Ng BMT: Banh Mi and More in Austin

Although its name sounds like a secret code that only Austin locals understand, Ng BMT is actually a Vietnamese sandwich spot located within the Hong Kong Supermarket. This unique sandwich cafe-meets-bakery serves traditional Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches on fresh-baked baguettes.

Each banh mi is available with your choice of peppered shrimp, tofu, pork, or other meats to accommodate both meat eaters and vegetarian guests. Diners new to the banh mi might enjoy the pork banh mi, which sandwiches slices of marinated pork within a warm baguette with creamy mayo, pickled carrots, cilantro, and, for a little spicy kick, jalapeno peppers! Counter the heat with the chilled sweet tofu dessert.

Ng BMT is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. Regulars note that the prices at Ng BMT are easy on the wallet, so you can grab a cheap lunch that’s bit out of the ordinary.

Ng BMT
8557 Research Boulevard
Austin, TX 78758
(512) 931-1088
www.ngbmt.com
www.yelp.com/biz/ng-bmt-austin

Follow Up Your Sandwich With Shaved Ice at the Sweet-n-Cheezy Food Truck

When that lunchtime hunger strikes during the workday in Round Rock, head over to the Sweet-n-Cheezy food truck for the perfect blend of savory and sweet flavors. The recognizable orange truck serves patty melt-style sandwiches with names like The Hungry Hippo and the Razorback, and they’re all piled high with premium meats and deliciously melted cheeses between two slices of thick, grilled Texas toast.

The signature sandwich is the namesake Sweet-n-Cheezy, a unique combination of fresh strawberries with melted brie cheese and raspberry jam on pistachio cranberry bread. If you’re in the mood for something a bit more traditional, you’ll also find perfectly grilled burgers that taste even better when paired with the truck’s soft, fluffy shaved ice.

The Sweet-n-Cheezy truck is closed from Monday to Wednesday.

Sweet-n-Cheezy
5430 US Highway 79
Round Rock, TX 78665
(512) 887-4540
www.sweet-n-cheezy.com

Fonda San Miguel: An Austin Favorite for Mexican Fare Since 1975

With modern art, bold flavors, and a beautiful ambiance, Fonda San Miguel has been an Austin dining institution since 1975.

Recognized as one of the finest authentic Mexican restaurants in the country, Fonda San Miguel relies on fresh, sometimes rare ingredients and authentic Mexican recipes to create its raved-about fare. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu; however, regulars direct particular praise toward the camarones en crema de chipotle, which envelops shrimp in a creamy chipotle sauce. Fonda San Miguel is also known for its inviting atmosphere, as it is classic and has an authentic Mexican feel.

The restaurant is open seven days a week. Don't skip the Sunday brunch, served from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.!

Fonda San Miguel
2330 W North Loop Blvd
Austin, TX 78756
(512) 459-4121
www.fondasanmiguel.com

Find a Farm-to-Table Brunch This Weekend at Jack Allen’s Kitchen in Austin

Whether you’re picking the perfect spot for a family dinner or a new eatery for brunch this weekend, Jack Allen’s Kitchen is always a great choice. This upscale American restaurant boasts a farm-to-table menu of creative takes on old-fashioned favorites, including shrimp and mango tacos, achiote macaroni cheese, and the famous 13-Spice Chicken Pasta. For brunch, Jack Allen’s Kitchen offers homemade strudel, fried chicken with jalapeno gravy, and fun new takes on deviled eggs. Not only are the ingredients sourced fresh from local farms, many of them are even grown on-site in the restaurant’s organic garden!

The ambiance inside is fun and welcoming, but it’s still classy enough to make your meal feel special. With a great menu of libations to complement the food, Jack Allen’s Kitchen is a perfect spot to relax and kick back after a long work week.

Jack Allen’s Kitchen
2500 Hoppe Trail
Round Rock, TX 78681
(512) 215-0372
www.jackallenskitchen.com

Jack Allen’s Kitchen: Local Ingredients in Every Bite of Inspired Southern Cuisine

In a perpetually sunny state like Texas, farmers have ample opportunities to plant and harvest thriving crops. That's why, when looking for fresh ingredients for their dishes, the chefs at Jack Allen's Kitchen never stray beyond the boundaries of Texas. All of their ingredients come from nearby—you can even browse a comprehensive roster of the farmers, artisans, and other purveyors who provide food for Jack Allen's on its website.

The fresh, locally sourced ingredients make for a colorful and tasty meal any time of day, any day of the week, but customers say that one meal outshines the others, and that's Sunday brunch. Eaters show up in droves for the fully loaded buffet, which features everything from chicken-fried chicken to layered enchilada casserole. You can also request biscuits and gravy, silver dollar pancakes, or local eggs from the kitchen. No matter what you choose to eat for brunch, wash it down with a bloody Mary, mimosa with freshly squeezed OJ, or a glass of Jack Allen's "famous" pomegranate sangria.

Jack Allen's Kitchen
2500 Hoppe Trail
Round Rock, TX 78681
(512) 215-0372
www.jackallenskitchen.com
www.yelp.com/biz/jack-allens-kitchen-round-rock

Austin Java: Much More Than Just Coffee

Spicy peanut soup. Eggs Benedict. Breakfast tacos. Not exactly the type of fare you'd expect to find at a coffee house. And yet, Austin Java's various locations throughout its namesake city serve them all—and to rave reviews from customers.

Despite its title, Austin Java is actually much more than a mere cafe. Yes, it does serve locally-roasted coffee. But it also offers a full menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner—and breakfast is served all day. That's probably to the delight of those regulars who love the breakfast tacos, which are stuffed with everything from honey-cured ham or chorizo to veggies or black beans. Some other morning favorites include migas, a spicy take on the traditional omelet, and thick-sliced farmers' French toast.

Later in the day, enjoy a different savory dish like the crawfish quesadillas or pasta primavera. Other lunch and dinner options encompass salads, various meat-laden pastas, and house soups.

Austin Java
1206 Parkway
Austin, TX 78703
(512) 476-1829
www.austinjava.com

www.yelp.com/biz/austin-java-austin

Enjoy Freshly Made Pastries and Pretzels at Easy Tiger

The sweet aroma of freshly baked breads engulfs you when you pass through the doors of Easy Tiger Bake Shop & Beer Garden in downtown Austin. The comforting, warm ambiance invites you to relax and stay while you enjoy the made-from-scratch menu.

The extensive coffee and tea list includes espresso, chai lattes, hot teas, and a variety of water, soda, and juice choices. Don't miss one of Easy Tiger's melt-in-your-mouth pastries, danish, cookies, and croissants. Snacks and sandwiches include beef jerky and pretzels, as well as house-smoked pastrami, turkey breast, and muffulettas. The restaurant also offers a variety of charcuterie boards and house-made sausages.

Easy Tiger has a full bar and the cocktail, beer, and reserves menu is extensive.

Easy Tiger
709 E. Sixth Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 614-4972
www.easytigeraustin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/easy-tiger-austin

Don’t Miss the Sausages at The Salt Lick

Margaritas, Music, and Meat. That's what you can expect at The Salt Lick on the weekend. Oak trees stretch out over the stone patio, offering some shade from the glaring Texan sun while live musicians play tunes, customers suck down margaritas, and servers bring out plates full of The Salt Lick's signature barbecue fare at each week's Margaritas, Music, and Meat event.

There's really no bad time to visit this beloved Round Rock eatery, though. No matter when you do, you'll be able to indulge in its smoky food, including the wildly popular sausages. More than 200 Yelp reviewers rave about the sausages, which you can get alone on a platter with potato salad, coleslaw, and beans or combined with other barbecue fare such as brisket or pork ribs. You can also order the sausage in sandwich form. But some people wouldn't mind skipping the main course all together for The Salt Lick's classic sides: beans, coleslaw, and potato salad. You can get them by the pint, quart, or even the gallon.

The Salt Lick
3350 Palm Valley Boulevard
Round Rock, TX 78665
(512) 386-1044
www.saltlickbbq.com/pages/Round-Rock.html
www.yelp.com/biz/the-salt-lick-bbq-round-rock

Fire in the Hole Stone Pizza and Brew: Pies Fresh from the Wood-Fired Oven

Jonathan Creasey was in the pizza business long before opening Fire in the Hole, but not in quite the way he desired. He owned several Domino's locations until 2012. That was the year that he handed over ownership of his last Domino's and, with the help of another former Domino's franchisee, started serving his own pizza recipes at Fire in the Hole Stone Pizza and Brew.

The pizzeria and craft beer bar showcase the kind of food and drink that has always inspired Creasey, even when he had a hand in selling assembly-line pies. At Fire in the Hole, the kitchen team enlists the best ingredients—whether they hail from Italy or right in Texas—to craft thin-crust pies, then bakes them in the wood-fired oven. They also hand-make pastas inspired by Northern Italian cuisine, create larger entrees such as pork belly and smoked chicken wings, and also knead several different types of bread. Locals rave about the Alabama cheese bread, infused with garlic and Provolone.

Fire in the Hole Stone Pizza and Brew
103 E. Main Street
Round Rock, TX 78664
(512) 382-7250
www.fireintheholeroundrock.com
www.yelp.com/biz/fire-in-the-hole-stone-pizza-and-brew-round-rock

Check Out The Rock Sports Bar for Brunch

It may look like a mere sports bar from the outside—and with a massive curved TV broadcasting the big game inside, the misconception takes an even stronger hold—but The Rock is more than that. True, locals flock to The Rock to watch sporting events and glug beers. And yes, the spot can get a little rowdy in the late-night hours on a Friday or Saturday. But what sets apart The Rock from other sports bars in the area isn't just its huge TV or beer list; it's the weekend brunch.

Every Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., The Rock Sports Bar hosts a popular brunch, complete with bloody Marys and mimosas. Dig into a crunchy piece of fried chicken perched atop a fluffy Belgian waffle. Chow down on a breakfast burrito stuffed with scrambled eggs and your choice of meat and veggies. Take a fork to the sweet French toast, accompanied by ham, sausage, or bacon. You can add extras — like a biscuit smothered with gravy, crispy strips of bacon, or a bonus egg — to any of the brunch dishes.

The Rock Sports Bar
114 E. Main Street
Round Rock, TX 78664
(512) 358-1175
www.rocksportsbar.com
www.yelp.com/biz/the-rock-sports-bar-round-rock

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