Aba is such a beautiful Mediterranean spot in Austin! Our waiter was absolutely…read moreamazing--attentive, friendly, and made the experience even better. The food was SO delicious and full of flavor, and the outdoor seating is definitely a vibe! Perfect spot for a nice dinner, drinks, and good conversation. Definitely recommend! Follow me on IG @Ohh_thatskiaa for more good content

A lively yet inviting vibe--think abundant greenery, warm lighting, modern Mediterranean touches,…read moreand a standout multi-level patio under a big heritage oak that makes outdoor seating especially appealing when the weather cooperates. The indoor space flows nicely with the outdoors and feels trendy and polished without being overly formal. Parking is the typical South Congress challenge. There's access to the Music Lane underground garage (with a small validation discount from the restaurant) plus nearby paid lots and street options, but it can feel competitive and a bit chaotic, especially on busier evenings. Plan ahead or use rideshare if you can. Service was great--attentive and smooth throughout our meal with two adults and two kids. We ordered the whipped feta spread (excellent with the pistachios and oil; the house bread was a bit salty), Brussels sprouts (cooked perfectly), grilled chicken kebabs, the shawarma-spiced steak frites, and the grilled Branzino. The Branzino was the clear star of the show--flavorful and well-executed. The chicken and steak were mediocre at best. For dessert we shared the sticky date cake, which had a nice crunch outside and was warm and moist inside. It's a bit pricey (we paid over $240 for the four of us), but the setting, strong service, and that excellent Branzino make it worthwhile. I'd definitely come back.

The good-the food was consistently good. The employees were polite…read more The bad: hoooo boy, where to start. The women's restroom had NO tp. One stall has no working latches or locks, and the other has no external handle. They have no diet drink options except water, so diabetics can drink water or go thirsty I guess. The most egregious thing, however, was how my food was given to me. I ordered a gyro wrap with cheese. Now, I don't know about everyone else, but if I'm eating MEDITERRANEAN FOOD, and ask for cheese, I expect a beautiful pile of feta. Instead, I received a wrap with a mountain of SLICED American cheese on it. Its mere existence infuriates me.

I got the combo rice plate and it cost about $17. Very quick service and great portions. I loved…read morethe flavor of the chicken. The food came with a spicy red sauce and a white sauce. Really delicious and great value for money.

Wasn't sure what to expect but the restaurant was recommended by someone who had dined at the Round…read moreRock location. Let's get the negatives out of the way first. The strip mall that the restaurant is located on Lamar is grungy and rundown. And the restaurant has seen better days and needs updating. The dining room feels dingy. Now for the positives. The server was very friendly and helpful and made great recommendations. We ordered the hummus and tabbouleh as appetizers and they were delicious. The waitress also brought out a huge plain flatbread and it was served hot and was chewy and soft at the same time. The flatbread is unlimited so we ordered a second one. It paired well with the hummus but is delicious by itself. For entrees, we ordered the lahmbiajin and the sharing barbecue plate. Everything was well seasoned and delicious. The kebabs were moist and flavorful and it was enough to feed a family of four. For dessert, we had the baklava and a chocolate cake and they were excellent too. We found out that they have an in house person who bakes the cakes. All in all, I would recommend this restaurant if you aren't picky about the ambience. Definitely go for the food. I would definitely go back again. According to the person who has dined at the round rock location, that restaurant is nicer and has better ambience. Food: 4.5 stars Ambience: 3.5 stars

Usta Kababgy is an excellent restaurant for authentic Middle Eastern cuisine in Austin, TX located…read moreon N. Lamar Blvd. The restaurant has well seasoned, charcoal grilled meats. The kebabs are the true highlight...juicy, flavorful, and grilled to perfection. The portions are quite large as the hubs and I shared a wrap. We were sufficiently full after eating the chicken tikka wrap. Interestingly, the wrap came in a Shawarma King packaging with their contact phone number. So, I assume that Usta staff are sub-contracting from Shawarma King. Usta also has freshly baked bread and classic sides like hummus and rice paired with the main dishes. The restaurant has a homey, lived in feel. It has a few middle eastern artifacts sprinkled throughout the restaurant. The menu offers a wide variety of options, from Iraqi and Adana kebabs to shawarma and traditional Middle Eastern plates, so there are food items for both first timers and regulars who want to explore beyond the basics. They also serve flatbreads where you can have two different toppings. The food focus is on bold, traditional flavors rather than modern takes on middle eastern foods. On the desserts front, they have an assortment of desserts and several sections of ice cream. I had the baklava, which was surprisingly delicious...it was not eye-squinting sweet like a standard baklava. It was crunchy, flavorful, and had nuts that were substantial. Layla, my server, was so super sweet and welcoming. She pointed out that Usta provides its customers free tea. How cool is that? I cannot remember last time I received a free drink.

Fed the family of 18 quickly and we loved our food!…read more Chicken Karaage was a favorite! Brussel Sprouts delicious Parking was limited on a Sunday afternoon but worth it Enjoy! Will come again when in Austin.

This review I dug up is from a while ago, things may have changed…read more January 2020 was my first time at Loro in South Austin. My companion and I went at 5 PM on a Thursday. There is a parking lot that was pretty full but not completely. Once inside, we took seats at the back bar where a buddy suggested we sit for faster service. We had menus and water within minutes, and our bartender was attentive the whole time. We ordered a mix of dishes that had been recommended and a couple more: Oak grilled Snap peas, Coconut scented Rice, Chicken Karaage, Tomato and Cucumber salad, Smoked Prime Bavette Plate, Smoked Beef brisket plate, and Chocolate mousse. For drinks we got Thai Berry smash and Mandarin Margarita. Overall, there was good flavor in all the dishes, with well-paired flavor combos, which is the standard Hai Hospitality sets. However, some dishes didn't have as bold flavor as I was hoping. The Chicken karaage could have been bolder. Surprisingly, the Tomato and Cucumber salad had more flavor than expected. The Prime Bavette and Smoked Brisket were great, though a bit pricy. Both of the drinks were excellent, but only got one each as we're not big on spending on alcohol with dinner. Normally I'd go to this type of place with high-end satiation expectations, such as at Uchiko, where actually filling up would cost a lot so I don't fill up and plan to eat a couple hours later. However, we were both full after eating the above, and even had a piece of brisket and some rice to take home. For the quality, the value is there. The service was great, the bartender checked on us multiple times, and gave us updates on what dishes were left to come out once we were about two-thirds through our order. Each time a dish came we got a refresher on what it was from the server, which I like. The place was about 1/3 full at 5 PM and 2/3 full when we left at 5:45 PM, with the volume-level rising. The speed and quality of the meal taken together is excellent-- we were in and out quickly and enjoyed our fine dining. The restaurant was a bit dark; I could read the menu fine, but one older gentleman had to use his phone to see the menu text. At the end of the meal, a small gift card helped lower the price so it was under 100 out the door. We ended up being very happy with the food and experience-- it was great, but it wasn't amazing solely because a couple dishes needed their good flavor to be bolder. No single item wasn't good, and a couple were exceptional, so I'd easily recommend this restaurant and would like to go back.

Food is FRESH and hot. To order!! The manager & staff was so kind and welcoming! This establishment…read morewas very clean for just finishing a lunch rush. The music wasn't too loud and customers just enjoying their fresh food! This location absolutely made my day! Those who love CAVA... this will absolutely exceed your expectations- phenomenal food!!!

You know me and my review drafts...maybe you don't. That's ok. I've got a lot that I'm working…read morethrough. My most recent visit today (8/9/26) reminded me to finish writing this. Anyway... Started coming here two years ago when relocating to the neighborhood from Pittsburgh. While it's a chain (shops in Cali, this one, and I believe one in Pflugerville), the quality of the food that comes out is far from institutionalized corporate chain junk. Everything is always fresh and made to order. The tabouleh is actually really decent. Grilled saffron chicken, saffron rice, perfectly seasoned and flavored. I usually get the chicken kebab plate. Other items I've had and can recommend are the wraps (usually go with building my own), I also really love the steak and chimichurri bowl. My boyfriend is crazy about the kebab fries, falafel, and different bowls as well as wraps and platter dishes. I'll often add a side of grilled veggies to my order (peppers, zucchini, etc.). Huge portions always means leftovers when not sharing a meal with my boyfriend. It's a convenient location for us especially if we're taking big walks and want to fuel up beforehand or fill up afterwards. Counter service is helpful and friendly. Modern cafe-style decor with high-top tables, metal stools. Never a bad experience.

Why 4 stars? Because I had a halal itch and this kind of scratched it…read more --- --- --- I recently visited New York and every time I do that, I usually have to visit a halal cart. This time, I barely managed to squeeze one into my trip, and it was kind of a last minute stop from a food truck that wasn't even on Yelp. It was fine, but I was left yearning for more after barely getting a taste of it. Enter: my trip to Austin. Upon doing my food research, I was struck by Halal Time's great rating and couldn't pass up the opportunity to visit. I was staying in a hotel less than a mile away, which made it even easier to stop by. The result? I wouldn't say it fully hit the spot on what I'd remembered from old NYC trips, but I did enjoy it. I went with the Beef Shawarma Over Rice plate and it was a perfectly "good, not great" dinner.

First let me start and say the portion is huge. I could not finish it and it was very tasty. At…read morefirst I thought it was too much sauce but once you mix everything together. It was the perfect amount. the chicken meal and baklava dessert was $17 which I felt was good price. My complaint. I preordered on door dash and picked up my order and 3 of my coworkers orders. I get a 30 min lunch and it takes me 8 min to get there and another 8 min to get so I should have had plenty of time. I go up to the window, tell him I'm here to pick up the order and he says door dash has not given him orders for 3 days. So my orders were not made. I had to call everyone to find out what they order and as I'm calling out the orders he's like oh yes I see them. Very confused as to how he has no orders but also has orders? There was construction and graduations going on that day so my commute was a little longer but he not having the orders ready also made me late.

9/10 Halal Hub was…read moreabsolutely worth the stop. I ordered the chicken shawarma over rice and salad, and it was packed with flavor, fresh, and a huge portion. There was still a line at 11 PM, which tells you everything you need to know. It's a little hidden on the corner of a gas station, but don't let that fool you. I wasn't a fan of the red spicy sauce, but the tzatziki was delicious. Next time, I'm trying the tabouli. Great food, open late, and I'd definitely come back.

New fav halal spot!!! The camera did not eat first so that tells you how good it is. The combo over…read morerice is my go to. The rice is actually so flavorful and fresh. Everything is well seasoned and this is a staple in my restaurant rotation. Perfect for a late night bite as well

Amazing! I had long anticipated tasting this highly acclaimed food truck with the unique Egyptian…read moreflare. It was delicious!!! Now I am a fan of lamb in particular so I was very eager to try the chops. Stellar!!! We also got some ribs as well. The pomegranate glaze was incredible and complimented the flavor of the meat perfectly.

As a Middle Eastern who loves BBQ, I had to try KGBBQ while I was in Texas. It definitely did not…read moredisappoint! I got the rice and lamb chops, and they were SO good. The lamb was cooked perfectly and had so much flavor. But that chimichurri... SO good! It went perfectly with everything. Definitely one of those spots I'm glad I tried while visiting Texas. If you love BBQ and bold flavors, you have to check this place out!

Pretty convenient little spot off the road. Nice setup with a couple spots to sit outside. One of…read morethem is covered. Bit of a language barrier with the guy taking orders. He was really nice though. So I didn't get what I wanted but got what he suggested. And he suggested the beef dumplings as a substitute for what I couldn't get. And oh man, those things are pretty awesome. Tasty for sure. And the presentation I think is really nice. We also had the chicken skewers over rice. Those were good too. But I'd probably stick with the beef next time.

So f^***** good…read more Omg so delicious I got the combo chicken and beef ground plate with the rice and fries and put a bunch of different sauces on it by the recommendation of Ahmed/ Ahmad? Super nice guy! Was super patient with my ignorant questions about the food. It was so good. Even my husband was impressed and would come back. The prices increased by $1 from the posted signs but for $18 after tip it was like 3 meals for me.

I love Austin Restaurant Week because it allows you to try different cuisines at fixed prices for…read morelunch, brunch and dinner along with drink specials. Austin Restaurant Week takes place from August 28th through September 13th. First stop...Rollin Smoke BBQ, located in the Chalmers building, which filled with a crowd of people. I ordered a pull pork sandwich, mac-n-cheese and banana pudding. The pulled pork sandwich was huge, which I shared with the hubs. Quite honestly, I was full after eating 1/4 of the sandwich, which had cabbage, pickles and of course the pork (not the typical stringy pork but chunks of pork bursting with smokey flavor). The mac-n-cheese was substantial with cheese filled shell pasta with a hint of a smokey flavor. So yummy...Well, I might have eaten "all" the banana pudding. This was not your typical banana pudding (dense and flavorful). I certainly understand why they run out of this dessert. Service was superb! Great dining experience...

I have been craving Pork Belly Burnt Ends for the past few days and today, I was able to find a…read moregood parking spot at Chalmers Bar which houses Rollin Smoke BBQ. I order a very nice lite afternoon snack, 1/2 lb of Prime Pork Belly Burnt Ends, 1 Pork Sparerib, and a side of Boozy Brussels. The Prime Pork Belly Burnt Ends which are tossed in bourbon sauce and smoked again for a tender meat candy-like finish which was quite to the contrary, not overbearingly sweet, just a hint. The first time that I went to Rollin' Smoke, I wanted to order the Pork Spareribs but they weren't available so that's when I was introduced to the Pork Belly Burnt ends so today, I ordered just 1 Pork Sparerib today which was good but not great, sadly. I thoroughly enjoyed the Boozy Brussel Sprouts which were smoked and flashed fried, a balsamic glaze with whiskey soaked raisins and parmesan. I am definitely returning to check out the Half Chicken Plate with 2 small sides that I eyeballed.