The Austin Food Scene

By Michael Feit | Events

Jul 06

One of the best parts of attending the AALL Conference is experiencing the food in a new city!
Not only does Austin have a thriving music scene, but they are quickly becoming one of America’s best foodie towns. Barbecue is huge here, and the food truck scene is quickly growing. The hip and funky capital of Texas is now ranked in nearly every best food city list. While you may be tempted to stay close to the convention center, don’t be afraid to go further afield and explore different areas of Austin. Both UBER and Lyft have recently returned to the city after a year-long absence, so affordable ride options abound! Since your schedule is likely to be tight, make restaurant reservations in advance on OpenTable or by calling the restaurants.

BBQ
Franklin is Aaron Franklin’s renowned barbeque spot that has folks waiting in line for hours–it is that good! Try to get there by 7:00 am!
900 E 11th St

La Barbecue is a food trailer serving up Central Texas barbecue and offers shorter lines than Franklin’s (AND you can pre-order 5 days in advance). Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
1906 E Cesar Chavez St

Japanese
Uchi is Tyson Cole’s original “house” that started it all and serves up amazing sushi and Japanese cuisine.
801 South Lamar Boulevard

Uchiko is the offshoot of the famed Uchi restaurant and offers upscale sushi & small plates in a farmhouse-chic space.
4200 N Lamar Blvd

American
Odd Duck offers farm-to-table cuisine with communal seating make this a great choice for a large group for a meal or happy hour! And they offer a separate gluten-free dining menu!

Pizza
Home Slice Pizza serves authentic NY-style pizza.
1415 S Congress Ave

Stanley’s Farmhouse Pizza, set in a barn on Ceres Park Ranch offers handcrafted, artisan pizza. Located on the outskirts of the city, this weekend-only joint is worth the drive!

Donuts
Voodoo Donuts is a cash-only joint that offers quirky and delicious donuts. Go early!
212 East 6th Street

Vegetarian
Mother’s Cafe is a vegetarian and vegan cafe in Hyde Park that has been open since 1980!
4215 Duval Street
and E 43rd Street

Arlo’s is a food truck that offers plant-based comfort food in a bistro-style setting. There are multiple locations, and diners rave about their Bac’n Cheeze Burger!
900 Red River at Cheerup Charlie’s
1700 E. 6th at The Grackle
2908 Fruth at Spider House Cafe

Gluten-Free
True Food Kitchen is always a healthy and safe bet when you are looking for a tasty and reliable gluten-free or vegetarian dining option! Try the local kombucha! Also check out Odd Duck’s gluten-free menu.
222 West Ave

For after-dinner drinks, head to Small Victory for an intimate, classic cocktail experience or the Roosevelt Room for inventive craft cocktails and a gorgeous upstairs lounge. Or head to the fabulous garden courtyard lounge at the Hotel San Jose, a South Congress Hotel. If you are a beer lover, check out Easy Tiger, which is a bakery by day and creekside beer garden by night, or Craft Pride, which has a ton of Texas craft beers on tap.

And for a killer view reminiscent of Italy, we recommend The Oasis on Lake Travis, which is the largest outdoor restaurant in Texas and is known as the Sunset Capital of Texas! Go for the view and a margarita or cocktail to drink in the Texas sunset!

And, if you are staying a few extra days in Austin to explore and enjoy the city, schedule a food tour with Austin Eats!

About the Author

Michael Feit earned his J.D. from the Loyola University School of Law in Chicago and was an executive at Westlaw before founding Feit Consulting 16 years ago. Feit Consulting partners with law firm administrators and legal information professionals to optimize vendor contracts and the management and delivery of legal information resources by providing leading-edge, customized solutions. Contact Michael at mike@feitconsulting.com