The March Hit List: Comedor, Vixen’s Wedding, Taco Bronco, and More SXSW Restaurant Stops

Because Texas Monthly named this downtown modern Mexican mecca its top new Texas restaurant of 2019: “There’s Before Comedor (BC) and After Comedor (AC),” wrote food editor Patricia Sharpe of high-end Mexican cooking in the state. (That line spurred some of the staff to go get BC⚡️AC tattoos). This will be the hottest table during SXSW this year. Bet on it.

Because when one of the best barbecue pitmasters in Texas opens a Tex-Mex taco truck, you get in line. Tom Micklethwait is bringing his superior smoked meat skills to the tortilla, serving tacos with barbacoa, brisket, and cactus; smoked house-made seitan (!);  and much more. Plus the trailer is in the backyard of Batch, which just started serving its own beer, including a few perky sours that are a match made in Tex-Mex heaven.

Walk-ins only.

Because this Sixth Street stunner is the only other Austin spot on Texas Monthly’s best new restaurants list. Sharpe recommends the fried green tomatoes with mint chutney and whole roasted fish, followed by pastry chef Sarah Listrom’s eye-catching desserts.

Because the second of three MMH restaurants opening in the Proper Hotel is just the vegetable-centric daytime spot that downtown has been clamoring for. Open for breakfast and lunch, the counter-service restaurant takes a mix-and-match approach, with lamb shawarma and za’atar chicken available as gyros, on top of salad, with saffron rice, and more. Plus pastries, full coffee bar, and (!) breakfast falafel.

Walk-ins only.

Because spring is in the air and where better to enjoy it than at one of Austin’s favorite seasonal farm-to-table restaurants. It may surprise out-of-towners that Austin is already in full spring vegetable mode, but Odd Duck is bringing on the green. Prefer to stay farther from the crowds? Try sister restaurant Barley Swine in North-Central Austin, also on Resy.

Because this campus-adjacent restaurant is a soaring shrine to soup. The former Ruby’s BBQ site has been transformed into a minimalist cathedral-like space, and the pho itself certainly lives up the architecture. Bonus: There’s a mini-buffet of pho toppings that go way beyond the usual options.

Walk-ins only.

Because one of Austin’s buzziest new spots is well out of the South-by danger zone. Comfortably nestled in Crestview, DipDipDip is the latest offering from the Tatsu-ya group, serving high-end Japanese style hot pot. Choose one of the pre-set menus and save room for the wildly creative ice cream cones.

Because this Holly neighborhood favorite just celebrated its fifth birthday and it’s stronger than ever. And there’s no finer celebration than Launderette’s dreamy front porch with one of its famous birthday cake ice cream sandwiches.

Because this East Austin taqueria is changing up the Central Texas taco game with Southern California style tacos. The taco menu is small enough that you can order one of each variety, the corn tortillas are made fresh in-house, there’s an agave-centric cocktail menu, and for dessert, there’s Cinnamon Toast Crunch Tres Leches.

For reservations call the restaurant at (512) 455-8226.

Because spring calls for Pisco sours, full stop. Yuyo serves the best in town, along with a wide array of ceviches and other Peruvian specialties. Brunch is a hit, too.

Because while it’s technically not a restaurant, Austin’s first natural wine bar is a welcome reprieve from the endless bars serving Lone Star tallboys on East Sixth Street. (Although LoLo serves those, too.) They’ve got a giant picnic table-filled patio out back, and the operation doubles as a bottle shop during the day.

Walk-ins only.