A 2nd location for El Meson

Folks, I just don't understand why El Meson on South Lamar is not one of Austin's most popular restaurants. I've eaten there 3 times in the past 2 months and it's been consistently excellent each time. I went last night (New Year's Eve) around 8PM and the restaurant was only about 1/3 full. I'm a huge fan of this place as the menu is really interesting, the food is consistently well-prepared, the service is informative, attentive and extremely friendly, they do NOT use a pre-made sweet/sour mix for the margaritas and the prices are extremely fair.
if you enjoy TexMex food and want something a little different, give El Meson a try, I think you will be very pleased with the experience
I've had the Tinga, Conchita Pibil and Verde Mole on my recent visits and I thought the food was fresh, well prepared, full of unique flavors.

nw_austin_gourmand in Austin

The Mediterranean Chef Cafe

Thanks for sharing the information on this place, I went last night and it was fantastic. I agree with all the comments from the previous posters. The Hummus is some of the best I have ever tasted, very smooth and I liked the lemony kick. I have never seen beet salad before, but I really liked it. The beet flavor mixed with yogurt and plenty of garlic was wonderfully spicy. Yes, those dolmas were the freshest I have ever tasted and the gyro wrap was hot, drippy and full of flavor. I will certainly be back, but at $7.99/lb for many of the items, it's not exactly a cheap meal. They only serve whole wheat pita.

All in all, a great find. Since Byblos closed I have been looking for a new middle-eastern place and this is it. The food quality is MUCH better than anything I have ever had at DiMassi's.

nw_austin_gourmand in Austin

Great place to take nieces (10 & 11) for special lunch?

I STRONGLY second the recommendation for The Steeping Pot at the Domain.

nw_austin_gourmand in Austin

Anyone tried Hank's Garage?

I never used my $22 Groupon for this place - does anyone know Groupon's policy for a situation like this?

nw_austin_gourmand in Austin

Stiles Switch BBQ

I went to Louie Mueller's in Taylor last weekend and their brisket was $12.99/lb and I'm positive Rudy's moist brisket is right at $13/lb as well. I guess those were two generous slices, but $10/lb is actually very reasonable for good quality smoked brisket. I am looking forward to trying this place.

nw_austin_gourmand in Austin

Mai Lien Bistro on Wells Branch - Best Beef Noodle Soup?

I checked out Mai Lien Friday night and although I was not completely wow'ed by the experience, I cannot wait to go back and explore this surprisingly extensive Vietnamese menu. Bottom line - when presented with so many interesting and exotic sounding dishes, I think I just ordered the wrong thing this time around.

Checking out the menu on the website http://www.mailienbistro.com/ - I was extremely impressed with the wide variety of dishes that I had never even heard of before. This is certainly not your basic Pho and Bun Vietnamese restaurant.

I was looking for something unusual so I ordered the Goat Hot Pot (small) for $24.95. I had no idea what to expect and our server's communication skills were somewhat limited, but it sounded interesting and fun. The serving bowl looked like an upside down sombrero with a sterno heating element underneath. The bowl was filled with a delicious, slightly sweet Pho-like beef broth (the server said it was not the same as the Pho broth), but it was very good. Floating in the broth were chunks of taro root, goat and a few exotic Asian vegetables that I did not recognize. You are also served a side plate of vermicelli noodles and a heaping plate of chopped napa cabbage and watercress (at least I think that's what it was...). You are supposed to let the watercress and cabbage boil in the broth for a couple of minutes then serve the whole mixture over a bowl of noodles. The broth was delicious and I cannot wait to go back for a bowl of Pho, but the rest of the items were just *interesting*. Taro root, boiled goat pieces, various kinds of radish, etc - these were well prepared, but just too exotic for my palate. At $24, I thought it was a little over-priced, but most of the familiar Vietnamese items on the menu were priced similarly to other local Vietnamese spots that go beyond Pho/Bun like Sunflower and LeSoleil. The HotPot experience is similar to fondue - you're doing a lot of prep work while you are eating. The spring roll appetizers were great - the rolls were plump and freshly prepared.

The place settings are semi-elegant as the bowls/plates have a nice Mai Lien logo embossed on them but there's also a karaoke stage and plenty of neon beer signs to provide atmosphere. I'm looking forward to going back to Mai Lien and experimenting with the many interesting dishes.

nw_austin_gourmand in Austin

The Worst Fish and Chips in Austin?

I dined at the Black Star coop tonight and as much as I really wanted to like the food, I have to disagree with AAS food critic Mike Sutter on this one. The fries were over-salted and overcooked to the point of being semi-burnt. My son's grilled cheese was a surprise - they used some nice homemade bread, but there was very little cheese to match the ultra thick slices of bread. My daughter thought the veggie burger was a little too salty and "beany" tasting. The "signature" fish & chips were avergage, and probably could have been really good had they not been overcooked to to the point where the batter tasted a little burnt. Maybe they were using some old oil or the fryer was too hot, but all of the fried food just had a very dark appearance and a slightly acrid taste.
I'll be back for another visit because the beer was superlative - I only tried the Vulcan (one of 4 beers brewed on the premises), and the rest of the selection looked very local (Circle among others) with many disparate styles on tap.
I agree with topodrinko on the atmosphere inside, but I thoroughly enjoyed the picnic tables outside and the view overlooking the intersection of N.Lamar & Airport.

I will be back for the beer and I will even give the food another chance, but all in all, I felt the recent Statesman review was a little over the top.

-----
Black Star Co-Op Pub & Brewery
7020 Easy Wind Dr #100, Austin, TX

nw_austin_gourmand in Austin

Danny's BBQ, food truck on N. Burnet, north of Buell

I had a sliced beef sandwich last week at the bricks and mortar location which is on MLK 2 blocks west of the Airport/MLK intersection. Although the brisket was a little on the fatty side there was plenty of smokey meat with a nice amount of char - the way I like it!! The sauce was pretty basic, a not to sweet tomato-based version. All in all a nice east-side BBQ sandwich.

I especially enjoyed the people-watching. At the MLK location the guy behind me was wearing a very nice house arrest ankle bracelet. Very friendly crew.

nw_austin_gourmand in Austin

No free sampling at Fredricksburg Brewing Company

Just to clarify - he was simply asking for a taste to determine if he wanted to order a pint. The brewpub decided a taste = 4oz. I believe 2oz would have done the job ;-)

Personally, I've never been charged for a "taste" in any of the pubs I've ever visited.

nw_austin_gourmand in Not About Food

No free sampling at Fredricksburg Brewing Company

My friend stopped at the Fredricksburg Brewing Company last week for lunch. The bartender asked him if he wanted a beer and my friend asked for a taste of the Pale Ale to make sure he liked it before ordering a full pint. The bartender poured him a 4oz glass and told him it would cost $1.50.
My friend asked if the bartender was joking and he replied, "No, we charge $1.50 for a taste".

Seems way out of line to me - I heard the beer wasn't any good anyway...

nw_austin_gourmand in Not About Food

"Taiwanese style" Chinese Food - very good - Rice Bowl Cafe (North Lamar and Braker)

you are the 3rd person to complain about this - the entrance is really off of Braker, about 100 yards west of the Lamar intersection. I look forward to hearing your feedback.

nw_austin_gourmand in Austin

"Taiwanese style" Chinese Food - very good - Rice Bowl Cafe (North Lamar and Braker)

Hey - I dropped by this place again for another delicious meal last week. Unfortunately, I was the only person in the restaurant, so I started chatting with the hostess and it turns out the chef at The Rice Bowl Cafe was previously the chef/owner of the much-ballyhooed, mid 80's Beijing restaurant in the Arboretum. For those of you who don't remember Beijing, it wasn't just one of the top Asian restaurants in town, it was one of the top destination dining spots around and usually finished near the top of most restaurant polls.

This chef is still producing memorable Chinese food. Additionally, there's a terrific photo of the chef with Lady Bird and Liz Carpenter prominently displayed.

nw_austin_gourmand in Austin

What are your favorite ethnic markets?

I have visited the Korean grocery (don't ask me the name!!) in the shopping center at Justin and North Lamar a couple of times. This place has some really bizarre items. The MT grocery is much larger, but I thought this Korean grocery actually had a few items you could not find in the other local Asian stores. Check it out - btw, the Korean BBQ in the same center has a really awesome lunch buffet. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful as I worked my way around the unique offerings.

This Korean grocery is one block north of a different kind of ethnic market: The Yellow Rose ;-)

Hey - don't forget about the mother of all ethnic markets: Fiesta!!!

nw_austin_gourmand in Austin

"Taiwanese style" Chinese Food - very good - Rice Bowl Cafe (North Lamar and Braker)

Heads up Asian food 'hounds - I found a great new Chinese restaurant today in the Asian strip mall on the Southwest corner of North Lamar and Braker. The restaurant goes by the very generic sounding "Rice Bowl Cafe", but I found the food to be anything but generic or bland. I know there are many different types/regions of Chinese food, but I had never heard of a Taiwan style before.

I ordered the Szechuan Beef Noodle Soup - wow! if you like SPICY, this is extremely spicy stuff. The soup is similar to a bowl of Pho; the handmade noodles were extraordinary - they are thicker and chewier than the vermicelli rice noodles you usually see in a bowl of Pho. The beef broth was heartier and much spicier than a Pho broth, and it had a subtle, delicious sweetness that became addictive after a couple of bites. The beef chunks were tasty and plentiful - very tender, full of flavor. I assume the beef chunks were roasted before being placed in the soup as the meat did not have that dried out, boiled flavor. The soup is served with a side plate of cilantro and red onion if you want to add some more flavor to the broth.
I was extremely impressed with the quality of the noodles - these are homemade (handmade), the beef chunks (high quality meat) and the broth (fresh-tasting - full of flavor). The rest of the menu features 15-20 other Chinese entrees, about half were familiar Chinese Restaurant fare and the others a bit more exotic (Pork Feet Noodle Soup!). Next time, I'm definitely sampling the Lo Mein because I think I've developed an addiction to those noodles. ;-)

The service was fast, friendly and very informative. The interior is nice and clean. I believe this is the location of a failed Thai restaurant. This is much nicer than your typical soup kitchen.

The prices are terrific - my bowl of soup was $6.50 and 4 hours later I'm still stuffed. The rice and noodle dishes are $6-$7.5 and the entrees are $7-$9 - the most expensive dish in the place is $9!!

If you are looking for a new place to try, please don't overlook this restaurant b/c of the generic sounding name. There are some delicious treats awaiting you inside the Rice Bowl Cafe. I hope you like it as much as I did

11220 N Lamar Blvd #306
512-835-8888
Open daily 11-9:30

nw_austin_gourmand in Austin

Crazy Cajun

amysuehere - I went to the Crazy Cajun for lunch today and I recommend you don't waste your time/calories on this place again.

As you mentioned, the interior looks exactly like the prior incarnation, Cafe Bella, sans the Karoke machine, plenty of polished chrome and mirrors - it reminds me of an early 1980's post-disco bar.

The food was extremely disappointing - all I had was the Jambalaya, but that one entree told me all I needed to know about this place. Although I ordered Jambalaya, what I received was something I will call Cajun Fried Rice - it was exactly like a combination fried rice order from a Chinese restaurant with a little cajun spice thrown into the stir fry. There were small pieces of stir fried chicken, tiny previously frozen shrimp and thin slices of sausage on a bed of lukewarm cajun-spiced rice. Very uninspired.

The server asked me how I liked my meal. I told her the food was just ok and the Jambalaya was unlike any I've had ever had before. Her response, "the cook is from New Orleans..."

Bring back Cafe Bella!

nw_austin_gourmand in Austin

RIP part III: Austin Restaurant Closings

The hell with the Showdown....
Bring back Raul's!! ;-)

nw_austin_gourmand in Austin

Pour House on Burnet.....anyone been yet?

Hey - Pour House Pub has been open for a couple of months now and I haven't seen any updates recently. How's the DRAUGHT beer selection? Is this a worthy alternative for the Draught Horse or Flying Saucer? Is it more of a restaurant or a drinking establishment?

nw_austin_gourmand in Austin

Desserts in Austin

I wanted to throw in a shout out for a local restaurant that does not seem to drive much discussion on this board - Hoover's Cooking. I have found their pies and (especially) their cobblers to be well-prepared, fresh and served in HUGE portions. If you are really into authentic southern style cooking - Hoovers is among the best you are going to find in Austin.

If you have a LOT of time to spend and you enjoy *real* southern style cooking, check out Dot's Place (only open for lunch M-Thur and lunch & dinner on Fri) in Pfluegerville - still the best Sweet Potato Pie I've ever sampled.

nw_austin_gourmand in Austin

Vietnamese food in Austin

I also had a negative experience at TC Noodle House and given the number of excellent options in the Chinatown Center I'm a little chagrined I wasted my time and money at this place. The service was spotty at best - it took 2-3 requests to multiple servers to get a glass of water and one of the main courses arrived before the soup appetizer. The service throughout the dining experience was awkward - I don't have a huge problem with that, but at the prices they are charging they should be more professional.
The overall quality of the food was pretty mediocre - the soup was lukewarm, the pan-fried dumplings were actually pretty good - reminiscent of something you'd find on a '70s PuPu platter, but not really interesting or unique. The Shaken beef was remarkably flavorless (go to Le Soleil if you want to try this classic Vietnamese gem). The crispy house LoMein was also boring with flavorless chicken pieces on an old and somewhat stale crispy noodle base with a relatively bland sauce.

I have been to First China BBQ at least 10 times over the past 2 year and the dining experience has been consistently superior - the soups, LoMein dishes, veggie stir frys, were ALL superior to TC's Noodle house AND First China BBQ is cheaper with a much more broad and interesting menu.

Please do not waste your Asian dining dollars at TC's Noodle house when First China BBQ is less than 50 yards down the sidewalk.

I have seen a couple of people mention the Teochew style cuisine at TC's Noodle House. I have to admit I don't know what Teochew is all about, but I only saw it mentioned 4-5 times on the menu - my dumplings were supposedly Teochew and they tasted like something out of the HEB frozen section.

Baguette House is awesome for Bahn Mi (Lily's is also good, but I like BH better)
Pho Saigon is a great Noodle place, both the Pho and Vermicelli bowls have been really pleasant experiences.

I am looking forward to trying Fortune

nw_austin_gourmand in Austin

Road trip from Austin to El Paso

Good News! The Hitchin' Post in Ozona is still good - VERY GOOD.

I stopped in earlier today on my way back to Austin from Ft Davis. The ambiance is classic Texas Roadhouse (NOT the franchise operation of the same name) - this is the real deal; restaurant in the front and bar/dancehall in the back.

I had heard the Onion Rings were really good so I tried to order them as a side with my burger, but for some reason they only serve them as an appetizer. The Onion Rings were fantastic, these are the more thinly sliced, lightly breaded variety (I prefer these to the 4-5 super sized, heavily breaded rings I see most places serving these days). The portion was huge and a prelude to the humongous cheeseburger I was served moments later. The meat was very fresh and the bun was very fresh and lightly toasted. The meat was covered in melted cheese and there was nice serving of lettuce, sliced tomato and onion. Terrific burger!!!

The French Fries that were served with the burger were really very good - fresh, hot, crunchy. I believe they were very lightly breaded to deliver additional crunchiness.

Prices were very reasonable for the quality of the food and service - this is NOT a fast food experience, although the service was fast and friendly. If you are looking for a 10 minute meal because you have to get back on the road, then this is not the place for you. All of the food is made to order, so it takes a little longer, but the wait is worth it.

I did not try the chicken-fried steak, but I did see it served to another patron and it looked fantastic - once again, HUGE portions!!

PS - There was another promising restaurant on the north side of the highway at exit 362, I think it was called "The Next Door Cafe" and it appeared they were doing a really good business and it looked like a nice alternative from the usual fast food options.

nw_austin_gourmand in Texas

Good Middle Eastern?

I went to Sarah's Mediterranean on Burnet and North Loop yesterday for lunch yesterday and I had an amazing lamb shank plate. I have sampled lamb shank at a few 'fancy' restaurants, but this was by far the most tender, moist and savory lamb I have ever tasted. If you enjoy lamb, this is something you want to try.
The lamb shank is on a bed of fluffy rice which has been flavored with some very nice spices and toasted almonds. The plate includes hummus a very small salad and a side of pita bread. A very filling meal.
An $8.95 lunch is not exactly cheap, but the quality of the food was remarkable for the price.
Sarah's is a combo lunch counter and grocery store. The employees are extremely friendly and welcoming.

nw_austin_gourmand in Austin

Ryu of Japan (sush restaurant) - a review

We went to Ryu of Japan on Burnet near Kramer, in the same shopping center as Freebirds.

Summary:
Food - really, really good
Atmosphere - industrial and a little cold
Service - well-meaning, but a little inconsistent

First of all, let me start out by saying I have been eating sushi around town for a number of years, but I certainly do not classify myself as an expert.

When we arrived at 6:30 on a Saturday night, we were the only customers. Our waiter, who did not seem to speak a lot of English, brought water and green tea - I liked the way he just assumed I was in a Japanese restaurant and I would want green tea, nice.

I'm not sure if we were getting the star treatment, but the sushi chef brought over a couple of complimentary items from kitchen: two homemade shrimp dumplings and a bowl with fresh crab pieces and some picked red cabbage. Both items were fresh and full of flavor. A good start.....

We ordered 2-3 rolls and 6 pieces of sushi. The yellowtail was extremely tender and had a soft-buttery consistency. All of the fish was first rate - very flavorful, fresh and tender. The chef sent over a complimentary Godzilla roll which is basically a spicy tuna roll topped with a miso sauce and tempura flakes, which was also very good.

I'm sure they serve vegetarian nigiri in other sushi restaurants in town, but I've never noticed it. At Ryu, I ordered a seaweed and a pumpkin nigiri. I was not disappointed, the seaweed had terrific vinegary crunch and the pumpkin was tender and sweet. Unusual, but tasty.

The atmosphere was a little cold, but that was probably due to the fact we were the only customers for most of the meal. A large flat panel TV dominates the area near the sushi bar, but they seemed to have the TV tuned to a classic rock radio channel so there really wasn't any distracting picture on the screen.

The service was well-meaning, but not professional and that's ok, because I think you go to Ryu for the food.

Oh yea, I thought the prices were extremely reasonable for food of this quality. If you enjoy sushi, I think you are really going to like this place. If you are looking for a high-class dining experience you might want to wait a month or two.

nw_austin_gourmand in Austin

Lookin' for a Special Kind of Falafel Sandwich...

I second the recommendation for Flying Falafel & Pp-Boys - I posted about this place a few months ago. On a recent visit I had the falafel sandwich and I remarked that the falafels were smaller than you normally see. Excellent restaurant

nw_austin_gourmand in Austin

South South Austin Subs - Italian Beef sandwich: Yummy

yes

nw_austin_gourmand in Austin

South South Austin Subs - Italian Beef sandwich: Yummy

Ordinarily I wouldn't take the time to post something about a sandwich shop, but I had a terrific sandwich today and I wanted to share the info.

South Austin Subs in the old Delaware Subs location at William Cannon and I35 (SW corner) is doing some things that merit a little attention. The menu is very similar to the old Delaware subs menu and they tuck the meat into the bread the way they do it at other Delaware locations, but there are a few important differences.
The bread they are now using at South Austin Subs is much more flavorful and chewy than some of those hard rolls previously served by Delaware subs - thank goodness!

The most important difference is the addition of an Italian Beef sandwich. This is a great sandwich - nice bread, a couple of mozzarella slices a gut-busting portion of slow-cooked, chunks and stringy pieces of beef drenched in an au-jus that's full of flavor. My sandwich was topped with banana peppers - this sandwich was really tasty. Apparently, they will drench the sandwich in the au-jus or serve it in on side. I had mine drenched and it was wonderful.

There are a couple of other interesting sandwiches similar to the old Delaware fare, but with some meat options I had not seen previously

The owner (I assume he was the owner) was working behind the counter and extremely cordial and solicitous

Yes, this is "just a sandwich" shop, but I think this Italian Beef Sandwich is very much worth checking out as it rises above the ordinary fast food sandwich.

nw_austin_gourmand in Austin

Chuy Bakery/Panaderia off Ohlen and 183

Great find - thanks for the recommendation.

I dropped in around 7PM on Thursday and there was plenty of bread and it appeared they were still preparing and baking fresh bread. (Very different from other bakery experiences at this hour). I purchased an assortment of breads and pastries.

The sweet potato empanada was the star - I will be returning very soon just to procure a few more of these exquisite mosels. I'm no empanada connoisseur (I do fondly remember The Empanada Parlour), but this version has a soft crust lightly dusted with cinnamon sugar and a smooth pumpkiny/sweet potato filling.The cheese empanada was very good - it was sort of a smooth ricotta cheese filling. The bolillo rolls were really a revelation - the rolls are generously sized, the crust is lightly crunchy, more like a french bread than an Italian loaf and these rolls actually had some FLAVOR!
I think I picked up 7 items and I spent less than $5

This place is good even for less adventurous 'hounds as it was very clean and this gringo was offered help 2 times during my 5 minute visit... and you may need a little help as there were no labels on any of the pastries on my visit

nw_austin_gourmand in Austin

Great Food - Flying Falafel & Po-Boy's: Middle East/Cajun food at 20th and Guadalupe

I've visited Flying Falafel and Po-Boy's twice and on both occasions I have found the food and service to be absolutely superlative. If you enjoy Middle-Eastern fare, please try the spicy chicken shwarma with hummus on the side. They had a "special of the day" yesterday that was some kind of Middle-Eastern stew served over rice. It was just delicious - all the veggies were fresh and plentiful, the chicken pieces were flavorful as was the cumin/corriander(?) spiced gravy - this is real home cooking and I urge all chowhounds to get out and try this relatively new addition to the UT dining scene
.
Both times I've been in this,order-at-the-counter - 6 table place, I've been the only customer, so I'm a little concerned they are not getting the business they deserve.

I have not tried the Po-Boy's or the cajun food yet, but I will certainly be back soon to try them.

Prices are very reasonable: $5.99 for the shwarma plate. The atmosphere is very clean and pleasant, but this is by no means a fancy restaurant - the focus is on the food which has consistently been fresh, hot, prepared to order and just delicious.

Enjoy

nw_austin_gourmand in Austin

Maki - Sushi rolls/wraps in Arbor Walk (Mopac & 360)

There's a new sushi roll/wrap restaurant in the Arbor Walk shopping center. This the same center as Home Depot and Mighty Fine Burgers.

Name: Maki
Review: This place is a little hard to describe. It's certainly not fancy, you order at the counter and they walk you thru the options as you "build your own roll". There's about 10 different meat selections and the same number of veggie options. My first time thru the line, I didn't completely understand the pricing - now that I've been thru the line twice, I'm still not sure I understand the pricing.....

The starter price is $3.95 for the wrap (that's the seaweed wrap and rice), they offer a "modern" wrap at $4.95 with soy instead of seaweed. Once you have a wrap, then you add meats at about $1.95 each - you can have as many as you like. Then you add veggies, you get 3 for free. There are additional toppings offered....

I thought the rolls were really good. I like sushi, but I don't eat a ton of it. The tuna, salmon, yellowtail all seemed fresh and flavorful - the quality was at least as good as Osaka and Sushi Sake. I believe "real" sushi rice is supposed to be one of the short grain varieties and that's what they serve here - nice fragrance, too. They had a machine to efficiently layer the rice onto the seaweed and then the server places the meats/veggies on top of the rice and rolls it up. The roll is placed into a hand cranked machine that cleanly slices the roll into 10 evenly sized pieces. A basic roll with 1 meat and 3 veggies will cost about $6 - $7. I guess that's a good deal when you're talking fresh fish/sushi.
I liked the Miso soup - good flavor, not overpoweringly salty with a smattering of small tofu pieces and green onion slices.

Ambiance - this place reminds me of the food court at the mall, which is to say, there's not much ambiance. There are very high ceilings and it's noisy although there were only about 8 people in the restaurant when I was there. I guess the combination of high corrugated metal ceilings and a stained concrete floor will do that....

If you are looking for a quick lunch, this place is great, but it's too noisy to be a relaxing hang out.

Suggestion - they should create some funky roll recommendations. I like those interesting roll combinations offered at most sushi places - there are so many confusing options/prices at Maki that I think it would be good to have your basic "meal deal" - spicy tuna roll and a drink at $7 for the rookies.

nw_austin_gourmand in Austin

Knife-cut Noodles in Austin?

I tried Chen's Noodle House last night and I really recommend the food & experience to anyone who enjoys Asian culture. First of all, this is NOT a fancy restaurant - this is a Noodle House You order at the counter and they bring you the food. There's maybe 10 small tables in the restaurant and about 10 items on the menu - that's it (the only beverages are the free water and hot tea).
My favorite dish so far has been the wonton soup. The wontons are tender, light and full of flavor - not the doughy things you get at most chinese restaurants these days. The broth is much lighter than any of the other soups and as one of the other posters mentioned there's some tasty seaweed in the broth.
I really enjoyed the Green Onion Pancakes - these are light and delicate pancakes, similar to a an Indian Paratha (sp). Very nice appetizer.
The Combination soup is a real highlight and this is a very hearty meal - the broth has a slightly gelatinous consistency; there's a generous serving of noodles, diced veggies and meat. Very nice flavor, but I wish it was just a little spicier. This is a hearty meal - you will not leave hungry.
The stir fried noodles were very good as well - great ginger flavor. This is another hearty meal.

I watched the cook cut the noodles - that was really cool. The noodle dough looks like a gray brick and it's on a piece of wood. The cook takes a knife (or some sharp implement) and quickly shaves off the noodles into a boiling pot of water. It almost looks like he was whittling a stick. Just looking back into the kitchen (you can see the entire kitchen when you order your food) was cool - you know this is authentic food, There were huge broiled legs of lamb laying on the table waiting to be cutup. One of the prep cooks (probably the owner's brother) was peeling/slicing massive quantities of raw ginger.
I strongly recommend this place to all hounds - the prices are cheap (most items were below $7). Enjoy

nw_austin_gourmand in Austin