The Top Restaurants To Try When You Visit Austin

Visiting Austin soon? Here are a bunch of restaurants that should be on your radar! I love getting instagram messages from y’all asking for the must-visit restaurants in Austin. (Check out the 20 Best Restaurants in Austin.) Sometimes they’re specific questions, and sometimes they’re vague, but in the last few months I’ve been getting a lot of this type of message:

And I totally get it! I would want to know the all-time best restaurants in Austin, too! When I’m visiting a new city, I get overwhelmed by too many options (best coffee, best tacos, best food trucks, best dog-friendly patios…gaahh!!) and I just want a simple list of the best restaurants. 

Also see: First Time To Austin? Here’s Where To Eat

Step 1: Pick a really good breakfast taco spot. Breakfast tacos are EVERYWHERE in Austin. There are a lot of opinions about who has the best breakfast taco in Austin, but I recommend picking at least one destination spot during your visit to Austin. (Valentina’s has the very best one, in my opinion! The lines can be long, so TacoDeli is always a good option if you need something with locations all over the city and quick service.)

Step 2: Pick a “fun” food spot, like burgers or pizza. If you’re on vacation, you have to splurge! I’ve eaten at nearly every pizza and burger spot in Austin, and I created quick and easy guides to the best burgers in Austin and the best pizza restaurants in Austin. 

Step 3: Pick a nice dinner spot. I love going on dates with my husband in Austin, so I wrote this guide to my favorite date night spots in Austin. Visiting Austin for a bachelorette party? Here are some good restaurants for big groups. 

Step 4: Find a fun place for drinks. Whether you’re into craft breweries, gorgeous little wine gardens, or fun cocktail bars, you’ll find something you love in Austin! 

Step 5: If you’ll be in Austin on the weekend, pick a brunch spot. Here are a ton of my favorites. 

Happy eating!