Where To Eat On South First Street
South First Street is a powerhouse of amazing restaurants in Austin. It runs parallel to the popular South Congress Ave, but unlike the tourist destination that SOCO has become, South First is mostly full of locals who have found their favorite neighborhood restaurant or bar. After years of living walking distance to these restaurants, I’m going to share the best South First Street restaurants. I highly recommend everything on this list!
By the way, here are some of the all-time best south Austin restaurants if you’re willing to drive a bit further, the best restaurants on South Congress, and a map of my favorite south Austin coffee shops.
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 Eat On South First Street
1. Polvos
We’re starting with the KING of Tex-Mex in Austin…move over Matt’s El Rancho, Polvos is where it’s at! These homemade flour tortillas are the best in the city, and Polvos is delicious whether you're stopping by for a quick breakfast taco in the morning or you want a full platter of beef fajitas and a pitcher of margaritas in the evening.
I love how they use plastic folding tables because it’s that “weird” Austin charm that you just can't find anywhere else. 10/10 recommend Polvos for a casual dinner out.
WEBSITE | Multiple Address
2. Bouldin Creek Cafe
Bouldin Creek Café simply can’t stop being awesome! It’s an old school Austin vegetarian restaurant, but unlike a lot of OG places that have faded into oblivion, Bouldin Creek Café is still just as popular as ever.
I adore their omelets with chipotle pecan pesto (delish!), breakfast tacos with house made veggie chorizo, or a hearty breakfast plate with creamy black beans, half an avocado, and fluffy tortillas. Everything on the menu is so good, and you’ll definitely feel invigorated and healthy after eating here.
WEBSITE | 1900 S 1st St, Austin, TX 78704, United States
3. Lenoir
One of the best date night spots in Austin and one of the best outdoor dining experiences, Lenoir is a farm-to-table restaurant tucked inside a tiny bungalow house. The interior only seats about 20 people, but there’s a bigger backyard dining garden with the prettiest 200-year-old Live Oak trees and patio lights.
They source food that’s seasonal and sustainable, so the menu constantly changes. The natural wine program is really good, too. Lenoir is an excellent spot for a splurge-worthy date night out.
WEBSITE | 1807 S 1st St, Austin, TX 78704, United States
4. Fresa’s Chicken al Carbon
It’s hard to explain just how fantastic Fresa’s is, so take my word for it and just go eat here and you’ll get it! They have these yummy charcoal-grilled chicken platters with corn tortillas, caramelized sweet potatoes, and the best chips and queso.
Pair your meal with a prickly pear margarita and finish it up with some warm caramel churros or their exceptional homemade ice cream, available in rotating flavors. (But we all know that the banana meringue pie ice cream is the best!)
WEBSITE | 1703 S 1st St, Austin, TX 78704
5. Dolce Neve Gelato
There are many gelato shops in Austin that have come and gone, but Dolce Neve has stuck around for two main reasons: 1) their gelato is made with the BEST ingredients (they literally make it right there in front of you!), and 2) they give you as many samples as you want. 🙂 Call me crazy, but I think that contributes to their staying power!
The classic dolce neve and stracciatella flavors are always good, but whenever they have a gelato flavor with cheese in it, that’s what I’ll order. I love the mascarpone and fig, goat cheese honey pecan, and from age blanc and apricot jam.
WEBSITE | 1713 S 1st St, Austin, TX 78704
6. Dovetail Pizza
Dovetail is the cutest neighborhood pizza spot. It’s a corner restaurant that’s perfect for Bouldin Creek neighborhood residents to walk to for a quick pizza with the family for dinner.
The little bar in the center of the restaurant is my favorite spot to sit. Start with a cocktail and a fresh zingy salad, and then order a homemade pasta or pizza. They serve their pizza in oval shapes on cookie sheets, so it’s a bit of a different shape but more-or-less tastes like a NY-style crust.
WEBSITE | 1816 S 1st St A, Austin, TX 78704
7. Thai Fresh
Ok, Thai Fresh isn’t quite on South First, but it’s just a few blocks away from the main street and it’s too good to ignore on this guide! Thai Fresh is another OG Austin restaurant that was started by Jam Santichat, who grew up in Thailand and moved to Austin to go to UT for grad school. Her fantastic Thai noodles, soups, stir fries, and curries have won the hearts of Austinites.
This is a great restaurant for solo dining because you just seat yourself and order from a QR code on your table. They have free Wi-Fi in the restaurant, so I’ll occasionally eat here when I need to work through lunch on my laptop.
WEBSITE | 909 W Mary St, Austin, TX 78704, United States
8. Soup Peddler and Juice Bar
Picture this: a little neighborhood window café where you can walk up to the window and order a bowl of fresh, healthy soup and a hot gourmet grilled cheese sandwich, paired with a cup of cold-pressed juice. That’s Soup Peddler in a nutshell! It’s an absolute gem in south Austin, and this location on South First Street is my favorite because it’s the quirkiest one.
WEBSITE | 501 W Mary St, Austin, TX 78704
9. Elizabeth Street Cafe
Elizabeth Street Cafe is one of the most famous Austin restaurants, and it’s located right here on South First Street! It’s a French-Vietnamese restaurant with the most beautiful design and ambiance.
It’s pretty small (it’s a renovated south Austin bungalow), so keep in mind that it can get busy during the lunch rush and during weekend brunch hours. My favorite time to stop by is during happy hour because they have a LOT of food and drink items on the happy hour discount menu.
WEBSITE | 1501 S 1st St, Austin, TX 78704, United States
10. House Wine
I’m about to share two different wine bars on South First Street. This one (House Wine) is an old school Austin wine bar that’s female-owned and completely unpretentious. You can walk in knowing literally nothing about wine, just say “I want white wine,” and they’ll pour you something without any judgement. It’s a great place to meet up with girlfriends or for a book club. If you want a more robust wine list, move on to the next option on this list.
WEBSITE | 1711 S 1st St, Austin, TX 78704, United States
11. Underdog Wine Bar
This Korean Restaurant and wine bar is so pretty you might think they just get by on Instagramable looks alone….but the food is phenomenal, too! It’s a great spot for a dinner date (the plates are small and shareable), or you can stop by for a glass of wine at the bar.
WEBSITE | 1600 S 1st St Suite 100, Austin, TX 78704, United States
12. Kelly’s Irish Pub
The most legitimate Irish pub in Austin is located at the corner of South First Street and Oltorf. Kelly’s is owned by an Irish guy who puts a lot of emphasis in serving authentic Irish food and drinks. He even makes sure that all the bar staff are trained to properly pour a Guinness!
If you just want a casual spot to get a Shepherds Pie and a pint of beer at the bar, Kelly’s is the place for you.
WEBSITE | 519 W Oltorf St, Austin, TX 78704, United States
13. Once Over Coffee
South First Street is full of all sorts of old-school Austin gems, and Once Over is no exception. It doesn’t look like much from the street view, but Once Over has a really good coffee program, and (my favorite part!) an awesome back patio that looks out over a creek. It seriously feels like a secret garden back there! But before you get your coffee at Once Over, make sure you get a breakfast taco at El Primo…
WEBSITE | 2009 S 1st St, Austin, TX 78704, United States
14. El Primo Taco Truck
This is one of the most beloved taco trucks in Austin. It’s been parked in the same gas station parking lot forever, and Austenite's everywhere come here for the breakfast tacos. They cook all the eggs and meat on a very well-seasoned cooktop, so the flavor is unmatched. This is just a classic bacon/egg/cheese breakfast taco type of place, and it’s legit.
WEBSITE | 2101 S 1st St, Austin, TX 78704, United States
15. Nomade
Nomade is an open-fire Yucatan restaurant with amazing margaritas, fresh crudo and ceviche, and a bunch of smoky tapas and wood-grilled meats that are fun to share with a group.
One of the most interesting things about this little restaurant is that it was a tiny coffee shop (Seventh Flag Coffee) for many years before it underwent a HUGE renovation to become Nomadé. The building was a tiny bungalow, and they opened it up to create interior dining, and then they added on the front portion to create covered outdoor dining. It’s a bit weird and south Austin-y, and I love it.
WEBSITE | 1506 S 1st St, Austin, TX 78704, United States
This site is absolutely packed with amazing recommendations of places to eat and fun things to do in Austin. Be sure to check out this guide to the all-time best Austin restaurants, a monthly updated list of the hottest new restaurants to try, and some of the best kid-friendly dining spots in Austin.
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