This inexpensive, casual dive boasts some of the best Interior Mexican cuisine around. Superior tamales, salsas, Mexican breakfast, and regional dishes, as well as for an outstanding margarita bar.
Unctuous rib meat barely clings to the smoke-stained bone before it melts in your mouth. John Mueller, the Yoda of beef ribs, dispenses fantastic barbecue in a relaxed, comfy trailer set-up. Read more.
Detroit natives Zane and Brandon Hunt have thankfully introduced Austin to the wonders of Motor City-style pizza. We are officially addicted. You can't lose with the double-pepperoni "Detroiter."
A proprietress as friendly as her food is good serves up huge portions of burgers and Cajun chow from a succinct menu. The dining room is communal and friendly, and Lola Stephens is a blessing.
This charming bistro transplants guests to the heart of France. The prix-fixe menu gets you three courses, with plenty of options in each. Unpretentious and respectful, and most of all, delicious.
Fragrant barbecue smoke and soulful blues waft over the roof of this 19th-century brick edifice. It's noisy. It's fun. And that's just the way the crowd likes it. The fried pies are not to be missed. Read more.
Barn chic, with a pleasant atmosphere, nice for a special evening out with friends. The gems on the menu dwell in the vegetables category: Brussels sprouts, fried smashed potatoes, and glazed turnips. Read more.
East Austin native son Hoover Alexander packs 'em in with tempting renditions of Southern comfort food, complemented with a dash of Tex-Mex, a whiff of BBQ smoke, and a pinch of Cajun/Creole spice.
Any ATX 'best burger' list has to include this round-the-clock spot, but don’t gloss over the upscale riffs on meatloaf and chicken & waffles. Save room for the roasted banana & brown sugar milkshake. Read more.
The independently owned Austin Land & Cattle serves steaks that are succulent, tender, and cooked as-ordered, and you get three sides with your entrée. One downside: Parking can be a real bitch.
With hubcaps, colored lights, and a velvet Elvis, this is Austin-style Tex-Mex at its tacky, funky best. It's almost always busy, but the creamy queso and chips is worth the wait.
Open in the same location since 1947, Hill's Cafe is an Austin landmark serving up Texas specialties such as chicken-fried steak, tamales, barbecue, skillet enchiladas, fried chicken, and catfish.
The Teishoku lunch specials are one of the best deals going: a bowl of savory clear noodle soup, a farm-fresh salad, soft steamed rice, homemade Japanese pickles, and an entrée all for $8-$12. Read more.
Stuffed with ingredients as wild as their celebrity namesakes (see: the Buffalo Bill, the Norma Jean), the burgers at this retro diner are big and beautiful. Hot dogs and salads round out the menu.
This lakeside fine-dining fixture was one of the pioneers of Southwestern cuisine. Don't miss the Coca-Cola baby back ribs with orange ginger BBQ sauce and mango jalapeño cole slaw.
