Food Scene: Where Austinites Eat
Welcome to Austin, Texas!
The one thing, I know for sure is that you have to work hard to go hungry in this city! You are surrounded by so many good local eateries that will satisfy the different palates and accommodate your price points.
To tackle this list, I thought it was best to categorize them by areas of town. Austin has so many restaurants, you could eat out three times a day for an entire year and never eat at the same place twice. I hope that you can get out of the Convention Center and venture around the city because you will find some really good food!
Downtown Area
If you do not want to go too far from the Convention Center or your hotel, here are a few places that you can walk to:
Bangers Sausage House & Beer Garden
Café Blue - My favorite restaurant near the convention center! Classic seafood & Oyster bar - I also believe they have one of the best French onion soups in the city!
Casino El Camino - American traditional
Clay Pit - Indian
El Mercado - Mexican
Fareground At One Eleven - Austin’s first food hall with 6 different local vendors!
G’raj Mahal and Food Trailers on Rainey Street
Jim Jim’s Water Ice - Italian Water-Ice and Premium Ice Cream
La Condesa - Mexican
Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill - Innovative classic American comfort food
Sans Bar - Austin’s first alcohol-free bar
Stubb’s Bar-B-Q - The BBQ is great, but if you can attend the Gospel Brunch on Sundays at 10:30 AM or 12:30 PM, you will not be disappointed.
True Food Kitchen - Vegan; Vegetarian
East of Downtown
El Chile Café Y Cantina - Mexican
El Chilito - Mexican
Counter Culture - Vegan; Vegetarian
Blue Dahlia Bistro - European
Hillside Farmacy - American
Franklin’s BBQ - World famous! Yes, it is excellent, but super long line. Try la Barbecue instead.
Hoover’s Cooking - Southern
Salty Sow - American Gastropub
Buenos Aires Café- Este - Argentine
Tamale House East - Mexican
Juan in a Million - Mexican
Cisco’s Restaurant Bakery & Bar
North Austin
Gusto Italian Kitchen + Wine Bar
The Domain - Dining and Shopping
Top Notch - Burgers
Uchiko - Sushi
South of Downtown
Bouldin Creek Café - Vegetarian; Vegan
Casa de Luz - Vegan
Chi’lantro - Asian Fusion
Chuy’s - Mexican
Enoteca Vespaio/ Vespaio Ristorante - Italian
Habaneros - Mexican (cash only)
Magnolia Café - Traditional American
Perla’s - Seafood
Shady Grove - American
Sway - Thai
Uchi - Sushi
Wine Belly - Tapas Bar
UT Area
Cabo Bob's - Mexican
El Patio - Mexican
Hyde Park Bar & Grill - American
Kerbey Lane Café - Traditional American
Mother’s Café & Garden - Vegetarian; Vegan
Trudy’s - Mexican
West- On the River
Hula Hut - Polynesian; Mexican
Quick Tacos and Queso around Town
Quick Burgers around Town
Large Groups
If transportation is a concern for your big group, no worries. There are a few close restaurants within walking distance to the Convention Center that can accommodate large groups. I recommend:
Bangers Sausage House & Beer Garden
Final Thoughts
When I was in Los Angeles, I did a “hotdog crawl” with some family and we had a blast exploring the city. If you really want to get adventurous and explore Austin, I suggest you and your new NASPA friends try a “taco crawl” or “queso crawl.” There are so many great places to find both!
Eat, Be Merry, and Keep Austin Weird!