The December Hit List: Tiki Tatsu-Ya, Lin, Apt 115, and More

When the temps drop below 80, half of Austin immediately flocks over to Ramen Tatsu-Ya for a hot bowl of noodle soup. In previous times, you had to brave a line — now, you can just grab a Resy to keep your time away from ramen to a minimum. Try one of the rich tonkotsu-based broths on a cold evening, or go lighter with the Ol’ Skool — a chicken shoyu broth that’s just as tasty as its more robust counterparts.

After making waves on Montopolis with their first store, the mother-daughter duo behind Cafe Nena’i have expanded to East Austin, with a bigger store selling more of those empanadas and arepas that Austin has come to love. Like their original location, the dishes here pull mostly from Paraguay and Argentina, with a nice mix of sweet and savory options. Grab a few pastries — don’t miss out on the alfajores — and a cortadito as you soak in the new location on East 6th.

No reservations.

Here to fill the soup dumpling-shaped hole in your life is Qi — an excellent farm-driven Chinese restaurant downtown dishing out upscale takes on classic dim sum staples. But if you’re coming for the Shanghai soup dumplings, you’ll be staying for the Akaushi beef potstickers and scallop caviar sui mai. Order as much as you think you can take down from the dim sum menu — it’s available during lunch and dinner — and throw on a few entrees to round things out. It’s one of our favorite downtown dining experiences right now.

The folks behind the popular French-inspired gastropub Hopfields have brought their talents south to Bouldin Creek, where their new-ish concept 1417 continues to impress with an exciting menu of unique takes on classic French fare. That means mussels with chile oil and curry butter, steak frites with picanha and chimichurri, and roasted marrow bones with garlic gremolata and blueberry mostarda. By day, the menu is a bit lighter — focusing mostly on sandwiches, coffee, and pastries — with the possible exception of the 1417 burger, topped with a healthy serving of melted raclette.

Call 512.551.2430 for reservations.

You’ve probably heard all about Tiki Tatsu-Ya by now — from friends, colleagues, maybe even a gas station attendant or two. It really is just as much fun as everyone says it is. The hard part is securing a spot. If you’ve managed to grab a table, celebrate and count down the days to your visit. If you haven’t grabbed one, keep refreshing that browser or just try for a walk-in. (Want to know more? Here are 6 Things To Know, to help you navigate the space a bit and secure a spot.)

Lin is tucked away in a relatively quiet part of Clarksville, making for a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of nearby downtown Austin. The menu features all local ingredients, which you’ll find especially tasty in their brunch dim sum menu. They’re also home to the Shanghai Jump Seafood Soup Dumpling — a giant soup dumpling that’s almost as much fun to order as it is to eat. And if you’re there with a group, don’t miss out on the Chao Zhou steamed whole fish either.

Austin’s first and only apartment-themed wine bar (to our knowledge) is always a fun spot for a glass of wine, but especially cozy on these cooler evenings. It is, after all, themed like an apartment. The menu focuses mostly on natural and low-intervention wines, with a small but tasty selection of small bites, cheeses, and charcuterie boards. The space fills up quickly, so grab a spot in advance, or opt for a walk-in seat at the bar.

If the idea of having fresh plates of Korean barbecue delivered to your table by robot sounds in any way exciting to you, then make your way over to the newly opened K BBQ in The Crescent shopping center as quickly as possible. You’ll also have a human server to help out with drinks and ordering, if you were worried about things feeling a little too futuristic. This is one of the few all-you-can-eat options for grilled meats that we’ve seen in Austin — with a few pricing tiers available depending on what options you want — so you never have to worry about leaving hungry. It’s a fun experience from start to finish, so grab a group — you’ll be able to try a lot more that way — and order to your heart’s desire.

 No reservations.

Popular barbecue spot Micklethwait Craft Meats recently (re)opened a second outpost right next to their original trailer on East 11th. Unlike the original trailer that focuses on classic Central Texas style barbecue, at Taco Bronco the name of the game is, well, you guessed it. But not without that classic smoked-meat twist. Think sliced brisket tacos, smoked Texas boar tortas, and other fun culinary mashups. But while Micklethwait is open mostly in the mornings and afternoons, Taco Bronco kicks things off around 5 p.m. Grab a six-pack from their other newly-opened Saddle Up outpost next door (where you can buy beer, wine, and pastries), grab a table, and prepare yourself for a great meal.

No reservations.

In a town already full of great tacos, Nixta has managed to shine an even brighter spotlight on Austin’s East Side by dishing out new-school tacos and tostadas that locals and visitors alike can’t get enough of. Try the confit duck carnitas for a riff on a classic, or get the beet “tartare” tostada for something really distinct and exciting. There’s really no wrong way to go with the menu — just be sure to snap a photo because these tacos are almost as pretty to look at as they are good to eat.

No reservations.