January: Moonshine Comfort & Cocktails
Moonshine Director of Operations Joseph Nguyen said the restaurant's atmosphere and food remind people of “going to their grandmother’s house.”
March: Poke Bowl
Poke Bowl's popularity led owner Tuan Nguyen to open its second location in North Austin off Parmer Lane last May.
April: Casa Costa Bake Shop
Katie Fujita started her bake shop in her home garage after her mother and best friend pushed her to go to culinary school.
May: Levant Cafe & Grill
Owners Mike and Rana Boselah said they knew there would be a learning curve for those unfamiliar with cuisine from the Levant region, the former name of a region in West Asia where they were both born.
June: Cherry Creek Catfish
Since publishing, this location has closed. The restaurant's South Austin location remains open.
After new owner Danny Lenertz arrived to the restaurant, the menu was overhauled to bring recipes back to their roots.
September: Hunan Chef
With nearly 30 years of restaurant experience, Dinh Tran went into business with an old family friend and bought Hunan Chef in Cedar Park.
October: Kai Sushi
The Leander restaurant aims to be “the Cheers of sushi.”
November: Leyla’s Mediterranean Cafe
Along with beef, lamb and chicken halal dishes, there are numerous vegetarian, vegan and keto diet-friendly options.
December: Ziggy’s Kielbasa Bar
Susie and Andy Szymczyk opened their Polish restaurant as a way to bring the flavors of Poland to Texas.
Have ideas for our business feature for next year? Email us at [email protected].
