14 Best Restaurants in Austin, Texas

Local critics consistently rank this Clarksville newcomer as one of the city's best restaurants, and the sprawling patio is almost always packed. It's a lovely downtown-adjacent atmosphere to enjoy upscale, indulgent takes on juicy burgers and pastrami (as a sandwich or a queso topping), and with great coffee and cocktails to boot. There are even more burgers at the Quonset hut next door, where Hold Out Brewing slings food and beer all day. Both eateries have a hot brunch ticket. 

The predominantly outdoor layout of Texas ranch–inspired Contigo consistently draws a steady evening crowd—even when summer temps are well over 100 degrees. With a chef-driven stable of cocktails and a creative Southern-comfort-meets-contemporary-American menu, it's easy to understand why: ox tongue sliders, house-made pigs in a blanket, a gooey cheddar-filled grilled cheese sandwich on brioche, and the cast-iron sautéed okra with jalapeño and walnuts are among the top menu picks. The varied list of weekend brunch offerings includes buttermilk biscuits and gravy, beef tongue hash, and pecan coffee cake.

The newest location of this beloved German-style bakery and beer garden features 15,000 square feet of outdoor space, plus a spacious interior, for beer and sausage lovers. The sprawling outdoor patio attracts lively lunch, happy hour, and late-night crowds with a full menu of artisan sandwiches, house-made sausages, and “big as your face” pretzels, as well as one of the best beer selections in the city. The wholesale bakeshop, which provides several local restaurants with specialty breads and pastries, opens bright and early every morning; don't miss the $6 “Easy Morning” deal (weekdays, 7–10 am) that includes a small coffee and any pastry.

Though its sister location in the Second Street District attracts a more chichi crowd, the original Jo's on South Congress is where you're likely to run into your neighbor, catch the latest gossip on the Austin music scene, or spot a celebrity visiting town. The morning rush hour for their delicious coffee is intense, yet somehow cool and lively; local beers and frozen rosé (frosé) are also available. There's limited seating, and it's outside-only, so come early on a Saturday and bring a good read. You may witness patrons dancing in the parking lot by afternoon. Jo's is an integral part of South by San José during SXSW—a definite must-visit, with live music in a lively outdoor setting throughout the week.

This lovely east-side spot has moved from its original trailer location into a shared space within Quickie Pickie, the quaint local neighborhood grocery and bodega, and remains another top spot for Texas barbecue. Portions of their prizewinning BBQ are Texas-size, including their popular El Sancho brisket sandwich with "Bobby Sauce." Lines are to be expected, but service is friendly and swift.

For quite possibly the best coffee in Austin, visit this little Clarksville coffee house that draws quite a crowd for quick business meetings and weekend socializing. Here, baristas pull exquisite shots for espresso drinks and even leave creative designs in latte and cappuccino foam. Don't be surprised to hear music wafting from inside during SXSW. There are also branches on Congress Avenue and Guadalupe Street along with a location in the airport.

On any given sunny day, Austinites flock to Mozart's spacious lakeside patio to enjoy great coffee and indulgent baked goods. The expansive, multitiered deck overlooking Lake Austin can get crowded with weekend patrons, and weekdays are equally popular times for locals to post up and work remotely. Live music on weekends is an added bonus, and their annual Christmas lights display is a seasonal sight to behold.

Veracruz wears a taco tiara in the Austin food scene and for good reason. The migas lives up to the local lore, and this always-hopping original location has a convivial patio where its best to enjoy tasty quesadillas, barbacoa, vegetarian and fish tacos on homemade tortillas, and fresh aguas frescas alfresco. 

What started as a streamlined coffee and craft beer purveyor with sparse hours has evolved into an all-day east Austin mainstay. The industrial garage vibe blends in well with its I–35-adjacent neighbors and attracts a hip clientele from morning to night, who flock here for cold brews and stacked breakfast sandwiches and then like to stick around for their local lineup of draft brews.

A popular anchor at the east side's Arbor Food Park, this cheery yellow truck has become Austin's go-to for Mexico City–style street tacos. A helpful diagram at the walk-up window showing the actual size of the pequeño tacos (100% nixtamal) is as straightforward as the service and menu here. It's hard to go wrong choosing from the modest selection, but the suadero (flank steak) and cachete (beef cheeks) tacos are excellent. Weekly specials also pop up, and everything can be enjoyed alfresco at the park's picnic tables.

The long lines, rain or shine, at this east-side food truck make no secret of its epic Texas barbecue. The cheesy brisket kolaches wrapped in mouthwatering sweet dough (only sold on Sunday) have been lauded by everyone, including the barbecue editor at Texas Monthly, who samples the fiercest and finest BBQ all across the state. Thankfully, the standard Texas plates heaped full of pork ribs, hot links, and prime Angus brisket, plus contemporary sides like blue-cheese coleslaw and jalapeño-dill potato salad, are also heaven-sent.

Housed in an old east Austin tire shop, this counter-service outdoor café is a favorite of families and on-the-go locals. Local hospitality juggernauts Larry McGuire and Liz Lambert kept the Aztec iconography, walk-up service, and sparse layout of the preexisting spot, and the new back patio is ideal for lazy lunches, family outings, and weekend day-drinking. The rotisserie chicken and burgers are popular, and ice-cold draft beer keeps things cool on hot summer days.

This campus-adjacent hangout has been the preeminent destination to meet with friends and fellow sports lovers, knock back brews, and eat burgers on game day since 1971. The patio can be packed to the gills on weekends or just dotted with casual groups of friends on slow weeknights, but the kitchen is always serving its pub-grub menu of sandwiches, burgers, and wings—and the flat-screen–covered walls are always flickering. 

The award-winning team behind local restaurants Odd Duck and Barley Swine opened their "everyday" restaurant in east Austin in 2018 to rave reviews from critics and locals alike. The bustling gathering spot consists of two buildings (the main front entry, with counter service for pastries, snacks, and drinks, plus the back bar) that are connected by an outdoor patio that serves as a beer and wine garden. The alfresco tables are popular with groups (and their four-legged friends) at any hour of the day thanks to Sour Duck's diverse morning-to-night menu offerings.