Good Eats: 10+ Local Restaurants in Austin We Love

January 6, 2023
| 1:29 PM

Are you the kind of person that likes to eat out at a chain restaurant or local? Whichever you prefer, we encourage you to check out one of these local restaurants in Austin. There is something special about supporting the local community and feeling like family when you walk through the restaurant doors.

The guest experience is like no other, the food is impeccable and it benefits the local economy. Trust us when you say keeping it local with these restaurants is the way to go.

📷 Barley Swine

Barley Swine

Thinking about visiting Barley Swine in Austin? Let us tell you a little more about this restaurant!

Barley Swine opened up in 2010 with the commitment to supporting farmers and ranchers from the local region. The owners have created a dining experience that features multiple courses inspired by the farmer friends.

They offer shared plate and tasting menu options that change every so often on the availability of seasonal ingredients. It’s a fun and creative experience in which guests love to share in excitement.

Hours & Location

Mon–Wed | CLOSED
Thurs | 5PM–8:30PM
Fri & Sat | 5PM–9PM
Sun | 5PM–8PM

📍6555 Burnet Rd #400, Austin, TX 78757

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Suerte

You’ll fall in love with Suerte, an award-winning restaurant that comes to life thanks to a cooking ingredient, maza. At Suerte, you’ll be able to enjoy a festive atmosphere and indulge in the delicious Mexican cuisine and culture. Sip on a Nada Paloma made with Mezcal y Tequila Blanco and devour a savory Quesadilla con Calabaza. Prepare yourself and leave room for dessert because the Chocotaco is glorious!

We also love that chef Fermin Nuñez and his team are all about using local and fresh ingredients from neighboring farmers to create special East Austin flavors.

Did someone say Happy Hour? More like Lucky Hour! You’ll definitely want to make your way to Suerte, Sunday through Thursday from 5-6pm for amazing deals! $2 off House Cocktails, Draft Beers, and Wines by the glass. Check out all the specials here!

Hours & Location

Mon–Wed | 5PM–10PM
Thurs & Fri | 5PM–11PM
Sat | 11AM–11PM
Sun | 11AM–10PM

📍1800 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702

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Top Selfie-Worthy Bathrooms in Austin

Need to freshen up while at your Suerte visit? Enjoy the beautiful décor in the powder room and make sure to grab a selfie while you’re at it. Take a look at all the other spots around Austin that have amazing selfie-worth bathrooms too!

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📷 Dai Due

Dai Due

Dai Due really cares about the freshness and ingredients that go into the meals they create. They only use foods that they can find in the region, therefore, the scarcities of the seasons are always the theme of the meals.

What makes Dai Due unique is that they are all about the meat. For all the meat lovers, this place is for you! We recommend ordering the Biscuits and Gravy with Venison Breakfast Sausage, Grilled Giant Beef Rib with Potato and Sauerkraut Dumplings, and Roast Half Chicken. It’s a fan favorite that repeat customers rave about!

If you want to take it a step further, one unique feature is that you have the option of also watching the butchers break down primal cuts in the open butcher stop at the front of the restaurant. Super unique and would be great for the Insta photos!

Hours & Location

Mon | CLOSED
Tues–Thurs | 5PM–10PM
Fri–Sun | 10AM–4PM; 5PM–10PM

📍2406 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78722

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📷 Hillside Farmacy

Hillside Farmacy

One of the many reasons we love to eat locally is because of the history that comes along with many of these restaurants. Hillside Farmacy is an antique chic eatery located in the heart of Austin! This restaurant resides in a building that was owned by one of the oldest standing African American East Austin residents. The owners try to keep the original family’s vision of keeping the community healthy, just in the form of good local food.

They offer options such as Buttermilk Pancakes, Brunchy Monte Cristo, Kale Caesar, Cinnamon Sugar Donuts, and lots more!

Hours & Location

Mon–Tues | CLOSED
Wed & Thurs | 10AM–3PM, 5PM–10PM
Fri & Sat | 9AM–3PM, 5PM–10PM
Sunday | 9AM–3PM

📍1209 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702

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📷 Picnik Austin

Picnik

The owners of Picnik really aimed to please everyone as the menu items cater to everyone. If you’re in the mood for a cocktail, Picnik offers that and more. In the mood for some coffee and tea? Picnik has it! Craving chips, dips, breakfast, or lunch options? Find it all under one roof!

As the motto states, it is the place for “real food and good vibes.”

Hours & Location

Multiple Locations, check website for times.

📍1700 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
📍1600 S 1st St suite 110, Austin, TX 78704
📍4801 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78756

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@stufftodoinaustin

Picnik has the tastiest food 🤤 #stufftodoinaustin #austin #atx #austintexas #atxtiktok #austintx #texas #atxlife #austintx512

♬ Che La Luna – Louis Prima with Sam Butera & The Witnesses

Salty Sow

Salty Sow is an American Gastropub that serves contemporary farmhouse fare. They have hand-crafted cocktails and entrees that are served fresh daily. The owner strives to create a clean, farm-to-table approach when making each meal. A few sneak peek dinner options include the following: Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes, the yummiest Macaroni & Cheese, Candied Pork Belly, genuine Blackened Redfish, and lots more. We know you’ll love everything you order!

Trust us when we say, you’ll need to check out the Salty Sow in person to get the full experience, it’s got to be one of our favorite Local Restaurants in Austin!

Hours & Location

Mon–Sat | 4:30PM–10PM
Sun | 4:30PM–9PM

📍1917 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78722

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📷 @saltandtime

Salt & Time

A casual all-day cafe at Republic Square in the heart of Downtown Austin. Salt & Time serves breakfast, lunch, and a light dinner as well as espresso, beer, and wine.

The owner takes great pride in developing new products that highlight the native flavors and ingredients of Texas. Each menu has items that are both on the sweet and savory side.

Perfect options for what one is feeling at a certain time of day when hungry.

Hours & Location

Every Day | 10AM–10PM

📍1912 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702

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📷 Emmer & Rye

Emmer & Rye

The team at Emmer & Rye pay very close attention to the detail of their food. For example, the team does not just bake its own bread and pasta, they obsess over the grains. They do so because they want to maximize everything to its full potential. The chefs want you to ask questions when you dine at Emmer & Rye. They want you to understand and be able to enjoy the whole kitchen’s process and experience.

Although the food here is delicious, we do recommend any pasta dish. There is so much flavor in each bite!

Hours & Location

Mon | CLOSED
Tues–Sun | 5:30PM–10PM

📍SkyHouse, 51 Rainey St UNIT 110, Austin, TX 78701

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Launderette

For anyone that has ever stepped in Launderette, you can vouch that you leave feeling revived with a warm, homey sensation. The menu is vibrant, colorful, and offers “global flavors” thanks to Chef-Owner Rene Ortiz! Step into the relaxing but chic atmosphere for brunch, dinner, dessert, yummy cocktails options, and loads more!

Pro Tip: Make sure to grab yourself some Beet Hummus as a starter and Fried Chicken Sammie as your main entrée! Wash it all down with a Wild Honey cocktail or two!

Hours & Location

Mon | CLOSED
Tues–Thurs | 5PM–10PM
Fri–Sun | 11AM–2:15PM, 5PM–10PM

📍2115 Holly St, Austin, TX 78702

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Our Delicious & Classy Launderette Experience

@stufftodoinaustin

So cute 😭 #stufftodoinaustin #ShareTheMagic #austin #atx #austintexas #atxtiktok #austintx #atxlife #texas #austintiktok

♬ Water Under the Bridge – Adele

Stay Classy Austin: Top Boujee Spots on the East Side

Are you really loving everything Launderette has to offer? Well, check out a few other delicious and boujee spots on the East Side. Grab some cocktails, take some pics, and indulge in all the flavors!

Visit Blog

📷 Odd Duck

Odd Duck

Odd Duck is an upscale eatery that’s located in the Zilker neighborhood. They’re dubbed as the place to share locally sourced food, drink, and hospitality, and that sure is the case. Gathering over a Wagyu Burger or Green Onion Biscuits and Smoked Ham sounds delicious!

Pro Tip: Don’t miss out on the awesome Happy Hour drinks specials! Sunday through Thursday from 5:00pm–6:00pm enjoy $8 draft Palomas and so much more! Check website for the full details.

Hours & Location

Sun–Thurs | 5PM–9PM
Fri & Sat | 5PM–9:30PM

📍1201 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

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Local Foods

A tasty gem brought to us from Houston, Local Foods is all about “eating with purpose.” Making sure the food they serve is always fresh, hyper-seasonal, and comes from delicious local ingredients! You’ll love the Over-Stuffed Sandwiches like the Gulf Seafood and Soulful Salads like the Garden Sammie.

Local Foods is all about positive partnerships, good vibes, inspiring experiences, is always committed to the community, and care about the food you eat.

Hours & Location

Sun–Thurs | 10:45AM–8PM
Fri & Sat | 10:45AM–8:30PM

📍454 W 2nd St, Austin, TX 78701

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📷 Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill

Moonshine Grill

“Bootlegged and Bountiful.”

If you’re in the mood for some delicious comfort food but in a chic and elevated atmosphere, then Moonshine Grill is your spot. Because sometimes you’re craving something familiar with homey tastes like Chicken & Waffles and Banana Cream Pudding while you’re enjoying a special night on the town. Moonshine Grill is the perfect relaxed environment for those date nights and special occasion outings.

Grab yourself a Bourbon Slush cocktail to seal the deal on your “Big City Tastes!”

Hours & Location

Multiple Locations, check website for times.

📍303 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701
📍10525 W Parmer Ln, Austin, TX 78717

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Ramen Tatsu-Ya

We’re lucky enough to have tons of local restaurants in Austin and one of our favorites has got to be Ramen Tatsu-Ya. Here you can treat yourself to some Japanese soul food whenever you need to feel nice and warm inside. At Ramen Tatsu-Ya their goal is to “educate people on what Ramen truly is. It’s the soul food of Japan.”

Treat yourself to some Gyozas for starters and slurp on an Ol’ Skool (Assari) it was our favorite!

Hours & Location

Multiple Locations, check website for times.

📍1600 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702
📍1234 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
📍8557 Research Blvd #126, Austin, TX 78758

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Other Reasons Why We Love Local Restaurants in Austin

One of the many reasons we love to eat locally is because of the history that comes along with many of these restaurants.

Whether it’s the history of the recipes being passed on from generation to generation. Or whether it is the building structure, where it came from, and how it’s now renovated. There is something special when one chooses to partake in supporting each of these local restaurants in Austin.

Let us know which one from above is your next go-to place and make sure to follow the Stuff to Do in Austin adventures, be sure to follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook!

Curated by

Samantha Sanchez

San Antonio local since 2019 | I love to eat | I love to drink | I love to explore | Lifestyle - Fashion Friendly ✨

It’s better in the app

Good Eats: 10+ Local Restaurants in Austin We Love

Barley Swine

Suerte

Top Selfie-Worthy Bathrooms in Austin

Dai Due

Hillside Farmacy

Picnik

Salty Sow

Salt & Time

Emmer & Rye

Launderette

Our Delicious & Classy Launderette Experience

Stay Classy Austin: Top Boujee Spots on the East Side

Odd Duck

Local Foods

Moonshine Grill

Ramen Tatsu-Ya

Other Reasons Why We Love Local Restaurants in Austin

Curated by

Samantha Sanchez