Austin Restaurants

1. Better Half

Local critics consistently rank this Clarksville newcomer as one of the city's best restaurants, and the sprawling patio is almost always packed. It's a lovely downtown-adjacent atmosphere to enjoy upscale, indulgent takes on juicy burgers and pastrami (as a sandwich or a queso topping), and with great coffee and cocktails to boot. There are even more burgers at the Quonset hut next door, where Hold Out Brewing slings food and beer all day. Both eateries have a hot brunch ticket. 

2. Clay Pit

A tried-and-true destination for homemade Indian cuisine, Clay Pit has developed a devoted following in Austin since 1998. Wash down some of their signature curried mussels with garlic and red wine sauce with one of their sweet lassi drinks. The historic (and maybe haunted) Bertram Building (a favorite on downtown ghost tours) is romantic and stately and just a few blocks from the Capitol, so lunch crowds attract everyone from state workers to tourists. 

3. Contigo

The predominantly outdoor layout of Texas ranch–inspired Contigo consistently draws a steady evening crowd—even when summer temps are well over 100 degrees. With a chef-driven stable of cocktails and a creative Southern-comfort-meets-contemporary-American menu, it's easy to understand why: ox tongue sliders, house-made pigs in a blanket, a gooey cheddar-filled grilled cheese sandwich on brioche, and the cast-iron sautéed okra with jalapeño and walnuts are among the top menu picks. The varied list of weekend brunch offerings includes buttermilk biscuits and gravy, beef tongue hash, and pecan coffee cake.

4. Easy Tiger

The newest location of this beloved German-style bakery and beer garden features 15,000 square feet of outdoor space, plus a spacious interior, for beer and sausage lovers. The sprawling outdoor patio attracts lively lunch, happy hour, and late-night crowds with a full menu of artisan sandwiches, house-made sausages, and “big as your face” pretzels, as well as one of the best beer selections in the city. The wholesale bakeshop, which provides several local restaurants with specialty breads and pastries, opens bright and early every morning; don't miss the $6 “Easy Morning” deal (weekdays, 7–10 am) that includes a small coffee and any pastry.

5. Elizabeth Street Café

This clever nouveau Vietnamese-French concept from chef-restaurateur Larry McGuire—of Lamberts and Clark's fame—sits on the corner of South First and Elizabeth Streets as a cozy little café serving a delectable menu of banh mi and pho as well as a fantastic array of French pastries, including daily macaron specials. Fresh shrimp spring rolls, pork meatball banh mi (served on fresh baguettes), and spicy beef and pork buns with thick, soft, airy noodles are safe bets. In addition to sake, beer, and creative punch offerings, the wine list is short and sweet, brimming with French-only wines that pair beautifully with this cuisine. Brunch is offered on weekends.

6. Franklin Barbecue

If Central Texas is the hub of the state's best barbecue, then this place has become its favorite darling. The former food truck become full-fledged, world-renowned restaurant, owned by pit master Aaron Franklin, attracts a daily throng of fans who wait in line upward of three hours in hopes of devouring a paper-lined tray of brisket, sausage, and pork ribs pulled straight from the smoker. Sides of classic potato salad, pinto beans, and coleslaw are simply filler for the main event. Franklin’s continues to receive national acclaim—and even served President Obama during an Austin visit. Doors open daily at 11 am and stay open until the meat sells out, which is usually well before 2 pm.

7. Pinthouse

This approachable pizza place and brew pub is a great addition to the burgeoning Burnet Road food scene. The parking lot can fill up fast on weekends, but an award-winning selection of beers makes it easy to wait for signature house-made pies, like the Armadillo, with artisan sausage and poblano peppers, or the Shroomin' Goat, with local goat cheese and roasted mushrooms. 

8. Ramen Tatsu-Ya

Austin’s ramen craze went into full swing a few years ago, and this happening spot was one of the city’s first (and favorite) establishments. Try the “Ol’ Skool,” a chicken-based shoyu ramen with a traditional array of toppings, like aijitama (marinated soft-boiled egg), and optional “flavor bombs” from creamed corn and butter to Thai chili and habanero pepper paste. All ramen varieties are massive, but a small-plate menu offers modest portions of Japanese comfort food, like the Katsu slider (a juicy deep-fried burger on a fluffy Hawaiian roll) and sweet-and-sour “yodas” (fried brussels sprouts with apricot vinegar and curry spice).  

9. Sway

Based on a distinctive Australian-style Thai cuisine, Sway has provided Austin with an injection of modern Thai fusion in a chic, sexy setting. The South Austin hotspot, which opened in 2012, has received high acclaim from luminaries like Bon Appetit, who ranked it as one of the “50 Best New Restaurants in America” in 2013. The alluring menu offers tasty starters like prawn miange, followed by options including stir fry, curry, wok noodle, and grilled and fried rice preparations. We recommend the Jungle Curry, with wagyu beef, eggplant, and red chilis, or the lemongrass-perfumed tom kha gai soup. Reservations are required for the twice-nightly Moo Sway dinners, featuring off-menu specialties like whole roasted pork shoulder, all served family-style. To drink there's wine, sake, and beer, plus custom kombuchas and drinking vinegars (with flavors like tamarind and apple), mixed with Topo Chico and served over crushed ice. Seating is mainly communal and quickly fills up on weekends. Take-out orders are now accepted online, making the elevated cuisine more accessible.

10. Thai Fresh

Relaxed and locally sourced, this Bouldin Creek café is a staple for lovers of high-quality Thai food in a casual neighborhood setting. Part grab-and-go market and coffee bar, part café, and part cooking-class destination, Thai Fresh is a popular lunch and dinner spot, with a diverse range of curries, stir-fries, and noodle and fried-rice dishes. Homemade breakfast tacos are also available throughout the day. Locals drop by for their iced chai lattes and sparkling Thai basil lime aguas frescas, or stick around to indulge in one of their organic vegan ice creams and kombucha cocktails with sake, sparkling rosé, or white wine. A popular brunch service happens on weekends as well.

11. The Oasis on Lake Travis

This scenic Austin institution, on a 450-foot cliff above Lake Travis, is famed for its sunsets and special-occasion atmosphere, popular with tourists, birthday revelers, and anniversary lovebirds. If you can, arrive early to get a table directly overlooking the lake, but most seats in the multitiered eatery have decent views. The menu includes unremarkable Tex-Mex fare like burgers, fajitas, and margaritas, but weekly and seasonal events, such as their Sunset Music Series, create an enjoyable ambience that justifies the 30-minute drive from downtown.

12. The Salt Lick

When Texans argue about the relative merits of barbecue joints, the Salt Lick usually winds up at or near the top of the heap. Getting here entails a 30-minute drive southwest of Austin, but diners who make the trek are rewarded with finger-licking-good ribs, beef, chicken, turkey, and sausage slow-cooked over an open pit and accompanied by a tangy sauce (unusual for central Texas) and the usual sides. If you can manage it, top your meal off with blackberry cobbler or pecan pie. The area is dry, alcohol-wise, but the BYOB policy keeps crowds happy. It's cash-only, but there's an on-site ATM.

13. Via 313 Pizza

Detroit lives in Austin at the capital city's delicious purveyor of deep-dish pies. Its original location, a tiny trailer at the back of an east-austin dive bar, is still slinging pizzas for late-night crowds, but they have recently expanded with another trailer and brick-and-mortar locations popping up all over town, including here on Rainey Street. Long wait times can be expected because of the depth of Via 313's goodness, so try to plan ahead of your cravings. 

14. 24 Diner

The upscale breakfast fare and comfort food of this Clarksville favorite might carry an unconventional price tag for a diner, but the quality of dishes (from Belgian waffles to meat-loaf sandwiches) has earned a loyal fan base. The always bustling interior is an efficient mix of mid-century retro and contemporary efficiency, with booths and barstool seating at high tables. The menu rotates with the seasons, but staples include chicken and waffles, three types of breakfast hash, and a weekly chicken and dumpling special. There’s an expected list of coffee drinks, plus a full bar and specialty milk shakes, from chocolate cherry to coconut cream, to satisfy any craving.

15. 40 North

Situated in a charming cottage just northwest of downtown, 40 North is a standard for classic Neapolitan pizza and light Italian fare. It's a lovely neighborhood setting with cozy patio seating and bright white interiors. The pies are the main draw, but the house burger and spicy chicken sandwich along with their other small plates are equally tasty. 

16. Bufalina

A bevy of new pizza places debuted in Austin over the past couple of years and one of the best is this hip eastside eatery, specializing in authentic Neapolitan pies. The rotating menu is simple and compact—the wine list is actually longer—but what they offer is expertly prepared. The classic margherita is just as impressive as the calabrese (salami, roasted peppers and mozzarella). The space itself is cozy, seating about 40 diners at large communal tables and a handful of private two-tops and counter seating. The white-bricked pizza oven (shipped from Italy) takes up a majority of the dining room. Fresh seasonal salads, traditional Italian starters and simple desserts, like homemade vanilla ice cream doused with sherry, are worth trying.

17. Chavez

Downtown’s Radisson hotel finally ousted an outdated TGI Fridays location on their ground floor and made way for yet another hit from chef and restaurateur Shawn Cirkiel. The delicious contemporary Southwestern cuisine is delivered in shareable or a la carte portions, from oyster taquitos to grilled hen with yellow mole. A limited menu is available in between lunch and dinner service and the Sunday brunch features more than 50 dishes served buffet style. Interiors are chic and floor to ceiling windows show off spectacular views of Lady Bird Lake.

18. Chez Nous

Austin's first French bistro, owned by Paris natives, manages to maintain its quiet and cozy atmosphere despite its location mere feet from raucous 6th Street. Simple dishes from the French playbook make appearances on the reasonably priced menu, and the three-course prix-fixe dinner ($32.50) is a bargain. Start with the house-made pâté du jour or escargot, then treat yourself to housemade confit duck legs. The casual bistro atmosphere encourages long meals and romantic glances, so pace yourself accordingly.

19. County Line

20. Curra's Grill

If you're looking for authentic Mexican food at an affordable price (read: cheaper than Fonda San Miguel), then head to Curra's. The cochinita pibil (marinated slow-roasted pork) is moist, tender, and flavorful; the shrimp and fajitas are a cut above most local establishments. Outstanding brunch entrées are served all day, and the enchiladas menu doesn’t disappoint. Try the enchiladas con chile Colorado, filled with melted Monterey Jack cheese and braised pork-tip, marinated in guajillo and chipotle sauces. Portions are hearty, and the house avocado margarita has a significant fan base. There are two locations, south and northwest, and both are casual, with brightly colored, but no frills, interiors.