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."
Interior and traditional and a South Austin gem. The empanadas de huitlacoche of handmade corn masa are stuffed with corn truffle or "corn smut" to make a real delicacy. Read more.
Eclectic, upscale, and seasonal fare, an excellent wine list, private tables, and exemplary service flawlessly converge in a gorgeous, Michael Hsu-designed space. Simply one of our city's best. Read more.
To-die-for sandwiches, package wine sales, charcuterie, and an inviting, inspiring cheese case. We heart the Beecher's cheddar with house-roasted turkey and avocado. Read more.
From the best tortas anywhere, period, to quesadillas and tlacoyos, this is the closest we get here to real street-style antojitos. Superb pan dulce and tres leches cakes will satisfy the sweet tooth. Read more.
Tacos to drive across town for – and surprisingly good burgers, too. We adore the pork with green sauce and the loaded, spice-a-rific salsa buffet. Read more.
This casual Italian bistro produces handmade artisanal food at its finest. Customers rave about the delicious house-cured meats, the imported cheeses, the marvelous pastries, and great brunch options.
A trip to Uchiko is a treat for the senses, with creative flavor pairings in dishes like rosemary-smoked duck with candied citrus or pork-belly-and-egg sushi. Decor is almost too beautiful to look at. Read more.
This trailer leaves most brick-and-mortar BBQ joints in the dust. Freshly handmade sausage, moist, meaty brisket, and tender beef ribs make this spot a wait-in-line destination. Read more.
Little screams South Austin as loudly and proudly as Maria's. Expect simple, fast fare like the hangover-curing gorditas, a brunch build-your-own Bloody Mary bar, and lots of folks keepin' it weird.
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.
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.
Lucky Puccia's (pronounced poo-chah) cranks out some of the city's heartiest sandwiches. Try the Puccia Contadina with turkey, provolone, arugula, tomato, and olive tapenade. Feeling lucky, indeed.
Late night crowds looking for something to soak up the party flock to these fluffy flat bread wraps, packed with tender, succulent meat or falafel and abundant tangy cucumber tzatziki sauce.
The first Mex-Korean truck in the ATX still makes the best bulgogi tacos and kimchi fries in the city. And if you get the burger, by all means get the optional fried egg.
With food so local it could run for City Council and an upscale vibe, Trace throws back to an era when the hotel restaurant was a destination spot. The perfect pre-show to a night at Moody Theater. 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.
A Mediterranean tree-house atmosphere, bold flavors, and iconoclastic taste combinations make for a cosmopolitan take on traditional bar fare. The pizza bianco is inspired. Read more.
Four words: Perry's Famous Pork Chop. But "famous" is too vapid a term. Legendary. Mythical. Magnificent. Glorious. Stunning. Dazzling. Don't miss it.
It's worth navigating the Sixth St. circus for this divine bistro. Best as a late-night haven or at happy hour, when the half-price bar menu gets you steak frites & a killer martini for under $20. Read more.
A smart wine list and seasonal menu provide big-city sophistication here. Cheese and cured meat plates are available during brunch if you’re bored with Eggs Benedict. Read more.
Manuel's excellent presentation of regional Mexican cuisine has made it a Downtown mainstay for more than 25 years. The menu offers a nice mix of new ideas and tried-and-true. Read more.
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.
This tiny bistro delights with well-executed Italian classics and quaint elegance. Can sometimes be too loud for dinner conversation, but that just adds to the NYC neighborhood trattoria feel. Read more.
Perennial fave La Condesa reflects the culinary trends of Mexico City's hip neighborhood Colonia Condesa. Feeling adventurous? Try the chapulines – a Oaxacan specialty of tiny fried grasshoppers. Read more.
What's not to love about this quirky sausage emporium? Aside from off-the-wall gourmet hot dogs (including vegan), Frank serves incredible coffee, well-made cocktails, and outstanding fried chicken. Read more.
Time to carb up, y’all: The street-level bakeshop serves up top-of-the-line breads and pastries; mosey on to the downstairs beer garden and you’ll find mouth-watering cured meats and excellent brews. Read more.
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.
This cozy spot shares space with a 2,700-pound Neapolitan brick oven firing rustic, insanely good pizza. For antipasti, we flip for the roasted Brussels sprouts with pancetta and Pecorino Romano. Read more.
The Singh boys have built a loyal following with their contemporized Indian fare. The space is old, stone, and gorgeous, the crowd is watchworthy, and the food delish. Like a kick? Ask for desi-hot.
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.
A laid-back place to watch the game while enjoying cold beer and good Louisiana-style food – especially the seasonal crawfish boils. On a sunny day, the patio overlooking the creek is hard to beat.
An early component of the East 11th Street renaissance, this is a restful, reliable spot for French-inspired snacks and light meals. The luscious, open-faced tartines are highly recommended. Read more.
Think Parisian bistro, burlesque cabaret, and steampunk film set, with upscale food and bar menus based on seasonal, local ingredients. Execution can be spotty, but the ambience is always spot-on.
You'd better circle the wagons early if you want to snag some of Franklin's world-famous brisket. It has a smoky and spicy bark, a deep smoke ring, and is exceedingly moist and tender. Perfection. Read more.
The atmosphere – we're tempted to say "art direction" – is superb, and the food's splendid, too. Meats and produce genuinely are farm fresh, often picked in the morning at neighboring urban farms. Read more.
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.
Superior micheladas, legit Interior Mexican cuisine, a beautiful patio, some of the best carnitas in the city, and killer mezcal and sotol cocktails. Viva Mexico! Read more.
On site at the Shangri-La, this trailer is an Asian fusion treasure. The gourmet yet budget-friendly menu includes a green apple and kimchee grilled cheese sandwich. Good vegetarian and vegan options.
This vintage 1960 Comet trailer serves all kinds of meat, from duck sausage to smoked brisket, and they’re all flat-out delicious. Micklethwait Craft Meats belongs up with the elite of Austin BBQ. Read more.
Chef Ray Tatum's porkalicious sliders and crackling meatloaf are sublime, as is his Asian fried chicken. Get a pairing suggestion from neighboring East End Wines and enjoy dining on the lovely patio.
For a restaurant this good, Cafe Josie is still surprisingly under-the-radar. The cafe uses local, sustainable ingredients to create dishes that are colorful, inventive, and consistently exceptional. Read more.
A luxurious menu is matched by an adventurous wine list and an intimate, bistro feel. Don’t skip the house-baked bread: It’s stunningly good, especially when dipped in the Mussels & Clams wine broth. Read more.
This tiny spot offers excellent crab cakes, quail, and hanger steak alongside more typical diner fare. The Counter Benedict with pastrami and grilled pimento cheese sandwiches are standouts. Read more.
Since 2001, Wink has offered casual fine dining in the small salon and adjacent wine bar. As one of Austin's first restaurants to emphasize local sourcing, the eclectic menu changes nightly.
