14 Best Restaurants in Austin, Texas

This beloved villa-style North Loop spot combines sophisticated ambience with a solid menu of authentic Mexican classics. Start with the ceviche Veracruzano (with chiles, onion, tomato, and spices), and continue with a multilayered dish like the ancho relleno San Miguel—a roasted pepper stuffed with chicken, capers, raisins, and cilantro cream—or try the pollo pibil, chicken baked in a banana leaf. Yes, it’s pricier than other Mexican hot spots, but the lovely, romantic atmosphere makes up for it.

The not-so-secret weapon of this classic east Austin breakfast spot is its owner and namesake, local legend Juan Meza, who has run his modest eatery since 1981 and still greets every diner with a bone-crushing handshake and a smile. Juan's strong community spirit is infectious, but the simple, filling, and reliably good fare will start your day off right on its own. The Don Juan taco (a massive mound of eggs, potato, bacon, and cheese) is the true east Austin breakfast of champions; the migas and huevos rancheros are also above average. A variety of inexpensive Tex-Mex and Mexican specialties is served at lunch.

Veracruz wears a taco tiara in the Austin food scene and for good reason. Their migas taco lives up to the local lore, and this always-hopping original location has a convivial patio seating area for enjoying tasty quesadillas, barbacoa, vegetarian and fish tacos on homemade tortillas, and fresh aguas frescas alfresco.

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 interior of this family-owned east-side bakery and restaurant might be shabby, with worn linoleum floors and various Texas-themed memorabilia and fading newspaper articles hanging on the walls, but the hole-in-the-wall's classic Mexican fare still attracts a loyal breakfast, lunch, and dinner crowd seven days a week. They are drawn by straightforward trademarks like their famed huevos rancheros, which aren’t accompanied by the typical Austin price tag. Diners are offered the choice of flour or corn tortillas or a side of homemade biscuits that can be dressed with drawn butter or honey, both found in squeeze bottles on the tables.

Diners arrive in droves to this sleek, contemporary Mexican restaurant from acclaimed chef Philip Speer for the bone marrow tacos with pecan gremolata. Servers will encourage you to mix and match vibrant, inventive plates for the table. Happy hour is a fabulous time to enjoy house margaritas and discounted tacos and tostadas.

A popular anchor at the east side's Arbor Food Park, this cheery yellow truck has become Austin's go-to for Mexico City–style street tacos. A helpful diagram at the walk-up window showing the actual size of the pequeño tacos (100% nixtamal) is as straightforward as the service and menu here. It's hard to go wrong choosing from the modest selection, but the suadero (flank steak) and cachete (beef cheeks) tacos are excellent. Weekly specials also pop up, and everything can be enjoyed alfresco at the park's picnic tables.

If you're looking for high-quality authentic Mexican food, head to Curra's. Their house-made cochinita pibil is moist and tender and the enchiladas are a cut above most local establishments. Try the enchiladas con chile Colorado, filled with melted Monterey Jack cheese and braised pork-tip, marinated in guajillo and chipotle sauces. Portions are hearty, and the house avocado margarita has a devoted fan base. There's another lively location in the Hyde Park neighborhood just north of downtown.

It’s hard to think a drive-through could have such high-quality fare, but Fresa’s has built a name for its charcoal-grilled chicken al carbon, which is slow-roasted over post oak and served with homemade tortillas and sides like Mexican street corn and crispy brussels sprouts out of this trendy Clarksville take on fast food. Breakfast tacos, aguas frescas, and Stumptown coffee service the early morning crowd, but the family-style lunch and dinner menu is the real signature, with whole- or half-chicken orders (choose from achiote and citrus or Yucatán spice), accompanied by house-made salsas, corn tortillas, charro beans, and rice. Fresh salads, queso, and guacamole, plus a selection of beer, wine, and margarita kits are available for drive-through or walk-up orders.

After an award-winning debut in 2013, this sophisticated spot for modern Mexican cuisine has remained a staple of downtown's Second Street District. Diners can expect reliable mainstays, such as crispy carnitas tacos, carne asada with mole, and cochinita pibil, a traditional Yucatec Mayan slow-roasted pork dish. The popular weekend brunch service doesn’t disappoint.

This south Austin landmark has been slinging classic Tex-Mex cuisine since 1952, and while Austin foodie trends tend to overlook this family favorite, you'll hear few complaints from its steady crowd of happy diners. Combination dinners are many and varied, with all the usual standbys: tamales, crispy tacos, and more. Diehards swear by the chiles rellenos, enchiladas, and Bob Armstrong dip (queso with taco meat, guacamole, and sour cream). House margaritas, like the prickly pear, are pleasant palate cleansers. The expansive dining room can get noisy at peak hours, but the large outdoor patio is lovely in good weather.

Not every taqueria has a James Beard pedigree, but this eastside hot spot created by award-winning chef and owner Edgar Rico delivers a distinctly different experience for discerning foodies. Sure, there’s no-frills counter service and traditional street tacos, but there’s also a succulent duck confit on the menu as well as homemade masa and heirloom corn tortillas, not to mention a stellar wine list. No reservations accepted, except for the masa omakase service, featuring a set multi-course menu of chef specialties, offered every Thursday through Saturday.

Situated between some of the city’s best music venues, this lively joint has reasonably priced Tex-Mex standards you can enjoy on the oak tree-shaded patio. Or just indulge in the drink menu full of house margaritas, specialty cocktails, and premium tequila flights.

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.