The 6 best new Austin restaurants of 2023

This sprawling Latin-inspired restaurant made its Downtown debut in February and quickly scored praise from local publications for its agave-lined basement lounge and industrial-chic aesthetic—an ode to its historic Seaholm Power Plant address. Not to mention a phenomenal, always-changing fire-kissed menu that could include delicacies like dry-aged Texas ribeye with birria and a popular caviar-topped spin on sopes.

When the hit-making Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group opened its eighth restaurant in April, it paired its signature local-first philosophy with a modern Middle Eastern menu. The result is a Texas-meets-Tel Aviv destination that excels at dishes including smashed cucumber with labneh and nigella seed, plus Mediterranean faithfuls like falafel and chicken shawarma. Add a vibrant pink-and-red space with graffitied lampshades—an ode to Tel Aviv’s famous markets—and you’ve got one of Austin’s boldest 2023 debuts.

Austinites were thrilled to welcome a more laidback sibling to award-winning chef Tyson Cole’s high-end Japanese icon, Uchi, when Uchiba opened its doors in September. The hotly anticipated izakaya pours Japanese whiskeys and high-ball cocktails, best paired with snacks like yakitori, baos, and dumplings. Even the seemingly casual bites here get Cole’s intricate touch, and the menu makes room for certain Uchi blockbusters like the Hama Chili—a legendary yellowtail crudo in a citrusy and spicy marinade.

Austin’s first fully plant-based tasting menu restaurant opened in August and draws crowds for a high-end vegan lineup that’s already earned three stars from Texas Monthly. Dishes star locally sourced flour, herbs and flowers from hydroponic gardens, plus housemade tofu, vegan cheese, and more. Chef and owner Je Wheeler spent years training in international kitchens, which explains her menu’s Japanese, Italian, and Nordic twists. You can feel extra good about dining at this game-changing newcomer: Fabrik aims to use up every piece of food in dishes or compost, underscoring its status as an up-and-coming sustainability star.

Chef Laila Bazahm, who spent much of her culinary career in Barcelona’s multicultural El Raval neighborhood, is the force behind this relaxed and trendy tapas bar. Her latest restaurant took over an older tapas spot (Barlata) in May and stands out for an exceptionally cosmopolitan approach to Spanish small plates, which weaves in global flavors like French vadouvan masala and Filipino escabeche. Also go for a dynamic drinks menu by Moe Aljaff and Juliette Laroui, the duo behind Two Schmucks, a Barcelona dive bar that claimed a spot on 2022’s World’s 50 Best Bars Lists. It all adds up to a one-of-a-kind restaurant that’s an extension of the edgy Spanish neighborhood it’s named after.