One of Austin’s best Asian restaurants, Wee’s Cozy Kitchen, relocating to downtown

We told you at the beginning of the year that popular Wee's Cozy Kitchen had closed in its gas station home near the UT campus. But, as promised, it was just the end of a chapter, not the closing of the book on the Malaysian cafe from Wee Fong Ehlers.

The chef operated out of the gas station for two years and has cooked for UT students for about 15 years in various buildings on campus. She promised a new location was coming of the restaurant that was named one of the Best New Restaurants in Austin in 2023 by the American-Statesman. On Monday, she gave a hint as to where diners will next be enjoying her food

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Ehlers posted a photo of herself on Instagram leaning against a planter in front of the vacant storefront at 607 Congress Ave., next door to Royal Blue Grocery. The caption said the restaurant would be coming soon. We reached out to Ehlers on more details about the opening and menu, but the caption mentioned "Wee’s Malaysian food," so I wonder if that means she will focus more intently on her Malaysian classics that made the original cafe such a hit.

Ehlers had been operating the food counter inside a Shell gas station in West Campus (aptly named Foodie’s), serving Chinese-American classics and bar food staples like burgers and wings for about six months before she decided in summer 2022 to start mixing in dishes from her native Malaysia, like beef rendang and chicken lasi nemak. They proved to be a major hit with students and food obsessives thanks to their depth of flavor and the home-cooked comfort they inspire.

This is a developing story.

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This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Wee’s Cozy Kitchen, one of Austin’s best, moving downtown