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Food trucks, BBQ, hip coffee houses, and craft breweries! There is no shortage of desirable restaurants in Austin.
This guide details the best eateries for all budgets and lists options by type and location so you don’t have to get hangry wondering where to eat in Austin.
We’ve also thrown in some of the most Instagrammable places for photography food fans.
You may also like our guide, free things to do in Austin.
Where to Eat Downtown Austin
While there are plenty of places to eat in Downtown Austin, sometimes we let the beer talk and forget about our stomachs. Then hanger kicks in, and if you are anything like us, start to argue.
Learn from our mistake and arm yourself with the following list of restaurants, food trucks, and takeout options.
Downtown Restaurants
1. Banger’s Sausage House & Beer Garden
German-style bar with craft beer, benches, and bangers, naturally.
The food menu includes pickles, German potato salad, pretzels, currywurst, and flavored sausages.
79, 81 & 81½ Rainey St.
2. Stella San Jac
Plush restaurant, photogenic plates, and banging cocktails, Stella San Jac (310 E 5th St) is a great option for a special occasion.
We dined here with our friend and wedding officiant, Sarah, and her partner, Chris.
This was my first time trying biscuits. Holy moly!
3. Mai Thai
Friendly Thai restaurant close to the conference center.
The menu includes Craig’s favorite, Pad Kra Prao, and mine, Massaman Curry.
We had lunch at Mai Thai (207 San Jacinto Blvd). I love Thai and highly recommend it.
4. Roppolo’s Pizza
Roppolo’s sells huge, juicy pizza slices from a window on 6th Street.
Perfect for soaking up the drink without committing to a sit-down meal.
5. Cooper’s Old Time Pitt
A visit to Cooper’s Old Time Pitt (217 Congress Av) is a noisy yet tasty experience.
Traditionally, customers claim a table, order a drink then hit the line to choose their meats.
This family-owned business serves BBQ in a huge rustic space. There’s an outside courtyard, too.
The bar in the restaurant’s center is quite difficult to get served at, so be prepared to yell!
East Side and East 6th Street Restaurants
6. Cisco’s Restaurant Bakery & Bar
With cool tiled walls, retro jukebox, friendly staff, mimosas, and Tex Mex breakfast tacos, Cisco’s (1511 E 6th St) is an Austin breakfast institution and Instagram dream.
Founded in 1950 by one of the current owner’s grandfathers, Rudy “Cisco” Cisneros, this diner was part of the East 6th landscape long before what it is known for today.
We dined on a Tex-Mex breakfast of soft tortillas with eggs. Other diners recommend the biscuits and migas.
One of the highlights related to dining in Austin is the service.
Huge water jugs and a tray of chips are planted on your table as you sit down.
Don’t expect this in Europe! You will get it at Cisco’s.
We think Cisco’s is one of the best breakfast places in Austin. Do you agree? Tell us in the comments.
I will also add Granny’s Tacos (1401 E 7th St). We’ve not tried them, but people love them.
Food Trucks near/on E 6th
Several food trucks are worth stopping at in and around E 6th, including Boteco (Brazilian).
The E 6th food truck area picture below has hammocks, making it a fun place to eat in Austin with friends or alone.
7. Hi Hat Public House
We soothed our hungover souls with soup from Hi Hat Public House (2121 E 6th St).
Nice breezy beer deck and indoor seating options.
Other liquids on offer include craft beers and half-price bottles of wine on a Wednesday.
8. Via 313
Via 313 is a super-cracked Detroit-style pizza joint located at several locations around Austin.
Pizzas are dense and cheesy and mostly come as a rectangle, unlike your standard slice in Austin!
Dough is prepared daily and local produce is sourced for these “Austin genuine Detroit Style Pizzas”.
Like many eateries in Austin, Via 313 started as a food truck and has now expanded to two restaurants.
The business was created by two brothers from Detroit who love pizza.
The Via 313 restaurant on East 6th (1802 E 6th St) has a relaxed indoor sitting area with a bar and a patio.
There are Via 313 trailers at West 6th and on Rainey.
9. Juan in a Million
Juan in a Million (2300 E Cesar Chavez St) is probably one of Austin’s most famous restaurants or diners.
TV crews from all over have been drawn to this Mexican breakfast restaurant for years, attracted by the Don Juan Taco Challenge and warm handshake at the door.
The line to get in is often as big as the portions so have patience or consider a backup plan.
Juan and Myrna Meza have fed Austin breakfast tacos, migas, and menudo since 1980.
Juan in a Million also features in our unique things to do in Austin guide.
10. Nasha
I’m unsure how we stumbled upon Nasha on East 7th (1614 E 7th St), but we fell for it so hard that we returned twice in 10 days.
A vibrant indoor restaurant with outdoor seating, Nasha serves traditional curries and an Austin/Indian fusion.
For those on a budget, check out the happy hour deals.
I highly recommend the tikka masala with paneer.
South Congress Restaurants
11. South Congress Cafe
Super popular brunch spot known for its Bloody Mary cocktails.
We opted for mimosas and biscuits instead!
Located at 1600 S Congress Ave, South Congress Cafe has retained the aesthetics of the 1940s drug store it resides in.
There is a sunny patio out back, too.
You’ll also find the famous Torchy’s Tacos on South Congress Avenue.
We tried their tacos at another location and weren’t that blown away by them.
Great date night spot.
12. Taste of Ethiopia II
Taste of Ethiopia II (3801 S Congress Ave #107) was our first experience eating Ethiopian food.
The server kindly taught us how to eat with our hands!
Taste of Ethiopia is owned by Woinee Mariam and her husband, Solomon Hailu.
13. El Borrego de Oro
Old school catina selling breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a relaxed setting.
We enjoyed a quick taco breakfast before walking down into SoCo.
3900 S Congress Ave.
14. Elizabeth Street Cafe
At 1501 S 1st Street, Elizabeth Street Cafe is a beautifully decorated restaurant serving Vietnamese food.
I went for soupy Pho noodles, and Craig had the Banh Mi.
Barton Springs/Zilker Park
15. Chuy’s
Loud and fun, Chuy’s has been serving Tex-Mex since 1982.
There are six Chuy’s locations around the city. We drunkenly dined on burritos at 1728 Barton Springs Rd.
I love this area.
Check out our guide, things to do in Austin to learn more about what Barton Springs offers.
16. The Green Mesquite
While Terry Black’s Barbecue and Cooper’s Old Time Pit ask diners to choose and collect their BBQ food, The Green Mesquite (1400 Barton Springs Rd) takes your order and serves it to your table.
Craig prefers this method of BBQ dining as he hates eating cold food.
I don’t mind either way.
Try the mac ‘n’ cheese side dish at Green Mesquite.
17. Terry Black’s BBQ
Terry Black’s BBQ (1003 Barton Springs Rd) is always busy with hungry customers.
Traditionally, customers line up, choose their meats, and take their trays to a table inside or outside on the patio.
Everyone has their preferred best BBQ joint in Austin.
I preferred the meat at Cooper, but the environment was hectic if that’s not your thing.
I enjoyed the experience at Green Mesquite, and if you love BBQ, you should head out to Lockhart.
Find out more in our road trip guide.
North Austin Restaurants
18. Snooze AM
Snooze AM (3800 N Lamar Blvd Suite 120) is another awesome brunch spot in Austin. I love the 70s vibe decor.
Fun, sustainably sourced, and ridiculously photogenic, there’s something for everyone in the brunch party on the Snooze AM menu.
I went for the oats topped with fruit. Delicious.
There are three Snooze Am locations – North Lamar, South Lamar, and East 5th.
Other Neighborhoods
19. Little Deli Pizzeria
Build your pizza at Little Deli and Pizzeria (1804 Briarcliff Blvd.)
Chirpy staff, soups, salads, subs, and tasty pizza slices.
Yes, I put pineapple on my pizza.
20. Hanks Coffee
Hanks Coffe is a light, airy coffeehouse attached to Hank’s Restaurant (5811 Berkman Dr).
Simple selection of good coffee.
It is a very pretty restaurant next door with floor-to-ceiling windows, neutral decor, and big plants.
Final Words
As you can see, you can eat any cuisine in a casual setting or for an outstanding sit-down experience.
To help navigate all of the best places to eat in Austin, we’ve created this map layered by type of restaurant or cafe.
Save for later! Pin to your Austin board
What makes it to your best restaurants in Austin bucket list?