fancy local hospitality chain McGuire Moorman Lambert opened in August 2021, serving whole pizzas and late-night slices. Favorite focuses on New York-style pizza (complete with an entire wall of the restaurant dedicated to the New York Mets), like clam pizza. There are also subs, salads, gelato, and a full bar. It’s open for dine-in and takeout.

Fast-casual seafood chain Mason’s landed in downtown Austin in September 2021 with all things lobster: lobster rolls, lobster mac and cheese, lobster grilled cheese, lobster salads, etc, plus beer and wine to drink. The restaurant, which is planning another location in Austin, sources its lobster from Maine. Mason’s is counter-service with patio dining available and delivery from third-party apps.

Canje, the highly anticipated Caribbean restaurant from the Emmer & Rye group, opened in October 2021 with wild boar pepper pot, Guyanese-style roti, cocktails, and more. Executive chef Tavel Bristol-Joseph, who is Guyanese, also shows off his pastry skills with desserts like passion fruit flan. The East Sixth restaurant is open for indoor dining with a patio available.

After three years of anticipation, the Tatsu-ya family’s tiki bar finally opened in October 2021. The decor, which co-owner Tatsu Aikawa compared to Disneyland, combines elements of a pirate ship, a rum cave, and a secluded beach. Expect tropical cocktails and food, with items like spam on the half shell and crab langoon. Tiki Tatsu-ya is open for indoor dining.

This East Austin restaurant that opened in December 2021 serves sausages, schnitzel, pretzels, and other Bavarian specialties alongside an impressive selection of beer to enjoy in its spacious indoor or outdoor areas. Even better, it can boast an actual Bavarian prince as a co-founder. Koko’s Bavarian is open for dine-in services.

Gastropub oasthouse Kitchen + Bar opened its second location in South Austin in December 2021. Owned by brothers chef Amir Hajimalek and Ali Hajimaleki (District Kitchen + Cocktails, pizzeria Shortie’s, seafood restaurant Keepers Coastal Kitchen, and upcoming Persian restaurant Roya), Oasthouse focuses on hearty fare like steaks, pasta, salads, and sausages.