The Local Dish: My Favorite Austin Restaurants

Austin is known WORLDWIDE for its restaurants. We are probably a little too snobby about it but… we got good eats. Whether it be from a 5-star restaurant, a hole-in-the-wall or a food truck, the options are endless.

If you follow me on Instagram you know what my favorite restaurant is… Flower Child.

No brainer. The food is fantastic, healthy and so fresh. Gluten-free? Perfect for you. Vegan? Another winner. Just like good food? Flower is good for you too. Also, the lemonade cures a hundred-degree summer day and the Mother Earth bowl could be my last meal I eat. It totally helps that they have the cutest marble tables with fresh flowers to boot. And the outdoor French bistro chair? Kill me now, I’m in Heaven.

Here are some more fantastic spots:

Mexican Food: Guero’s Taco Bar

First of all, the location is in the midst of South Congress, aka the best street in Austin, and second, their salsa is my favorite in town. (We eat A LOT of Mexican food so that says something.) It’s old school, definitely not the fanciest, but the environment + the food makes for a good time.

BBQ: Opie’s (Hands down and I’ll fight you on this one.)

Yes, Salt Lick is good and so is J. Blacks and Franklins. But drive 30 minutes out to Spicewood and you will relinquish in the juicy, melt-in-your-mouth bar-b-que. It’s the meat quality that makes this better than the rest. You don’t need BBQ sauce. NONE. The meat is smoked to perfection with the right amount of seasoning.

Bakery/Lunch: La Patisserie or Elizabeth Street Cafe

Another location and perfect pairing of food. The “Greetings from Austin” mural is right next door to La Patisserie so you can grab a melt-in-your-mouth macaron and snap a selfie on the wall. You can also grab sandwiches and other treats that won’t disappoint. Elizabeth Street Café is another Insta-worth spot to eat and you’ll actually enjoy the food, too. Bright and colorful are the walls and chairs and the Vietnamese eats are quite tasty.

Downtown Favorite: Texas Chili Parlor

Another Austin institution. Right near the Capital and their chili is my husband and my dad’s absolute favorites. On chilly or rainy days, we always end up at this little hole-in-the-wall for chili and soups. The history on the walls will leave you proud of our growing town called Austin.

Steak: Roaring Fork

This one will be debated as much as BBQ. People are choosy about their steaks. Out of all the places we’ve been too, this has been our favorite. Mainly the sides are as good as the steaks. How that is possible, I don’t know. Just take a bite of that Black Angus steak and then a bite of green chili mac’n’cheese and you’ll understand.

Pizza:

Actual pizza: Pizzeria Sorellina (by owners of Apis)

The pizza here is different and I can’t figure out why. I could eat just the crust. Like give me a whole pizza with just crust, and I’ll be good. So imagine that good crust with fantastic toppings, boom, award-winning pizza.

Pizza + Atmosphere: Home Slice Pizza

This is another Austin institution. You can’t not love Home Slice. Hear the cars buzzing by and see the Capital light up at night AND enjoy a NY style pizza? Done.

Dessert: Gourdough’s

Yes, I chose a doughnut as a dessert. These donuts can’t be beat. Mouth-watering, so not healthy, chalk full of sugar but SO damn good. If you’re not a fan of donuts and want ice cream then you’ve got options: Amy’s, Lick and Cow Tipping.

So tell me, what are your favorites in Austin??