14 Must-Try Foods in Austin

Savory slow-roasted meats, tofu scramblers, churros topped with toasted marshmallow—you’ll find all this and more in our list of must-try foods in Austin.
Written by Samuel Todd
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Mouth-watering brisket, golden-brown buttermilk pancakes, double chocolate ice cream cake—need we say more? For food lovers in the Lone Star State,
Austin
is a little slice of paradise.
With raucous music festivals and refined art shows, few cities in
Texas
have more personality than Austin. One area where the capital of Texas really shines, though, is in the food industry—but, with all of the amazing options, where should you even begin?
That’s where car insurance
super app
and
policy-shopping
wizard
Jerry
comes in. From world-class entrées to delicious desserts, this is our ultimate list of must-try foods in Austin.
RECOMMENDED
Compare auto insurance policies
No spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms
Find insurance savings

Austin’s must-try main courses

Brisket at Franklin Barbecue

Address: 900 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702
Price: $34 for one pound
Hours: 11am–3pm every day but Mon 
The vibe: Laid back—but expect long lines!
You can’t talk about Austin without mentioning barbecue—and, when it comes to smoked meats in the Lone Star State,
Franklin Barbecue
has the final word. According to Texas Monthly, this barbecue joint in East Austin is “serving the best barbecue in the known universe.” Looking at their scrumptious
selection of meats,
we have to agree with them!
Pro Tip Arrive at Franklin early and be prepared to wait. Their line is
so famously long
that it even has its own Twitter account! 

Sausage, Jalapeño, and Cheese Kolache at Batch Craft Beer & Kolaches

Address: 3220 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78723
Price: $4
Hours: 8am–10pm Mon–Fri, 9am–11pm Sat, 9am–9pm Sun
The vibe: Casual and cozy with occasional live music
Perfect for a
road-trip pit stop
or a takeout dinner, kolaches are a staple of Texas dining. If you want an unbeatable combination of flavors, pair the savory taste of
Batch’s
kolaches with a hot coffee or cold beer, depending on the time of day!

Bone-in Ribeye at Jeffrey’s

Address: 1204 W Lynn St, Austin, TX 78703
Price: $150 for a 26-ounce ribeye
Hours: 4:30–11pm daily
The vibe: Upscale with an active bar
Jeffrey’s
might just be the finest steakhouse in all of Austin. Though you can’t go wrong with any of its steaks, racks, or delicious specialties, we think the bone-in ribeye is an absolute must-try. Why?
For starters, it’s been dry-aged for 32 days by Austin’s legendary Lone Star Meats. Then, after roasting the meat over live oak, Jeffrey’s finishes it in a 1200-degree broiler. When all’s said and done, the restaurant’s bone-in ribeye is juicy, tender, and bursting with flavor—worth every penny of its $150 price tag.

Rainbow Salad at Baby Greens

Address: 10611 Research Blvd, Austin, TX 78759
Price: $9.99 for a full salad
Hours: 11am–7pm Mon–Fri, 11am–3pm Sat, Closed Sun
The vibe: Drive-thru window surrounded by picnic tables
Who said food had to be expensive to be tasty? Austin might be known for its grilled and smoked meats, but
Baby Greens
is here to make a point: salads and wraps can be every bit as delectable as rib racks and roasts.
Best of all, the Rainbow Salad truly lives up to its name! With mixed greens, purple cabbage, carrots, avocado tomatoes, pumpkin seeds, and feta cheese, you’ll be treated to a vibrant feast fit for vegetarians and carnivores alike.

Tagliolini with Fresh Blue Crab at Red Ash Italia

Address: Colorado Tower, 303 Colorado St #200, Austin, TX 78701
Price: $39 (entree only)
Hours: 5–10pm daily
The vibe: Rustic-modern with plenty of space to dine in
Inspired by the culinary traditions of Northern and Southern Italy,
Red Ash Italia
prides itself on its authentic cuisine, delivered straight from the wood-burning grill to your table. Close your eyes, and let the restaurant’s thin-cut pasta, lemon butter, and fresh blue crab take you straight to the streets and shores of Venice and Verona.

Venado at ATX Cocina

Address: 110 San Antonio St #170, Austin, TX 78701
Price: $52 for venison and sides
Hours: Exact hours differ, but open 5–9pm daily
The vibe: A high-end eatery with modern Mexican fare
ATX Cocina
combines all of the best things about Austin: Tex-Mex, gorgeous architecture, and classy dining. We know that ATX Cocina’s beautiful venue will speak for itself, so we’ll let the food do the same. Here are the ingredients you can expect when you order “venado” (Spanish for “venison”):
  • New Zealand cervena
  • Hibiscus butter
  • Roasted mushrooms
  • Charred snow peas
  • Candied Jamaica flower

Breakfast bites in Austin

Buttermilk Pancakes at Kerbey Lane Cafe

Address: Seven locations in Austin
Price: $8.99 for a full stack
Hours: Usually 7am–10pm daily, depending on location
The vibe: Relaxed indoor dining with tables and booths
Since the 1980s,
Kerbey Lane Cafe
has been whipping up “award-winning, big and fluffy pancakes”—and they’ve been doing it so well that they’ve expanded to seven different locations in Austin! 
Though we think their seasonal pancakes (currently Strawberry Banana Oat) and monthly specials (Birthday Cake Pancakes, for now) both look splendid, we have no choice but to recommend their most popular dish: warm and light buttermilk pancakes.

The Queso Omelet at Magnolia Cafe

Address: 1920 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
Price: $11.75
Hours: 8am–10pm daily
The vibe: Low-stress breakfast with a beautiful garden patio
Did someone say “all-day breakfast”?
Magnolia Cafe
has a little bit of everything—breakfast, tex-mex, burgers, desserts, and dinner specials—but they’re best known for their non-stop morning menu. Avocado, cheddar jack cheese, special queso, and a choice of two sides make the Queso Omelet a worthy bucket list item for foodies in the capital of Texas.

The Gloria at Biscuits + Groovy

Address: Two locations, one in Hyde Park and one in Barton Springs
Price: $11
Hours: 9am–2pm Mon–Fri, 8:30am–2pm Sat–Sun
The vibe: Daytime food truck with picnic tables
For decades, Southern hospitality has depended on a handful of trademark foods: and perhaps none are more famous than good ol’ biscuits and gravy.
In keeping with Austin’s unique personality,
Biscuits + Groovy
offers this staple of Southern cuisine with a modern twist, topping their down-home biscuits with bacon, jalapeños, pepper, and chives. Count us in! 
Pro Tip If you’ve got a big get-together going on in Austin, give Biscuits + Groovy 48 hours notice and they’ll be thrilled to
cater food
for your event!

Austin’s delicious desserts

Double Chocolate Gooey Butter Cake at Chez Zee

Address: 5406 Balcones Dr, Austin, TX 78731
Price: $10.95 for a slice
Hours: 11am–9pm Tues–Fri, 9am–9:30pm Sat, 9am–3pm Sun, closed Monday
The vibe: Family-friendly bistro
Got a sweet tooth?
Chez Zee
is the place to be. From New York Cheesecake to Italian Crème Cake, you’ll be blown away by any of their
decadent desserts
—but we personally can’t resist the dreamy Double Chocolate Gooey Butter Cake. Chocolate, cream cheese, pecans, fresh vanilla ice cream…it doesn’t get any better than that. 

Campfire Churro at Churro Co. 

Address: 1906 S 1st St, Austin, TX 78704
Price: $6.50
Hours: Wed–Thurs 5–10pm, Fri–Sat 12pm–11pm, Sun 11am–10pm
The vibe: Food truck under the stars
Take one look at
Churro Co.’s
breathtaking assortment of churros and you’ll be hooked immediately. The Campfire Churro brings the bliss of the great outdoors straight to the bustling streets of South Austin. 
Trust us on this one: after one bite of the Campfire Churro’s graham cracker sugar, Mexican chocolate sauce, whipped cream, and torched marshmallows, that Austin city skyline will look an awful lot like the ever-expanding cosmos.

Vegan ice cream at Gati Ice Cream

Address: 1512 Holly St, Austin, TX 78702
Price: $2 to $10, depending on your choice!
Hours: 7:30am–9pm daily
The vibe: Quaint parlor with outdoor seating
With over 40 rotating flavors,
Gati Ice Cream
is a paradise for vegan and gluten-free food lovers. Everything has a coconut milk base—and there’s even an array of flaky pastries to go along with your choice of indulgent ice cream.
MORE: How to get cheap car insurance for young drivers

The best vegan options in Austin

Tofu Scramble at Bouldin Creek Cafe

Address: 1900 S 1st St, Austin, TX 78704
Price: Between $8.50 and $11.50 for a breakfast plate or omelet
Hours: 8am–10pm daily
The vibe: Eco-friendly with rotating art shows
While we’re on the topic of vegan foods, let’s show a little love to Austin’s finest vegan cuisine!
Bouldin Creek Cafe
has a superb 4.7/5 Google rating, and it’s earned every bit of it. If organic spinach, fresh basil, local tomatoes, and scallions sound delish to you, keep an eye out for these fantastic scramblers at Bouldin Creek:
  • Smokin’ Joe’s Omelet
  • Inner Sun Omelet
  • Potato Leek Omelet
  • Bouldin Omelet

Signature Viet Pho at Bodhi Viet Veggie Cuisine

Address: 2301 W Parmer Ln, Austin, TX 78727
Price: $7.85
Hours: 11am–6pm Thurs–Sat
The vibe: Non-profit food truck with limited outdoor seating
Sure, the Signature Viet Pho with steamed vegetables, yellow noodle, and fried tofu is super yummy and ultra-healthy—but our favorite thing about
Bodhi Viet
is the backstory. 
Run by a group of local Buddhist nuns, folks at Bodhi Viet believe that “wholesome vegan food is the key to a peaceful and healthy lifestyle.” Join them in their mission to spread principles of peace and wisdom—and get some incredible vegan treats—at their food truck in North Austin.
MORE: How to choose an eco-friendly car

Save for your foodie adventures with Jerry

Whether you’ve settled on the fine dining at Jeffrey’s Steakhouse or you’re thinking about grabbing a mouth-watering churro, some extra cash can’t hurt. Thankfully, we know just the place to get it—and it comes with world-class car insurance, too!
Jerry
, our comparison shopping super app, will find you the lowest car insurance prices on the market. It only takes 45 seconds to sign up, then Jerry will comb through quotes from more than 55 top insurers, showing you only the best ones!
Here’s the icing on the cake: the average Jerry driver saves over $800 on car insurance. That’s a whole lot of takeout dinners!
Jerry
is the real deal. They accomplished what would normally take me days in around 5 minutes. Now I’ll be saving $75/month for insurance in Austin, TX!” —Nicholas E.
Are you overpaying for your car insurance?
Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.
No spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms
No spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms · No fees
icon4.717k Ratings
5M+Drivers Joined
7M+Cars Garaged

FAQs

Though chili is the state dish of Texas, Austin is best known for its juicy barbecue, savory tex-mex, and breakfast tacos.
Absolutely! In fact, recent studies have consistently ranked Austin as a top-ten city for foodies. From slow-roasted meats to delicious desserts, it doesn’t get much better than Austin.
Are you overpaying for car insurance?
Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.
Try Jerry

Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance

√
No long forms
√
No spam or unwanted phone calls
√
Quotes from top insurance companies
Find insurance savings