EATX, Austin, TX (2026)

01/03/2026

❤️ Family Meal ❤️

I wanted to share a cool experience I had late last year - and one I hope to continue to have in 2026

I was a lucky liaison between and 🤝

There was a desire to be a little more community focused from HD’s side and I have had a long standing professional relationship with them 🤜🤛 so I thought it would be a cool idea if they were able to provide “family meal” to some local all-stars doing their thing in Austin 🤠

Melissa and the team at Mercado were more than happy to accept some thick burgers, veggie burgers, and the most under rated chicken tenders in town 🍗

I’m hoping to do a few more of these in 2026 because they fall under the “win / win” bucket in my book 🫡 thanks again

Hope yall are enjoying this beautiful day in Austin - if you’re bored to tears like I am, I’d suggest hitting / .golden.horn.atx for the pop up 🥵 it’s running until 4pm today, I believe ❤️

Ttyl

12/31/2025

🥩 .atx 🥩

🤑 Clarksville Steakhouse with an On-Site Dry-Aging Room

Ari’s is a Clarksville steakhouse bringing a Mediterranean lens to classic steakhouse cooking 🤠 and they claim to be the only steakhouse in Austin with a fully on-site dry-aging room, which is front and center when you walk in.

We leaned into the menu and it delivered across the board.

We started with the Hiramasa Crudo ($24) — clean, bright, and layered with black garlic shoyu, blood orange, dill oil, and furikake. One of the better crudos we’ve had recently.

The bread plate deserves its own mention 🥖 especially the olive oil marmalade, which we couldn’t stop talking about.

For mains, I ordered the Bone-In New York Strip (16 oz, $95) 🫣 Certified Angus Beef Prime by Niman Ranch, dry-aged 21 days. Rich, deeply beefy, and cooked exactly right.

My girlfriend went with the Pan-Seared Fish ($55) served with butternut squash, sunchoke butter, and risotto — light, balanced, and thoughtfully plated.

On the side front:
• Honey Harissa Carrots ($14) — sweet, savory, and addictive
• Israeli Salad ($12) — cucumber, tomato, red onion, pomegranate, herbs, hummus
• We also loved the cucumber-forward hummus component that shows up across the menu

Drinks were simple and solid — a glass of red wine and a bottle of beer — letting the food do the talking.

Total bill was $214 before tip - we RARELY treat ourselves and I never spend money on steak…so this was a splurge and a test on many fronts 😂 the NY STRIP WAS FIRE 🥵

Beyond the food:

✔️ Service was stellar
✔️ Interior is gorgeous 😍 warm, modern, and polished without feeling stiff
✔️ Feels ideal for date night or a special dinner, without classic steakhouse stuffiness

📍 1301 W 5th St, Austin, TX 78703 (Clarksville)

🕰️ Dinner-focused service (check current hours before going)

🚙 On-site Valet is $8

12/30/2025

🤠 AUSTIN TEXAS BISCUITS & GRAVY 🤠

INFLUENCED ME 😂 I had been to before - but I had never had their biscuits and gravy 👀 and her video convinced me to head back in and try them out 🫡

Toasty Badger is a tiny diner on South Congress, near Oltorf. It opened a couple of years ago and is part of a restaurant group that I think is out of Chicago 💨

The interior gives off old school diner - the prices give off 2025 Austin 😂

Now - I did REALLY enjoy the biscuits and gravy - the gravy leaned very heavy in to queso territory 🧀 there’s no mention of cheese in the gravy but it wouldn’t be bad on a plate of nachos - to be clear, this is not a complaint. I LOVE my gravy to be rich and almost queso like.

For $12.99 I would’ve loved more sausage - don’t think I got much. But the tomato jam and the fried egg + house made hot sauce all added value to the plate - these are elevated, no doubt.

The service was excellent and swift considering how packed the were - so that made the experience great as well.

I’m looking at another favorite of mine - Phoebes Diner - and for a similar size serving, they’re priced at $6.99 🫣 which makes it tough to justify the $12.99

If you’re a fan of biscuits and gravy - I would suggest ya try these out. They’re great. Just not a price that allows me to enjoy them very often 🫠

If y’all don’t already follow - plz do so, she’s the goat of this s**t and both her and her husband are great people ❤️

Talk soon, have a nice day 🤠

12/28/2025

🚨 NEW MENU DROP 🚨

Coming in January from | East Austin

East End Ballroom is preparing to launch a January culinary activation led by culinary director - featuring a limited-time menu designed to run alongside the venue’s live music and event programming.

A key dish in the lineup is a duck confit ramen, built as a cold-weather offering for the winter activation.

The upcoming food lineup centers on cold-weather dishes inspired by Asian street food traditions. Planned offerings include duck confit ramen, Korean BBQ–inspired wagyu steak, scallion chicken & waffles, and additional brunch items. Beverage programming for the activation will include Asian-inspired cocktails developed by the East End Ballroom team using locally sourced ingredients.

Located on the far east side of East Austin, East End Ballroom operates as a large, multi-use space for live music, food, beverage, and community programming. The building previously housed Koko’s Bavarian and has since been reactivated with a broader focus on events and rotating culinary concepts.

The January food activation is scheduled to run alongside East End Ballroom’s regular live music, nightlife, and additional activations, with continued programming planned into February.

For current hours, events, and upcoming food programming, follow 🤜🤛

12/25/2025

❤️ Thank You Austin ❤️

Noodles and I are very grateful for all of you 🐾 we’re so happy to be hanging out - especially this time of year 🐕‍🦺

This year was really weird - many new challenges, new opportunities, new relationships, and a lot to be thankful for 🎄

I’ve been able to work for myself for 9 months and I wanted to take a moment to thank the folks that have helped make that happen 🫶

- originally hired me some time around 2018 / 2019 to help them with some captions on Instagram - that relationship has grown as I’ve gotten a little bit better at photography

- has been an incredible partner and a brand I’m happy to be aligned with. Absolute best distillery / products / activations in Austin, cheers 🥃

- they’ve worked with me both as AustinEater and as ThiccBoyMedia (my preferred way to work 🤜🤛) and given me great opportunities to meet chefs and try food

- Tony and team have been letting me help where I can for years. Really great people, great pizza, and the best swag 👀

- has been a great partner to ThiccBoyMedia and a dangerous temptation each month 😂 the cinnamons swirl pancakes are awful for my diet

- also leans on TBM for pics and they do an excellent job of utilizing the stills, thank you and congrats on the new Brick & Mortar

- / has been consistent in partnering with me and I’m very honored!

Lastly, I have a wonderful group of sponsors who help make happen every month ❤️ thank you to - - - & 🍻

I have been very lucky to work with several amazing people this year - I want you all to know that I’m not complacent / satisfied 😤 I’m gonna be better in 2026

More consistent, more organized, and hopefully more helpful 🤝

Anyway - thank you to everyone. I hope you have a great evening and if possible, have some fun / laughs / tonight.

I’m leaving some fritters out for Santa 🎅🏻

Thank you again ❤️ Noodles & Taylor

12/23/2025

❤️ my favorite bites of 2025 ❤️

To be clear - I had several amazing bites this year!

Today, 12/23, when I scrolled through the phone - these bites stuck out as really memorable moments of this crazy year 😂

Ok - here we go:

- who just announced a new permanent space in the East Austin Hotel - had a great tasting menu this summer. Gorgeous & refreshing and all courses were hits

another spot with several great dishes - but I’m a chicken wing fanatic - so I’m showing off their wings, which are outstanding

they do a lot of great / traditional MX food - including a rotating menu that features a diff MX state each month. The image shows their famous home made rolls served with an orange / guajillo butter and their stellar salsa macha

had the best wings of the year - and the biggest surprise menu - one might not expect such great food to come out of that kitchen

again - wings and chicken sandwiches are a MAIN STAPLE in my diet - and I’m so grateful these folks came on to the scene in 2025.
atx gorgeous space, they do lots of fantastic Filipino food - the crudo shown here is special and a must try when you visit

speaking of crudos - this tuna crudo with orange, chiles, jamaica, and more was our FAVORITE crudo of the summer 😂

sometimes ya just want a nice big burger. Nothing smashed. No weird meats. JBB is your spot

another spot that has several hits - but their desserts are exceptional. Plz try them all

a very solid pizza - they do the basics very well 🍕

idk when they’ll do it again, maybe it’s still happening 😂 but this lobster claw burrito was out of this world.

👀 if nothing else, go to Pasta Bar for dessert!

- Italian done right / cozy vibes

- that tuna bite is worth going to check this concept out

and both serve up sandwiches that are highly recommended

are taking a break - but fritters are fire

Venezuelan / TX BBQ fusion

try it all 😋

12/21/2025

🚨 🚨

Has Pizza Now (And It Works) 🍕🍸

Downtown Austin’s moody cocktail bar Garage quietly added Garage Pizza, and it fits the space really well 🫶

We went with the $17 shareable gluten-free pie (chosen for the shareable format, not the GF - but it was stellar regardless) • We ordered the Daytona 500. Vodka sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, basil, smoked black pepper 😋 finished with a salsa macha–style heat and subtle sweetness that carries through each bite.

Texture-wise, it eats closer to a Detroit-style pizza: thicker, hearty, and packed with flavor.

The bigger takeaway is still the space. Garage remains one of the more unique cocktail bars in downtown Austin — low-lit, sexy, and especially good right now with a touch of Christmas spirit layered in 🎄 On a cold December evening - hot pizza inside a cozy bar feels like the right move.

Cocktails are dialed (expect $16–$22), making this more of a one drink + one bite stop for our current budget 🤠 but it’s absolutely worth a visit, especially now that pizza is part of the equation.

Worth noting 🤓 the pizza program at Garage is led by • chef-owner of 👀 a restaurant recognized by , , and 😱 and a four-time nominee.

🏃🏻 He’s also behind , continuing to shape Austin’s food culture both inside and outside the kitchen.

Bar & Pizza Service 🍕

• Monday–Saturday: 5 PM – 2 AM (last call varies by night). Check page for 🎄 adjustments
• Sunday: Closed.

📍 503 Colorado St
🍸 Cocktail bar with dive-bar energy
🍕 Shareable pies + slices
🕯️ Date night, Late Night bite, downtown Austin stop

Cold outside. Hot pizza inside. 🤜🤛

PS: they use mix - which we all know makes the best MICHELADA 🫡 I got mine with a 🍻

12/18/2025

🚨 BREAKING NEWS 🚨

Opens Its First Brick-and-Mortar in Austin 🐟

Brand new Austin food news: WOW POKE just opened its first brick-and-mortar poke shop in Austin 🤠 and it’s a big milestone for one of the city’s most consistent poke concepts.

⭐️ WOW POKE currently holds a 4.8-star rating on Google with 330+ reviews, and this marks location number five 📍but the first permanent storefront after years of trucks and pop-ups across East Austin and Central Austin.

Rene opened WOW POKE with his wife after a long road that started overseas. He finished his degree in Spain, moved to Miami (his first time living in the U.S.), and worked in kitchens until he had enough to open his own concept in 2019.

Then the pandemic hit.
The business shut down.
Everything reset.

Instead of rebuilding in Miami, Rene looked for a smaller city with real potential 👀 and landed in Austin.

Being half Japanese and half Venezuelan, with ties to Hawaii and a love for fresh, light food, poke felt natural. WOW POKE started as a truck on East Cesar Chavez, quietly building a following with clean flavors, generous bowls, and consistency.

Today, WOW POKE operates five locations across Austin:

• Central Austin: Burnet Rd (brand new brick-and-mortar) - 7433 Burnet Rd

• East Austin —

• East Austin —

• South Austin —

• Central Austin —

What stands out is that Rene isn’t just a food guy.

He has a business and video production background, and it shows.

WOW POKE has built a loyal Austin following by doing the basics right — fresh poke, consistency, and scale without cutting corners.

If you’ve been eating WOW POKE out of a truck, this is a big moment 🫶

If you’re new to poke in Austin, this is a solid place to start.

⏰ Hours: 12PM–10PM daily 🤝

12/15/2025

🚨 HAPPY HOUR IN EAST AUSTIN 🚨

Is Bringing Big Neighborhood Energy to East Austin 🍕🍻

Set inside the historic Haynes–Delashwah House in East Austin, Loudmouth is a gorgeous neighborhood hangout in AUSTIN from Daybreak Hospitality 🌞 the team behind

Happy Hour Details 🍹🍕

Mon–Fri: 4–6 PM
Sat–Sun: 12–4 PM

HH Drinks:

• $5 Spaghetts & ICY BOYS
• $8 house wine
• $10 frozens: Creamsicle, Painkiller (limit 2 — hella boozy)
• $10 cocktails: Limoncello Spritz, Aperol Spritz, Old Fashioned, Margarita

HH Food:

• Warm seeded house-made focaccia ($5)
• Herbed fries w/ tonnato sauce ($7)
• Meatballs & focaccia ($8)
• 12 Buffalo or garlic parm chicken wings ($16) w/ house ranch

Built in the 1890s, the Victorian home was once owned by longtime city councilmember Harry L. Haynes and later Thomas Delashwah, Austin’s first Black pharmacist.

The renovation preserved original longleaf pine floors, stained-glass entry panels, and beaded interior paneling 😍 all thoughtfully reworked into the bar design.

The project was led by Furman + Keil Architects, Campbell Landscape Architecture, and Kempt Studio (also behind Paperboy’s interiors).

Loudmouth is a passion project from Daybreak’s Executive Chef Patrick Jackson, inspired by his boisterous grandfather, Joe ❤️

Now with a new culinary direction from Chef Greg Martinez (CDC) and Chef Josh Griffith (Sous), the menu leans heavy into nostalgia with playful riffs on Italian-American classics - it’s a great choice for an East Austin happy hour, group hangs, or a low-key Austin date night with pizza, wings, and cocktails 🤜🤛

Outside, the massive lawn feels like a classic East Austin beer garden 🍻 picnic tables, shaded patio, towering oak trees, a kids’ play area, and one of the best sunset views of the downtown Austin skyline.

Pizza. Beer. Cocktails.

📍 East Austin, Austin Texas
🍕 Open daily for dinner
🥗 Weekend lunch
🌅 Lawn seating + indoor dining

“Be Good.” — Grandpa Joe 🫶

EATX

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