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$ | Sixth Street District |
Most definitely the best place on the notorious “Dirty Sixth Street” strip of downtown to chow down is Casino El Camino, a longtime favorite of Austin burger lovers. Locals arrive in hungover droves around midday on the weekends, when wait times for signatures like the Amarillo and Buffalo burgers can stretch upward of an hour. But this iconic juke joint is worth the wait as you'll find out once sated by their trademark Bloody Marys, stacked with bacon, pickled okra, taquitos, and, yes, even meatballs. The hearty Angus-beef burgers deliver a classic artery-clogging ecstasy, especially when paired with a greasy basket of verde chili fries.
517 E. 6th St., Austin, Texas, 78701, USA
Known For
- Trademark Bloody Marys with wild ingredients like taquitos and meatballs
- Texas-size portions
- Punk rock jukebox and a gritty vibe to match
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$ | University of Texas Area |
This greasy spoon just north of the UT campus has been satisfying the guilty pleasures of students (and those from all walks of life) since 1926. There might not be dirt floors and open-flame grills anymore, but the burgers and sides are still classically unpretentious (with no grass-fed menu descriptions) but with plenty of flavor (and grease). Sit at the counter to watch the longtime short-order chefs at work at the grill, flipping hundreds of burgers, patty melts, and chicken-fried steak sandwiches for hungry diehards. The outdoor patio tables fill up fast during UT home games, when the football game is broadcast on large HD TVs. The O.T. Special is a signature, and the draft beers seem to taste best in their icy schooners.
2808 Guadalupe St., Austin, Texas, 78705, USA
Known For
- Best stick-to-your-gut burger in town
- Raucous game-day crowds
- Classic campus vibe complete with cheap prices
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$ | East Austin |
Local chef and native east Austinite Hoover Alexander has created one of the city’s best comfort-food oases, blending Mama's home cooking, diner short-order specials, Tex-Mex favorites, and Cajun influences in one Southern comfort mecca. The self-styled "Smoke, Fire & Ice House" is known for its large portions and flavorful recipes, like a Jamaican jerk chicken and a chicken-fried steak that puts most others to shame. "Side mates” like mac 'n' cheese, fried okra, and creamed jalapeño spinach round out any home-style cravings. A full bar serves popular staples like beet margaritas. It’s hard to save room for dessert, but the homemade pies are excellent—and their New Orleans–influenced breakfasts are worth a try.
2002 Manor Rd., Austin, Texas, 78722, USA
Known For
- Fast and casual service
- Portions that will have diners leaving with leftovers
- Finger-licking-good pies
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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$ | South Congress District |
Though its sister location in the Second Street District attracts a more chichi crowd, the original Jo's on South Congress is where you're likely to run into your neighbor, catch the latest gossip on the Austin music scene, or spot a celebrity visiting town. The morning rush hour for their delicious coffee is intense, yet somehow cool and lively; local beers and frozen rosé (frosé) are also available. There's limited seating, and it's outside-only, so come early on a Saturday and bring a good read. You may witness patrons dancing in the parking lot by afternoon. Jo's is an integral part of South by San José during SXSW—a definite must-visit, with live music in a lively outdoor setting throughout the week.
1300 S. Congress Ave., Austin, Texas, 78704, USA
Known For
- Excellent coffee
- Limited, outdoor-only seating
- SXSW hot spot
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$ | East Austin |
The not-so-secret weapon of this classic east Austin breakfast spot is its owner and namesake, local legend Juan Meza, who has run his modest eatery since 1981 and still greets every diner with a bone-crushing handshake and a smile. Juan's strong community spirit is infectious, but the simple, filling, and reliably good fare will start your day off right on its own. The Don Juan taco (a massive mound of eggs, potato, bacon, and cheese) is the true east Austin breakfast of champions; the machacado con huevo (shredded dried beef scrambled with eggs), migas (eggs scrambled with torn corn tortillas, onions, chile peppers, cheese, and spices), and huevos rancheros are also above average. A variety of inexpensive Tex-Mex and Mexican specialties is served at lunch.
2300 E. César Chávez St., Austin, Texas, 78702, USA
Known For
- Hangover cure for the ages
- Weekend crowds of sunglasses-wearing hipsters
- Extra tortillas to help finish the signature Don Juan breakfast taco
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$ | Hyde Park |
This North Austin sushi joint is the best place to find superior sashimi, sushi rolls, and Japanese cuisine without daunting prices. The izakaya-style menu (an homage to Japan’s casual pub-style eateries) offers a wide range of cold, fried, grilled, and rice dishes. Sit at the sushi bar to watch the experts at work, creating specialties like the crunchy dynamite roll (tuna, avocado, and crunchy tempura flakes), or grab a table to enjoy Japanese comfort food like yakitori skewers (beef tenderloin, chicken thigh, and chicken and taro croquettes), gyoza (pork dumplings), and ikayaki (grilled squid).
5301 Airport Blvd., Austin, Texas, 78751, USA
Known For
- Outstanding sushi and Japanese signatures without the upscale prices
- Wonderful selection of beer, wine, sake, and cocktails
- Casual izakaya-style dishes and service that's great for lunch dates
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations not accepted
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$ | East Austin |
This lovely east-side spot has moved from its original trailer location into a shared space within Quickie Pickie, the quaint local neighborhood grocery and bodega, and remains another top spot for Texas barbecue. Portions of their prizewinning BBQ are Texas-size, including their popular El Sancho brisket sandwich with "Bobby Sauce." Lines are to be expected, but service is friendly and swift.
2401 E. César Chávez St., Austin, Texas, 78702, USA
Known For
- A line that's worth the wait
- Equally fine backup if Franklin BBQ sells out
- Free taste of brisket at the counter while you order
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No dinner
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$ | Clarksville |
For quite possibly the best coffee in Austin, visit this little Clarksville coffee house that draws quite a crowd for quick business meetings and weekend socializing. Here, baristas pull exquisite shots for espresso drinks and even leave creative designs in latte and cappuccino foam. Don't be surprised to hear music wafting from inside during SXSW. There are also branches on Congress Avenue and Guadalupe Street along with a location in the airport.
1101 W. Lynn St., Austin, Texas, 78703, USA
Known For
- Family-friendly outdoor seating
- Exceptional house roasts popular with coffee aficionados
- Homey neighborhood feel
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$ | West Austin |
On any given sunny day, Austinites flock to Mozart's spacious lakeside patio to enjoy great coffee and indulgent baked goods. The expansive, multitiered deck overlooking Lake Austin can get crowded with weekend patrons, and weekdays are equally popular times for locals to post up and work remotely. Live music on weekends is an added bonus, and their annual Christmas lights display is a seasonal sight to behold.
3825 Lake Austin Blvd., Austin, Texas, 78703, USA
Known For
- Lake Austin views
- Sprawling patio seating open until midnight
- Top winter destination thanks to signature hot cocoa and award-winning Christmas light display
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$ | South Austin |
This local drive-through and fast-food chain turned burger empire is an Austin favorite for a reason. What started as a humble mom-and-pop operation on the corner of South Lamar and Barton Springs Road has evolved into a sprawling web of locations all over Austin and beyond, but the original location is still the ideal spot to experience the simple pleasures of a fresh patty of hormone-free Black Angus beef (or black-bean veggie), hand-cut fries, and hand-spun shakes that make eating bad feel good.
404 S. Lamar Blvd., Austin, Texas, 78704, USA
Known For
- Impeccable service and attention to detail
- Cult local following
- Best bet for a post–Barton Springs refresh
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$ | North Austin/Hyde Park |
Hyde Park's iconic neighborhood bakery has been a local staple for over 40 years, serving scratch-made breakfast pastries, cupcakes, cookies, and various seasonal and custom creations. The friendly vibe of the bustling coffee shop attracts a loyal tribe of locals, usually seen hanging out on the outdoor patio tables throughout the day, as well as streams of UT students, families, and fans of the house-made chai.
411 E. 43rd St., Austin, Texas, 78751, USA
Known For
- Long-standing local favorite for coffee and sweets
- Adorable neighborhood setting on the corner of Duval Street
- Mouthwatering cinnamon rolls, carrot cake cupcakes, and theme sugar cookies that sell out quickly
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$ | Downtown and the Capitol Area (Second Street and Warehouse District) |
Don't miss out on the state dish of Texas at this downtown icon. Just a stroll away from the Capitol, the Chili Parlor has been a favorite of legislators, lobbyists, and local hellraisers alike for a midday meal (or late-night beer) since 1976. Get a gut-sticking bowl of bean-less chili (marked X, XX, and XXX for spice), an ice-cold Lone Star beer, or a fully loaded Bloody Mary, and soak up some Old Austin history.
1409 Lavaca St., Austin, Texas, 78701, USA
Known For
- Low-key reputation for celeb sightings
- Daily lunch crowd of state and Capitol employees
- One of the best living legends of old-school Austin dive bars
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$ | East Austin |
Veracruz wears a taco tiara in the Austin food scene and for good reason. The migas lives up to the local lore, and this always-hopping original location has a convivial patio where its best to enjoy tasty quesadillas, barbacoa, vegetarian and fish tacos on homemade tortillas, and fresh aguas frescas alfresco.
2505 Webberville Rd., Austin, Texas, 78702, USA
Known For
- Original spot for chain with growing number of local locations
- Signature migas taco and diverse vegan options
- Homemade tortillas and chips
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Mon.–Thurs.
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$ | East Austin |
What started as a streamlined coffee and craft beer purveyor with sparse hours has evolved into an all-day east Austin mainstay. The industrial garage vibe blends in well with its I–35-adjacent neighbors and attracts a hip clientele from morning to night, who flock here for cold brews and stacked breakfast sandwiches and then like to stick around for their local lineup of draft brews.
500 San Marcos St., Austin, Texas, 78702, USA
Known For
- In-house specialty sub shop with expanded lunch menu
- Popular hangout for locals working remotely
- Skyline views from the side patio
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$ | Greater Austin |
This no-frills favorite of off-duty chefs keeps its diehard Sichuan fans satisfied. The unassuming strip mall location in far northwest Austin might look rundown, but the order-at-the-counter joint serves up reliably authentic specialties, like the palate-tingling Asia Eggplant and the Chicken Delight (kou shui ji, bone-in, chilled chicken slices in a spicy sauce). Sichuan peppercorns and fiery red oil are used liberally, so be prepared. Take-out is available.
8650 Spicewood Springs Rd., Austin, Texas, 78759, USA
Known For
- Best Spicy Fish (and they mean spicy) in town
- Authentic Sichuan standards at cheap prices
- Gluten-free options
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$ | South Austin |
A vegetarian-only restaurant might sound like a bland option at first, but even devoted carnivores frequent this hip South First neighborhood café, home to some of the best meat-free dishes in the city. Friendly servers help newcomers navigate their vegan and gluten-free options, whether it’s a maple latte and plate of zucchini migas, a tofu and broccoli salad, or a draft beer to pair with the Fajitas Italianas, made with roasted portabello and zucchini strips and chipotle pecan pesto. The lively gathering place always seems to be bustling, from brunch crowds to midday business meetings.
1900 S. 1st St., Austin, Texas, 78704, USA
Known For
- Hip but casually unpretentious atmosphere
- Large crowds of beautiful people waiting for tables on weekends
- Super-affordable
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$ | East Austin |
The interior of this family-owned east-side bakery and restaurant might be shabby, with worn linoleum floors and various Texas-theme memorabilia and fading newspaper articles hanging on the walls, but the hole-in-the-wall's classic Mexican fare still attracts a loyal breakfast and lunch crowd seven days a week. They are drawn by straightforward trademarks like migas (generously covered in melted cheese) and huevos rancheros that aren’t accompanied by the typical Austin-brunch price tag. Diners are offered the choice of flour or corn tortillas or a side of homemade biscuits that can be dressed with drawn butter or honey, both found in squeeze bottles on the tables.
1511 E. 6th St., Austin, Texas, 78702, USA
Known For
- Local east-side landmark
- Frequented by UT fans and a "who's who" of alumni
- Weekend crowds
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$ | East Austin |
Austin’s iconic Counter Cafe closed its original (beloved, but tragically tiny) diner on North Lamar, but this east-side location doubles the square footage and offers an extended menu with signatures like polenta-fried oysters. The mid-century–styled interior looks almost identical, from the wooden countertops and blackboard of daily specials to the line of expert short-order chefs knocking out the familiar menu of classic breakfast and lunch dishes. Patrons will still find crab cake Benedict, enormous pancakes, quail and eggs, and succulent grass-fed burgers.
1914 E. 6th St., Austin, Texas, 78702, USA
Known For
- Hypnotic views of speedy short-order chefs
- Very loud during peak weekend hours
- Heaping portions
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner
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$ | East Austin |
A popular anchor at the east side's Arbor Food Park, this cheery yellow truck has become Austin's go-to for Mexico City–style street tacos. A helpful diagram at the walk-up window showing the actual size of the pequeño tacos (100% nixtamal) is as straightforward as the service and menu here. It's hard to go wrong choosing from the modest selection, but the suadero (flank steak) and cachete (beef cheeks) tacos are excellent. Weekly specials also pop up, and everything can be enjoyed alfresco at the park's picnic tables.
1108 E. 12th St., Austin, Texas, 78702, USA
Known For
- Authentic Mexico City–style tacos worthy of a connoisseur
- Tiny tacos that pack a punch
- Great value
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
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$ | University of Texas Area |
This Austin classic is a refreshing change of pace from the trendy hot spots and long lines downtown and on the east side. The relaxed counter service and down-home decor at the charming cottage-turned-café matches the classic handmade offerings of sandwiches, soups, and salads. An expanded breakfast menu (served from 8 to 11:30 am) is popular with locals, and the front patio is usually bustling.
616 W. 34th St., Austin, Texas, 78705, USA
Known For
- Funky, chill vibes in an "at home" setting
- Organic, locally sourced vegetarian options with a dedicated lunch following
- No-frills counter service with long lines during peak hours
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No dinner
