The 10 Restaurants That Defined Austin Dining This Year

“Top Chef” winner Gabe Erales opened Bacalar to celebrate the food and culture of the Yucatan region of Mexico where his family is from. The two-story space has an outdoor patio with views of the Town Lake trail and a spacious interior with modern decor and small mezcal bar upstairs. If that description doesn’t make it obvious, Bacalar makes for a great date-night spot, so make a Resy for you +1.

Though the menu has traditional Mexican dishes like tostadas and tamales, the ingredients are not what you’d expect — like the papadzul tamal with squash and soft boiled egg on the side, or the castacan tacos with pork belly and salsa verde. Bigger dishes like the cochinita pibil or the steak with mushroom confit are great for sharing with the table. And cocktails are also crafted with precision, like the Cocosanto with its scent of  palo santo. We expect Austin to be at the forefront of modern Mexican cooking, and Erales is for sure helping to keep us there.

When you walk into Elementary, you’ll feel big food and big schoolyard energy. The playful menu features banh mi eclairs and ramen risotto — dishes that are bright with flavor and add just the right twist. They also serve more classic takes, like a half chicken with saffron honey and potatoes. The combinations are always curious, and nothing is taken too seriously. It is, indeed, the energy we could always use more of in town. 

Drinks too are worth a visit, too. As seen on Instagram, the Smoking Paper Plane brings the literal fire. And be sure to stop by sister spot Hopscotch around the corner, to extend your drinking time with the team.

Sometimes we wonder where we went for romantic and cool date nights before Equipment Room opened this year. This dark bar located at the Hotel Magdalena is known for their sonic offerings as much as the food and drink, and reflects the growing appreciation for audiophile settings paired to cocktails.

Order an espresso martini or Toki highball to get in the mood. The food menu is mostly snacks like marinated olives or a cheese board, so be sure to have a meal before. And note: Space is limited and the vibe is quite orderly, so be sure to make your Resy in advance.

Maybe we were wooed by the weiner dog in the signage, or perhaps it was the promise of the curated wine selection from wine pro Richard Hargreave. Whatever it was, Underdog has won our hearts from their first day open in 2023 and delivered on all that was promised (wine and a weiner dog named Squid).

Some of our favorite items on the mostly Korean menu, inspired by co-owner Claudia Lee’s heritage, are the crispy rice with tomatoes and fermented black bean, scallion pancake with shiitake and ponzu, and fried chicken with pickles and shiso ranch. The 32-page wine list is overwhelming, but it comes with an emotional support sommelier (Hargreave) who can help you make the right choice. Be sure to stop in the wine shop on the way out to get more new wines to try at home.

We love dining at an actual restaurant, but the food trucks in Austin continue to shine. In particular, La Santa Barbacha focuses on breakfast and lunch tacos. Their barbacoa meat is a standout and is served alongside migas, potatoes, or just salsa. But our favorite is the crispy cheese taco, which is made with an all-cheese tortilla and filled with barbacoa too. It’s as awesome as it sounds. We also love the chilaquiles breakfast bowl and the agua frescas like cantaloupe or pineapple mint. The truck’s location has moved around a bit, but recently settled nicely next to Fleet Coffee on Manor.

Find more info here.

Not even the bats in Austin are as consistent and reliable as Fonda San Miguel. For almost 50 years, Fonda San Miguel has been serving authentic Mexican food that’s only gotten better with age. We love hanging out in the bar area for calamari or queso fundido appetizers and the El Rey cocktail made with reposado Tequila, whiskey, and mole bitters or a margarita.

The dining room experience is welcoming and warm with diners who are happy to be back or be in there for the first time. The cochinita pibil is among their most famous dishes, but we also love the carne asada or any of the vegetarian tostadas. Close out your meal with the tres leches or flan and a cafe de olla made with cinnamon, brown sugar, and clove.

In its first year of Austin existence, Birdie’s proved that they are in it for the long haul. This year they garnered well-deserved national attention as Food and Wine’s restaurant of the year (and attracted celebrity guests like Thomas Keller and Phil Rosenthal).

The menu is slim but thoughtful. The roasted sweet potato with crispy shallots and beef tartare are crowd favorites and consistently featured. The pastas are not to be missed, no matter what’s in them. The rotating large plates of fish and meats are warm and satisfying, like the snapper with lemon potatoes. Since quantities are limited and you order at the counter, come early to be sure you don’t have to wait long or miss out on any of the stars.

Find more info here.

We’ve written about Este many times on our Hit Lists, but Bar Toti was a new addition to the property this year that has earned our respect, too. This casual wine bar has limited seating, so make a Resy or walk in early.

The menu is less seafood focused than Este but made with the same level of care that chef Fermin Nunez brings to all his projects. Try the Smashburgesa with ham, American cheese, and chipotle mayo or the focaccia with buffalo queso fresco. To drink, order the Mezcalita or carajillo, or share a bottle of wine from Spain or France. While you could stop here before a meal at Este, we strongly recommend making a separate trip for Bar Toti. It’s Nunez’s latest contribution to a roster that’s come to define some of Austin’s quintessential dining.

The team behind Emmer and Rye, Hestia, and Canje opened one more restaurant in 2023 with Ezov — a fine addition to the cohort of neo-Israeli spots opening across the country. In this case, think smashed cucumber on smoked labne with Aleppo pepper, falafel with tahini and green shug, and lamb and beef kofta. The housemade Moroccan-style Frena bread is a necessary tool for your meal to ensure you have something readily available for dipping in all the sauces.

While you can order any of your classic cocktails here, the house concotions feel properly weird (in an Austin way). Consider the Gallilet, made with Tequila, rum, turmeric, ginger, and honey.

Call 512-305-1118 for more info. 

Closing out this year’s list is a simple food stall at the Hana World Market that is anything but simple in what it serves. Ramen Del Barrio is a thoughtful melding of Japanese and Mexican food from chef Christopher Krinsky.

And yes, great ramen spots in Austin abound. But items like mole tsukemen and carnitas tonkotsu are unlike any other ramen you’ll find around town (or out of town, frankly). And try a taco or two to ensure you get a little more of Krinsky’s style. We’re partial to the pork belly Yaki-Taco, a spin on al pastor.

Find more info here.