Sexy Soup

Eastside Cafe contributes to their menu with items from their own garden, and often that involves delicious vegetable soups, like gazpacho and chilled watermelon. The chicken mushroom soup and accompanying, crumbly cornbread make for a nice Fall lunch.

Indonesian fare with a passion for coconut, and to that end, there are two soups you should definitely order: Coconut Lemongrass Soup, and Tofu Coconut Curry Soup. Both are ever so slightly sweet and incredibly satisfying.

For the longest time, my husband and I erroneously pronounced the name of this place as "Titty Ya-Ya's" (I don't recommend you calling it that). Despite our mistake, we recommended Titaya's to so many people that now the secret is out. It's always packed, and for good reason: The Tom Kha! So spicy and creamy. The portions! So generous. Dinner here, and a movie at the Village Drafthouse afterward, make for a lovely date night.

A classic deli resting just on the outskirts of Hyde Park, NeWorlDeli specializes in sandwiches with lovingly selected ingredients, but don't miss out on their soups, either: The Broccoli Cheese is heavy but outstanding; the Chicken Poblano is just the right balance of nurturing and yow! spicy.

Central Market obviously does so many things well, but I feel the daily soups -- which are broiling hot so watch your tongue! -- deserve special attention. I recently tried the thick, satisfying split pea, and also sampled one of their classics, roasted tomato bisque: creamy, rich, with fresh tomato-y-ness filling up your mouth. It's just as marvelous as I remembered.

Soups here are of the noodle-filled, brothy variety, served in huge portions: Order the crowd favorite, Lamb Noodle Soup.

The Soup Peddler -- a delivery service, brick n' mortar eatery and now a cookbook -- is fronted by David Ansel, a techie-turned-yogi-turned-homemade soup deliverer. Founded over 10 years ago as a one-man operation, The Soup Peddler has blossomed into a beloved Austin institution: each week brings a new installment of fresh (mostly vegetarian) soups and other delicious yogi-approved dishes, like the beet and apple-filled borscht, a kale/spinach/parsley/celery juice cleanse, and zucchini, squash, broccoli, bell pepper, carrot and tofu stir fry.

The food at Gourmand's overall is pretty straightforward stuff -- Cobb salad, nachos, chips & queso -- but their soups are special, because they're some of the only ones in town served in a bread bowl, ski lodge style. The Shiner Bock-infused Broccoli Beer Cheese is pleasingly decadent.