Austin Food Writers Pay Tribute to the Restaurants and Chefs Giving Back to Communities

As is the tradition when the end of 2024 is coming up, Eater asked a trusted group of friends, industry types, and local bloggers for their takes on the past culinary year in Austin. All answers will be revealed before the year ends — cut, pasted, (mostly) unedited, and in no particular order. Question number nine:

Was there one restaurant in particular that you felt really stepped up for your local community? How did they do so?

Darcie Duttweiler, freelance writer and Eater contributing writer

I’ve been eating at Korea House for, like, 20 years, and I love that it’s still in its weird little shopping plaza and thriving. I doubly love that they also give back to the community by opening their doors for free once a month. On the first Wednesday of the month from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m., everyone who walks through their doors eats for free. The owner just wants to create a space for people to leave with a full belly and heart, and that’s just so inspiring.

Ali Khan, content creator of @alikhaneats

This was more about the barbecue restaurant community celebrating the life of John Brotherton, who died unexpectedly this year. Over $100k was raised for the family. It made me realize how tight-knit the barbecue world is and just how much John meant to the craft of barbecue and as a human being — kind, generous, selfless.

Erin Russell, former associate editor of Eater Austin, Eater contributing writer, and freelance writer

I really appreciate how much Adam Orman and Fiore Tedesco of L’Oca d’Oro continue to advocate for the rights of people in the service industry.

Jane Ko, blogger of A Taste of Koko

Korea House was providing free meals to the community on the first Wednesday of every month.

H. Drew Blackburn, former interim associate editor of Eater Austin and columnist of The Barbed Wire

I live by Nixta Taqueria, so almost every time I leave the house, I’m driving by. The community fridge in front of its doors gets so much use. It’s awesome to see. Donate to it if you can.

Cat Cardenas, freelance writer and photographer, contributing Eater Austin photographer, and writer-at-large of The Barbed Wire

Reem’s is an amazing Middle Eastern food truck, and they’ve participated in a few different fundraisers for good causes like the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund and the Middle East Children’s Alliance.

​​Nadia Chaudhury, outgoing editor of Eater Austin and forthcoming editor at Eater Northeast

I want to highlight the restaurants, pop-ups, food businesses, and food people who have been vocal about the humanitarian crisis in Palestine and supporting Palestinians during the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. These include Custard Prison, Bad Larry Burger Club, and Reem’s (see above), as well as the venues that have hosted events like Epoch Coffee and Alienated Majesty Books.

Also, the mutual aid/independent organizations and people working on their own to feed people like Free Lunch (I’m a monthly donor), the ATX Free Fridge Program (my friend chef Amirah Islam regularly cooks meals for the Nixta fridge), and Red Beans and Rice (which has been on a hiatus since the summer because of an injury).