The January Hit List: Arlo Grey, Odd Duck, Shortie’s, Tejas Birria and More

Did someone say yurt? The yurt village at the Line Hotel is a series of the cozy private, heated tents lining the pool deck, with a special family-style menu prepared by Arlo Grey chef Kristen Kish. Each yurt seats up to eight people, and there are large-format cocktails on offer as well.

Dining status: yurts, by reservation only.

Some of the best new pizza in Austin is out in Lost Creek. Sammatoro serves New York-inspired 16-inch pies, with crackling crusts, and finished with fresh basil and a shower of Gouda. If the drive makes you hesitant, don’t worry: it crisps up nicely after a couple minutes in a hot oven.

Dining status: Takeout only. More info here. 

Fajitas are the name of the game at this gussied-up Tex-Mex spot in the Austin Proper Hotel. Pick your favorite cut of steak, or go with al pastor, gulf shrimp, or even whole lobster. Ceviche and a margarita are the perfect way to start.

Dining status: patio and dine-in. Call 512-628-1415 for reservations.

New England Greek-style pizza, by way of Austin: the 12-inch pies at Shortie’s are baked in cast iron, for that extra-crunchy crust exterior. They also serve hot and cold grinders, salads, and from-scratch cannoli.

Dining Status: patio or dine-in, reservations recommended. Takeout available; more info here. 

Your favorite masa magicians are at top form these days, serving up pozole, mole, tacos, and more, all served with house-nixtamalized tortillas. And if you’re looking to spruce up your pantry a little, grab a pint of masa, some of their famous black magic oil, or their housemade hot sauce with your order.

Dining status: patio, dine-in; reservations suggested. Takeout available.

Longtime Austin favorite Manuel’s is just the place to treat yourself right now, whether you’re warming up over a bowl of their famous tortilla soup or feasting on chile rellenos. Also a Mexican martini to enjoy on the side, and an order of that epic flan to round things out sweetly.

Dining status: dine-in and tented patio; reservations recommended. Carryout available.

The math here is not hard: you can get a burger, you can get a cheeseburger, you can get a spicy burger, and you can get a double patty burger. You can remix those options however you like. But oh, what a burger! Fries and a shake complete the picture (or, honestly, get another burger).

Dining status: drive-thru only. More info here.

Odd Duck just celebrated seven years of serving Texas-sourced treats and killer cocktails in South Austin. They’ve also released the second volume of their Odd Duck Almanac — buy a copy and read it over a drink, either on their patio or inside.

Dining status: Patio, dine-in, reservations suggested. Takeout available.

First, Bangers was known for their sausages. Then, their whole-hog barbecue. Now? They’re taking on sandwiches, with classic deli subs (housemade mortadella!), smoked meats (Montreal style!), burgers, and even a vegetarian mushroom meatloaf sandwich.

Dining status: Patio and carry-out. Call 512-3865-1656 for reservations, and order takeout here. 

And finally, some love for Buda with this taqueria taking on the biggest taco trend of 2020. Tejas Birria serves birria de res in all kinds of forms: They do bowls of birria, birria tacos, double-stacked birria quesadillas, birria ramen, and more. Score one for focus.

Dining Status: Taco truck. More info here.