1. YEN AND YANG
Everything at Yen Restaurant is cooked from scratch, and the savory, traditional Vietnamese flavors are well worth the wait. Try the Hanoi beef noodle soup, in which rice noodles and thinly sliced, well-seasoned beef and meatballs mingle in a rich, flavorful broth. Add in fresh basil, bean sprouts, lime and sliced jalapeños for a unique deviation from typical winter foods.
Yen Restaurant • 763 Holcombe Ave. 478-5814.Â
2. PUREED TO PERFECTION
A helping of Jerusalem Café’s colorful lentil soup will warm your heart and fill your belly with its perfectly spot-on seasoning. Plus, the Mediterranean staple packs plenty of protein and fiber. Â
Jerusalem Café • 5773 Airport Blvd. 304-1155.
3. TAKE YOUR PICK
The Causeway’s famous crab soup is a creamy and smooth Southern version of New England clam chowder made with buttery pieces of Gulf lump crabmeat in every bite. Or, their lesser-famous turtle soup is just as good. It is chockful of soft turtle meat with a hint of heat in the seasoning. Can’t decide? Order their trio of demi cups.
Felix’s Fish Camp • 1530 Battleship Parkway. 626-6710Â
4. SOUTH OF THE BORDER
Fuego’s new homemade chicken tortilla soup has a rich, tomato base, thickened with blended corn tortillas and spiced with fresh peppers. More like a chili, this satisfying dish is topped with chopped avocado, crispy tortilla strips and crumbled queso fresco.
Fuego Coastal Mexican Eatery • 2066 Old Shell Road 378-8619.Â
5. MAKE A MEAL OF IT
At one of Downtown’s celebrated brunch locales, Spot of Tea, C.J.’s Cayenne Crab Bisque is impressive, served up with lots of heaping extras. The 12-ounce serving is topped with a flaky, delicious crab cake and rich, sautéed crawfish tails, offered up with a savory grilled pistolette alongside.Â
Spot of Tea • 310 Dauphin St. 433-9009.Â
text by Julia Arenstam
