I Tested Restaurants with No Reviews

The Search for Austin’s Best Restaurant With Zero Reviews

Ryan sets out to find Austin’s best restaurant with zero online reviews, promising to award the winner a custom plaque. His search takes him to places that are easy to miss: a chicken counter inside a gas station, a restaurant tucked into another convenience store, a sushi counter in Whole Foods, and small neighborhood spots.

Restaurants Ryan Visits

• Krispy Krunchy Chicken is initially hard to find, even inside the gas station. Ryan eventually discovers it at Taco Basket Taqueria. The staff are friendly, and the crispy tenders, potato wedges, and biscuit exceed his expectations. He jokes that the chicken deserves a star simply for living up to its name.

• Momos Gyros and Curries is another gas-station discovery, this time with a place to sit. Ryan orders chicken momos, chicken masala, and chicken strips. He meets owner Kesh, who started the business to bring the food she missed from Nepal to the U.S. Ryan especially enjoys the fresh, flavorful dumplings and masala, and finds the chicken strips solid, too.

• Kikka Sushi, hidden inside Whole Foods, takes some searching. Ryan gets a salmon teriyaki bowl, enjoys the outdoor seating, and jokes about trying to dodge vegetables. He also wonders whether picking up an apple in the store means he’s accidentally reviewing Whole Foods as well.

• El Gran Agazajo, a Mexican-and-Italian restaurant with big “royal welcome” expectations, is closed when Ryan arrives. He then visits Coquí Café, where the coffee, cozy lounge, and breakfast impress him. The waffle nearly makes him ready to award the plaque on the spot, despite competing background noise from a loud infomercial and a powerful fan.

• At Perez BBQ, Ryan meets local regular Anthony and his rescue Chihuahua, Chip. Anthony calls the barbecue the best he knows, and Ryan agrees after tasting the sausage, brisket, ribs, and chicken. Chip becomes an unexpected highlight, with Ryan asking viewers to show the dog some love.

The Winner

After reflecting that he usually sticks to familiar chains and misses great local food, Ryan spends two weeks deciding on a winner. He chooses Momos, saying its food and people stand out—and that the new restaurant deserves help getting the word out.

Ryan brings friends to surprise Kesh with a cake and the plaque, then shares a big meal with them. Everyone is impressed, describing the food with enthusiastic one-word reviews like “bussin,” “immaculate,” and “slay.”

Personalities Featured

Ryan Trahan; Kesh, owner of Momos; Haley; Anthony; Chip the Chihuahua; restaurant employees; local customers; and Ryan’s friends, including Isaac, Preston, Zach, and Ryan’s dad.