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Looking for good eats in Austin, TX.?

I'm gonna be living in Austin, TX in a month - moving from The Bronx, NY - and I'm wondering what some good restaurants are in terms of service, price, and tasty delights. I know there's a chinatown there and I'm definitely gonna miss the NY chinatown's food. So, anybody have any input on the cheap but tasty?

Update:

http://www.chinatownaustin.com/

Yeah, there is. Well, a chinatown-in-progress anyway.

15 Answers

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  • myview
    Lv 5
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    There are sooo many good restaurants it is hard to know what are wanting, but here are some of the "best of" cheap restaurants in Austin per city search (which is usually right on). I LOVE Magnolia Cafe.

    1. Magnolia Cafe South

    1920 S Congress Ave , Austin , TX , 78704-3503

    A 24-hour Austin dining institution serving home-style favorites in a casual, bohemian setting. Taqueria Arandas No. 3

    6534 Burnet Rd , Austin , TX , 78757-2840

    Tasty, inexpensive Mexican food and no-fuss surroundings.

    2. Taqueria Arandas No. 3

    6534 Burnet Rd , Austin , TX , 78757-2840

    Tasty, inexpensive Mexican food and no-fuss surroundings.

    3. Juan in a Million

    2300 E Cesar Chavez St , Austin , TX , 78702

    Eat at this local favorite for true Mexican flavor with a friendly handshake on the side.

    4. Taco Xpress

    2529 S Lamar Blvd , Austin , TX , 78704-4961

    A tiny, homey eatery featuring inexpensive Mexican food and tons of South Austin soul.

    5. Hut's Hamburgers

    807 W Sixth St , Austin , TX , 78703

    Thick, juicy burgers topped with just about anything in a fun, laid-back space.

    6. Veggie Heaven

    1914 Guadalupe St Ste A , Austin , TX , 78705-5607

    This vegetarian/vegan stomping ground, with 54 menu choices, has something for everyone.

    7. Drakula

    8120 Research Blvd , Austin , TX , 78758

    Family owned and operated restaurant serves authentic Romanian fare in large portions with lunch specials.

    8. Portabla

    1200 W Sixth St , Austin , TX , 78703-5209

    Gourmet baked goods, sandwiches and pizzas for those on the go.

    9. Salt Lick BBQ

    18300 FM Rd 1826 , Driftwood , TX , 78619

    All-you-can-eat meats make this place worth the drive.

    10. Crown and Anchor Pub

    2911 San Jacinto Blvd , Austin , TX , 78705

    Cheap food, cold draft beer and a spacious deck make this a great post-college hangout

    You can find more by type here...http://austin.citysearch.com/bestof/categories

    You can also try the best of from Austin Chronicle (this is probably the most "Real Austin Publication". Good Luck and ENJOY.

    http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Awards/Bes...

    Source(s): Living in Austin
  • 5 years ago

    Austin Good Eats

  • 1 decade ago

    There isn't a China Town in Austin. However there are a lot of good Chinese restaurants and several good Chinese Buffets scattered around. My favorite Chinese Buffet is Chop Sticks on Airport Blvd. It's not as large as some but the food is the best of any of the Chinese Buffets in town. If you like Japanese food then on Congress Ave., right downtown, is Kyoto. Their food is excellent, authentic and the price is reasonable. Austin is probably better known though for it's Texmex (and I don't mean Taco Bell) and Barbecue restaurants which can be found all around the area. Some of the better Barbecue places are out aways. The County Line on Bee Caves Road at Loop 360, The Saltlick on Ranch Road 1826, and Donn's Texas BBQ on Hwy 290 in Oak Hill are three good ones. My favorite Texmex food is Fajitas. And the best Fajitas in the world are at the Hyatt Hotel on South Congress. Just take a designated driver along as the Fajitas MUST be accompanied by one of their fabulous Margaritas. Their Megarita comes in a glass which a normal home blender won't fill. Hope you enjoy the food here.

  • 1 decade ago

    I have lived in Austin my whole life [18 years is pretty long] and I will be attending college at the University of Texas...Not only is the music awesome so is the food!

    Kerbey Lane has the BEST gingerbread pancakes ever! If you hang with vegetarians, they can eat there and if you're a carnivore, so can you! anything on the Kerbey Lane menu is tasty and people are very down to earth...and its open 24 hours...good for college kids that want a lot of food at small prices

    Thundercould subs...locally austin since forever! i've been eating there since i was 5...the office favorite [egg salad and bacon] is good...but than again so is the whole menu...fresh subs and soup...so much better than subway

    Make sure to check out Junior at the Union downtown...Yes, I KNOW it's Wendy's but he had a movie made on him...the fastest fingers in the state...it just fun watch even if you don't really like Wendy's!

    Alamo Drafthouse might be a little expensive but where else can you eat burgers, fries, nachos, and all the other golden good-bad foods? My answer is your house...but that's boring! Watch a new release or an old classic while eating your favorite foods! Sometimes, there are themed dinners...Elvis, Spaghetti westerns etc...again tad expensive but don't you want to be full and happy!?

    Texas is legendary for it bbq right? three of the best places to go for that are:

    salt lick: this place serves it up family style...they keep bringing you potato salad, beans, bread, pickles, onions, cole slaw, and all the ribs, brisket, sausage and sauce you can eat! SO GOOD! make sure you take some sauce home with you!

    &&

    rudy's: this "sause" is so good, most advertisements show people drinking it...yes, it is drinkable...yes, I have tried...everything is good here...brisket is king in texas and its good!

    &&

    Stubb's: yea they are known for music but there bbq is awesome too...not as good as salt lick [my fave] but there cheese spinach and other down home sides are kick ***!

    Evita's Bonanita down south first has an AMAZING salsa display they give you 8 different salsas [all hot all good!] and thats a meal to itself...try the food though...not just the salsa...good date restaurant

    GOOD LUCK!

    HAPPY EATING!

    and REMEMBER:

    ANY ANY ANY restaurant on South First is AWESOME...I really like Sunrise Tacos and Subs, La Mexicana, and Arranda's for cheap but good eats...

    Source(s): my experience as an 18 year Austinite!
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  • 1 decade ago

    Best Pizza: Brick Oven

    Best Steak: Dan McCluskys

    Best Salad: LaMadelines

  • 1 decade ago

    Polvo's on South First is dang good Mexican food (not tex-mex, which is similar but completey different). If you want steak try Austin Land and Cattle. There are alot of really good restaurants in Austin so just ask someone when you get here to reccomend something.

    Source(s): Austin resident
  • 1 decade ago

    I'm not sure if you care for mexican food, but I visited Austin a few months ago. There is a mexican restuarant on Barton Springs road, in a shopping center parking lot, a lovely place with wonderful food; I can't remember the name but I plan on returning in two weeks , and I will eat there again.

  • Arraya
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago

    OH MY GOD!! I lived in texas for two years and there is this place called Freebird burrito in austin. Listen, these things are so huge and so good. I've beeen back in ny for 6 yrs now and I am absolutely JONESING for one of these things!! I cannot even tell you how good they taste and how HUGE they are. will you please buy one and ship it to me? I swear to God I'll make it worth your time!!! you are going to think I am nuts, but I took a picture of one of these things(it was a foot long at least) and every once in a while I take the picture out and drool!! Please try this place they have so many ingredients and you pick exactly how you want it made..

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Well, there's always El Arroyo (translation is "The Ditch") on West 5th. There are a few other locations, but the original "dive" location is the best. One of the few things I like about Austin, actually. Be sure to turn down your speakers when you click on the web site http://www.ditch.com/ because they've added music (and it isn't low key).

  • 1 decade ago

    ok im from austin, and here are some of my favorites:

    best sub: thundercloud subs

    best hamburger and breakfast:Dan's Hamburgers

    Mexican Food: El Azetca, Amaya's Taco Village

    best comfort food:Hill's Cafe off of S.Congress

    best steak: Texas Roadhouse

    best breakfast tacos: Bill Miller BBQ

    best bbq: Southside market (its outside of austin in elgin off of 290)

    all of these make me miss home, wish i was there, hope this helps. i wish someone had done this for me, since im in houston now.

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