Yelp names 2 new Austin restaurants among best in the South
AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Order up! The Lone Star State has made its mark with five restaurants named by Yelp among the best new dining spots in the South -- including two right here in Austin.
For those looking to chow down on new spots in Austin, the Yucatecan-inspired spot Nomade and vegan fine dining restaurant Fabrik made the rankings. Other Texas fare spotlighted included sushi in Dallas, Mexican cuisine in The Woodlands and live-fire cooking in Houston.
Yelp compiled a list of businesses opened after Jan. 31, 2023 and reviewed a host of factors as part of its analysis, including the volume and quality of reviews left through May 1, 2024. The methodology also factored in health score ratings and assessments from Yelp's community managers to more accurately capture what locals were thinking.
Trends among restaurants named included flame-based cooking, Southern influences in dishes, fresh and localized ingredients as well as a "global accent" -- or fusing tastes with travel experiences to elevate unique attributes in the dishes served.
Here's a breakdown of the Top 25:
- Noko: Wood-fired Asian grill in Nashville, Tennessee
- Meesh Meesh: Mediterranean flavors with a Southern flair in Louisville, Kentucky
- Nami: Japanese flavors with European cooking styles in Orlando, Florida
- Nomade: Gluten-free Yucatecan dishes in Austin, Texas
- Dahla: Thai cuisine in New Orleans, Louisiana
- Ossobuco: Wood-fired meats and seafood dishes in Miami, Florida
- A-Roi by Smiley Thai: Hybrid sushi and Thai dishes in Nashville, Tennessee
- Brandon's Bistro: Southern-style home cooked meals in Pembroke Pines, Florida
- Yūjō: Sushi cuisine in Dallas, Texas
- Fabrik: Vegan fine dining in Austin, Texas
- Pigeon & Whale: Oyster and cocktail bar in New Orleans, Louisiana
- Xalisko Cocina Mexicana: Mexican dishes from state of Jalisco served in The Woodlands, Texas
- Pulito Osteria: Italian cuisine in Jackson, Mississippi
- Xo Brasserie: Cantonese and Sichuan food in Charleston, South Carolina
- Enso: Creole-Cajun, Southern cooking and Japanese food hybrid menu in Louisville, Kentucky
- Predalina: Mediterranean restaurant in Tampa, Florida
- Costa: Coastal Italian dishes in Charleston, South Carolina
- Southern National: Southern comfort dishes with a twist in Atlanta, Georgia
- Birdie's By Chef Kevin Lee: Korean barbecue dishes in Edmond, Oklahoma
- DONS Southern Social: Southern cuisine, speakeasy in Hot Springs, Arkansas
- Rwby: Modern American dishes with Mediterranean, European roots in Atlanta, Georgia* (CLOSED as of late July, per Eater Atlanta reporting)
- BASO: Live-fire cooking with Japanese, Spanish and Texas influences in Houston, Texas
- Mayu Miami: Peruvian and Andean dishes in Miami, Florida
- Figulina: Italian cuisine in Raleigh, North Carolina
- Current Charcoal Grill: Japanese-style preparations of seafoods and meats in Birmingham, Alabama