50 Best Dishes You Must Try Now
Sorted by cuisine, featuring off-menu finds, new dishes, and classic staples
These are the 50 most memorable dishes I've had so far in Austin this year. Whether it's a repeat visit to an oldie like Emmer & Rye but my first time having the tableside bread service and butter bar cart, or a new-to-me spot like Sunflower Vietnamese and their Shrimp Clay Pot, you'll see the dishes I haven't deleted from my camera roll or my mind below!
P.S. If you missed my Austin summer survival guide with all the best swimming holes, frozen cocktails, and pool passes, check it out here!
Asian
P-Thai's Wontons – Best plump dumplings in Austin with the perfect dipping sauce. Known for their Khao Man Gai (which I also love) the wonton texture and taste is what all dumpling lovers search for. You’ll see whole chickens hanging by the counter like you’re in a real Chinatown which is actually comforting to me.
Pho Please Chicken Pho w/ Steamed Veggies – This is my favorite pho broth located on East Riverside and where I can count on the flavorful and healthful soup at a good price.
Koriente Obake Bowl A – When I need something healthy and don't have time to cook, this is the only place I get takeout food. A bowl of vegetables (add broccoli) topped with chicken and warm brown rice. This downtown Asian spot has been perfecting customizable bowls since 2005, so don’t let them close.
Loro Malaysian Chicken Bo Ssam – This tender chicken plate mixed with curry spices and served with herbs and lettuce is a great light option. The Asian smokehouse from Uchi and Franklin Barbecue partners, serves it with a yellow curry-yuzu vinaigrette and Thai herbs.
Chi’Lantro Chicken Bowl – Home of the Original Kimchi Fries, this Korean-Mexican fusion spot began as a food truck and now has multiple locations around Austin. I prefer the Soy Glazed Chicken.
Wow Poke Krab Burrito Wrap – This monster sushi burrito is addictive and has great crab meat and flavor. House crab salad with tempura flakes, white rice, cucumber, avocado, and spicy mayo wrapped in soybean paper.
Sunflower Vietnamese Shaken Beef – This is my new favorite Asian restaurant up north, which I don't often see all over Instagram, but is packed to the brim on a given Sunday at 1 p.m. The Bo Luc Lac (shaken beef) is tender, buttery beef pieces cooked over a high flame with lemongrass, onions, and garlic, seasoned with spices.
Elizabeth Street Cafe Shrimp Rice Rolls – I might be one of the only people who forgoes the spring rolls at ESC to make room for the rice rolls lathered in ponzu, scallions, and herbs. The tender steamed rice rolls are stuffed with Gulf shrimp and drizzled with coconut vinegar ponzu sauce with a dumpling texture.
Uncle Phan's Fresh Tofu Off-menu Catfish – It's not written on the menu, but you can see the fish fillet sitting peacefully on the other side of the counter, soaking in all the incredible Asian flavors and juices. Point at it and go for it. This small Vietnamese spot in the heart of Chinatown specializes in Northern Vietnamese cuisine, including bánh cuốn.
Oko Oxtail Kare-Kare – A nine-hour braised oxtail in a peanut butter and beef stock sauce with veggies, bone marrow, garlic rice, and Bagoong sauce. A fun, rich dish to try that will make your eyes bulge with excitement.
American/Steakhouse
Apt 115 Wagyu with Salsa Verde – This Michelin-recommended spot does in fact look like someone's apartment with a few tables, a wine shop, and counter seating where you can watch the chefs cook on induction burners (I never saw an oven!). A unique experience with a tasting menu available. We did à la carte, and the wagyu with salsa verde and torched sweet potatoes is a hit!
Jeffrey's Bar Steak (in the bar only) – As a seafood lover, my friend Kristen had to twist my arm to try this prime tenderloin steak paillard. We think they sous vide it as it's so tender and pairs perfectly with the pommes purée and a tomato salad. Served in the bar only and 25% off on Mondays.