9 Best Restaurants in Downtown with Sixth Street and Rainey Street, Austin

A longtime favorite of local burger lovers, Casino El Camino is the best place on the notorious “Dirty Sixth" strip to chow down. Locals arrive in hungover droves for the weekend lunch rushes, when wait times for signatures like the Amarillo and Buffalo burgers can stretch upward of an hour. But this dive bar and juke joint is worth the wait as you'll find out once your thirst is quenched by their Bloody Marys, stacked with bacon, pickled okra, taquitos, even meatballs. Their hearty Angus-beef burgers deliver a classic, artery-clogging ecstasy, especially when paired with a greasy basket of verde chili fries.

This downtown food hall—open daily, 11 am to 9 pm—is a wonderfully located one-stop shop for hungry, on-the-go travelers. There are five eateries, including Four Brothers Venezuelan Kitchen and the popular Austin Rotisserie, plus two full-service bars, a self-service water bottle refill station, and plenty of seating in this accommodating (and air-conditioned) space. Outside, the thoughtfully designed Ellis Oak Deck patio hosts free live music and yoga classes most weekends, and it is an unbeatable meeting point during SXSW.

This Red River staple is known as much for its live music as its food. The casual venue, an old stone building with wooden floors and tables, suits the fare, which many local barbecue aficionados rate as average; the hickory-smoked choices—beef brisket, pork ribs, sausage, chicken, turkey breast—are very tasty, but sides, like spicy serrano creamed spinach, are crowd-pleasers. Plus, their popular line of barbecue sauces and rubs make for great souvenirs. Live music on the indoor and outdoor stages host both local bands and huge touring headlining acts throughout the year, and the Sunday gospel brunch is always packed.

Don't miss out on the state dish of Texas at this celebrated downtown dive. Just a stroll away from the Capitol, the Chili Parlor has been a favorite of legislators, lobbyists, and local hell-raisers alike for a midday meal (or late-night beer) since 1976. Get a gut-sticking bowl of bean-less chili (marked X, XX, and XXX for spice), an ice-cold Lone Star beer, or a fully loaded Bloody Mary, and soak up some Old Austin history in a classic setting.

This downtown Veracruz location, tucked on the ground floor of The LINE, services the bustling hotel crowd with early morning to late night operating hours. There is also a walk-up window, just steps off the hike-and-bike trail, that's perfect for a grab-and-go taco and coffee before you start a day of sightseeing.

The soul of Detroit is alive in Austin "via" this delicious purveyor of deep-dish pies, offering the best authentic Detroit-style pizza in the capital city. Pizza is slung for hordes of hungry late-night crowds at this popular Rainey Street location, along with its original trailer parked on East Sixth. Devotees can also find their pizzas at more suitable daytime hours at their brick-and-mortar location just north of downtown.

From its creekside perch in the shadow of the Austin Convention Center, this spot caters to name-tagged conference attendees, construction workers, and thoroughly starched-shirt office workers alike. Dependable house specialties include pepper-crusted smoked pork loin, tender brisket, and Flintstones-sized beef ribs. Wrought-iron grills, forged here when the building was an ironworks, hang from the rafters. It's a charming (albeit slightly raucous) slice of laid-back Texas fare, even if it's not the best barbecue joint within the city limits.

Lamberts draws a broad range of downtown business crowds, local foodies, and Second Street tourists for its stylish take on Texas barbecue. You know this isn't your father's barbecue joint when you hear Belle & Sebastian coming from the speakers instead of Willie or Waylon. For further evidence, there's Chimay beer on tap and an Ahi tuna ceviche on the menu. Appetizers range from crispy wild boar ribs to broiled Gulf oysters with apple-smoked bacon. The restaurant, housed in a two-story 1873 brick building, features a lovely whitewashed brick interior, leather booths, and an upstairs bar with more dining space and a stage for live music.

This locally owned fine-dining eatery is a great downtown date-night destination specializing in modern Chinese cuisine with a Texas twist. The exterior is nondescript, but the food alone makes it worth a visit. Expect local favorites like honey pecan prawns, dry-fried local green beans, and handmade steamed and fried dumplings amid the generous offerings of Sichuan-style classics. There is a fun cocktail list full of "Texas tiki" libations, and a popular dim sum service is hosted every Sunday.