Austin Food Favorites
I've only lived in Austin for the amount of time that I went to UT, but it's definitely turned me into a foodie! There are many unique restaurants or local eateries that are exclusive to Austin, and I've made it a hobby to try as many as I can! There are many sources out there that list the most popular joints in Austin, and these are just my personal recommendations, but those sources (primarily austin.eater.com and r/austinfood) have helped me discover these places to begin with!
Clicking on the markers on the map or the accordions below the map will reveal more information about the restaurant (as well as a picture that I took!). If a restaurant has multiple locations in Austin, I marked the one where I first tried it.
Click a restaurant to see a picture!Ramen Tatsu-Ya is THE social ramen joint in Austin, no contest. I've gone here multiple times with my UT friends. And even after trying many different ramen places, this one still stands out.
The most popular items here are always the tonkotsu ramen (the picture shows the sho-yu variant). I always like ordering bombs as well as extra noodles (which I find necessary, since I never get filled without them).
Kura seems to be the go-to whenever I invite my friends to Austin or we have a good occasion to celebrate. And we're all satisfied with the visit every time. If you've never been to other Kura locations across the U.S., give it a shot here.
I love going to Kura for two reasons: because I can try many different rolls at once and diversify my palette, and because you can eat as little or as much as you want, so it doesn't matter how much your friends can eat. I tend to get carried away here with plates, and I always seem to get takoyaki or beef ojyu.
Definitely my favorite chicken joint in Austin, and one with a broad range of spice levels! A friend recommended it to me after telling me that even his virtual co-workers across the U.S. knew about this place, so it's apparently a big deal!
The spiciest levels are no joke, so definitely take caution if you don't know how much you can handle! I've had both the tenders and OG chicken sandwich, and I always pair them with a side of dirty fries!
They also have good happy hour deals on weekdays from 3-6pm, so I recommend dropping by for a slightly early dinner if possible!
An Asian fusion comfort food restaurant that I've seen recommended multiple times on r/austinfood. It's quite pricey though, so I definitely come to this place when I feel like I deserve the treat.
The picture is their mapo bolognese, which is one of their most popular items, and is also quite spicy! They also have a steak & frites night every Tuesday (though I find it overpriced). I usually finish off a meal by ordering their bingsu, which is Korean-style shaved ice.
I should mention they have a sister restaurant called The Peached Tortilla, which you can find on Burnet Rd., and it's also really good!
A Turkish kebab restaurant on E 7th St. A pretty lowkey place that I discovered myself with my friends, and it's great in terms of quality and value, so I highly recommend giving it a try!
I usually go for their meat options, but you can also customize your kebab if you want! Also, I find their king size kebabs (the picture is king size) to be quite a lot (at least for my small stomach) and actually worth its price!
I've never had Ethiopian food before this place, so it was a really unique experience! Their food is served on top of injera, which is their sourdough pancake that's yeast-risen and has a spongy texture. I really like the way they arrange their food, and eating the shareable portions with our fingers was a great experience!
They also have a lunch buffet every weekday from 11am-2pm, which I haven't tried but I would probably try out in the future!
I also went to Habesha Ethiopian Restaurant which is up north (I-35 and 290), and I find that place just as good as this one!