Baolicious offers a variety of steamed dumplings that can come with pork, crab, pork and shrimp, or rice and mushrooms. (Courtesy Baolicious)
Little Nishi trades its South Congress trailer for a South Austin restaurant Oct. 15, leading this month's dining news across the metro.
Elsewhere, Casa Fina brings Spanish tapas near Zilker Park, Baolicious serves dumplings and bao at The Linc, KL Dragon House opens off North I-35 and Scrambles debuts in Pflugerville. Plus, in this month's feature, a Round Rock cantina where the dance floor fills up after dinner.
This Japanese spot is opening its first brick-and-mortar restaurant, Nishi, in South Austin on Oct. 15 after closing its South Congress trailer Oct. 1. Founded by Joel Taylor, the eatery serves handrolls, sashimi and appetizers such as roasted chili edamame.
Little Nishi's Hama Toro hand roll ($9.50) has yellowtail belly, avocado, crispy shallot, fresh herbs, sesame and whiskey ponzu.(Community Impact Staff)
Vietnamese and Chinese cuisine is on the menu at KL Dragon House in North Austin. Entrees include vermicelli bowls, rice plates, stir-fried noodles and orange chicken, while appetizers range from spring rolls, egg rolls and crab rangoon to chicken wings, wontons and dumplings.
Chilaquiles and migas share the menu with diner classics such as omelets and pancakes at Scrambles, a new breakfast, brunch and lunch spot in Pflugerville.
This Asian kitchen recently opened along I-35 in Austin's The Linc retail center. The menu features handcrafted dumplings, noodles, bao buns, orange chicken, honey walnut shrimp, fried rice, chow mein, ramen, Taiwanese beef rolls, pork pot stickers and various appetizers.
Il Brutto chef Erind Halilaj and operating partner Charity Sadoy are behind Casa Fina, a Spanish tapas bar in the former House Wine space near Zilker Park. The menu features seafood tapas, paella, Spanish wines and cocktails, served indoors and on a new patio.
When Victor Salazar founded Besos Cocina & Cantina in April 2022, he wasn't just opening a restaurant.
"What drives us is not only can we help the community and hire and serve people, but really the fact that we can share our culture and our food and our music."
-Victor Salazar
On the menu
The menu offers classic Tex-Mex dishes such as nachos and burritos as well as authentic Mexican food such as mole and menudo.
"We have real, authentic Mexican food and usually that type of food you find in small hole-in-the-wall restaurants," Salazar said.
Besos quesa birria tacos include three pan-seared tacos filled with birria beef, cheese, consommé, cilantro and onion. (Courtesy Besos Cocina & Cantina)
One more thing
On Friday and Saturday nights, Besos brings in DJs who draw in crowds to enjoy the music and dance. On Sundays, they do karaoke starting at 6 p.m.
"At about 9:15 or 9:30, all of a sudden people start dancing and it gets pretty crazy," Salazar said.
