One of my favorites is Fonda San Miguel. It's a very nice, beautiful restaurant inside, with great food.

The masses go to County Line BBQ, but there are better BBQ joints out there.

Thanks. What barbq do you like?

If you have a car, head out to Louie Mueller BBQ in Taylor for lunch. About 40 minutes from downtown. Order the brisket and sausage.

Ruby's BBQ. NOT Rudy's.

For a BBQ lunch, try the Iron Works (100 Red River). You'll be eating with lots of state government and other downtown workers.

Are you picking up a college student?

There are so many great bar b que places that unless you are a connoisseur and really want to go to a specific place, it is not necessary to leave town for bbq. You have a very limited amount of time. Do not waste time going to Taylor Texas.

Friends like Stubbs or Ruby's for bbq. We like Trudy's or Chuy's for tex-mex; also Kerby Lane. Hyde Park Cafe has some tex-mex items too. College kids like Torchy's tacos and there is also a food cart version on 1st st. Izzoz tacos food truck is just south of Torchy's and have delicious tempura shrimp and pulled pork tacos. Right next door is Gordough's.

Just polled my friends for recent suggestions and they had a bunch. I'm just going to list them:

vivo, polvos, taco deli, gueros, rudys, salt lick, la condesa, maudies, iron works

juan in a million at e cesar chavez (for breakfast tacos)

La Reyna on South First,and Maria's Taco Express for breakfast

It looks like a total dive, but we love El Borrego de Oro at 3900 S Congress

El Sol y La Luna. They used to be on S Congress, now they are on E 6th

http://www.vivo-austin.com/

http://www.polvosaustin.com/

http://www.elsolylalunaaustin.com/food.html

http://www.guerostacobar.com/

http://www.lacondesaaustin.com/ (green certified)

http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/11/140722/restaurant/South-Congress-SoCo/El-Borrego-de-Oro-Austin

One week ago I passed through Austin and had lunch at The Hula Hut. It was great food with fun atmosphere. Absolutely Salt Lick for BBQ. Amy's Ice Cream is a must.

Salt lick is where? In Austin or a bit of a drive?
If a drive - is it worth it?
Thanks.

Salt Lick is not worth it for the food but is for the scenic beauty.

I do not think driving to Louie Mueller's in Taylor is a waste of time. The drive is the same for Salt Lick, but the food is so much better. It is the one place I take all of my out of towners looking for BBQ, and not one of them has been disappointed. Stubb's, Iorn Works, and Ruby's are fine, but that is all.

If someone has one day in Austin, it's a waste of time. There is plenty to choose from in town. I haven't eaten there but my step-father lived in Taylor and he didn't like it.

There is a salt lick at the airport but otherwise it's in Round Rock or the most popular location is in Driftwood, and yes it's a drive. I would save it for a longer visit. The beef ribs are really good but honestly except for the atmosphere, brisket is brisket. Theirs was not that great the last time I was there a couple of months ago.

Make the drive to Taylor some time. You will find out your FIL is in a small minority. Not sure about that "brisket is brisket" comment. Sounds like something someone from the south who thinks the only real BBQ is pork smoothered in some sweet sauce.

Still not sure it is a waste of time, but we can disagree about that. BBQ is the source of great debates in Texas.

Austin is fun. Whether you are listening to music, visiting the capitol building, walking around UT, running along the lake, shopping at the Domain, or sitting by the water at the Hula Hut, you will have a good time.

Not sure about that "the only real bbq is pork smothered in some sweet sauce" comment. I've lived in Texas all my life and don't know anyone who thinks that--I don't even know what that is.

Brisket is brisket means if it is cooked right, it's going to be delicious. The worst brisket I've ever had was from Kruez's market in Lockhart. We ate ribs there and bought a bunch of brisket to bring home to our teenagers. It was inedible, burnt and dry. But lots of people make a special trip to go out there. I would have been ticked off if I had made a detour out of my vacation to buy briquettes.

That just sounds like something some of my Georgia family would say. They do not understand brisket as BBQ. They think BBQ is pork and only pork.

Completely agree on Kruez's. I prefer Smitty's if I am in Lockhart.

Have to add Eastside Cafe if you like organic and well prepared food with a varied and new daily menu based on fresh available ingredients. They grow their own veg and herbs in an onsite garden. I love all of the soups. Oh, and they do take lunch reservations. Rare in Austin.

I'd pick Chuys over Trudys for Tex Mex, but all of the in town BBQ picks here are decent. You don't really have time to drive out of town for BBQ. Hyde Park, Hula Hut, Kerby Lane and Hut's
Hamburgers are all iconic Austin spots. Amy's Ice Cream and Teo Gelato are good picks for cool refreshing desserts.

Have fun in Austin!