The original Knuckle Sandwich was one of 2024’s best new restaurants, and they’ve opened a second South Austin location that’s bigger in every way. Instead of a tiny, perpetually busy trailer at The Yard, the new spot comes with a proper kitchen and a longer menu. Knuckle has given the bar at The Far Out a makeover, and you can order inside or from a trailer in the backyard while pregaming a show. They’re still making sandwiches we’d sacrifice a kidney for.

Kai Zabb is a spicy little oasis tucked in the back of a sprawling food-truck park near McNeil and 183. Fried chicken is the star at this basil-colored trailer, but instead of the usual sides and sauces, it comes with fiery lime-and-Thai-chili dressings or rich and creamy panang curry. It’s all white meat, but thanks to some top-notch frying, the chicken stays juicy with a perfectly crisp finish. Dressings are served on the side to ensure maximum crunch, and you can choose your spice level.

To our knowledge, Sami Sumeli is the first (and only) Georgian restaurant within 100 miles of Austin. So the next time you find yourself hypnotized by a video of bubbling khachapuri, you’ll only need to head to Cedar Park for your own cheese-filled bread canoe. The full roster of Georgian classics is here—chewy and soupy khinkali dumplings, savory lamb kebabs, grilled eggplant rolls stuffed with cheese and walnuts—plus a long list of regional wines you won’t find anywhere else in town.

There’s no shortage of classic barbecue in Austin, but Parish Barbecue gives it an exciting Louisiana twist. Think crawfish stuffing, jalapeño cheddar boudin sausage, and smoked ham that goes toe to toe with the best slow-cooked meats in town. We haven’t seen a BBQ newcomer make such a strong impression in a while, but considering the pitmaster has both Franklin and Interstellar on his résumé, we can’t say we’re surprised.

This Mumbai-styled restaurant and bar might just be exciting enough to act as a magnet to the hordes of festive patrons at Nickel City across the street. It’s loud and lively, with a mix of small patio tables, long booths, and cozy corner nooks where you can kick off your shoes and relax on floor cushions. The food is a little bit India and a little bit Austin—curry queso and grilled paneer skewers share a cheesy playing field, but the standout dishes are the rich, flavorful “gravies”.

The Greek Bar looks like a taverna that’s been airlifted from somewhere along the Mediterranean Sea. What this spot lacks in waterfront scenery—it’s located on a residential stretch of East Oltorf—it makes up for in delicious ouzo- and Greek yogurt-fueled cocktails and tender lamb chops. We could wax poetic about the friendly service, but we need to talk about that lamb. It’s coated in lemon oregano vinaigrette, and it makes us want to live on a farm in Crete.

Dim sum carts are some of the most exciting things on four wheels—right up there with NASCAR and anything Dom Toretto drives. But in Austin, they’re a rare sight, unless you find yourself at Tian Tian Golden Palace near Braker and North Lamar. Here, servers whisk carts with metal baskets full of steaming dumplings and buns through a packed banquet hall, pausing only to unload their treasures onto giant round tables.

Near the entrance of this large, buzzy Clarksville spot is a glass room about the size of a small Manhattan apartment where dry-aged meats sit for weeks at a time, patiently awaiting their grand debut. Try not to stare. Large-format steaks take center stage at Aris, but it’s the small Mediterranean plates and seafood entrees that are worth crossing Downtown traffic for. This is the type of place where you can get dressed up.

You probably already know the Allday name—it’s home to some of Austin’s best pizza, with a semi-permanent location at Daydreamer and another at Flo’s Wine Bar. Now they’re all grown up. The brick-and-mortar in Hyde Park has an expanded setup that includes cocktails, sandwiches, and a dining room that looks a little like an ultra-modern Chipotle. The MVP is, unsurprisingly, the New York-style pizza with a charred crust that’s crispy and chewy in all the right ways.

Kyoko describes itself as “Austin’s cutest coffee,” and after a quick glimpse at the retrofitted Honda microvan that the shop operates out of in Highland, it’s hard not to agree. You’ll find all of the usual espresso-based drinks and teas on the menu, but the real reason to come here is for the signature Japanese-inspired beverages like the Kyoko Dreams of Ube—a creamy, not-too-sweet tea with a bit of purple yam syrup that adds nuttiness and a lilac tint to the drink.

Delivering on its name, Day Maker Half Day Cafe is a cafe open daily for breakfast, brunch, and lunch. Whichever of those you choose to celebrate, you’ll find the Zilker spot packed with families, couples, and groups of friends dining around tables full of churro pancakes and huevos rancheros tostadas. It’s bright and airy inside, with light wooden tables in the dining room and a grab-and-go coffee counter up front, in case you’d rather take your latte on the road.

Loudmouth is the type of casual neighborhood Italian joint you’ll find yourself drifting to the next time a craving for meatballs, Neapolitan pies, or Italian subs hits. It’s right across the street from its sister restaurant, Paperboy. But unlike that buzzy brunch spot's hyper-modern design, Loudmouth is set in a cozy, renovated old house, complete with a front porch where you can look out over the block while enjoying a glass of wine or a cocktail. Pizza is the real reason you’re here though.

Everything you need to know about Cockti is right there in the name. This is juicy fried chicken at its best. The menu at the East MLK food truck is small but mighty—nuggets, sandwiches, and bone-in pieces—but the sauces and seasonings are what set Cockti apart from your average Popeyes. Fried chicken sandwiches start with an ultra-crispy thigh, then get topped with things like chipotle, cinnamon, and agave, or Sichuan peppercorns, pickles, and creamy house sauce.

Try to remember what you were doing two months ago. That’s approximately when the giant slabs of tuna belly started dry-aging at Top Roe, a swanky new handroll bar Downtown. They’re on display when you walk in, but most of the fish is caught in the Gulf each morning before getting prepped to go into little temaki rolls right in front of you. This is classic sushi with a taste of Texas—even the red wine vinegar that seasons the rice is made in the Hill Country.