What a pleasant place to dine at. My husband and I were looking for some Asian-fusion place and we…read moreare so glad we came across this place. More of a diner/casual place and I can see people coming here for social gatherings. Wouldn't recommend for very large parties though. There is parking behind the restaurant and since the restaurant isn't that big, I don't think it would take long to find a spot. You definitely get what you paid for. We got the hanger steak and chicken and it was more than enough. We got some appetizers because we thought the entrees wouldn't be filling enough but were so wrong. And surprisingly, the main entree entree chicken wasn't dry and pretty flavorful. The steak was also cooked well - wish there was more flavor but the condiments complimented it very well. I would also get the umami wings (well cooked and great flavor). Service is A plus - the workers were all very attentive, personable, answered any questions we had. We had a mishap with our bill and the (I think?) manager was so nice and accommodating. They also have different specials depending on the day/week! Will definitely come back anytime I come back to Austin.

The service was awesome. Enhanced the dinning experience. Arrived during Happy Hour, and it was my…read morefirst time. Our server explained the owner's backstory, inspiration, the menu, HH, and the portion sizes. The charred Brussels sprouts were crispy and flavorful. The chicken wings were done in a spicy Szechuan Thai sauce. Very delicious. The Pork Buns were a home run. It was easily the biggest piece of Pork Belly I've ever seen on a bao bun. It was extremely tender and the sauce on the bun complimented it very well. It was my birthday and the wait staff gifted me an Ice Cream with Rice Paper Wafers. If I remember correctly, it was called a Thai Movie Theater (could be wrong). Ice cream was drizzled with chocolate, caramel, and fish sauce. Unique, unlike anything I've had before. The Rice Paper Wafers gave it a nice buttery crunch. Wonderful service. Wonderful food. Highly recommend and I will be back!

Tried the Loro x Siete: Backyard BBQ collab at Loro Asian Smokehouse & Bar and it was such a fun…read morehappy hour bar experience. Loro is an Asian smokehouse and bar featuring grilled and smoked meats with Southeast Asian and Japanese-inspired sauces, sides, and a bar that boasts craft beer, boozy slushees, and batch cocktails. Parking at this location is a bit of a challenge. They have overflow parking in the back but the spots are really small. We sat at the bar area and worked our way through cocktails, apps, and dessert. We opened a tab and the bar staff takes your order which is convenient, versus how you normally have to order by waiting in line at the bar. The bar staff was extremely busy because they have to make all the cocktails and take the line orders at the bar. They are a master of multitasking. It was $3 martini night on Tuesday, so was excited to sample the four different drink options. lychee martini, Mexican martini, and Lucky Cat cosmo martini. Lychee martini is made with new amsterdam vodka, sake, elderflower, Mexican martini with espolon blanco, olive, yuzu, lime and cosmo with vodka, blood orange, naranja, lime. The lychee was hands down my favorite of the three. We started with the Dip Sampler that included a trifecta of smoked shishito queso, smoked salmon dip and Thai green salsa with the Siete blue corn tortilla chips. We went through the chips quickly and got a second round of wonton chips which I preferred to the Siete chips. Tried the Mango Chamoy frozen Slushee with Siete Chamoy Botana Sauce & Siete Chile Lime Seasoning Rim, passionfruit, Aperol, Sake and Sparkling Wine which was refreshing. All their boozy slushies are $5 during happy hour. Ordered the oak grilled edamame from the happy hour menu and it was a flavor explosion with a dusting of serracha powder, lemon zest and white sesame. For dinner, I ordered my go-to rice bowl with coconut-scented rice, seasonal pickles, thai herbs and steak as the protein. They normally served this with Bavette, but the steak was a bit tough and chewy this time. Finished everything off with cheesecake with five spice crumble, yuzu marmalade for dessert. The vibe at the bar was relaxed and lively without feeling overwhelming, and the collab menu felt creative without trying too hard. The ingredients are very thoughtful for a fully developed flavor profile. Just what I would expect from the culinary minds of Tyson Cole and Aaron Franklin. Definitely one of the regulars in my list when craving good cocktails with a casual but elevated food menu.

This is good for a group hang since everyone orders at the bar. Which is also one of the bad things…read moreabout Loro because as soon as you get there, you have to go to the bar to order or try to grab a table and wait for others to go to the bar and order while you hold the table and then you go up to the bar. They really need to implement QR ordering like they have in movie theaters. The food was well presented and creative. All of the dishes were a little bit on the saucy side and a little bit salty but good overall. If you go for dinner and sit outside, make sure you get one of the fly fans to keep the flies at bay otherwise they descend with a vengeance. $3 martini nights (but they can't do an NA martini) so it was pretty packed but I'm told it's always packed. Parking is a little difficult since there's so many people but it wasn't too bad. Just make sure you don't park at a store that's open or you will get a boot.

    This was one of the best Omakase experiences we've ever had. Chef Ling is a brilliant and personable chef who treats her chefs and staff like family. Several different chefs prepared each course, and the presentation was well beyond what we expected, both visually stunning and thoughtfully composed. From the moment we walked into Ling Kitchen, the energy felt warm and intentional. The space is intimate without feeling cramped, and you immediately sense that you are about to be part of something special rather than just another dinner reservation. Chef Ling personally welcomed guests, shared the story behind the menu, and checked in throughout the evening in a way that felt genuine and never forced. Each course built on the last, with a clear progression of flavors and textures. The fish was impeccably fresh, the knife work precise, and the seasoning balanced to highlight the natural ingredients rather than overpower them. You could see the coordination among the team as different chefs stepped forward to prepare and present their dishes. It truly felt collaborative, like a small culinary orchestra. What stood out most was the creativity. Traditional techniques were honored, but there were subtle twists and unexpected combinations that kept us curious and engaged. Every plate was composed like art. The pacing was perfect, allowing time to savor each bite and appreciate the craftsmanship. Beyond the food, the hospitality elevated the entire experience. The staff was knowledgeable, attentive, and clearly proud to be part of the team. That family atmosphere Chef Ling fosters is palpable and makes the evening feel personal. If you are in Austin and looking for a memorable omakase that rivals experiences in much larger food cities, Ling Kitchen is a must. This is not just dinner, it is a curated, immersive experience. We will absolutely be back. Thank you Ling!!! You are truly one of a kind!

Chinese fine dining with a memorable, unique hospitality experience that will truly blow anything…read moreelse you've had out of the water. I saved Ling Kitchen for a recent visit to Austin, reuniting with my college roommate. She has been before; I hadn't, but we both enjoy memorable meals and she said this was sure to please; it did not disappoint. I eat at fine dining around the world and I appreciate that Ling Kitchen is truly trying to carve their own path, not trying to fit a specific mold. It was refreshing and so welcome. You enter through the back of the kitchen (where the private parking lot is) and are taken to a prep area where you'll select drinks and have opening bites. You get a selection of champagne or a non-alcoholic option to start and get your first taste of the food (charcuterie on a rice cracker, yum). They have a decent wine and sake menu, but everything is by the bottle, so beware if you're a light drinker. We opted for a bottle of sake that was just the right amount for two to share for a 3-hour meal. The actual meal takes place in the kitchen itself, alongside the prep of the chefs working it. It's such a unique ambiance and different to the "open kitchen" setup I have done for other fine dining; you are truly in between the cold storage, the duck aging for future diners, etc. The low light & ambiance is beautifully arranged for a nice meal and they put all the special touches - down to LED camera lights for each diner so you can use to take photos of your food better! You can only make reservations in 2's or 4's for this spot and the table arrangement is really for diners to share a meal together. The food itself is extremely beautiful and so filling! I think this was the first time at a fine dining restaurant I literally could not finish all the food and had to make a few smart choices towards the end to have room to try it all! I think some dishes stood out more than others (the XO lobster tail, every single dessert, an eggplant dish they made to sub for the aged duck for me, and the king salmon with curry lahksa), and a few were aesthetically pleasing but otherwise lacked strong flavor (the dumplings, the steamed egg, a pan seared halibut that was a sub for wagyu). I thoroughly enjoyed the meal and more so enjoyed the storytelling and thoughtfulness of each dish and the overall service & hospitality experience. Chef Ling Qi Wu is introduces several dishes and is available to chat with guests throughout the meal. She noted the taro dish as one of her first dim sum items she had ever made and the salmon curry lakhsa as a home comfort dish for her. The desserts were themed around the four seasons - just so much thought put into the whole experience! They had the entire table introduce themselves and share what brought them there halfway through the meal and gave us the opportunity to walk around the kitchen, talk to chefs, try some elements used in later dishes like the fresh honey used in our desserts. They gave us a polaroid, branded chopsticks and a clean menu to commemorate the experience. Ling Kitchen is truly more than a fancy restaurant; it's a whole memorable dining experience, and I hope to return for a future special visit one day!

I had a wonderful time the other night thanks to my server Fere! She was super friendly and helpful…read morewith my really annoying order. I made several changes and she had no issue handling them. Will be coming back again and requesting her as a server!

I brought my mom and sister here for lunch!…read more The indoor space and outdoor patio are very spacious. The salmon rice bowl ($15.95) and the brisket sandwich ($15.95) were both filling and delicious. The salmon especially was perfectly cooked and I loved the coconut rice. Order at the counter, and they bring your food out to you.

Discovered on yelp and came here, safe to say this is a solid pho spot! It might even be a…read morecontender to pho phong luu which is hard to come by in austin. You can check in to get a free spring roll and the overall vibe is nice, spacious and quiet. I really enjoyed my noodle bowl - i got it with pork. The fish sauce paired really well with it and meat was soft. I do wish it came with the garlic chips though as pictured. For the pho- we got the ha noi special and the thinly sliced scallion was so good with the broth and the meat. Overall it was very decent and i definitely need to come back here to try the banh mi.

From the owner: Free 1 Spring Roll per table for Dinning in Only to the end of Jun.read more

I've been here twice now, and this place has earned a spot on my rotation…read more I started with my standard Pho Tai, and it was excellent. The broth was perfect and authentic. On my return trip, I went for the Stone Pot Pho with fresh noodles, and it was even better. I can't go back to regular noodles after having the fresh noodles. I found the staff friendly and attentive both times. If you want authentic Vietnamese, I'd come here.

The bone marrow appetizer was delicious, two large bones along with some bread with pate…read more The Banh mi at this place is also quite good. However prices are pretty high.

Mak, Jam, Harrison, and the crew are why I keep coming back. Great local energy, consistency, and…read morethey elevate every visit and the music vibe is fire. Adding protein to the noodle dishes is a huge win and keeps me coming back. I would love to see more options like beef, chicken, shrimp, and especially brisket in noodle dishes. A customizable bowl with rice or noodles, vegetables, protein, and sauce would also be a great addition and strong value. Major miss: the egg roll. Moving from multiple spring rolls to a single flaky, freezer style egg roll feels like a big downgrade. Honestly a disaster compared to the rest of the menu. I come often, the drinks never miss, the staff is fantastic, and event menus are always top notch. Hoping to see a few tweaks back in the right direction. Ratings:5 Staff: 5 Food Overall: 5 Egg Roll: -5 it's an Utter Disaster

Came to Old Thousand because of the hype on social media, big mistake…read more It wasn't busy, yet we stood there waiting to be acknowledged. When a server finally came over, she walked us to a table, slammed the menus down, and walked off. Rude for no reason. Food was just as disappointing. The rangoons were good. My husband wanted orange chicken but it wasn't on their brunch menu, they were kind enough to still make it, which we appreciated. It was good, but everything else? No. The "mala fried chicken" was basically chicken nuggets with steamed rice, the menu said it had chili oil, I expected it to be drizzled over the chicken but instead was sitting at the bottom of the bowl. I didn't notice it till the end and since I thought they had forgotten it, I asked for some and got just the oil. Idk if that's the way they do it, but usually when I ask for chili oil I receive the chili flakes with the oil. Anyways, it was mid. But the brisket fried rice..... now, that had zero flavor. We barely touched it, left the whole thing behind. Between the attitude and the food, it's a no for us. Wouldn't come back.

Casual, ready-to-grab and eat, Korean fare. I've stopped in at various hours and almost always…read morethere's a least one of each dish selection ready to go. My favorites are the beef bulgogi (in any form) and chicken bibimbap. The dosirak (bento) tend to have a larger serving. The bibimbap a little lighter lunch. The gimbap is also excellent, much more fresh than those at H-mart. The owner's are great folks, too! Very friendly and happy to recommend a dish. There's a few tables and seats if prefering to dine in. Parking is ample.

I got here a few times and usually in the evening. The only part of going in the evening is that…read morethey can run out of food, so be careful coming later in the evening. I like that it is part convenience store and packs food ready to be served. There are even 2 small tables there if you want to just eat there as well. I had a few dishes there and they were great. I got a pork bowl before and the pork was great flavor and was tender. I am hoping to visit again and try to get other dishes to try.

Ordered the kung pao chicken lunch special and was super impressed by the portion and price! My…read moreentree came with a side of soup so I got the hot and sour soup and it was very good. The king pao chicken was also very good and had a nice flavor.

The food was very good. I happen to be partial to the egg drop soup. The crab rations were…read moredelicious. He gave me a free egg drop soup. I will be back.

You can get a variety of different toppings, of which I got the combination seafood and meat, and…read morechoose from 1-10 spice level. I got the 9 and it definitely had me sweating! The flavor was really savory and delicious, and they also gave side dishes like kimchi, marinated potatoes, and bean sprouts. The stone pot bibimbap is also a great option is you're not feeling the soup. It came sizzling hot with beef, carrots, spinach, and other veggies. The potion was large and it was filling! The seafood pancake was also really good and had lots of squid in it. The soy sauce that was for dipping paired well with it, and it was slightly crispy on the surface. Service was quick, even though it was busy, and we even had leftovers we could take to enjoy later. They also have parking available right outside the restaurant, although it was tough making a left turn out of it.

Favorite Korean place in Austin so far…read more Seafood pancake is the highlight. Tofu soup is good, the rating is not very spicy so you could go up to 6/7 for a non-spicy person and still be able to handle it.