4 Austin-Area Restaurant Openings You May Have Missed in October

This is a new monthly roundup of Austin’s major restaurant, food truck, and bar openings throughout the Austin area in 2024 so far. See an opening that Eater Austin missed? Let us know over at [email protected].

Kochu

This new fast-casual Korean restaurant opened on October 1. Owner and chef Kijung Bang is focusing on traditional, modern, and fusion Korean dishes at this restaurant. Those include soegogi muguk (beef and radish soup), bulgogi, birria ramen with Shin noodles, Korean fried chicken sandwiches, and much more, available in a simple, casual dining room. (8820 Burnet Road, Suite 502, North Shoal Creek; takeout and delivery orders can be placed online; there are indoor dine-in services)

Gen Korean BBQ House

The California-based Korean barbecue restaurant chain opened its first Austin-area location in Pflugerville on October 17. Diners can cook Korean meats (rib-eye, beef belly, marinated spicy pork ribs, honey chicken, etc.), seafood (Cajun shrimp, calamari), and vegetables at their tables using grills; plus there’s build-your-own-Korean-ramyun and sides, sauces, and much more. Its hours are from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. To come is an Austin proper location in the Linc at 6406 North I-35 Frontage Road at some point. (Stone Hill Town Center, 18900 Limestone Commercial Drive, Pflugerville; takeout and delivery orders can be placed online; there are indoor dine-in services)

Gen Korean BBQ House

Top Roe

Controversial chef Paul Qui — who has been reentering the Austin restaurant scene this year, see: Filipino restaurant OKO — opened this new hand roll spot on October 23, found at the ground floor of rooftop venue Summit. The simple menu features eight temaki sets, many featuring its namesake ingredient. There’s the Top Roe caviar; the Chef with crunchy tuna and shrimp tempura, among others; and the Hon Maguro with dry-aged bluefin tuna and Texas redfish. People can also customize their hand rolls, as well as order appetizers and smaller dishes like house-made potato chips with caviar dip. The space itself is tiny — there are only 12 counter-seats — and the bar focuses on Japanese whiskys and highballs. Its hours are from 4:30 to 10:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and then from 4:30 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. (120 West Fifth Street, Downtown; reservations can be booked online; there are indoor dine-in services)

Robert Lerma

Serenade

The W Austin opened this new American-French-Texan brasserie on October 27, as part of the hotel’s massive renovations overseen by entertainment/media company Opry Entertainment Group. It’s also part of the company’s giant revamp of the 2nd Street district block dubbed Block 21. The ground-floor restaurant — which took over the previous Trace restaurant — focuses on New American food courtesy of chef de cuisine Johnny Ray Stinebaugh, who had previously worked at Austin places like Contigo Catering and Hotel Van Zandt restaurant Geraldine’s. This means dishes like duck confit and root vegetables, Texas Gulf blue crab Benedict with griddled corn cakes, and brisket monsieur. Drinks include cocktails like the spritzy Birds Nest with a shrub, alongside wine and beer. Its hours are from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and then from 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. (W Austin, 200 Lavaca Street, downtown; reservations can be made online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services)

Nick Barnes