Flavors of the Month: Q1 2022

Austin restaurants and dishes are featured in my Flavors of the Month posts. Check out this post for recommendations on where to eat next!

The first quarter of the year came with some tasty adventures. This wasn’t everything I ate in January, February, and March, but these are some of the best. Here are 14 Austin restaurant options to try!

Dinner at Jjim

Jjim has been on my to-try list for a while because people rave about it! It’s true – you have to go with a group so you can try all the things! Everything was delicious. Here’s what we ordered: brussels sprouts, long beans, acorn squash pancake, beef galbi jjim (braised beef short rib) with glass noodles and mozzarella, beef bulgogi (beef ribeye).

Lunch from Pho Ha Noi

The ap chao is the recommended dish at Pho Ha Noi, so I picked it up for lunch. This dish (I got the combo protein) is Vietnamese pan-fried noodles stir-fried with veggies, shrimp, beef, and chicken. A hearty dish! Be sure to order the salted lemonade.

Lunch at ZIKI Kitchens

This NEW pink food truck is ready for you, and I need to update my best food trucks in Austin list! ZIKI Kitchens invited me to their spot on South Congress (complimentary) to tell you all about the delicious Greek-Mexican dishes. ZIKI bites (crispy spanakopita balls) are a must-order! Also loved the Greek fries (fries with spices and feta cheese) and the falafel bowl. They also have zurritos and tacos on their menu.

Cake from Paper Route Bakery

This bakery once made a plethora of things but now it’s just cake and it’s dang good, fancy cake. This slice is the Strawberry Book Club – strawberry chiffon cake with black pepper crust, strawberry ganache infused with basil and pink champagne, and strawberry chantilly cream. I can’t wait to try the other flavors!

Lunch at Eat a Pita

This new food truck in South Austin serves one of my favorite cuisines – Mediterranean. I got the gyro and rice plate to-go and it was delightful!

Lunch at Sour Duck Market

I ran my 10th half-marathon in February, and this post-race meal at Sour Duck Market was exactly what I needed to refuel! Fried chicken sandwich and fries, Sunchoke caesar salad, pretzel with queso, chocolate chip cookie, and Meanwhile Beer Disco in the Panic Room IPA. Everything was perfect.

Tacos at Con Todo

Con Todo is the newbie food truck at Celis Brewery and it’s worth a visit. I got a tostada (melted cheese) and a taco (crumbled cheese) and it was a perfect choice. You have a choice between red and green salsa, and when he says the red salsa is spicy, it is SPICY!

Brunch at The Grove Wine Bar and Kitchen

I had never been to The Grove Wine Bar and Kitchen until recently. It’s an Austin chain with four locations. This fried chicken with creme brulee French toast is something I would definitely recommend!

Lunch from Chicken Rice Joe

I used to eat this poached chicken with amazing ginger sauce a lot as a kid, so trying it from Chicken Rice Joe brought back happy memories. The chicken is simple and goes perfectly with the sauce and the broth-infused rice. I got the half and half with Hainanese and roasted chicken but next time I want maximum Hainanese goodness! Chicken Rice Joe is located at the 5610 Food Co ghost kitchen where lots of exciting restaurant options are located.

Dinner at Trudy’s Del Mar

There’s something new on South Congress and it has beach vibes. Trudy’s Del Mar invited me in (complimentary) to try their menu! This building was previously South Congress Cafe and they’ve refreshed the decor and kept a few of the fan-favorite dishes like the must-order Carrot Cake French Toast Sundae! Another wow dish is the Del Mar Grill entree. It comes with shrimp diablos, lobster tail, steak fajita, mixed veggies, and jalapeño sausage. If you want something a little lighter, try the Daily Catch Veracruzana or some of their tacos. Plus it’s patio season, so go enjoy these Tex-Mex seafood dishes on their patio!

Craft Beer at Meanwhile Brewing

This brewery has become very popular in Austin for a good reason. It has a huge patio, multiple food trucks, and delicious beers! I tried their Tender Robot Hazy IPA on this visit, and they have many other IPAs on their list.

Pizza at Dough Boys

One of the food trucks at Meanwhile Brewing is this yummy pizza truck. I’m a fan of their Bob-A-Rita (red sauce, mozzarella, basil) and Eastside Trip (mushroom, garlic cream, mozzarella).

Breakfast at Wham Bam Bagels

Bagel sandwiches are what this food truck is all about. We got a simple breakfast bagel with egg and sausage. They serve Rosen’s Bagels – a company that supplies a handful of places around town and recently opened their restaurant by the Domain.