"Sijie is a mini-chain with a few locations in Northern California, and hopefully it’s just a matter of time until their soup dumplings pepper Central Texas, too. It’s located in a strip mall in Northwest Austin with a large dining room blasting soft-rock ballads where tiny robots on wheels deliver plates of food to tables that already have too many dishes on them. Start with pan-fried soup baos and grilled lamb kebabs, and finish off with thick and chewy housemade noodles with sweet garlic pork. In a city full of great Chinese food, Sijie offers a combination of variety and quality that you won’t find anywhere else. " - nicolai mccrary, raphael brion