Koriente owner Won Lee tends to the garden at the East Seventh Street restaurant in 2005.
JAY JANNER/AMERICAN-STATESMAN
November in Austin brought a familiar mix of anticipation and nostalgia — new openings from Rainey Street to Round Rock, paired with the quiet closing of a longtime institution that helped define the city’s dining identity. As the holiday season approaches, Austin’s restaurant landscape continues to shift, reshaping itself dish by dish.
This month’s roundup includes debuts of polished downtown steakhouses, second-generation coffee shops, a Fareground bakery born from Italian tradition and neighborhood Tex-Mex expanding its footprint. At the same time, Austin said goodbye to a beloved Korean comfort-food counter and a coastal Mexican concept facing administrative hurdles. Below is the full list of November’s comings and goings.
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Openings
Cheba Hut
Cheba Hut lit up Easton Park with its newest “toasted” sandwich shop, located near Circuit of The Americas. The restaurant offers signature subs and bottomless Kool-Aid refills. It’s the third Austin-area location for franchisee Joe DeMaioribus as Cheba Hut continues to expand across Texas.
7101 E. William Cannon Drive. 512-355-4265, chebahut.com.
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Ciccio Bomba
Fareground has welcomed Ciccio Bomba, an Italian bakery led by Chef Gianbattista “Gianba” Vinzoni and co-owned by comedian Tom Segura. The menu highlights handcrafted cornetti — both classic and savory — alongside focaccia, artisan breads, sandwiches, salads and pizza al taglio. Gianba, who previously helmed kitchens at Soho House in West Hollywood and The Beverly Hilton, brings decades of Italian technique and hospitality to Austin.
111 Congress Ave. faregroundaustin.com/cicciobomba.
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The second Daydreamer Coffee Austin location is now open at 80 Rainey St.
Provided by LV Collective.
Daydreamer Coffee has opened its second Austin location inside the new 48-story Paseo building on Rainey Street. Diners can expect playful seasonal drinks like the cookie butter latte and toasted matcha. This is the chain’s first location to introduce a wine program.
80 Rainey St. daydreamer.coffee.
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Everbowl
The superfood and acai-bowl chain known for their build-your-own bowls approach has opened in Anderson Mill.
13429 US-183 #110. 512-215-0840, everbowl.com.
Foxtail
Foxtail, a 58-seat cocktail lounge, debuted with low-lit, old-world interiors and a menu built around craft drinks and shareable bites. Signatures include the Ristretto Martini, Kitsune Old-Fashioned and the Foxolada. Open 3 p.m.–12 a.m. on weekdays and starting at 11 a.m. on weekends.
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7001 Burnet Rd. 512-222-4406, foxtailaustin.com.
Happy Slice Pizza
Carrier5 Hospitality has opened Happy Slice Pizza, a scratch-made pizzeria and bar offering clean-ingredient pies and a sit-down space for north Austin and Cedar Park diners. Hours run 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and until 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
9900 W. Parmer Lane, No. 100. 512-593-2006, happyslicepizza.com
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Jo’s Coffee (West Campus)
Jo’s Coffee opened its newest shop steps from UT Austin, with a location-exclusive drink: the Longhorn Latte (maple, peach, cinnamon and whipped cream). Soft spirits — including craft beer and frosé — round out the menu.
701 W. 24th St. 512-520-2773, joscoffee.com/west-campus.
Mama Betty’s Tex-Mex (Burnet Road)
The second location of Mama Betty’s in Austin will open Nov. 13.
Cara Rogerson/Provided by Giant Noise
The second location of Mama Betty’s opened Nov. 13, bringing mesquite-grilled fajitas, enchiladas, queso and their popular margarita lineup to Burnet Road. The 7,600-square-foot space includes private dining and a large outdoor greenspace.
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7001 Burnet Road, No. 1101. 512-362-5909, ilovemamabettys.com.
Neon Belly Coffee & Bakery
Neon Belly promises a blend of neighborhood-café warmth and craft coffee with a playful bakery program.
8312 Burnet Rd., Unit 101. 512-484-1324, neonbellycoffee.com.
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Round Table Pizza
Round Table Pizza opened in Round Rock with a grand-opening celebration early in November. Known for its three-cheese blend and edge-to-edge toppings, the chain operates daily from 11 a.m. to 9 or 11 p.m., depending on the night.
200 University Blvd., Suite 640, Round Rock. 512-284-7580, roundtablepizza.com.
Van Horn’s is the newest addition to Austin’s 2nd Street District.
Jane Yun/Provided by Van Horn’s
VanHorn’s, a New York–style steakhouse with Texas spirit, is the latest project from Berg & Sons Hospitality (Bill’s Oyster, Teddy’s). The vintage-luxe space features pecan floors, antique mirrors, red banquettes and Pat LaFrieda steaks — a first for an independent Austin restaurant. The restaurant opens daily at 3 p.m.
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238 W. Second St. 512-987-9913, vanhornsatx.com.
Closings
Con Vista Al Mar
The coastal Mexican restaurant on E. Seventh Street — the franchise’s first U.S. outpost — has closed due to administrative challenges. The concept originally opened in 2024 and was helmed locally by executive chef Irak Roaro.
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Beef bulgogi at Koriente.
AMERICAN-STATESMAN FILE
After more than 20 years feeding downtown with healthy, MSG-free Korean dishes, Koriente has closed its doors. Opened in 2005 by Jae Lee and his parents, Nam-Sook (Nancy) and Won Lee, the restaurant became a go-to for diners seeking tofu bowls, japchae and bibimbap near the Red River entertainment district.
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Lee’s longtime landlord says the family needed to return to Korea on short notice to care for Jae’s parents. The closure marks the end of a downtown fixture beloved by musicians, office workers and late-night crowds alike.