RESTAURANTS
If Austin is known for two things, it’s live music and incredible food. ATX has it all, from BBQ and Tex-Mex to seafood and steak, and more! Here are a few of our favorites in no particular order:
LA CONDESA
La Condesa is located in the 2nd Street district in downtown Austin, and has a reputation for being the place to go to for a modern take on Tex-Mex. As for the food, it didn’t get a James Beard nomination for Best New Restaurant for nothing! Everything is good, but we especially recommend the seafood.
QUI
Qui is the flagship restaurant of Top Chef and James Beard Award winning chef Paul Qui. This fine-dining spot was called “the most progressive … eatery in Austin” by Melody Fury of Serious Eats and “the most exciting place to eat, and drink, in Austin” by Meghan McCarron of Eater Austin.
UCHI
If you’re in the mood for Japanese food and sushi, look no farther than Uchi. The chef is Tyson Cole, who won Best Chef Southwest at the 2011 James Beard Foundation Awards! It’s one of the top restaurants in Austin, so be sure to book a reservation.
FRANKLIN BARBEQUE
In a city known for its BBQ, Franklin Barbeque is an icon. Open 11am-1pm (or whenever they run out) Tuesday-Sunday, this is the kind of grub you’ll want to write home about. Be sure to line up early, because it isn’t exactly a well-kept secret.
If you’re craving even more Texas BBQ, Lambert’s, Salt Lick, and Wild Bubba’s BBQ are all mouth-watering good.
A FEW MORE AUSTIN FAVORITES
It would be impossible to list all of Austin’s best restaurants, but here are a few more we couldn’t go without mentioning:
- Hopdoddy’s Burger Bar
- Truluck’s Seafood, Steak & Crab House
- Moonshine Grill
- Jack Allen’s Kitchen
- Frank: Hot Dogs and Cold Beer
FOOD TRUCKS
It’s hard to talk about Austin cuisine without talking about food trucks. They’re scattered across the city and include every type of food imaginable. From basics like cupcakes and pizza to more unique eats, our food trucks have it all. Here’s a list of some of the city’s favorite food trucks of 2013.