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Where to Eat in Austin Right Now, May '14

by Meghan McCarron
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by Meghan McCarron

Tipsters, readers, friends and family of Eater Austin always want to know: Where should I eat right now? What are the buzziest new restaurants? What haven't I heard of? What's everyone talking about?

To answer those questions, behold the 35th edition of the Eater Austin Heatmap. After the madness of SXSW openings, May offers several exciting new dining options: rum-obsessed Pleasant Storage Room, Asian-Southern fusion at Kin & Comfort, and an Austin outpost of Dallas's popular Twisted Root Burger Co.


05/01/14: Pleasant Storage Room, Twisted Root Burger Co., Kin & Comfort / Dropped: Due Forni, Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken, Titaya's

04/03/14: Added: Noble Sandwich Co., A-OK Chinese, The Silo on 7th, Kyoten, G'raj Mahal, El Sapo / Dropped: In-N-Out Burger, Little Barrel and Brown, East Side King South Lamar

03/06/14: Added: laV, Licha's Cantina, Blackbird and Henry / Dropped: Kebabalicious, Schmidt Family Barbecue, Royers Pie Haven, Xian Sushi and Noodle

02/06/14: Added: Porter Ale House, The Hightower, chavez, Titaya's, Gus's Fried Chicken / Dropped: No Va, Curly's Carolina, TX, Lucy's Fried Chicken, Winebelly, Tapasitas

01/02/14: Added: Odd Duck, East Side King South Lamar, Little Barrel & Brown, Xian Sushi and Noodle / Dropped: Qui, Greenhouse Craft Food, Goodall's Kitchen and Bar, Bufalina, Arro

12/5/13: Added: In-N-Out Burger, Due Forni, Curly's Carolina, TX, Tapasitas/ Dropped: Barlata, School House Pub, The ABGB, Haymaker, Wright Bros. Brew & Brew

11/7/13: Added: Greenhouse Craft Food, Kebabalicious, Royer's Pie Haven, Schmidt Family Barbecue / Dropped: The Dojo

10/3/13: Added: Haymaker, Goodall's; Wright Bros. Brew & Brew; Lucy's on Burnet / Dropped: Eden East; Mettle; Searsucker

9/5/13: Added: NO VA, School House Pub, The ABGB, Winebelly / Dropped: Jeffrey's, John Mueller Meat Co., Salt & Time, Daruma Ramen

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

The Pleasant Storage Room

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Pleasant Storage Room marries overproof rum punch and rum-focused cocktails with Caribbean street food snacks and larger plates. Their goal is to make this summer "The Summer of Rum."

208 W 4th St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 919-0770
(512) 919-0770

Twisted Root Burger Co.

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The first outpost of this Dallas-based chain opened its doors near campus. Come for the big burgers, stay for the fried pickles, green beans, and more.

510 W 26th St, Austin, TX 78705

Also featured in:

Kin & Comfort

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The newest addition to the Hana World Food Court has lots of fun with Southern-Asian fusion. The menu boasts everything from taro hush puppies to panang mac & cheese.

1700 W Parmer Ln, Austin, TX 78727
(512) 832-7870
(512) 832-7870

Also featured in:

Noble Sandwich Company

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After a long wait, central Austin finally has a Noble Sandwiches to call its own. Six new sandwiches and an expanded breakfast menu has made this the new daytime hotness. The original Northwest Austin shop has garnered national praise for chefs John Bates and Brandon Martinez.

4805 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78756
(512) 382-6248
(512) 382-6248

Also featured in:

Blackbird and Henry

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Chef Mark Schmidt first made waves at Marble Fall's Cafe 909, and his new venture mixes classics from that restaurant and British pub influences.

3016 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78705

El Sapo

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El Chile switcheroos the old Flat Top Burger Shop with El Sapo, a cantina focused on casual dining and local beers. They still have lots of burger options, now with a Tex Mex twist.

1900 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78722
(512) 366-5154
(512) 366-5154

Also featured in:

Chavez

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Shawn Cirkiel's newest restaurant features a Southwestern-inspired menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the Radisson. Architect Michael Hsu transformed the former TGI Friday's space into a lake-view stunner.

111 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 478-9611
(512) 478-9611

G'Raj Mahal Cafe

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Popular Indian trailer G'raj Mahal has gone brick and mortar on Rainey Street. They feature two patios and newly introduced wine and beer service.

73 Rainey St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 480-2555
(512) 480-2555

The Silo On 7th

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This long-in-the-works East Austin project opened over SXSW. They're serving inventive burgers and offer a sunset happy hour to show off their rooftop views.

Austin, TX
(512) 524-0866
(512) 524-0866

Also featured in:

The Hightower

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This new restaurant from the former chef and GM of the shuttered El Arbol aims to bring affordable New American to the east side. Statesman critic Matthew Odam is a fan of their "bold" flavors.

1209 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 524-1448
(512) 524-1448

Also featured in:

La V

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This hotly anticipated new restaurant is very, very serious about wine and serves a menu of Provencal-inspired classics. The female power trio running front and back of the house have earned lots of buzz since opening.

1501 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 293-6048
(512) 293-6048

Kyoten

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This sushi trailer occupies its own lot, which they transformed into a "zen garden" complete with lots of picnic tables. Chefs Otto Phan and Leo Rodriguez have worked in high-end kitchens like Nobu and Uchi, as well as Ramen Tatsu-Ya. They're serving sustainably sourced fish, too.

1211 East 6th., Austin, TX 78702
(512) 888-7559
(512) 888-7559

Also featured in:

Licha's Cantina

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Cazuelas and mezcal are on the menu crafted by longtime industry veteran Daniel Brooks. The Mexico City native has kept much of the charm of the old Papi Tino's space.

1306 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 619-0993
(512) 619-0993

Also featured in:

Odd Duck

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Bryce Gilmore's brick and mortar reimagining of his famous trailer features a huge open kitchen and lots of homey touches like mismatched plates and country kitsch on the walls. The small plates are excellent, but the large format dishes are where the restaurant really shines.

1201 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

A-OK Chinese

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Former Drafthouse executive chef John Bullington and industry veteran Jerry Reid unleashed American Chinese food on South Lamar.

1509 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 428-5269
(512) 428-5269

Also featured in:

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Porter Ale House

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A neighborhood pub for a burgeoning section of South First, Porter's menu includes a burger, pierogis, and spaghetti and meatballs. They also feature thirty beers on tap.

715 South 1st Ste A, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 291-6299
(512) 291-6299

Also featured in:

More in Maps

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The Pleasant Storage Room

208 W 4th St, Austin, TX 78701

Pleasant Storage Room marries overproof rum punch and rum-focused cocktails with Caribbean street food snacks and larger plates. Their goal is to make this summer "The Summer of Rum."

208 W 4th St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 919-0770
(512) 919-0770

Twisted Root Burger Co.

510 W 26th St, Austin, TX 78705

The first outpost of this Dallas-based chain opened its doors near campus. Come for the big burgers, stay for the fried pickles, green beans, and more.

510 W 26th St, Austin, TX 78705

Kin & Comfort

1700 W Parmer Ln, Austin, TX 78727

The newest addition to the Hana World Food Court has lots of fun with Southern-Asian fusion. The menu boasts everything from taro hush puppies to panang mac & cheese.

1700 W Parmer Ln, Austin, TX 78727
(512) 832-7870
(512) 832-7870

Noble Sandwich Company

4805 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78756

After a long wait, central Austin finally has a Noble Sandwiches to call its own. Six new sandwiches and an expanded breakfast menu has made this the new daytime hotness. The original Northwest Austin shop has garnered national praise for chefs John Bates and Brandon Martinez.

4805 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78756
(512) 382-6248
(512) 382-6248

Blackbird and Henry

3016 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78705

Chef Mark Schmidt first made waves at Marble Fall's Cafe 909, and his new venture mixes classics from that restaurant and British pub influences.

3016 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78705

El Sapo

1900 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78722

El Chile switcheroos the old Flat Top Burger Shop with El Sapo, a cantina focused on casual dining and local beers. They still have lots of burger options, now with a Tex Mex twist.

1900 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78722
(512) 366-5154
(512) 366-5154

Chavez

111 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701

Shawn Cirkiel's newest restaurant features a Southwestern-inspired menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the Radisson. Architect Michael Hsu transformed the former TGI Friday's space into a lake-view stunner.

111 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 478-9611
(512) 478-9611

G'Raj Mahal Cafe

73 Rainey St, Austin, TX 78701

Popular Indian trailer G'raj Mahal has gone brick and mortar on Rainey Street. They feature two patios and newly introduced wine and beer service.

73 Rainey St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 480-2555
(512) 480-2555

The Silo On 7th

Austin, TX

This long-in-the-works East Austin project opened over SXSW. They're serving inventive burgers and offer a sunset happy hour to show off their rooftop views.

Austin, TX
(512) 524-0866
(512) 524-0866

The Hightower

1209 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702

This new restaurant from the former chef and GM of the shuttered El Arbol aims to bring affordable New American to the east side. Statesman critic Matthew Odam is a fan of their "bold" flavors.

1209 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 524-1448
(512) 524-1448

La V

1501 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702

This hotly anticipated new restaurant is very, very serious about wine and serves a menu of Provencal-inspired classics. The female power trio running front and back of the house have earned lots of buzz since opening.

1501 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 293-6048
(512) 293-6048

Kyoten

1211 East 6th., Austin, TX 78702

This sushi trailer occupies its own lot, which they transformed into a "zen garden" complete with lots of picnic tables. Chefs Otto Phan and Leo Rodriguez have worked in high-end kitchens like Nobu and Uchi, as well as Ramen Tatsu-Ya. They're serving sustainably sourced fish, too.

1211 East 6th., Austin, TX 78702
(512) 888-7559
(512) 888-7559

Licha's Cantina

1306 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702

Cazuelas and mezcal are on the menu crafted by longtime industry veteran Daniel Brooks. The Mexico City native has kept much of the charm of the old Papi Tino's space.

1306 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 619-0993
(512) 619-0993

Odd Duck

1201 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

Bryce Gilmore's brick and mortar reimagining of his famous trailer features a huge open kitchen and lots of homey touches like mismatched plates and country kitsch on the walls. The small plates are excellent, but the large format dishes are where the restaurant really shines.

1201 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

A-OK Chinese

1509 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

Former Drafthouse executive chef John Bullington and industry veteran Jerry Reid unleashed American Chinese food on South Lamar.

1509 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 428-5269
(512) 428-5269

Related Maps

Porter Ale House

715 South 1st Ste A, Austin, TX 78704

A neighborhood pub for a burgeoning section of South First, Porter's menu includes a burger, pierogis, and spaghetti and meatballs. They also feature thirty beers on tap.

715 South 1st Ste A, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 291-6299
(512) 291-6299

Related Maps