***UPDATE: This post has been updated to 101 Ways To Ruin Your Diet In Austin, which includes everything here plus 71 MORE options for delicious eats in Austin! You can check it out right here.

This post was so much fun to write (and research…haha! #yum) and it has quickly blown up to be one of the most popular posts on the blog! I’m glad y’all love it, too!

Did you make it through Whole 30 in January? Awesome. Now it’s time to indulge (*wink*), and I’m here to help you. Read on for 30 of my favorite splurge-worthy foods in Austin, Texas! Comment below with anything I left out that you think should have made the list!

1. Cupcakes at Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop

Everything is made from scratch (even the frosting and fillings), because if you’re gonna have a cupcake, you should really HAVE A CUPCAKE! These are the best in Austin….they even won Food Network’s Cupcake Wars in 2013.

ALSO SEE: weekend coffee date at sugar mama’s bakeshop

2. A slice (or three) at Eastside Pies

These thin-crust pies are incredibly addicting… Go ahead and order a few slices right away, because once you finish the first one you’ll be ready for another!

3. brisket kolache at Batch

The kolache are made from scratch here, and they use brisket that’s been smoked at Micklethwaite Craft Meats, one of Austin’s best BBQ trailers. I always tell myself I’ll just get one….

4. stuffed cookies at Kellie’s baking co.

Prepare to go into a sugar coma after treating yourself to these sweets. The Reese’s-stuffed cookies are my very favorite. (It’s a good thing I don’t live within walking distance of this bakery.)

5. O.G. classic chicken sandwich at tumble 22

Pick your spice level: wimpy, hot, dang hot, or FIRE IN THE HOLE….and then pay your dues the following day.

6. the Unshake at Cold Cookie Co.

Layer upon layer of ice cream, cookies, whipped cream, fudge sauce, and toppings make this the Cold Cookie Co’s number 1 seller. You can customize it with any flavor of ice cream, cookies, and toppings you want!

7. Pastrami sandwich from easy tiger bake shop and beer garden

This sandwich is MADE because of Easy Tiger’s home made rye bread. It. Is. So. Dang. Good.

8. giant cinnamon roll at mañana 

Go big or go home, right? All the pastries at this sweet coffee shop are made in house at the South Congress Hotel, and this huge cinnamon roll is my personal favorite.

9. Trash fries at Holy Roller

These beauties are covered in gravy, sunny egg, sour cream, corn, lime, and cotija. Share an order with the table, or order your own and call it a meal!

10. Beignets at Gambino’s Cajun Creole

Soft pillows of fried dough dusted in powdered sugar.. These little babies are so tasty, it really doesn’t even matter that they’re not “authentically Austin.” Bring on the soul food!

11. Chocolate dipped custard at sandy’s

Sandy’s is an iconic burger stand that’s been in south Austin since the 1940s. You can get one of their custard cones dipped in chocolate for less than $3. It’s the perfect treat on a hot summer day.

12. a plate of BBQ at micklethwait Craft Meats

This is one of the few BBQ trucks in Austin that’s both really really good and doesn’t have a 3-hour line. (You should expect to wait 15-30 min, though.) Don’t skimp on the sides! Those jalapeño cheese grits and lemon poppy slaw are amazing.

13. A double scoop of homemade ice cream at Lick Honest Ice Creams

Lick Honest Ice Creams is one of Austin’s best ice cream shops because they make small batch ice cream using local ingredients. Some of the flavors change with the seasons, but a few of my favorites (that are always around) are Texas Sheet Cake, Caramel Salt Lick, and Goat Cheese, Thyme, and Honey.

14. The Migas taco at veracruz all natural 

This is my favorite migas taco in the city! Veracruz loads up their tacos with all the best ingredients, and they don’t skimp on the avocado slice on top (the most important part!)

15. A plate of macarons from La Patisserie 

These are one of my favorite macarons in the city of Austin, so they’re well worth the indulgence! Pastry chef Soraiya Nagree is constantly creating new flavors in both her north and south Austin shops.

Also see: weekend coffee date at la patisserie

16. Queso from Torchy’s Tacos

I’m always chatting with my food blogger friends about the “best this-or-that” in Austin, and there seems to be a pretty unanimous agreement that Torchy’s is still king in the queso department. They load it up with guacamole, cotija cheese, cilantro, and their famous diablo sauce.

17. a french cruller at june’s all day

She looks so innocent, but this little cruller that I found at June’s All Day is one of the most addicting pieces of fried dough I’ve ever tried! The texture isn’t like a normal donut…it’s a lot lighter and fluffier and it just melts in your mouth…

18. brisket tater tots at eastside tavern

So, this is basically a combination of two of the best foods ever known to humankind, right?

18. buffalo mac n cheese at marker 10

Pulled chicken, buffalo cheddar béchamel, cavatappi pasta, and a bleu cheese crust make this one of theeee most indulgent mac n cheese dishes you can find. Bonus: you can enjoy it at Marker 10’s lakeside patio with a view of the South Congress bridge.

Also see: new menu at marker 10

18. Alfajor at Cafe Nenaí

This is a South American cookie sandwich with a thick schemer of dulce de leche rolled in coconut flakes. The outside is crunchy and sweet, and the inside is thick, ooey-gooey caramel-y goodness.

20. the “date night” at the churro co.

A homemade churro is tossed in popcorn sugar, topped with vanilla ice cream, caramel drizzle and a dash of sea salt. It’s warm, sweet, salty, and chewy. Completely irresistible!

21. PIZZA + BEER AT ABGB

It won a GABF gold medal for Large Brewpub of the Year two years in a row! If you’re gonna indulge in the pizza + beer combo anywhere in Austin, this is the place to do it! Nate and I love this place so much that we had our wedding rehearsal dinner here.

22. Burger + Truffle Fries at Hopdoddy Burger Bar 

So many burger options at Austin’s most beloved burger bar. Do not (I repeat, DO NOT) plan on skipping the truffle fries!

23. the original Kimchi fres at chi’lantro bbq

Chi’lantro started as a food truck and now they have FIVE locations….Austin loves ’em! The Original Kimchi Fries are your choice of protein (spicy pork, spicy chicken, soy-glazed chicken, tofu, or ribeye beef), caramelized kimchi, cheddar + monterey jack, onions, cilantro, magic sauce, sesame seeds, sriracha on a crispy bed of french fries

24. Homemade gourmet donuts at bougie’s

This little donut shop opened in 2016 and kinda took Austin by storm!! We’re obsessed! The basics, like maple bacon, double berry, and cinnadough, are fantastic and always around. The seasonal ones are fun to try if you’re craving seconds. (Trust me, you will be.)

25. Breakfast Sandwich at Bird Bird Biscuit

This is a bit of a tease, because it hasn’t opened yet (as of Feb 2018), but Bird Bird Biscuit (from the Thunderbird coffee team) will be opening in spring of 2018. These biscuit sandwiches are NO JOKE.

26. French Toast at Texas French Bread

This is an old school Austin bakery and restaurant that has been serving up some of the best bread-heavy breakfasts since 1981. Their french toast is thick, eggy, sweet, and dusted in a fine layer of powdered sugar.

27. Authentic Italian Food at Andiamo

This is, hands down, some of the best homemade Italian food you’ll find in Austin. If you’re going to splurge on a carb-heavy Italian meal, Andiamo is the place to do it!

28. The congress Burger at Second Bar and Kitchen 

One of my favorite burgers in Austin, and completely customizable! It starts with ground brisket + chuck, shallot confit, gruyere, greens, tomatoes, and horseradish pickles. Then, you can choose to add foie gras, egg, avocado, or crispy pork belly. You can’t go wrong with any of those!

29. The Waylon and willie at Burro Cheese kitchen

This is one of the tastiest grilled cheese sandwiches you’ll find in Austin! Burro Cheese Kitchen starts with Easy Tiger sourdough bread, then melts aged cheddar, gouda, caramelized onions, pepperonis, and spicy maple bacon sauce. Yup, you heard me! Spicy maple bacon. 

30. Pizza at home slice pizza

I couldn’t finish without a tribute to Austin’s favorite pizza joint! Their main thing is authentic New York style pizza, but I happen to think the thick crust is equally delectable!

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