So here is the ever expanding list of restaurants that we have tried that are local to the Austin area. Click on the name of the restaurant to go to their website to find where they are located. For a comprehensive list of all of the restaurants in Austin, try this website.
And please, if you have suggestions of restaurants to try, make a comment below! We love trying new places!
| Fav | Restaurant | Cuisine | Style | Price | Rating | Must Haves |
| 219 West | Tapas | Trendy/Casual | $ | 7 | Mini Burgers | |
| * | 34th Street Cafe | American | Special Occassion | $$$ | 7 | |
| * | Alamo Drafthouse | American | Casual/Movie House | $$ | 8 | Spicy Bleu Burger with veggie patty, Latin Kisses |
| Amy’s Ice Cream | Dessert | Casual | $ | 8 | Shiner Ice Cream, Dark Chocolate Ice Cream, Milk Chocolate Shake | |
| * | Aquarelle | French | Special Occasion | $$$ | 8 | |
| * | Asti | Italian | Trendy | $$$ | 8 | |
| Austin Java | Coffee, Breakfast, Variety | Casual | $ | 8 | Goat Cheese and Spinach Quesadillas | |
| Austin Land and Cattle | Steakhouse | Casual | $$$ | 2 | ||
| * | Austin Pizza Garden | Pizza | Casual | $$ | 9 | |
| Austin Scoops | Dessert | Casual | $ | 8 | Cappuccino Gelato, | |
| Bellagio’s | Italian | Special Occasion | $$$ | 7 | ||
| * | Bess Bistro | Upscale Home Cooking Classics | Trendy | $$ | 7 | Fish and Chips, |
| Bistro 88 | International | Trendy | $$$ | 6 | ||
| Botticelli’s | Italian | Special Occasion | $$$ | 8 | ||
| Brick Oven (Original) | Pizza | Casual | $ | 9 | ||
| Chango’s | Tacos | Casual | $ | 7 | Fresh Corn Torillas | |
| Cafe Mangu | Carribean | Casual | $$ | 7 | ||
| Chez Nous | French | Special Occasion | $$$ | 2 | ||
| * | Chez Zee | Eclectic | Casual/Trendy | $$ | 7 | Gorganzola Chicken Pizza |
| Chuy’s | Mexican | Casual | $ | 8 | ||
| * | Cipollina West Austin Bistro | Local | Casual | $$ | 8 | |
| Conan’s Pizza | Pizza | Casual | $ | 3 | ||
| County Line on the Lake/o n the Hill | BBQ | Casual | $ | 7 | ||
| Cuba Libre | Bar | Trendy | $ | 6 | ||
| Dirty Martin’s | Burgers | Casual | $ | 6 | ||
| Doc’s Backyard | Eclectic | Casual | $ | 7 | Chicken Fried Avocado, Chipotle Blackened Fish and Shrimp | |
| * | Driskill Grill | Fine Dining | Special Occasion | $$$$ | 10 | Chef’s Tasting Menu |
| East Side Cafe | Local | Casual | $$ | 9 | Brunch | |
| El Arroyo | Mexican | Casual | $ | 6 | ||
| El Mercado | Mexican | Casual | $ | 6 | ||
| Enoteca | Italian | Casual | $ | 7 | Calamari Sandwich | |
| * | Fino | Small Plates, Mediterranean | Trendy | $$ | 10 | Fried Goat Cheese, Goat Cheese Cake, Fried Olives |
| Flip Happy Crepes | Crepes | Casual | $ | 8 | Crepes! | |
| Fleming’s | Steakhouse | Trendy | $$$ | 8 | Steak! | |
| * | Fonda San Miguel | Interior Mexican | Special Occasion | $$$ | 10 | Chile Relleno, Duck Enchiladas |
| * | Frank | Hot dogs | Casual | $ | 10 | |
| Frank & Angie’s Pizzeria | Pizza | Casual | $$ | 7 | ||
| Freddie’s Place | Eclectic | Casual | $ | 6 | Portabella Sandwich | |
| Galaxy Cafe | Eclectic | Casual | $ | 6 | ||
| Green Pastures | French | Special Occasion | $$$ | 8 | ||
| Highball | Diner/Bar | Trendy | $ | 8 | ||
| Hickory Street Patio Cafe & Drinkery | Burgers | Casual | $ | 6 | ||
| Homeslice Pizza | Pizza | Casual | $ | 7 | ||
| Hoover’s Cooking | Home Cooking | Casual | $ | 6 | ||
| * | How Do You Roll? | Sushi | Casual | $ | 8 | Customize your own sushi |
| * | Hyde Park Bar & Grill | American | Casual | $ | 7 | French Fries |
| * | Imperia | Chinese/Sushi | Trendy | $$$ | 8 | Happy Hour |
| Iron Cactus | Mexican | Casual | $$ | 6 | Lobster Tacos | |
| * | Jaspers’s | Upscale Backyard | Trendy | $$$ | 6 | Prosciutto Wrapped Shrimp and Grits |
| * | Jo’s | Coffee | Casual | $ | 7 | |
| Justine’s Brasserie | French | Trendy | $$$ | 5 | ||
| Kenichi | Sushi | Trendy | $$$ | 5 | ||
| * | Kenobi | Sushi | Trendy | $$$ | 8 | Kobe Beef Hibachi, Sea Bass Citrus, Lickety Split, u & i |
| * | Kerbey Lane Cafe | Breakfast | Casual | $ | 8 | Migas, Blueberry Pancakes, Tortilla Soup |
| La Condessa | Interior Mexican | Trendy | $$$ | 8 | ||
| Leaf | Salad | Casual | $ | 7 | ||
| Maiko | Sushi | Trendy | $$ | 8 | ||
| Mangieri’s Pizza | Pizza | Casual | $ | 8 | ||
| Matt’s El Rancho | Mexican | Casual | $ | 6 | Bob Armstrong Dip | |
| Mikado | Sushi | Trendy | $$ | 8 | ||
| * | Mighty Fine | Burgers | Casual | $ | 9 | Burgers, Shakes, Fries |
| Milaga | Tapas/Wine | Trendy | $$ | 6 | Cheap Wine Flights | |
| Moonshine | Bar & Grill | Casual | $$ | 7 | ||
| * | Mozart’s | Coffee | Casual | $ | 7 | |
| Natural Planet Grill | Organic | Casual | $$ | 8 | ||
| North By Northwest | Brewery & American | Casual | $$ | 8 | ||
| Nuevo Leon | Mexican | Casual | $ | 7 | Top Shelf Margaritas | |
| Olivia | Local | Trendy | $$$ | 8 | In Season Specials | |
| Opal Divine’s | Bar & Grill | Casual | $ | 5 | ||
| P Terry’s | Burgers | Casual | $ | 8 | Veggie Burger, Chicken Burger | |
| Paciugo | Gelato | Casual | $ | 8 | ||
| Polvo’s | Interior Mexican | Casual | $ | 8 | ||
| * | Parkside | Pub | Casual | $$$ | 8 | Raw Bar |
| Ranch 616 | Eclectic | Casual | $ | 7 | ||
| * | Roaring Fork | Grill | Special Occasion | $$$ | 7 | |
| * | Saba Bluewater | Tapas, Seafood | Casual | $ | 8 | Happy Hour |
| Sagra | Italian | Trendy | $$$ | 6 | ||
| * | Saltlick | BBQ | Casual | $ | 7 | |
| Sam’s Boat | American | Casual | $ | 1 | ||
| * | Satellite Bar & Bistro | American | Casual | $$ | 7 | Orchid Chicken, Crab Cakes |
| Sazon | Mexican | Casual | $ | 7 | ||
| Scooter’s | Coffee | Casual | $ | 5 | ||
| Serrano’s Cafe & Cantina | Mexican | Casual | $ | 7 | ||
| * | Shady Grove | American | Casual | $ | 7 | Hippie Sandwich |
| South Congress Cafe | American | Casual | $$ | 7 | ||
| Spicy Pickle | Deli | Casual | $ | 8 | Yard Bird | |
| * | Starlite | American Contemporary | Trendy | $$$ | 7 | Out of business  |
| Stubbs | BBQ | Casual | $ | 8 | ||
| * | Sushi Japon | Sushi | Casual | $$ | 8 | Tiffany Roll, Misha Roll, Escolar |
| * | Sushi Sake | Sushi | Casual | $$ | 7 | |
| * | Taco Deli | Tacos | Casual | $ | 9 | (Breakfast) Jess Special, Sirloin Egg & Cheese, (Lunch) Scallop Tacos, Cowboy Taco, Heather Taco |
| * | Thai Fresh | Thai | Casual | $ | 9 | Pad Sea Ew, Mango Ice Cream and Sticky Rice |
| The Grove Kitchen and Wine Bar | Wine/Pizza | Casual | $$ | 5 | ||
| The Oasis | Mexican | Casual | $$ | 2 | ||
| Thundercloud Subs | Sandwiches | Casual | $ | 5 | ||
| Tilted Kilt | Pub | Casual | $$ | 1 | Compare to an Irish Hooter’s | |
| Tomo Sushi | Sushi | Trendy | $$$ | 7 | ||
| Trudy’s | Mexican | Casual | $ | 7 | Mexican Martini | |
| * | Uchi | Sushi/Asian Fusion | Trendy | $$$$ | 9 | |
| * | Uncle Billy’s BBQ | BBQ | Casual | $ | 8 | |
| Ventanas | Culinary School | Casual | $$ | 6 | ||
| * | Vespaio | Italian | Trendy | $$$ | 8 | |
| * | Waterloo Icehouse | Burgers | Casual | $ | 6 | Chili |
| * | Woodland Restaurant | Burgers/Sandwiches | Casual | $$ | 7 | |
| Yogurt Spot | Yogurt | Casual | $ | 7 | ||
| * | Z Tejas | Southwestern | Casual/Trendy | $$ | 8 | Shrimp and Guacamole Tostadas, Seared Tuna, Blackened Catfish Tacos, Chorizo Pork Tenderloin, Crispy Salmon, Pan Fried Snapper, Chipotle Beef Tenderloin |
| * | Zax Pints & Plates | American | Casual/Trendy | $$ | 8 | Scallops |
| * | Zoot | American Contemporary | Special Occassion | $$$$ | 10 | Everything! *Chef’s Tasting Menu* |
Places still to try (make suggestions!):
Cisco’s Bakery
Crave Thai and Sushi
Jardin Corona
Mulberry Wine Bar
[...] | Tags: Austin, restaurants, visiting | So Jason and I have been compiling our list of favorite restaurants, things to do and places to go here in Austin and I finally got around to posting it! So please, go [...]
Eastside Cafe is great…and y’all would probably like Blue Star Cafeteria as well.
I’ve wondered about Sam’s Boat. Guess we’re not going there. (:
Aaah. I’m probably going to comment 50 times on this list. Crud Crud Crud.
Add Mother’s Cafe to your list…
And…Go to Magnolia sooooon! (it’s best for a late late late night meal).
Thanks Claire! I updated the ‘to try’ list.
Another addition for you is Jardin Corona in Northwest Austin, The best margaritas in town. And excellent salsa.
Thanks Chance – if we’re ever up in Cedar Park, we’ll check it out!
Hi! You totally need to try Hey Cupcake! too! Soooo good.
I hate to say it but I’ve had Hey Cupcake and it’s just not my favorite! I love their concept and I love the air stream trailer. . . I just think I’d pick Tiff’s Treats over Hey Cupcake any day!
To add something about cupcakes, the last time I was down in Austin I found a place called polkadots. It’s a bakery but they mainly do the cupcake thing and they were delicious! They have a website and everything and I am a fan of theirs on fb. I think it’s at 28th 1/2 and Rio Grande, but I am not 100% sure. But, I think you would really like it! Btw, love your blog, even though I don’t cook or sew or do crafty stuff like you do, I still think it’s really neat!
Thanks Erin! I’ll check it out!
Found a new restauraunt that you must try when you are back down south. Jack Allen’s Kitchen opened recently, and the food is wonderful! I heard the chef used to work at ZTejas. It’s located on hwy 71 right near the Y in Oak Hill, and prices are very reasonable. I’d say 10-20 for an entree. AND, if you go before 7, all appetizers are 1/2 off. Try the ravioli! and nachos!
Awesome, thanks!