Austin, Texas is a mecca of cool vibes, cultural distinctiveness, and a food scene unmatched anywhere. Spicy Tex Mex, incredible barbeque, Mediterranean, and Eastern cuisines are showcased, as diners can eat as traditional or as boutique level one can plate up! This collection rounds up the best spots as reviewed on Yelp. The "Keep Austin Weird" quote should also be "Keep Austin Tasty" as the food matches the celebration of live music, outdoor activities and welcoming, casual lifestyle.
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Aba
If you are exploring Austin, Texas, and looking for a place to spend the night out, Aba is a great choice. They offer Mediterranean flavors perfect for when you have cravings. They are known for their wood-fired dishes, fresh seafood, and inventive cocktails to match the bold flavors of their dishes.
Review: I've heard so many good things about this place and was finally able to give it a try. First off, there is a garage where you can park and the restaurant does give you a $3 off coupon, however I recommend street parking if possible.
Came in for brunch on a Sunday and waited about 45 minutes to be seated. Once seated, our waitress recommended we order about 2-3 dishes per person, but in my opinion I would order about 1-2 because the portion sizes are pretty large.
We tried to order at least 1 item from every section on the menu.
Hummus: we got the smokey garlic which was perfectly garlicky. The hummus itself was also smooth and creamy with some crunchy chickpeas mixed in.
Spread: we ordered the Japanese sweet potato spread which was an absolute stunner. It was sweet, savory, and creamy. It also came with some poblano to provide some extra tang and heat.
Raw: got the yellowtail and it was sweet, spicy, and super refreshing. It provided contrast to the decadent hummus and spread.
Hot Mezze: we ordered the crispy potatoes and the Brussel sprouts. Both these items were yummy but nothing too special about them. The potatoes were massive but still crispy on the outside. The sprouts tasted almost like they were candied with the hot honey. It had a nice balance of sweet and spicy--I absolutely loved the crispy bits.
Brunch: We ordered several items under the brunch headline
- khachapuri: we were already pretty full by the time this came out and this was an incredibly heavy dish. This dish was also heavy with cheese (graviera) and this particular cheese tasted almost like goat cheese which I personally am not a fan of. This was the one dish we did not like.
- blackberry drop biscuit: this was very yummy and the blackberry compote was so refreshing with its tart, tangy profile. It paired extremely well with the warm biscuit and cold whipped cream. This dish does only come with one biscuit, so I recommend two of this if you really enjoy biscuits!
- short rib shakshuka: I love shakshuka and this one did not disappoint. The short rib was tender and the tomatoey base was so good with the provided bread. We were, however, very full when this came out as well so we only took a few bites.
Kebab: we got the grilled salmon kebab and this was probably my favorite item of the entire brunch. The dish itself was very refreshing (although large) and was a nice pick-me-up especially after all the heavy dishes that had come before this. The salmon was soft and tender, but also tangy and had a bright flavor profile. Highly recommend.
Overall a great experience and would love to return!
Ember Kitchen
Level up your dining experience at Ember Kitchen and discover the beauty of smoky flavors, the taste of seasonal vegetables, and the taste of wood-fired meats. Yelp reviewers recommend Ember Kitchen's tender steaks and Ember-roasted oysters, perfect with their cozy yet modern setting.
Review: I foresee and taste a Michelin Star! This place was out of this world. A must if you're in Austin!
First off reservations... at least for 2 people, there are two options. The chefs counter and dining room. Not being from Austin I really didn't know the difference although I assumed it would be close to the chef, or possibly a different menu. Needless to say, I wasn't able to find anything on yelp but booked the chef's counter and so glad I did! We had the absolutely BEST experience sitting just feet away from the kitchen watching the chef and staff run a well oiled machine. Got to speak to Chef Brice and complimented him on the dishes which were layered with flavors. He said he may add mint to the Josper Haibut, which would be a fantastic addition, so stay tuned.
We were welcomed with shots and these seasoned pork rinds that were very good, especially with a touch of lime. Our server Tina was very attentive and the way she described the menu made my mouth water.
Drink: The Amor Fuerte was first adorable with little hearts in the egg white for Valentine's Day weekend, and also tasty. It's a tart drink.
Main dish: I got the Josper Halibut, which was incredible. The flavors tied in so well together and the fish was perfectly cooked. I had no idea what a Josper oven was until I went to Ember. Let them tell you all about it and how rare they are!
The dinner was an entire experience sitting at the Chef's Counter and I highly recommend it! Side bar... they had a filet dish that also looked good, but the filet that came in that day was not up to the Chef's expectations, so it was replaced by wagu. That just shows you the level of dedication and love that this place has for cooking.
Learn more about Ember Kitchen here
QI Austin
Indulge in dim sum and Asian flavors at QI Austin and see why it received such a high rating. Their contemporary Asian-inspired dishes, like xiao long bao and sushi rolls, were plated beautifully, matching the inviting vibe of the place.
Review: We had an amazing experience here at Qi. First off, I love Dim Sum. Without having to drive to Houston, we stopped in to celebrate a birthday. I am not going to lie I usually skip anything downtown due to the stress of having to find a parking spot however they have garage parking for their patrons. Score!
We came in a Saturday for brunch. There was a 20-30minutes wait for table. It was pretty windy outside so we skipped the outdoor seating. We sat at the end of the table with another party who was already seated. We were given the menu and dim sum menu to fill out.
We ordered the crispy pork belly, bowl of rice, soup dumplings, shu mai, salt and pepper shrimp, shrimp and cilantro dumplings. Everything was good. Nothing lacked of flavor. Service was attentive.
This place is definitely a great spot to get dim sum, but just be prepared to pay downtown Austin prices. Despite the prices, where else can you get dim sum made with quality, farm to table ingredients? Definitely worth checking out.
Learn more about QI Austin here
Salty Sow
Enjoy your favorite comfort food with a gourmet twist at Salty Sow. They are a go-to spot for those who want to try inventive yet hearty dishes. Salty Sow is known for its innovativeness and for leveling up classic dishes that are spot on for both visitors and locals.
Review This one has been on my list for quite a while. I'm glad I stopped in. Great customer service, great Decker, great food. This is what you would call an easy five star review.
Food: the food was simply amazing. We got quite a few items to Tri and everything was exceptionally good. The deviled eggs were probably the best deviled eggs I've ever had in my life. The fries were crispy and very good as well. The catfish tacos taste good. The spicy chicken bites with the coleslaw was simply amazing. The fried chicken with the biscuit was phenomenal. That was one of the best biscuits I've ever had. Blown away. Last but not least of dessert. Their version of tres leches was amazing. Once again, we enjoyed every single item off the menu. We will definitely come back soon.
The customer service is top-notch. I cannot remember the lady who helped us at the front who was the host, but she was very nice and welcoming. Also, our waiter I believe his name was Sam. He was one of the most professional waiters I've ever experienced. What a great guy. He's the type of guy that you would hire for any position because you can tell he's just a good person and he has Great people skills. You can tell he's passionate about what he does. Very impressed with this young man.
The decor nice. I'll definitely bring my girlfriend back here. She would love this place.
You guys knocked it out of the park today did an exceptional job.
Learn more about the Salty Sow here
Moonshine Grill
Eyeing to try Southern classics? Moonshine Grill is the place to be! They have a menu with Southern classics and favorite comfort foods like meatloaf, fried chicken, and Moonshine Margaritas. The place has a rustic and cozy vibe, perfect for chilling and hanging out with friends.
Review: The food was incredible! I'm thankful to our server, the manager, and the hostess for their great service. The ambiance was very relaxed and laid-back, complemented by some music in the background.
While street parking is limited, they do offer valet service for $12.
We tried the Wagyu Salisbury Steak (5/5), the Brisket Burnt Ends Quesadillas (5/5), and the Peanut Butter Mousse Cake--perfect for any peanut butter fan! Also the meals come with the jalapeño cheddar cornbread (10/5)!!!
Learn more about Moonshine Grill here
Hestia
Experience the flavors of open-fire cooking at Hestia, and their exceptional dishes are bold and delicious. Their interactive dining experience made them stand out, and some of the suggested dishes are vegetable-forward plates and excellently charred steaks.
Review: It's not every day I get the chance to dine at a Michelin Star restaurant. Hestia easily delivers the goods to meet the high expectations that come with the coveted rating. The restaurant is quite beautiful though I ended up seated at the bar which was also quite nice. The bartender that served me was friendly and clearly professional. I was in between two choices and she helped me land on the Halibut. Every bite was exceptional! The textures, appearance, and flavor were quite unique in the best possible way. The roe added so much. The fish was perfectly prepared and pure joy in each bite. If I make it back I'll add the caviar next time.
Odd Duck
Elevate your dining experience with farm-to-table dining at Odd Duck, where the seasonal menu highlights the locally produced ingredients, creating innovative dishes from an ever-changing menu. They are definitely worthy of receiving compliments for their culinary excellence.
Review: I was actually really surprised by this meal and it may have been my favorite during our trip to Texas. We went with a group of 6 people, which could easily have been a mess. But in the end everything worked out well and it let us try most of the menu, which was full of interesting and creative items. Things came out in a reasonable tempo that allowed us to enjoy each dish without being overwhelmed OR wait too long.
We grabbed:
- Snapper crudo: usually not a fan of this but this sauce was delectable
- Beet & carrot salad
- Fried broccoli and chicken skin: this one we probably could skip
- Capellini: this was some people's favorite. Tons of meat, great sauce
- Thai sweet potato salad: highly recommended by someone in our party who had been here before
- Wagyu burger: solid burger, what you would expect
- Braised goat pizza: this was probably my favorite and could've definitely eaten more than a slice of this
- Cornbread: seemingly what everyone orders when they come here so we got 2. I mean it's heavy but it's cornbread. Super well done
- Lamb meatloaf: I enjoyed the seasoning of this but I do wish that the steak wasn't so square and was a bit more aesthetically pleasing
Service was quick and super friendly. We sat in the back area of the porch, which was perfect for our purposes. Would definitely come back to try new items whenever they rotate through their menu
Learn more about Odd Duck here
Red Ash
Fall in love with Italian dishes at Red Ash, where pasta and other dishes are perfectly cooked over a wood fire. Their excellent hospitality is one of the many reasons why they are one of the top choices in Austin.
Review: Absolutely phenomenal Italian food. Every dish we ordered was amazing, definitely the best Italian I've had in Austin.
Very hard to go wrong when ordering anything off the menu and service is also amazing.
Franklin Barbeque
Austin's top restaurants list won't be complete without Franklin Barbecue. They are known for their excellent barbecue, which leads to long lines of foodies who want to try their dishes, such as their legendary smoked meats and mouthwatering melts-in-your-mouth brisket.
Review: This is probably the best BBQ restaurant in the world. It's worth a try, but highly recommend to go on a weekday and arrive 1-2 hrs before they open.
Killer Dish:
- Brisket
- Pork Rib
- Espresso BBQ Sauce
Learn more about Franklin Barbecue here
Gourdough's Food Trailer
When it comes to sweets, one of the best spots is Gourdough's Food Trailer. They offer indulgent and creative flavors of different desserts that make their patrons return. One must-try sweet treat from them is the gourmet doughnuts.
Review: These are gourmet donuts for sure! The texture is unmatched, the service is fast, and outdoor seating is the cherry on top. I'd def recommend taking a friend and sharing, because no average person should be able to eat the whole thing. But if you can, hats off to you. Also don't forget to take a picture with the giant donut outside!
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