Dishola: Reviews by the Dish

9200 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX, 78753
(512) 834-1736

c.libre on 01/16/08

Years of enduring cold, greasy soups at Chinese lunch buffets have lowered my expectations for wonton soup beyond reasonable human standards, so tasting Thanh Nhi's version was a revelatory experience. It's not as if the cooks have some secret ingredient or any other special tricks -- this is exactly what you might expect of a wonton soup, consisting of tender shrimp and pork dumplings in a clear chicken broth with chopped green onions and fried garlic. It's just that it's fresh and comforting, made with love by very nice people. The appetizer portion is $2.50 and pairs nicely with a sandwich, making for one of the most satisfying cheap lunches you'll find in Austin.

8648 Spicewood Springs Rd # H, Austin, TX, 78759
(512) 331-5780

c.libre on 01/16/08

Delicious hunks of eggplant and pork kibbles piled over sweet goo and oil. Eggplant is one of those magical foods that seems to defy the laws of physics by never cooling off, making it near-inevitable that you will burn your tongue or the roof of your mouth when you eat this, but it's worth the danger.

512 W 29th St, Austin, TX
(512) 477-1651

c.libre on 01/04/08

With brisket, ribs, and sausage so dear to the hearts of most Texans, the humble chopped beef sandwich, often cobbled together from cutting board detritus, doesn't always receive the praise that it deserves. But I'd daresay that the chopped beef sandwich is one of the best entrees that Ruby's BBQ offers. It's a perfect blend of sweet, hot, and savory flavors, and it's generously peppered with jalapeños and delicious bits of charred brisket. The chopped beef is also one of the cheaper dishes at Ruby's, as just about every current or former UT student that isn't a vegetarian already knows.

13376 Us-183, Austin, TX
(512) 335-0935

c.libre on 01/25/08

I've come to expect every Vietnamese restaurant's pho broth to be some uniquely rewarding mingling of beef, onions, garlic, ginger, and anise, but the Tea House stands apart from the pack for their daring use of what I can only assume to be old boot leather.

2330 W North Loop Blvd, Austin, TX
(512) 459-4121

c.libre on 01/16/08

An exquisitely delicious dish, the zarape de pato is something of a stacked enchilada, with shredded roasted duck meat, tomatoes, and chipotles layered between blue corn tortillas, then topped with a creamy poblano sauce. Sadly, the zarape de pato was removed from the menu a few years ago, maybe because it's so rich and so decadent, maybe because jerks like me were coming in and ordering the same entree on every visit. As far as I know, the kitchen will still prepare this by request, though it's been at least a year since I've asked.