20 course sushi dinners, Filipino fusion food trucks, a bonafide Cheap Eats Austin find and a stalwart Vietnamese Austin classic . . . all add up to the best food in Austin that fed me right in May 2024.
The Vitals:
the spot: Saigon on 7th 2601 E 7th street unit 101 Austin, TX 78702
the eats: Mango Salad
the bucks: $9
the full nelson: Famed Vietnamese food truck turned brick and mortar still delivers in 2024
Summer is in full swing in Austin. The era of two shower days hath begun. How does one find relief outside of a dip in the pool or vacation plans to flee north(I see you Austinites flocking to Maine!). How about a tangy, Umami soaked mango and papaya salad studded with shrimp? The dish is equal parts refreshing and hearty and totally his the spot during the “warmer” months.
My favorite thing about Saigon on 7th is that it is just as good as it was when it was a food trailer with a different name: Saigon Le Vendeur. Back in 2021 I was floored by their Bahn Mi sandwich which also hits the spot during the dogs days of summer.
The Vitals:
the spot: Yummi Tacos & More 12518 Research Blvd, Austin, TX 78759
the eats: “The Sunny Side Burger” – A bulgogi burger with marinated beef, cheese, spicy mayo and a fried egg
the bucks: $9.50 with fries and drink
the full nelson: a classic Cheap Eats find in 2024!
There isn’t a lot more I can say about this Korean BBQ fusion cheeseburger that I haven’t said already in my last post. I mean it’s a solid meaty and unique burger that comes with fries and a bev for under $10. In 2024 in Austin, that is nothing short of a miracle.
The best part of about Yummi Tacos and More is that it is catered to feed the blue collar working class folks that I have always championed when it comes to citing great food. Keep it real and get yourself here. This is the kind of place Austin needs to keep going and is a clear standout among standouts when it comes to the category of best food in Austin.
The Vitals:
the spot: Pogi ATX 1700 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702
the eats: Sisig Tacos
the bucks: $14 for two
the full nelson: Chef Driven Filipino food truck where tacos are just the tip of the iceberg
Much like Yummi Tacos and More, my recent post about Pogi ATX pretty sums up all you need to know. As soon as I took a bite of their sisig taco, I knew these chefs has a lot more to offer than a Filipino taco fix, which in itself makes a case for making the list of best food in Austin.
What Gino Vidal and Jerry Moreno could do beyond the confines of a food trailer gives me chills but for now I eagerly look forward to trying out the rest of the menu at Pogi which includes Filipino fusion takes on smash burgers and Nashville hot chicken sandwiches.
The Vitals:
the spot: Endo 609 W. 29th st Austin TX 78705
the eats: 20 course Omakase sushi
the bucks: $$$$
the full nelson: An intimate sushi splurge with the pedigree of a Michelin star. Cheaper than a flight to Japan but expect an airfare sized tab
My 20 course omakase sushi experience deserves a stand alone post where I can explain how a $300 a person meal(all in with drinks) is indeed worth it when you are able to commit to that kind of investment. If you love sushi and have ever been to Japan, you might want to consider just how good it can get here in the US. Chef Endo Yasuhiro doesn’t just carry the resumé and the skills, he is also a sheer delight to be around.
The service is really tuned to make for a memorable experience. And at these prices they should. All I can say is I have been to Japan and for the first time since I was there, I felt closest to being back. His former restaurant, Sushi Nakazawa earned a Michelin star. This certainly feels like a Michelin worthy meal.
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