Dia's is a great local market! They have a wide selection of craft beers, wine and nonalcoholic…read morebeverages. They offer home-baked goods and have quite the Rice Krispie selection. The staff is friendly and helpful, making sure that we knew about Thursday night movie night. Tons of local products and the prices are fair. Clean, well-organized. Great place!

They got pretty good sandwiches options and nice curation of products…read more There are two things I wish they would make better: - it smells super strong in there because of the grill and oil smoking. If you walk in even for 3 mins, your clothes will reek of oil and meaty smoky mell. - some of their produce/fresh products are on their way out/at times expired like milk. Its unfortunate because their prices are much higher than a standard grocery store.

I wasn't even planning to write a review for this place until my BF made me try their weekly…read morespecial ice cream swirl. This week's flavor was Red Bean and Matcha, and HOLY WORD-I-SHALL-NOT-SAY... this absolutely blew me out of the water. The red bean and matcha balanced each other so perfectly, and somehow tasted even better swirled together. Both cashiers were super cool too (was that Japanese I heard them speaking?). The guy with the awesome silver hair mentioned he was also from Houston, and we somehow ended up talking about how Austin's Asian scene just can't compare to how insanely diverse Houston's is. Still, it's always nice connecting over a mutual love for a great Asian environment--which Asahi definitely is. Wow--I've been here for 15 minutes, and I already have so much love for this place. My phone is literally dying as I hastily type this, but I felt obligated to spread the gospel immediately.

I walked into Asahi Imports with ONE GOAL: black sesame soft serve. That was the mission…read more Anything else I bumped into would simply be a bonus. And I didn't know what to expect my first visit. I thought I was going into a mini Japanese version of H Mart or something, but nope. This is very much a Japanese CONVENIENCE STORE with a little extra bonus on the side, so adjust any expectations. SIXTY PERCENT OF THE STORE IS NOODLES. Like WTF...is this a noodle headquarters? It felt unbalanced...like I had walked into the wrong store and wasn't supposed to be there. So many noodles, it scared me. I expected a variety store. Carry on. The layout is also a bit confusing for such a small space. I genuinely wasn't sure what areas were designated for customers and what areas were for employees...at one point wandering way into the back. My bad. They've got a solid selection of imported goods. Slightly pricey, but this is expected since they offer quite a few niche items you can't find everywhere. Still affordable, though. I HAPPILY grabbed some black sesame latte mix to whip up iced lattes at home as well as some black tea flavored soy milk. This is what you come to these stores for! The niche items. Now to the soft serve: Flavor-wise? Good strong black sesame flavor. Texture? Not so great. This was very icy and not creamy at all as I had hoped. The online pics were deceiving. Plus there were clumps in it that should've been blended out. However, it was refreshing and I could MAYBE see myself returning on a hot day for more if I'm close by. They only offer it on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. It's good, but no need to run for this. You can walk. Lol. It scratched the itch but I'm not running back for it. All in all, not an everyday stop, but an "I'll see you when I see you" spot. Know what I mean? 3 stars.

A friend who's opinion I really respect recommended Antonelli's Cheese Shop for a three cream…read morecheese. I wanted to get this for my book club soiree, but did not have time to make a visit as it is a little north of downtown. Antonelli's Cheese Shop is charming and quaint. While the shop is small they have an assortment of items to sell in addition to cheese - wine, sauces, jellies, etc. I was immediately greeted upon entry into Antonelli's cheese shop. Two other customers were being helped, however, I had a store associate offer me some cheese samples. While the samples were good, I was specifically interested in the three cream cheese. They had two choices to select from. I was hoping they had more. This is a shop you need to spend some time in to leisurely evaluate the cheeses. There was also a human size dog in the shop at the time. I don't know what is about dogs, they like to lick me. Guess what...I do not like to be licked. So, I jetted out of the store.

Cheese glorious cheese. Antonelli's has such a large selection of quality cheesy cheese…read more This is a small family run, local, cheese shop, but it packs a lot inside. They have wine, jams/jelly/preserves. Chocolates, and olives. They also have premade charcuterie boards too. When I came, they were giving away free cheese everyday of the week. The first 100 people that were in line. Free cheese? Yes please. As you can imagine, there was a long line of people waiting, and with the store being small, we were sent in in small groups. Couple people come out, couple people go in. As the line shortens and you get to the counter. You're given your free cheese, and asked what type of cheese you like. I gave my favorites, soft cheese, like brie, hard cheese, like manchego I like spicy cheese like hatched chili cheese or a jalapeño cheese. So after giving some examples of cheese that I like the gentleman helping me brought out three different samples and we tried them together and loved every one of them so I chose which ones I liked out of the three and then we moved down the counter a little bit, and the gentleman brought out another selection of three cheeses, and I tried those and told him which ones I liked, and they were all phenomenal. The gentleman that helped me was very attentive. He listened. he gave examples exactly what I was asking for and it was absolutely beautiful experience. even though they were packed and crazy and had 100 people waiting outside. He just treated me like we were just one on one. He took his time with me. I thought it was such a spectacular experience very personable. I walked out with 5 different cheeses. A bar of orange chocolate with dried cherries. And a baguette. And let me tell you, I ate so good during our Texas ice storm 2026! So here's the down side. Parking. There are like 8 parking spots in front. And a couple parking in the back. But beyond the back, there is a small pay with a QR code parking. It's a bit of a struggle as far as parking goes. There is no street parking. But I'm sure when you're not dealing with 100 customers it's not as much of a struggle. There are 2 accessible parking spots out front. Had a great experience. And will come back again.

Kessho is always great for a hot summer day. Today was no different. The hubs and I grabbed a…read morepineapple upside down cake gelato for a nice afternoon treat. The gelato was cool, smooth and oh so delicious. You can taste the fresh pieces of pineapple and the Taiwanese pineapple cake embedded in the gelato. It's layered for enjoyment. Service is always fast and easy no matter how long the line. Fortunately, today we were able to walk right up. Pretty chill today...no rain and not too much sunshine.

possibly my new favorite ice cream/gelato spot! its not too sweet (which is perfect) and the scoops…read moreare big. there are so many unique, asian-inspired flavors to choose from that i was sooo indecisive. the black sesame cookies and cream was my favorite. so nutty and fragrant, with generous bits of cookies mixed in. the azuki bean came in second; it had real red bean throughout and tasted incredibly comforting. the mango sticky rice was also amazing, super refreshing with a great balance of mango and coconut, and you could even taste the sweet, steamed fragrance of the sticky rice coming through! the lychee rose raspberry was our least favorite of the four, but still really good. it mostly tasted like lychee with lychee jelly, and we couldn't really pick up much of the rose or raspberry. overall, we were obsessed with the nuance in each flavor and the creamy richness of the gelato. already planning to go back and try the ube next :D

can-eat mussels and fries paired with half-price bottles of wine up to $100. It turns a regular…read moreMonday into a "we absolutely made the right decision" kind of night. The mussels are fresh and flavorful, the broths are so good you'll start using fries as utensils without a second thought, and the fries somehow disappear faster than the wine is poured. This is peak ladies dinner energy--relaxed, a little indulgent, and just chaotic enough where everyone swears they're "only having one glass" and nobody believes it. The conversation gets louder, the laughs get easier, and the vibes only get better as the night goes on. The staff is genuinely delightful--warm, attentive, and effortlessly on top of everything while making the whole experience feel easy and welcoming. By the end of it, the Monday blues are completely wiped away. And don't forget to take home some freshly made croissants, cookies, and pastries for tomorrow-you to appreciate. Epicerie is the kind of spot that turns Monday into a weekly tradition. Brilliant dining

The apple miso cruller is AMAZING! I only picked up the…read morepastry but it's also a really cute sit down place for brunch. The barista was sweet and gave good recommendations. Can't wait to go back to try another pastry!

We had the best server! Could only get a5:45 reservation so we wanted to ease in to dinner, and our…read moreserver made it happen. We had a drink, delicious prickly pear margarita! He brought warm chips and salsa...he gave great recommendations and we ordered a second drink... We told him when we wanted the food and it arrived soon after, and could not have been more delicious! Duck special with green mole, and chicken enchiladas suizas. So delicious all around! Love the decor. Beautiful light fixtures, warm Mexican vibe throughout...

Fonda San Miguel never disappoints! We visited on Cinco de Mayo with another couple, and as…read moreexpected, the place was packed--but we were pleasantly surprised to find a table fairly quickly on a first-come, first-served basis. We started with their famous house Margaritas with Tajín, and they were absolutely delicious--and definitely strong in the best way. My boyfriend and I shared the Ceviche Las Brisas, which was incredibly fresh with generous, perfectly cut pieces of fresh white fish from the Gulf of Mexico. For our main dish, we split the vegetable Enchiladas de Mole Poblano, served with rice and black refried beans. I wish the enchiladas had more vegetables. Everything on the plate was outstanding, and I truly think they have the best mole in town--rich, complex, and unforgettable. We were also celebrating a friend's birthday, and the staff made it extra special by surprising her with a complimentary Tres Leches cake, which was just as amazing as everything else we had. Great food, lively atmosphere, and wonderful service--Fonda San Miguel continues to be one of our favorite spots. We can't wait to go back!

I am planning an early Father's Day celebration for my husband this weekend because I will be in…read moreLas Vegas on Father's Day for a conference. Yesterday, I purchased some chocolates from Golden Eye. This is the first of several treats I have planned for him. Unfortunately, Golden Eye Chocolates will be closing in about a month, so purchase some chocolates before they close down. Golden Eye is named after the golden eye flower (perennial flower with a sunflowerish look). I tried one of their samples...so smooth and creamy unlike any traditional chocolate I have ever tasted. So, I bought six chocolates. They are a little pricey at $20 given their small size, however, a nice Father's day treat. This chocolate is quite unique with flavors like matcha latte, malted grackle, blood and honey and spiced chai. Also, the owner uses items that are unique to Austin such as the golden eye flower, chocolate sunflower and fruit bats. I also like that some of the chocolate is sourced from Venezuela, Tanzania, Costa Rica and Dominican Republic (DR). I tasted DR chocolate for the first time in November when on a cruise and it was absolutely delicious. In addition to selling chocolate pieces, they sell candy bars and coffee. Service was excellent. I learned the chocolates are made in south Austin and transported to the north location. In addition, I learned the owner is a pro nature and that's why she chose the name golden eye after the flower. The shop is small with no seating indoor or outdoor. Hope my husband likes his chocolates...

I had to write a quick update now that we finished the chocolates and tried all the flavors! Every…read morechocolate was clearly made with love and every flavor was amazing! Personal favorites- Husband said the coconut chocolate (speckled sky blue) was great, and I loved the cherry bomb (swirled red)- their take on a cherry chocolate but with a lovely cherry jam instead of a candied cherry. I also really enjoyed the 'basic' chocolate truffles- smooth, creamy, and decadent!

What a pleasant place to dine at. My husband and I were looking for some Asian-fusion place and we…read moreare so glad we came across this place. More of a diner/casual place and I can see people coming here for social gatherings. Wouldn't recommend for very large parties though. There is parking behind the restaurant and since the restaurant isn't that big, I don't think it would take long to find a spot. You definitely get what you paid for. We got the hanger steak and chicken and it was more than enough. We got some appetizers because we thought the entrees wouldn't be filling enough but were so wrong. And surprisingly, the main entree entree chicken wasn't dry and pretty flavorful. The steak was also cooked well - wish there was more flavor but the condiments complimented it very well. I would also get the umami wings (well cooked and great flavor). Service is A plus - the workers were all very attentive, personable, answered any questions we had. We had a mishap with our bill and the (I think?) manager was so nice and accommodating. They also have different specials depending on the day/week! Will definitely come back anytime I come back to Austin.

The service was awesome. Enhanced the dinning experience. Arrived during Happy Hour, and it was my…read morefirst time. Our server explained the owner's backstory, inspiration, the menu, HH, and the portion sizes. The charred Brussels sprouts were crispy and flavorful. The chicken wings were done in a spicy Szechuan Thai sauce. Very delicious. The Pork Buns were a home run. It was easily the biggest piece of Pork Belly I've ever seen on a bao bun. It was extremely tender and the sauce on the bun complimented it very well. It was my birthday and the wait staff gifted me an Ice Cream with Rice Paper Wafers. If I remember correctly, it was called a Thai Movie Theater (could be wrong). Ice cream was drizzled with chocolate, caramel, and fish sauce. Unique, unlike anything I've had before. The Rice Paper Wafers gave it a nice buttery crunch. Wonderful service. Wonderful food. Highly recommend and I will be back!

Spacious aisles, courteous staff, a great selection of your Whole Foods favorites for just a smidge…read morecheaper, and best of all - it's in my neighborhood! But because there isn't much traffic, many things stay on the shelf for a long period of time. I found out when I purchased "Tony's Chocoloney." Chocolate only gets this chalky color if it's been sitting a while.

I'm just shocked... After shopping hear for 40 plus years' they who took over this little neighbor…read morehood grocery store destroyed the history and quality and the thing that made it possible to do all your shopping in one place....... I talked to the new manager who thought they needed to sell Sponge Bob Socks and stuff like novelty items instead of having fresh made food and items that regulars and folks who used to do all their shopping could buy. When they painted the outside of the building BLACK and changed it to neighborhood friendly to a place you can hardly recognize or enjoy visiting. I'm just really miss the old store when a Retired Airline Pilot and his beautiful wife ran the best little grocery store and bakery attached & where I fell in love with one of the check out girls. Just check out Google Maps to see how things have changed ....... I'm heartbroken.....

Local products supplied by local farmers and artisans. Many of the same products you find at the…read morefarmer's market, available every day! I stopped in for a last minute Christmas gift of Sloan Seasonings. Yum!!

I can't believe I JUST discovered this place. It is a real gem! The store is small and probably not…read moreideal for your entire grocery list but they offer a great selection of meats & dairy from local farms. Prices are a bit high but you get what you pay for. The produce selection is a bit limited but still great! They also offer pantry staples from local businesses. Since discovering this spot, I have been a frequent shopper especially for local meats, eggs and butter.