H-E-B Opens Main Streat Food Hall and Bar

There may be no better place to open six new restaurants during a pandemic than a grocery store. On Aug. 25, H-E-B is set to welcome shoppers to its new Main Streat food hall and bar at its H-E-B Mueller store (1801 E. 51st St., Austin). Featuring Roots Chicken Shak by chef Tiffany Derry, True Texas BBQ, Calle Taqueria, Yumai Japanese Grill, The Meltery, and Bar at Mueller, the in-store concept is a first for Austin.

“At H-E-B, feeding Texans and their families is at the heart of what we do. We worked hard to create this space and develop tasty menu items, and we’re thrilled to open Main Streat to the entire Austin community,” said Kristin Irvin, director of restaurants for H-E-B, in a statement.

The food hall is available for takeout, limited capacity dining on the outdoor patio and inside, and free delivery from Favor. The Bar at Mueller will also offer a full menu of beer, wine and cocktails for in-person to-go orders, as well as snacks and shared plates such as Texas Tater Tots and a Meat & Cheese Tray.

H-E-B’s sanitation and social distancing procedures will be in place throughout the Main Streat food hall and bar, and per Texas and Austin guidelines, masks or facial coverings must be worn when inside the store.

Derry, who gained international notoriety when she appeared on Season 7 of Bravo’s Top Chef, opened her duck fat fried chicken restaurant, Roots Chicken Shak, in Plano, Texas, in 2017. The H-E-B location marks her first Austin outpost. The Roots Chicken Shak menu will feature Duck Fat Fried Chicken Wings and Duck Fat Fried Chicken Strips; Big Bird and Spicy Bird chicken sandwiches; Shak Caesar Salad and The Barnyard Cobb Salad; Duck Fat Fries with house-made Clucking Sauces; Banana Pudding made with vanilla custard, cookies and fresh banana; and Southern Sweet Tea.

San Antonio-based H-E-B’s Main Streat food hall also includes a True Texas BBQ, which serves brisket, ribs, turkey, sausage, barbecue sandwiches, and sides such as macaroni and cheese and potato salad. More “streat” food is available from Calle Taqueria, a street taco-inspired restaurant offering tacos with handmade flour or corn tortillas, tortas, quesadillas, bowls (including plant-based Impossible Picadillo), and more.

Yumai Japanese Grill serves up rice and noodle bowls and Japanese-style vegetable, chicken, beef and shrimp skewers. Meanwhile, The Meltery, a gourmet grilled cheese shop, will turn out a variety of sandwiches served on sourdough, keto-friendly and Texas Toast.