Food & Wine Best New Chef 2011 winner Bryce Gilmore's South Lamar restaurant lives up to the hype. Go with a group and order everything on the seasonal small plates menu. [Eater 38 Member]
They produce what has quickly become one of Austin's, if not Texas', most talked-about barbecue. It's so good they regularly run out of meat shortly after opening: get there early. [Eater 38 Member]
Colorful and small, Nubian Queen Lola boasts great soul food with a conscience; owner Lola Stephens volunteers her time and cooking abilities to the homeless on a regular basis. [Eater 38 Member] Read more.
Great, reliable, locally sourced food mid-century building; Jack Allen's has the makings of an Austin classic. [Eater 38 Member] Read more.
Attention to detail wins the Noble Pig a spot on our list; the fact that they have the best sandwiches in Northwest Austin doesn't hurt, either. [Eater 38 Member] Read more.
Makes an art of bar food. See: the spicy fried pickles, the Bar Congress that you can add foie gras, an egg, avocado, pork belly, double meat & double cheese, should you so choose. [Eater 38 Member] Read more.
Chef Rene Ortiz's take on modern Mexican cuisine. Not to miss: the riffs on guacamole, the wild tacos, the cocktails, and pastry chef Laura Sawicki's ice creams. [Eater 38 Member]
Chef Ned Elliott's inventive seasonal cuisine and wife Jodi's stellar desserts make this neighborhood spot a winner. Also a great for brunch. [Eater 38 Member]
Hands down the best place for sandwiches in town. With a huge menu full of difficult decisions, order the Ainsworth and let the cooks make the hard choices for you. [Eater 38 Member]
With Paul Qui's recent Top Chef win and rise to celebrity stardom, we can no longer keep Uchiko's Japanese farmhouse fare to ourselves. [Eater 38 Member]
Contigo's beer garden, craft cocktails and locally sourced, inventive food from Chef Andrew Wiseheart embody everything that's key to a great Austin restaurant right this second. [Eater 38 Member]
This tiny South Austin restaurant features global dishes from Texas-sourced ingredients. Make reservations early--there are only about thirty seats available. [Eater 38 Member]
This strip mall noodle shop sees patrons line up before the doors even open, in weather more suited to sno-cones than soup, for a taste of their small but expertly executed menu. [Eater 38 Member]
Beloved by denizens of the 78704 and beyond, Bouldin Creek offers a diverse menu of vegetarian fare, locally roasted coffee and a taste of old-school Austin.
The intimate space, expert sourcing, perfectly executed dishes, and serious wine list make for an ideal special night out. [Eater 38 Member]
Easy Tiger has the winning Austin formula: in-house bread and pastries, craft beer, ping pong, and a friendly neighborhood atmosphere, in the most improbable of places: Dirty Sixth. [Eater 38 Member]
Some of the best tacos in Austin are served by two trucks with national acclaim. Their aguas frescas are not to be missed, and they serve up the best migas taco in Austin. [Eater 38 Member]
Go for the Szechuan specialities. Red oil wontons, ma po tofu, and sliced fish with fiery sauce are all standouts. There's a great deal of pork intestine on this menu, too. [Eater 38 Member]
This outpost of the Houston mini-chain is Austin's best bet for pho. [Eater 38 Member]
Even the most dedicated barbecue fans want to sit down and enjoy high-quality smokey meats without a wait. Inside. For dinner. Stiles Switch has it covered. [Eater 38 Member]
Hidden away next to I-35, Amaya's is one of North Austin's best bets for tacos and Tex Mex. Their far south location is coming to Southpark Meadows this spring. [Eater 38 Member]
Serves up high-quality comfort food, and is one of Austin's best destinations for both weekend brunch and late-night eats. Get the chicken and waffles and the sweet potato hash. [Eater 38 Member]
One of the best bets for breakfast and lunch on East 6th, the restaurant also regularly hosts innovative pop-up dinners. [Eater 38 Member]
John Lewis continues to turn out some of the best barbecue in the city. Their beef ribs are especially fine and massive. Wash down some sausage with live music on the weekends. [Eater 38 Member]
This is Larry McGuire at his best: high-quality ingredients, buzzy atmosphere, and great execution every time. Oysters are their specialty, but the burger is worth checking out, too. [Eater 38 Member]
From the cured meats to the grits reminiscent of risotto, the attention to detail elevates their offerings. Carefully curated wine at grocery prices makes for an affordable night. [Eater 38 Member]
High quality ingredients and innovative combinations make for some of the best new-school tacos in town. This beloved taco mini-chain has two new locations coming in early 2014. [Eater 38 Member]
This lovely restaurant has been serving up French-inspired fare and tasty salads well before the strip started booming. Their huge, shaded patio out back is one of Austin's best. [Eater 38 Member]
The inventive and playful Swift's Attic has been making waves in Austin's dining scene. From squid "fries" to to foie "PB&J," their focus is on the dining mash-up. [Eater 38 Member]
Bufalina raised the bar on Austin's pizza scene. Perfectly executed Neapolitan has won the hearts and minds of diners around town. Their salads are expertly sourced as well. [Eater 38 Member]
Qui captures so much of what is driving the Austin restaurant scene forward. Qui's mixture of fine dining, molecular, and Filipino influences makes for a unique dining experience. [Eater 38 Member]
Salt & Time offers a mean brunch and lots of meaty sandwiches for lunch. Their dinner service is one of Austin's best deals for high-quality charcuterie and steak. [Eater 38 Member]
One of Austin's most underrated Tex Mex restaurants, El Meson is an especially good bet for breakfast. Check out their Burleston Road location, too. [Eater 38 Member]
Beloved by denizens of the 78704 and beyond, Bouldin Creek offers a diverse menu of vegetarian fare, locally roasted coffee and a taste of old-school Austin. [Eater 38 Member]
Go for the extremely delicious Tex Mex, stay for the avocado margaritas. They go with everything, including brunch. [Eater 38 Member] Read more.
The curries are hot and flavorful, and the vegetable dishes are especially good. The dining room does get buzzy and loud during dinner; quieter diners should check out lunch. [Eater 38 Member] Read more.
Elizabeth Street marries stylish and colorful design with a fusiony take on Vietnamese and French cuisine. The house banh mi, macarons, and playful punches are highlights. [Eater 38 Member] Read more.
Their buzzy, magical atmosphere and reasonably-priced wine list means this tucked-away gem is perfect for a long, lingering meal. [Eater 38 Member] Read more.
Expectations were sky-high for Bryce Gilmore's second restaurant, and Odd Duck has surpassed them from the magnificent large format dishes to the playful brunch pastries. [Eater 38 Member] Read more.
