clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Where to Eat in Austin Right Now, May '14

View as Map

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

Read More
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

Copy Link

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."

Twisted Root Burger Co.

Copy Link

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.

Kin & Comfort

Copy Link

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.

Noble Sandwich Company

Copy Link

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.

Blackbird and Henry

Copy Link

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.

El Sapo

Copy Link

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.

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.

G'Raj Mahal Cafe

Copy Link

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.

The Silo On 7th

Copy Link

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.

The Hightower

Copy Link

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.

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.

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.

Licha's Cantina

Copy Link

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.

Odd Duck

Copy Link

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.

A-OK Chinese

Copy Link

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

Porter Ale House

Copy Link

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.

The Pleasant Storage Room

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."

Twisted Root Burger Co.

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.

Kin & Comfort

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.

Noble Sandwich Company

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.

Blackbird and Henry

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.

El Sapo

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.

Chavez

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.

G'Raj Mahal Cafe

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.

The Silo On 7th

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.

The Hightower

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.

La V

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.

Kyoten

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.

Licha's Cantina

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.

Odd Duck

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.

A-OK Chinese

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

Related Maps

Porter Ale House

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.

Related Maps