The family behind Austin’s Soupleaf Hot Pot has launched another local venture: SoupGreen Buffet. The new restaurant follows the same all-you-can-eat style bringing together American classics and Asian-fusion dishes, according to its website. 

The buffet opened in Northwest Austin on June 16 and has since changed its name from Mama Lin’s to SoupGreen Buffet, according to its social media. 

Learn more: The buffet, owned by Jin Lin and her sons Nelson and Nick Lin, has over 100 items and ingredients for guests to customize their plates. 

On the menu: The restaurant offers noodle dishes including japchae, pomodoro spaghetti and mac and cheese. The bakery features pizzas, croissants and muffins. 

The salad bar has a range of ingredients, as well as pre-made mandarin salad, caesar salad and bacon broccoli salad. Soups include clam chowder, tom yum, cream of mushroom and egg drop soup. Customers can also expect to see a range of proteins like baked salmon, seafood salad, kimchi tuna salad, roast beef and vegetarian options. 

• 13450 Research Blvd., Ste. 112, Austin

Austin Rotisserie & Sandwicherie, the French rotisserie concept from Paris native Sophie Nathal and her husband Eric, opened a second takeaway location in North Austin, a spokesperson for the business said.

The details: The fast-casual spot specializes in Parisian-style rotisserie chicken, baguette sandwiches, soups and French pastries. The menu includes whole and quarter birds with potatoes cooked in chicken drippings, sandwiches such as the Poulet Roti and Norwegian Baguette, and desserts including macarons, éclairs and crème brûlée.

About the owners: The couple founded Austin Rotisserie after moving to Austin from Miami, according to the eatery's website. They began with pop-ups in 2018 before opening their downtown location at The Fareground, 111 Congress Ave., in 2021.

“We reached the capacity for what we could do in our current kitchen,” Eric Nathal said. “We're excited to soon have a second kitchen that allows us to continue growing the menu, expand catering capabilities, and better serve customers, both old and new.”

• 510 E. Anderson Lane, Austin

Blind and low vision travelers at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport now have access to Aira Explorer, a free app that provides on-demand visual interpreting assistance throughout the travel process at AUS. 

How it works: The app connects travelers with a professionally trained visual interpreter and utilizes the traveler's smartphone camera and microphone to provide real-time assistance for a variety of travel-related tasks. Interpreters can: 

• Describe surroundings
• Read signs and information displays
• Help with navigation throughout the airport, including curbside drop-off locations, airline check-in counters, security checkpoints, and gates
• Locate amenities such as dining options, shops, bathrooms and pet relief areas

When Jennifer Bittner moved to the Austin area in June 2023, she feared her family would need to make frequent, hours-long trips to Houston to access specialized care for her children.

Bittner, who has three medically complex children, said specialty services were still expanding when her family first settled into the area.

“When we first moved here … [Texas Children’s] wasn’t finished yet, so we were really concerned that we’d be traveling back and forth to Houston every couple of months,” she said.

Today, Bittner’s family makes just two trips to Houston each year for care related to her sons’ rare disease. Both boys receive regular care at Austin’s Texas Children’s Hospital while her daughter receives care at Dell Children’s Medical Center in Central Austin.

For families like the Bittners, the opening of new hospitals in the Austin metro has expanded access to specialized programs much closer to home.

By the numbers: Between 2017 and 2024, Williamson County’s child population increased by 19.2%, or 26,034.

Check out the latest transportation project updates across the Austin metro.

Upcoming projects

New Braunfels EDC invests $405K in pedestrian improvements: The NBEDC is funding the final design of Phase 2 of pedestrian improvements along five roadways. If approved, construction is expected to begin in 2028.

Ongoing projects

Legacy Ranch Drive expansion
Project: Crews are working to expand approximately 0.6 miles from Seward Junction North Loop in Liberty Hill to a CR 258 extension east of US 183, including new signals, pavement improvements, and turn lanes serving a future LISD site. 
Update: Contractors broke ground March 6.

• Timeline: completion expected this summer

• Cost: $1.4 million

• Funding source: Williamson County 2023 road bond