January: Mixed cuisine food truck park fills ‘food void’ in Cedar Park
Cedar Pork Food Park, a smokeyard and Mexican grill in Cedar Park, boasts three menus of tacos, burgers and barbecue.
Co-owners Dustin Brennan and Robert Burnett started the food park in 2020 in a space where they renovated shipping containers into tiny homes. The name started first, Brennan said.
“It was initially intended to be something just kind of like a part-time gig; we didn't think it would take off,” Brennan said. “Well, we got lucky, because we were right in the middle of COVID[-19]. There was no place for anybody, so it was just food trucks.”
February: Pitmaster turns focus from sandwiches to smoked meats in Northwest Austin
The past year of COVID-19 pandemic alerts may have put a stop to many things, but the fires within InterStellar BBQ have stayed lit 22 hours a day.
John Bates, owner of InterStellar BBQ, said he has been in the food industry for 30 years. After working as a chef, Bates opened Noble Sandwich Co. in 2010 a half-mile down the road from InterStellar BBQ, which is at 12233 N. RM 620, Austin.
March: Aleida's Latin Food: Cedar Park food truck adds brick-and-mortar with Venezuelan fare
When Maria and Augusto Leon moved to Austin two years ago, they reunited with their cousins, Aleida Biagiotti and Benito Briceno, and from there, Aleida’s Latin Food was born.
“Benito was working in a restaurant, and Aleida was working in another restaurant, and we started talking and said, ‘We can do a restaurant,’” Maria Leon said. “But we started with the food truck.”
Opened two years ago, the food truck still operates at 602 S. Bell Blvd., Cedar Park. Then, in 2021, the two couples added a brick-and-mortar location and with it, an expanded menu of favorites from across Latin America, but focused on their familial home of Venezuela.
April: Giovanni’s Pizza and Pasta: Family-run kitchen focuses on quality and taste
When looking for a local choice in Leander, Giovanni’s Pizza and Pasta features a variety of Italian and Tex Mex offerings.
The counter-service restaurant is located inside Whitewing Market at 2036 US 183, Ste. 100, Leander. Its owners, a mother-son duo, first worked in Giovanni’s as employees for over two years but took over ownership in 2021 while retaining much of the menu.
May: Indian Delights serves fast-casual, fresh cuisine to Cedar Park restaurant goers
Indian Delights, a restaurant located next to the historic Austin Steam Train in Cedar Park, brings daily Indian cuisine to its repeat clientele.
It is known to cook foods in smaller batches and sometimes twice a day to provide only the freshest food to the table. Offering takeout and delivery through Uber Eats and the like, the restaurant celebrated its first birthday earlier this month.
“It’s the go-to place for people for Indian food,” said Jagan Munagala, a co-owner of the restaurant who is a foodie and has been cooking since his high school days.
June: Leander-based food truck Tacos De Prisa Y Mas serves tacos to go
Coming from a real estate background as an apartment locator, Martha Benavides, owner of Tacos De Prisa Y Mas, said she has had her food trailer in Leander for a little over a year now. Tacos De Prisa Y Mas translates to “tacos in a hurry and more,” which the business illustrates in its logo—a taco lady with her purse and a coffee.
Although new to the restaurant business, Benavides said she has been cooking for years. She said she learned partially from her mother and taught herself the rest, developing a passion for it. Benavides attributes her good cooking to “having the hand for it.”
“My sister and I can make the same recipe, have the same ingredients, but mine always comes out better,” she said. “I think I just have that hand [for] cooking that it just comes out good.”
July: Iconic Tex-Mex restaurant Chuy's celebrates 40 years in Austin
In 1982, Chuy’s founders Mike Young and John Zapp looked at an old, abandoned barbecue joint near Barton Springs and saw potential for a funky Tex-Mex restaurant that would eventually become an Austin icon with nearly 100 locations nationwide.
The Tex-Mex chain has expanded to 17 states since its inception 40 years ago in April 1982, with five restaurants in the Austin area. The menu features dishes influenced by the cuisine of New Mexico, northern Mexican border towns, Austin and beyond.
August: Cedar Park restaurant Rumaan Mediterranean Cuisine strives to serve fresh, authentic fare
Rumaan Mediterranean Cuisine co-owner Allam Steitieh said he and co-owner Hassan Alsukhni founded the Cedar Park restaurant because the area did not have any Mediterranean options.
The eatery—which opened Feb. 7—occupies the patio front of Lakeline Mall, where Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant was located.
Steitieh said Rumaan’s authentic food sets it apart from other establishments. The family-owned restaurant uses homemade recipes mastered by Alsukhni’s wife, Jumana, who is the chef.
“I’m passionate about the food; I’m passionate about the quality, the presentation of it,” Steitieh said. “All of that [makes us] unique from other restaurants.”
September: The Thirsty Chicken aims to bring new concept, relaxed environment to Leander
Family-owned chicken spot and daiquiri bar The Thirsty Chicken opened in October with the goal of introducing a new concept to Leander.
“We really wanted to bring some flavor to Leander,” Marketing Manager Clifton Lott III said. “We’re from California, so we wanted to bring that vibe out here.”
October: Local smokehouse J&J BBQ and Burgers offers pit-smoked meats, daily breakfast
Jonathan Taubert started as an employee and partner at J&J BBQ and Burgers before buying the business and becoming the owner in 2009.
The local smokehouse opened in 2001 and has served fresh barbecue and breakfast daily ever since.
Taubert has previous experience working for a carpet cleaning company, a model remediation company and then owning a flood-restoration business. He sold his business and began working as a cashier at J&J.
November: Mouton’s Southern Bistro undergoes expansions, renovations after 10 years of serving Leander, Cedar Park
After more than 10 years in business, owner Ben Mouton has fresh plans for Mouton’s Southern Bistro’s Leander and Cedar Park locations.
An expansion of the Cedar Park location is expected to be complete in early November. And, Mouton has plans to construct a completely new building to replace the original Leander location. This project is anticipated to begin in January.
Mouton said after these projects, there are plans to expand to other Austin-area locations.
“I’d like to continue growing,” he said. “I’ve always liked the idea of going to Georgetown, Hutto—that area would be cool—but so far it’s taken about five years between each major project."
December: Whip My Soul serves up homemade soul food off RM 620 in Austin
When Antonio and Tanika Echols moved from Chicago to Austin a year ago, they had no plans to open a restaurant.
Then, opportunity came knocking. The Echolses jumped at the chance to purchase a location within The Shops at Volente, and by February of this year, the couple was serving up comfort food out of Whip My Soul.
Have an idea for a restaurant we should feature in 2023? Email us at [email protected].
