Food · Austin · United States
What to eat in Austin
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Austin, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
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Quick answer
Start with Central Texas brisket, Breakfast tacos and Queso. Lining up before opening at a famous barbecue joint is an Austin ritual; bring a chair, water and patience, and order by weight when you reach the counter. Famous barbecue spots often sell out by early afternoon; arrive before opening.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Central Texas brisket
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 5
- Tipping
- Tipping is expected: about 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two per drink at…
- Food experiences
- 4
9 foods to try
Dish
1.Central Texas brisket
Beef brisket rubbed simply with salt and pepper and smoked for many hours over post oak until it has a dark bark and a pink smoke ring, sold by weight on butcher paper with white bread, pickles and onions.
Where: Franklin Barbecue in East Austin and other well-known pits; queues form for hours before the most famous ones open, and Lockhart is an hour away.
Breakfast · Vegetarian
2.Breakfast tacos
Flour tortillas filled with eggs and fillings such as bacon, chorizo, potato or beans and cheese, eaten for breakfast across the city; the 'migas' taco with crispy tortilla strips is an Austin favourite.
Where: Taquerías and food trucks citywide, especially in East Austin and South Austin.
Snack · Vegetarian
3.Queso
Warm, melted cheese dip, often with green chilli, guacamole and ground beef stirred in, served with tortilla chips. It is a Tex-Mex staple at nearly every table.
Where: Tex-Mex restaurants across the city.
Dish
4.Tex-Mex enchiladas
Corn tortillas rolled around cheese or meat and smothered in chilli con carne gravy and melted cheese, with rice and refried beans — the classic Tex-Mex plate.
Where: Long-established Tex-Mex restaurants on South Congress, South Lamar and in East Austin.
Bakery · Vegetarian
5.Kolaches
Soft, slightly sweet buns filled with fruit or cream cheese, brought to Texas by Czech immigrants. The sausage-filled version, a klobasnek, is a Texas variation.
Where: Bakeries and doughnut shops in Austin, and Czech bakeries in West, Texas, on the drive to Dallas.
Dish
6.Smoked sausage and ribs
Barbecue joints also serve smoked pork ribs, beef ribs and sausage links, often jalapeño-cheddar, a legacy of the German and Czech meat markets of Central Texas.
Where: Barbecue restaurants across the city and in Lockhart, Taylor and Luling.
Drink · Vegetarian
7.Frozen margarita
Lime-and-tequila margaritas blended or machine-frozen, a staple on patios through the long hot season.
Where: Tex-Mex restaurant patios across the city.
Dish
8.Chicken-fried steak
A thin beef steak breaded and fried like fried chicken, smothered in peppery cream gravy and served with mashed potatoes.
Where: Diners and old-style Texas restaurants; the Broken Spoke dance hall serves it before the dancing.
Dessert · Vegetarian
9.Pecan pie
The pecan is the state tree of Texas, and pecan pie, rich with butter, sugar and toasted nuts, is a classic dessert.
Where: Bakeries, barbecue joints and diners across Austin and the Hill Country.
Food experiences
Barbecue queue
Lining up before opening at a famous barbecue joint is an Austin ritual; bring a chair, water and patience, and order by weight when you reach the counter.
Food-truck parks
Trailer parks of food trucks on South Congress, South First and East Austin offer tacos, barbecue and international dishes with picnic tables and often a bar.
Breakfast-taco crawl
Compare migas, chorizo and potato tacos at several taquerías in East and South Austin in one morning.
Lockhart barbecue day
Drive an hour to Lockhart, the 'Barbecue Capital of Texas', and try several of its historic meat markets in one afternoon.
Quick bites and street food
- Breakfast tacos — Taquerías and food trucks citywide, especially in East Austin and South Austin.
- Queso — Tex-Mex restaurants across the city.
- Kolaches — Bakeries and doughnut shops in Austin, and Czech bakeries in West, Texas, on the drive to Dallas.
Vegetarian options
Of the 9 foods in this guide, 5 are usually vegetarian: Breakfast tacos, Queso, Kolaches, Frozen margarita and Pecan pie. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Famous barbecue spots often sell out by early afternoon; arrive before opening.
- Many food trucks accept cards only; check before you queue.
- Tex-Mex restaurants bring free chips and salsa to the table.
- Patios are the default in spring and autumn, but in summer you will want shade or air conditioning by midday.
- Book ahead during SXSW, ACL and Grand Prix weekends, when restaurants fill.
Tipping
Tipping is expected: about 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two per drink at bars, 15–20% for taxis and rideshares, and something in the tip jar for musicians.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Y'all | You all |
| Fixin' to | About to |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Austin famous for?
Central Texas brisket, Breakfast tacos, Queso and Tex-Mex enchiladas. Beef brisket rubbed simply with salt and pepper and smoked for many hours over post oak until it has a dark bark and a pink smoke ring, sold by weight on butcher paper with white bread, pickles and onions.
+Is Austin good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Breakfast tacos, Queso and Kolaches.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Austin?
Tipping is expected: about 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two per drink at bars, 15–20% for taxis and rideshares, and something in the tip jar for musicians.