Licha's Cantina
Licha’s Cantina is a Mexican restaurant located on East Sixth Street and named after owner Daniel Brook’s mother, a Mexico City native named Alicia “Licha” Rivera. With a casual ambience and fresh, innovative food, the catina promises an excellent dining experience. The extensive menu includes appetizers, salads, quesadillas, tacos, pambazos, tlacoyos, sopecitos, and a huge variety of main dishes, some of which are vegetarian or gluten free. The bar serves beer, wine, tequilas, mezcales, and cocktails made with freshly squeezed juices; happy hour features a variety of drinks and food. Licha’s Cantina is open for dinner Tuesday to Thursday, lunch and dinner on Saturday, and brunch on Sunday.
1306 East Sixth Street, Austin, Texas, Phone: 512-480-5960
Swift's Attic
Swift’s Attic, located in downtown Austin on Congress Avenue, lies not far from the Colorado River and Republic Square. Opened a few years ago by C.K. Chin and Stuart Thomajan, the stylish retro-chic restaurant operates on the second floor of a historic 1905 downtown building, and sits above the well-known Elephant Room. Executive chef Zack Northcutt’s menu includes an eclectic blend of dishes with a focus on fresh ingredients - Cobia Crudo, Crispy Pig Ear Lettuce Wraps, Fried Lockhart Quail, and Smoked Trout Salad. With a well-stocked bar and a diverse menu of craft beers, Swift’s Attic is open for lunch and dinner and brunch on Sunday. Things to Do in Austin
315 Congress Avenue, Suite 200, Austin, Texas, Phone: 512-482-8842
Via 313 Pizzeria
Via 313 Pizzeria’s main location on Highway 290 serves Detroit-style pizzas, appetizers, salads, deserts, and non-alcoholic drinks while its two trailer locations serve just exceptional pizza. Brothers Brandon and Uriah Hunt were born and raised in Detroit and brought their genuine Detroit-style pizzas to Austin. The atmosphere is casual and the pizzeria is open every day for lunch and dinner. Their extensive menu features square pizzas and unique toppings. The Cadillac is topped with gorgonzola cheese, fig preserves, prosciutto, parmesan, and a balsamic glaze. There are also vegetarian and vegan choices.
6705 Highway 290 No. 503, Austin, Texas, Phone: 512-584-8084
Read more: Best Time to Visit Austin, Texas & Other Travel Tips.
Casino el Camino Bar and Grill
Located on Sixth Street in downtown Austin, Casino el Camino Bar and Grill is a neighborhood bar famous for its huge burgers. Opened in 1994, it remains a popular and casual hangout for people who work in the area. The burgers are made with three-quarters of a pound of Angus Beef. In addition to its burgers, the restaurant serves hot dogs, buffalo chicken wings, sandwiches, and a full selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. The restaurant is also famous for its unique jukebox.
517 East 6th Street, Austin, Texas, Phone: 512-469-9330
The Peached Tortilla
The Peached Tortilla is a hip Austin restaurant founded by Tokyo and Atlanta native Eric Silverstein, growing from a popular regional food truck into a full-service restaurant, venue, and catering company. True to the chef's heritage, the restaurant serves up a delicious menu of Southern comfort fare with Asian influences, acclaimed by international publications such as Plate Magazine. Daily lunch service focuses on street food favorites such as bahn mi tacos, while dinner menus offer up shareable plates such as Malaysian laksa bowls, Southern-style chow fun, and pork belly buns. An extensive cocktail menu is curated by beverage director Kevin Kok, pulling on both Mexican and Asian influences. Regional craft beers are served up on tap, along with an extensive wine list.
5520 Burnet Rd, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78756, Phone: 512-330-4439
Truluck's
Truluck’s is an upscale steak and seafood restaurant with two locations in Austin, famous for their fresh crabs from their own fisheries. The restaurant takes pride in its commitment to sustainability and its antibiotic- and hormone-free meats. The extensive menu includes many seafood appetizers, soups and salads, a chilled seafood platter, entrees such as beef, chicken, pork chops, surf and turf, crab, lobster, and fish. The bar offers wine and many tempting cocktails. Truluck’s is open for dinner every day. The restaurant is business casual with elegant decor.
400 Colorado Street, 512-482-9000; 10225 Research Blvd, Suite 4000, Austin, Texas, Phone: 512-794-8300
Eddie V's Prime Seafood
Located on East 5th Street in downtown Austin, Eddie V’s Prime Seafood is an elegant fine dining restaurant with a cocktail lounge called the V Lounge that features live jazz music. The restaurant is known for its fresh seafood which arrives daily, and its hand cut steaks which are aged for nearly a month before being served. The restaurant also has an oyster bar with oysters, sashimi, crab, shrimp, tuna, and a combination of lobster, shrimp, oysters, and lump crab. Eddie V’s Prime Seafood and Steaks is open every day for dinner and offers private and semi-private dining rooms for special occasions.
301 East 5th Street, Austin, Texas, Phone: 512-472-1860
Hopdoddy Burger Bar
Hopdoddy Burger Bar is located on South Congress Avenue. This hip eco-minded restaurant serves all-natural food and great beers. The meat is freshly ground in the restaurant every day with buns homemade and freshly baked two times each day. In addition to the burgers, Hopdoddy serves other sandwiches like chicken, lamb, tuna, turkey, and a vegetarian black bean-corn patty. Beer, wine, and cocktails are also available. Hopdoddy Burger Bar is open every day for lunch and dinner.
1400 South Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas, Phone: 512-243-7505
Veracruz All Natural Food Trailer
Veracrus All Natural Food Trailer is a food truck with three locations in Austin. The original location has picnic tables located on East Cesar Chavez Street. Two sisters, Reyna and Maritza, who were born in Veracruz, Mexico, opened their first food trailer in 2008 selling natural drinks, smoothies, and cones. Today the menu has expanded to include very popular tacos which are known for their fresh ingredients. The menu also includes homemade tortillas and chips, quesadillas, tortas and salsa.
1704 East Cesar Chavez, 512-981-1760; 4208 Manchaca Rd, 512-629-8238; 1108 E 6th St, 512-318-1830
Cypress Grill
Cypress Grill is a popular Austin eatery which manages to impress time and time again. Guests will find a relaxed atmosphere, friendly wait-staff and seriously good food on offer. The menu contains a comprehensive list of American and Cajun favorites, all of which are prepared using the finest locally-sourced ingredients from trusted suppliers. Everything that is brought to your table has been hand-made from scratch on the premises including all their salad dressings and sauces. Dishes which often get rave reviews include their delicious Fried Shrimp, Crawfish Etouffee and their legendary Bread and Butter Pudding with Bourbon Sauce. They also serve a wonderful Creole Brunch.
4404 W. William Cannon Street, Austin, TX 78749, 512 358 7474
Moonshine Grill
The Moonshine Grill is located in what was a former trading store, built in 1852. After many decades the building was re-imagined and opened to the public as the Moonshine Patio Bar and Grill in 2003. Thanks to their great recipe for success, Moonshine Grill continues to please both regulars and visitors with their classic American/Creole comfort food. A quick look at their menu will reveal an excellent choice of appetizers, soups, salads, sandwiches and entrée platters which are available during the day. If you stop by for dinner you can enjoy a selection of shareable appetizers, followed by mouth-watering entrees, sides, salads and desserts. On Sundays you can feast on an Eat-All-You-Can buffet brunch.
303 Red River Street, Austin, TX 78701, 512 236 9599
Stiles Switch BBQ and Brew
Named after an 1800’s railway stop, Stiles Switch BBQ and Brew perfectly combines legendary Texas BBQ with cold Texas craft brews. The restaurant is set in the historic art deco Violet Crown Shopping Center and endeavors to provide the atmosphere of an old Austin neighborhood-style eatery. The BBQ side of the restaurant is under the expert management of a pitmaster who has more than 15 years experience and will wow you with his perfectly prepared and cooked meats. The brew pub is proud to offer a range of local Austin craft beers on tap, sourced from both established and emerging breweries.
6610 N. Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78752, 512 380 9199
Magnolia Cafe South
Magnolia Café has been a favorite meeting place in Austin for more than 40 years. You can choose an indoor table in the air-conditioned main dining area or opt for alfresco dining on the pretty patio. Magnolia Café serves an anytime breakfast with great choices for all tastes including vegetarians. Breakfast items like omelets, Huevos Rancheros and Breakfast Tacos are joined by a variety of delicious burgers, sandwiches, TexMex platters and house specials for lunch-time diners. Just a few of their popular specialties include their vegetarian Magnolia Enchilades and Garden Enchilades, their Gingerbread, Banana, Pecan Pancakes and their Eggs Zapetino.
1920 S. Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704, 512 445 0000
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Iron Works BBQ
Located in an historic building which was once an ornamental iron work shop, Iron Works BBQ has been serving delicious, traditional Texas BBQ for more than 40 years. The meats are prepared using a secret dry rub before being masterfully barbecued in the true Texas style and served in a variety of ways. You can order a BBQ plate which comes with your choice of meats, 2 sides, pickles, onions, bread and their very special BBQ sauce. If you prefer, you can enjoy your favorite BBQ meat inside a delectable white bread or bun sandwich. Other options include sliced meats sold by the pound for sharing and family takeout meals to be enjoyed at home.
100 Red River Street, Austin, TX 78701, 512 478 4855
Conclusion
From excellent burgers and food trucks to elegant dining in an indoor or outdoor setting, the restaurants in Austin offer vacationers a variety of options. Dine at a casual Mexican eatery, sample farm-to-table cuisine in a historic building, taste great pizza, grilled meats, steaks or seafood. If you are looking for a quick bite to eat while sightseeing, stop by one of the local food trucks which serve delicious tacos, smoothies and other favorites. Here are the best Austin lunch spots.
