Austin's Best New Restaurants Of 2023
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Austin's Best New Restaurants Of 2023
This year’s new openings were all about little moments of comfort. We ate Malaysian laksa on plastic tables in a gas station, took down steaming bowls of Mexican-Japanese ramen in a grocery store food court, and discovered just how good chicken fat rice can be. We watched our favorite breakfast taco truck grow into a full-fledged restaurant—now providing migas all day long. We ate at a lot of places this year, but these nine reminded us why so many people keep moving to Austin. Looking for the best places to eat in Austin, full stop? Check out our guide to the 25 highest-rated in town.
photo credit: Richard Casteel
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
When steam from the bowl of carnitas tonkotsu ramen fogged our glasses as we gazed down the rice aisle.
A Perfect Order For A Solo Lunch
Carnitas bowl with salsa macha and half ajitama, hamachi tostada, and a lengua taco. Then another hamachi tostada.
The Best Time To Go
Weekdays at noon, before everything sells out. Grab some donuts next door for the office to avoid questions about your long lunch.
Collective Team Visits
5
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
When steam from the bowl of carnitas tonkotsu ramen fogged our glasses as we gazed down the rice aisle.
A Perfect Order For A Solo Lunch
Carnitas bowl with salsa macha and half ajitama, hamachi tostada, and a lengua taco. Then another hamachi tostada.
The Best Time To Go
Weekdays at noon, before everything sells out. Grab some donuts next door for the office to avoid questions about your long lunch.
photo credit: Richard Casteel
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
When our server explained that the graffiti on the walls was actually the lyrics to "Toxic" by Britney Spears, in Hebrew.
A Perfect Order For Date Night
Crudo, smashed cucumbers, hummus with a side of frena, chicken shawarma, and kofta.
The Best Time To Go
Friday or Saturday night, so you have a day to recover after ordering the raki service.
Collective Team Visits
3
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
When our server explained that the graffiti on the walls was actually the lyrics to "Toxic" by Britney Spears, in Hebrew.
A Perfect Order For Date Night
Crudo, smashed cucumbers, hummus with a side of frena, chicken shawarma, and kofta.
The Best Time To Go
Friday or Saturday night, so you have a day to recover after ordering the raki service.
photo credit: Richard Casteel
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
We discovered that we could order a migas breakfast taco for dinner.
A Perfect Order For A Post-Farmers Market Lunch
Migas originale taco on blue corn, shrimp ceviche, picada with steak and mole Veracruzano, and a melon agua fresca.
The Best Time To Go
90 minutes before a movie at Alamo next door. It’s just enough time for dinner and drinks with 15 minutes to spare before the show.
Collective Team Visits
5
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
We discovered that we could order a migas breakfast taco for dinner.
A Perfect Order For A Post-Farmers Market Lunch
Migas originale taco on blue corn, shrimp ceviche, picada with steak and mole Veracruzano, and a melon agua fresca.
The Best Time To Go
90 minutes before a movie at Alamo next door. It’s just enough time for dinner and drinks with 15 minutes to spare before the show.
photo credit: Richard Casteel
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
When we were able to fill up our gas tank, grab some Doritos, and get an order of seafood nasi lemak in the same visit.
A Perfect Order For Covering The Malaysian Classics
Ikan bilis nasi lemak, seafood curry laksa, beef char kway teow, and a kaya toast for dessert. Bring backup.
The Best Time To Go
Whenever UT students are on break, or right when it opens at 4pm to snag one of the four tables.
Collective Team Visits
3
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
When we were able to fill up our gas tank, grab some Doritos, and get an order of seafood nasi lemak in the same visit.
A Perfect Order For Covering The Malaysian Classics
Ikan bilis nasi lemak, seafood curry laksa, beef char kway teow, and a kaya toast for dessert. Bring backup.
The Best Time To Go
Whenever UT students are on break, or right when it opens at 4pm to snag one of the four tables.
photo credit: Richard Casteel
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
The second the oysters (with a kimchi vinaigrette) showed up with a side of tiny little fatty sausages, like you’d find in France.
A Perfect Order For A Date Night At The Bar
Caviar stroopwafel bites, oysters, mama bear’s kimchi, caesar salad, ebi burger and bulgogi smashburger (and the fantastic fries).
The Best Time To Go
During sunset when the room gets a warm glow, which can conveniently line up with the Happy Hour of seven items at $7.
Collective Team Visits
4
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
The second the oysters (with a kimchi vinaigrette) showed up with a side of tiny little fatty sausages, like you’d find in France.
A Perfect Order For A Date Night At The Bar
Caviar stroopwafel bites, oysters, mama bear’s kimchi, caesar salad, ebi burger and bulgogi smashburger (and the fantastic fries).
The Best Time To Go
During sunset when the room gets a warm glow, which can conveniently line up with the Happy Hour of seven items at $7.
photo credit: The Infatuation
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
When we canceled our reservation at Este next door after planning to pop in for a snack and ordered the whole menu instead.
A Perfect Order For A Pre-Dinner Snack
Hongos a la plancha, shrimp al ajillo, la smashburgesa, cynar daiquiri. Oops, looks like snacks just turned into dinner again.
The Best Time To Go
45 minutes before sunset, when the sun casts long shadows and makes your smashburgesa look very dramatic.
Collective Team Visits
7
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
When we canceled our reservation at Este next door after planning to pop in for a snack and ordered the whole menu instead.
A Perfect Order For A Pre-Dinner Snack
Hongos a la plancha, shrimp al ajillo, la smashburgesa, cynar daiquiri. Oops, looks like snacks just turned into dinner again.
The Best Time To Go
45 minutes before sunset, when the sun casts long shadows and makes your smashburgesa look very dramatic.
photo credit: Richard Casteel
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
Emerging from the soup aisle of the grocery store and seeing a giant display of whole, poached chickens hanging in the window.
A Perfect Order For A Weekday Dinner
One fried khao man gai for now, and a poached version for later. And an order of fried chicken skins to snack on in the car.
The Best Time To Go
Weekdays for an early lunch or dinner, when you can grab one of the few tables for dining in.
Collective Team Visits
5
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
Emerging from the soup aisle of the grocery store and seeing a giant display of whole, poached chickens hanging in the window.
A Perfect Order For A Weekday Dinner
One fried khao man gai for now, and a poached version for later. And an order of fried chicken skins to snack on in the car.
The Best Time To Go
Weekdays for an early lunch or dinner, when you can grab one of the few tables for dining in.
photo credit: Richard Casteel
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
When our smashburger and fries came in under $10. Our love strengthened after realizing that the entire food truck park is BYOB.
A Perfect Order For Two
One Campechana, one Americana, both cut in half so that you can sample a classic and a Mexican-style smashburger. Two fries.
The Best Time To Go
Any time that you’re considering grabbing a fast food burger.
Collective Team Visits
3
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
When our smashburger and fries came in under $10. Our love strengthened after realizing that the entire food truck park is BYOB.
A Perfect Order For Two
One Campechana, one Americana, both cut in half so that you can sample a classic and a Mexican-style smashburger. Two fries.
The Best Time To Go
Any time that you’re considering grabbing a fast food burger.
photo credit: Richard Casteel
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
Pulling into the parking lot, when the smell of slow-smoked pastrami permeated through our car window.
A Perfect Order For Your First Visit
The Rachel, and a slice of brown butter chess pie.
The Best Time To Go
A cold Saturday morning, when you can warm up with a bowl of matzo ball soup before taking down a half-pound pastrami sandwich.
Collective Team Visits
4
The Moment We Knew We Loved It
Pulling into the parking lot, when the smell of slow-smoked pastrami permeated through our car window.
A Perfect Order For Your First Visit
The Rachel, and a slice of brown butter chess pie.
The Best Time To Go
A cold Saturday morning, when you can warm up with a bowl of matzo ball soup before taking down a half-pound pastrami sandwich.