Where To Eat Near ACL Festival: 14 Cool Austin Restaurants

By Kelsey Kennedy | September 17, 2024

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Austin City Limits (ACL) Festival is all about music, good vibes, and cute outfits. But in between sets, you'll want to fuel up with some of Austin’s best local eats. Lucky for you...there are lots of great local restaurants near the festival so you can fuel up before it starts or wind down afterward! Here's where to eat near ACL festival.

Whether you're craving a quick coffee to keep your energy high or a hearty Tex-Mex meal to recharge after a day of dancing, Austin has you covered. BBQ near ACL fest? Got you. Fried food, healthy options, Chinese food, Italian...we've got it all.

As long as you're here for the festival, you might as well check out some of the best restaurants in Austin. The vibrant food scene near ACL will keep your taste buds as happy as your ears. Here are some of my favorite local picks.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kelsey Kennedy is a native Texan and a local Austin author, photographer, and blogger with a serious obsession for all things Austin. As the creator of four Texas-focused travel websites, her work has reached over 12 million readers in 38 countries, all searching for the coolest things to do in the hottest cities in Texas. For more insider tips on the capital city, check out her bestselling travel book, Austin Food Crawls: Touring the Neighborhoods One Bite and Libation at a Time.

Where To Eat Near ACL Festival

T22 Hot Fried Chicken

The best spicy fried chicken in ATX! Tumble 22 serves up all-natural, Texas-raised chicken, hand-breaded and fried to perfection with a signature blend of spices. With six heat levels and locations across Texas, it's the spot for hot chicken, cold beer, and good times. Psst: this is very close to the north gate of ACL Fest, which also happens to be the gate with the shortest line, typically!

WEBSITE | 2304 Lake Austin Blvd

JuiceLand

Austin's favorite smoothie chain will have a booth inside the festival, but if you want access to the entire menu of fresh, raw juices, smoothies, bowls, and superfood lattes made from delicious fruits, veggies, and superfoods, stop by the location on Barton Springs. This location was their first one, and it's literally built into a cave! With plant-based meals and step-by-step juice cleanses, they focus on nourishing both people and the planet.

WEBSITE | 1625 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704

Related: Cool Hotels Near ACL Festival

Pool Burger

Pool Burger, located near the North Entrance to ACL Festival, is a total vibe. They grill up all-natural, hormone and antibiotic-free Wagyu beef from Peeler Farms in Texas. Their burgers are served on freshly baked buns, making every bite tasty and fresh. They also make some mean cocktails! {Photo: Pool Burger}

WEBSITE | 2315 Lake Austin Blvd., Austin TX

Terry Black's BBQ

Best BBQ near ACL Festival? Terry Black's BBQ! This popular smokehouse brings you authentic Central Texas barbecue, passed down through generations. Their family-run spot serves up mouthwatering smoked meats, straight from Lockhart to your plate.

WEBSITE | 1003 Barton Springs RD • Austin, TX

P. Terry's Burger Stand #1

There wil 10/10 be a line at the walk-up window location of this popular Austin burger chain after ACL fest. If you can't wait that long for your fast food burger and fries, keep in mind that there are dozens of location in the Austin area. (But that walk-up window at the intersection of Barton Springs and S Lamar sure is nice after a full day at the festival!)

WEBSITE | 404 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

Zoé Tong

If you're looking for a sit-down restaurant and for a FANTASTIC local Austin spot, Zoé Tong is it. This new(ish) modern Chinese restaurant brings the flavors of China's lively alleyways to Austin with tasty noodles, dumplings, and crispy duck. Whether you're grabbing lunch or enjoying a late-night meal with friends, it's the perfect spot for a flavorful feast.

WEBSITE | 1530 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704

Also See: 10 Must-Visit Breweries In Austin

Lou’s on Barton Springs

Located right next to Zoe Tong, Lou's on Barton Springs is a casual spot that serves breakfast tacos, donuts, and coffee in the mornings, with rotisserie meats, burgers, and salads all day. It's a laid-back spot for a tasty meal anytime. I highly recommend getting their custard with salted caramel sauce to enjoy while you wait in line to get into ACL. Psssst: Custard is 1/2 off on Sundays.

WEBSITE | 1608 Barton Springs RD. AUSTIN, TX 78704

Juliet Italian

For happy hour, handmade pasta, and the best aperol spritz in Austin, head to the gorgeous patio at Juliet Italian Kitchen. They have two location in Austin, and this Barton Springs original location serves up homemade Italian comfort food with over 265 scratch-made recipes. It's the perfect spot for a relaxed meal to carb up before heading into Austin City Limits festival.

WEBSITE | 1500 Barton Springs Rd Austin, TX 78704

Carpenter Coffee

I've shared Carpenter Hotel in this guide to the coolest hotels near ACL Festival, but if you're not able to stay overnight, then treat yourself to an amazing coffee + pastry at Carpenter Coffee to fuel up for the festival! This is one of the very best coffee shops in south Austin for quality of coffee, exceptional baristas, and beautiful ambiance.

WEBSITE | 400 Josephine St Austin, TX 78704

Salt Traders Coastal Cooking

For some of the best seafood in Austin head to Salt Traders Coastal Cooking. It's really close to the entrance to ACL Fest, and it's a big restaurant so you should have pretty good luck getting a table (or a seat at the bar.) Enjoy raw oysters and ceviche, clam chowdah, lobster and shrimp rolls and salads, and all sorts of grilled seafood entrees. They also have a good beer list, and great happy hour cocktail deals.

WEBSITE | 1101 South Mopac Expressway, Austin, TX, United States, Texas

Tacodeli

Tacodeli is ALL over Austin, but the original location on Spyglass is pretty close to ACL Fest. If you're getting to the festival early, be sure to stop by Tacodeli for a big meal of fresh breakfast tacos smothered in that famous Doña salsa.

WEBSITE | 1500 Spyglass Dr Suite B, Austin, TX 78746

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Better Half Bar

I adore this place all year, but especially as a pre- or post-ACL hangout! Better Half is an all-day neighborhood bar where you can enjoy coffee, cocktails, and a full menu from breakfast to dinner. It’s the perfect spot for a casual meal or a drink with friends. It's adjacent to their sister brewery, Hold Out, in case you want to check that out while you're here.

WEBSITE | 406 Walsh St, Austin, TX 78703, USA

El Alma

El Alma offers a fresh spin on Mexican flavors, using local ingredients like redfish, lamb, and Texas quail. Chef Alma Alcocer-Thomas makes each dish feel like a warm, welcoming meal from her own kitchen. This is one of my favorite OG patios in Austin. It's shady and hidden away, and you get views of the downtown skyline if you look in between the trees.

WEBSITE | 1025 Barton Springs Rd Austin, TX 78704

Chuy’s

If you're drunk enough, the fajitas will be the best you've ever eaten. Chuy’s has been serving up Tex-Mex since 1982, starting from a small spot on Barton Springs Road. Is it the best Tex-Mex of your life? Not likely. However, it's a great spot to stumble into after ACL fest for some chips and queso, and it's kind of cool to go to the original location that started it all .

WEBSITE | 1728 Barton Springs Road, Austin, TX, 78704

Sandy's Hamburgers

If you want to go to a South Austin institution, stop by the walk-up window at Sandy's Hamburgers. It's a little yellow building that dates back to 1946. The burgers are honestly pretty mediocre, but fast food burgers + fries always taste good if you're hungry enough. Plus, their frozen custard dipped in chocolate is genuinely delicious.

WEBSITE | 603 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704

Posted in FOOD, THINGS TO DO and tagged Austin City Limits