The Vitals:
the spot:Mum Food’s Smokehouse and Delicatessen 5811 Manor Road, Austin, Texas 78723
the eats: Smoked Burger
the bucks: $15
the full nelson: The new best smoked burger in town
A month ago I would have told you that the smoked burger at LeRoy and Lewis is not only the best smoked burger in town but easily the burger I would call some of the best food in Austin. That has changed. The Oak Smoked Burger at Mum Foods Smokehouse and Delicatessen features an 8oz oak smoked patty, with oak smoked poblano peppers, oak smoked poblano aioli and swiss cheese.
Yeah, there’s a lot of smoke happening but that ain’t all. The burger is cooked to a near flawless medium rare and scratches a burger itch that makes Smashed Burgers hit like Happy Meals. Check in with me next month for any updates but for now, this burger is king of Austin.
The Vitals:
the spot: Handsome Dan’s 979 Springdale Rd #124, Austin, TX 78702
the eats: The Italian, The Tuna Melt, The Cubano, Roast Beef n Cheddar
the bucks: $12
the full nelson: New sandwich joint in East Austin aiming to win ppl over with decent bang for your buck sandwiches.
Handsome Dan’s is a new sandwich spot in Austin and my most recent post. The sandwich only menu plus bodega meets bar vibe makes it a comfort food pic for lunch or an afternoon beer hang. I’ll be straight up here: Handsome Dan’s doesn’t serve the best sandwich in town, even though I have a soft spot for the Cubano and especially the Italian. I put Handsome Dan’s on my list of Best food in Austin because they have the audacity to offer some value.
Every sandwich on the menu is $12 and comes with a bag of chips. The other day I took my kid to Raising Cane’s and I paid $17 for his combo meal alone. In some cases like the Italian, I could split the sandwich if I’m looking for a slightly less indulgent lunch. The sandwiches at Handsome Dan’s aren’t the size of my arm like some sandwiches you find on the East Coast but they wont’ cost you an arm or a leg either.
The Vitals:
the spot: Perry’s Steakhouse locations across the US, tested in Austin TX
the eats: Perry’s famous Pork Chop, Wagyu flight, Hoghattan, Chocolate Jubilee Cake
the bucks: $$$
the full nelson: The most famous Pork Chop in Texas
I came to Perry’s Steakhouse on a mission to try the Famous Pork Chop. And while that mission was accomplished, I walked away more impressed with Perry’s Akaushi Wagyu flight. Slightly more expensive than the sandwich at Handsome Dan’s, Perry’s blew me away with a steak experience that gave my grilling ego a moment for reflection.
The quality of beef they use is far and way more flavorful and more marbled than any USDA Prime steak you might be eyeing at the supermarket. I even walked away with a bottle of their house steak rub. Next month I will be deep into some R&D at Casa Khan for my Copycat Perry’s Steakhouse version.
The Vitals:
the spot: Top Roe 120 W 5th St, Austin, TX 78701
the eats: Hand Rolls, Izakaya at the bar
the bucks: $$-$$$
the full nelson: Come for the Hand rolls but come back for the Matcha Pot De Creme
Pot de Creme is a French custard, a first cousin to Creme Brulee. The silky texture makes it one of the most luxurious desserts one can have from the perspective of pure mouth feel. Chocolate Pot De Creme was the creme de la creme for me . . . that is until I tried this Matcha Pot De Creme.
Now you might notice the addition of caviar which while audacious wasn’t too off the mark considering I had this at Top Roe: a sushi hand roll specialist and Japanese Izakaya. Does caviar and custard belong together? I’ll answer that with this: the Matcha Pot de Creme at Top Roe is my front runner for dessert of the year.
Not bad for the shortest month of the year. Let’s how the line up goes for the Best Food in Austin at the end of March.
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