Coming to Austin for SXSW, F1, or anything else? This food guide will show you the best spots in Austin, from a local!
For those of you coming to town this weekend, I put together a little list of some favorite places. Most of these are pretty close to downtown or a short cab (or sidecar) ride away…
Quick & healthy spots for lunch or snacks:
Snap Kitchen: healthy take-away food, options for any dietary concern you might have.
Whole Foods: the flagship store… this is the disneyland of whole foods-es.
Koriente: my (secret) gem of a lunch spot, I debated whether I should even post it here.
Dinner spots:
La Condessa: modern mexican, the guacamole sampler platter is a must-have.
Lambert’s: fancy bbq, I like it because there are non-meat options as well.
Second bar & kitchen: seasonal rotating menu that I’m always inspired by.
El Naranjo: my current new favorite, authentic seasonal mexican food (ie. not tex mex).
Parkside: delicious raw bar & sharable plates. Get the fluke dish & don’t skip dessert.
Dinner spots on an expense account:
Uchi/Uchiko: I have no words. And no savings account now… but it’s worth every cent.
Congress: had an amazing meal here once, paid the equivalent of someone’s rent.
Jeffrey’s: your first born might not cover the whole tab.
Instagram worthy food spots:
Elizabeth: cutest place in town, the food is really good too.
Gourdoughs: over the top heart attack doughnuts, but beautiful typography on the truck.
Josephine House: if you’re a fan of this blog, you’ll love the marble at this charming spot.
Sway: had a picturesque moonlit dinner here the other night. Ironically, I took no pictures.
Coffee:
Jo’s on second (or south congress): best people watching.
Cafe Medici: arguably the best coffee in town.
or pick up Chameleon Cold Brew at whole foods. I live on the stuff.
Late night eats:
East Side King(s): top chef Paul Qui’s trucks. I’m personally in awe of everything he does.
Justine’s: when you fly in late and are craving french food, this is your place.
Easy Tiger: super close to the hilton, amazing bread & typography.
East Side Showroom: you’re not in texas anymore when you step into this place.
Hillside Farmacy: if east side showroom is too crowded, go here instead.
Sweet treats:
Lick: organic locavore ice cream shop. Amazing vegan coconut milk options, although I doubt the coconuts are local.
Sugar Mamas: if you follow me on instagram, you’ve seen these cupcakes many a time. (vegan & gluten free options available).
Amy’s ice cream: Austin legend. Get the Mexican vanilla.
Grab drinks:
Malverde, Peche, Hotel San Jose, Weather Up, or anything on Rainey Street.
Skip out on a session:
cool off at Barton Springs
stroll down South Congress
saturday morning farmers market (eat a Red Rabbit Doughnut & a nosh from Dai Due)
kayak or stand up paddle boarding on town lake
Need more?
Here is a previous guide I wrote about my favorite food trucks.
you forgot the best, freshest, authentic tacos…. HABANERO MEXICAN CAFE, this place has a huge following and the best, biggest, cheapest tacos in the hot and hip 78704 zip…. Try them, you won’t be disappointed
Noted! 😀
Thanks so much for the great recommendations! They really contributed to a fun (and tasty) recent vacation to Austin.
Oh my GOSH my boyfriend and I just flew into Austin yesterday and went to Koriente for lunch and it was AMAZING. All their dishes looked and sounded so good–we split the mixmix bowl and the spring rolls and everything was just so fresh and delicious. Thanks so much for the rec! (It was the perfect prelude to Gourdough’s, which we visited for the fourth time. Holy moly.)
so glad you liked it… wow gourdough’s 4 times 🙂
this didn’t make it to the list (since I was gearing it toward conference go-ers, near downtown), but go to Taco Deli for lunch before you leave. Best tacos…
Ahhhhh just looked at their menu and it looks AWESOME–so many vegetarian options!! Too bad we left yesterday afternoon 🙁 I’m making a note for the next time we go!
Thanks so much. You should do another post of your favorite Austin eats if you have more! I am loving your recs!
oh ha, well, next time 🙂
Can you recommend any good places for a 21st birthday dinner with good food and great drink specials. I can’t really find a place that has both for cheap.
I’m not really sure of places that have drink specials that aren’t happy hour specials (at specific early happy hour times). Maybe look around yelp… I’m just not sure!
Nooo you didn’t give away Koriente! It’s my favorite lunch spot, just two blocks down from my office. The food is not only healthy but delicious and the price is dirt cheap.
I know, I’m sorry! I used to work 2 blocks away also and I picked up lunch there nearly every day 🙂
Gah, a week too late! But I know I’ll be back, I’m absolutely smitten with Austin, reminds me so much of Boulder where I went to school. BTW please let me know if you are ever in LA, I’d love to take you to coffee or drinks at a favorite spot of mine!
Oh I know! I was literally writing this when I saw your instagram that you were here 🙂 I’ll let you know next time I’m in LA.
Okay…now I need to extend my trip in order to visit all of these amazing places!!
Great guide!!
Ok, we need to go to some of these places! Can’t wait to see you!
Fell in love with this city the moment I stepped on UT campus my first day of school. I absolutely love everything on your list, and there are still some places I need to try! Oh, and Uchi – pricey but definitely worth it!
I know, Uchi is my favorite restaurant of all time!
I so wish I was coming this weekend!
What a great post!
What a great list! I wish I were heading to the conference this weekend. I’ve still never been to Austin, though it’s on my destination list. Someday soon hopefully!
I’ve just (literally!) decided to go to the London Food Bloggers conference next month… any chance you could do me a guide like this for London please! 🙂
Janie x
hahaha, you’re great. I’ll send it to my friend, who’s going.
Such a great overview of Austin dining spots! I live in Dallas and I am always trying to coordinate a girls trip to Austin so I’ll be sure to use this as a guide! Thanks for posting!
I’m not going to the conference but I am DYING to get to Austin! This list is amazing. I have people ask me for Austin recs (why? I don’t know, never been) so I will point them here. Love reading your notes about the places. One day 🙂
come soon, it would be so fun!!
Your post is much cuter than mine 🙂 I like that we did not share all the same places! (I hear you on Congress… we ate there once, it was amazing, and I’ll probably never be back.)