Stopped by 888 Pan Asian and ordered the combination pho. It was really good with a flavorful…read morebroth, generous portions, and plenty of meat. The serving size was definitely worth it because I had leftovers, and it somehow tasted even better reheated the next day. Always a great sign when the quality holds up after taking it home. Solid spot for pho if you're looking for a satisfying meal with big portions. Note to self: make sure to ask for the chili crisp oil on the side next time. It didn't taste nearly as good without it, and they don't automatically include it. Definitely worth requesting because it adds so much more flavor.

Pho anyone?? Anyone craving pho or vermicelli/rice plates, this is the place to be!!…read more From the fried egg rolls to their spring rolls and pho, this place is authentically good. Also had the Tom Yum Soup and that was delicious. This place is great if you want really good Vietnamese dishes!! Photos to come later due to not having anytime to take photos cuz it's so damn good here!

Never tried pho before so I winged it by ordering brisket pho LOVED IT! I love the ambiance in the…read moredaytime nice and quiet the staff is super friendly you can tell there's a lot of love put into this restaurant.

First things first: 1618 Asian Fusion is located in a busy and popular area of South Austin, but…read morethere is a free parking garage right across the street, which makes visiting much easier. The dining environment is comfortable, clean, and fun. It has a lively atmosphere that works well for hanging out with friends, date nights, or even a casual dinner when you want something a little nicer. Their menu has a great variety of food and drinks to choose from, which makes it a good spot for groups. I tried the dim sum and pho, and both were fresh and delicious. What surprised me the most was that the prices were actually very reasonable, especially considering the location, atmosphere, and quality of the food. No wonder every time I come here, it's always packed. It's rare to find an Asian fusion restaurant that does this concept right, but 1618 really pulls it off.

Mom's Special Cooking IS actually special. As far as I know, it's the only place to get Burmese…read morefood in Austin, and it is wonderful. The restaurant itself is clean, bright and welcoming, the decor is nice with a good selection of those Burmese puppets and other charming doodads, and the people who run the place are lovely. Of course, the real test is the food, and judging from the lunch I had there today, this place should be a winner. My friend and I shared a tea leaf salad as appetizer, and it lives up to the best I had in Myanmar. We both tried variations on the Shan noodle entree, dry (as opposed to a soup-based version) and both the chicken and pork types were delicious, with a wonderful complexity of flavors and textures. So far, the only concession I noticed to American tastes was in the portion size. The entrées were huge, which is OK by me, as I am already looking forward to dinner and maybe breakfast! The service was very friendly, and we got to chat with mom, the genius behind these great flavors, and she is as wonderful as the food she cooks. If you're familiar with Burmese food, you're in for a treat. If you're not, give it a try - - because I selfishly hope that this restaurant will be around for a good while.

I grew up in Northern California where I enjoyed very authentic and delicious Burmese food, so was…read morethrilled to see a Burmese restaurant open up in Austin, and even more excited that it was so highly rated. Unfortunately the food was disappointing and the overall experience underwhelming. Service was slow despite there being hardly anyone in the restaurant. Prices were steep for a small hole in the wall spot. I ordered a tea leaf salad and Mohinga. I often crave a good Burmese tea leaf salad but sadly this one did not hit. Flavors were off and the ingredients were not fresh. They didn't even toss the salad for us, which is something they typically do at any Burmese restaurant I've been to. Mohinga was equally disappointing, lacking flavor and freshness. The only redeeming factor were their boba drinks which were delicious.

Went to Qi for dim sum brunch and overall had a really enjoyable experience. Qi is know for…read morecombining western and traditional Chinese cuisine by using local organic farming. Did not have a reservation on this occasion, but they always make me feel welcome and manage to fit us in. Sat on the outdoor covered patio that was cool and shaded. The atmosphere is modern and lively, making it a great spot for a weekend brunch. Started the meal with cocktails including Lycheetini with Deep Eddy Vodka, Giffard Lichi-li. lemon, cranberry, I cut the cranberry. Also had a Fresa Paloma with Socorro Reposado Tequila, Contratto, strawberry, lime, grapefruit, five-spice that was very sweet and garnished with a flower. You are given a card where you can mark your dim sum selections. I ordered the Shrimp Pancake, Snow Crab Ball and Chinese Sausage Sticky Rice. The standout was the shrimp pancake that had a really great texture and flavor. The snow crab ball had a strange texture with shrimp surrounding the snow crab claw. The Chinese Sticky Rice is always a favorite. Also ordered the Truffle Egg Fried rice and Birds Nest with Seasonal Vegetable. The Truffle rice is so flavorful like a flavor explosion in your mouth. The Birds Nest is made with fried potato shreds which contain the a variety of vegetables including cauliflower, peppers, mushrooms and asparagus. The nest is also edible and has a crunchy texture. The presentation of the food is amazing and everything came out hot and fresh. The flavors were on point, and you can tell there's attention to detail in the preparation. Service was attentive outdoors and the pacing of dishes felt just right for a relaxed brunch. This restaurant is truly a gem whether you come for brunch or dinner service. Will definitely be back.

A large group of us came for dinner - the ambience is super fun, modern, and vibey!…read more Service was prompt, friendly, and accurate. As for the food - everyone loved their dishes! The flavors were spot on and delicious. The only challenge we had was that they would not allow split checks or at least partially split checks - so we spend a huge amount of time figuring out what everyone owed. I wouldn't do a large group here in the future, but I'd definitely come back for a date or small group.

One of my friends had a meet up at Azure, a Vietnamese restaurant located on North Lamar in strip…read moremall. I suggested this restaurant because it had 4.9 / 5.0 rating (67 reviews). This charming Pan-Asian café is warm, welcoming and with quite a lot of personality. The menu captures unique tastes such ascreamy udon, crispy chicken karaage, pho dip banh mi, croffles, bingsu, and Vietnamese coffee. The atmosphere is relaxed and laid-back. Neon signs, cute décor, and a laid-back vibe with cats as its focal point bring this restaurant to life. The store manager and staff were super friendly and welcomed any questions regarding the menu. The vibe was familial. Also, the music playing in the background was quietly intoxicating. My friend ordered the Banh Xeo Tacos, which she enjoyed very much. The bonus was they were gluten-free. I was not very hungry at the time, but I can always find room for dessert...so, Mango Bingsu was my dessert de jour! Mango Bingsu is when mango marries shaved ice (milk-based) and sweeten condensed milk. It reminded me of the desserts I had in China. Yummy! Azure is a whole vibe...it is the real deal! Definitely returning...

This place has been on my list for awhile so glad I got to try it out. The menu is a unique blend…read moreof Vietnamese, Japanese and a little bit of Thai. We ordered two of the top dishes often mentioned in previous reviews, the creamy udon and tom kha pho. The creamy udon ($16.99) is pretty heavy. After a few bites it almost tastes too rich to eat. I think adding some pickled Japanese inspired veggies would help offset the creaminess. The tom kha pho ($16.99) tastes exactly how it sounds, savory with a hint of creamy coconut and citrus notes. But the chicken itself was pretty bland. I like the two dishes (pho and tom kha) separately but not sure if I like them together. Also ordered the crème brûlée latte (9/10) and the earl grey matcha latte (5/10). I wish the earl grey had a stronger presence. Overall I think it's a place you should try at least once if you want to try Asian dishes with a fusion twist.

I first heard about OKO about a year ago and never got a chance to visit until recently for a…read moreValentine's Day dinner. Leading up to it we were pretty excited since we've seen a lot of online buzz about the place Man...we were super disappointed. I immediately knew we made the wrong choice when I ordered a "Banana Old Fashioned" and the only thing "banana" about it was a tiny banana chip that got tossed in a normal old fashioned (no joke, see pics) The prices on each of the items are also way too high for what it is. And the amount of food they give you is like ordering a side dish. You could get better bang for your buck at a food truck, and I'd argue that you can probably get better tasting food at a food truck too It's not even about the amount of food. If the quality was good, the price can be justified, but just because a waiter tells you how to dip your food in the sauces that it comes in, doesn't make it "fancy" You can tell this place loves their fish sauce, cause that's the only flavor you're going to get here Dessert was an absolute joke. Two scoops of blue bell ice cream with fruity pebbles sprinkled on top. Something that also bothered me at the end is that they pass on the credit card fees (3%) onto the customer. It'll say on the receipt. Even fast food restaurants don't do this. Waiters were very nice. Vibes were okay except for the "Valentine's Day" paper menu having a lot of food smeared on from previous diners. It was just another classic "let's charge NYC prices in Austin" type restaurant. Absolutely joke.

I took my partner here to celebrate a birthday and it was perfect. The restaurant is dim, moody,…read moreand elegant. Also loved that I could take him here without breaking the bank. We ordered the hamachi, the pork belly, and the kare kare, and had the halo halo for dessert. I also got the karaoke girl cocktail. I would say the portion sizes are in the small side but for everything we ordered between the two of us, we did end up being full enough, not belly hurting. Every bite is well balanced with yummy flavors and textures. Leanne was our server and she was awesome. I love when servers describe the dish and recommend how to get the best bite. Can't wait to come back!

The food was great and the staff were exceptional! Great spot to scratch that pho itch!read more

We stopped here after a visit to the zoo as it was relatively close by…read more The pho was pho-nominal! The broth was light and perfectly seasoned - no hoisin sauce needed. You have a choice of three meat options with the pho. I went rogue and ordered my pho with shrimp, tripe, and meatball. Interestingly, they had a lobster pho option. Will have to try that next time! I

Came to Don Don Express again, but this time for takeout!…read more I already knew I wanted the Chicken Katsu again after a really great experience last time. I also checked out the appetizer menu and decided to try the curry pancake. The boxed Chicken Katsu came out piping hot. It was still a generous portion of chicken layered over rice. When I saw the side compartment, I paused for a second and thought, is that soup? Then I realized it was actually the onion, egg, and soy mixture that goes with donburi. I did not know it would be packed separately, so I was not especially careful with the container and a little of it spilled into the bag. That said, I really applaud this place for separating it. It kept the chicken katsu crispy and the rice dry and fluffy until I was ready to eat. The curry pancake was different from what I expected, but in a pleasant way. It was not filled with curry or mixed into the dough. Instead, it was a hot, crispy, flaky Asian-style pancake with a texture similar to a scallion pancake, served with a curry dipping sauce. The curry had a bold and flavorful profile. It was not thick but nor sweet as the usual Japanese curry block sauces, as I was expeecting since it is a japnese themeed place. Te curry to me tatded more indian curry stlye, a bit spicy and a strong but it had a strong savory depth. Because of the texure closer to a desn flavor croth it did not cling to the pancake as much, not like how naan would scoopt up the curry, but it still paired very well, and works nice with the katsu, too! Very happy with this meal and definitely excited to return again.

I was really looking forward to trying Don Don, but unfortunately our order was a disappointment…read more We got two beef teriyaki bento boxes. The California roll was good, and honestly the best part of the meal was the miso soup. The beef, though, was tough, dry, and completely lacking in flavor--neither of us could eat it. Such a bummer.

I'm Viet and I approve. We get spring rolls, pho, vermicelli and bun bo hue. Not sure on the coffee…read moreand egg rolls. TBH better than some viet places in Austin. Compared to West and East coast maybe 2nd best but here in Austin I like their pho. And they are consistent. I get the everything pho, so can't speak to the others.

Pho Please has a very modern, minimalist vibe and feels super clean inside. It definitely does not…read morefeel like a traditional pho or Vietnamese restaurant at all, which might be a plus or minus depending on what you are looking for. I have been here for both lunch and dinner and it is pretty busy during both times, so clearly it is popular. I tried the Pho Please pho and the mi kho dry egg noodles. The pho was fine but nothing really stood out. It tasted good enough but did not have that depth or richness that makes you crave pho again. The mi kho dry egg noodles were also pretty mid and honestly lacked flavor. It felt like something was missing and I kept wanting to add more to make it pop. I also got the brown sugar milk tea, which I actually really liked. It was very sweet, which worked for me, but some of my friends thought it was way too sweet for their taste. Definitely something to keep in mind if you prefer lighter drinks. You order at the counter and the food comes out pretty fast, which is nice when it is busy.

The Yard is a weird and wonderful place full of food, beverages and games…read more We were enjoying some cold suds at Ants Beer Cave and were feeling peckish. There are lots of food trucks in The Yard and we decided to order from Spicy Boys. We ordered online and I walked over to pick up our food. The Crispy Asian Fried Chicken is outstanding! We got the 5 Piece Drums & Thighs with some Tingly Tater Tots, which is plenty of food for 2 people. The Thai Basil Ranch sauce was phenomenal. Pro Tip: Ask the venue, where you want to consume your chicken, if they allow outside food. Not all of them do.

Great location in front of St Elmo's Brewery. Grabbed a convenient picnic table, a beer and enjoyed…read moretheir hot chicken sandwich with tator tots. I felt that the spices on the tots were too much when paired with the sandwich. I love spice and heat but this seemed overkill. Would've been nice to have them without the spice. Service was great and quick.