Lunch and Dinner Spots in Austin, Texas

1. Order tacos at 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 at Licha's Cantina 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.

Find it at this Address: 1306 East Sixth Street, Austin, Texas, Phone: 512-480-5960

2. Dine at historic 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.

Find it at this Address: 315 Congress Avenue, Suite 200, Austin, Texas, Phone: 512-482-8842

3. Take the kids to 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.

Find it at this Address: 6705 Highway 290 No. 503, Austin, Texas, Phone: 512-584-8084

4. Have lunch at 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.

Find it at this Address: 5520 Burnet Rd, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78756, Phone: 512-330-4439

5. Order great steak and seafood at 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.

Find it at this Address: 400 Colorado Street, 512-482-9000; 10225 Research Blvd, Suite 4000, Austin, Texas, Phone: 512-794-8300

6. Have a romantic lunch at 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.

Find it at this Address: 301 East 5th Street, Austin, Texas, Phone: 512-472-1860

7. Order a burger at 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.

Find it at this Address: 1400 South Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas, Phone: 512-243-7505

8. Have a picnic with great food from Veracruz All Natural Food Trailer

Veracruz All Natural Food Trailer is a food truck with several 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.

Find it at this Address: 1704 East Cesar Chavez, 512-981-1760; 4208 Manchaca Rd, 512-629-8238; 1108 E 6th St, 512-318-1830