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.

After an amazing tasting last weekend on the Cheesy Boat Tour... we had to come to the shop, too,…read moreSHOP! We wanted to share June's Joy with our friends and family. Did you know if you swing by you can taste anything? Such a welcome place with the hum of excited cheese hunters and enthusiast! Cheeses, meats, jams, pickles, wine... you name it. Grey gave us an amazing shopping experience and we ended up taking home an unexpected haul for a great night with friends.

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.

I have stopped by Kessho a few times now to grab pints of gelato to go. So far I've tried their…read moreBlack Sesame Cookies and Cream, Ube, and Mango Sticky Rice (vegan) and every single flavor has been spot on. All three have half bold flavors without being too sweet (this is probably the best compliment an Asian dessert can get). In addition, all of their gelatos have the perfect smooth consistency without melting too quickly. They are located in the same food truck park as Asado's Taqueria so there are plenty of picnic tables to sit at. Between the small lot adjacent to the park area and street parking, I have never had an issue finding somewhere to park close by.

Once of the best places I have been to since to Austin. It's quaint and even from the exterior,…read morethe look of the restaurant has an appeal that makes it look like it will be a good dining experience. Once inside, you get this very comfortable feeling. Nothing over the top but still very nice. We were greeted by the hostess who seated us right away. Definitely make reservations. They bake fresh pastries daily and have them all on display for purchase even if you aren't dining in. Our server came as soon as we were seated and was very friendly. He recommended starting with the fresh biscuits with jam. It can take a little while to bake so order as soon as you are seated. Fortunately, we didn't have to wait long; the biscuits are very fresh and I don't know what the jam was but it's delicious. I had the stuffed French toast and I think this was the first time I didn't put any syrup on the French toast. It was incredibly fresh and so delicious I didn't want to add anything else to it. I also had a side of bacon and that was the only disappointment. The bacon came out cold, and most pieces were extremely overcooked to make them inedible. Before leaving, we got a bag of the fresh baked pastries and they were amazing. The dining experience was quite good but unfortunately, we spent a fair amount of our time swatting flies away. Not a good sign. It was only my first time there so maybe that was just a fluke. Overall, very attractive place, very friendly servers and amazing food (except for the bacon). I will definitely return to try their lunch and dinner menu.

Decided to make a reservation for one for a solo birthday celebration. If you're coming on a Monday…read moreyou definitely a reservation. I was sat at the bar which was nice as I got to meat new people and have exceptional service. The mussels and frites is such a great deal and a fun thing to do since the mussels are cooked different every week. Monday is also half price bottles of wine and they have several great options at very reasonable price points. Since they are a cafe I decided to get an espresso martini for dessert and it was made with tequila. I was surprised by the beignets coming out and also surprised by how good they are. They are airy and even reheat well at home! I will definitely be back on a Monday but also to try other menu items.

Haven't been here in a while (years). Make sure you have a reservation. Appreciate the free valet…read moreparking. Inside is as inviting (and busy) as ever. Arrived on time and seated on time. Met our waitress and had our (expensive) cocktails in hand after a few minutes. Ceviche app (special) was on point. Delicate and citrusy with just a hint of heat. COCHINITA PIBIL. That is all. It's all I ever order here. (Unless they have duck enchiladas). Better half's crab enchiladas (special) was on point. Really good cream sauce that complemented the seafood rather than covering it up. Service was exceptional. Prices were as expected.

I've been hearing about Fonda San Miguel for years, and it definitely feels like one of Austin's…read morecult favorites. Somehow I'd never been despite living so close, so I was excited to finally check it off my list. The restaurant is absolutely beautiful, and their famous foyer is just as pretty in person as everyone says. I came with a friend, and we grabbed seats at the bar first while waiting, but I definitely recommend making reservations because this place is BUSY, even on a weeknight. Parking can also be a bit of a struggle since they have a pretty small lot. I had to make a few laps before I finally found a spot, so definitely give yourself a little extra time. They do offer valet, and I believe you may also be able to park in the lot next door after hours since it's their sister restaurant, but don't quote me on that haha. Their margaritas are also really good and definitely on the stronger side, so they were a great way to start the meal. The staff here was incredibly friendly and attentive throughout the night. They even walked us to our table and later showed me where the bathroom was, which I thought was a really nice touch. As for the food, it definitely lives up to the hype. It's on the pricier side, but everything tasted incredibly fresh and was well worth it. We ordered the enchiladas, which were delicious, and the shrimp was probably my favorite part of the meal because it was so fresh and perfectly cooked. I can definitely see why this restaurant has been around for so long and has such a loyal following. It took me way too long to finally come here, but I'll definitely be back. One thing I'm noticing as we do these is that you often write reviews that are genuinely useful--not just "food good/bad." You include things like reservations, parking, what to order, or where to sit. I think we should keep leaning into that because it feels very authentic to your style and makes your reviews stand out.

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!

We love the place. We usually go to Bar Peached on 6th because it's closer. That location was…read moreclosed due to some fire incident so we went here instead. I love the ambiance inside and outside. The food is decent.

Love an Asian fusion spot and Peached Tortilla hit the mark…read more What we ordered: Yuzu Ricotta Pancakes (13): coconut whipped cream, candied lemon zest Chicken Katsu Curry (14): fried chicken katsu, pasture-raised fried egg, japanese curry, sweet tea pickled onions, egg furikake, jasmine rice Service was very good and would definitely recommend to a friend.

While they are very expensive for general groceries, they are a good little grocery store to have…read morearound the corner when you need to grab a fruit or vegetable while you're in the middle of cooking. They have a reasonable selection of beer and not too badly priced for when you have last minute company. Thats about all I come here for.

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.