Blue Dahlia Bistro: Enjoy French Cuisine, From Breakfast Through Happy Hour

Whether you’re looking for a charming breakfast spot or a place to relax with friends over happy hour drinks, Blue Dahlia Bistro is the place for both in Austin. In the morning, the expansive menu includes French dishes like fresh-baked croissants, rich yogurt and fruit, and berry blintzes stuffed with sweet ricotta cheese. Later in the day, enjoy a lunch or dinner of French cheeses, duck mousse pâté and fresh mussels, or opt for something a bit more filling with housemade pastas and Bouillabaisse.

If you stop in for happy hour, Blue Dahlia Bistro offers special rates on red and white wines and festive champagnes, as well as a large selection of beer and snacks to share. No matter the time of day, this charming French bistro is a stylish, laid-back locale to enjoy authentic Parisian cuisine here in Austin.

Blue Dahlia Bistro
1115 E. 11th Street
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 542-9542
www.bluedahliabistro.com
www.yelp.com/biz/blue-dahlia-bistro-austin

Koriente: Fresh Fare in Austin

Koriente serves Korean cuisine and more to Austin diners. All dishes are house-made and are prepared without MSG or preservatives, using only natural sweeteners and without excess fat. The ambiance is classically uncluttered and simply elegant with a comfortable, relaxed vibe.

Appetizers include edamame, soups, Korean pickled vegetables, and summer rolls. Featured entrees include pan-seared ahi tuna, sweet potato or mung bean noodles loaded with vegetables, bowls filled with your choice of protein, mushrooms, broccoli and carrots over rice, and traditional Bibimbap. Party trays for your next event can be ordered in advance and include all dishes served on the menu. All dishes can be prepared gluten-free and dietary requests can be accommodated.

Koriete is open 11 a.m. to to 9:30 p.m. Sundays through Fridays and 1 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturdays.

Koriente
621 E. Seventh Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 275-0852
www.koriente.com
www.yelp.com/biz/koriente-austin

Customize Your Own Asian Stir-Fry Bowl at Fire Bowl Cafe

While Chinese takeout isn’t usually considered the healthy mealtime option, at Fire Bowl Cafe in South Austin, you’ll find a fresh, healthy take on casual Asian fare. This unique and convenient eatery offers a wide variety of custom options on many different types of stir fry bowls, and everything is prepared using high-quality ingredients completely free of MSG and trans fats.

Begin by choosing your main ingredient from a long list of meats, seafood and tofu, and then add in fresh veggies and savory sauces, like Thai pepper and Kung Pao. There are both noodle and rice bowls to choose from depending on your current cravings, as well as soups and appetizers to pair with your meal.

With hearty portions at affordable prices and even online ordering, Fire Bowl Cafe makes a great choice for a quick lunch or casual dinner.

Fire Bowl Cafe
5601 Brodie Lane
Austin, TX 78745
(512) 899-8998
www.firebowlcafe.com
www.yelp.com/biz/fire-bowl-cafe-austin-3

Super Bowl Restaurant: Wok This Way for Great Chinese Food Takeout

If you’re craving Chinese food in the South Austin area but just don’t feel like leaving the house, ordering delivery from Super Bowl Restaurant is a great option. This Chinese takeout spot offers all of your favorite dishes ranging from egg rolls and steamed dumplings to lo mein and Kung Pao chicken, as well as a wide variety of other specialties made true to tradition.

Flavorful dishes like Mongolian beef and General Tso’s chicken will satisfy your craving for something spicy, while vegetable fried rice, sesame tofu, and other veggie meals are made entirely without meat for vegetarian diners. The prices at Super Bowl are very reasonable for the large portions, and the small delivery fee is more than worth it for the convenience of having hot, tasty food delivered right to your door.

To order from Super Bowl Restaurant, fill out the form on the restaurant’s website.

Super Bowl Restaurant
719 W William Cannon Drive
Austin, TX 78745
(512) 445-3399
www.beyondmenu.com/21269/austin/super-bowl-austin-78745.aspx

Catfish Parlour: Find Fried Seafood at This Local Favorite in Austin

If you’re looking to take a taste of the real Austin, Catfish Parlour is the place to go. Here, you’ll find catfish made using fish sourced from domestic farms and fried to crispy perfection, or if you’re looking for something a bit healthier, the restaurant also serves grilled catfish that’s just as tasty. Hush puppies, house recipe coleslaw, and savory pinto beans come on the side, and there is even an extensive menu of homemade desserts to finish the meal.

Everything at Catfish Parlour is served in large portions at low prices, and you can ask for carryout on any menu item. If you choose to dine in, Catfish Parlour’s spacious dining room, rustic wooden tables, and friendly atmosphere will make you feel right at home.

Catfish Parlour is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays through Wednesdays and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays.

Catfish Parlour
4705 E Ben White Blvd
Austin, TX 78744
(512) 443-1698
www.catfishparlour.com/south-austin.html

Hey!… You Gonna Eat or What?: Try the Monte Cristo

The Hey!… You Gonna Eat or What? food truck is one of Austin’s most popular, and that’s saying a lot for a city that almost single-handedly made the food truck en vogue.

This mobile restaurant exclusively serves creative, exceptionally hearty sandwiches and fresh, homemade chips to go with them. Some of the most popular items are the Monte Cristo, which is beer-battered in Shiner Bock beer and topped with ham, turkey, and scratch-made jelly, and the deliciously gooey Smoked Ham and Brie. All of these sandwiches are topped with generous smears of homemade condiments, like jalapeno jelly or honey mustard, and the thick bread is always fresh and delicious. In addition to a menu of constant favorites, the truck offers daily specials that are announced via social media pages in the morning.

Hey!… You Gonna Eat or What? is a food truck, but it has a stationary location on Barton Springs Road in South Austin.

Hey!… You Gonna Eat or What?
1720 Barton Springs Road
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 296-3547
www.heyyougonnaeatorwhat.com
www.yelp.com/biz/hey-you-gonna-eat-or-what-austin

Enjoy Farm to Table Cuisine and Delightful Cocktails at Austin’s Salty Sow

Harold Marmulstein grew up with a love for high quality food. His father owned a bakery in upstate New York where Harold spent many early mornings and late nights developing a deep appreciation for cuisine. That passion drove him to the Culinary Institute of New York, and, over the course of his career, to the kitchens of more than 30 high-end dining establishments throughout the country where he worked as executive chef.

He finally landed at Salty Sow in Austin, where he's more than just the executive chef—he's also a partner. This means Harold has a voice in creating its menu of farm-to-table fare that utilizes the ingredients of local purveyors. Regular diners praise the Salty Sow's duck fat fries, a small plate that exemplifies the French food influences of this place's New American cuisine menu. The menu also encompasses bacon-wrapped filet mignon, asiago-crusted halibut, and a double cheeseburger.

Some customers suggest that the main draw is Salty Sow's cocktail list. Visit and you can sip a glass of the sparkling sangria or a Rosemary's Piglet cocktail (bubbly pomegranate juice and rosemary syrup) while you dine on tasty French-American food!

Salty Sow
1917 Manor Road
Austin, TX 78722
(512) 391-2337
www.saltysow.com/#/home
www.yelp.com/biz/salty-sow-austin

Arlo’s: Vegan Cheeseburgers You Just Have to Try

Vegans, vegetarians, and meat eaters alike flock to Arlo's food truck on a daily basis. This Austin eatery serves seriously mouth-watering food made fresh daily, and it's all vegan friendly. The vegan bacon cheeseburgers are something of a local legend, and when paired with a side order of crispy, golden tater tots, the burger makes a hearty and drool-worthy meal. You'll also find spicy chili, cornbread wedges, tomato-basil hot dogs, and even vegan chicken tacos on the menu, but the cheeseburgers are really the main draw. It’s the cheeseburgers that cause lines to wrap around the side of the truck during peak times.

The only downside to eating at Arlo’s is that as a food truck, Arlo's doesn't have any seating to offer. This generally isn't a problem, however, as nearby bars usually allow you to bring your Arlo's meal inside, so it's easy to pair your meal with a cold beer and a seat.

Arlo's
900 Red River Street
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 628-0608
www.arlostruck.com
www.yelp.com/biz/arlos-austin

Bess Bistro: Farm-to-Table French Fare in Austin

Offering a unique blend of French cuisine and classic Southern fare favorites, Bess Bistro takes farm-to-table dining to the next level. No, really — this sophisticated eatery sources a portion of its ingredients (tomatoes, cucumbers, herbs) from its 1-acre farm just outside Austin! The rest of the ingredients are purchased from local vendors and purveyors.

As you'd probably guess, the menu at Bess Bistro is inspired by the seasons. A meal begins with appetizers like chicken liver mousse served with crusty bread, and then it moves on to creative entrees like wild mushroom ravioli topped with premium lobster. You’ll also find dry aged steaks, seared seafood, and a decadent Wagyu burger for lunch. Finish off the meal with one of Bistro Bess’s artistic desserts, like the crème anglaise beignets or the seasonal cheesecakes, and be sure to sip a specialty cocktail at the pewter bar, the only of its kind in Austin.

With its modern outdoor terrace and its more traditional, intimate indoor dining room, Bistro Bess is a great choice for any occasion.

Bess Bistro
500 W Sixth St
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 477-2377
www.bessbistro.com

Turf N’ Surf Po Boy: Take a Bite Out of This Classic New Orleans Fare

The famous po' boy is a sandwich made famous in Louisiana, but Austin’s Turf N’ Surf Po Boy does a great job of imitating the sandwich's crispy French bread, fried seafood, and generous toppings. This dark, nondescript restaurant looks unassuming from the street, and the inside is decorated with eclectic wall art and industrial decor that is fairly standard in the Austin area.

It's the food that really makes Turf N’ Surf Stand out, however, and the menu lists fried favorites that are served piping hot and positively packed with seasonings. The hush puppies are arguably the most popular menu items, but the fish tacos and, of course, the po' boy sandwiches come in close behind. The menu also includes fresh fish salads, cilantro fries, and pulled pork platters that are equally as tasty.

If you’re looking for a taste of New Orleans in the Austin area, this is the place to get it.

Turf N' Surf Po Boy
407 Lavaca Street
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 276-2763
www.facebook.com/pages/Turf-N-Surf-Po-Boy/364351950938
www.yelp.com/biz/turf-n-surf-po-boy-austin

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