The arrival of spring in Texas brings new life and new specialties to restaurant menus.

Story by Carly Luczak

ORANGE Magazine compiled a comprehensive list of fresh foods with something for everyone to enjoy. Shake off those winter blues and indulge in something magnificent this season.

Ramen Tatsu-Ya

Everyone’s favorite mudbug is back in abundance, but with this dish you won’t have to get your hands dirty. Just use chopsticks! In celebration of crawfish season, Japanese noodle hub Ramen Tatsu-ya released “The Crawmen,” a savory bowl featuring seafood tonkotsu broth, crawfish wontons and two crimson crawfish. Get the specialty ramen before crawfish season ends in mid-May. Be aware that only 30 bowls are made per day.

Kerbey Lane Cafe

Every change of weather brings about a new seasonal menu from the all-day brunch food chain, Kerbey Lane Cafe. This year, expect to find interesting new additions like the “Pulled Pork Benedict,” “Banana Nut Pancakes,” “Portobello Cream Pasta” and the “Pear & Bacon Panini.” Check out the menu in full at this link.

Prohibition Creamery

Austinites 21 and over, rejoice! Prohibition Creamery just released a springtime cocktail list to go along with their boozy ice cream menu, which changes daily. Try the “Navasota,” which features tequila, sweet watermelon & agave, or the delicious gin flowerbomb, “Bouquet.”

Stay tuned for their limited edition monthly ice cream, likely coming a week or so into May.

Hillside Pharmacy

Hillside Farmacy is adding fresh new tastes to their locally sourced menu. Their vegan gazpacho is back just for spring, and the new seafood primavera pasta will make your stomach as happy as a clam. Sit back with a spicy watermelon spring soda, enjoy the greenery covering the patio and relax.

Sweet Ritual

Sweet Ritual makes lactose-free, vegan ice cream that everyone is sure to enjoy. Instead of milk, the creamery uses coconut milk, cashew butter and other flavors as the base for their creamy concoctions. Follow their Instagram to see their rotating menu. Some favorite flavors are listed below.

• “Secret Garden” includes vanilla, violet, lavender and candied lemon in a toasted cashew base.

• “Apri-Cobbler” includes apricot and pineapple folded in with snappy ginger cookies and traditional pie spices.

• “Mermaid’s Tears” includes pineapple, basil infused coconut oil, sea salt and blueberry.

drink.well.

If you’re looking for the most creative cocktails around Austin, this is the spot for you. drink.well. is an small artisan gastropub that puts hospitality and flavor over everything. Munch on some bar snacks as you sip on one of their spring cocktails, found here. Try the “Oaxacan Maid,” which is filled to the brim with gin, pimms, pink guava, lemon, and Fever Tree Mediterranean Tonic. Spring is always better with a buzz.

Sa-Tén

Itadakimasu! Japanese cafe Sa-Tén released two new dishes unique to their restaurant locations. At the Canopy location, the cafe is selling soft serve vanilla affogato doused in your choice of matcha, espresso, chai or strawberry syrup. Sa-Tén’s Airport Boulevard location is hosting the “Napolitan,” a classic Japanese take on Italian spaghetti.

Steel City Pops

Steel City Pops partners with local farmers and purveyors to produce all-natural popsicles that change flavors with the seasons. In March, the chain re-welcomed some fan favorites like “Amaretto Cream” and “Lavender Lemonade.” They also debuted a few brand new flavors. These include “Lychee,” a gentle Asian fruit balancing somewhere between sweet and tart, “Mango Habañero” and creamy avocado. The full Austin menu can be found here.

Churro Co.

This food truck at 1906 S. First St. serves decadent, inventive churros that are meant to be shared, but after one bite you’ll likely keep the entire order to yourself. The establishment is known for “Campfire,” which tastes like a churro and a s’more’s love child. Churro Co. released two new seasonal churros. The “Rico Suave” is tossed in cocoa sugar and nutella, strawberry jam, coconut and whipped cream whereas the “Wake-N-Bake” is covered in espresso sauce, banana pieces and waffle crumbs. Get the churros with ice cream if you’re feeling self indulgent.