The Liberty — Restaurant in Austin

I love this place. One of the early, most popular East Side King locations, and one of the best! Out the back of the also popular Liberty Bar, the wait can be long if you order during dinner rush but grab a cheap drink and hang out and you should have no problems. If I recall correctly this location started the now-classics like chicken kara-age, brussel sprouts, and beet fries - the former two seasoned with that delicious blend of fresh herbs and sweet and savoury and everything delicious. I'll sometimes stray towards the peanut or pork buns but it's hard to pull me away from the chicken and brussel sprouts!

Four stars only because I feel like the chicken kara-age used to be larger portioned and more carefully seasoned, but I've only been there in rush times recently so it could just be a function of how busy they are now. The last time I went to the Hole in the Wall location the chicken kara-age was just like I remember from Liberty... that being said I'm still here multiple times a week because it's still superb, and Liberty is an...

ALL HAIL PAUL QUI LORD AND SAVIOR OF AUSTIN FOOD

Seriously. The East Side King franchise and its benevolent creator deserve every ounce of praise they receive. They took beets and made an entire city love them. If it's your first time here, the choice is simple and expensive: Get everything.

My personal favorites are the Beet Home Fries, the Brussels Sprout Salad, and the Thai Chicken Karaage. Those beets can be really hot when served fresh out of the frier, so be careful as you bite into the middle. Or just recklessly begin the love affair and deal with the consequences later. The sweet-spicy sauce used in both the karaage and the brussels sprout salad is insanely good and tiptoes the line between too sweet and too spicy perfectly. I want some just thinking about it.

The worst thing about this place is the wait can be extremely variable depending on how many people are ahead of you in line. But it's totally worth it. Shut up and...

If you’re in search of a place that feels more like a second living room or back yard than a bar, The Liberty is your spot. Nestled on a side street with a flickering sign, The Liberty doesn’t try to dress itself up—and thank god for that. This is a dive bar in the purest sense: gritty, honest, and full of stories.

The moment you walk in, you’re greeted by dim lighting, illuminated bar, and a crew of regulars that seem like they’ve been holding down the same barstools for years. Walk through the pool tables towards the back door and find plenty of outdoor seating. The bathrooms are what you’d expect from a dive bar

Drinks are ridiculously affordable. Whether you’re ordering a domestic, a whiskey neat, or the mysterious “house special” shot, you’ll leave buzzed without breaking the bank. The bartenders are sharp, salty, and surprisingly attentive. They don’t do frills, but they pour heavy...