Terry’s Seafood & Chicken

The light blue building on the edge of Airport Blvd has been a fixture in the community since the middle of the 20th century, and for over 50 years, Terry’s has continued to supply the neighborhood with fresh hot chicken sandwiches and flash fried oysters. Waiting for the arrival of a steaming plate of juicy butterfly shrimp and corn nuggets is an exercise in anticipation. The phone rings continuously and a steady stream of customers pass by to collect their orders and supply themselves with ample tartar sauce and vinegar-based hot sauce to flavor the already well-seasoned dishes coming out of the fryer. Don’t be surprised if your weekly to-go order ends up with a few extras after tasting the savory goodness of the catfish and stuffed crab.
1805 Airport Blvd. | (512) 477-3237

Sawyer & Co.

Stephen Shallcross designed Sawyer & Co to recreate his memories of being a student at the University of Texas in the early 1990s and sitting down for blue plate specials at what was then known as Arkie’s Grill. “It literally felt like walking into my living room at my house in Baton Rouge. So I kept going back not only because the food was good, but it was also a place where they made you feel at home,” Stephen recalls.
Thirty years later, Sawyer & Co remains dedicated to creating a living room-like atmosphere that serves up plates of comfort and cultivates conversation. “Comfort food is the hospitality of food. It’s the food that makes you feel a certain way. And when you feel nostalgic and loved, cherished and cared for, and welcomed and special, it’s something that triggers a memory of eating, [and] that is what’s so fun to me about it,” he smiles.
{Full story on Sawyer & Co.}

Hoover’s Cooking

For over 20 years, Hoover Alexander has cultivated a neighborhood watering hole with Southern-style comfort food. While all the classics like chicken fried steak and catfish are on the menu, Hoover’s shines for its dessert menu which features scratch made pies, banana pudding, and cobbler. Each slice of sweetness is an excuse to call a friend and organize an afternoon chat over a shared indulgence. But who’s to say indulgence is limited to sweets? The Beet-o-Ritas at Hoover’s are a cheerful pink slurry that asks guests to sip back and relax into good flavors and
good company.
2002 Manor Rd. | (512) 479-5006
hooverscooking.com

Hoover’s beet-o-rita, read more!

Much like anyone would expect from a soul food establishment, wisps of smoky paprika and sweetly tinged caramel drift out of the open window of Sassy’s Vegetarian Soul Food truck. However, unlike traditional restaurants, everything on Andrea Dawson’s menu is plant-based. Chicken and waffles, greens, black-eyed peas, hot water cornbread, and fried cabbage announce their presence on the truck’s menu board, and a line of customers snaking around the gravel patio is a testament to the tastes that are only hinted at by the smells wafting through the air.

Though a destination today, originally convincing the average passerby that vegetarian soul food was even a viable concept was not an easy feat. Doing so required a dash of nostalgia and a drop of liquid smoke. “If you didn’t have meat for dinner, this is what you had,” explains Andrea indicating her savory greens and creamy black-eyed peas. “I mean, this is the stuff that grandma always made.” She smiles and admits that grandma probably didn’t employ liquid smoke and instead used bacon rashers, but “it’s close enough, and it’s still good.”
{Full story on Sassy’s}