Where To Find Cozy Food In Austin
Cold front in Austin? Cue all the cozy foods! There aren’t many snow storms or cold, blustery days here in Austin, but when they hit us, they hit us HARD. Those freezing wind chills and ice-cold temps are brutal (no thanks to the fact that none of us own a proper winter wardrobe…), but you know what helps? A steaming bowl of hot ramen, some delicious hearty soup, or a big plate of hand-pulled noodles. Here’s where I love to find the coziest food in Austin on a cold winter day.
What are the best cozy, cold-weather foods? Most of us gravitate toward hearty warm foods like soups and stews, ramen, curries and stir-fries, chili, and anything carb-heavy like pasta or noodles. And the coziest food comes from the coziest restaurants that just feel like a warm hug. All of these Austin restaurants are the perfect place to go on a cold, winter-y day in ATX.
Pssst: all of these restaurants will be slammed on a cold day in Austin, and the staff are having to work extra hard on a very cold day. Make sure you tip well!
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!
Where To Find Cozy Food In Austin
Thai Fresh
This little neighborhood Thai restaurant will be making lots of their signature Pad Thai dish any day of the year, but on a cold day, there’s nothing better than a delicious Thai curry with chicken and rice, or their delicious Tom Kha coconut soup. The little corner restaurant tucked into the Bouldin Creek neighborhood has an eclectic mix of furniture, a central kitchen, and a warm atmosphere. It’s my all-time favorite cozy restaurant on a cold day in Austin!
WEBSITE | 909 W Mary St, Austin, TX 78704
Ramen Del Barrio
Ramen del Barrio, a Mexican Ramen shop inside Hana Market took Austin by storm (even winning a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand award), and it’s one of the top picks for a comforting meal on a blustery day. They start with that classic tonkatsu pork fat broth that we all know and love, but then they use carnitas, hominy, tortilla strips, and other bits of Mexican fusion to mix things up. The result? SCRUMPTIOUS and one of the heartiest bowls of soup in ATX.
WEBSITE | 1700 W Parmer Ln Suite 100, Austin, TX 78727
Soup Peddler
The absolute best soup in Austin? Soup Peddler! This is a mini chain in Austin with 7 locations, all offering walk-up windows where you can pick up a bowl of fresh, homemade soup and a toasty artisan grilled cheese sandwich. Prices are low, quality is high, and they are consistently busy on chilly days so place your order ahead on the website.
WEBSITE | Multiple Address
Ramen Tatsu-ya
The biggest player in Austin’s ramen scene is Ramen Tatsu-ya, and that’s because after all these years they still simmer that pork broth low and slow for hours and hours, resulting in the richest, creamiest bowl of ramen in Austin. Dine in or carry out, but I’m here to tell ya that ramen only tastes half as good if you reheat it at home. Your best bet on a cold day is to try to snag one of those bar stools at the counter and order a steaming bowl of Mi-So-Hot in the restaurant.
WEBSITE | Multiple Address
China Family Restaurant
Orange chicken, Mongolian beef, sweet-and-sour shrimp, and a scoop of steaming white rice…sounds cozy to me! China Family Restaurant is Austin’s go-to for traditional Chinese/American take-out cuisine. They have all the classics, but they’re made a level above what you might expect from a regular hole-in-the-wall Chinese restaurant. {Photo: Cassie A., Yelp}
WEBSITE | Multiple Address
Austin Chili Parlor
One of the oldest restaurants in ATX, Austin Chili Parlor has been serving all types of chili in downtown Austin since 1976. And I really do mean all types of chili! Whether you want bean-free or only beans or something in between, they have it. They also have gumbo, rice and beans, mac n cheese, and more warm/cozy foods. {Photo: Bee B., Yelp}
WEBSITE | 1409 Lavaca St, Austin, TX 78701
Loro
BBQ is a great food for cold weather, and Loro adds its own special twist by serving its signature Asian/BBQ fusion dishes. I love this place on a cold day in Austin because they often have warm food specials in the winter, like Japanese curry ramen. And if you’re ordering off the regular menu, a warm rice bowl loaded with delicious smoked meat and a glass of sake on the side always does the trick on a cold day in Austin.
WEBSITE | Multiple Address
Saffron
This was the first Indian restaurant in Austin with a dedicated Nepalese menu. From the chicken tikka masala to the bone-in goat curry, everything at saffron is absolutely packed with flavor. The vibrant spices are warm and comforting, making this some of the coziest food in Austin. Saffron makes everything from scratch, including the naan, sauces, and desserts.
WEBSITE | Multiple Address
Soupleaf Hot Pot
Hot Pot is one of the best things to eat on a cold day! You arrive at the restaurant, tell your server which flavor of house-made broth you want, and then fill your plate with meat, noodles, veggies, dumplings, potatoes and other goodies. Then you get to “dip” your raw food in the hot broth to cook it and create your own soup. It’s interactive, fun, and so warm and comforting.
WEBSITE | 6929 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78752
Bouldin Creek Cafe
South Austin’s OG vegetarian cafe is inside a quirky and cozy little bungalow house that just feels like a warm hug. The food here is nourishing and comforting, and it’s an awesome place to dine in on a cold Austin day. Try any of their delicious omelets or breakfast tacos in the morning, or the South Austin Stir-fry packed with rice noodles, tofu, and veggies for lunch.
WEBSITE | 1900 S 1st St, Austin, TX 78704
Julie’s Noodles
Julie’s Noodles serves traditional Chinese food in north Austin. It’s widely regarded as one of the best Chinese restaurants we have here in ATX, and the soup dumplings, noodles, and soups are all amazing. This is a tiny restaurant with just a few tables, so you might have a short wait on a very cold day when everyone wants to dine-in. But it’s well worth the wait for that bowl of noodles with meat and bean sauce!
WEBSITE | 8557 Research Blvd #110, Austin, TX 78758
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