A big part of the decades long success at Local Foods has been their commitment to consistency…read more Their casual setting with excellent service is one thing, but quality executed food that is simple and seasonal will always go a long way. Before their recent expansions to Austin, it all began here in Rice Village exactly 15 years ago. The vibes are contemporary and casual, with the kind of space that fits for just about any scenario. Whether it's a solo meal, a lunch date, or a group led affair, the experience is almost always an excellent one. Start by ordering at the counter and find a seat where the food will brought directly to the table. So much of their variety caters to all sorts of dietary restrictions from vegan to gluten free to nut free. Their spicy crispy brussels sprouts ($10) are a nice starter, as is the squash "onion" rings ($12). The local power bowl ($16) is a classic and I've always enjoyed the brown rice and quinoa combo. Their chicken "posolé" is solid, and I love the large hominy bits along with the clear but green tint of a broth. The chicken shawarma bowl ($20) is an interesting mix that includes pickled beets and strawberries, along with their market cheddar burger ($17) and fabulous twice cooked fries. The carrot cupcake is strangely addicting, and I think their gluten free brownie is a bit of a sleeper. Some of their items didn't jive with me previously, such as an underwhelming cashew queso ($9), a semi-laughable Vietnamese steak bowl ($22), and their semi-gringo version of a banh mi ($15). It's not that these items are bad per se, but they definitely don't live up to the same standard that I feel their other dishes do best. Where they hit the biggest home run is their customer service. Everyone working behind the counter does their best to deliver and they almost always do by staying on top of refills, cleanups, and customer greets. I've always enjoyed my experiences here and look forward to every visit.

Fabulous!! I was told by my colleague friends that this place was awesome and perfect for someone…read morelike me who is now both dairy free and (mostly) gluten free. After meetings we met and had a long lunch sitting outside on one of the two lovely patios. It was comfortable on a beautiful day. The person who took the order was very friendly and so was the manager who came around to check on our meal. One friend had the Thai steak salad and I had the veggie burger made with quinoa, beets and other vegetables. Wow...is what I will say!!! It was so flavorful and the focaccia bun (not gluten free) was incredible! Plus the double cooked fries were delicious! Oh, the side potato salad and kale salad were also delicious! I look forward to being back there next time I'm in Houston!!

We didn't know where to eat and ended up walking into Mendocino Farms in Rice Village--I'm so glad…read morewe did! Jose, the manager, went above and beyond. He took the time to walk us through the menu and gave thoughtful recommendations that made ordering easy. We tried the "Not So Fried" Chicken Sandwich, and the southern potato salad, it was incredible--super flavorful, fresh, and not too heavy. We also had the Farmhouse Ranch Salad with chicken, which was just as delicious--fresh, hearty, and really satisfying. Customer service like that really makes a difference. Definitely coming back! Wish they had a Mendocino Farms in San Antonio!

Located in the vibrant area of rice village, you can park in the parking garage next to Mendocino…read moreFarms free for two hours. We were greeted as we entered. Looking at the menu, they were out of the Peruvian Steak so I opted for the Chimichurri steak. My bf got the Chicken Parm. Checking us out, was the manager Vincent who had an amazing attitude. The place is bigger than I thought it would be and even has a designated kid area for them to draw in the chalkboard. Pretty cute and clean. Our food came out and we love the sauces in our designated sandwiches. The sesame roll felt unique. After we ate, Vincent even recommended for the chicken parm to substitute it with Ciabatta bread so it can soak up the marinara dip more. The restaurant and food is a solid four but the staff makes it a five!

Honestly everything Is pretty good, wouldn't say the sandwich blew me away. However I think it's…read moreperfect the way it is. I could def see me being addicted to this place. Establisment was clean. Got the Caesar chicken salad Zeppelin. It could've been stuffed more but I did do pick up. Will be back to try more flavors.

I went here several months ago because my friend kept hyping up their version of a "spicy chicken…read morecaesar", and it was enough for me to place a to-go order and get up from my WFH desk to pick it up. I will say this flavor particularly was a 5/5 for me. It was exactly what I was looking for (carbs, spicy Caesar salad...not hard to please). However, I haven't found myself wanting to come back even though I drive past this area pretty frequently. If I did come back, I'd probably just order the same flavor again because it was that good. The Zeppelin is very filling though and kept me good for 2 meals, I just think nothing else on the menu appealed to me (other than the Spicy Tejano) enough to steer away from my go-to sandwich/bowl places if the craving for that type of food ever came. The staff were super friendly though and parking wasn't terrible. I can see why they chose the location since it is a great lunch spot for people in the area tbat want something quick but don't wanna run into the mall/opt for fast food drive thru.

This food is so disgusting. Overcook and cooked in old grease. I should have just followed my first…read moremind and went to Chick-fil-A.

My regret is heavy with this one. Oreo milkshake was definitely a drink that you can enjoy with a…read moreregular straw. (I prefer a thicker shake with Oreo pieces so this was not a plus for me.) the bread was interesting....crispy but not delicate and crisp like i would expect a grilled cheese to be. And the sandwich was wet and very full but not flavorful. I didn't finish my sandwich or my shake. I would not recommend.

Was in the neighborhood with my girlfriend so we decided to have lunch here on a whim,…read more We were instantly met with cheery disposition, reasonable prices & some baller food. This was the first visit for both of us, but the atmosphere felt like we had been coming here with each of our families for years. To say it was a pleasant experience, would be a major understatement.

I'm a special education teacher who recently took my Life Skills class on a field trip to Little…read moreMatt's in order to practice placing an order, making a payment, table manners, etc. I truly have nothing but wonderful things to say about our experience. The owners, manager, and other employees present were so patient and kind with my students as they placed their orders. The food was also delicious (I got a chicken sandwich) and my other coworkers were also very pleased with their meals. We had the best experience!

This jersey mikes does a great job with our orders promptly. The food is fresh and I love the…read moreItalian style sandwiches with crunchy iceberg lettuce. This is not a spot to linger - order at the counter and get your food to go. There are limited tables for those that wish to dine in and the ambience is not really conducive to having a relaxing lunch. The parking can be tight but for this area of the village, it is nice to have free parking in front of the business.

We love Jersey Mike's! It is our go to sandwich place. The staff is great, the service amazing,…read moreand the place is clean. They make delicious sandwiches!!!

this place is AMAZING! the food is so fresh and authentic, the workers are so kind and helpful, and…read morethe outdoor patio was so lovely on a spring night. I could not recommend this place more and I can't wait to go back and try the coffee in the day time

Step into this cozy and cute cafe and Italian music will serenade you as your eyes wander over the…read morepastries in the display case and the menu of several sandwich, pizza, pasta, and salad options. Fun fact of the day: a panuozzo is a sandwich made of pizza dough, and that's how they do it here too! The result is a crispy shelled bread with a soft and chewy interior-- a dream to layer on topping and devour :D ** Apple walnut burrata kale salad (5/5)-- despite lacking the sautéed cinnamon apples advertised in the description (the fresh ones were still yummy!), this salad was still madly delicious! Baby kale massaged in balsamic vinaigrette was topped with creamy burrata, making each bite a balance of acidic, sweet, and creamy. Definitely a good pick for burrata fans-- mmm, so good! We used the pieces of bread to sop up the sauces of our other dishes :) ** Vodka pasta (4/5)-- a simple but well executed dish with mezze maniche or a wider, shorter version of rigatoni. The sauce was creamy and flavorful and studded with pieces of flavorful, salty pancetta. It was served hot :) ** Maialino panuozzo (4.5/5)-- the bread was so delicious, as it was chewy and airy and held up well against the toppings. The porchetta was meaty, and I couldn't really discern the crispy eggplant or taste the spicy mayo, but I loved it; the overall flavor was mild and not too salty. MT thought it was too mild and said next time we would order something heavier sounding like the truffle sandwich. But he still enjoyed it, and I thought it was the best sandwich I've had in recent memory! Ingredients tasted fresh and high quality. :) ** Arancini (4/5)-- this fried risotto ball was dressed up and heated before served to us at the table. It's rich, hot, and creamy! Not much ragu or meat in the middle (more so cheesy rice), but it came topped with meat sauce. I'm not an expert, but these were really big and tasty to share. The man at the counter was very friendly and thanked us for coming. It was heart-warming to see him excitedly speaking Italian to an elderly couple walking in too. Definitely bring a jacket for cold windy days as there's a draft inside and it gets chilly whenever the doors open. Cotto E Crudo is going to be a hit in warmer months-- excited to return and try more of the menu!

Wonderful x infinity!!…read more I had been to another (great) location back in October with a totally different ambience. This one was equally wonderful with the outdoor seating area that was perfect for conversations and relaxing. The lights back there are lovely and plenty of space to not be disturbed. The food...EXCELLENT!! I had the pistachio encrusted salmon dish that was as good as it gets!! See pic. My friends had the quinoa burger and a chicken bowl of some sort. We all loved everything!! Oh, and the vegan carrot cake muffin was OOTW!!!

Local Foods in the Upper Kirby/River Oaks area has a slightly different vibe than the one in The…read moreHeights because it's located in a shopping strip on a busy street (W Gray) with nice retail shops and restaurants. Parking can be tight depending on the time/day. This location feels like it has more indoor seating and a better patio than The Heights which is more exposed to the outdoor elements off the trails. I couldn't remember if I'd been here before until old photos I posted showed. I'm used to The Heights location which is closer to me. It's been about 5 years when I first moved to the loop that I went here with a friend. I had the OG Brussels sprouts which were my favorite when they still had Benjy's in Rice Village. It was a staple for 25 years. They closed in 2020 to expand Local Foods. Pretty bummed because Benjy's was great and had an amazing pecan-crusted goat cheese appetizer with pita. It had more of a cocktail lounge vibe that my friends and I would frequent back in grad school for HH. They had another location off Washington, but that is also closed and is now Forget Me Not. Anyways, the Brussels sprouts were amazing, and I always loved them. I'm glad that Local Foods occasionally features it as a special. I usually gravitate towards the crunchy chicken sandwich. The pretzel bun is everything, and the filling is loaded. If you have a bit allergy, this is not for you. It has pecans in them. I like the added potato chips, too. This time I tried the tacos de camote which was a sweet potato taco. I couldn't find any photos of it on this Yelp page, but I've had sweet potato tacos before in Scottsdale and was hooked. I didn't expect two large wedges on sweet potato lodged in a taco shell. It was delicious and carmelized. You could hear the crunchy outside texture. Loved that. What I didn't love was the difficulty of eating it. The wedges were huge, and the sweet potato was too hot and steamy. It would've been better had they been diced. The pumpkin seed mixture was good but too spicy with the jalapeños. I like spicy food but didn't expect that. The tacos needed salsa or crema to cut through the heat. I picked off the jalapeños and fork and knifed the sweet potato after a few bites with the taco shell. The taco itself is a blue nixtamilized corn tortilla. It held up the taco filling fairly well considering the huge wedge of sweet potato. It also dripped the oil off the sweet potato. I couldn't taste much of the refried beans. I liked these tacos, but it was a little too spicy and didn't have the acid it needed to make it better. I ate the sweet potatoes and nixed the tortillas. As for the sides, I usually get the kale salad because theirs doesn't taste like dirt. Lol. They add enough lemon, pine nuts, golden raisins and Parmesan cheese to make it taste better. I could eat a bowl of that. It's always served in a tiny container. I also get their homemade potato chips. It's dusted with Old Bay seasoning. It can be oily at times, though. This time, I tried a seasonal side of strawberries that was recommended by the guy at the register. It was delicious. The strawberries were soaked in a slightly sweet simple syrup with chopped basil. They have a variety of lemonades, tea, fountain drinks, cocktails and refrigerated beverages to choose from. Lemonade can be too sweet, so I dilute it with ice and water. I like that it's open with the cups and plastic to-go cups if that's your preference. I've always enjoyed what Local Foods offers and like that they offer vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options. Service is friendly, and it's a nice, casual place to dine in or on the patio.

Ordered to-go via the website. It was ready on the time promised. The order was large and…read morecomplicated but the staff got everything correct and packaging was perfect. We tried the chicken kabab pita, beef pita, chicken shawarma pita. I recommend all three. The chicken kabab meat was perfectly tender and so flavorful. The hot sauce is a must!! We also had their fries which were perfectly crisp and seasoned. Hummus was so authentic and the quality was 10/10-def no filler ingredients. Lentil soup was delicious and hearty. Roasted potatoes were also so tasty! Overall, it is delicious food with quality ingredients and premium flavor! I will definitely be returning!

Wow! I was looking for a light but filling lunch spot and had always noticed Craft Pita out of the…read morecorner of my eye in this shopping center. So glad we finally checked it out. It's a cute casual, order at the counter setup with plenty of booths and tables, plus a few outdoor spots in front. We kept it simple and ordered the chicken kebab hummus bowl and the chicken kebab salad bowl. Both were great. They were fairly similar, but we agreed the hummus bowl had a slight edge. There were a lot of other items on the menu that sounded fantastic. The food quality was great and the staff was kind. Honestly, this feels like a place that will probably make its way into our monthly rotation. My only small critique is that it's a little on the pricey side. Around $21 each for a bowl is a bit high for a casual Saturday lunch for me. (But with that said, still excited to come back!).

It is a great place to eat! It is popular with my daughter , my granddaughter and me!read more

We had the absolute pleasure of being served by Edwin at Hungry's during our recent work Happy Hour…read moreSocial, and he truly made the entire experience exceptional. From the moment we arrived, Edwin set the tone with his warm, welcoming energy and genuine kindness. Hosting a group during happy hour can be a lot to juggle, but he handled everything seamlessly. He was incredibly attentive without ever being intrusive -- constantly aware of our needs, refilling drinks promptly, checking in at just the right moments, and making sure everyone in our group felt taken care of. What really stood out was his deep knowledge of the food and drink menu. Edwin offered thoughtful recommendations, explained specials in detail, and helped guests navigate options with confidence and enthusiasm. Whether it was suggesting the perfect cocktail pairing or describing appetizers in a way that made them impossible to resist, his expertise elevated the entire event. Beyond his professionalism, Edwin's positive attitude and calm demeanor created such an inviting atmosphere. He made our Happy Hour Social run smoothly and truly stand out, ensuring everything flowed perfectly and that each guest felt valued. Edwin is a true asset to Hungry's. If you're planning a gathering or simply stopping in, you'll be in excellent hands with him. We're already looking forward to our next visit! Thank you again, Edwin. Chris