The Food Austin Network

Ravi Kabob - 305 N Glebe Rd, Arlington, VA. - 703-522-6666

Ravi is one of your classic success stories. It is one of those places that started out as and has remained a hole in the wall. As the name suggests, the Kabobs are the main draw here. The Boneless Chicken which has become a standard offering at Pakistani and Indian restaurants in the area is especially wonderful. The meat is really tender and extraordinarily juicy. The chick peas that come with almost all the dishes are also a treat. They are greasy but well worth it. You should also try the Chutney, the spicy yogurt sauce that comes with the dishes, it proves to be a great topping for the kabobs. If you’re looking to experiment, you’ll notice many of the customers ordering the Karahi, a spicy chicken or lamb curry served with Naan. This is a typical Pakistani dish that is known to be very good but also not for the faint of heart. As a side note, Ravi can get extremely crowded on the weekends and at dinner times, with a crush of local neighborhood types, taxi drivers and young people coming off of work.

Price: $ ($10ish per person)

Magnolia Cafe - 2304 Lake Austin Blvd. - Austin, Texas 78703 - 512-478-8645
Magnolia Cafe South - 1920 S. Congress Ave. - Austin,Texas 78704 - 512-445-0000

Magnolia is one of those Austin Institutions that all those that call them Austinites have visited. Being one of the few establishments that is open 24 hours a day it is always there waiting after a long night downtown to soften the blow or even the morning after to help nurse you back to form. And because institutions don’t just pop up over night, Magnolia’s title has been deserved. Dishes like the short stack pancakes as well as the Magnolia enchiladas are sublime and are well worth the 5-6 dollar cab ride from 6th street. Our personal favorite though is the Magnolia Mud Queso. This bowl of black beans, guacamole, and queso is AMAZING. It is just so amazing that a trip to Magnolia is not complete without it, you will be fighting for the last chip dipped in the queso. The only drawback of Magnolia is the lines that you may encounter if you head over at peak times, but don’t worry the lines move pretty quickly.

Price: $ and well worth it!