I’ve got your Austin restaurant recommendations! I visited 54 spots in the final quarter of this year, and I’m sharing some favorites.
Here are 12 places I ate at in October, November, and December.
Lunch at Dumpling World
This Chinese restaurant comes to Austin after locations in Sugar Land and Houston. As the name suggests, it offers different types of dumplings, including soup dumplings and pan-fried varieties. It was a hit with our group!
Cocktails at Lefty’s Brick Bar
You can count on Lefty’s Brick Bar for festive decorations and drinks. I’ve ended up here for Halloween and Christmas two years in a row, and they changed up their decor. The drinks are good but not noteworthy, though I have that issue with many Austin bars.
High-End Dinner at Garrison
Garrison at the Fairmont Hotel has a good reputation, so I finally made it. What it lacks in decor and ambiance, it makes up for in its food. We enjoyed the grilled oysters, picanha, pan-roasted grouper, and tater tots. The desserts were also good, especially the pecan souffle. The execution of the food was perfect though the pricing is a tad high.
Indian Food at Pav Bhaji
Need a flavor adventure in Austin, TX? You should try Pav Bhaji Express. This Indian Vegetarian Street Food Truck kindly hosted me to try their delicious food and I enjoyed these fresh flavors. Be sure to start your meal with their special chai.
Here’s what I loved (what you should order):
- Amul Cheese Pav Bhaji – spiced mashed vegetables in a thick gravy with added Amul cheese and butter (Amul is the brand)
- Sprout Bhel – green sprouts with onion, tomato, mint, chutney
- Paneer Dum Biryani – mixed rice dish with paneer (cheese)
- Dhai Batata Sev Poori – round crispy wafers filled with sprouts, potatoes, yogurt, chickpeas, and chutney
Sushi at Craft Omakase
If you’re looking for a sushi omakase to try in Austin, make this one! This post has all about it.
Filipino Dinner at Oko
When it comes to a stand-out dining experience, Oko is one of the tops of my list. This new Filipino restaurant has excellent dishes and delicious cocktails. Dishes we ordered and loved: kinilaw (hamachi), sinigang na pak-pak (chicken wings), oxtail kare-kare, Caesar salad, halo halo (dessert). I can’t wait to go back and try more dishes!
Tasting at GhostLine Kitchens
GhostLine Kitchens is a shared kitchen facility and ghost kitchen in Southeast Austin. Food businesses use the facility for things like prep, production, and as a take-out window. I visited as part of our Austin Food Blogger Alliance event and shared all about it in this post.
Hot Pot at Soupleaf
My favorite hot pot place in Austin is Soupleaf. It’s $35 per person for dinner and all-you-can-eat for veggies, noodles, meat, and more. You have individual soup pots, and it’s a fun, interactive meal for newbies.
Barbecue at Distant Relatives
This spot has long been on my list! It’s a barbecue food truck at Meanwhile Brewing Co. The chicken was very good but I wish the brisket had been better (slightly dry). I really like Meanwhile Brewing Co in general. It has several great food trucks and their beer is good!
Dinner at Buenos Aires Cafe + Drinks at Milango Room
We visited Buenos Aires Cafe for an Austin Food Blogger Alliance event, and I can’t believe I had not dined here before! This classic Austin restaurant has been in business for 19 years and is led by Chef Reina and her daughter Paola. This is the place to share an Argentinian menu while enjoying the warm and welcoming vibes of the restaurant. You have to get empanadas and meat from the grill. Say yes to chimichurri.
If you’re ready for post-dinner cocktails or just cocktails and dessert, make a reservation to Milango Room, their bar around the corner. It has intimate, speakeasy vibes and craft cocktails. It was a great spot for a cocktail and Cuatro Leches.
Lunch at Mam Mam
Mam Mam is located at Wingman Kitchens, a pop-up restaurant space at Springdale General. Wingman Kitchens rents out this full back-of-house kitchen space for long-term leases and Mam Mam has been serving their Southeast Asian dishes here. I loved their khao soi, my favorite Thai curry noodle soup dish. I hope they get their permanent brick-and-mortar space in the new year!
Dinner at Loro
A second location of Loro has opened at the Domain. This Japanese and barbecue fusion does a good job with their smoked meats like brisket, salmon, and pork belly. We also like the double Smashburger.
Hope you try some of these winners in the new year!
If you need more recommendations, see these posts from this year:
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