From fire-roasted chicken to frozen Italian ice, new eateries across the Austin metro are serving up a variety of flavors.
Impacts of the week
Alteño to bring Mexican flavors to downtown Austin this summer
This partnership between Fonda Fina Hospitality and 1 Hotel Austin is expected to open downtown this summer, encapsulating the chef’s approach to Mexican cuisine and storytelling. Menu items include pan de elote—a jalapeno cornbread with huitlacoche butter, smoked honey and black truffle—and pollo a las brasas, featuring fire-roasted chicken, herbed french fries, garlic aioli and salsa verde.
Masala Pizza and Bitezz opens second location in Liberty Hill
The restaurant serves South Asian fusion cuisine and offers halal options. The menu features items such as wings, fusion pizzas, loaded fries, burgers and “street-style bites.” The Liberty Hill location is the business’ second with the first Masala Pizza and Bitezz located in South Riding, Virginia.
Yellow Ranger North offers a variety of Asian-American fusion cuisine. (Courtesy Yellow Ranger North)Yellow Ranger North brings Asian-American fusion to North Austin
This Asian-American fusion dive offers burgers, such as the mala chicken sando served with wonton chips; chicken wings with either a lemon Sichuan pepper, sweet and smoky General Tso’s, or spicy kung pao sauce; chicken and rice dishes; and snacks, such as pork egg rolls, crab rangoons, nachos with spicy ground beef, and loaded fries with a black garlic queso.
Veteran-owned coffee truck rolls into west Bastrop County
The veteran- and Latino-owned coffee truck offers specialty drinks, including lattes, cold brew, matcha and other espresso-based beverages, as well as pastries. The brand was inspired by the jaguar warrior spirit, said the owner, who emphasized his focus on creating a welcoming atmosphere.
The local donut shop sports a menu of doughnuts, pastries and boba teas. (Courtesy Smiling Donuts)Smiling Donuts opens second Pflugerville location
The shop opened on Wells Branch Parkway, serving doughnuts, kolaches, croissants, biscuits and breakfast tacos. Customers will also find milk tea, slushies and smoothies. The store has two other locations, one in Pflugerville on Grand Avenue Parkway and one in Hutto.
Opened May 11041 E. Wells Branch Parkway, Ste. 120, Pflugerville512-578-5757Jeremiah’s Italian Ice now serving frozen treats in Kyle
A new sweet spot has opened in Kyle, offering a variety of cool treats just in time for warm weather. It serves more than 40 different flavors of Italian ice, a selection of soft ice cream and jelati—a combination of the two. Various toppings are also available, including Oreo crumbles and rainbow Nerds. Some Italian ice flavors on the menu include Key West tropical, pina colada, cookies and cream, and cookie butter.
Dining feature
Popular menu items at The Red Door Kitchen include the works pizza ($20.99), the Chicago dog ($9.99), the Italian beef sandwich ($13.99), chicken marsala ($17.49), and the Red Door salad ($13.99). (Jillian Nachtigal/Community Impact)A taste of home: Chicago classics find a place at The Red Door Kitchen in Georgetown
After years of hearing the same request from loyal customers just up the road, restaurateur Bill Nychay brought a taste of Chicago to Georgetown in February 2025. His newest venture, The Red Door Kitchen, builds on the success of his decade-old sandwich shop, WiseGuys, while expanding into pizza, pasta and weekend breakfast.
Bill Nychay (middle back) and his staff opened The Red Door Kitchen in Georgetown in February 2025. (Jillian Nachtigal/Community Impact)The spot draws in locals eager for an authentic bite of the Windy City. Nychay says Chicago people are more loyal to their food than Texas folks are to barbecue.
Respecting the craft
The restaurant ships in poppy seed buns from Chicago, and the hot dogs are all Vienna Beef brand.
Nychay said the star of the show at Red Door Kitchen is the Italian beef sandwich, which is layered with thinly sliced Italian beef with sweet peppers or hot giardiniera on a Turano roll. Served with au jus, Nychay says you “have to dip it.”
This sandwich is the top-selling item on the menu.