There are some good suggestions on this board. My advice is to check out Z-Tejas in the Arboretum. Not your typical Tex-Mex fare, this place is mostly Southwestern dishes. The entrees are reasonable between $9 and $20, and the margaritas are really good. The inside is pretty classy, and it overlooks Great Hills. Some of my other favorites: County Line on the Lake - best beef BBQ ribs in Texas, good brisket Rudy's - excellent brisket and turkey for ~$5-$6 bucks. Freebird's - best burrito wraps in town Iron Cactus - good Tex-Mex, excellent Mexican martinis North by Northwest - 6 or 7 different microbrews, good for appetizers or happy hour Wateroo Ice House - good, cheap burgers 38th and Lamar Madam Mam's - good, cheap Thai food on the Drag If you're totally wasted, eat a shortstack of pancakes Kerbey Lane or Magnolia Cafe or have some breakfast tacos. Starseeds is too ghetto.
Am I the only one who felt like the County Line and El Mercado were overrated??? On a more positive note, our favorites in Austin included El Azteca, Chuy's (on North Lamar, which is not as crowded), Baby Acapulco, and Kismet Cafe.
I guess it's just about different tastes. I like El Mercado and Freebirds, I don't like Chuy's and Chipoodle. Baby A's is good, but you have to go to the right ones... Rudy's is badass BBQ, I haven't been to County Line - I'll have to form an opinion on that some other time. Kerbey Lane, Magnolia Cafe, and Starseeds are all good unique places, but Starseeds fits better with the Keep Austin Weird theme. I take Starseeds over Kerbey and Magnolia any day.
If you like Italian Carmelo's on 5th street is extremly good. Some of the best Italian food in Texas.
That place utterly failed it's last food inspection, I believe twice. Kerbey Lane also failed miserably (no surprise there).
Continuing with my health theme... that place was the scummiest eating establishment that I've ever been in; it was mighty filthy. My wife was so disgusted with their bathroom that she wanted to leave asap.
Am I the only one that finds the "Keep Austin Weird" theme ironic in that it is supporting individuality with a unified group voice?
All Austin food sucks. Just grab something quick. Go directly to hard liquor. visit: Cedar Door Carousel Lounge beer/pool : Hole in the Wall Deep Eddy Ehh...what do I know? I stay away from that godforsaken hellhole unless there's a lake trip. Stupid tinytot backwater sandbox. No class.
if any of you live in austin and have one of those bumper stickers on your car, you may one day find it missing. i've been peeling those off of parked cars for years. yes, i find it ironic and repulsive.
Actually, I've never been to the 38th and Lamar location, but it is close to the city. I usually eat at the one on 360 @ 2222 since it's right down the street from me.
Good food in Austin??? ....... pffft! Drive to Houston my friend...... If you find a good place, please let me know. I lived there for 5 years and rarely found a decent place to eat.... Hyde Park Grill is the only place I visited often..... and Aussie's but there Poo Burger is lethal on the intestines.....
I think you may be guilty of some hyperbole. Austin is severely lacking in Indian, Chinese, Thai, and Vietnamese. However, it is world famous for some of the best Tex-Mex and BBQ joints.
it's no houston with it's "vietnam town," but austin is not lacking in vietnamese. see: north central austin between lamar and burnet. in fact, i just got back from Tam. really nice charcoal-grilled pork sandwich with pate and cilantro. yum.
Tam Deli, them's good eatin'. Except the guy working behind the counter always has a pissed off look on his face.
Anyone been to... what was that place near Metric and Rutland/Rundberg? Pho Hoang? I used to always pick up noodle bowls from there. Austin has decent Tex-Mex and some ethnic foods, not much good American stuff IMO, and no BBQ worth mentioning. The real BBQ is all located in a circle about an hour outside Austin, in Taylor and Llano and Lockhart and Luling and Elgin...
