Flavors of the Month: Q2 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!

Hope you have been eating well in Austin this year. These are some of the best things I had in April, May, and June. Here are 10 places to try!

Cuantos Tacos

I got the chachete (beef cheek – favorite!), suadero (brisket), and champioñones (mushroom). You also have the option of getting the taco “costra,” which I highly recommend because the grilled cheese is delicious. This food truck is definitely one of the best in Austin!

Tiki Tatsu-ya

This was my first tiki bar experience and whaaat. Such drama. Lots adventure. Yum food and drinks! Some favorite bites: taro tots, spam on the half shell, lomi lomi tataki, mushroom musubi, and of course, butter mochi! (The menu reminded me of eating in Hawaii.) I don’t think you can go wrong with any of the drinks. They all come in fun cups and the bigger group drinks come in bigger vessels AND a light and sound show.

Dinner at El Naranjo

I went back to one of my favorite places in town for Mexican food. See this post for all the details.

Pastries from Comadre Panadería

This pop-up has been serving fresh pan and pastries on the weekends and I finally tried a selection! My favorite was the strawberry tres leches cake.

Pedroso’s Pizza

You need to throw a pizza potluck! Invite friends over and instruct them to pick up a pizza at a local spot. Gather and try ALL THE PIZZA! We brought Pedrosos Pizza to the party and their “grandma style” (square pan, crunchy crust) Margherita was a favorite. We also had to try the New York Style pepperoni classic and it also did not disappoint.

Donuts at Mochinut

These mochi donuts have a great texture and the flavors are fun. The flavors change weekly, but my top 3 favorites were: cookies ‘n cream, fro-yo pebbles, and taro churro. I also loved the Frankenstein boba drink – green tea with ube drizzle and ube whipped cream.

Lunch at Leroy and Lewis

“New School BBQ, Old School Service” they say. Well, the new is on its way to becoming a classic. We tried the beef cheeks, brisket, sausage, braised cabbage, kimchi, refried beans, kale caesar slaw, and of course, the cheddar cheesecake. Everything was tasty, and Leroy and Lewis is definitely a top barbecue spot in Austin.

Pastries at Naegelin’s Bakery

Did you know the oldest bakery in Texas is in New Braunfels? Naegelin’s Bakery has been in business since 1868 and was founded by a German immigrant. It may be known for being the oldest but you’ll also find some tasty treats here, so it’s worth a stop! We picked up a cinnamon roll and vanilla cupcake, but you can also get strudel, bread, cookies, and a wide variety of bakery items.

Dinner at Kalimotxo

Having dinner here reminded me of my epic trip to Spain! We had dishes like tortilla española, octopus, and olives, and nuts were great to share while enjoying drinks like tinto de verano and Spanish gin and tonic.