Best Restaurants in Austin: A Foodie’s Guide to the City’s Greatest Hits

When it comes to the best restaurants in Austin Texas, the hype is completely deserved. This city is basically a foodie playground with smoky barbecue that perfumes the air, tacos you’ll dream about for weeks, and brunches that feel like a full-blown social event.

The best restaurants in Austin are just as quirky and cool as the city itself, from food trucks tucked behind bars to sleek dining rooms serving plates you’ll want to photograph before you touch.

Whether you’re chasing brisket that melts on the spot, plant-based tacos that surprise even the most dedicated meat lovers, or cocktails mixed with a little Texas flair, Austin delivers.

The only real challenge is deciding where to start. Pack your appetite and maybe some elastic-waist pants, because Austin’s food scene does not believe in moderation.

Best Restaurants in Austin Texas for Legendary Barbecue

If you came to Texas without eating barbecue, did you even really visit? The best restaurants in Austin Texas have turned brisket, ribs, and smoked sausage into a full-blown art form.

From lines that wrap around the block at Franklin Barbecue to hidden gems where pitmasters guard their secrets like family heirlooms, this is where meat meets magic. Bring your appetite and maybe a wet wipe or two, because Austin barbecue does not play around.

Franklin Barbecue

Franklin Barbecue is the crown jewel of Austin’s smoked brisket scene, and the lines outside prove it. People line up for hours, and even celebrities have been spotted waiting their turn for that perfectly tender, smoky beef. Totally worth the hype if you plan ahead and come hungry.

Interstellar BBQ

Interstellar BBQ is a newer favorite that has quickly climbed the ranks with locals and critics alike. Known for its creative twists on traditional barbecue, this spot nods to Hill Country roots while pushing the flavor forward. It’s proof that Austin’s barbecue scene keeps evolving without losing its Texas soul.

La Barbecue

La Barbecue serves classic Texas barbecue with no shortcuts and plenty of flavor. The brisket is melt-in-your-mouth, and the sausage links have just the right snap. It’s a go-to for anyone craving that traditional, down-home barbecue experience in Austin.

Best Restaurants in Austin for Modern American Flavors

The best restaurants in Austin know how to take comfort food and give it a glow-up, especially in East Austin, where creative kitchens keep the scene fresh. Think farm-to-table menus that make veggies feel sexy, small plates that pack more personality than your group chat, and chefs who are basically flavor DJs remixing American classics.

This is where you trade greasy barbecue fingers for craft cocktails, shareable plates, and bites that make you say, “Wait, how is this even food?”

Birdie’s

Birdie’s is the kind of restaurant that makes food critics and regulars equally obsessed. It landed on Bon Appétit’s and Esquire’s “best new” lists, then Food & Wine went all in and crowned it Restaurant of the Year in 2023. The energy is casual counter service, but the dishes are thoughtful, refined, and full of flavor surprises.

Emmer & Rye

If Austin had a dinner party playlist, Emmer & Rye would be at the top. The kitchen goes all in on seasonal ingredients, serving up shareable plates that feel both inventive and comforting. Pair it with one of their craft cocktails or a funky natural wine, and you’ve got a meal that’s equal parts creative and craveable.

Odd Duck

Odd Duck is basically Austin’s culinary elder millennial—established, a little experimental, and still cooler than you. The restaurant made its name by reimagining New American cuisine with a Texas spin, spotlighting local farms and bold flavors.

Every plate feels like a love letter to the city, which explains why it’s still winning awards years later.

South Austin Spots Serving Mexican and Latin American Favorites

When it comes to bold flavors, South Austin knows how to deliver. This part of the city is packed with Mexican and Latin American restaurants that turn every meal into a fiesta.

From sizzling fajitas and street-style tacos to ceviche that tastes like a beach vacation, these spots prove that Austin’s food scene is as spicy and soulful as it gets.

Suerte

Suerte is a South Austin favorite where masa takes center stage, showing up in everything from handmade tortillas to rich, layered dishes. The menu blends traditional Mexican flavors with modern creativity, making each plate feel special but never fussy. It’s the kind of spot where every bite tastes like a reason to come back.

Fonda San Miguel

Fonda San Miguel has been an Austin icon for decades, known for its authentic interior Mexican cuisine. Dishes like cochinita pibil and mole showcase flavors that are bold, complex, and true to tradition. The vibrant hacienda-style setting makes the experience feel as memorable as the food itself.

Upscale Dining and Global Flavors in Austin

Austin might be famous for tacos and barbecue, but its upscale dining scene deserves just as much hype. From chef-driven tasting menus to global cuisines that take your taste buds on a trip, this city knows how to turn dinner into an experience.

Whether you are craving sushi that rivals Tokyo or a multi-course meal made for celebrations, Austin has plenty of options when you are ready to trade food trucks for fine dining.

Hestia

Hestia proves fire makes everything better, and here it’s the star of the show. Nearly every dish gets a smoky kiss from the live hearth, from charred veggies to juicy steaks. The vibe is modern and moody, perfect for when you want dinner to feel like main-character energy.

Red Ash

Red Ash is downtown Austin’s Italian crush, serving wood-fired pasta, seafood, and steaks that arrive with just the right amount of drama. The dining room hums with energy, and the plates are generous enough to share but so good you probably won’t. It’s the kind of place where “just one more glass” of wine is basically mandatory.

Uchi

Uchi is Austin’s sushi mic drop. Every plate balances pristine fish with inventive twists that make you wonder how you ever settled for grocery store rolls. Locals love bringing out-of-towners here because nothing says “welcome to Austin” like a perfect bite of toro.

Jeffrey’s

Jeffrey’s has been setting the fine-dining standard since the 70s, and somehow it keeps getting cooler with age. Prime steaks, buttery French classics, and martinis that belong on Instagram are all part of the deal. This is the spot you book when you want to look at your table and think, “Yeah, we nailed it.”

Canje

Canje is pure joy on a plate, with Caribbean flavors that hit you with spice, heat, and sunshine all at once. The jerk chicken and plantains are crowd-pleasers, but it’s the high-energy vibe that keeps the party going. Dinner here doesn’t feel like going out; it feels like a celebration you lucked into.

Ready to Taste the Best Restaurants in Austin Texas?

Exploring the best restaurants in Austin Texas is like taking a tour of the city’s personality, one plate at a time. From smoky barbecue joints to chic modern kitchens, the best restaurants in Austin make every meal memorable.

Don’t forget to explore our Austin attractions, hotels, and packages to round out your visit, and dive into the full Austin Travel Guide for insider tips that make your trip as seamless as it is delicious!

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