From food truck to restaurant, Chi’lantro is open just down the street from Lamar Union. The Korean barbecue-inspired eatery is a casual spot for interesting takes on barbecue classics.

Try the rice bowl topped with kimchi or the super-popular kimchi fries — french fries with meat or tofu, cheese, onion, cilantro, caramelized kimchi, and many more delicious ingredients. Chi’lantro is also known for its K-Pops, or Korean-fried chicken wings topped with your choice of sauce. The bar serves up beer and wine to accompany the food. Many of the items on the menu are staples when visiting the food truck, like the fries, but a number of items have been added now that the brick-and-mortar eatery is open.

The South Lamar location is one of two outposts in Austin for the Korean eatery. The success of Chi’lantro is evident, as the eatery has even held its own on Eater Austin’s list of the hottest restaurants in the city last month!

Chi'lantro
1509 S. Lamar Blvd.
Austin, TX 78704
512-428-5269
www.chilantrobbq.com
www.yelp.com/biz/chilantro-austin-3

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr FoodCraftLab

Cantine is a bar and restaurant that aims to elevate Italian cuisine in Austin. Having opened in May in the same building as Lamar Union, Cantine offers brunch, lunch, dinner, and drinks, making it a great place to stop for a bite at almost any time.

Appetizers like the already-beloved fried goat cheese and the blistered shishito peppers are a nice start to a dinner or a great accompaniment for drinks. The noodles for the pasta are handmade in-house, making a delicious base for a meal. Portions are quite generous and everything is beautifully plated, according to Yelpers. Cantine offers a wide selection of wines, as well as specially-crafted cocktails and craft beer. The soft-serve affogato would make a wonderful after-dinner treat for espresso lovers. The decor is modern and streamlined with a few whimsical touches, giving Cantine the perfect ambiance for a late-night date or get-together with friends.

Cantine
1100 S. Lamar Blvd.
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 628-0348
cantineaustin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/cantine-italian-cafe-and-bar-austin

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr BPPrice

Go Texan Restaurant Round-Up celebrates the bounty of the Lone Star State. It rounds up restaurants interested in serving only locally sourced produce, meats, and wines for the entire month of July. This year, Carmelo's lands on that list. The Austin eatery resides only 2.5 miles away from Lamar Union, so head here before the end of July to sample its fresh Texas take on Italian cuisine.

Kick off your local meal with the lasagnetta, crafted from farro lasagna, burrata cheese, tomatoes, and pesto. Or try the spaghetti simmered in Fall Creek Cabernet and dusted with parmigiano reggiano. Save some room for the sauteed cod with puree of peas or the chicken scaloppine with summer veggies and cauliflower frittata. Dessert also showcases Texas-born ingredients, like the fresh dairy in the ice cream cake (also known as torta gelato). For each course, you can pick a wine pairing. Reds and whites from nearby vineyards are on tap, as is Saint Arnold's Shiner Bock beer.

Go Texan Restaurant Round-Up
Carmelo's
Now through July 31
504 E. 5th Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 477-7497
www.carmelosrestaurant.com/events?event=65
www.gotexanrestaurantroundup.com

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr imcountingufoz