Leona Is South Austin’s New ‘It’ Spot

Call it a not-so-secret garden: South Austinites are buzzing about Sunset Valley’s immersive new 5-acre eatery. A long-awaited collaboration between two beloved local restaurants, Leona Botanical Cafe & Bar unites couple Lakana and Justin Trubiana’s specialty Northeastern Thai cuisine (DEE DEE) with sisters Reyna and Maritza Vazquez’s fresh, organic-focused dishes from their home region of Mexico (Veracruz All Natural). The space features a tranquil landscape where guests can lounge in Adirondacks situated among Texas wildflowers and edible herbs. With food and drink served from 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. six days a week, Leona has already become a neighborhood favorite for friendly nightcaps and family outings.

Origin

The quartet met when their food trucks occupied neighboring lots on East Cesar Chavez nearly a decade ago. “Our connection came from a mutual respect among women moving from another country to share culture and food from their moms and grandmas,” Justin says. After both businesses decided to relocate, they planned a space that they could own and cultivate how they wanted. The estate of renowned Austin philanthropist and World War II veteran Betty Grubs was keen to offer up a spacious and well-situated site to the two woman-owned businesses. To uphold Grubs’ legacy, Leona will host an annual fundraiser and support her UT scholarship endowment for women in athletics.

Food

The menus highlight DEE DEE’s and Veracruz’s flagship dishes as well as delicious new offerings. DEE DEE’s spicy-sweet fried chicken drips with hot honey and Thai chili, and the roasted chicken with Jim Jeow sauce and sticky rice shows off chef Lakana’s native Northeastern Thai home cooking perfectly. Veracruz is also featuring a new house salad with toasted poblanos, grilled corn, queso fresco, and jalapeño-cilantro vinaigrette as well as tortas made with house-baked bread. “The bread has this incredibly fluffy, buttery texture you won’t find anywhere else,” Maritza says. The two eateries will join forces this spring on a third restaurant at Leona, a fusion concept pulling from both cultures called Bun Bun Burger. 

Beverages

Collaborating with award-winning mixologist Caer Maiko Ferguson, the team has crafted an exciting cocktail menu that infuses the international flavors of the two restaurants. Bold takes on traditional Thai and Mexican ingredients like the tangy Red Curry Lions Tail and the Mole Mezcal Negroni’s playful mix of sesame and two sherries exude imagination and skill. Craft coffee comes from local faves Proud Mary, and the bar also offers a Texas-focused beer list as well as a curated selection of wine, NA beer, and kombucha.

Design

Whether it’s leafy trails for hiking and biking or verdant patios for happy hours, Austinites love the outdoors. For Leona, lauded design firm Clayton Korte and Campbell Landscape Architecture sought to create a thoughtful, hyperlocal oasis with an environmentally conscious ethos. Gently landscaped vegetation weaves between low-lying smooth-lined structures of glass, steel, and wood in relaxed natural tones. “We want guests to come in and enjoy the culture of the food [and] relax and connect with nature,” Lakana says. “Each season will be a different experience around all the native species.”