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Where to Eat in Austin?

Posted on February 1st, 2008 12:04pm by Sarah Eveans
Filed under Uncategorized

My mom and I decided this morning to spend the weekend after Valentine’s Day in Austin. Mom’s never been there before (she lives in Kansas City) and I haven’t been in five years.

Dishers, I need help. Where are your favorite places to eat? We will have a car, and we like everything, except mom’s not crazy about sushi. We love dives and upscale places. Help please.

24 Comments to “Where to Eat in Austin?”

Donna @ February 1st, 2008 at 12:13 pm

Try dinner at Malaga Tapas & Wine Bar and Brunch at Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill, both downtown.
jimbo @ February 1st, 2008 at 12:14 pm

Dive: Ski Shores (www.skishores.com) - great burgers in a dive on the lake. Get the Border Burger and Fried Okra.

Hill Country Upscale: Hudson’s on the Bend (www.hudsonsonthebend.com)
Cindy @ February 1st, 2008 at 12:16 pm

Everyone who eats in Austin must go to Hula Hut at least once. The wait is always like three hours, but it is so good!
jimbo @ February 1st, 2008 at 12:31 pm

Hula Hut’s atmosphere and drinks are great, but the food is just ok. It’s a Chuy’s joint…so you can basically get the same quality food here.
SDM @ February 1st, 2008 at 12:50 pm

Get a burger at either Dirty’s or Player’s. Have dinner at the Oasis for the views. Grab some crawfish at the Boiling Pot. Breakfast tacos at Juan in a Million. Have brunch at Maudie’s (ask them what’s it’s called when its covered in queso).
kj @ February 1st, 2008 at 1:04 pm

Dive: Texas Chili Parlor. 1409 Lavaca Street. Great chili and fun dive!

Dinner: Vespaio. http://www.austinvespaio.com/vespaio/vespaio.html Really great Italian restaurant on South Congress. Everything is so fresh and tasty!
Lola @ February 1st, 2008 at 1:15 pm

Go to Magnolia’s for the gingerbread pancakes and on Congress is a Cupcake stand that is amazing.
Harry Hunsicker @ February 1st, 2008 at 2:23 pm

For breakfast or lunch, try Cisco’s at 1511 E. 6th Street, a few blocks east of I35. Great hangover food. Migas, huevos rancheros, etc.

http://austin.citysearch.com/profile/10207711/
Gloria @ February 1st, 2008 at 2:30 pm

Shady Grove for great burgers. Uchi for sushi. Threadgill’s for brunch and chicken fried steak and the best tea! Saw Rachel Ray filming in there once.
Cindy @ February 1st, 2008 at 2:36 pm

Mezzaluna and Louie’s 106 are also good bets.
Margaret @ February 1st, 2008 at 2:53 pm

I love all the little places on South Congress. It is a great neighborhood with shopping and food.

South Congress Cafe is awesome! We went after a football game and had the best meal.. (The week after Jess and Jonh Mayer were spotted there, but that is a different story.)

Of course on Congress you have Guero’s Taco Bar (quite a wait) for Mexican food and Vespaio for the best Italian!

Upscale Mexican is Fonda San Miguel and Jeffery’s is just upscale.

Geesh! I really love of the restaurants in Austin. Note to self: Must make a trip soon.

Drinks at the Stephen F. Austin hotel is always lovely too. Have fun!
RM @ February 1st, 2008 at 2:58 pm

I second Moonshine! Fonda San Miguel and Jeffery’s are also good choices..
brian @ February 1st, 2008 at 3:04 pm

dona emilia’s for the coffee crusted tenderloin, ceviche, and spicy (or pepper, or whatever they call it) margarita.
AM @ February 1st, 2008 at 3:43 pm

Torchy’s Tacos on West 6th. So good. Served in a trailer…open late.
Sarah Eveans @ February 1st, 2008 at 4:16 pm

Thank you everyone!
Matt S @ February 1st, 2008 at 5:04 pm

Don’t go to Austin without getting dinner at East Side Cafe - no real Austinite will disagree. Some good choices above but East Side is one in a million. It’s definitive Austin - great food and zero pretentiousness. This is an old article but still could have been written yesterday. The baked brie app and Pesto ravioli alone are worth the drive.
http://www.austinchronicle.com.....id%3A78101
Todd Johnson @ February 1st, 2008 at 5:27 pm

Look, I know most foodies will get all up in my grill for this, but the fried green tomatoes at Threadgill’s are awesome as is the chicken fried steak. It might not be very original but it is tasty.
lj @ February 2nd, 2008 at 3:15 am

magnolia cafe (south congress) is soooo good for breakfast or late night..hula hut. maudies.
britney @ February 2nd, 2008 at 1:37 pm

TRUDY’S!!
foodczar @ February 4th, 2008 at 10:40 am

Sarah, if you don’t mind a short drive from the city, don’t forget that Central Texas is the BBQ capital of the world. County Line, Rudy’s, and the Salt Lick are all quite good, but the best of all the Austin ‘cue scene in my opinion is Louis Mueller’s in Taylor, just a short drive east of Round Rock. Here’s the link: http://www.louiemuellerbarbecue.com. Food Czar says Check It Out!!!
RG @ February 4th, 2008 at 5:43 pm

Upscale: Ranch 616, gamey and fried food at its best.

In between: Asti, excellent italian at a great price with a beautiful modern atmosphere and excellent service

Dive: Taco Deli or Torchy’s for breakfast tacos.
South Austin pizza, for great pizza.
or my personal favorite and IMHO the most true and geniune Austin experience out there, TEXICALI GRILL on east Oltorf. Great lunch joint.
Kinsey @ February 4th, 2008 at 10:14 pm

Kerbey Lane for breakfast and Trudy’s for mexican food and margaritas!
Bobby Ewing @ February 5th, 2008 at 9:57 am

Breakfast at Kerbey Lane
Lunch at a BBQ place (too many to name)
Brunch at Fonda San Miguel
Dinner at Wink
Outside dining at Shady Grove
And the Austin Chronicle has a pretty good yearly list of Best Of: http://www.austinchronicle.com.....ustin/home
Mike @ February 8th, 2008 at 8:53 pm

Jasper’s and Rudy’s BBQ. Don’t miss the extra moist brisket. Jasper’s is beautiful and the same great food as the one in Plano