Home Slice
I love New York style pizza but only when it’s done right. Home Slice has been one of my celebratory birthday meals every year that I’ve lived in Austin. The crust is perfectly thin and crispy. There’s just the right amount of sauce and cheese. The fried eggplant is a flavor and texture explosion. Home Slice is the best pizza that I’ve had in Austin or anywhere else.
Ramen Tatsu-Ya
When I first tried Ramen Tatsu-Ya, I ordered their tonkotsu (pork) ramen and I thought it was good. Then I had their chicken ramen and I thought that was good too. During one visit, on a whim, I ordered their tsukemen dipping ramen. I had never had a dipping ramen before and didn’t know what to expect. When I dipped the first few noodles into the rich, savory broth and took the first bite, my world fell apart and came back together again. The broth was smoky, bright, deep, tangy, and fatty in the best possible way. The noodles had the perfect bite to complement the broth. I could eat the ajitama (marinated egg) for every meal and never get tired of it. After visiting Japan, I can say that Ramen Tatsu-ya is on par with some of the best ramen places.
Via 313
As noted above, I’m an NY-style pizza girl through and through. I do not like or understand deep dish pizza. I was not aware of a third type of pizza until Via 313. Via 313 makes Detroit-style pizza which is baked in automobile parts trays. The pizza has a deep dish crust but is chewy and a little burnt on the edges. Each bite has just the right proportion of toppings, cheese, and sauce. Home Slice has my heart but Via 313 is a close second.
Gus’s Fried Chicken
So Gus’s didn’t start in Austin like the other places on this list but I’m glad it’s here now. I’m not normally a huge fan of fried chicken but Gus’s has won me over. The skin is crispy and golden brown with a touch of spice. The meat is succulent and juicy. The fries are my favorite kind, not too thin and not too thick with a little bit of seasoning.
Oo! Great article!
I’m a New Yorker, and I’ve tried Home Slice too and I can for sure agree that Home Slice is the BEST possible NY-Style pizza in Austin.
Also, Thank you Tiffany for being the one who originally told me about Ramen Tatsu-Ya. I never had Ramen that wasn’t 13 cents a pack, and now that I’ve experienced real ramen (and I have a full-time job), I don’t ever wanna go back to the packs. You are SO right about the taste and how the “whole world falls apart and gets put back together again.” It’ll change yer life.
Last thought: I think I could probably just drink Gus’s honey mustard sauce because its THAT good on the food. ::drool::