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Several new restaurants are opening their doors across the region, including Sugarwolf Bakery in downtown Austin, Frank & Margie's in Round Rock, and Chuy's in Bastrop. Meanwhile, Hanshin Pocha brought Korean comfort food to Far Northwest Austin, and a McAlister's Deli is set to open in Hutto.
Here's a look at the latest restaurant openings and what's coming soon to the greater Austin area.
Impacts of the week
This restaurant, known for a menu stacked with Korean comfort food, opened a new location near Lakeline Mall. According to the restaurant's website, popular street food wagons called "pocha" were adapted into indoor stalls. Hanshin Pocha is an evolution of that same concept. The menu features items such as fried dumplings, Korean pancakes, kimchi fried rice, stir-fried udon with brisket and more.
This bakery sells scratch-made baked goods made daily with organic flour, grass-fed butter and sans seed oils. Breakfast items include ham and cheese focaccia, and a smash sausage sandwich, and the lunch menu features a chopped pork focaccia and shaved brussels caesar salad. The bakery also has classic espresso-based drinks, specialty matchas, loose leaf teas, cocktails, wine and a rotating selection of draft beer.
The restaurant will be able to seat 100 people with a curated menu drawing inspiration from other restaurants under the group's umbrella, such as Pasta|Bar. The menu will include thin-crust pizzas, handmade pastas, appetizers and salads; as well as secondi and desserts. Beverages will include Italian wines, local brews and a cocktail menu.
The restaurant offers traditional Tex-Mex options, such as fajitas, tacos, enchiladas and burritos. Founded in Austin in 1982, Chuy’s restaurants were acquired by Orlando-based Darden Restaurants in the summer of 2024.
The newest location for the fast-casual restaurant, which serves sandwiches, salads, soups and baked potatoes, has experienced several delays in opening. However, the company announced it will offer complimentary meals to first responders, medical professionals, active military personnel, veterans and teachers on May 15, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-8 p.m., and will be giving free sandwiches to the first 100 guests May 18.
Although a menu for the brick-and-mortar steakhouse has not been confirmed, its food truck offers barbecue-style Brazilian plates, such as baby back ribs served churrasco style, gaucho plates with picanha and fraldinha, fried yuca, and grilled chipotle chicken.
Michael and Luci Holcomb have operated the farm-based Stregare Baking Company since 2012, specializing in cheesecakes made from their own sheep’s milk, as well as cookies, brownies, cinnamon rolls, fruit bars and other baked goods.
What’s special about it
Unlike many bakeries that stick to a set menu, Stregare thrives on custom orders. With over 100 cheesecake flavors in their repertoire—from classic to yuzu to black sesame—Michael Holcomb rarely says no to special requests.
The bakery's wholesale business supplies local restaurants, including Piney Creek Chop House, where Stregare has provided four-inch cheesecakes for 11 years. Customers can shop the Saturday bake sales from 8 a.m.- p.m., where items like scones, cinnamon rolls, cookies and brownies sell for $2-$4 each. Custom cheesecakes in seven- or nine-inch sizes range from $49-$59.
