After landing in San Antonio yesterday to kick off my summer vacation, the very first thing I did…read moretoday was ask my friend to bring me back to this restaurant. The reason is simple: we ate here two years ago, and it left such a great impression on us that we had been looking forward to coming back ever since. Fortunately, not much has changed in terms of either the quality or the overall presentation of the food. Everything is still delicious, especially the Pho Combo. To be honest, it's far better than most of the pho we've had in Germany. That doesn't mean the pho in Germany is bad--it simply means this place matches my personal taste much better. As for the downsides, they're almost exactly the same as before. Parking is still a major challenge, and I understand that's probably not something the restaurant can easily fix. We also tried calling ahead to reserve a table, but they don't take reservations, whether you're coming with a group of 5-7 people or just 2-3 people. We arrived at 6:45 PM and still had to wait about 40 minutes before being seated, which was honestly quite inconvenient. Coincidentally, there was live music tonight, which was a nice surprise. Unfortunately, the sound system wasn't very good, so it was difficult to hear what the singers were performing. Then again, this isn't really the type of venue where people come specifically to enjoy live music, so most diners didn't seem to pay much attention to it. One thing I did notice was that either the kitchen has made a few changes over the past two years, or perhaps my own taste has changed a little. The food felt slightly saltier than I remembered, and the pho broth was richer and creamier. While that added some depth of flavor, it was a bit too rich for my liking, to the point where finishing the entire bowl of broth felt a little overwhelming. The braised short ribs were incredibly tender--so tender that a knife was almost unnecessary, and they could easily be pulled apart with just a fork. While many people would probably see that as a positive, I actually missed the slightly firmer, meatier texture I remembered from my last visit. That said, these are relatively minor issues. The quality may have dipped just a little compared to our previous visit, but this is still an excellent restaurant. If they can fine-tune those small details, it would easily return to being one of my favorite places. There's a good chance we'll stop by one more time before heading back to Germany.

Is it that time of year for another 1618 update? Absolutely…read more After my umpteenth visit, I think it's safe to say I've worked my way through almost the entire menu (minus a few noodle, chicken & vegetarian dishes). My 2025 review still stands, but after so many visits, I've noticed a few items haven't been good as they used to, particularly the chicken wings (and yes, all three of them). The Garlic Wings haven't been hitting quite the same. They've started to taste a little dry, and the saucier wings taste better the next day since they don't have time to steep through once served. The Filet Mignon Pepper Steak is still my favorite dish on the menu, but I still can't justify ordering it family-style anymore. It's delicious, but the portion just doesn't match the price. One of the newest additions--the Truffle Fried Rice is spectacular. It's light, not overpowering with truffle, and the fish eggs really adds the perfect little pop of texture/flavor. I don't think I breathed the entire time I scarfed it down!! 1618 is still one of my favorite restaurants in Austin of all time, but I think it's time for the menu to elevate a bit and dive deeper into less mainstream Asian cuisine. If anyone can do it, 1618 can.

The garden is super cute. They have a good selection of…read morepastries and drinks. The home shop is very aesthetically pleasing

This little gem of a bakery exceeded every expectation I had. Beautiful, delicate interior design,…read morea sweet patio where you can relax with a coffee and a pastry, the whole vibe is calm and cozy, which I appreciated so much. Now, the real star: the gluten-free baked goods. We tried four different things, cookies included, and honestly? I was stunned. The flavor, the softness, the balance, nothing felt like a "gluten-free compromise." It tasted like the real deal, maybe even better. Not overly sweet, not dry, not crumbly, just genuinely delicious pastries that happen to be gluten-free. I don't know what magic they're working in that kitchen, but this is easily the best gluten-free bakery I've come across. A must-visit, no question.

Stopped by 888 Pan Asian and ordered the combination pho. It was really good with a flavorful…read morebroth, generous portions, and plenty of meat. The serving size was definitely worth it because I had leftovers, and it somehow tasted even better reheated the next day. Always a great sign when the quality holds up after taking it home. Solid spot for pho if you're looking for a satisfying meal with big portions. Note to self: make sure to ask for the chili crisp oil on the side next time. It didn't taste nearly as good without it, and they don't automatically include it. Definitely worth requesting because it adds so much more flavor.

Came here on a late night food eat after a drive from San Antonio. We ordered spring rolls with…read morechicken, grilled Korean barbecue short rib, and general Tso chicken. overall the flavor profile of everything was really good. The spring roll was really refreshing, the grilled kbbq was very flavorful, although my only downside to it is that it's really chewy. It's a pretty big establishment with plenty of seating. There's parking out front since it's in a bit of a plaza area. Service is quick, and they bring you everything you need to the table, including the sauces.

This spot is so cute! And the empanadas and coffee are delicious! The empanadas are so yummy; I…read moreespecially enjoyed the pollo empanada. The jamon y queso empanada was a close second. I also liked the decor inside because the storefront is very unassuming. Service was welcoming, quick, and friendly.

Austin does not lack local coffee shops, so it's my mission to search them out instead of relying…read moreon the corporate caffeine machine when I need a mid-day pick me up. Cafe Nena'i is a cute little woman owned coffee shop on the East side. Parking was easy and there was no wait. I found the music to be set a pleasant level, but since the owner is petite and has a plastic screen between her and the customer, it can be challenging to hear her. My cafe was delicious, but could had been hotter. The Torte de Manderin was as dense and a tad dry, but the citrus flavor came through and went nicely with my drink. It's a small place, but there are a couple of tables outside to linger at.

I ate here like 2 months ago and meant to leave a nice review. Ive been thinking about this place…read more it was so delicious and fresh, they gave us free fries with our order! then a staff member came out to say hi. he was genuinely so friendly, and then he offered us free donut holes !!!!!!! amazing. will be going back

I have a gluten allergy, and unfortunately I found out the hard way that not every place gets…read moregluten-free right. This place was different. I was visiting from Dallas and ended up coming back both days because the food was that good. The taste was amazing, ordering was simple and convenient, and the service came with a smile. To all my gluten-free family out there--give this place a try and thank me later!

Super friendly service…read more Spacious indoor and outdoor seating Delicious donuts For sure with stopping for a coffee and treat!

Cool name and flavors ! However, overly sweet and dry for us. Even the coffee which we got less…read moresweet. They are brioche donuts so think more bread like. They do have traditional old fashions but also breads and fry's Very filing, I will say the cafe con leche was our fave. Inside super spacious and cool merch.

PHENOMENAL FOOD! I was scared that everything would be bland and tasteless when I saw the gluten…read morefree, dairy free etc., but NOPE! Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING we ordered was fresh, delicious, light, yet filling. I got the Social Butterfly drink which had butterfly pea powder in it to make it purple. It was as delicious as it was pretty. All the cocktails sounded amazing, I can't wait to go back and try them all. For starters we got the Guacamole, Brussel Sprouts and Crispy Macha Potatoes. Each of these were executed to perfection. The guacamole was fresh, topped with pomegranate seeds and well seasoned. The chips that came with it were light, crispy and it was gone in a flash! The Brussel Sprouts were cooked perfectly...tender and flavorful...not greasy...literally the best I've ever had. The Crispy Macha potatoes were next level!!! I have no idea how they make them, but they were SOOOOOO GOOD!!! I got the Waygu Sirloin as my main course and my friends got the Coconut Curry Squash. I enjoyed my steak and my friends liked their dish as well. We also shared the Roasted Beet Salad, which was fresh and tasty. Overall, can't wait to go back! 10 out of 10!!!

I wanted to like this restaurant, but they made it hard to do. We started off with the guacamole…read more The pomegranate seeds on top were a nice touch, but man, this was flavorless. It was painfully boring. We had our 6-year-old, who is head of the Picky Eaters Society, so we ordered bread with butter. This 6-year-old, who eats bread on the daily, took one bite and wouldn't eat any more. We even get gluten-free bread regularly, and he eats it. The bread was fine, but don't expect flavor. By some miracle, they even made butter tasteless. I considered calling the Vatican to see if this was some holy, divine miracle, but my wife suggested maybe the main course would be better. We settled on the pesto pasta with chicken added for an additional fee. The pasta was good. Great texture, good flavor, and the combination of ingredients was good, but it's nothing original. It's pesto pasta. It's a classic. I appreciate the pomegranate seeds on the guacamole because it's original, it's clever, and it's different. We also ordered a special soda drink for our son, and it had a small black bug on top. I had them take it back and replace it. I kind of expected a "Listen, we apologize for the bug. Here's half off dinner," or something, but nothing. Service was fine, and it's a decent atmosphere. If you're looking for a place to sit and talk it's a great place, but if you want food or a drink go somewhere else.

My fiancé and I tried Pho Please for the first time and really enjoyed it…read more Pho is one of my favorite dishes, so I was excited to try out a new place. The space has a modern, clean vibe, and I loved the little touch of customer doodles on the wall and by the register. Parking was easy with a big lot, and the wait time was short. Service was great. My fiancé had a lot of questions about the menu, and the staff was super patient and helpful. I got the vegan pho with tofu and veggies and it was delicious. Really comforting and flavorful. The portion was great with a good balance of noodles to veggies/tofu. My fiancé got the chicken pho and thought it was delicious too. He actually had to take his home, while I somehow managed to finish mine. I'd love to see a few more vegan options added, but we'll definitely be back.

We came here for lunch since we were craving Vietnamese food. You can order at the front & sit down…read morewherever you want. Our food came out fairly quickly, and the staff were friendly. I really liked that they had a self service toppings bar, so you can grab extra cilantro, sriracha, or sauce. The pho was decent, but the beef vermicelli was a bit dry & way too sweet. I would come again if I wanted pho, not sure I would recommend vermicelli or the other dishes though.