eastside - 2/9 - The Austinot

Family and Interior Mexican Cuisine Are Heart and Soul of Licha’s Cantina

January 12, 2018 by Amanda Gagnon Leave a Comment

Licha’s Cantina’s colorful exterior welcomes you to the heart of East Sixth Street

I tend to be drawn to people and places that radiate a positive energy. Add delicious food to that, and I’m a loyal and devoted regular.

When you first walk into the old bungalow that is Licha’s Cantina, you don’t feel like you’re in a restaurant at all. You feel as though you’re in someone’s home. The interior is cozy and dimly lit, and there’s music playing in the background. There is heart and soul, and the energy makes you feel good.

Somehow you know you’re about to sit down to a delicious and comforting meal, like you’re at a family dinner. [Read more…]

Granny’s Tacos Uses Ambulance as Food Truck to Keep Austin Weird

December 7, 2017 by Jonas White Leave a Comment

Armando Vazquez and Maria Rios Vega, owners of Granny’s Tacos

With all of the quality taco options within reach, we’re straight up spoiled here in Austin. It takes a lot to impress me now; you might say I’ve become a bit jaded. And after finding Granny’s Tacos, I wonder if I’ll ever be impressed by another taco again. It’s tough living in this city.

[Read more…]

Tamale House East Bridges Old and New Austin on the East Side

November 17, 2017 by Jonas White Leave a Comment

Feast to remember at Tamale House East

Having moved to Austin about a year ago, I have trouble pining for the “old Austin” in the same way a longtime resident might. “I remember the good old days,” I commiserate. “When there were only two condos going up on my street, not four.”

As a transplant from the northeast, I’m admittedly contributing to the immense development and change this city has undergone in recent years. That’s not to say, however, that I don’t know an authentic Austin restaurant when I see it. With this idea in mind, I make my way past the new apartment buildings, the construction zones and closed-off sidewalks of East Sixth Street. When I want the taste and feel of old Austin, I go to Tamale House East. [Read more…]

Risks Reward Austin Beer Lovers at Hi Sign Brewing

November 1, 2017 by Bill Tucker Leave a Comment

A wide variety of fantastic beer awaits you at Hi Sign Brewing in Austin (Credit: Bill Tucker)

This article marks my three-year anniversary of writing for The Austinot. In my role as Contributing Blogger and now Lead Blogger, I’m proud to represent this unique blog and contribute to its mission of celebrating everything I love about this fine city. Looking forward to many more years of good eats, great music, and diving into the heart of Austin entertainment. As always, thanks for reading.

To stand out in Austin’s beer scene, you need to be different. Far too many breweries jump out of the gate with the standard “core four:” light beer, ale, IPA, porter. Five years ago, the strategy made sense. But with new competition popping up every month, up-and-coming brew masters need to bring something special to the table.

By peppering its tap list with a blend of left-of-center styles and traditional brews, Hi Sign Brewing has managed to make a quick, positive impression on the local beer scene. If you’re looking for something accessible yet different, this brand new spot is sure to satisfy beer lovers of every taste. [Read more…]

Harvest Local Goodness at Mueller Farmers’ Market

October 26, 2017 by Joleen Jernigan Leave a Comment

Gray Gardens Vegetables at Mueller Farmers Market

Cherry tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers from Gray Gardens add vibrancy to Mueller Farmers’ Market
(Credit: @dollarsaenz)

Texas Farmers’ Market at Mueller, known by locals as Mueller Farmers’ Market, is a slice of farm-fresh heaven in east Austin. The setting alone is dreamy, as the market sits in and around Austin’s first airplane hangar in a charming waterfront park. Though harvest season is upon us now, the market overflows with freshly-reaped goodness year-round. [Read more…]

Kebabalicious: Old-school Austin Food Trailer and East Side Eatery

October 5, 2017 by Jonas White Leave a Comment

Kebabalicious brick and mortar in east Austin

I’ll admit it: Kebabalicious is my most-frequented eatery in all of Austin. Yes, I love Austin staples like tacos, Tex-Mex, and BBQ. But the heart (stomach) wants what the heart (stomach) wants. Oh, Kebabalicious, you Turkish-inspired, east side restaurant with your charming décor, your fresh, flavorful food, your friendly employees. I just can’t quit you.

I recently met with co-founders Chris Childre and Kristian Ulloa to confess my love for their culinary creations and hear the full story of how Kebabalicious came to be. [Read more…]

Old Thousand Releases Dope Chinese Menu for Lunch

October 3, 2017 by Vi Chetan Leave a Comment

Dope lunch spread at Old Thousand

It’s been almost a year since Old Thousand opened its doors on 1000 E. 11th St. The eatery has delivered on its promise of eclectic, modern interpretations of Chinese food, with innovative dishes that are an adventure for the palate. Its tagline is simple: Dope Chinese. Not “authentic,” not “traditional,” but “dope” Chinese food.

And the food is dope, indeed. No Panda Express orange chicken here. Each dish carries Old Thousand’s creative touch. The food also hints at the restaurant’s Texas origin by including brisket and other smoked meats.

A weekend brunch service followed the runaway success of dinner. And now, Old Thousand has expanded again by introducing lunch service. [Read more…]

Batch Brings Kolaches and Over 400 Beers to Manor Road

September 25, 2017 by Vi Chetan Leave a Comment

Fresh-baked kolaches at Batch on Manor Road

Batch Craft Beer & Kolaches opened its doors in early August 2017, filling the Manor neighborhood with the delicious smell of fresh-baked kolaches. Many Austinites take kolaches as seriously as breakfast tacos. The soft, puffy, sweet dough comes stuffed with a variety of fillings, ranging from fruit to meat. Though many argue the savory-filled ones should be called “klobasniky” (Czech for “little sausages”), it’s a mere technicality that falls away at the first bite. [Read more…]

Feel the Love in Every Taco at Rosita’s Al Pastor

September 18, 2017 by Jonas White Leave a Comment

Rosita’s Al Pastor food trailer on East Riverside

In an episode of the hit TV show “Master of None,” Dev (Aziz Ansari) finds himself craving tacos. He proceeds to spend hours researching where to go for tacos that are worthy of his time, money, and taste buds. Taco-related paralysis by analysis is a true hardship for those of us in Austin, a city with practically unlimited taco options.

I propose a solution: the next time you get stuck in a “where can I get the perfect taco” predicament, put your trust in a food trailer that has been satisfying Austinites’ taco cravings for over 30 years: Rosita’s Al Pastor. [Read more…]

Ah Sing Den’s Exotic Name Matches Revamped Food and Drink Menu

September 8, 2017 by Samantha Saenz Leave a Comment

Asian-inspired tipples and morsels are on the menu at Ah Sing Den

After a seven-year run, East Side Showroom bid adieu last July, after owners Trudy and Mickie Spencer announced plans to revamp the bar and lounge completely. A few weeks later, an Asian-inspired concept called Ah Sing Den rose from the metaphorical ashes, in East Side Showroom’s place on East Sixth Street.

The Spencers’ vision for Ah Sing Den came from the venue’s namesake, an opium den in East London that was famous in the Victorian era. In the den, it was said both Charles Dickens and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle found creative inspiration. I was invited to stop by recently to sample Ah Sing Den’s new menu and find some inspiration of my own. [Read more…]