BIG NEWS! After 8 years of living in Austin, I will soon be moving out of Texas! I am excited about the future, but also sad to be leaving somewhere that I love so dearly! In honor of my years here in Austin, I have decided to make a few posts about my FAVORITE things! There are SO MANY things to love about Austin, make sure you check out my Top 7 Things to do in Austin Texas: a Local’s Guide! When brainstorming what I love about Austin I realized that the FOOD category needed its own post. Seriously, the food scene in Austin is AMAZING. I’m pretty sure I will be coming back to visit if for nothing other than these crave-worthy spots! Keep reading for the Must-Try Food in Austin Texas!
WARNING: Do NOT read this hungry!
Ice Cream – Lick Honest Ice Cream, Sweet Ritual, Bat City Gelato, Prohibition Creamery
If sweet, delicious, locally made ice cream treats are what you’re looking for, you can find world-class options in Austin!
My first ice cream love and what made me realize that I REALLY like ice cream was Lick! Their artisanal ice cream comes in dairy and non-dairy options. They use locally sourced ingredients, and their flavor combinations are unique and tasty (Goat Cheese, Thyme & Honey! Texas Sheet Cake!). You gotta try them if you like ice cream!
Some other spots that have been my go-to’s are Sweet Ritual, Bat City Gelato and Prohibition Creamery.
Sweet Ritual is mostly Vegan and offers HUGE scoops! Plus, where else can you get Unicorn Poop?
Bat City is a small shop serving up an authentic gelato experience. They are the best gelato I’ve had in Austin, plus the owners are SO nice!
Prohibition Creamery is alcoholic ice cream. Yes, alcohol and ice cream in perfect harmony! It’s potent stuff, so keep that in mind and keep it away from the kiddos!
Doughnuts – Voodoo Doughnut, Gourdough’s Public House
I am SUPER picky about doughnuts! Put any old doughnut in front of me and I can usually pass on it. BUT if you give me fancy pants, fun, unique doughnuts… I’ll probably give it a try.
Voodoo Doughnuts is originally from Portland Oregon but has opened a few locations throughout the US. When they opened in Austin I was STOKED! I’d been stalking them via social media and TV spots for years, and they didn’t disappoint! My favorite is the “Austin Cream”, though all of their yeast-raised filled doughnuts are delectable!
Another interesting doughnut option is Gourdough’s. They have an air-stream trailer and a brick and mortar in Austin. The restaurant has really good savory doughnut options. I was very cautious about trying a savory doughnut… but it was AMAZING. It was garlicky and melts in your mouth. Plus, their sweet doughnuts are some of the best around. Give ‘em a try!
Coffee– Houndstooth, Figure 8 Coffee Purveyors
Enjoying a flat white or latte at a local café is a bit of luxury that I love to indulge in! I wouldn’t say I’m a coffee aficionado, but I can appreciate quality coffee and a relaxing environment. My two favorites in Austin are Houndstooth Coffee and Figure 8 Purveyors.
Houndstooth is where I had my first flat white, and nothing has ever been able to compare! They asked me which espresso I wanted, and the flavor profiles of each bean. I thought this was a bit fancy for my taste… but once I tried my flat white I could taste the flavor nuances! My mind was blown, their coffee is excellent!
Figure 8 has a relaxing vibe with great ways to caffeinate! I enjoy their latte and reading in the back room. Bliss!
BBQ – Franklin Barbeque, La Barbeque, Stiles Switch, Micklethwait Craft Meats, Terry Black’s Barbeque
Before I moved to Texas I was a vegetarian! It may seem hard to believe, but I never understood how meat could taste exceptional. I learned how to eat meat in Texas, which is pretty much a carnivore’s paradise. In Texas, barbeque is an experience. The love these pit masters have for their craft is unparalleled. That love can be tasted in their food, especially the brisket!
If you do any Austin BBQ research you will find Franklin Barbeque at the top of the list! I would have to agree, the brisket is a step above any other brisket I’ve had. I’m also a fan of their turkey! Note that if you want a taste of the now-famous Franklin Barbeque you will have to get in line EARLY to even have a possibility of ordering! I suggest bringing chairs and making an event of it. Believe me, you won’t be the only one there!
If you don’t want to wait in line at Franklin’s, Austin has plenty of really good barbeque joints! My favorites include Stiles Switch (a close second to Franklin for me!), Micklethwait Craft Meats, La Barbecue, and Terry Black’s Barbecue. Any of these options will give you drool-worthy BBQ; you won’t be disappointed!
Burgers – Hopdoddy Burger Bar, Clark’s Oyster Bar, Salt & Time
Another love I discovered while living in Austin is BURGERS! When I was a kid “burger” meant fast food. It wasn’t until I delved into full Texas meat-eating that I learned what a REAL burger is!
My first burger experience that made me go “hmmm, apparently I’ve been missing out on this my entire life” was Hopdoddy Burger Bar. They serve craft burgers with local ingredients and mind-blowing flavor combinations. My favorite is the Magic Shroom burger, and you gotta try the truffle fries! Though fair warning, those fries are ADDICTIVE. Hopdoddy has grown exponentially since I first moved to Austin. Back then they were a one location joint. Now they can be found in various locations throughout the US!
Other than Hopdoddy, I’ve tried some pretty amazing burgers in Austin. Clark’s Oyster Bar and Salt & Time are among my favorites. The flavor and quality of their meat and superb marbling make these burgers outstanding.
Pizza – Home Slice, Desano
Everyone loves pizza! Even when I went gluten-free I found ways to enjoy the cheese topped pie! My favorites in Austin are Home Slice Pizza and DeSano Pizzeria Napoletana.
Home Slice has amazing NY style pizza. Their non-pizza offerings are delicious (for reals, they make an awsome salad and those garlic knots! *drool*)! They have several locations, but I love the South Congress one. It makes for a nice meal before or after exploring the SOCO area.
Desano has wood-fired pizza that tastes SO fresh! Their flavors are authentically Italian and complement each other perfectly. They use all imported Italian ingredients, so you know you are getting something special! The staff is super friendly and elevates the whole experience!
Tacos – Taco Deli, Veracruz All Natural, Torchy’s
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention tacos in my best Austin food list. It’s like a religion here! There are MANY places to get tacos, but a few of my favorites are Taco Deli, Veracruz All Natural and Torchy’s Tacos.
My favorite spot is Taco Deli, though I enjoy Torchy’s as well. In Austin you are supposed to like one or the other, you’re a Taco Deli Person or a Torchy’s person. But I say, why can’t we all just get along! Though, I do PREFER Taco Deli in general, it’s a bit lighter and fresher. Torchy’s is more of a splurge calorie bomb; want queso on your taco? They got you! But sometimes I just need a splurgy, queso drenched mess of a taco!
Veracruz is also a fresh and delicious option. They started as a tiny food truck and are now spreading all around Austin! They are my second favorite taco spot, so check them out and let me know what you think!
Fine Dining – Uchi, Uchiko, Barley Swine
Austin is more than just burgers and BBQ, they have delicious fine dining! I have been lucky enough to try a few of Austin’s fine dining establishments. My favorite experiences have been at Uchiko. It’s a dressed-down version of the mega swanky Uchi restaurant. They are both Japanese style dining, but their flavors are so fresh and different that they take on a category all their own. I prefer the more laid back atmosphere of Uchiko. One of my favorite memories was when we had the chef do an improvised tasting menu. We told our server what we wanted to spend, and left the picking of the dishes up to the chef! We had no idea what he was going to send out. It was an exceptional one of a kind meal I won’t soon forget!
I would also put Barley Swine in the mix for best fine dining. Their tasting menu is a culinary experience that is worthy of notice.
Honorable Mention: Bananarchy, Sprinkles Cupcakes
Bananarchy is a place I have to give a shout out too. It’s a banana stand serving crazy concoctions of chocolate-covered bananas. I discovered them early on in my years in Austin and I remain a huge fan! Especially as a post long-run treat!
Also, I want to mention Sprinkles Cupcakes. They are not unique to Austin, but I probably go there the most out of any of the places on my list. They are a chain of cupcake bakeries throughout the US, and they make some fun and TASTY cupcakes! I have a slight addiction to them. That peach pie cupcake… or the cookie cupcake…. Or…. Yea… I have a cupcake problem for sure 😉
This is just a small TASTE (see what I did there) of what the Austin food scene has to offer! Every day I feel like a new must-try spot is popping up! Come on down and eat your way through Austin! But as the locals say, “Just don’t move here”! =p
Loving the food travel vibes? Read all about my Best Places to Eat in Nashville: A Beginners Guide!
Don’t forget to check out my post about Ways to Make Travel Better so you can have an enjoyable trip to Texas!
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Omg I’m so hungry now!!!! Those all sound amazeballs!!!
Haha, Austin has the best food!!
Love your style of writing. You talked me into wanting everything! 😊
Thank you! =)
I’m only a few hours from Austin, but I’ve never been there! At least I’ll know where to eat if we do go there! Great article! Love posts like this!
I have never been to Austin, but now I am ready to go. That food looks delicious, especially the sweet stuff. I bet you miss it!