From the best tacos and margaritas to the top BBQ joints, travelers (and locals) won’t miss a meal in Austin. As the Live Music Capital of the World, Austin is also a top foodie destination in Texas. In addition to Tex-Mex staples, ATX is a brunch destination and features some of the best pizza from locally owned pizza places. Don’t forget about independent coffee shops and premium ice cream all in Austin. Here are the Top Places to eat in Austin from a local.
I’ve been living in Austin since 2002, but I also lived here in the late 1990s. Raised all my kids here and can’t think of a better place.
One of my kids went to culinary school, and my husband is a former chef who works in the industry. As a family, we eat out a lot.
Top Places to Eat in Austin
Franklin Barbecue
Micklethwait Craft Meats
Stiles Switch BBQ and Brew
Terry Black’s Barbecue
Slab BBQ and Beer
Matt’s El Rancho
El Arroyo
Maudie’s Tex-Mex
Juan in a Million
Guero’s Taco Bar
Cisco’s Restaurant Bakery and Bar
Mi Madre’s Restaurant
Pinthouse Pizza
Home Slice Pizza
Via 313
Bufalina and Bufalina Due
East Side Pies
Little Deli and Pizzeria
The Backspace
Hestia
Justine’s Brasserie
Lutie’s
The Peacock Mediterranean Grill
Uchiko Austin
Peche Sinful Cocktails & Cuisine
Justine’s Brasserie
June’s All Day
Easy Tiger
Mozart’s Coffee Roasters
Jo’s Coffee
Halcyon Coffee + Bar + Lounge
Kick Butt Coffee
Amy’s Ice Cream
Lick Honest Ice Cream
BBQ in Austin
Barbecue in Texas is all about the beef, especially brisket. It’s tender and smoky when it’s smoked right. Most BBQ joints smoke their meat overnight. In addition to brisket, diners can find house-made sausage, ribs, smoked turkey and chicken. Here are some of the top places to get BBQ.
Franklin Barbecue
Sample the legendarily tender brisket along with other meats since the dining room is closed. With a three-day advance purchase, order 3 pounds (up to 25 pounds), then grab it curbside. As a local, this is what we do.
Located at 900 E. 11th St., Austin, TX. 78702. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. or sold out.
Micklethwait Craft Meats
Visit its brick-and-mortar restaurant off Rosewood Ave. It offers a smaller indoor seating area with a large, shaded patio. You can order meats by the pound and scratch-made sides.
If unsure, I recommend the Chopped BBQ sandwich. During my visits, I have found a large selection of options for dinner.
Located at 4602 Tanney St., Austin. Open Thursday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Stiles Switch BBQ and Brew
In the mid-century Violet Crown Shopping Center, Stiles Switch offers BBQ goods. Order BBQ plates, family packs, meats-by-the-pound and sides along with craft beer.
Located at 6610 N. Lamar Blvd. Austin. Open Tuesday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Another location is in Cedar Park.
Terry Black’s Barbecue
Another big name in BBQ, Terry Black’s serves BBQ family packs, meats-by-the-pound, along with sides and dessert.
Located at 1003 Barton Springs Rd., Austin, TX 78704. Open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. (10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday).
Slab BBQ and Beer
Formerly Slab BBQ, it is now STACK CITY BBQ. Serving meat-by-the-pound and sandwiches with an emphasis on pork, it is a favorite with a local crowd.
Located at 9012 Research Blvd. Ste. C4, Austin. Open daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
4 Day Itinerary to Austin
Best Tacos and Tex-Mex
Tacos are a religion in Texas. You will find some good Tex-Mex in Austin and across Texas. This is in no way an order of preference,
Nixta Taqueria
Love it or hate it, Nixta Taqueria was recognized by the New York Times. Personally, I found it underwhelming, and it is a once-and-done experience for me.
Nixta Taqueria’s menu is pricey compared to other taco joints. It also leans toward more creative versions of tacos. including Duck. It fell really flat with my taco kid. But my foodie daughter liked it.
Located at 2512 E 12th St, Austin. Open Tuesday to Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
De Nada
This is one of my favorites for its atmosphere. I can get in because it has plenty of tables. Plus, it takes reservations for busy times, even though it is a very casual place.
Find a huge bar menu with margaritas, sipping tequila and daily specials. The tacos are sold individually and there are lots of options for appetizers. This is the place for happy hour, or a quick meal with friends or family.
Located at 4715 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702, in East Austin. In South Austin, it is located at 1302 S 1st St, Austin, TX 78704. Both locations are open Monday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Matt’s El Rancho
Opening in 1952, Matt’s is an original Tex-Mex joint in Austin. Find a large bar area and dining room with house-made tortillas.
Located at 2613 S. Lamar Blvd. Austin, TX 78704. Open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
El Arroyo
Find daily Austinisms on its outdoor sign on 5th St., and it even has a book full of quirky sayings. Grab some Tex-Mex and serious margaritas to enjoy on its patio.
Located at 1624 W. 5th St., Austin, TX, 78703. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. most days, later on the weekend.
Juan in a Million
Breakfast tacos are an Austin must, and here’s one of the top places to grab them. Don’t want breakfast, then find a full lunch menu too.
Located at 2300 E. Cesar Chavez St., Austin, TX 78702. Open daily from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Guero’s Taco Bar
With an ideal spot along South Congress, find a full menu of Tex-Mex and margaritas. If I’m meeting friends from out of town, this is where I go.
Located at 1412 S. Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78704. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Cisco’s Restaurant Bakery and Bar
An Austin institution for breakfast, order some Migas for a local’s favorite. Tops for breakfast, though open all day.
I’ve been going here for years. This is the place former Austinites want to return too. Especially former UT students, since it was a weekend hangover hangout.
Located at 1511 E. 6th St. Open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Fonda San Miguel
If it is a special occasion, or you want a treat, then make a reservation for Fonda San Miguel. It is one of my all-time favorites for traditional Mexican food, not Tex-Mex.
Everything I sampled is wonderful. Arrive a few minutes early and have a specialty margarita in the atrium. Its queso is a must. To get a better mole, you have to grab the passport.
Located at 2330 W N Loop Blvd, Austin, TX. Open Monday to Thursday from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 4:30 to 10:30 p.m. Reservations are a must.
Mi Madre’s Restaurant
Serving up breakfast, lunch and dinner, order up your favorite Tex-Mex favorites, like enchiladas or tacos.
Located at 2201 Manor Rd., Austin, TX 78722. Open Tuesday to Saturday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Maudie’s Tex-Mex
Maudie’s is a neighborhood favorite, serving up classic Tex-Mex fare. Find several locations across the Austin area each with its own hours.
Maudie’s Cafe—2608 W. 7th St. Austin, TX 78703
Maudie’s Two–1212 S. Lamar, Austin, TX 78704
Maudie’s Hacienda—9911 Brodie Ln. Austin, TX 78748
Maudie’s Milagro—3801 N. Capital of Texas Highway, Austin, TX 78746
Maudie’s North Lamar—10205 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, TX 78758 and a location in Bee Cave
Guide to Austin Museums
Best Pizza in Austin
Pick up a pie from a locally owned shop and find pizza inspiration from across the world. Gotta have pizza in the Austin Restaurant Guide.
Pinthouse Pizza
Local pizza chain with serious pizza and brews. Offering take-out and make-pizza-at-home kits along with gluten-free options.
4729 Burnet Road, Austin, TX 78756
2800 Hoppe Trail, Round Rock, TX 78681
Open at all locations Sunday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. (11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday)
Home Slice Pizza
Serving New York-style pizza, calzones and salads.
1415 S. Congress Ave. Austin, TX 78704. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
501 E. 53rd. St., Austin, TX 78751. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Via 313
Serving up Detroit-style pizza, or square pieces, at five locations across Austin.
3016 Guadalupe Suite #100, Austin, TX 78705
96 Rainey St., Austin, TX 78701
6705 Highway 290, Number 503, Austin, TX 78735
1802 E. 6th St., Austin, TX 78702
6705 E. Highway 290, Suite 503, Oak Hill, TX 78735
600 W. 6th St. Austin, TX 78701
Each location features its own hours.
Bufalina and Bufalina Due
Dishing up Neapolitan-style pizza along with appetizers. Reservations are accepted for outdoor dining.
2215 E. Cesar Chavez St., Austin, TX 78702. Open Monday to Friday from 4 . to 11 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
6555 Burnet Rd., Austin, TX 78757. Open Monday to Friday from 4 to 10 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
East Side Pies
Endless options and inventive sauces for a not-your-everyday pizza.
5530 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78756. Open Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
1401 Rosewood Ave., Austin, TX 78702. Open Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
13265 N. Highway 183, Suite B, Austin, TX 78750. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Little Deli and Pizzeria
A neighborhood pizza and deli with decades in Austin.
7101-A Woodrow Ave., Austin, TX 78757
1804 Briarcliff Blvd., Austin, TX 78723
Both locations are open Monday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The Backspace
Pizza, antipasto and panini, along with an extensive wine list.
507 San Jacinto Blvd., Austin, TX 78701. Open daily from 5 to 9 p.m. (10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday). Reservations recommended for dine-in.
Date Night in Austin
Date Night in Austin
Get dressed up and go out for a nice dinner. Or keep it casual and enjoy a classy cocktail. The possibilities are endless in Austin for date night.
Hestia
Declared one of the top new restaurants in the U.S. by Esquire magazine, this open-hearth eatery blends old-world methods into some of the most inventive bites in Texas. The seasonal menu encourages sharing, from the one-bite smoked tomato tart to the shingled Wagyu NY strip.
Located at 607 W. 3rd St., Suite 105. Open Tuesday to Thursday and Sunday from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Justine’s Brasserie
Need a dose of romantic marble-topped tables with market umbrellas topped with patio lights. Add free-flowing baskets of crusty bread and creamery butter, along with a French menu. It’s divine and a must for the Austin Restaurant Guide.
Located at 4710 E 5th St. Open daily from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. (midnight on Friday and Saturday) closed Tuesday.
Lutie’s
A free-standing restaurant in the Commodore Perry Estate, an Auberge Resort, Lutie’s is a highly sought-after table in Austin. Overlooking the terraced and balustraded rose gardens, the alabaster-and-onyx checkboard floor invites the gardens inside with greenery hanging from the lattice on the ceiling.
Located at 4100 Red River inside the Commodore Perry Estate. Open daily from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., plus Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Peacock Mediterranean Grill
On the ground floor of the Proper Hotel and along the shores of Shoal Creek, enjoy a new-world vision of old-world cuisine. The dining room uses texture to exude an understated opulence, and if the weather is good, eat on the patio. The wait staff is attentive and knowledgeable without being too much of either.
Located in Austin’s Proper Hotel at 600 W 2nd St. Open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (10:30 p.m. on Thursday to Saturday).
Uchiko Austin
Artful Japanese food served in an unstated dining room. For the best of the daily and regular menu, order the omakase, or chef’s tasting menu. It features ten different courses, perfectly prepared and presented.
Located at 4200 N. Lamar Blvd. Open Sunday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Reservations accepted.
Peche Sinful Cocktails & Cuisine
Enjoy a pre-prohibition cocktail in a French-inspired dining room with an impressive list of absinthe. Make it an evening with a menu of French brasserie musts using Texas products.
Located at 208 W. 4th St. Open Monday to Friday from 4 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. (11:30 p.m. on Friday), Saturday from 5 to 11:30 p.m. and Sunday from 5 to 10:30 p.m. Reservations accepted.
Boozy Breakfast and Brunch
Start the day the right way, with a boozy breakfast or brunch. It’s been a long week, so celebrate.
Josephine House
It’s the little sister to the formidable fine dining restaurant, Jefferey’s. Perfect for a special breakfast get-together. Savor the avocado toast or the chicken tortilla soup also find a la carte and barista-made coffee for a smaller appetite. Also serves a dinner menu starting at 4 p.m.
Located at 1601 Waterston Ave. Austin, TX 78703. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
June’s All Day
Find a mix of brunch bistro classics with a dash of Americana, like the fried chicken sandwich and the croque madame. Also serves a lunch and dinner menu, along with a pub night special.
Located at 1722 South Congress. Open Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Easy Tiger
A mix of amazing bread with beers on tap, it’s an Austin brunch thing.
6406 N. Interstate 35 Frontage Road. Ste 1100, Austin, TX 78752.
3508 S. Lamar Blvd. Ste 200, Austin, TX 78704
All locations open daily from 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. ( 9 p.m. on Sunday)
Top Zoos and Wildlife Safaris around Austin
Austin’s Independent Coffee Shops
Mozart’s Coffee Roasters
Since it’s right on Lake Austin, it features a large deck and is open till midnight. Mozart’s is hopping after dark. Then add the occasional live music, and it’s a must. Mozart’s roasts coffee in-house and offers a full selection of desserts. It was a must for the Austin Restaurant Guide.
Located at 3825 Lake Austin Blvd. Open daily from 7 a.m. to midnight.
Jo’s Coffee
It’s the coffee shop with the iconic I Love You So Much mural . With a walk-up counter and an outdoor patio, it’s a South Congress must.
Located at 1300 S. Congress Ave. Open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. There are several locations across Austin: 242 W 2nd St., Austin, 1000 E 41st St., Austin, among others.
Halcyon Coffee + Bar + Lounge
A must for after-dinner coffee drinks in Austin’s Downtown Entertainment District. Grab a cup or even a cocktail in a space that feels like a bar, except with an espresso machine. Open until 2 a.m. downtown.
Located at 218 W. 4th St., Austin. Open Monday to Thursday from 8 a.m. to midnight, Friday 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to midnight.
Kick Butt Coffee
As a bonus, Kick Butt is a small live music venue in the evening. It’s an Austin thing. Try a London Fog, an Earl Grey tea with steamed milk. Or the Cold Brew with a breakfast taco, another Austin must.
Located at 5775 Airport Blvd. #725. Open Monday to Friday 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Saturday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Austin’s Ice Cream Shops
Amy’s Ice Cream
It all started in 1984, and now Amy’s offers 350 different flavors on a rotating menu. It’s a home-grown favorite with 13 locations across the Austin area. It has to be included in my Austin Restaurant Guide.
Lick Honest Ice Cream
Another home-grown Austin shop, you’ll find sweet and savory flavor combinations, like dark chocolate, olive oil and sea salt.
Located at 1100 #1135 S. Lamar Blvd., 6555 Burnet Rd. #200, 1905 Aldrich St. #150.
Bastrop Texas Destination Guide
Comments are closed.