Austin Restaurants

Though Mexican, Tex-Mex, and barbecue are the default cuisines, everything from Brazilian to Pacific Rim fusion has made headway here, and there are strong vegetarian and natural-food followers.

To find the best barbecue, local consensus tends to be that you've got to head out of town to Lockhart, Luling, or Llano, in the Hill Country. Nevertheless, there are several fine options within the city limits, the bulk of them simple places.

In some venues the music and food share nearly equal billing, like Threadgill's, whose massive chicken-fried steak is as much of a draw as the well-known blues and rock acts on stage. Stubb's Bar-B-Q hosts a popular gospel brunch on Sundays.

Austin is a casual city, and the dress code is almost always "come as you are"; a few restaurants require a jacket for men. Tips are generally 20%. Smoking is prohibited inside restaurants and bars, though some allow smoking on their outdoor patios.

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  • 1. Clark's Oyster Bar

    $$$ | Clarksville

    One of local restaurateur Larry McGuire's white-hot eateries, Clark’s has occupied a top seat in the Austin repertoire of hot spots since its 2012 debut. The hip, and decidedly cozy, oyster bar tucked into a modest corner lot of West 6th has all the appeal of a sophisticated seafood restaurant, with the comfort of a neighborhood bistro. You'll find a pristine, daily rotation of raw oysters served with fresh horseradish, house cocktail sauce, and a tangy mignonette. The lobster roll is a signature home run, but the house burger is a surprising favorite, which spikes in popularity during the daily happy hour, when select dishes are half-off and all martinis are $5.

    1200 W. 6th St., Austin, Texas, 78703, USA
    512-297–2525

    Known For

    • Impeccably twee setting and decor
    • Decadent happy hour deals
    • Reputation for the freshest oysters in town
  • 2. Mongers Market + Kitchen

    $$$$ | North Austin

    Hyde Park's best date-night destination might just be this neighborhood seafood restaurant and raw bar. Chef Shane Stark opened Mongers in 2015 (in the former home of wine bar Vino Vino), and it's developed a reputation for some of the freshest and best seafood in a town that doesn't necessarily have a coastal reputation. Don't miss out on the fully loaded lobster roll or Gulf red snapper. Even straightforward classics like fish-and-chips pack a punch. 

    4119 Guadalupe St., Austin, Texas, 78751, USA
    512-215–8972

    Known For

    • Great daily happy hour that includes bar food
    • Limited lunch menu
    • Fully loaded lobster roll

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
  • 3. Perla's

    $$$$ | South Congress District

    Seafood, service, and panache are pretty as a pearl at this homage to yacht clubs in the Northeast. One of Austin’s original high-end patio destinations still delivers the city’s best fish, punched up with Texas style and zing. Case in point, the Crab Louie served as luscious lumps of crabmeat piled upon crunchy fried green tomatoes and served with lemony aioli. Market fish selections are ordered to preference and served with spicy garlic-herb salsa verde, house tartar, or red chimichurri sauce. Sit at the cold bar and watch the expert oyster shuckers at work. At night and weekend brunch hours, the patio is ideal for South Congress people-watching with a tropical cocktail in hand.

    1400 S. Congress Ave., Austin, Texas, 78704, USA
    512-291–7300

    Known For

    • Exceptionally fresh seafood
    • Wes Anderson–level attention to detail and decor
    • Best patio to see and be seen
  • 4. Quality Seafood

    $$ | North Austin

    Serving the landlocked city's freshest seafood (fresh off the plane, if not the boat), this combination seafood market and casual eatery traces its history back to 1938 and has been at its Airport Boulevard address—amidst one of Austin’s major commercial arteries—since 1970. Prices are low, preparation is straightforward, and blackboard specials include regional and Cajun favorites like gumbo and bacon-wrapped scallops. The oyster bar serves up po'boys, steamed mussels, seafood tacos, and platters with catfish, cod, salmon, shrimp, or rainbow trout. A full lunch menu is offered, along with beer and wines by the glass.

    5621 Airport Blvd., Austin, Texas, 78751, USA
    512-452–3820

    Known For

    • Oysters on the half shell that won’t put a dent in your wallet
    • No-frills atmosphere complete with basic counter service
    • Classic Gulf Coast cuisine

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
  • 5. Truluck's

    $$$$ | Downtown

    Pricey-but-excellent fish, shellfish, and steak are served in handsome surroundings that suggest a businesspeople's yacht club here at Truluck's, part of an upscale chain with restaurants in Texas and Florida. Every Monday is all-you-can-eat crab claw night, but you can get Truluck’s signature stone crab any day of the week at the downtown and northwest locations. Alaskan king crab is also expertly rendered, if expensive. Don't miss the jumbo lump crab cake and the hot-and-crunchy trout over citrus aioli sauce with a mango-jalapeño marmalade. The second-story dining area has floor-to-ceiling views of the surrounding Warehouse District and skyline.

    400 Colorado St., Austin, Texas, 78701, USA
    512-482–9000

    Known For

    • Signature crab cakes
    • Show-stopping desserts
    • Special-occasion dining

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch, Reservations required
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