Here’s my annual list of the best things I ate in 2025. As a food blogger, I try to eat at a wide variety of places. These are some you should try!
This annual “best things I ate” list is always a fun one to put together. Not only is it looking back at memorable bites, but it’s fun remembering the occasion or who I was dining with. As I always say, the food and environment have a big impact on your experience, but so do your dining companions!
A very interesting stat – I dined at 197 restaurants, bakeries, breweries, food trucks, etc in 2024. That number dropped significantly to 140 in 2025! I think it was a combination of reasons. I was a little uninspired, and I was trying to save money. You take a risk dining out at places you haven’t been before (and even places recommended by others).
Most of these things should not come as a surprise if you read my quarterly flavor posts. Here are 15 memorable eats!
Chicken Sandwich at Dang Hot
This is one of the best fried chicken sandwiches in town! I got the mild, and it definitely has some heat. Perfectly crispy and good flavor, this food truck is a must-try.
Key Lime Pie from Lulu’s Pie Shoppe
This pie changed key lime pie for me, and I’m awaiting my next opportunity to enjoy this!
Rajasthani Tawa Paratha with Aloo at Paratha Rollers
You get two hits and lots of flavor with this dish – the soft paratha bread and the potato masala.
Masu at Craft Omakase
We got to return to Craft Omakas (my top choice for omakase in Austin), and it was once again a fantastic meal. This ocean trout bite was one of my favorites. Read more about Craft here.
Matcha at Dam Coffee Bar
A new coffee shop opened in Austin, and you have to go try their matcha. I’ve had their coconut water matcha and mango matcha, and both were strong and flavorful. They also have Vietnamese coffee and egg coffee that I want to try one day.
Dinner at Kane Sushi
I would love it if Kane Sushi were in Austin (it’s in Cedar Park) because their bites were delicious and huge!
Brunch at Ladino (San Antonio)
We took a weekend trip to San Antonio and had my dream brunch at Ladino. It’s part of the Emmer & Rye Hospitality restaurant group and one of my favorites. The cuisine is modern Mediterranean, and their Turkish brunch includes a variety of side dishes like seared halloumi, marinated olives, sourdough flatbread, and housemade jams. You can choose an entree, and I highly recommend the Turkish eggs.
Soup Dumplings at Mian & Bao
Mian & Bao has been a favorite spot for many this year, and I agree. These are some of the best soup dumplings in town!
Vanilla Chantilly Cake at Rockman Coffee and Bakery
Rockman officially turned one this past October, and they are offering some delicious pastries! The vanilla chantilly cake was one of my favorite things I tried. See my feature post on Rockman here.
Fried Chicken Sandwich at Teddy’s
This fried chicken sandwich seems to only be available during happy hour, and it was delicious!
Matcha at CaPhe.in
Ok, I’ve been drinking a lot of matcha. And this is another good one! I tried their ube previously, and I liked their banana matcha more. Creamy banana flavor, and the bruleed banana slice on top is a nice touch.
Italian Sub at Handsome Dan’s
The spontaneous meals can be the best, as evidenced by this sandwich and beer at Handsome Dan’s. This sandwich reminded me that I love a good sandwich and that I should go seek these out more. It’s also very satisfying to see these sandwich layers. I also enjoyed the IPA, which they brew in-house.
Otoro with Caviar and Truffle at Tare
I returned to Tare for an omakase meal and again loved it. Of course, the matcha tres leches is still great, but you can’t beat how delicious this tuna belly bite is. See the feature post on Tare here.
Breakfast at Phoebe’s Diner
This Austin spot is known for its breakfast and brunch. Their bananas foster French toast is heavenly! It’s banana walnut bread topped with whipped cream, fresh bananas, and more.
Brisket Burger at la Barbecue
I went to a media dinner with JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery, an award-winning (Michelin-starred) vineyard in Paso Robles, California, making Bordeaux-style blends. They paired their wines with the barbecue of Jess Pryles, a local BBQ expert, and la Barbecue, a Michelin-starred barbecue restaurant in Austin. My favorite pairing was the Candied Jalapeno Brisket Burger with the 2022 JUSTIN Reserve Cabernet.
What’s the best thing you ate this year?
Look back at my flavors posts this year:
- Flavors of the Month Q1 2025 – Austin Restaurants to Try
- Flavors of the Month Q2 2025 – Austin Restaurants to Try
- Flavors of the Month Q3 2025 – Austin Restaurants to Try
- Flavors of the Month Q4 2025 – Austin Restaurants to Try
See my recaps from past years here:
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