All in Best
Austin is a hippy-dippy, vegan-friendly city, so naturally, I had a period where I was on a quest to find vegan food done right. This is food that makes you forget you're not eating meat and/or dairy.
Often times, I would find places with hiked up prices and mediocre food. Vegan/vegetarian food should be less expensive than meat. I would also find meat substitutes that had sodium levels well above a normal person's daily intake.
Usually when someone mentions soul food, it generally refers to grits, chicken & waffles, and heavy carb foods with gravies. My definition of soul food is something hearty, filling, and flavorful. Imagine noodles stir fried in a unique sauce that you can neither classify as Indian or Chinese.
Off Solano Ave, Berkeley's "Nomad Tibetan Restaurant" is my definition of soul food. The first time I went here, I was concerned because there were very few reviews on Yelp (this was back when I trusted Yelp). I ate all the things.
This was actually a very difficult list to compile, considering...
Biryani is an art, but really it's a rice dish made with meat, spices, and vegetables. This dish takes a lot of skill to make. It's like the Indian version of Spanish paella. (ish). Every South Asian kid will claim that their mom's biryani is the best Unfortunately, when you go off to college, there ain't no momma's biryani. This list is for those poor South Asian kids.
Bubble tea is great, especially in Texas heat. At a price of $3.50 a pop, you want to get what you pay for. Here's how I judge boba.
Judging Boba -
Boba should be chewy, but not mushy, and definitely not hard. It should have some flavor- whether it's brown sugar or honey.
Judging Tea -
It shouldn't be under or over-steeped. Also, powder is not preferred - it defeats the 'tea' part of bubble tea.
I've scoured the most hipster parts of Austin in search for the best latte. I've spent countless nights studying at Bennu, and mornings getting pick-me-ups at Mozart's. I go out of my way to try new coffee shops- even if I feel like they're going to be bad. Essentially, this is a coffee list compiled of blood, sweat, and tears. Enjoy!
