I, like many of my fellow South Austinites, see the original location of Radio Coffee & Beer as a beacon of my neighborhood. The huge lawn, the top-tier food trucks, the live music and performance program – this is a space that connects the community and brightens up the little corner of Menchaca that straddles the 78704 and 78745 ZIP codes.

It’s summer in Austin, and we all know what that means: skyrocketing temperatures, sweaty walks to and from the car, and a desperate need to cool off by any means necessary. While cranking up the AC and taking a dip in the pool are tried-and-true remedies, Austin coffee aficionados know that an expertly-prepared iced latte is a necessary part of any cooldown strategy.

Memorial Day Weekend is almost upon us, and many will celebrate the official start of summer with a lively outdoor barbecue. But as temperatures rise (particularly in the warmer areas of the United States), taking charge of the grill during an al fresco summer party is no small feat, and the grill maestro must be rewarded with refreshing beverages. At the same time, grilled and smoked dishes should be paired with drinks that highlight their savory, charred, and juicy characteristics, so cookout beers need to be more than just thirst-quenching.

These days, the subject of Donald Trump’s tariffs finds its way into just about any conversation about politics, the economy and life in general. These additional taxes on most items brought into the United States from other countries have caused a consumer panic, and those feelings of anxiety and uneasiness extend to the bar and restaurant business. Bar owners, beverage directors and spirits distributors must now grapple with what these tariffs mean for their business costs and their bottom lines.

“Give the people what they want” is a common piece of advice offered to small-business owners, and for good reason. Yet there’s something magical about a place that gives the people what they didn’t even know they wanted. A casual yet stylish restaurant serving Greek classics with a modern twist seems like a curious choice for an East Oltorf block that counts Taco Bell, McDonald’s, and Domino’s among its residents, but the Greek Bar has quickly settled into its new digs with a quiet confidence.

If you’re surprised to hear that Cedar Park is in fact its own town rather than a far-north Austin neighborhood, you’re not alone. Located just steps over the Austin city line and a 25-minute drive to Downtown, Cedar Park feels a bit more urban than farther-flung suburbs like Leander and Georgetown, and its close proximity to tech campuses (like Apple in North Austin and Dell in Round Rock) makes it an appealing bedroom community for industry folks looking for more space without sacrificing city amenities like great restaurants. We’ve picked our Cedar Park favorites, including a high-end omakase, a laid-back Latin luncheonette, and a first-rate barbecue destination.

Food trends that thrive on TikTok and Instagram need to have a strong visual hook. Something about the thumbnail image must capture users’ attention and get them to stop their scrolling, so viral hits like the Dubai chocolate bar and Chamoy pickles rely on bright colors, clear lighting, and — in many cases — creators making eye contact with viewers and taking a big bite of the dish in question. This trend of social creators eating up-close-and-personal on camera has been a major influence on food-related TikToks and Instagram videos for years now, and while this video style is polarizing (more on that later), it definitely succeeds in getting users to click and watch.

Whether it’s loaded onto a sandwich, served on a platter with classic fixings, or even piled atop a basket of fries, pulled pork counts among the South’s most signature dishes. And, of course, every Southerner has an opinion about who (aside from their own family members) makes the best version of this slow-smoked BBQ specialty. We asked a group of Southern chefs to choose their favorite pulled pork purveyors in the region, and they named these eleven restaurants, food trucks, and stands as must-visit destinations.

I’ll admit to being a sucker for an elaborately designed restaurant. I love velvet cushions and crystal chandeliers and expensive flower arrangements. Yet I’m also fascinated by venues that keep their decor simple and let their menus have the last word. At Mercado Sin Nombre, a daytime-only cafe recently opened in far-ish East Austin, the kitchen’s laser focus on two ingredients offers a quiet confidence that turns its charmingly ramshackle aesthetic into something very special.

If you’ve ever scrolled Instagram or TikTok and found yourself captivated by a photo of a beautiful burger or a video of a salad being perfectly plated, then you understand the importance of social platforms in the food world these days.

I’m just gonna come out and tell the hard truth about “date night” restaurants: These spots can often get by with less-than-impressive menus as long as the vibes are right. Dim lighting, cozy banquettes, pretty decor, well-chosen music, and a hip location can conceal any number of culinary sins, and plenty of restaurateurs are willing to take the easy way out. But OKO, East Austin’s sexy new dinner spot in the former Ah Sing Den space, has far bigger ambitions.

As any Southerner will gladly tell you, this part of the United States takes enormous pride in its fried chicken. Shatteringly-crisp breading and tender meat are non-negotiables, but chefs also love to experiment with creative seasonings, international ingredients, and varying levels of heat. We asked a group of Southern chefs to recommend their favorite fried chicken spots in the region.

When it comes to starting your day off right in Austin, a breakfast taco is a non-negotiable part of the equation. Our city’s favorite morning meal can be found at countless restaurants, trucks, and cafes, so finding the best of the bunch may feel like a daunting prospect. The good news is that we’re here to share our ten favorite Austin venues for perfectly-crafted breakfast tacos.

After a recent frustrating workday, the only way I could resuscitate my mood was with a stiff gin martini and some premium oysters. I headed to a popular seafood bar where I found an impressive selection of oysters from New England and a few from the Gulf Coast. Alas, there were none of what I craved most: West Coast oysters — rich, sweet, and almost creamy.

It seems like the cost of going out to eat at a restaurant is always a hot topic for debate; between rising prices, gratuity requests popping up at counter-service spots and seemingly random surcharges, many diners now find themselves studying their restaurant bills more closely than ever. One type of extra fee that’s becoming common in the hospitality world is a “service charge.” These line items usually involve a percentage of the final check, but you may be left wondering what these “service charges” cover, why they’re appearing on bills so much more frequently now, and whether you can opt out of them as a guest.

As an adjective, “weird” is having a real moment. It’s an incisive term that draws strength from its vagueness: It means everything and nothing all at once. We’re now seeing it applied to countless real-world situations, but even so, a new restaurant describing its own menu as “weirdo” is a choice that feels, well, weird.

As a Texas resident, let me be the first to admit that, when it comes to our love of H-E-B, we Texans are completely insufferable. This grocery chain headquartered in San Antonio inspires intense devotion from Lone Star denizens (especially those living in Central Texas, where H-E-B is especially widespread) for its high-quality prepared food offerings, its in-store tortillerias, and its shockingly-good “generic” store brand products. H-E-B isn’t just a supermarket. It’s a lifestyle.

Chinese takeout in the United States represents a very special type of comfort food. Salty, fatty, greasy, sweet, sour – the layers of flavor and texture in dishes like chow mein, General Tso’s chicken, and crab rangoon manage to feel both warmly familiar and intriguingly unique, and those of us who grew up with these dishes will never abandon our deep-rooted devotion. Is American Chinese food “authentic”? Depends on who you ask; these dishes might not bear much resemblance to what you’d get in Beijing or Shanghai, but their melding of American ingredients and traditional Chinese techniques tells a completely authentic story of the Asian diaspora in the United States.

Before I begin, dear readers, I must make a confession: When it comes to spicy food, I am definitely one of Those People. I roll my eyes when celebs’ eyes water during Hot Ones and insist that I would handle that level of heat way better. I put XXX hot sauce on absolutely everything and consider sriracha about as spicy as ketchup. I’ve been banned from making chili for potlucks and football watch parties because when my friends take a bite, they immediately cough and reach for their water bottles. So it was with great interest that I headed to North Austin’s newest mobile chicken shack, which includes the phrase “dang hot” right in its name.

The season of sky-high temps, sweat-slicked skin, and stratospheric electric bills is upon us once again. Cranking up the AC and hiding indoors for the next several months might be an option for some, but if you refuse to sacrifice your summer fun to the brutal will of the elements, then it’s time to find other forms of relief. As the mercury continues to rise in Austin, channel your inner child with these elevated spins on icy youthful favorites.