I’ve got your Austin restaurant recommendations! I visited 40 spots in the second quarter of this year, and I’ve pulled out some favorites and some you’re likely curious about.
Here are 13 places I dined at in April, May, and June.
Dinner at Intero
This farm-to-table restaurant in East Austin is a local favorite. I’ve dined at it multiple times and recently returned. We had a great experience, and I even added two of the dishes I had to my “best of the year” list. You don’t need to wait until the end of the year to find out which dishes I loved. Check out this blog post for all the details.
Drinks and Bar Snacks at Lao’d Bar
Remember when I posted about SXSE Food Co’s tasting dinner a long time ago? Chef Bob Somsith has turned his Lao-inspired food truck into a casual brick-and-mortar in Northeast Austin. It’s located next to Sign Bar. You’ll find light cocktails and bar snacks here. I really enjoyed the ribeye steak skewer and ceviche. The crispy fried rice is still a favorite from the food truck!
Ice Cream at Merry Monarch Creamery
If you haven’t tried this ice cream yet, you must! I love the creative flavors and they are tasty. Oreo miso is always one of my favorites but I also like black sesame mochi. The sorbet is also fantastic.
Pizza at Bambino
From the owners of L’Oca d’Oro (Italian restaurant in Mueller) comes Bambino, a pizza-focused restaurant. Pizzas are half-off during happy hour (Tues-Fri 2-5pm), so they’re $9-13 dollars each. Plus half-off frozen drinks, carafes, and drafts. My favorite pizza is the Little Stinker with lion’s mane, mushroom conserva, fontina, taleggio, mozz, kale, garlic, and red pepper flakes.
Sushi Omakase at Tare
Tare Austin is a multi-course omakase dinner in North Austin, and I enjoyed it! I love their creative flavors that enhance (and don’t overwhelm) the fish. The talented chefs are having fun and presenting a unique offering when it comes to Austin sushi. Read more about it in this post.
Dinner at Justine’s
Another classic Austin restaurant, Justine’s serves French cuisine and is frequently busy. Arrive early or expect to be waitlisted. You can wait in the bar area but it is a small space. The indoor dining space is a bit loud but the covered patio is nice. The endive salad is a must-order! Justine’s is a solid choice for a low-key dinner.
Vegan Sushi at Nori
For friends who are vegan, you can enjoy sushi at Nori. If you love sushi and can eat fish, I would recommend going to one of the many sushi options in Austin instead. But for those with food restrictions, dining here can be a relief to not think about it. The chicken karaage is made of tofu and was my favorite thing we tried. The mushrooms really tasted like chicken! The cocktails are also good.
Barbecue at KG BBQ
You haven’t tasted barbecue like this! KG BBQ is an award-winning food truck serves Texas barbecue with Egyptian and Middle Eastern flavors – fun, unique, and so tasty.
What we ordered:
- Brisket – classic smoked brisket
- Lamb Bacon Ribs – so tender and tasty, fave of the 2 meats
- Egyptian Mac & Cheese – made with béchamel and tomato garlic sauce
- Pink Buttermilk Potato Salad – roasted beet puree makes it pink, fave of the 2 sides
- Cardamom & Pistachio Rice Pudding – delish, light dessert
- Hibiscus Mint Tea – I loved this and I usually don’t like hibiscus tea
Drinks and Canapés at Prélude
Prélude recently opened and is helmed by Chef Matt Peters, who once worked at The French Laundry and is elevating Austin dining. This cocktail bar is upscale and a peek into the tasting menu restaurant opening in the same location next year. You can order bites/canapes too. While I enjoy fine dining, I didn’t love the experience. The offerings are a bit expensive to me and the high top where we sat wasn’t very comfortable and kind of awkward. The cocktails are complex yet light and subtle. If you go, expect $20+ cocktails, and don’t forget to order the Chawanmushi Toast.
Flo’s Wine Bar + All Day Pizza
This wine bar in West Austin is a cute spot! It has an abundant wine selection, indoor and outdoor seating, and All Day Pizza – my current favorite pizza spot and one I mentioned in my Q1 post – slinging pies. Their team can direct you to a glass or bottle to your liking. For pizza, I love the cacio e pepe and pep and pep.
Lunch at T-Loc’s Sonora
If you’re looking for excellent hot dogs and burritos, check out T-Loc’s Sonora! This food truck serves Sonoran hot dogs that have become popular in Arizona. (Their name stands for Tucson Local.) The hot dog is wrapped in bacon and the bun is loaded with toppings. I also loved the carne asada burrito.
Cocktails and Snacks at Equipment Room
I love this spot! Located off South Congress at Hotel Magdalena, Equipment Room is a cocktail bar spinning records and serving interesting snacks. The cocktails are excellent and the vibe is intimate. The place is inspired by Japanese jazz kissa, jazz listening cafes, thus their menu has a Japanese influence. For example, the Baked Alaska dessert is matcha cake, yuzu curd, black sesame ice cream, and toasted meringue.
Dinner at Odd Duck
Odd Duck, casual sister to Barley Swine, is always a solid option. Their farm-to-table menu changes based on ingredient availability but the cornbread can usually be found. They currently have a German Chocolate Cake on the menu that is excellent!
I hope you enjoy one of these places this year!
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