10 Must-Try Restaurants in East Austin
East Austin is a powerhouse of delicious dining options, and there's a good reason why: east Austin is the BEST Austin. From its vibrant history and concert venues to its craft breweries and dive bars to the new restaurants popping up regularly, East Austin is a hot place to be in ATX. If you find yourself asking where to eat in east Austin, just look through this list of 10 must-try restaurants and pick one. I promise it will be amazing.
About me: I’m Kelsey, a bestselling travel book author and the creator of 3 Texas travel websites. As a native Texan, I spend my own time and money exploring this state to help millions of readers find the best food, things to do, places to stay in Austin and beyond. Check out my other sites: TheSanAntonioThings.com and TheWacoThings.com!
There are far too many places to list every single worthwhile east Austin restaurant here, so I'll highlight my 10 top picks for best East Austin restaurants. Then, if you want more ideas, read on for a few more great options of places to eat and drink east of I-35.
10 Must-Try Restaurants In East Austin
1. Este
COASTAL MEXICAN
Both Este and its sister restaurant, Suerte, could easily make a "best of east ATX" list. But for the sake of brevity, I'm just including this one because it's a bit newer to the Austin restaurant scene.
Este has the same (borderline obsessive) approach to heirloom corn and nixtamlized tortillas as Surety, but this one is inspired by the coastal seafood cuisine of Mexico. You can expect a lively, open-concept restaurant with tall ceilings and skylights (it was quite the renovation job to transform the building from the old Eastside Cafe restaurant that inhabited this space for years and years!), indoor dining and an outdoor patio, and a small lounge where you can order a drink and apps while you wait for a table.
Raw seafood, Mexican-inspired coastal dishes, and (of course) an emphasis on excellent corn tortillas. Este feels fun and celebratory.
WEBSITE | 2113 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78722
2. Joe's Bakery and Coffee Shop
TEX-MEX
If you're looking for the best breakfast tacos in east Austin, they're at Joe's Bakery and Coffee Shop. This small, no frills Tex-Mex restaurant has been family-run since 1962.
The homemade flour tortillas are amazing, and they don't skimp on the fillings here. For lunch, my favorite taco is the carne guisada (so good on a cold, rainy day!) and the bacon-egg-cheese always does the trick for breakfast.
Expect a crowd on weekend mornings.
WEBSITE | 2400 E Cesar Chavez St #304, Austin, TX 78702
3. Holiday on 7th
FANCY COCKTAILS + FOOD
When someone asks me for a good patio bar with excellent cocktails, I immediately ask them, have you been to Holiday on 7th?? It's the cutest spot that is actually a renovated car mechanic shop (yup!) and now has a desert-vibe feel with white walls, lots of plants, and a HUGE back patio.
Seat yourself and a server will come take your order for fancy cocktails. The frozen Mexican martinis are the #1 seller here, but they have a bunch of other one-of-a-king cocktails and fancy n/a concoctions on the menu.
And the food is amazing. Try the delicious snacky plates like the cashew onion dip with potato chips and "lots of chives," and then be sure to splurge on the larger plates - the pasta, fancy salads, and burger are all divine.
WEBSITE | 5020 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702
4. Birdie’s
AMERICAN WINE BAR
This is one of the cutest neighborhood wine bars and restaurants you’ll ever see! I love it for date night or a casual meet-up with a girlfriend.
Birdie’s is a husband/wife-owned counter-service restaurant that’s walk-in only. They change the menu daily based on whatever is available, but just know that you’re getting the freshest, most sustainable, and most delicious local ingredients they were able to find that day.
The wine list is incredible (talk to a staff member to help you find a fun bottle) and the environment just feels like a local eatery you’ll want to frequent again and again.
WEBSITE | 2944 E 12th St Unit A, Austin, TX 78702
5. Dai Due
FARM-TO-TABLE TEXAS CUISINE
Dai Due is one of the most exceptional dining experiences in Austin. From the smoky grilled sourdough bread with whipped lard to the 16-oz dry-aged wagyu rib eye, the menu at Dai Due is a meat-forward feast of local and expertly prepared hard-to-find eats from Texas. It’s completely unlike any other restaurant in Austin.
Everything on the menu is sourced in Texas, including a local game that restaurant owner Jesse Griffiths hunts. (In fact, Griffiths even wrote a James Beard Award-winning book all about the feral hog titled “The Hog.” ) They have incredible dry-aged steaks, interesting local Texas wine, and the best dang bread, biscuits, and desserts of your life.
WEBSITE | 2406 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78722
6. Justine’s
LATE-NIGHT FRENCH
It's not new or flashy, but Justine's has stood the test of time for its late-night, romantic, memorable French food in a dark and sultry setting.
Make a reservation in advance (especially if you’re dining on the weekend), and then prepare to be amazed by their fun French cocktails, homemade French Onion Soup, steak frites, and other classic French fare. It's certainly one of the best east Austin restaurants.
There's a small bungalow with interior dining, but everyone in Austin knows the best place is on the outdoor patio. In the cooler months, they cover the patio with a very cool tent that's all deep red velvet and chandeliers. It's just as fun as the outdoor patio in the summertime, although very different.
WEBSITE | 4710 E 5th St., Austin, TX 78702
7. Nixta
FANCY TACOS
From James Beard Award-winning chef Edgar Rico comes Nixta, a small taco restaurant tucked into east Austin. These might be the best corn tortillas you’ll find in the city of Austin; they take great pains to source and prepare the corn perfectly, and it truly shows. The tacos aren’t your typical taco truck offerings like carnitas and barbacoa… Instead, you’ll get to try really “chef-y” offerings like yellowfin, smoked sweet potato, and duck-fat refried beans. This is a counter service/no reservations restaurant.
WEBSITE | 2512 E 12th St, Austin, TX 78702
8. Kemuri Tatsu-sa
JAPANESE FUSION
Kemuri Tatsu-ya a Japanese Izakaya-meets-Texas BBQ. Yep. Totally unique and totally wonderful. Order some Japanese whisky cocktails, and be sure to try something from the raw bar, the munchies, the skewers, and the smoked entrees.
WEBSITE | 2713 E 2nd St, Austin, TX 78702
9. Oseyo
KOREAN
Hands down, the best Korean-American restaurant in east Austin is Oseyo. The menu is inspired by the owner’s mother, who had comforting, classic Korean recipes she often served at home. The result is a restaurant that feels comfortable, like you’re eating at home (if a home had servers and the most amazing dishes prepared for you!)
The grilled dishes are served with steamed rice, lettuce wraps, dipping sauces, and daily banchan (side dishes like pickled radishes and kimchi), Oseyo has a communal feel to it. This is actually a really great place to bring families.
WEBSITE | 1628 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702
10. ezov
UPSCALE MEDITERRANEAN
From Emmer & Rye hospitality, Ezov is a Mediterranean restaurant that sources all of their ingredients locally. Which, if you know anything about this group of restaurants (Hestia, Canje, Emmer & Rye) isn't a surprise at all. Ezov = vibrant cocktails, fresh cuisine, and a bright setting.
WEBSITE | 2708 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702
A Few More East Austin Restaurants Worth Trying
In an effort to keep things brief and manageable, I only shared 10 great east Austin restaurants above.
But...if I'm being honest, there are about 40 more I really want to tell you about! East Austin is an absolute treasure trove of fantastic eats.
So if you want a few more ideas, read on. I'll still try to keep things brief and not list every single east Austin restaurant! Use the map of the best restaurants in east Austin (below) to find one near you. I'll also include the type of food underneath each restaurant in case you're craving something in particular.
Uptown Sports Club
NEW ORLEANS-INSPIRED
Aaron Franklin and his business partner revitalized this doomed east Austin building and turned it into the coolest NOLA-inspired spot.
The po'boys, gumbo, and cocktails are all delicious. But be sure to also try the Freezes, which are cold refreshing dessert slushees made with ice cream + the option to add booze.
WEBSITE | 1200 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702
Launderette
AMERICAN
The accolades that Launderette has gathered are impressive (James Beard Award nominations, Eater’s restaurant of the year, etc.), but it’s worth remembering that this little neighborhood cafe started as a laundromat! Yep. The building started as a boring place to wash clothes, and it was renovated into an adorable space that you can visit today. Launderette is one of the very best American restaurants in Austin. If you’re visiting for brunch, go for the pastry of the day and the fried chicken sammy on challah (you won’t be disappointed!). But the dinner menu opens a world of possibilities, with the “Snacky Bits” like potato chips and housemade pimento cheese, crab toast, and the most decadent burrata. And for entrees, you must try the famous Plancha Burger (add fries!) and the Brick Chicken at least once in your life. Psst: the outdoor covered patio is an adorable spot for happy hour.
WEBSITE | 2115 Holly St, Austin, TX 78702
Intero
FARM-TO-TABLE ITALIAN + CHOCOALTE SHOP
And finally, one more wonderful Italian restaurant in east Austin: Intero. It’s a locally-owned Austin restaurant with an emphasis on sustainability. The chef at Intero tries to use the whole ingredients, nose-to-tail or root-to-tip, and they rotate the menu based on seasonality. It’s a small, quaint restaurant with both indoor and outdoor dining.
One of my favorite parts about this place? They also have a chocolate shop at the entrance to the restaurant where you purchase delicious handmade truffles to enjoy after your meal or to go.
WEBSITE | 2612 E Cesar Chavez St Suite 105, Austin, TX 78702
Buenos Aires Cafe
ARGENTINE
Buenos Aires, a family-owned Argentinian restaurant, is a dark, cozy, absolutely lovely place to dine on the best empanadas in Austin. There are two locations for this restaurant now, but the east Austin restaurant is for sure the more moody and sultry of the two. It goes without saying to order a glass (or bottle) of Malbec, based on the cuisine…but you also might want to try one of their cocktails.
The empanadas are a family recipe, stuffed full of authentic ingredients like chopped raisins, olives, and ground beef. And the main menu is (of course) an excellent portrayal of authentic Argentinian grilled beef entrees. Buenos Aires Cafe is one of those places that you might ignore based on the exterior (there are so many new, flashy restaurants in Austin), but once you dine here, you’ll quickly declare it one of your favorites. PS: they have a speakeasy bar underneath the restaurant!
WEBSITE | 1201 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702
Canje
CARIBBEAN
Named after the Canje pheasant, this east Austin restaurant serves traditional Caribbean food like ceviche with sour orange and peanuts, plantains dipped in a coconut lime aioli, wild boar pepper pot, and the best (and spiciest!) jerk chicken around.
You must start with a Caribbean cocktail mixed with ingredients like passion fruit, white cacao, and pickled pepper. And for your main meal, try to order a few items to share..there are so many fun and interesting flavors packed into every dish. Canje is from the Emmer & Rye restaurant group, which runs several award-winning restaurants in Austin and San Antonio, like Hestia, Ezov, and Emmer & Rye.
WEBSITE | 1914 E 6th St ste c, Austin, TX 78702
Micklethwait Craft Meats
TEXAS BBQ
I think this is one of the most underrated BBQ spots in Austin. It's been around forever and has been on Texas Monthly's "Top 50 in Texas" list multiple times, and the location at a little east Austin beer garden is so cute.
Tom Micklethwait (pronounced “Mickle-wait”...no “th” sound) started this little east Austin bbq trailer back before east Austin was the destination it is now… its popularity has only grown, and east Austin has expanded. The difference now? It’s connected to a beer garden called Saddle Up. You can order your craft meats and amazing sides (seriously, get that lemon poppyseed slaw!) and then head into the small bungalow bar to get a craft beer. Bring it all outside to enjoy in the east Austin backyard space.
WEBSITE | 1309 Rosewood Ave, Austin, TX 78702
Golden Tiger
FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICHES
If it’s late-night greasy bar food you’d want, you’ll have a hard time finding something more satisfying than the fried chicken sandwiches and fries at Golden Tiger. Fried chicken thigh, lettuce, dill pickles, red onion, and special sauce on a soft white bun…it hits just right after a night of drinking in east Austin. Bonus: it’s parked behind Whisler’s cocktail bar, so it’s a convenient place to order some fried food to soak up the booze.
WEBSITE | 1816 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702
Spicy Boys Food Truck
PAN-ASIAN FRIED CHICKEN
Yet another option if you need some incredibly satisfying fried chicken sandwiches to pair with your cold beverage, Spicy Boys is a pan Asian-inspired food truck. Go “OG” with a fried chicken thigh topped with papaya relish and sweet chili honey, or try “Hot Gai” to try your sandwich topped with chili oil and massaman mayonnaise. Also not to be missed: the panang curry served with two flaky roti flatbreads. Spicy Boys is parked outside Zilker Brewing, a fun craft brewery with an outdoor patio.
WEBSITE | 1701 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702
Patrizi’s
CLASSIC ITALIAN
This can hardly be considered an east Austin food truck, considering it’s had a permanent residence at the butterfly bar for a decade. But yes, Patrizi’s is a family-owned Italian food truck that makes everything from scratch. If you love handmade pasta, traditional red sauce, fresh toppings, and authentic Italian plates like cacio e pepe, grilled ciabatta garlic bread, and big ol’ beef and pork meatballs, you’ll absolutely fall in love with Patrizi’s.
WEBSITE | 2307 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78722
Discada
TACO TRUCK
Discada food truck in east Austin is the perfect example of an Austin food truck that does one thing and does it very well. Discada is a style of cooking in northern Mexico where an assemblage of meat, veggies, and spices (typically a secret recipe!) are cooked together in a large plow disc and used to fill very small corn tacos. So, don’t be surprised when you find yourself eating 5 or 7 of these tiny tacos! They’re small, a bit greasy, very flavorful, and some of the best tacos you can find in Austin.
WEBSITE | 1319 Rosewood Ave, Austin, TX 78702
Jacoby’s Restaurant and Mercantile
SOUTHERN
Jacoby’s is a ranch-to-table restaurant that serves southern favorites and family-owned recipes, sourcing locally from their own family ranch. They operate from southern roots and have an emphasis on excellent hospitality; once you walk in, you’ll feel like you’re family. The supper menu is beef heavy, with a wide selection of hearty salads, southern classics like shrimp and grits and seared salmon, and (worth noting!) the most amazing strawberry cake you’re ever tried in your life.
WEBSITE | 3235 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702
Sour Duck Market
FARM-TO-TABLE
Sour Duck Market is the sister restaurant to popular south Austin restaurant Odd Duck. It’s slightly more casual younger sister, with an open-air outdoor dining set-up, cocktails, beer on tap, and pastries made daily (stop by for breakfast!)
WEBSITE | 1814 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Austin, TX 78702
Bufalina
NEAPOLITAN PIZZA
One of the best Neapolitan pizza restaurants in Austin, Bufalina serves wood-fired pies that are flash-cooked in their oven that came straight from Italy. They have an exceptional wine program (you’ll definitely want to order a bottle), handmade kinds of pasta, and fun starters. This could definitely be a date night spot or a casual afternoon place to grab a happy hour or an early dinner.
WEBSITE | 2215 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702
Hillside Farmacy
AMERICAN
This could also be listed under brunch restaurants in east Austin because their weekend brunch is amazing (and the line proves it!), but the lunch and dinner menus here are exceptional as well. Located inside a historic pharmacy building in east Austin, this tiny neighborhood cafe serves New American farm-to-table cuisine like raw oysters, crab cakes, burgers, blackened gulf drum, and craft cocktails.
WEBSITE |1209 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702
Lazarus Brewing
BREWERY + TACOS
Lazarus Brewing is a family-pet-and-child-friendly brewery that serves and shares housed-roasted coffee, award-winning beer, and the best Mexican street food like homemade salsas, choriqueso, and delicious street tacos.
But what many people forget is that they also have AMAZING breakfast tacos. And while Lazarus will become absolutely packed in the afternoons and evenings, it’s typically fairly quiet in the mornings.
The indoor space has a well-designed warm living room vibe with comfy couches, and the shaded patio is one of the most popular outdoor E Sixth St hangs.
WEBSITE | 1902 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702
Paperboy
BRUNCH RESTAURANT
Paperboy is a casual brunch restaurant that serves their popular breakfast fare and brunch cocktails every single day (including weekdays). They only use high-quality ingredients, including homemade bread, juices, sauces, and preserves. Whether you just grab a pastry and cup of coffee or sit and enjoy a meal with your friends, you’re going to love this spot!
WEBSITE | 1203 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702
From the vibrant culture to the plethora of delicious restaurants and bars, East Austin offers Austinites an exciting and diverse range of activities. East Austin is bordered by I35 to the west, the Colorado River to the south, and Airport Boulevard to the north, making the area an ideal nexus of modern-day convenience and traditional, small-town appeal. With so many residents in close proximity, this walkable area of Austin is a hotspot for delectable restaurants, unique bars, and a wide selection of entertainment options. Supply meets demand and the combination creates a truly dynamic atmosphere.
But there’s also a culture in east ATX that supports dingy start-up food trucks, diverse restaurants, and interesting food offerings. Restaurants in east Austin don’t have to have the polished high-rise look of downtown Austin restaurants or the instagrammable factor of South Congress. East Austin restaurants just get to focus on exceptional food and fun experiences.
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