Austin is a nationally-recognized foodie town: we love to eat and to keep things local. From brunch to food trucks to fine dining, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite Austin foodie spots below. Trust us, each one is worth a try!
The Austin Food Guide
THE BEST BRUNCHES
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Better Half Coffee & Cocktails – This weekend brunch offers breakfast sandwiches layered with crispy hash browns, oh-so-fluffy ricotta pancakes, and much more. Be sure to get an accompanying cocktail or coffee.
Bird Bird Biscuit – A neighborhood eatery serving delicious house-made buttermilk biscuit sandwiches for both breakfast and lunch. Be sure to place your online order before heading to pick it up.
Café No Sé – A bright spot in the South Congress Hotel, featuring California-inspired American dining and brunch every morning. Be sure to try their avocado toast, it does not disappoint.
Cisco’s – In the breakfast business for more than 50 years, this favorite Tex-Mex institution offers breakfast faves such as their beloved Migas and biscuits.
Fonda San Miguel – Classically prepared, regional Mexican dishes fill this extravagant brunch. Options range from meat dishes cooked in molés to bowls of salads with zesty seasonings.
Josephine House – The sister restaurant to Austin’s fine-dining institution Jeffrey’s, offering breakfast, lunch, brunch, and happy hour.
Kerby Lane Cafe – An Austin original that has been serving casual, high-quality food with a Texas twist since 1980.
The Magnolia Cafe – The Magnolia Cafe has been a longtime favorite amongst Austinites. They are open 24/7 and offer their delicious breakfast anytime.
Mattie’s Austin – This Southern restaurant located in Bouldin Creek pays homage to the past with a menu that doesn’t feel dated.
The Austin Food Guide
TASTY TRAILER TREATS
Burro Cheese Kitchen – Artisanal grilled cheese trailer serving up non-traditional innovative grilled cheese sandwiches layered with flavor.
Chi’lantro BBQ – A Korean Mexican fusion food trailer that now also has a few brick and mortar locations. Be sure to try their signature Kimchi Fries.
Churro Co. – For sweet tooths, Churros Co. is the answer, dishing out churros topped with fruit, apple pie, marshmallows, and more.
Dee Dee – For a casual authentic Thai lunch or dinner, check out this Northern Thai food truck that features market-fresh ingredients.
East Side Kings – Japanese street food with a touch of Austin soul created by Paul Qui. Their brussels sprout salad is a must-try!
Gourdough’s Big. Fat. Donuts. – These donuts are the size of your face and are piled high with every topping under the sun. Want fried chicken on a donut? They’ve got it.
LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue – Local sourcing, inventive barbecue, and old school hospitality come together in this tiny blue food truck in South Austin.
Little Lucy’s – A colorful, late-night food truck making mini-donuts with creative flavors, toppings, and dipping sauces.
Patrizi’s – Offering some of the city’s most unexpectedly authentic Italian cuisine comes from this little trailer in the backyard of Manor Road’s Vortex Theatre.
Veracruz All Natural – Find homemade tortillas, fresh ingredients, and hands-down the best migas taco in Austin from the sister-run trailer
The Austin Food Guide
Foodie Hot Spots
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Clark’s – A chic West Austin neighborhood spot with a great raw bar, house-baked sourdough, lobster rolls, pan-roasted hamburgers, and more.
DipDipDip Tatsu-Ya – A Japanese nabemono hot pot dining experience where dishes are cooked at the table and then dipped into flavorful sauces.
Elizabeth Street Café – A neighborhood Vietnamese cafe and French bakery in South Austin known for: great croissants, bánh mì served on house-baked baguettes, steaming bowls of pho, and tropical macarons.
June’s All Day – Laid back sophisticated neighborhood cafe and wine bar inspired by Spanish tapas bars, Parisian cafés, and hipster NYC wine bars.
Justine’s Brasserie– Chic little bungalow offering steaks, snails, and cocktails in a cozy-chic atmosphere. Be sure to end the night with their classic creme brûlée.
Launderette – Gourmet New American fare served in a polished East Austin cafe space that was once a laundromat.
Loro – An Asian smokehouse and bar brought to you by James Beard Award winners, Chef Tyson Cole of Uchi and Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbecue.
Red Ash Italia – Serving wood-fired hand-crafted Italian food set in a rustic modern open space in the warehouse district in downtown Austin.
Sammie’s Italian – Sammie’s, a full-service Italian-American restaurant, celebrates the great ‘red sauce’ institution inspired by old-school, legendary Italian restaurants.
The Austin Food Guide
FINE DINING
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Barley Swine – Often lauded and rustically chic, this finer dining destination in Brentwood makes for a superb milestone celebration destination. Also, you can’t go wrong with ordering the tasting menu!
Comedor – Head to the Comedor for upscale Mexican cuisine in a sleek space in downtown Austin.
Hestia – Named after the Greek goddess of the hearth, this downtown restaurant centers around live-fire cooking. The creative desserts are also not to be missed!
Intero Restaurant – A comfortable, small restaurant focused on contemporary Italian with a particular eye for whole product usage and seasonal fare.
Jeffrey’s – A fine dining restaurant in Austin’s Clarksville neighborhood featuring dry-aged prime beef, French American classics, seasonal favorites, and a full bar.
Lenior – There’s a lot to love about this imaginative South Austin restaurant, from the romantic vintage chic look to the beautifully balanced dishes.
Lutie’s – This new high-end restaurant located at the Commodore Perry Estate takes a personalized, handcrafted approach to Texas heritage cuisine that ranges from dry-aging their own steaks to making their own soy sauce from Texan pecans.
Otoko – For a really special evening night, opt for the high-end omakase at the South Congress Hotel’s hidden Japanese restaurant. Reservations are required for the $175 indoor seatings.
Uchi | Uchiko – Whether you visit Uchi or its sister restaurant Uchiko, the ambiance, upscale sushi, and small plates will not disappoint.
The Austin Food Guide
KID-FRIENDLY, PARENT APPROVED
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Brentwood Social House – This pastry and coffee shop features a room full of children-friendly goodies, like toys and smaller chairs.
Contigo – Enjoy playing washers while waiting for pigs in blankets, fries, and tempura green beans. Or pay a visit to one of many friendly dogs in the yard.
Culinary Dropout – Serving up hearty fare and an outdoor lawn games area, complete with a ping-pong table, corn hole, and foosball.
Hat Creek Burger Company – This local and reliable post-soccer practice or school dinner spot feature a large screened patio overlooking a large playscape just below.
Home Slice Pizza – From the coloring sheets and complimentary ball of pizza dough to play with to the expansive outdoor area this place is perfect for kids.
Olive & June – When the family’s feeling a bit more upscale, check out the Bryker Woods Italian restaurant’s Sunday night family meal where kids under the age of 12 eat free.
Ramen Tatsu-ya – Your adventurous eater can take down a bowl of ramen, silky broth and all, while your picky eater can enjoy a bowl of plain ramen noodles.
Ski Shores – With video games, boats, a playground, and baskets of fries, wings, and onion rings this place is the perfect after summer sun stop.
Sour Duck Market – The large outdoor area is very kid-friendly, from the gravel ground to random yard toys to board games and a family-friendly menu.
The Austin Food Guide
THE SWEETER SIDE
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Bakery Lorraine – Nationally recognized pastry shop famous for its colorful macarons, croissants, and homemade pop-tarts.
Cookie Rich – A new cookie company in Austin crafting an update on classic, homemade cookies with their perfect proportions and chef-driven recipes.
Fluff Meringues & More – A fusion of a British patisserie with a modern, quirky American spirit that uses fine ingredients to produce unique, tasty delights.
Lick – This hip ice creamery churns out offbeat flavors made from local, natural, and sustainable ingredients such as Texas Sheet Cake or Goat Cheese, Thyme, and Honey.
OMG Squee – Famous for their super adorable character macarons and jiggly Japanese cheesecake, OMG Squee is a gluten-free scratch bakery, ice creamery, dessert, and tea shop in East Austin.
Picolé – Family-owned artisan ice cream shop that focuses on making handcrafted fruity, creamy, filled, and alcohol-infused pops. The lime margarita flavor is a crowd favorite.
Swedish Hill – This Clarksville bakery features all sorts of baked goods, from croissants to scones to cookies to tarts.
Tiny Pies – Small pies, BIG taste. The best pies are not only made by hand but also handheld. They offer both sweet and savory flavors so order a pie pack and try them all!
Upper Crust Bakery – A family-owned and operated, European-style bakery offering award-winning pastries, breads, and specialty cakes for over fifteen years.
The Austin Food Guide
CRAFT COCKTAILS
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Drink.Well. – This cozy gastropub offers eclectic plates and innovative cocktails in a stylish setting.
The Driskill Bar – Enjoy specialty cocktails, updated bar bites, and local musicians in their plush Texas-themed lounge.
Firehouse Lounge – Located in Austin’s oldest standing fire station, this speakeasy is hidden behind a bookshelf in the Firehouse Hostel’s lobby. Just slide the bookcase from left to right and you’re in.
Garage – An unassuming bar crafting inventive cocktails in a hip space within a parking garage. Once in the parking garage, keep following the path upwards until you stumble upon the entrance of the bar.
Half Step – Austin’s famed Rainey Street is home to this unique cocktail bar that offers simple, high-quality cocktails and a standout-out menu.
Here Nor There – A semi-private craft cocktail lounge. To get in just download the Here Nor There app and tap “Request New Reservation”, then use the emailed code to gain access through their gated alleyway entrance.
Midnight Cowboy – An intimate reservations-only lounge known for its hip speakeasy vibe and old-school cocktail menu. Be sure to make a reservation in advance online and ring the Harry Craddock buzzer for entry.
P6 – This former rooftop parking garage has been transformed into an intimate cocktail experience overlooking the lake, the Austin skyline, and down Congress Avenue.
The Roosevelt Room – Located in the heart of downtown Austin’s Warehouse District, The Roosevelt Room is where carefully crafted cocktails collide with the city’s easy-going attitude.