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Best Restaurants in Austin

Check out our list of the top 30 restaurants in Austin, TX. Our Austin Restaurant Guide features 30 top dining experiences based on atmosphere, originality, menu quality, and style.

Last updated on Nov 12, 2024 by

1. Juniper in East Austin

Indoor dining room of Juinper Restaurant in East Austin

Juniper opened in 2018 on East 6th featuring Northern Italian cuisine, one Austin's most modern and stylish interiors, and a premiere chef tasting menu.

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2. Intero on Ceasar Chavez

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Intero is one of our city’s best Italian restaurants. Austinites Ian Thurwachter & Krystal Craig have joined their talents to bring us fantastic farm-to-table cuisine from at least 20 different farms.

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3. Eberly on South Lamar

Eberly Austin

This South Lamar sanctuary has a lot going on behind the ivy covered walls. The stories are as rich as the food and a trip here entails much more than just eating a meal. Let the folks at Eberly welcome you into this warm restaurant escape and venture into their menu.

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4. Ember Kitchen in the Seaholm District

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Ember Kitchen in the downtown Austin Seaholm District brings a modern and elegant twist to upscale dining with the use of a Josper Grill to combine the effects of a charcoal grill with temperature controlled oven to deliver an amazing Caribbean infused menu

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5. Swift's Attic in Downtown Austin

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Swift’s Attic sits above the popular Elephant Room and is a whiskey wonderland that churns out farm-to-table food of a fantastical sort.

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6. Perry's Steakhouse in Downtown Austin

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A Texas native located in the historic Norwood Tower that was once Austin's tallest building, Perry's Steakhouse and Grille features an elite steak menu and decadent ambiance that is perfect for a special occasion or important client meeting.

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7. Salty Sow in East Austin

Outdoor patio of Salty Sow in Austin, Texas

An American Gastro Pub located a few miles east of IH-35 off Manor Road, Salty Sow is known for its unique savory menu, featuring appetizers like Triple Fried Duck Fat Fries with a 110 minute egg and cold béarnaise.

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8. Arlo Grey

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Top Chef winner and host, Kristen Kish, opened Arlo Grey in 2018 within The LINE hotel, bringing a refreshing and modern update to this lakeside location. At Arlo Grey you can enjoy premium plates from a world class team within a more casual and relaxed atmosphere.

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9. Second Bar + Kitchen

Second Bar + Kitchen

You’ll now find Second Bar + Kitchen at the East Austin Hotel. Chef Gerard Kenny runs the kitchen on the east side with enthusiasm, skill, and love for each dish.

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10. Bar Chi Sushi in Downtown Austin

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Located in the Warehouse District, Bar Chi Sushi features Austin's best sushi happy hour from 4-7 daily and all day on Sunday. On weekend nights the energy level amps up to give it sort of a club like feel worthy of a night out on the town.

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11. Clay Pit in the Bertram Building

Inside view of the downstairs dining room at The Clay Pit restaurant in Austin, Texas

The Clay Pit is Austin's only legit upscale Indian restaurant. It's located in the Bertram building, one of Austin's oldest, that is packed with history and often featured on TV shows and local tours for it's legendary ghost hauntings. The menu is amazing and priced reasonably well. Highly recommended for date night.

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12. Buenos Aires on East 6th

Inside view of the dining room at Buenos Aires Cafe in Austin, Texas

Located on East 6th street just a few short blocks from IH35, Buenos Aires was an east side dining option that opened 2005 and before the entertainment zone developed around it. That staying power is a testament to their menu and the style of the restaurant.

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13. Lucky Robot on South Congress

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This neon clad restaurant has been serving sushi for over ten years. Chef Jay brings together Japanese and Latin American influences along with inspiration from Taiwanese and Peruvian flavors. Located in the heart of South Congress and pulsing with an eclectic Asian meets Austin atmosphere.

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14. Quattro Gatti on Congress Avenue

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Nestled into what turns into a remote part of downtown during the night near the Capitol, is a cool Italian spot called Quattro Gatti Ristorante y Pizzeria with a brick oven delivering true Italian fare.

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15. Truluck's Downtown

View from outside Truluck's restaurant in downtown Austin

One of Austin's first upscale seafood and steak locations, Truluck's anchored the Warehouse District as it became Austin's top spot for upscale dining and cocktail lounge. They are known for the pinnacle of service, elegant dining, and the highest quality steaks and seafood.

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16. Wu Chow on West 5th

Inside view of the dining room at Wu Chow restaurant in Austin, Texas

The only Chinese restaurant to make our list, Wu Chow offers a very modern take on farm to table Chinese with a menu that offers "dishes representative of all eight styles of Chinese cuisine" with dim sum service on Sunday evenings.

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17. This Too Shall Pass

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Wander into this 4th Street fantasy and pass some time in a proper manner. This Too Shall Pass has combined a sultry cocktail lounge with a culinary experience. This lounge will transport you away from the hustle of the city to an intimate and sensual setting. Celebrate surviving another day in this weird world with a wildly delicious This Too Shall Pass dinner.

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18. Canje on East 6th

Canje on East Sixth Street

This restaurant lights up East Sixth Street with captivating Caribbean cuisine and a comfortable atmosphere. Chef Tavel Bristol-Joseph brings in inspiration from his native country Guyana and beyond for this remarkable menu.

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19. P6

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P6 is nestled in the 6th floor of The LINE Hotel and overlooks a stunning view of the Congress bat bridge and Lady Bird Lake. You will be blown away by the view, as well as the delicious food and drinks.

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20. Aba on South Congress

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Aba opened in 2020 to great fanfare for it's amazing use of indoor and outdoor space on South Congress avenue. The restaurant features an outstanding bar area filled with subdued lighting and greenery with an amazing Mediterranean menu.

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21. Black's Barbecue

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The Original Black’s opened in Lockhart in 1932, nearly a hundred years ago. This Central Austin location, operated by 4th generation Barret Black, features some of Austin's best barbecue...and that says a lot!

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22. Ten Ten on West 6th Street

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A relative newcomer to the Austin dining scene, Ten Ten opened in January of 2020 on West 6th street. Ten Ten features a modern sushi and robata kitchen with stylish décor, a killer happy hour, and large bar area serving great drinks.

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23. Banger's Sausage House and Beer Garden

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A staple of causal dining scene in the Rainey Street District, Banger's Sausage House delivers gourmet sausages in a variety of flavors, an exceptional beer selection on tap and the outdoor community seating is energetic and fun.

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24. The Salt Lick BBQ in Driftwood Texas

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The Salt Lick offers some of the best BBQ in Austin plus an adventurous drive into the Texas Hill Country. It's crazy busy on the weekends when the weather's nice. Buy hey, at least it's BYOB!

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25. Dai Due on Manor Road

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Since opening in 2014, Dai Due on Manor Road has earned quite a cult following among Austin foodies. Owner Chef Jesse Griffiths's wrote, won a James Beard Award, and opened hunting school.

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26. Uchi on South Lamar

Inside view of the dining room and sushi bar at Uchi on South Lamar

For years, Uchi has reigned supreme as one of Austin's best restaurants. Many of those working under chef Tyson Cole have gone on to open their own restaurants over the years, making Uchi a bit of a training ground for high end kitchens around Austin and the country.

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27. Hillside Farmacy in Austin's East Side

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What was once a drugstore in the 1920, Hillside Farmacy is now one of Austin's favorite spots for farm-to-table faire. They feature fresh produce from a sister farm in Bastrop, meats from Texas ranchers and fish from the gulf coast.

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28. Kalimotxo on East Sixth Street

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Kalimotxo has finally reopened after relocating from downtown to the east side. This culinary cocktail bar has brought superior Spanish food and traditional tapas to East Sixth Street.

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29. III Forks Prime Steakhouse

III Forks Prime Steakhouse

Voted by many as one of Austin’s best steakhouses, III Forks is top tier in everything they do. If you are looking for a Downtown upscale steakhouse that is comfortable and reliable, this is the place to go.

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30. Verdad True Modern Mexican at The Grove

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The fine folks from Perry’s Steakhouse have presented us a chance to feast on traditional and modern flavors from Mexico. If you are yearning for those rich and robust traditional tastes from our neighbors, then Verdad is the restaurant to try.

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