39 Best Restaurants in Austin, Texas

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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. 

It’s hard to think a drive-through could have such high-quality fare, but Fresa’s has built a name for its charcoal-grilled chicken al carbon, which is slow-roasted over post oak and served with homemade tortillas and sides like Mexican street corn and crispy brussels sprouts out of this trendy Clarksville take on fast food. Breakfast tacos, aguas frescas, and Stumptown coffee service the early morning crowd, but the family-style lunch and dinner menu is the real signature, with whole- or half-chicken orders (choose from achiote and citrus or Yucatán spice), accompanied by house-made salsas, corn tortillas, charro beans, and rice. Fresh salads, queso, and guacamole, plus a selection of beer, wine, and margarita kits are available for drive-through or walk-up orders.

Austin’s favorite over-the-top doughnut destination, born out of food-truck fame, is now a brick-and-mortar café, where diners can get their favorite perforated pastries topped with everything from chicken-fried steak to beer-battered oysters. Salads (served with garlic doughnuts) and sides like creamed corn and fried brussels sprouts, plus a full bar and rotating selection of local beers, round out the extensive menu. A weekend brunch features doughnut French toast and savory-sweet egg sandwiches, along with Bloody Marys and pitchers of mimosas. But plenty of folks still show up for the giant-sized coffee and dessert doughnuts, like the “Sin-A-Bomb,” with melted cinnamon butter drizzled over cream-cheese icing. A food-truck location is on nearby South 1st Street.

Locals consistently nominate Hut's for the best-burger award in Austin Chronicle restaurant polls. Part of the mystique may be the American Graffiti–like atmosphere: the joint is a local institution that began in 1939. It's been in its present Old West location since 1969, and neon signs, vintage license plates, and UT memorabilia line the walls. Juicy burgers come in about 25 varieties, and the addictive onion rings are graciously served in shareable baskets. It's hard not to surrender to the experience. Beat the considerable dinner rush on Wednesday nights, when all burgers are two-for-one.

This local favorite combines the founder's El Paso and Jewish roots to create some of the best flat-top burgers, "border-style" burritos, and homemade potato latkes in town. Highlights include "the Goyim" burger (a JewBoy patty with grilled pastrami, bacon, Swiss, pickles, and mustard) and the "Que Pasa" carne asada burrito with marinated rib eye and grilled onions and poblanos. Save room for fried sides like green chili and cheddar potato latkes and their classic tots. 

Housed in an old east Austin tire shop, this counter-service outdoor café is a favorite of families and on-the-go locals. Local hospitality juggernauts Larry McGuire and Liz Lambert kept the Aztec iconography, walk-up service, and sparse layout of the preexisting spot, and the new back patio is ideal for lazy lunches, family outings, and weekend day-drinking. The rotisserie chicken and burgers are popular, and ice-cold draft beer keeps things cool on hot summer days.

This local institution serves a full complement of the simple breakfast/brunch foods that Austinites tend to crave at all hours. The typical selection of sandwiches, omelets, salads, and desserts is supplemented by seven enchilada options and signatures like the Love Migas (eggs scrambled with crisp tortilla chips and fresh salsa, spiked with garlic-serrano butter and served with black beans). Breakfast, including stellar Frisbee-sized pancakes—buttermilk, whole wheat, cornmeal, or luscious gingerbread—is available 24/7. Service is always friendly and the worn booths and tables host a diverse gamut of loyal patrons, from hungover UT students to old-Austin early birds.

Houston restaurateur (and cofounder of the Carrabba’s restaurant chain) Damian Mandola brought his "neighborhood grocery store" and Italian ristorante to The Triangle apartment and retail complex, just north of the UT campus, and the cafeteria-style café has become a favorite for families and hungry college students looking to carbo-load on a budget. Hearty portions of southern Italian specialties, from pizza to daily-rotating raviolis, hit the spot at the right price. Fresh artisanal bread, various antipasti, and seasonal cheeses are available for grab-and-go diners in the deli-style market. Homemade gelato in flavors like pineapple and pumpkin is popular among the dessert options.

Medici Roasting's downtown location offers convenient walk-up window service just a few blocks south of the State Capitol amidst the city's bustling shops and businesses. There is also a beautiful outdoor seating area that is ideal for lunch breaks and midmorning socializing. 

Sandwich lovers once had to trek out to 620 and Anderson Mill Road to experience the blissful creations of chefs John Bates and Brandon Martinez. But the modest sandwich shop (formerly known as Noble Pig) recently expanded their renowned finger-lickin’ empire with a Burnet Road location that draws big crowds, especially during peak lunch hours, when the line can stretch out the door. Choose from a menu of flavor-packed sammies such as duck pastrami with Russian dressing and the Noble Pig, with ham, pulled pork, and bacon. Homemade sides, like the spicy jalapeno slaw, pack a punch. Breakfast hours have also been added, with knockouts like biscuits and gravy and a braised oxtail with potato and leek waffles.

Situated between some of the city’s best music venues, this lively joint has reasonably priced Tex-Mex standards you can enjoy on the oak tree-shaded patio. Or just indulge in the drink menu full of house margaritas, specialty cocktails, and premium tequila flights.