This annual “best things I ate” list is always a fun one to put together. Not only is it looking back at memorable bites, but it’s fun remembering the occasion or who I was dining with. As I always say, the food and environment have a big impact on your experience, but so do your dining companions!

A very interesting stat – I dined at 197 restaurants, bakeries, breweries, food trucks, etc in 2024. That number dropped significantly to 140 in 2025! I think it was a combination of reasons. I was a little uninspired, and I was trying to save money. You take a risk dining out at places you haven’t been before (and even places recommended by others).

Most of these things should not come as a surprise if you read my quarterly flavor posts. Here are 15 memorable eats!

Chicken Sandwich at Dang Hot

This is one of the best fried chicken sandwiches in town! I got the mild, and it definitely has some heat. Perfectly crispy and good flavor, this food truck is a must-try.

Key Lime Pie from Lulu’s Pie Shoppe

This pie changed key lime pie for me, and I’m awaiting my next opportunity to enjoy this!

Rajasthani Tawa Paratha with Aloo at Paratha Rollers

You get two hits and lots of flavor with this dish – the soft paratha bread and the potato masala.

Masu at Craft Omakase

We got to return to Craft Omakas (my top choice for omakase in Austin), and it was once again a fantastic meal. This ocean trout bite was one of my favorites. Read more about Craft here.

Matcha at Dam Coffee Bar

A new coffee shop opened in Austin, and you have to go try their matcha. I’ve had their coconut water matcha and mango matcha, and both were strong and flavorful. They also have Vietnamese coffee and egg coffee that I want to try one day.

Dinner at Kane Sushi

I would love it if Kane Sushi were in Austin (it’s in Cedar Park) because their bites were delicious and huge!

Brunch at Ladino (San Antonio)

We took a weekend trip to San Antonio and had my dream brunch at Ladino. It’s part of the Emmer & Rye Hospitality restaurant group and one of my favorites. The cuisine is modern Mediterranean, and their Turkish brunch includes a variety of side dishes like seared halloumi, marinated olives, sourdough flatbread, and housemade jams. You can choose an entree, and I highly recommend the Turkish eggs.

Soup Dumplings at Mian & Bao

Mian & Bao has been a favorite spot for many this year, and I agree. These are some of the best soup dumplings in town!

Vanilla Chantilly Cake at Rockman Coffee and Bakery

Rockman officially turned one this past October, and they are offering some delicious pastries! The vanilla chantilly cake was one of my favorite things I tried. See my feature post on Rockman here.

Fried Chicken Sandwich at Teddy’s

This fried chicken sandwich seems to only be available during happy hour, and it was delicious!

Matcha at CaPhe.in

Ok, I’ve been drinking a lot of matcha. And this is another good one! I tried their ube previously, and I liked their banana matcha more. Creamy banana flavor, and the bruleed banana slice on top is a nice touch.

Italian Sub at Handsome Dan’s

The spontaneous meals can be the best, as evidenced by this sandwich and beer at Handsome Dan’s. This sandwich reminded me that I love a good sandwich and that I should go seek these out more. It’s also very satisfying to see these sandwich layers. I also enjoyed the IPA, which they brew in-house.

Otoro with Caviar and Truffle at Tare

I returned to Tare for an omakase meal and again loved it. Of course, the matcha tres leches is still great, but you can’t beat how delicious this tuna belly bite is. See the feature post on Tare here.

Breakfast at Phoebe’s Diner

This Austin spot is known for its breakfast and brunch. Their bananas foster French toast is heavenly! It’s banana walnut bread topped with whipped cream, fresh bananas, and more.

Brisket Burger at la Barbecue

I went to a media dinner with JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery, an award-winning (Michelin-starred) vineyard in Paso Robles, California, making Bordeaux-style blends. They paired their wines with the barbecue of Jess Pryles, a local BBQ expert, and la Barbecue, a Michelin-starred barbecue restaurant in Austin. My favorite pairing was the Candied Jalapeno Brisket Burger with the 2022 JUSTIN Reserve Cabernet.

What’s the best thing you ate this year?

Look back at my flavors posts this year:

• Flavors of the Month Q1 2025 – Austin Restaurants to Try
• Flavors of the Month Q2 2025 – Austin Restaurants to Try
• Flavors of the Month Q3 2025 – Austin Restaurants to Try
• Flavors of the Month Q4 2025 – Austin Restaurants to Try

See my recaps from past years here:

• Best Things I Ate This Year – 2024
• 12 Best Things I Ate and Drank in 2023
• 10 Best Things I Ate in 2022

The post Best Things I Ate in 2025 appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

I ate at 197 restaurants, bakeries, breweries, food trucks, etc in 2024, and all but one dish was enjoyed in Austin, Texas. I also didn’t include anything from my NYC trip because so much was great! You can see those things in this post.

Best Dishes and Drinks of 2024 – 23 Spots

Pan Fried Soup Bao at Si Jie Special Noodle

Lychee and Strawberry Souffle Cake from Interrupted Baker

Lamb Rib at KG BBQ

Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake at The Guest House

Sourdough Focaccia with Housemade Ricotta, Honey, Thyme at Intero

Brown Butter Cake, Cinnamon Gelato, Pecans at Intero

Killed Lettuces & Onions at Audrey (Nashville)

Swedish Tosca Almond Cake at My Sweetish Friend

Hokkaido Scallop at Tare

Masa Twinkie at Mercado Sin Nombre

Unagi at Toshokan

Dinner at Birdie’s

Cacio e Pepe Slice from All Day Pizza

Cocktail at Oko

Halo Halo at Oko

Dinner at Craft Omakase

Steak Super Burrito at Asado’s Taqueria

Soft Serve at Bambino

Pozole Verde Tonkotsu at Ramen del Barrio

Pepper with Eggplant and Preserved Egg at Hunan Bistro

Pandan Cupcake from Hhomdee

Crab Benedict at Serenade

Pecan Souffle at Garrison

Among the 197 places I dined at in 2024, here are some more notable mentions.

Favorite Restaurants: (I had only tried 3 of these before and many of them opened this year)

• Si Jie Special Noodle
• The Guest House
• Intero
• Tare
• An Nyeong K Tofu & BBQ
• Bambino
• Taqueria 10 de 10
• Birdie’s
• Nixta Taqueria
• Craft Omakase
• Garrison
• Oko

Food Trucks:

• Asado’s Taqueria
• KG BBQ
• All Day Pizza
• T-Loc’s Sonora

Desserts and Pastries:

• Golden Eye Chocolates
• Interrupted Baker
• My Sweetish Friend
• Good Things
• Mercado Sin Nombre

Bars:

• Mama Dearest
• Equipment Room
• Flo’s Wine Bar
• Trona
• Milonga Room

Where I’m Looking Forward to Eating in 2025

I’m sure you can guess that I always have a “to-eat” list. Here are some places I’m planning to cross off my list next year.

• Custard Prison – paczki (filled donut) pop-up
• Dang Hot 89 – fried chicken
• Feral Pizza – pizza
• Kalimotxo – I want to try their new location
• Knuckle Sandwich – sandwiches
• Loudmouth – pizza and more
• Paper Boy – the go-to brunch, haven’t been since it was a food truck
• P Thai’s Khao Man Gai – I do love Haianese chicken rice
• Rockman Bakery – newest bakery, had some things delivered by a friend but want to dine in and try more
• The Flower Shop – 70s diner meets dive bar

Here’s to more great eats in 2025!

What was your favorite thing eaten this year?

Need more of my favorite eats? Here are the posts to read:

• Flavors of the Month Q4 2024
• Flavors of the Month Q3 2024
• Flavors of the Month Q2 2024
• Flavors of the Month Q1 2024
• 12 Best Things I Ate and Drank in 2023
• 10 Best Things I Ate in 2022

The post Best Things I Ate This Year – 2024 appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

It was hard to do, but in this post, I’ve picked out 12 of my favorite dishes and drinks of 2023!

Tuna Tiradito at Este

This dish melts in your mouth and has become a signature dish for the restaurant. The buttery bluefin tuna is accompanied by avocado and finished with allium salsa negra and crispy leeks. It’s a light and pretty dish that I loved this year.

Fried Chicken Sandwich at Spicy Boys

I can’t believe I haven’t called this out before, but this is my favorite fried chicken sandwich in Austin! There are five locations around town so go get yours.

Vada Pav at Dosa Shack

This sandwich has a deep-fried potato patty and has garlic and mint chutney. After the first bite during our food blogger event, I knew it was going on this list!

House Special Banh Mi at Fresh Bowl

Per my records, I’ve eaten at Fresh Bowl at least nine times this year, the most out of any place. I’m so lucky that it’s near me because their banh mi is excellent! I wrote about this place in this post.

Orange Blossom at Moonlight Bakery

In researching kouign amann for this post, I stopped by Moonlight Bakery for their orange blossom, a kouign amann with orange. It has everything great about the kouign amann with the added zing from the orange. I’m pretty sure I gobbled this up in the car!

Barbacoa Taco from Un Mundo de Sabor

Loved the classic barbacoa taco from food truck Un Mundo de Sabor, located at Fierce Whiskers. I’m so glad there is no shortage of tacos in Austin!

Strawberry Croffle at Cafe de Margo

I had my first croffle – croissant waffle – this year. This crispy pastry has caramelized sugar on the outside and it was topped with strawberry cream and strawberries. The stand was open at Hana World Market and will return in the new year.

The McDowell at Slab BBQ

This sandwich greatness came out of nowhere. The deboned pork ribs are fall-apart moist and the Soul Glo sauce makes this messy sandwich excellent.

Potato Gnocchi at Rooster & Owl

I love gnocchi and I wanted this dish all to myself! This dish was enjoyed on our trip to D.C.

Make It Snappy Cocktail at Ezov

In a year when cocktail bars are exploding into the Austin market, I’ve had a lot of mediocre cocktails. But this one made me stop AND put it on this list! Ezov is a new restaurant from the Emmer and Rye Hospitality Group featuring Mediterranean food. The Make It Snappy cocktail had Bulgarian Feta-washed gin, snap pea, whole grapefruit, and lime.

Matcha Latte at Intelligentsia

Intelligentsia has this oat matcha latte on tap and it is solid!

Blackened Dayboat Fish at Olamaie

The fish itself was good but what elevates this dish is the Carolina Gold rice with the butter blue crab sauce. It made me want to lick the plate!

Honorable Mention: Too Many Things in Japan

I knew I had to include things I ate in Japan on this list but it was difficult to choose only one. So, a quick list of things I would love to eat again:

• A5 Wagyu Skewer at Tsukiji Ihachi at Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo
• Strawberry Daifuku at Tsukiji Iroha in Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo
• Fish ramen at Maru de Sankaku in Osaka
• Okonomiyaki at Torame Yokocho in Osaka
• Cheese Tart at Grand Riviere in Hakone
• All the sushi and tempura

Honorable Mention: Strawberry Book Club at Paper Route Bakery

Ok, the strawberry book club made my list in 2022 too, but with Paper Route Bakery’s closing, it deserves an extra tribute this year. Austin’s greatest food loss this year was Paper Route Bakery. It closed in June and I have been searching for better cake since. But I did enjoy this cake-tasting day with my friend Janna where we bought every slice.

Wishing you a happy and delicious New Year with lots of incredible eats!

Looking for past posts?

• 10 Best Things I Ate in 2022
• 10 Favorite Things I Ate This Year – 2021
• Flavors of the Month: Q4 2023
• Flavors of the Month: Q3 2023
• Flavors of the Month: Q2 2023
• Flavors of the Month: Q1 2023

The post 12 Best Things I Ate and Drank in 2023 appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Ziki Bites at ZIKI Kitchens

These crispy spanakopita balls surprised me and it’s a must-order when you visit this food truck.

Strawberry Book Club Cake Slice from Paper Route Bakery

This slice of cake made my year! And hopefully this year I’ll try every regular flavor at this favorite bakery.

Lobster with roasted kombu, sea urchin, dolce at Pasta|Bar

One of the best dishes of an extravagant meal at Pasta|Bar was this creative dish. The flavors were an explosion of elegance and something I wish I could enjoy regularly! See every dish in this post.

Tacos at Cuantos Tacos

There is an abundance of taco trucks in Austin. I have probably tried a tenth. But I crossed one of these off my list and it is something I still think about.

Lion’s Mane Mushroom Lettuce Wrap at APT 115

Dining at APT 115 was one of the most fun chef’s tastings I had this year. The dishes were fun and creative. This lettuce wrap had delicious mushrooms in it! See the full meal in this post.

Grandma-Style Margherita Pizza from Pedroso’s Pizza

While not as many as tacos, pizza is also readily available in Austin. Pedroso’s Pizza brought us something new with their grandma-style pizza. It’s crunchy on the outside but chewy on the inside, a style similar to Sicilian and hailing from Long Island, NY.

Peking Duck at Bamboo House

Bamboo House topped many lists this year because of their Peking duck. Crispy skin, juicy meat, and thin wrappers made this delicacy one of my favorite dishes.

Oreo Miso at Merry Monarch Creamery

This new ice cream food truck has been making waves with its creative, artisan ice creams. The Oreo miso is one of my new favorites.

Bone Marrow Tacos at Comedor

These decadent tacos are fatty goodness. Enough said? Learn more in this post.

Cornbread and Corn Ribs at Odd Duck

Meals at Odd Duck and/or Barley Swine are typical every year. During this meal, I really enjoyed the cornbread and these corn ribs blew my mind!

Reflecting on Austin Dining

With the pandi “over,” most restaurants tried to return to the previous normal, but it was easier said than done. Restaurants faced labor shortages, increased food costs, and wage competition, among other issues. Some restaurants weathered the years and sadly couldn’t do it anymore. I said goodbye to many bakeries and a few breweries. (List of 2022 restaurant closures on Eater Austin.)

It wasn’t only restaurants closing. With increased food costs trickling down to customers, restaurants have added some burden to diners, and many times, it was hard to see or maybe accept the value of dining out, especially when service and quality are subpar. I’ve left many meals disappointed this year, so much so I’ve been weary of eating out. You might have noticed fewer places on my quarterly flavors posts. While we’ve tried fewer new restaurants, we’ve also tried to be more discerning about where we go and saved money.

Altogether, Austin’s restaurant industry continues to evolve and I like to think it’s for the better. I hope restaurants of different cuisines continue to open and restaurants will re-focus on sustainability.

I’m excited to try new restaurants this year!

What was the best thing you ate this year?

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I hope when you try these recommendations, you’ll have the memorable experience I had!

Brunch at The Bearded Baking Company

I’ve been singing my praises of The Bearded Baking Company all year because of the meal I had early in the year. A warm croissant sandwich with ham, egg, and cheese. A dish with creamy grits, bacon jam, pimento cheese, poached egg, and chicken-fried bacon. Fried potatoes smothered in grilled pimento cheese, bacon lardons, and green onions. A huge, gooey chocolate chip cookie. And a perfect maple carrot cupcake. Every part of the meal was mouth-watering and the hospitality was the cherry on top!

Cookie Choux from Whipped ATX

I traveled to Leander to get in line before it opened. My goal: get all the treats! It was worth it and I discovered one of my favorite treats – the cookie choux. The outside is a crispy, almost caramelized texture while the inside has whipped cream. This cream puff challenges my negative stance on them and it’s a satisfying sweet treat.

Tacos at De Nada Cantina

Austin has a lot of tacos. Like, A LOT. Most of them are good and a select few end up on lists covering the best things you put in your mouth. Their chefs know what they’re doing with slow-cooked meats and hand-crafted masa tortillas. The flavors are vibrant! My must-orders are the barbacoa taco, verduras taco (veggie), and the carnitas and cheese quesadilla.

Sushi Omakase at Uchi

The most consistent omakase in Austin goes to Uchi. Every sushi bite was perfect and the meal was cohesive. This blog post will tell you all about it!

Burnt Basque Cheesecake from Ogi the Yogi

I first ordered a slice of this delicious cheesecake and I was so impressed, I convinced a friend to go halfsies on a whole cheesecake. It’s creamy, dense, and you can’t eat only one bite. I didn’t know I liked cheesecake that much until I had this one.

Mafaldine Pasta at Birdie’s

This mafaldine at Birdie’s is magic! I love the texture of this ribbon pasta and the lightly creamy sauce and the mushrooms were perfect accompaniments. This bowl is what I think of when it comes to elevated comfort food, which describes Birdie’s very well.

This Dessert at Uchiko

The jasmine cream dessert at Uchiko is a must-order, must-try. There’s a whole blog post about it!

Mochi Waffle from Bom Bakeshop

You know something is good when you unexpectedly finish it in minutes sitting in the parking lot. Bom Bakeshop has been on fire with their pop-ups this year and their limited mochi waffle offering was a perfect balance of sweet and satisfying. You can get their mochi donuts regularly but maybe they’ll bring back their waffles?!

Sushi Omakase at Otoko

One of the most extravagant meals this year (because of price and presentation) was the chef’s tasting at Otoko. It’s the most attentive and precise service you’ll find in Austin. It’s an intimate show with incredible food. It’s worth the splurge to experience it at least once! See more details in this post.

Dinner at Lutie’s

As I conveyed in this post, dining at Lutie’s was a sleeper hit. From reading reviews, I learned to lower my expectations yet leaving the restaurant very satisfied reminded me that it’s good to give places your own try. The composition of the trout and rice dish seems so simple yet I frequently wish I had it in front of me to enjoy again. It doesn’t hurt that Lutie’s took my favorite pastry – kouign amann – and made it into a unique and craveable dessert. See more details in this blog post.

Have you tried any of these restaurants?

P.S. Want more restaurant recommendations? See my Flavors of the Month posts for Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4.

P.P.S. The last time I recapped the best things I ate in the year was in 2017. See that post here.

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