Austin, Texas Restaurants

Austin, Texas is the home of many great restaurants from the simple street side taco stands or donut shops to internationally acclaimed restaurants. Here are a few of note. Please call or e-mail me with your favorites!!

American with Plenty of Available Veggies – I love Hoover’s – a 5th generation Texan owner! Located on 2002 Manor Rd where Cloud Juice and fresh squeezed lemonade are among the drinks. Luby’s Cafeteria is a Texas original with many vegetable, salad, main course and desert choices with has 5 Austin TX locations.

Austin TX Brunch

Snooze restaurant’s slogan is “Breakfast but different.” I love Snooze but it is popular! I have eaten at both Austin locations and one in the Houston area. I love the Shubby Boneset and Silver Ponyfoot in the landscaping. Located in the Rosedale area of Austin. Most breakfast and brunch restaurants start with the same script: eggs, batter, coffee, and a big ol’ griddle. At Snooze they have found that scripts are a lot like pancakes, they’re best when flipped.

Steiner Ranch Steakhouse is nestled across from Lake Travis high on a hilltop with amazing views of the lake as well as an amazing brunch buffet on Saturday and Sundays. This restaurant is 14,000 sq ft with three levels, four bars, and a large outdoor dining area all with breathtaking views. Come for brunch, lunch or dinner and you will not be disappointed.

 

Austin TX Mexican Food

For Mexican food, interior of Mexico style, not Tex Mex, Fonda San Miguel on North Loop. Polvo’s on S. 1st in is also a South Austin favorite as well as Azul Tequila at 4211 S. Lamar have interior food. Across from Polvo’s is La Mexicana Bakery at 1924 S. 1st. 78704 which has the best flan and Tres Leches as well as a restaurant and other Mexican pastries, Mexican bakery (panaderia) items. Matt’s El Rancho at 2613 S. Lamar has good food and a great patio for outside dining. Guero’s Taco Bar in SoCo is great. Takoba is a new Mexican restaurant in Austin’s East side at 1411 E 7th Street.

Austin, Texas Asian Restaurants

Asian: So far my favorite VietNamese restaurant is Sunflower off 183 Research at the Peyton Gin/Ohlen exit 8557 Research Ste. 146 512-339-7860. I love to get the coconut flour crepe and roll it up in lettuce leaves with fish sauce, mung bean sprouts and herbs. 

Tied for 2nd place would be Tam Deli on Lamar just north of 183 (8222 N. Lamar Ste D 33 512-834-6458) or Triumph Cafe at 3808 Spicewood Springs.  

I like Pho Van (in same center as Sunflower 8557 Research 78758 512-832-5595) for the variety of drinks and desserts.  They serve the coconut milk seaweed jelly drink that I LOVE.

Next door is Din Ho Chinese BBQ. Whole BBQ ducks and pork will be hanging to the left as you go in and aquariums to pick a seafood dish from will be in the back. For a great selection of cook your own Asian ingredients try the 55,000 square foot MT Supermarket at 10901 N. Lamar. There are lots of wonderful sushi restaurants.  In Austin’s downtown Warehouse District try Kenichi on or go to 801 S. Lamar’s Uchi for upper end experiences.

Austin TX Healthy Restaurants

For FAST but healthy food try Baby Green’s drive through on S. 1st & Oltorf.  I also love the Daily Juice by Zilker at 1625 Barton Springs. Casa de Luz at 1701 Toomey is Vegan, Organic macrobiotic. The Eastside Cafe on Manor Road just east of IH-35 is a cool old house renovated into a restaurant replete with 1/3 acre organic garden for the freshest produce for their kitchen’s menu. They also have a retail store on their 1 acre site and own HausBar Farms 2 miles away.

Austin TX Water View Restaurants on Lake Austin, Lake Travis

For a great view of the lake try The Oasis, the self-proclaimed Sunset Capital of Texas or La Iguana on 620. Sit on the deck at The Oasis as they ring the bell for the sunset. It’s an Austin ritual.

For Austin Restaurants literally ON the water try Chuy’s Hula Hut at 3825 Lake Austin, a popular Austin hang out.

Ski Shores Cafe is small, off the beaten path and right on the water at Lake Austin with outdoor seating. Located just before Emma Long Metropolitan Park to the left at 2905 Pearce Rd. 512- 346-5915. Burgers, pizza, live music since 1954.

Austin TX Cajun Food

I love the Crawfish Etouffe at the Cypress Grill at 4404 West William Cannon (512) 358-7474 or Gumbo’s is good at 710 Colorado, downtown or in Round Rock on 620 near IH 35. Gene’s Restaurant at E. 11th & Navasota (512) 477-6600.  The Alligator Grill at 3003 S. Lamar is fun. I always love a Boiling Pot! 700 E. 6th St., Austin 78701 (512) 472-0986 (corner of 6th & Sabine). Pappadeaux on IH-35 is good. I was spoiled to good Cajun eatin’ in New Orleans!

Austin TX Seafood Restaurants

McCormick and Schmick’s and Truluck’s have excellent seafood & 2 Austin locations each. Freda’s Seafood Grille in Northwest Austin near Cedar Park at 10903 Pecan Park Blvd.,Austin,TX 78750 (512) 506-8700 is owner operated (not a franchise). I also eat at Pacific Star Restaurant & Oyster Bar in Northwest Austin. Located just north of the Anderson Mill exit on the 183 Research northbound access road. Eat in or out- they have a small deck outside. There is also one in Round Rock at 79 and IH 35. We love the Surf and Turf on 1431 in The Railyard in Cedar Park as well as Freda’s Seafood Grille at 10903 Pecan Park Blvd. 512-506-8700. Freda’s has Live Music, Happy Hour and Sunday Brunch.

For Ethiopian food in Austin I like Aster’s Ethiopian Restaurant on IH-35 near UT.  They have a lunch buffet Tues.- Sun. 11-2 for $9.99  Karibu Ethiopian at 1209 E. 7th (512) 320-5454 is good. Casa Columbian is a great Columbian food restaurant on the east side at 1614 E. 7th St.  Buenos Aires at 1201 E. 6th St. (east of 35) is nicely decorated with professional waitstaff & great food. My fellow REALTOR, Janie and I had empanadas and coffee there one recent afternoon. The empanadas were excellent. For Mediterranean or Middle Eastern I like Dimassi’s Mediterranean Buffet at 12636 Research Blvd., Austin 78759 (512) 996-8900 or in South Austin at 4301 William Cannon, 78749 (512) 899-2400. Sarah’s Mediterranean Grill and Market, 5222 Burnet Rd.,Suite 500, Austin 78756. Phoenicia Bakery and Deli 2912 S. Lamar or 4701 A Burnet Rd. Tino’s Greek Cafe (512) 533-9292 at 55018 Balcones is good for quick Greek food.

Austin Texas BURGERS

I am not a huge burger fan but many people love Mighty Fine Burgers at 10515 N. MoPac, Austin, TX 78759 (512) 524-2400   HUTS near Whole Foods is famously good too at 807 W. 6th Street, Austin, TX 78703 (512) 472-0693. Huts has huge onion rings. Whataburger originated in Corpus Christi, TX and are scattered all over town.

Austin TX Trailer Restaurants

One can’t say they have experienced Austin TX without visiting the celebrated trailer restaurants on South Congress and other places. There are many Mexican trailer restaurants in various places and Hey Cupcake is one very successful trailer restaurant specializing in cupcakes that has branched out to other areas. Franklin Barbecue at 900 E. 11th, The Peached Tortilla, Sushi A Go-Go and others are top favorites. I loved to eat at the street food trailers in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico in the ’70’s and ’80’s and Austin’s are very similar.

Austin Real Estate Agent Betty Saenz who knows her way around good food and Austin Homes FOR SALE (512) 785-5050   Contact Betty Saenz REALTOR

Austin TX Italian Food

Try Siena Ristorante Toscano at 6203 N. Capital of Texas Highway for great Italian food. (512) 349-7667