This roadside mobile restaurant doesn't merely churn out some of the best barbecue on the block, it makes some of the best brisket, ribs and pulled pork in the entire country. Fatty Brisket is a must.
Love or hate this California import, its official opening has burned up the city. Get a double-double animal style and order the fries extra crispy.
Two words: Salsa. Doña. The tacos themselves have earned their reputation, but it's this verde sauce that is really why we keep coming back. [Eater 38 Member] Read more.
Make sure you check out the daily special before ordering. EVERYTHING here is delicious, so experimenting with flavors frequently produces passionate results!
The Tacoloco, filled with brisket braised until fall apart-soft in adobo sauce, then topped with guacamole, cilantro, queso, is a shining star in this menu and definitely worth trying.
Even the most dedicated barbecue fans want to sit down and enjoy high-quality smokey meats without a wait. Inside. For dinner. Stiles Switch has it covered. [Eater 38 Member]
You have to try the tacos at least once. They are awesome. Words can't describe.
Chef Ned Elliott's inventive seasonal cuisine and wife Jodi's stellar desserts make this neighborhood spot a winner. Also a great for brunch. [Eater 38 Member]
At this Sixth Street newbie, chef Shawn Cirkiel serves elevated bar food like crab fritters, ricotta ravioli, classic steak tartare, and loup de mer with fennel vinaigrette.
If you have only one restaurant to eat at in Austin, make it Uchi. Chef Tyson Cole puts out Japanese food like you’ve never had – inventive, fun, immensely addictive. -Monica Pope, Top Chef
This spot's got tongue-bending Japanese cuisine w/ signature makimono rolls like the "Jiiro" (smoked loch duart salmon, avocado, preserved lemon) & has one of the most impressive sake lists in town. Read more.
Makes an art of bar food. See: the spicy fried pickles, the Bar Congress that you can add foie gras, an egg, avocado, pork belly, double meat & double cheese, should you so choose. [Eater 38 Member] Read more.
Congratulations, you've found one of Esquire's Best Bars in America. If you're lucky enough to have one of the 22 seats in the bar, you're lucky enough to order the Montegomaticas. Read more.
Odd Duck features a huge open kitchen and lots of homey touches like mismatched plates and country kitsch on the walls. Check out the chicken fried egg, kholrabi soup, and the whole roast chicken.
The cash-only first location of this stand behind Liberty has become a bit of an East Sixth legend, counting Anthony Bourdain among the many fans of its Asian-inspired street food. [Eater 38 Member] Read more.
The family behind iconic Lockhart barbecue restaurants Smitty's and Kreuz Market have brought the brisket goodness to Bee Cave.
2 piece dark fried chicken will not disappoint! Killer Mac and cheese!!!!
Try the Ainsworth Switcharoo: go with a friend, order two Ainsworths, trade half of it. Twice the randomness!
Chef Rene Ortiz's take on modern Mexican cuisine. Not to miss: the riffs on guacamole, the wild tacos, the cocktails, and pastry chef Laura Sawicki's ice creams. [Eater 38 Member]
Some of the best tacos in Austin are served by two trucks with national acclaim. Their aguas frescas are not to be missed, and they serve up the best migas taco in Austin. [Eater 38 Member]
This tiny South Austin restaurant features global dishes from Texas-sourced ingredients. Make reservations early--there are only about thirty seats available. [Eater 38 Member]
John Lewis continues to turn out some of the best barbecue in the city. Their beef ribs are especially fine and massive. Wash down some sausage with live music on the weekends. [Eater 38 Member]
This Austin fine dining classic was the first to offer interior-style Mexican food in Austin. Their mole is some of Austin's best, and their dining room is charming and playful. [Eater 38 Member]
Qui captures so much of what is driving the Austin restaurant scene forward. Qui's mixture of fine dining, molecular, and Filipino influences makes for a unique dining experience. [Eater 38 Member]
Salt & Time offers a mean brunch and lots of meaty sandwiches for lunch. Their dinner service is one of Austin's best deals for high-quality charcuterie and steak. [Eater 38 Member]
One of Austin's most underrated Tex Mex restaurants, El Meson is an especially good bet for breakfast. Check out their Burleston Road location, too. [Eater 38 Member]
Mexican mini grocery store with a taqueria inside. It's for the real taqueria set, not for the Chuy's is the best crowd. Hope you can order in Spanish.
It's almost a cliche to recommend Torchy's in Austin, but the local chain has earned that recognition with creative combinations that stand out in a city full of tacos. [Eater 38 Member] Read more.
Gordough’s offers handmade donuts fried to order and smothered with funky toppings. Try a Mother clucker – a massive donut topped with Cajun coated chicken strips and honey butter.
The 30+ booths at this ingeniously curated antiques spot range from a carnival-inspired stand dedicated to vintage gaming paraphernalia to a cabin-like nook laden with uncommon Western collectibles. Read more.
Laid-back Austin yet Downtown chic, Garrido's budget-conscious menu touts small but tasty selections for inventive, white-tablecloth Mexican fare. The bocaditos are tiny, but order them anyway. Read more.
Mexican home cooking with a great patio; try the mango habanero margarita. [Eater 38 Member]
My favorite mexican joint in all of austin. The best El milagro chips and a salsa bar!
Great coffee and breakfast tacos, and the bagels are pretty legit in this New Yorker's opinion!
Jo's actually has a large food menu including simple sandwiches and breakfast tacos. Sometimes all you want is a tuna melt or a grilled cheese.
ESK's home on the Drag features trailer favorites like Poor Qui’s pork belly buns and beet fries. Creative and unique, fresh and flavorful, and located in one of the best funky watering holes around.
This modern spot serves up tacos with style. Highlights include beer-braised brisket punched up with horseradish, a Caribbean-inspired jerk grouper, and the crispy cauliflower. Read more.
Tacos be damned! Get the al pastor torta: a bolillo roll sliced open, slathered with some mayo and refried beans, then topped with sweet and spicy al pastor pork and veggies. Messy and mucho sabroso.
Mi Madre's, like your actual mother, is always there with a smile and a plate of something to fix what's ailing you. [Eater 38 Member]
Our first choice for visitors who want Mexican is this South Austin spot. We know avocado margaritas are the spotlight, but try the spicy mescal Oaxacan margaritas. [Eater 38 Member]
Hipster paradise. Plenty of parking for your penny farthing while you enjoy an artisan crafted brew and work on your manuscript on your typewriter. Polaroid selfies encouraged!
This long anticipated second location has hit the ground running. 10/20/14 official grand opening has not disappointed everything off the menu is on track with the exception of the potato and egg taco
Bratwurst in Pretzel Bun: Resist the temptation to stuff yourself with bread and beer cheese and save room for this sausage sandwich.
Colorful and small, Nubian Queen Lola boasts great soul food with a conscience; owner Lola Stephens volunteers her time and cooking abilities to the homeless on a regular basis. [Eater 38 Member] Read more.
Pair the house-made merguez with a seasonal salad, and go ahead and order a bottle of wine; it beats getting back in line for another glass, and the ambience is so nice you're going to want to linger. Read more.
Playful cuisine, delectable desserts, appropriate libations, and excellent service. The atmosphere can get boisterous, but a night at Swift's promises both a memorable meal and a super fun time. Read more.
Calling all meat lovers! This charmingly retro artisan shop sells fresh cuts of locally sourced meats, sausages, salumi, and charcuterie, as well as fresh-baked goods and some prepared foods. Read more.
Totally legit Detroit-style pizza. Great crisp strip of cheese along the edge. If you're drunk and/or a BIG eater, 1 pizza will fill you. If you're sober and/or little, you could probably split a pie.
This tiny restaurant serves some of the best locally-sourced food we've had in a town wild for locally-sourced food. And, yes, their famous burgers are amazing. [Eater 38 Member]
Chef Robert will use a dazzling array of techniques in service of a simple chicharrón. The work pays off. Fixe's crispy beef tendon manages to be both featherweight and beefy, playful and refined.
The new location is great. All the food is still on point, especially the crab cakes. My favorite breakfast in town.
This new-school, street-food star mashes up fresh and hyper-flavorful Southwestern and pan-Asian ingredients in the best way. Wake up the taste buds and think pad thai taco.
You're not going to get heaping plates of fried meat and stewed greens here. Instead, you'll get artfully plated, modest portions of high-end ingredients for a very refined Southern cuisine. Read more.
This comfy neighborhood restaurant serves inventive pizzas, hearty sandwiches, and sharable plates. The break-out star is the golden cauliflower with herbed yogurt, pine nuts, and golden raisins. Read more.
This Black's BBQ is the original from Lockhart. If you want to enjoy a Texas Monthly Top 50 BBQ restaurant this is the place to go!
We've never gone home unhappy after a visit to Matt's, thanks to their Bob Armstrong dip, affordable range of price points and dedication to classic Tex-Mex. [Eater 38 Member]
Forget upscale comfort food. There's nothing upscale about Cisco's and that's why we, and our hangovers, love it. [Eater 38 Member]
One of the best bets for breakfast and lunch on East 6th, the restaurant also regularly hosts innovative pop-up dinners. [Eater 38 Member]
Belly up to the lunch counter for migas, tacos, and award-winning menudo, then step up to the pastry counter for piedras, novias, cemitas, and capirotada. The American choices draw raves, too.
Awesome place! Carnitas and Pacos pick were incredible. I liked these better than Torchy's.
Cazuelas and mezcal are on the menu crafted by longtime industry veteran Daniel Brooks. The Mexico City native worked a quick swicheroo in the old Papi Tino's space. Read more.
Great, tasty cocktails. Quiet, dark atmosphere. Great for happy hour and waiting our traffic in downtown Austin. Located truly in a parking garage.
Reader tip: For some of the best cocktails in town, go to Peche on 4th Street. They make their own bitters as a sign of their devotion. Read more.
A fantastic addition to the East side. The Labneh was bright and delicious. The chicken was great and even better cold the next day. Definitely a small plates place.
Great formal gowns and sunglasses. Many top designer brands of shoes. Louboutins galore
Not a place to connect to the interwebz, but a great spot to read or converse over coffee.
This small batch ice cream can be topped with interesting from-scratch toppings like Dr. Pepper cherry sauce , blood orange olive oil, and champagne marshmallows.
