The January Hit List: Bacalar, Gusto, Kemuri Tatsu-ya, and More

For almost 50 years, Fonda San Miguel has been serving authentic Mexican food, and only gotten better with age. We love hanging out in the bar area for calamari or queso fundido appetizers and the El Rey cocktail (reposado Tequila, whiskey, and mole bitters) or a margarita.

The dining room experience remains as welcoming and warm as our first visit. The cochinita pibil is among Fonda’s most famous dishes, but we also love the carne asada or any of the vegetarian tostadas. Close out your meal with the tres leches or flan and a cafe de olla made with cinnamon, brown sugar, and clove, and remember how deep Austin’s legacy of Mexican cooking runs.

For date night, Birdie’s has established itself recently as the go-to spot — whether you’re crossing town or flying in, given the national attention heaped on owners Tracy Malechek and Arjav Ezekiel. Their menu is slim but thoughtful and changes regularly. The roasted sweet potato with crispy shallots and beef tartare are favorites, and don’t miss the pastas, or the ever-changing large plates of fish and meat. (Snapper with lemon potatoes was a recent satisfying option.) Since quantities are limited and you order at the counter, come early to be sure you don’t have to wait long, or miss out on any star items. But if you hit a long line, enjoy a glass of wine while you wait, and debate what you’re going to order. It’s the Birdie’s way.

Find more info here.

Opened by “Top Chef” winner Gabe Erales, Bacalar serves high-end Mexican food on the quiet southern tip of Rainey Street. But Erales is there to shake things up: Though his menu has traditional dishes like tostadas and tamales, the ingredients are not what you’d expect, like the papadzul tamal with squash and soft boiled egg on the side or the castacan tacos with pork belly and salsa verde. Bigger dishes like cochinita pibil or steak with mushroom confit are great for sharing. Cocktails are also crafted with precision, like the Cocosanto that smells of palo santo or the Pariente made with sotol, lemon, bitters, lemongrass, and topped with green tea foam.

This hot spot opened in downtown Austin in late 2023 — their first location outside of New York — and the team put great care into creating the same classic Chinese dishes and craft cocktails for Austin. Settle in at the bar, the dining room, or the patio to enjoy Peking duck served with scallion pancakes and dipping sauces. For more variety, order the pastrami egg rolls, Chinese broccoli and shiitake mushrooms, barbecued beef fried rice, and anything that comes in dumpling form.

Call 512-859 – 9700 for more info.

Many diners in Austin hope to find a food truck or a taco that will really blow their minds. La Santa Barbacha accomplishes both. Located next to Fleet Coffee, Barbacha’s breakfast and lunch tacos stand out even in a serious taco town. Tender barbacoa meat is featured in the migas taco and chilaquiles bowl, slow-cooked with the traditional flavors that the sibling owners grew up eating. The crispy cheese taco folds cheese and meat in more cheese, with a strong habanero salsa. Try agua frescas like the pink horchata or strawberry limeade. For the freshest experience, order at the window and then stick around at a picnic table to enjoy your tacos on-site.

Find more info here.

For more than 10 years, Gusto has attracted folks from the neighborhood and around Austin for its fresh pastas and pizza. While it’s approachable enough for everyday meals, the dining room has enough glam to make for a celebration-worthy destination. Opt for the Bolognese or the rib-sticking lasagna, or try the bianco pizza with marinated artichoke, pancetta, and arugula. Pick from their lengthy list of Italian wines to complete your meal or close the meal with tiramisu, if you still have room.

Fans of Ramen Tatsu-ya will want to make a beeline for the team’s latest expansion, Kemuri Tatsu-ya. Here, the menu blends Japanese and Texas influences with items like taiyaki cornbread, tebasaki wings, and “guaca-poke” with tuna, wasabi, and guacamole. Bright tiki-style cocktails add to the fun ambiance. But don’t let the playful menu fool you into thinking the Tastu-ya team isn’t serious; this is a formula they know how to finesse perfectly. The BBQ tsukemen brisket ramen and pork ribs are full of flavor. You’ll want to make a Resy, to ensure you can settle right into a table and spend your time poring over the menu with your crew.

Making a Resy for cocktails is Austin’s new way of planning a night out without scrambling for a bartender’s attention while navigating a crowd clamoring for shots of warm well Tequila. (We feel your 6th Street pain.) Equipment Room is precisely the remedy, specifically with a side of vinyl. Located within Hotel Magdalena on South Congress, the hi-fi record bar serves classic cocktails (A-Sides) like martinis and Manhattans, plus unique cocktails (B-Sides) like the Gold Dust Woman with gin, macadamia nut liqueur, and  sparkling wine. You can also get a cheese board, chile lime peanuts, and other bar snacks if you get hungry. It’s all so civilized.

Everyone in Austin has a favorite barbecue spot. Ours is La Barbecue: it’s among the best in Texas, and doesn’t require you to wait in a super-long line. Run by LeAnn Mueller of the famous Mueller family and her wife Ali, this is a casual lunch option where you can order meat by the pound or a specialty sandwich if you’d prefer. Let your eyes and nose guide you, but the brisket, sausage, and beef rib (when it’s available) are what make La Barbecue famous. No reservations here, so come early and wait in line to eat at one of the picnic tables.

Find more info here.

Odd Duck started as a beloved food trailer and quickly grew into a grown-up restaurant, now serving an ever-changing menu in a brick-and-mortar location on South Lamar. While it’s been around for 10 years, you definitely still need a Resy because it’s always packed. The menu, always heavy on locally sourced ingredients, currently features beer-battered squash with green goddess dressing, cast iron cornbread, and wagyu strip steak with roasted turnips and fritters. Finish off your meal with the chocolate and masa icebox cake with caramel corn and a nitro espresso martini.