Eating BIG in Austin Pt. 3

Eating like a local:
Regional food specialties
- Austin's Rapidly Growing Food Scene

Prepare to be flooded with ATX eating options. The third installment of my series is the biggest yet. In fact it might be the largest post this site has ever seen. Fitting since everything is bigger in Texas. I'm at the point now where I've been to more Austin restaurants than many locals. What does that mean? Not much other than I like to eat out while in town. There's tons of good options and for those willing to seek them out theres also some gems. The dining scene continues to grow at the same rapid pace as the rest of the city. Lucky for me I'm a frequent guest. You can check Part One of this series HERE and Part Two HERE. As always I included the BBQ in it's own post and you can check the most recent installment HERE. The first one is HERE, and the second HERE. Prepare for food.

Old East Austin

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Food Trailers

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Romanouskas Delicatessen

When the people behind Mickletwait Meats open a Deli trailer specializing in smoked meats where everything is made in house, you get your ass on over. So I did exactly that and took myself over to East 6th street in front of The Grackle. The food trailers in Austin can vary as far as goodness and it's of my belief that the best are attached to bars. The Reuben sandwich from here includes both smoked corned beef and also a very potent almost too salty pastrami. That said the bread and Swiss, Sauerkraut, and Russian Dressing cut it all into a fantastic tasting sandwich. Need to try the beef.

Reuben Sandwich 

 The Insides

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Pick-A-Chili

One afternoon before a meeting I needed something to eat. So I took a walk around the block and spotted a little Trailer Park in an empty downtown lot. It boasted about three or four food trailers including chili being served out of an air-stream. Considering I had never had any chili while in Texas I figured it was time. They offer a handful of options served in a handful of ways but I stuck with the original Texas Red served as is. I'm a picky chili eater and my favorite is my own. So I was surprised to find this brew being similar to mine in terms of spice and flavor. An excellent bowl.

Texas Red

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Eye of the Thai Girl 

One of our favorite spots to Happy Hour is a place that will probably be gone sooner than later. The evolvement of East Sixth street continues, for better or worse. For a while it housed a popular Thai food trailer which has since moved to another bar. But for a while they had replaced it with a different Thai food trailer. I had to try it and was glad I did. Run by a sweet little Thai lady the reviews kept mentioning her Pla Duk Fu aka fried catfish salad which is a favorite of ours. Crispy Catfish mixed with mango salad and lots of funk was a delightful dish and proof the trailers pack punch. It looks like Eye of the Thai Girl is currently looking for a new home to setup shop. Stay Tuned.

Pla Duk Fu (Catfish Salad)

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Thai Kun

Speaking of Thai food trailers, Thai Kun is still killing it. They moved down the block into the back of Whisler's Bar on East 6th street. Named one of the ten best new restaurants of 2014 they're still rolling out the bold Thai flavors that earned them the honor. One visit in we went with an order of Issan Sausage which was as good as any representation I've had and we have wonderful Thai food in Chicago. It was funky, it was sour, and it was crisp in terms of the casing. This place rocks.

Sai krok Isan

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Tibetan Momo

Here we have a trailer serving one of my most craveworthy foods in the game. Located in a trailer park on Lamar Boulevard I rolled over new years day and talked with the young owner. He is from Tibet originally and grew up in the States. He's making his family momo recipe which for those not in the know are Tibetan style dumplings. In the old country yak is the meat of choice but in the States beef is preferred though chicken and veggie are also common. Momo are seasoned with spices common in Tibetan cooking so there's always a wonderful hint of garam masala amongst other stuff used. They traditionally come served with a chili sauce with similar spicing. It's a shame we don't have a legit beef momo option in Chicago because I'm still craving these weeks later. Wonderful.

Momo Dumplings

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Tacos Guerrero 

You didn't do Austin unless you ate breakfast tacos. The preferred breakfast diet of locals is found all over town. Obviously quality can vary from spot to spot so it's good ta have a guy like Mike Sutter aka Fed Man Walking covering the scene. This past year he unleashed a fury of breakfast taco options over on his site. Titled #500Tacos the man reviewed a taco shop a day for the entire damn year. And I thought I was bonkers. His words on this little stand run by a sweet old Mexican lady spoke to me as did the picture of the tacos. So of course I rode over and was rewarded with a terrific breakfast.

Breakfast Tacos

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Glorieta Delicias 

Another #500Tacos rec here. Food trailers are found all over Austin, not just near the heavy drinking areas. Many of the ones away from the action tend to be found in gas station parking lots as is the case with this place putting out homestyle Honduran food. Mike spoke good things on the 'Taco Hondurenas' which are made with tortillas handmade after you place your order. They're filled with chicken and then rolled and fried. Once ready they're topped with an array of cheeses, crunchy cabbage, and a creamy butter sauce that soaks into the flautas with each second passed. They eventually took on the consistency of enchiladas but that didn't stop me from chowing down.

Tacos Hondureños

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Taqueria San Luis J.C

This taco trailer is in a trailer park with a few other trailers worth checking out. One of the more popular taco fillings in Austin is Carne Guisada which is stewed beef in chiles. Its often the first taco option listed under fillings and I think I remember that being the case from here. I was actually visiting this park to go to a BBQ trailer so I only had room for a small appetizer. The beef was extra tender and joined by a lighter than most sauce that had hints of cumin and other spicing. It was a taco I'd happily eat again. As I later learned I ordered the wrong taco here. Mike actually recommends the asado de puerco which looks very good. I'll be coming back here next time I'm in town.

Carne Guisada Taco

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Rosarito Food Truck

New Years Eve in Austin is a fun one. Lots of people running around and plenty of food trailers, trucks, and carts are eager to serve them. I spied this taco truck parked off 6th street and was intrigued by the Baja style offerings. I got one fish and one shrimp gobernador which is sauteed shrimp mixed with peppers and melted cheese. Both were better than I was expecting with the fish being one of the better fried fish tacos I've ate of late. Not bad for my last bites to eat in 2015.

Shrimp Gobernador Taco

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Halal Time

Unfortunately my first bite in 2016 wouldn't be as good. Here we have one of the handful of carts taking the Halal Guy approach which is basically throwing a bunch of stuff in a container and serving it to hungry drunk students. I got a lamb plate which came with tons of rice and both hot and white sauce as well as a salad but wasn't feeling the meat portion of it I think it was chunky hacked up gyro meat which doesn't taste right when diced and not thinly sliced. I guess I wasn't drunk enough.

Lamb Plate

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Local Favorites

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Tyson's Tacos

If asked to describe Austin's taco scene I would have to say hip. There's numerous spots making tacos like those served at Tyson's where they have at least 30 different options to choose from. It's a popular spot and you can understand why in the tasting of some of the tacos. From the breakfast options is the 'Balls O'Sunshine which takes fried egg yolk and bacon with hollandaise and cheese. Weird but it works. The steak fajita came with tender medium rare pieces of grilled beef that I ended up eating as is because it was too good to use as filling. That said the tortillas were the weak link here. The fillings are the star. The biggest of them being the crispy pork belly which she cant get enough of. Covered with fried parsley and mandarin oranges this is indeed a happening taco.

Balls O'Sunshine

Beef Fajita

Crispy Pork Belly

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Top Notch Hamburgers

Austin is full of big neon signs tempting people to come in. I had to have a snap of this one from a local burger drive-in thats been in business since 1971. Of course I also had to have a burger. Believe it or not this was my first burger from an independent establishment in Texas. I dont count that time I went to an In and Out in the suburbs of Dallas as one. No this place isn't related to Chicago's.

Charcoal Grilled Burgers 

There's a wonderful aroma when you enter and thats the smoke from the grill where they're using real charcoal to grill the beef. I probably should've gone double but I decided a 1/3 pound patty was best as I just ate elsewhere. I got a very respectable burger for one looking for that true char taste in one. This is what Burger King wishes their burgers tasted like. An All American eat for sure. One day I'll start to further explore the burgers in state because you know they're great. This is beef country.

Top Notch Cheeseburger

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Happy Hour

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Alcomar

This spot was opened up last year by a group of people who own a few other eating establishments around town. Its a Latin inspired seafood eatery but we wanted to check out the cocktails. Happy Hour is a good time to do so at many spots as everyone in Austin has one. The drinks were soothing on what was a hot Fall day. Another popular thing in Austin is the frozen cocktail and Alcomar made a good one. What I love about the frozen drinks in Austin is they always pack a punch.

XALARITA- frozen margarita, house cucumber-xalapeño purée. el chile rim.

We also tried a calamari salad off the happy hour menu and it too was refreshing. I'm not sure it's on the menu anymore as the season has changed but I'd go back and further explore the menu.

Grilled Calamari

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Isla - Tiki Bar worth checking out of walking by and it's hot outside

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Hillside Farmacy - Cute little food/drink stop with a nice happy hour menu. Service wasn't great and while the fries could've been good they weren't fried right. Both problems that can be fixed.

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Whisler's - Fun cocktail bar on East 6th street with a great food trailer in the back (Thai Kun). Happy Hour is the best time to go. Get the Old Fashioned.

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Olive & June - We enjoyed the happy hour drinks here at this place she found. The food was also good. The pork meatballs were tasty but the mushroom polenta was phenomenal.

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Taco Flats

One of our favorite happy hour spots we find ourselves here each visit into town. I love the spicy house margarita and she's a fan of the paloma and we both like the tacos. Last trip in a tried a carnitas that I liked, an American style hard shell that was just ok and a steak fajita which was the best example of that I've tried in state. Taco Flats makes both their corn and flour tortillas in house.

Trio of Tacos

Hangover Helper on New Years Day (Chips and Queso)

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International Eats

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Chicken Lollypop

Austin is a city these days. This means there's little gems to be found all over town. I found this place by taking a wrong turn and deciding it was as good as ever of a time to go get a water. So I went into this convenience store and noticed this little spot in the back. As always I had to see what others online had said and sure enough the reviews were mostly wonderful. Plus I love Indo-Chinese food  and lollypopped wings. There were other intriguing options but I had to go with the wings they consider good enough to name the place after. These were some heavily spiced jumbo in size wings. This dish reminded me of the tandoori chicken at Khan BBQ here in Chicago.

Chicken Lollypops

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Ramen Tatsu-Ya

She's a big fan of ramen and wasn't feeling Tex-Mex one night (we had just ate it for lunch, haha) so we decided to try this ramen shop that may locals love. I must say we have become somewhat spoiled in Chicago with ramen compared to places like this. There's maybe one other place serving ramen so the culture is just starting. It will only get better once more places open up. The Tsukemen was significantly better than the ramen but the bowl of potent broth got lukewarm a little too quickly for my liking. I'm sure they'll get some good Japanese imports soon.

Tonkotsu Ramen

Tsukemen

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G'Raj Mahal Cafe

Our photographer took us out to eat after a shoot and insisted we try this former food trailer turned brick and mortar on the popular Rainy street. Like us she wasn't all that familiar with Indian she just knew she loved this place and what she orders. We ended up with a wonderful spread for dinner that started with samosas. These were actually the most average thing in the bunch. But the breads and the curries were really enjoyed. We got the Rogan Josh which is a yogurt curry described as slightly sweet and sour. Again I'm no Indian food expert but I liked our meal here and would return.

Samosas

Naan

Puri

Rogan Josh

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Trendy Dining

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Fukomoto 

I didn't plan NYE all that well as far as eating out. Actually I didn't want to plan anything as most spots switch over to a set menu and I prefer to eat off the regular everyday menu. This popular sushi and yakitori spot off of East 6th street was doing their regular menu so we had a meal here before heading back to the hotel and getting ready to go out. I never expect much from the sushi in places where there's no water nearby. I'm not a regular sushi eater because of this but I wont balk at the notion of trying some if I'm in an area like Austin. Its busy enough and flights come to and from here each day so why not fresh fish. That said the sushi was just good. Not great. However they do know how to grill in these parts and the yakitori was excellent. Particularly the chicken tail which was humorously nicknamed chicken booty on the days specials menu.

Tuna Belly

Sashimi Platter

Chicken Tail

Beef Heart and Pork Belly Yakitori

Bacon Wrapped Mushrooms

Chicken Karaage aka Japanese fried chicken

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Italic 

We met up some some friends in town one night and enjoyed dinner here after some drinks at Geraldine's in the newly opened Hotel Van Zandt. Italic is downtown and draws praise for their simple well made Italian food. Pizza and Pastas are the focus and both were satisfying. Though I was really hoping to try an agnolotti del plin with smoked goat that wasn't on the menu that night. It switches up regularly so beware on that. The drinks also hit the spot. I'd go back for that plin.

Bucatini all’amatriciana

Sausage Pizza

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Emmer & Rye

As soon as State Bird Provisions in San Francisco was called one of the best restaurants in America the American style dim sum craze began. I've seen lots of different spots serving modern dishes from a cart and Emmer & Rye is one of them. When perusing a list of critics picks for best new restaurant of 2015 this place commonly got mentioned. They describe their food as contemporary American. I'd describe it as excellent. The trendy dining scene is really picking up steam and this place I thought could hold it's own in a city like Chicago. They do the aforementioned dim sum as well housemade pastas and other seasonally inspired dishes. We mostly stuck to dim sum and then got one additional pasta dish and devoured every single bite. I really liked the lamb tartare, best of that I've tried. I've since followed them online and everything they make looks great.

Emmer Johnnycake - Deer Creek Cheddar, Pork Shoulder, Creme Fraiche

Lamb Tartare - Green Cherry Tomato, Charred Fennel Oil

Shrimp, Charred Kale, Broccoli Rabe, Chili Broth

Porkbelly, Cabbage, Tossed Whey Broth, Mushrooms

White Sonoran Pappardelle, Pork Ragout, Basil

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Tex-Mex

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Matt's Famous El Rancho 

This family favorite has been an Austin staple since 1952. It sports one of the best neon signs in the game and also some pretty decent Tex-Mex. Its all about the Bob Armstrong dip which is a famous queso made for a longtime regular customer who was also the Texas Land Commissioner. You can read all abut this distinctly Tex-Mex dip over at Eater. Melted American cheese gets spoonfuls of spiced ground beef and guacomole and somehow it works. It's something I crave when in Austin.

The Famous Bob Armstrong Dip

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Mi Madre's

I was browsing around Yelp trying to find the best carne guisada in town and this place had the most mentions. Its popular for breakfast and the menu sports all sorts of Tex-Mex favorites. We started out with a bowl of queso that was good but none will match Matt's El Rancho.

Queso with Chorizo, Avocado, Sour Cream, Pico de Gallo, and Jalapeno

The carne guisada plate was very satisfying. Just what I was looking for. Tender pieces of beef simmered for hours in chile sauce. I made 2 or 3 tacos out of it then finished the rest as as a snack later that day. If you don't have leftovers when dining out on Tex-Mex they didn't do you right.

Carne Guisada

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Habanero Cafe

I stopped in here on a whim and came to find a full house of people dining in. I decided to get a couple tacos to go and settled on a steak fajita option as well as a carne guisada. Both come topped with pico de gallo and as is the case with Tex-Mex flour tortillas are standard. I liked the carne guisada more than the steak which was tough and chewy. The guisada was nice and tender.

Steak Fajita and Carne Guisada Tacos

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Amaya's Taco Village

Despite some not so favorable reviews in the #500tacos series I still wanted to try this locals favorite. Tucked in between a bunch of hotels with the highway overhead this place feels like a classic roadhouse both inside and out. I was here to try the Village taco but also wanted a chicken enchilada. I ordered one got a plate filled with cheese and sauce. I know it's not authentic Mexican but I don't care about that. It's authentically Texas and it was glorious on a hungover New Years Day.

Chicken Enchilada in Red Sauce

As I was saying though I was actually here for the popular village taco. They've been serving it since they opened in 1979. Its not quite a hard shell taco and it's neither a softshell nor puffy. Its kind of a mix of all three and it's filled with some pretty average ground beef and standard gringo toppings like lettuce, tomato and cold cheese. Yet I still enjoyed it for what it was. I love eating regionally.

Village Taco

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Javi's Tex-Mex 

This place is in a strip mall out by the airport. I don't recommend staying near the airport but if you're in town on business or something like that Javi's might be near you and it's worth going to if you like Tex-Mex as I do. I tried Edgar's Enchiladas off the specialties of the house menu. They were chicken enchiladas topped with a tomato sauce that looked more like cheese. They were a well put together plate of Tex-Mex and the chips were fried fresh. I'd go back here if I find myself near.

Edgar's Enchiladas

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Maudie's Tex-Mex

It was a combination of a huge easily visible neon sign along with the want for Chili con Carne Enchiladas that got me into this local chain. Maudie's had all the things one would expect in a Tex-Mex dining establishment including tables full of patrons with large margarita glasses outnumbering the people sitting at it. An order of cheese enchiladas bathing in a flavorful chili con carne with visible beef was just what I wanted. I happily ate it knowing many would find this dish to be too much like their -forgettable college cooking days. But unless you grew up in a Tex-Mex restaurant, you cant make sauce like that. This would be a guilty pleasure if I was an ATX resident.

Enchiladas Con Chili Carne

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BBQ

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Last but certainly first in any passionate food persons explorations of Austin is BBQ. So important it deserves it's own series. Austin is the best metropolis in America to eat BBQ. You can check Part 3 of my Texas BBQ series to see the great smoke shops at which I ate on this trip. See ya next time!

Brisket from Kerlin BBQ

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Romanouskas Delicatessen
1700 E 6th St
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 720-0371

Pick-A-Chili
122 W 5th
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 534-5337

Eye of the Thai Girl
Temporarily Closed

Thai Kun
1816 E 6th St
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 407-8166

Tibetan Momo
2323 S Lamar Blvd
Austin, TX 78704
(203) 503-1285

Tacos Guerrero
96 Pleasant Valley Rd
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 939-2308

Glorieta Delicias
1723 E Oltorf St
Austin, TX 78741

Taqueria San Luis J.C
2730 E Cesar Chavez St
Austin, TX 78702

Rosarito Food Truck
http://rosaritoatx.com/

Halal Time
1501 E 6th St
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 750-3746

Tyson's Tacos
4905 Airport Blvd
Austin, TX 78751
(512) 451-3326

Top Notch Hamburgers
7525 Burnet Rd
Austin, TX 78757
(512) 452-2181

Alcomar
1816 S 1st St
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 401-3161

Isla
208 W 4th St
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 322-9921

Hillside Farmacy
1209 E 11th St
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 628-0168

Whisler's
1816 E 6th St
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 480-0781

Olive & June
3411 Glenview Ave
Austin, TX 78703
(512) 467-9898

Taco Flats
5520 Burnet Rd #101
Austin, TX 78756
(512) 284-8352

Chicken Lollypop
1005 E Braker Ln
Austin, TX 78753
(512) 909-9826

Ramen Tatsu-Ya
1234 S Lamar Blvd
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 893-5561

G'Raj Mahal Cafe
73 Rainey St
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 480-2255

Fukomoto
514 Medina St
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 770-6880

Italic
123 W 6th St
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 660-5390

Emmer & Rye
51 Rainey St #110
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 366-5530

Matt's Famous El Rancho
2613 S Lamar Blvd
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 462-9333

Mi Madre's
2201 Manor Rd
Austin, TX 78722
(512) 322-9721

Habanero Cafe
501 W Oltorf St
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 416-0443

Amaya's Taco Village
5804 S IH 35
Austin, TX 78723
(512) 458-2531

Javi's Tex-Mex
7709 E Ben White Blvd
Austin, TX 78744
(512) 386-8329

Maudie's Tex-Mex
10205 N Lamar Blvd
Austin, TX 78753
(512) 832-0900

Lost Lake / Thank You

-Weekend Drinkin'

Some spots need no introduction but a re-introduction isn't a bad thing. There's been a bit of a revival in Tiki and I'm all for this. Reason being is I love tropical cocktail not just in the warm weather months and places but any time of the year. I've rekindled my love with rum in the process. I love the fact most every tiki drink includes a few types of booze and a couple will get you feeling good. I love the atmosphere and I have no shame in saying I enjoy the fresh fruit juices mixed in. Sometime after Tiki's golden age people got real lazy and started to use canned juices and crap ass rums. The result is what most people probably think when they hear Tiki mentioned aka sweet drinks that taste more like syrup than a refreshing cocktail. Enter Lost Lake. Imbide Magazine's 2015 Cocktail Bar of the Year.

Tiki Nirvana in Logan Square 

The words been out on Lost Lake. Paul McGhee is a BAD, BAD man. Which I mean in the best way possible. He's the genius behind many of the recipes. There's a connection to Smuggler's Cave in San Francisco which is the only other Tiki bar I've been to that can match Lost lake. I believe Smuggler's Cave consulted on Lost Lake. Its not uncommon to find a line of people waiting to get in and try some of the concoctions they've created. You'll notice rum for days once you sit down.

a peek inside

Here's my little piece of advice that everyone might not know. The set menu is great and has a handful of unique to the house drinks including a Banana Daiquiri that's my favorite dessert in the city. However if you want unlimited options ask the bartender for the ABC menu and prepare to be amazed. It's basically a few 100 Tiki classics and past drinks they've made that you can order from.

Tiki Drinkin'

Tiki Eatin'

Thank You Chinese

Connected to Lost Lake next door is Thank You Chinese which is a little takeout spot that you can order from the bar. The menu switches up now and then but they make a steady combo of Chinese and American-Chinese favorites. Stuff like egg rolls, chicken wings, and Dry Chili Chicken.

Egg Rolls

Chicken Wings

Dry Chili Chicken

See ya next time!

Lost Lake
3154 W Diversey Ave
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 293-6048
Website

Thank You Chinese
3152 W Diversey Ave
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 961-7475
Website

Charcoal Flame

-Grubbing in Chicago(land)
Greek Eats

There was a period when I would rate gyro spots around town but it became clear that damn near every place that has them on the menu uses the factory made cones produced in Chicago. So they basically all taste the same. Some spots do a better job at carving the meat while others have homemade tzatziki but in the end most taste the same. I want homemade. Enter Charcoal Flame.

Locals Favorite in Morton Grove 

Located out on Dempster street in the burbs I was intrigued by a review I read which mentioned homemade gyros. I can count on one hand the amount of spots I know that do homemade so this was a meal I would return for. You can tell that the building used to house a different Greek style fast food place and theres mentions of it online. I guess the previous tenant was beloved but the love quickly switched over to Charcoal Flame. They do a homemade pork gyro here and the thinly shaven slices are excellent. The plate comes piled high with your choice of sides, salad, and a big bowl of soup. It's all made on site and it will only set you back $10 and change. I envision a return visit. 

Homemade Gyro Plate

Charcoal Flame
6800 W Dempster St
Morton Grove, IL 60053
(847) 966-1200
Website

Coco Vietnamese Sandwiches & Pho

-Grubbing in Chicago 
Vietnamese Eats 

Perfect weather for today's post. Actually I've been waiting on arctic temps to share it since I first tried the place last Spring. There's about a three mile stretch of Lawrence Ave that has a handful of Vietnamese restaurants. Coco Vietnamese Sandwiches & Pho sits the furthest east just west of Ashland. As mentioned it opened up last year and aside from a Hungry Hound visit the press on the place has been very non-existent. That's part of the beauty in Chicago's dining scene, there's always more places to try. I've been here a few times now and will continue to go as weather remains cold.

Vietnamese Food on Lawrence Avenue 

Sandwiches, Pho, Vermicelli Bowls, and Fried Rice make out the menu. Most every time I've been in there the same husband and wife team are making sure everyone is ok. When the weather is warm I enjoy their bahn mi sandwiches. Aside from perfectly crusty bread the ingredients inside are always fresh. That's where this place stands out to me, everything is really clean. The meats in the bahn mi haven't been sitting around all day and same goes for the toppings. The jalapenos crunch and the cucumbers do the same. If there's a fresher option in town for Bahn Mi, I haven't found it.

Coco Bahn Mi Special (Ham, Pate, Pork Roll)

Then there's the pho. As mentioned the cleanliness of the food here stands out. Start with the beef broth which is simmered for 8+ hours with a variety of spices mixed in. Its then left to sit overnight so that all of the fat which rises to the top is removed. The result is an almost clear broth with deep beef flavors. You have your choice of filling and no matter which one you choose it will come with beef thats been well trimmed and always fresh. Even the condiment plate that comes on the side is full of fresh crunchy vegetables. You know what? All this talking about the product has made me hungry for it. Might have to slap on a few layers of clothes and head on over. See ya next time.

Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup

Coco Vietnamese Sandwiches & Pho
1613 W Lawrence Ave
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 516-4760
Website

Luella's Southern Kitchen

-Weekend Brunchin'

Today's post is a longtime coming. I knew I'd be going back to try other items so I would always push the post back. Luella's opened right around the start of last year in February. It sits on a stretch of Lincoln that five years ago was pretty much a good eats desert. Though their opening along with a few other spots has turned the area into a much better place to chow. The title up top says brunch but most of the brunch menu is similar to the lunch/dinner options with just a few things not available on the other. The head chef/owner worked corporate gigs with Hilton for close to 20 years before deciding it was time to open up his own spot featuring the Mississippi flavors he grew up with.

Quickly becoming a locals favorite in Lincoln Square 

So as mentioned I've been in a few times and business was doing really well on each of them. I'm really happy for the family that the neighborhood has latched on. Its a great place for a young couple, large family, or just a group of friends looking to eat out. Its very casual but you can tell there's a little bit extra attention given to the food. I still have a few items on the menu I want to try but have sampled most. It was time to post. The gumbo has a nice medium brown hue to it and comes with plenty of seasoning. Its a chicken and sausage blend that has a really nice consistency and all the flavors you look for in a satisfying bowl of gumbo. I hear the She Crab soup is worth ordering.

Bowl of Gumbo

The Mac and Cheese is my favorite representation in the city. We all have our preferences when it comes to a good mac and cheese and mine consists of extra cheese with the consistency of queso. Luella's uses shells that allow for cheese to seep into them and takes the recipe up a notch with braised short rib beef added in. This is a dish that both adults and kids can enjoy.

Mac & Cheese

The Catfish tacos are a great example of culinary cross breeding. They take nice sized nuggets and give them a dip into cornmeal before frying. That goes on top of a white corn tortilla spread with a chipotle aioli thats topped with crunchy slaw. Tasty for sure. They come three to an order.

Catfish Taco

Chicken and Waffles are yet another winner. Well fried chicken thighs go on top of mini waffles and they all get drizzled with a bit of syrup. I'm usually not a big chicken and waffles guy but I found myself eating the last one as I just couldn't stop enjoying this classic soul food dish.

Chicken and Waffles

The Pimento Cheeseburger is available on both menus as two smashed Slagel Family Farms beef patties are dressed with an egg along with the pimento cheese and its served on a near perfect bun. But since nothing else is on it I would've liked a bit more cheese and maybe some onions but other than that it was a burger worth the calories consumed. I look forward to trying the rest of the menu.

Pimento Cheeseburger 

Luella's Southern Kitchen
4609 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 961-8196
Website

Texas BBQ Tour - Part 3

Eating like a local:
Regional food specialties
- Back to America's Best BBQ Bastion 

Its that time of the year. Was back in Texas for the Holidays and we visited both her family in Dallas and also took a trip down to Austin. Today's post focuses on the BBQ portion of the trip. Specifically the modern new-age barbecue spots. I'll have a separate post about some of the old timers coming at you later in life. Feel free to check out both Part One as well as Part Two of this series.

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18th & Vine

Dallas, TX

First stop up is a spot I wasn't sure if I'd make it to or not. Truth be told I wasn't as blown away by the BBQ in Kansas City like I've been in Texas. So when I heard one of the hottest BBQ spots in Dallas was in fact a Kansas City BBQ spot I wasn't sure if I would head over. But then I asked @bbqsnob what the must stop 'que spots are in town these days and he didn't hesitate to mention these guys.

a peek inside and out 

The endorsement from Daniel Vaughn was already enough reason to check them out, the fact they were runner-up for Restaurant of the Year for a major Dallas publication was just another reason. The restaurant is named after the historic jazz district in Kansas City. Pitmaster Matt Dallman is bringing the best of his hometown to the Big D and the locals love it. You cant go to a KC BBQ spot and not try the meat most associated with this style. The Burnt Ends from here were light years ahead of any of the examples I tried in KC. Tender melt in your mouth pieces of beef paired with house cured pickles and onions were one of the best bites of this trip. Now I fully understand Burnt Ends.

KC Style Burnt Ends 

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Stiles Switch BBQ and Brew 

Austin, TX

Next stop up! Austin. The center of the modern BBQ movement. One of the older spots in this development is Stiles Switch. Located in a strip mall out on Lamar Blvd they do smoked meats and brews. Its easily one of Austin's most popular lunch stops so you should expect a bit of a line should you go during prime hours. No worries it moves pretty fast and theres plenty of seating for all.

a peek inside 

Lets just start the Austin spots by saying that there's at least two handfuls of places that make brisket better than anywhere else out there. Stiles Switch is one of them. The fatty end of the brisket was everything you want from it. Tender and Smokey with lots of bark on each end. Pretty much all pork is second thought for me when eating barbecue in Texas but the ribs were still enjoyed. Shoutout to Mike @fedmanwalking for his second to none reporting on the Austin food scene.

Brisket and Rib Platter

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Terry Black's Barbecue 

Austin, TX

Terry Blacks is old school reincarnated as new. This is an extension of the original Black's down in Lockhart. They did a nice job transforming the new space in Austin to feel like an old time shack. This was one of the only spots open on New Years Day so I went on over for my first lunch of the year. I always go fatty end and was gifted a really nice plate of smoked beef on my visit in. The sides as always, were pretty much an afterthought. Brisket was very good but not the best on this trip.

Smoked Brisket and Sides

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Scotty's BBQ

Austin, TX

Here we have our first trailer in this round-up. Scotty's sits in a trailer park on the East Side surrounded by a few other worthy food trailers. All of the spots on here are very welcoming but the guy working Scotty's on my visit was as nice as could be. He was loving the fact I was snapping pics of the fatty end brisket I ordered. As I was wrapping up he came outside to get a final verdict which was 'not bad'. In fact it was quite good and again better than most outside of ATX.

Brisket Platter

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Kerlin BBQ

Austin, TX

Last but not least my favorite of this round-up is Kerlin BBQ. I became aware of these guys when checking out BBQ Snob's most improved list over at Texas Monthly. I was surprised that I hadn't already been. This is a husband and wife team that sells barbecue on the weekends. It was raining on my visit so I was lucky in that there was zero wait. Aside from serving brisket with great smoke flavor and some serious bark to suit, the spicy potato salad with dill to cool it down was the best side I can remember having at these Texas BBQ joints. But its the brisket that will be a candidate to make the list of the best things I ate in 2016. Safe to say they were on during this visit. See ya next time.

Brisket Platter

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18th & Vine
4100 Maple Ave
Dallas, TX 75219
(214) 443-8335

Stiles Switch BBQ and Brew
6610 N Lamar Blvd
Austin, TX 78757
(512) 380-9199

Terry Black's Barbecue
1003 Barton Springs Rd
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 394-5899

Scotty's BBQ
730 E Cesar Chavez St
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 350-1615

Kerlin BBQ
1700 E Cesar Chavez St
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 412-5588

Harner's Restaurant and Bakery

-Grubbing in Chicago(land)
Kane County Favorites

I do all of my clothes shopping maybe two, three times a year. Always at an Outlet Mall. I like having everything I need be within a short walk away. One of the better outlet malls is out in Aurora. One thing they don't have there is good food. Although I admit to taking a free sample or two of the bourbon chicken when they're passing it out in the court. I have a handful of spots that are worth grabbing food before or after shopping in Aurora. Today's stop is Harner's in North Aurora.

Locals Favorite in the Fox River Valley Region

For 50+ years Harner's is a classic old fashioned eatery that doubles as a bakery. No pics of the baked goods but they are abundant. I like the donuts which usually come served warm just out the fryer. Foodwise the menu has all the things you'd find at a smalltown diner. Most of it is homemade. A good gauge for what the kitchen is making in-house is always corned beef hash. It's so easy to open a can and cook some so thats what lots of spots do. Not Harner's. Here its made fresh from corned beef which is on the dinner. The potatoes get a nice crisping and the ratio to corned beef is just right.

Corned Beef Hash

Being in the Midwest means we excel at some things and no to much at others. Biscuits and Gravy is one of the things where we could use some help from the South. That said the biscuits and gravy from Harner's is actually a very palatable bite. Is it the best ever? No but the biscuits are soft and the gravy has the right consistency with lost of fresh sausage blended in. Harner's remains my go-to spot when in the area and wanting something comforting. Still need to try the chicken pot pie.

Biscuits and Gravy

Harner's Restaurant and Bakery
10 W State St
North Aurora, IL 60542
(630) 892-4400
Website

Beefbelly

-Got Beef? Italian Beef
As seen on 'What's your Beef?'

Had lunch recently at the new BeefBelly over on Central and Lawrence. It's the brother of BRGRbelly which used to go by Leadbelly. I liked their burger spot well enough when I tried it. So when I heard they were doing an Italian Beef featured place my thought was that if they gave the same care to making a good Italian beef sandwich that they do the burgers and fries they might have something to sit on. Plus when's the last beef stand that recently opened up shop? I had to try it.

Corner of Central and Lawrence

They did a nice job on the inside with quite a few tables to sit at which is good because they were already busy. The menu is based on Italian Beef and the original with hot and or sweet peppers is one of the options. That said I don't think I need to explore different takes on this true Chicago classic. I asked for a "beef with hot" and the lady at the register replied "Original?" to which I nodded yes but she must not of understood the lingo as I was delivered a bare beef. I'll be honest it didn't look all that pretty without the peppers. The gravy is pretty damn red and the beef very limp and somewhat clumpy. I was kind of turned off but it looked better once I asked for some hot peppers and it did end up tasting much better than it looked at first. The beef was not dry nor chewy but it did lack texture and was very wet. I'm guessing from sitting around swimming in the gravy. Seasoning wise it wasn't really bad or great but I appreciate the effort as homemade beef is becoming a lost art. I think they'll do well as they seem to have a good following thru the burger spot and the neighborhood will come by for Italian Beef, fresh cut fries, and what looked to be a decent beer selection in bottles, cans, and draft. I'm sure I'll be back.

 Beef with Hot

Rating Scale 5/5

beef: 4
bread: 4
gravy: 4
hot peppers: 4

Score: 16/20

BEEFBELLY
4800 N Central Ave
Chicago, Illinois
(773) 283-5545

5 Rabanitos

-Eating like a Mayan King in the Windy City

Believe it or not there's some genuine hate out there for Rick Bayess. I believe it stems from a stupid comment he made about bringing real Mexican food to Southern California. When he said that some of the people who's job it is to shed light on all the amazing Mexican food found in the area took great offense. I'll give them this, it was a stupid comment. But the butthurt is still there. "How can a Gringo have the nerve" etc. Well it's time to move on. There's no denying Rick's place in not just Chicago cuisine but also Mexican food. Is he the GOAT? Who cares he's done lots for both his customers as well as employees. Take Chef Alfonso Sotelo as example. The former Xoco cook has opened his own place over on 18th street in Pilsen. I'm pretty comfortable in saying it's already one of the best mexican restaurants in the neighborhood. Oh, the gentrification!

Newly Opened in Pilsen 

5 Rabanitos opened without much press last month. I'd known of their opening thru a online friend who manages Xoco who mentioned 5 Rabanitos was open. Always being curious I headed over there for lunch one weekend with the lady. Its located in what used to be a Papusa place with the insides being pretty standard, but to me its all about the food. Starting off with an order of Pozole, your choice of red or green, was a good way to go. Not only can you see the teachings of Rick Bayless in the presentation but you an also taste it. Crunchy pork rinds mixed in give both some uniqueness and also crispness to a bowl with layers of flavor.

Green Pork Pozole

Moving onto to the tamales portion of the menu where they feature a carnitas option with mole sauce on top. This was outstanding. The moistness of the tamale was just right while the shredded pork inside was clearly fried. But the truth is you could probably dump the housemade mole on a Whopper and it too would be phenomenal. My only gripe with this dish was I wanted more mole on top.

Carnitas Tamale 

Of course I had to try a taco or two. The fillings are pretty standard and because I haven't mentioned prices I should point out that mostly everything here is under $10 with the tacos being around $3. Aside from the common offerings of Steak, Chicken, Al Pastor etc they also have Cohinita Pibil. This caught my eye because I really do think that Rick Bayless makes the best pibil I've ever tried. No surprise that this example is as porky/citrusy as Bayless'. The fact Chef Sotelo used to work for Rick is pretty much obvious in all of the dishes here. I believe the tortillas are made in-house.

Cochinita Pibil Taco 

Finishing off with the tortas which are yet another example of the fact the owner learned under Bayless. I don't eat tons of tortas in Chicago as I much more prefer tacos. I also think there's only so many spots where its worth the calories and Tortas Frontera and by extension Xoco is one of those places. The one major difference in the tortas at 5 Rabanitos is the bread. I think they use a different distributor and while its not quite as good the bread at Xoco, it's still better than most others I've tried. The torta options are similar to Xoco with the Chicken Milanese being outstanding. Crunchy chicken with actual meat in between the breading gets topped with potent red onions and mixed together with black bean spread and cabbage. This is a torta I could eat regularly.

Torta Milanese

5 Rabanitos
1758 W 18th St
Chicago, IL 60608
(312) 285-2710
Website