The crew behind Austin favorite Soupleaf Hot Pot is going big in North Austin with a new all-you-can-eat concept called Mama Lin’s Soup & Leaves at Plaza 183, aiming for an April opening. The restaurant will mash up classic soup-and-salad buffet vibes with Asian-fusion touches inside an approximately 11,000-square-foot space that can seat about 300 diners. It is the latest step in the Lin family’s expansion from their Highland hot pot shop into one of the city’s fastest-growing restaurant corridors.
When and where
Owner Nelson Lin told What Now that the team is targeting April for opening day. Mama Lin’s will land at 13450 N Hwy 183 #112 in the Plaza 183 shopping center near Anderson Mill Road. According to What Now, the space will clock in at around 11,000 square feet and accommodate roughly 300 guests in a classic buffet-style layout. The location sits on the southwest corner of Anderson Mill Road and North Highway 183.
The family behind the plan
Soupleaf Hot Pot, located at 6929 Airport Blvd, is a family-run operation built by siblings and their mother. The restaurant’s site highlights the Lin family’s Canton-style broths and from-scratch approach, according to Soupleaf Hot Pot. Eater Austin covered Soupleaf’s 2023 debut and reported that Nelson, Nick and other Lin family members moved to Austin after operating restaurants in San Diego. Mama Lin’s brings that same crew back together around a buffet-focused concept in a much larger dining room.
What to expect
"We're targeting April for an opening," Lin told What Now, adding that the menu is designed to tap into the nostalgia of old-school soup-and-salad buffets. The twist is an emphasis on avoiding the stale reputation that dogged many of those chains by leaning on fresh ingredients, seasonal vegetables, and a handful of a la carte options. Lin has also stressed a focus on crisp produce and made-from-scratch broths, something he calls "that Soupleaf freshness."
What it means for the neighborhood
The large footprint and all-you-can-eat model signal that the Lin family is betting on scale and accessibility as North Austin keeps adding new restaurants and retail. If their experience running a busy AYCE operation at Soupleaf translates, Mama Lin’s could quickly turn into a go-to spot for big family dinners and weekday lunch crowds. More details, including a firm opening date and a first look at the menu, are expected as the buildout moves forward this spring.
