Introduction
I love Austin. It’s my hometown, and it has a lot of things to offer: great music, a cool arts scene, and some of the best barbecue in America. So it should come as no surprise that Austin is also a great food town. Here are my top picks for places to eat in Austin—and when you’re ready for dessert (or even breakfast), I’ve got some of the best coffee shops around too!
Uchi
If you want to enjoy some of the best Japanese food Austin has to offer, Uchi is the place to go. The menu is small and focused, with a selection that includes sushi, small plates and desserts (some being unique creations by executive chef Tyson Cole). It’s a great choice for dates or family dinners–and while it’s not cheap, it’s not as expensive as some other restaurants in town (so long as you avoid ordering anything that requires too much effort on your part).
The funky decor complements the modern cuisine perfectly–it feels like eating inside an art museum! There are two locations: one on South Lamar and another in North Austin near Domain Park; both are equally delicious but have slightly different vibes depending on where you’re looking for more nightlife action versus quiet relaxation time together with friends or loved ones.
South Congress Cafe
I love South Congress Cafe. It’s a great place to grab lunch or dinner, and it’s right in the middle of Austin’s famous South Congress strip. The food is delicious, the atmosphere is always lively, and they even have live music on some nights! I go there with friends all the time because it’s such an easy place to relax and unwind after work or class (or whatever else you do).
Home Slice Pizza
Home Slice Pizza is a popular pizza joint in Austin that has been around since 1994. They have great pizza and other food, as well as an excellent atmosphere. The prices are also affordable, making it a great place to go if you’re looking for some good food at a reasonable price.
The staff at Home Slice make sure that all of their customers feel welcome and comfortable when they come in for dinner or lunch! I’ve eaten here many times over the years and always enjoy myself immensely because of how friendly everyone is!
Salt Lick BBQ
Salt Lick BBQ
This is the most famous barbecue joint in Austin, and it’s not hard to see why. The location is right off of Highway 35, so it’s easy to get to from anywhere in town. The prices are reasonable–you can get an entire meal for less than $20 per person–and all of the meats are delicious. My personal favorites include their ribs and sausage (but don’t miss out on their brisket!). If you go during the lunch hour, expect a short wait time; otherwise expect longer lines as this place gets pretty busy!
The best part about Salt Lick? They’re open until 2 am on Friday and Saturday nights–perfect for late-night cravings!
Easy Tiger
Easy Tiger is a great place to get beer and food. It’s not just the beer that makes Easy Tiger so good; it’s also their food. I love getting a beer and a snack at Easy Tiger, because they have delicious snacks, like pretzels with mustard or cheese curds with chives (both of which are pictured here).
If you want something more substantial than just noshables, then check out one of their sandwiches or pizzas! My favorite sandwich at Easy Tiger is called “The Pecan Chicken”, which includes pecan-crusted chicken breast topped with arugula pesto sauce on ciabatta bread ($12). You can also get this same sandwich with turkey if you prefer!
Kerlin BBQ
Kerlin BBQ is the place to go for BBQ in Austin. It’s located in South Austin, and has great brisket, sausage and sides.
The atmosphere is casual; they have an outdoor patio where you can enjoy your meal with friends or family members.
Hao Hao Noodle Shop (formerly Hu’s Szechuan)
Hao Hao Noodle Shop (formerly Hu’s Szechuan)
Address: 7101 Highway 71, Austin, TX 78750
Hours: 11:00am – 9:00pm (Sun-Thurs), 11:00am – 10:00pm (Fri-Sat)
Phone: 512-835-2468
Menu items are priced from $5-$20 and include dishes like spicy cumin lamb noodles ($13), ma po tofu ($11), and dan dan noodles ($9). You can also get an order of pan fried pork buns for $6 or a variety of dumplings including shrimp har gow ($7) and chicken shu mai ($7). I’ve been going here since 2012 because it’s just so good!
Austin is a great food town.
Austin is a great food town. There are so many good restaurants, it’s hard to choose where to go. This can be overwhelming, especially if you’re new in town and don’t know where all the best places are yet. I’ve lived here for 10 years now and am still finding new places all the time!
Here is my list of favorite Austin restaurants:
Conclusion
Austin is a great food town and there’s no shortage of places to eat. These are just some of my favorites!