110 Best Restaurants in Austin, Texas

Many local barbecue snobs turn up their noses at Rudy's because it's a chain (albeit Texas-based) with hokey interiors, but plenty of Austinites count this as their "go-to" choice for a laid-back barbecue lunch. And this location near the Domain provides an ideal pit stop for hungry travelers to refuel after a day of shopping. Three kinds of brisket—regular, extra moist, and extra lean—are cooked with dry spices over oak wood (not mesquite). Sides are uniformly good, especially the creamed corn, which has a cult following. Take-out is brisk (and popular with large groups), but many diners chow down at the vinyl-covered picnic tables.

Sure, it’s become a hipster-certified option for locally sourced charcuterie, meatball subs, and an intimate (and meat-heavy) dinner service, but many Austinites still frequent Salt & Time solely for their expert butcher selections and services. Traditional salumi, tartare, and daily offal specials aren’t always for the faint of heart, but the lunch and dinner menus are extremely satisfying, with entrées like a popular “butcher’s burger” and a braciole stuffed with Parmesan, garlic, smoked tomatoes, and okra. Be sure to ask for the day’s butcher’s cut special. A weekend brunch offers hearty options like smoked-pork hash, deep-fried eggs Benedict, and pancakes with seasonal butters like smoked jalapeño and peach and chili.

This porcine-themed gastropub in the midst of Manor Road specializes in contemporary farmhouse cuisine that extends far beyond pork. Diverse options include bacon and Gruyère–roasted bone marrow, slow-cooked beef shoulder, and chicken liver mousse. Sides like crispy brussels sprout leaves with golden raisins and duck-fat fries, topped with a 110-minute egg and béarnaise sauce, are equally indulgent. The daily happy hour is one of the city’s best, with crowds filling out the patio and two indoor dining rooms for specialty cocktails and spectacular small plates, like honey-rosemary–dipped fried chicken, for around $5 each.

Sammie's specializes in classic Italian cuisine in a lively setting once home to the historic Hut's Hamburgers that shuttered in 2019. The cozy digs (restored to preserve the original art deco design) get loud during peak hours, but this homage to the great "red sauce institutions" of New York City is still a wonderful option for a modernized "Taste of Old Italy" date night. Lunch service is only offered on Fridays.

This Cajun diner attracted attention for its stylish, retro interior, complete with vintage booths and an Astroturf rear patio, before Austinites even had the chance to sample its New Orleans–style comfort food. But the mid-century motif has only bolstered the growing reputation of its all-day breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus. Brunch crowds flock here for the NOLA-style French toast, omelet specials, and Bloody Marys, while lunch and dinner menus feature staples like shrimp-and-grits, crawfish étouffée, and Creole shrimp po’boys.

With all the high-class sophistication you get from Chef/owner David Bull's Congress restaurant, his adjacent brasserie-style restaurant is his answer to presenting diners with a more relaxed style of food. Here you'll find a steady crowd of patrons in for business, pleasure, or both, feasting on a wide selection of small plates, entrees, salads, and brick oven pizzas. You'll find diverse brunch, lunch and dinner options, from blistered shishito peppers with miso aioli and a chart-topping burger to "black and bleu" pizza with pork belly confit, dates, red onion and bleu cheese. Beers are local, cocktails are hand crafted and the wine list is replete with food-friendly selections.

If any one restaurant defines the laid-back, somewhat goofy Austin aesthetic, it's probably Shady Grove. On any clear day, expect the stone patio here to be packed with folks fighting the heat with schooner-sized frozen margaritas. Visitors to Barton Springs Pool frequent this state park-inspired establishment for its casual, but funky vibe and huge servings of affordable, simple fare. Burgers and hot dogs are big movers here, as are the vegetarian "hippie sandwiches" (roasted eggplant and grilled vegetables) and impossibly large salads. Their live music series, Unplugged at the Grove, draws high-wattage talent to the outdoor stage throughout spring and summer.

The award-winning team behind local restaurants Odd Duck and Barley Swine opened their "everyday" restaurant in east Austin in 2018 to rave reviews from critics and locals alike. The bustling gathering spot consists of two buildings (the main front entry, with counter service for pastries, snacks, and drinks, plus the back bar) that are connected by an outdoor patio that serves as a beer and wine garden. The alfresco tables are popular with groups (and their four-legged friends) at any hour of the day thanks to Sour Duck's diverse morning-to-night menu offerings.

This contemporary take on Mexican fare makes for a fun dining experience right on East Sixth Street. Interiors are spacious and bright (if a bit impersonal and loud during peak hours), and the food, like goat-rib barbacoa and confit Wagyu brisket tacos, are extremely satisfying. Make plans for their popular brunch service on weekends or stop by during their daily happy hour.

A relatively recent addition to Austin’s barbecue scene, its newcomer status is bolstered by generations of pitmasters hailing from the famed BBQ epicenter of nearby Lockhart. The laid-back Barton Springs location and cafeteria-style service keep things casual, with diners picking out their sides (all the classics, from mac 'n' cheese to potato salad) before selecting their cut of meat. The brisket is impeccably juicy and tender, ribs (pork and beef) are colossal, and the jalapeño sausage is a crowd favorite. Prices are higher than the average barbecue joint, but the merit is there. Don’t expect a Franklin-type line, but they do occasionally sell out of meat, so call ahead if you’re hungry for anything in particular near closing time.

Locals take their out-of-town guests to this legendary "real Texas food" locale. The original location opened on North Lamar in 1933 as a gas station that soon evolved into a honky-tonk that drew local musicians, including a pre-fame Janis Joplin in the early '60s. Today, live music is still a huge priority, but Threadgill's is now a friendly restaurant with cleaned-up Texas charm, and the main attraction is the massive chicken-fried steak, followed by homemade cobbler and ice cream. Some other mains may fall flat, though veggie sides are satisfying. There's a breakfast buffet on Sunday from 10–1. The atmosphere is a bit hokey, but Threadgill's has earned it.

Pricey-but-excellent fish, shellfish, and steak are served in handsome surroundings that suggest a businesspeople's yacht club here at Truluck's, part of an upscale chain with restaurants in Texas and Florida. Every Monday is all-you-can-eat crab claw night, but you can get Truluck’s signature stone crab any day of the week at the downtown and northwest locations. Alaskan king crab is also expertly rendered, if expensive. Don't miss the jumbo lump crab cake and the hot-and-crunchy trout over citrus aioli sauce with a mango-jalapeño marmalade. The second-story dining area has floor-to-ceiling views of the surrounding Warehouse District and skyline.

Respectful of traditional sushi and sashimi methods—but not limited by them—this standout sushi bar (and consistently ranked top restaurant in Austin) starts with super-fresh ingredients. After that, anything goes, including touches of the South or south-of-the-border: yellowtail with ponzu sauce and sliced chilies, tempura-style fried green tomatoes, or seared monkfish cheeks with Vietnamese caramel, Belgian endive, roasted red grapes, and cilantro. You can make a tapas-style meal from the cold and hot "tastings" menu. Make reservations ahead of time for their daily happy hour (4–6 pm).

This spot might have started out as the "little brother” of chef Tyson Cole’s now famed Uchi restaurant, but the contemporary Japanese fusion eatery has become a standard in its own right. The shareable small plates make for a delightfully playful experience, especially when left up to the expert with the daily omakase (“I trust the chef") menu.

This buzzing Italian bistro consistently attracts hordes of South Congress Avenue’s heavy foot traffic, with patrons crowding the narrow, warmly lit bar while waiting for a table in the small, tawny-hued dining room. Noshing on the gratis white-bean puree with basil-infused olive oil makes perusing the menu of delicate handmade pastas, thin wood-fired pizzas, and robust northern Italian–inspired entrées an even greater treat. Chef specials change daily, including soul-warming risottos of the day—perhaps one with braised veal and black truffle oil. Smoky, prosciutto-wrapped prawns never disappoint, nor does the savory veal scalloppine wrapped with sage, prosciutto, and wilted spinach.

Known for its authentic trattoria feel, complete with an aromatic waft of homemade Italian classics upon entering, this is a great dinner destination after a long day spent strolling up and down South Congress. Dive into a bowl of cacio e pepe or nibble a slice of classic margherita pizza studded with garden-fresh basil. The inviting atmosphere will make you want to splurge on an espresso martini or phenomenal homemade desserts, from tiramisu to lemon panna cotta.

This South First Street spot sits alongside a gas station on an unattractive corner lot at Oltorf, but the trendy wine bar and Mediterranean-style tapas eatery boasts all the appeal of a cozy local hangout. Tapas are slightly larger (and pricier) than a traditional Spanish outpost, but the savory small plates deliver, from customary selections like cured anchovies and bravas fries (with pimento and chili peppers) to more unconventional, locally sourced dishes like short-rib bruschetta and pan-seared Gulf shrimp with smoked pork jowl and polenta. 

Tucked in a small strip mall off Lamar Boulevard, this sleek, petite restaurant is as dedicated to excellence in service and artful dishes as it is to fresh, quality ingredients from local purveyors. Put your trust in the classical trained chefs' five- and seven-course tasting menus (vegetarian options available), which change daily. Each course brings a surprising mix of flavors, from grilled antelope with sweet potatoes to seared dayboat scallops in a lemongrass-red-curry broth. The adjacent wine bar is a more casual way to experience the full menu or just small bites from the bar menu with selections from the formidable wine list.

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.

This stylish Southwestern fusion outpost is popular for its upscale yet unpretentious vibe and attractively presented Southwestern dishes at fair prices. Try the jerk-chicken Diablo pasta or Tex-Mex plates like the smoked-chicken poblano chile relleno. Portions are hearty, but the salads and small bites, like the grilled-shrimp and guacamole tostada bites, are equally enticing. Peak hours can be noisy, with a good chance of a wait before being seated. Weekend brunch has diverse options, like Barbacoa breakfast enchiladas and chorizo pork scrambles.