I like the County Line. Great BBQ in a great setting. But, there are as many opinions on this as there will be people attending the Round Up. Some of my favorites are just outside of Austin like Cooper's BBQ in LLano or Dahlia's Cafe in Liberty Hill. In Austin proper the food truck craze is in full swing, so many good things to eat.
Here's a copy of John Joyo's list of must try places in Austin. My brother and I have lived off of the list when we come to Austin and it doesn't disappoint. Only place I would add is Gordough's Donuts for breakfast or after dinner dessert. My favorite is the Mother Clucker.. Here's Joyo's Austin Eatery Guide: I've seen some posts about people getting to town early or staying late. We've got some great food around here. Looking for places to eat? JOYO approved restaurants in/ near Austin (not a complete list, but enough for the week): -Franklin BBQ. Lunch. Possibly the best BBQ in Austin. It's a newer place that started in a trailer, but just got it's own building on east 11th. I can't even begin to describe how incredible this bbq is. Get there early for lunch. They run out every day. The brisket is... wow. http://www.franklinbarbecue.com/ -Tacos La Guerra. Breakfast Tacos. 2510 S Congress Ave. You're not going for the environment, you're going for straight up, life changing breakfast tacos. -Maria's Taco Xpress. Breakfast Tacos. Lunch Tacos. This place is a South Austin staple. A good place to fuel up before heading to the show. I love it. http://www.tacoxpress.com -Home Slice. Pizza AND Heros. The NY style pizza by the slice is fantastic. The Italian sandwich is out of this world. It might be the best sandwich on this planet. Open LATE for slices on South Congress, walking distance from the Continental Club and Trophys. -The Hoffbrau Steak House. On 6th street since 1934. Steaks, no menu. Not fancy. Not too expensive, but not cheap either. It's just like the old days. http://www.originalhoffbrausteaks.com/ -Polvos on South 1st street. Mexican food. Great place to grab an afternoon margarita and stay for dinner. I love the Fajitas here... So does Coby. http://www.polvosaustin.com/ -Perla's Oyster & Seafood Bar on South Congress. If you want some fresh delicious seafood, this is the place! Walk from the Continental Club. Kinda fancy, but not too fancy. Great place to take the lady. http://perlasaustin.com/ -Bluebonnet Cafe in Marble Falls, TX since 1929. I've been going here since I was born. It's an hour drive into Marble Falls from Austin, but the drive is through the beautiful Hill Country. Take Hwy 71 out to 281. look at a map and save room for a piece of pie. Awesome breakfast and lunch. mmm, Mama's pot roast.... http://www.bluebonnetcafe.net/ -Opie's BBQ in Spicewood, TX. Are you in town early in the week or staying a few extra days? Take a 30-40 minute drive out into the hill country to Opie's. It's a nice drive and a good place to stop and eat. http://www.opiesbarbecue.com/ - Habanero Mexican Cafe. Awesome Lunch spot for some South Austin Mexican food. We eat here regularly for lunch. http://habanerocafe.com/ -Texas Iron Works BBQ. Lunch or Dinner. Real Deal Texas BBQ with an old Texas atmosphere. An old 1913 built Iron working shop converted to BBQ restaurant in 1978. http://www.ironworksbbq.com/ -The County Line on the Hill. bbq. Great view to have a cocktail and a cool restaurant. About 20 minutes from downtown. They can accommodate large parties, but call ahead. There are 2 locations, so don't get confused. The one on the Hill is better in my opinion (I'm right). HUGE Beef ribs. full bar. http://www.countyline.com/CountyLineHill.html -Salt Lick BBQ. Good place to go with a group. Bring your own alcoholic drinks! This is one of the most famous bbq joints in Central Texas and people make a pilgrimage out their regularly. It's fun, but be prepared to wait a bit. Have a few drinks in the mean time. Allow 45 minutes to get there. This is a good one to do during the week if you get in early or stay late. http://www.saltlickbbq.com/ -Rudy's BBQ. BBQ and Gas station. 2 locations in Austin, outstanding BBQ. Outstanding. quick, convenient, delicious. I'm pretty sure I paid their mortgage for the first year they opened. My favorite location is on Loop 360, 10-15 minutes from downtown. It's a smaill chain now, but still awesome. Creamed corn. Do it. http://www.rudys.com/SearchResults.aspx?q=all - All of the restaurants on Barton Springs road (just west of Lamar blvd) have something to offer and are all really popular and close to the weekends activities. This would include The Shady Grove (chicken fried steak), Chuy's (Chimichanga), & Romeo's Italian food (LASAGNA). - Hey Cupcake! Yes, it's the cupcake trailer on South Congress. - Arts Rib House. Lunch and dinner. Good lunch specials. The MEATLOAF at lunch is really good. Just down the street from Austin Speed Shop, it's a regular lunch place for us. http://www.artzribhouse.com/ -Matt's famous El Rancho. Since 1952. Great South Austin Mexican food on South Lamar Blvd. Get a Bob Armstrong dip for an appetizer and a margarita. This place can accommodate larger parties. http://www.mattselrancho.com/ -Shoal Creek Saloon. Fried Catfish Friday. Crawfish boils almost everyday. They have a porkchop special on Tuesdays that seriously is insane... http://www.shoalcreeksaloon.com/ - Perry's Steakhouse & Grille. This place is kind of fancy... ok it's fancy and kind of expensive. Delicious food. Friday they have a half price pork chop special that will ruin all other pork chops for you. http://www.perryssteakhouse.com/locations-menus/austin -Hoover's Cooking. Down home Southern cooking. Remember Good Eats cafe that used to be on Barton Springs back in the day? This is the chef. He opened his own place. http://hooverscooking.com/ -The Hula Hut. Great place on Lake Austin. Family friendly. http://www.hulahut.com -House Park BBQ, since 1943. This is next to the original Roundup site. Central Austin. http://houseparkbbq.com/ - Black's BBQ in Lockhart, TX. 40 minutes from downtown? Same family since 1932. http://www.blacksbbq.com/ -Your Mom's Burger Bar http://eatatyourmoms.com/ -Rosie's Tamale House on Hwy 71. About 25-30 minutes from down town. Willie Nelson's favorite restaurant. Tuesday and Saturday night is Fajita night. Good Tex Mex food. From down town take 2244 then head West on 71. Look it up. Don't go to the wrong one. -Last but not least, my favorite place is the Avenue B Grocery. It's a small grocery store that's been operating in the same place since 1909. They make the best sandwiches in existence. Get a glass bottled soda, order a paper wrapped sandwich and step back in time. Don't be a pain in the ass in here or they will kick you out. You ever seen the soup Nazi on Seinfeld? Just go in, soak it up, be respectful, choose what you want and order. Don't be in a big hurry here. I think they only take cash. This is off the beaten path, but not far at all from central Austin. Spend money here. Places like this just don't exist anymore. http://www.avenuebgrocery.info/ I'm sure I'll think of more places I left out, but this is a start. It should at least get you through a couple days worth of meals. Enjoy! John
Gourdoughs on Lamar (there's a few other locations in downtown as well) is great! Def. a guilty pleasure. If you're on 6th street and want a killer burger, check out Casino El Camino or the Jackalope. Both very good.
Hopedoddy Burger Bar on South Congress. I live here in Austin and Hula Hut and the Oasis on the lake is great also
Bump... this is a thread full of win if you are travelling from a strange land like me. Thanks to the posters that took the time to share the food secrets!
This list is pretty solid, but in the time since it was made Romeos on Barton Springs, Artz Rib House on Lamar, the Hey Cupcake trailer on S Congress, and Your Mom's Burger Bar on Airport have all closed, and the line at Franklins is so long it might as well be (though plenty of people think it's worth the wait)--welcome to New Austin! You can now get a $100 margarita at a restaurant just down Cesar Chavez from the original Matts location, though...I think Hey Cupcake might have a brick and mortar now but I haven't heard of any of the others opening at new locations. Definitely check out Ave B, practically guaranteed to appeal to HAMB types. It's sad to see some of these old places disappearing, but Austin is spoiled rotten with good food. Sent from my iPad using H.A.M.B.
There’s one of the best kept secrets in town for bbq right on south congress right off of 290. It’s a truck called Texas ranch bbq (says 12 bones bbq in the truck). There is plenty of seating... http://www.twelvebones.com/ It’s as good as anything in town and the sides are next level! This is my tray from my last visit a few weeks ago.... Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
My wife and I always catch breakfast at Star Seeds Cafe on Sunday morning before heading home. 3101 Interstate 35 Frontage Rd, Austin, TX 78722 Limited parking though...
Here are some other Austin institutions to add to your dining pleasures. These places have been overshadowed by the newer, trendier places, but all of them still offer up great food. Nau's Enfield Drug has a soda fountain and grill. They've been around since 1951. http://nausdrug.com/ All of the P-Terry's Burger Stands are great. They all have a mid century modern look. Great back drop for car pictures. https://pterrys.com/ Dirty Martin's is a great hole in the wall place that has food and a bar. It's been there since 1926. https://www.dirtymartins.com/ If you want to experience some great texas chili; Texas Chili Parlor is the place to go. http://txchiliparlor.com/ Threadgills has good solid american home cooking and most evenings they have live music. Both locations are great, but the north location (close to Top-Notch) is historic and Janis Joplin played their regularly early in her career. http://www.threadgills.com/
Salt Lick, on the way out to Dripping Springs. Pleasant country drive. Superb BBQ. Bring cash and don't dress nice.
For burgers, Dan's, Burger Tex , or Fran's all blow pt's away. Plus they really are Austin institutions.
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