What a bunch of great tips! Thanks, Joe!

Lotus7, I also suggest searching out MPH's old posts about Tex-Mex on the E and SE sides of Austin. Some (many?) of these places might be gone, but what a treasure trove of taco love:

http://www.chow.com/search?query=mph+...

Was waiting for this. Thanks!

Tongue only partly in cheek; ramen is the current food trend (see: cupcakes, bacon, cake pops, etc.). The line also gives our new Californian émigrés a chance to convene and complain about breakfast tacos and BBQ.

In all honesty, it is a very tasty place. I'm also excited to see that Michi Ramen, who used to run a good trailer, have taken over the former Korean Garden/K G Sushi Train/Afin Tapas spot on N. Lamar.

Oh, and regarding Sunflower, I noticed that Le Soleil has changed names to Nhu Y Restaurant. I don't know if this reflects a change in ownership or management, but through the window it looked like a nice interior remodel.

Whenever we visit the in-laws, we have Christmas Eve dinner at Maggiano's. It's decent chain Italian, sufficient to please the whole crowd. I know they offer catering trays but even the individual carry-out meals are pretty sizeable. I bet you could get similar take out from Buca di Beppo or Cannoli Joe's, depending on convenience and personal taste.

Gulf Oysters are back at Capt. Benny's for $8.99/dozen. $9.95 at Pappadeaux. Any other updates? Let us know!

OK, but the only really great things to come from SD that I know are Rocket From The Crypt, Air Coryell, and Terriers.

http://fndaustin.com/holiday-pies/

Also, if you don't mind waiting, Barley Swine. http://barleyswine.com

Yup. http://contigotexas.com/austin

I have not been to Via 313, nor eaten Detroit style pizza, but from the pictures it couldn't be more different than Salvation. Deep dish vs. thin crust, etc.

I really like Salvation, whose pizza is an attempt to provide Austinites with New Haven-style "apizza." While it's not a patch on the original Pepe's or Sally's, it's pretty good. In particular, it's the only local place I know where you can get a white clam pie.

The service can occasionally be "Austin indifferent," but it is in a nice old house on 34th, so you're not subject to the weather. The crowd is pretty casual - students, locals, etc. I don't want to oversell it. It's pretty good, not great. But if you're feeling homesick Via 313 certainly has its appeal.

Fer cryin' out loud, y'all can complain about the land of the bland all you want, but you just stole 2 of the only worthwhile lunch spots in the whole campus area.

Did you say anything? Did you ask them to prepare you a new kebap?

I have eaten at Verts Dobie and Drag locations often enough to fill their frequent diner card (chicken and beef/lamb, doner and wraps) and I've never had this experience. I agree that the veggies are always fresh, and that the house, garlic and red yogurt sauces are all very tasty.

http://austin.culturemap.com/newsdeta...

So Mom's Taste should have kimbap.

Ingredients shouldn't be a problem. I haven't been to Hana in a while, now I can't recall what they had in the way of prepared foods. There was pre-marinated bulgogi, I know I bought that.

At the time they were building out a cafe inside the market. The owners used to run a similar setup at the New Oriental Market, and the food there was always good. Don't know if the Hana cafe is open yet.

Check out Hana World Market, on Parmer near Metric, and Han Yang Market on N. Lamar at Justin for prepared foods. There's also a tiny little place on Airport Boulevard called Mom's Taste that sells packaged banchan, soup, dumplings, etc.

Some of the butcher shops in town may be able procure this kind of thing if they don't have it. Give Johnny G's or Long Horn Meat a call. Generally, you'll have better luck at local ethnic markets - try a carniceria in your neighborhood, or an Asian grocery.

I assume this is from a cooking video by (Austin's own) Hilah Cooking that went viral after the recent Chick-Fil-A controversy. Here is the video and recipe: http://hilahcooking.com/chick-fil-a-c...

Note she just uses the juice from a Vlasic bottle. Another awesome use for pickle juice is a bloody mary - check Central Market for the amazing bloody mary mix from McClure's Pickles.

Matt's El Rancho. And turkey & havarti sandwiches from 7-Eleven.

I meant the call-in orders, but thanks.

New hours, now open Tues-Sun from 10:30-6 (or he sells out). If you don't want to wait, he also takes call-in orders. I'm not sure how this escaped so many people - it's right on the website and on signs at the trailer.

It's not a restaurant, it's the new Hsu Architecture office.

Oops!

Thank God! Now I won't have to go to P. Terry's, Dan's, Fran's, Hat Creek, Hopdoddy, Hill-Bert's, Top Notch, Mighty Fine, Dirty's, Phil's, Hut's, Moonie's, Poodie's, Casino El Camino, Short Stop, Burger Tex, Your Mom's, The Frisco, Sandy's, Hill's, Wally's, Players, Cat Mountain, Wally's, Billy's, Hopfield, Five Guys, or Whataburger for lunch.

Made my day, Tom.

Hopfields is not really a sports bar, but a tremendous beer bar (and a pretty good menu of French-inspired food). They've been putting on the NBA games lately. http://www.hopfieldsaustin.com and http://austin.taplister.com/bar/show/...

No, I missed the artichokes. I do love melon season, though (and the way this summer is starting, we probably need to get local produce while we can).

Sorry for going off-topic.

I second this recommendation. The Two Happy Children sweet corn is definitely the summer find of the farmer's market for me. And they hit almost every market in town:

http://www.twohappychildrenfarm.com/h...

A while back (probably a year or more), saw the Ortiz tuna & anchovies on the shelf in the deli section at Mandola's. Maybe check there, or Enoteca Vespaio. Or Whip In or Spec's? Good luck!

I have eaten at Uchiko alone more than once. It's a great experience. There's a bar area with several small tables, a larger room, and the sushi bar. If you sit in the bar or the sushi bar you can order off their reduced price "social" menu from 5-6:30, a very good deal (and it's not too crowded).

I have not had the omakase, but it's market based. Honestly, the staff is so good - attentive, efficient, and very knowledgable - that it's very easy to build your own tasting off of the various menus.

There are numerous threads on Chowhound about people's favorites at Uchi and Uchiko - definitely look around at those for some ideas. Make sure you save room for desert!

Yup, Fiesta should have you covered. If you have a carniceria that's more convenient/closer, that's usually an option as well.