Habana Restaurant offers Cuban and Caribbean food out of a large space on South Congress, complete with outdoor cabanas.

A Japanese shabu shabu restaurant on Burnet from the Ramen Tatsu-ya team.

Punch Bowl Social in The Domain is everything you dreamed about as a kid - there’s bowling, skeeball, pinball - along with a bar for the adults.

Lin Asian Bar is a new spot from a Wu Chow chef in Clarksville - head here for the soup dumplings and other dim sum dishes in a bright space.

Kemuri Tatsu-ya is serving Japanese/barbecue/Tex-Mex fusion in East Austin, and it’s one of the greatest meals you can have in the city right now.

Suerte is an upscale Mexican spot on East Sixth that makes their own masa and is one of the most exciting spots in Austin.

Kura serves conveyor belt sushi in North Loop. The fish won’t be outstanding, but your meal will be fun.

The single best overall BBQ experience in Austin (which isn’t actually in Austin) is The Salt Lick.

Towers of beer, sweet and savory funnel cakes, and a big bar. What more do you want?