The Resy Hit List: Where In Austin You’ll Want to Eat in Oct. 2024
There’s no question we hear more often: Where should I go eat? And while we at Resy know it’s an honor to be the friend who everyone asks for restaurant advice, we also know it’s a complicated task. That’s where the Resy Hit List comes in.
We’ve designed it to be your essential resource for dining in and around Austin: a monthly-updated (and now expanded!) guide to the restaurants that you won’t want to miss — tonight or any night.
Four Things In Austin Not to Miss This Month
- Best of the Fests: For the first two weekends of October, Austin City Limits (ACL) Music Festival takes over Zilker Park. Grab a pre-festival Resy at Carpenters Hall to fuel up with a solid meal and cocktails before you brave the crowds. And if reading the word “crowds” gave you hives, get out of town and head to Vista Brewing for beer and live music with less people at OCL Festival.
- Gourd Times: Pumpkin spice is in the air and your neighbors put out those fake spiders again — it must be Spooky Season! The Mexic-Arte Museum is hosting the Viva la Vida Festival celebrating the Day of the Dead on October 26. And if you’re ready for something really scary, grab a Resy at Parkside to people-watch the Halloween revelers on Sixth Street.
- Eat to Survive: Formula One fans flock to Austin for the Grand Prix Oct. 18 to 20. The Circuit of the Americas racetrack can be a long drive outside of town, so we recommend making a Resy for brunch before you make the trek. Since you’re heading east to the track, try Dai Due, Suerte, or Launderette for an upscale meal ahead of an upscale event. And keep an eye on Climbing on Resy for more clutch options.
- Take it Cheesy: While there might be a touch of food snobbery in the air in Austin these days, people still go crazy for a dish of melty cheese. Head to the Mohawk on Oct. 13 for the Quesoff to try the best quesos the city has to offer … and help raise money for the Central Texas Food Bank.
New to the Hit List (Oct. 2024)
Bufalina, Gina’s on Congress, Lutie’s.
1. Bar Toti Cherrywood
Your first interaction with Bar Toti was probably grabbing a drink there while waiting for a table at sister restaurant Este. But Toti is worth a visit on its own merits. A select few indoor tables, a communal table, and some outdoor spots under twinkling lights make it an intimate spot for a date or catch-up with a good friend. Everything on the small menu delivers. They’re most known for the smashburgesa and Basque cheesecake, but we’ve also loved the tortilla de patata with serrano ham, shrimp al ajillo, and the focaccia with whipped butter. And they still find room to make great cocktails too like the not-sweet-at-all Palmoita with Tequila, vermouth, and Campari; and the Espresso Milano. Since space is limited, be sure to make a Resy in advance.
2. Birdie’s East Side
Birdie’s has established itself as a go-to spot — whether you’re crossing town or flying in, given the national attention that continues for owners Tracy Malechek and Arjav Ezekiel. Their menu is slim but thoughtful and changes regularly. The roasted sweet potato with crispy shallots and beef tartare are favorites, and don’t miss the pastas, or the ever-changing large plates of fish and meat. (Snapper with lemon potatoes was a recent satisfying option.) 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 star items. But if you hit a long line, enjoy a glass of wine while you wait, and debate what you’re going to order. It’s the Birdie’s way.
Find more info here.
3. LENOIR South First
Lenoir is a crowd favorite among folks who’ve lived in Austin since before we had a professional sports team. Whether you’re having dinner in the romantic interior or seated in the wine garden, the scene always feels relaxed but still special enough for a date night Resy. The menu rotates to feature the best of Texas with dishes like Pullman bread with pimento cheese, crab fingers with curry leaf leche de tigre, and whole redfish with chili oil. If you’re feeling indecisive and hungry, there’s also a chef’s choice menu featuring five dishes and optional wine pairings.
4. Lutie’s Hancock
When you step onto the historic Commodore Perry Estate in Hyde Park, you’ll be greeted by stunning architecture, sprawling gardens, and ancient Live Oak trees. It’s a special occasion kind of hotel, so it makes sense that the restaurant on property rises to that same occasion. Make a Resy at Lutie’s for a birthday dinner, work dinner, or an excuse to wear that new outfit you’ve been saving. Start with the buttery, soft Estate bread or petit aioli with grilled vegetables. For dinner, we love the Jasmoon rice, trout, and smoked trout roe or confit duck with guajillo and fig. And save room for the kouign aman ice cream.
5. Este East Austin
Even after almost two years of being open, reservations at Este are still a hot commodity — for good reason, namely Fermin Nuñéz’s groundbreaking cooking. (Pro tip: Set a Notify for any dates you might want to go for dinner, or especially for weekend lunch.) It’s hard to choose between the raw options like the tuna tiradito with crispy leeks or top neck clams topped with guajillo pico. Don’t overlook the fish tacos just because they sound basic. The masa battered swordfish is light, flavorful and works well with any cocktail, agua fresca, or Mexican lager. They’re known for their seafood and vegetables grown on site, but their cochinita pibil and au poivre rib eye are worth trying too.
6. KG BBQ Cherrywood
Many come to Austin in search of barbecue, but KG BBQ at Oddwood Brewing is in a category of its own. Pitmaster Kareem El-Ghayesh (KG), who recently was featured on “Barbecue Showdown” on Netflix and was a James Beard Award semifinalist, creates barbecue with flavors from Egypt and the Middle East out of his food truck. Arrive early to ensure you don’t miss out any of the best-sellers like the brisket, pomegranate-glazed pork ribs, and smoked kofta. Many of the meats also come in rice bowl or shawarma pita form and are topped with Egyptian garden salad, tahini, nuts, and pomegranate seeds.
Find more info here.
7. Dai Due East Austin-Cherrywood
The team at Dai Due focuses on sourcing the freshest vegetables and organic meats for their creative menu. Even their wine and beer list is local, with options from Marfa to Hye. You can feel the level of care they put into each dish, with details like caramelized fennel-mandarin whipped lard that comes with grilled sourdough and red wine-pickled blueberries accompanied by stuffed quail. The menu rotates based on what’s in season, but you can usually find the antelope and aged wagyu burger, perhaps the most underrated burger in Austin.
8. Underdog Bouldin Creek
Maybe we were wooed by the weiner dog in the signage, or perhaps it was the promise of the curated wine selection. Whatever it was, Underdog continues to prove itself Hit List-worthy with an exciting menu of Korean food with some Texas twists like pork and shrimp mandu, corn ribs, and fried rice with pastrami courtesy of Mum Food’s. The 32-page wine list comes with an emotional support sommelier who can help you make the right choice — namely co-owner Richard Hargreave, who performed somm magic in the Momofuku empire. Be sure to stop in the wine shop on the way out to get more new wines to try at home.
9. The Long Goodbye Cherrywood
Sharing a space with Fleet Coffee and La Santa Barbacha, the Long Goodbye is a casual cocktail bar in a busy and growing part of Cherrywood. Outside, they’re serving they’re most popular drinks like the frozen margarita, agua fresca with mezcal, and Oaxacan Martini. The outdoor space is versatile, allowing you to grab a taco to-go from their neighbor and find space to sit with a big or small group happy hour. If A/C is more of your thing, there are limited tables and a small bar inside that offers a bigger cocktail menu and wine list.
Find more info here.
10. Two Hands Austin South Congress
South Congress is now home to many transplants — tech bros, boutiques, and more. While some are more welcome than others (we’re not naming names) this cafe offshoot from New York provides an important coffee window for the many folks passing by — and a solid breakfast, lunch, and dinner, too. Their Australian Brekky options are some of our favorites, like the tomato toast with prosciutto and poached egg, or smashed avo toast with pickled shallots and Fresno chiles. Dinner includes healthy options like the miso mushroom bowl or salmon green curry. The patio is both dog- and kid-friendly, so bring your favorite small or furry companions.
11. LeRoy and Lewis South Austin
LeRoy and Lewis has long been a favorite food truck at Cosmic Coffee. It received accolades from Texas Monthly and The New York Times for serving more than the typical Texas barbecue items. Now they expanded their menu and space in a brick-and-mortar spot in South Austin. They offer sliced or chopped beef and a variety of sausages, as well as (gasp!) smoked vegetables. Options also include three burgers all with different kinds of meat, and a smoked Italian beef sandwich with giardiniera. And while you may have had Big Red with your barbecue, they have a frozen Big Red Sangria. A full bar offers beer, wine, and many cocktail options to sip on while you wait in line to order.
Find more info here.
12. Eldorado Cafe North Central
When seeking out the best Tex-Mex in Austin, you’re going to get strong and often opposing opinions and a range of options from a taco truck to fine dining. Eldorado is perfectly in the middle. Their Mexican breakfast is casual, but you feel like you’re in the right place for Tex-Mex. Huevos rancheros, Short rib machacado and even just the Daily Texan with eggs, bacon, hash and a biscuit — it’s all fresh and filling. We also like the crispy tacos for lunch or the enchiladas verde for dinner. Take a tub of your favorite of their salsas to-go too — they are that good. We’re not alone with the opinion of how great this spot is, so get a Resy so you can sit down right away.
13. RedFarm – ATX Downtown Austin
This hot spot opened their first location outside of New York in downtown Austin last year. And while we normally try to emphasize local spots, the team put great care into ensuring they can create classic Chinese dishes and craft cocktails for Austin, with a touch of New York cool. The Peking duck served with scallion pancakes and dipping sauces is a crowd pleaser and incredibly filling. If you want to order more variety, try the pastrami egg rolls, Chinese broccoli and shitake mushrooms, barbecued beef fried rice, and anything that comes in dumpling form. You can sit up at the bar or get a table inside or on their patio to enjoy what is sure to be an impressive meal.
14. Nixta Taqueria Chestnut
It’s hard to stand out in a taco town like Austin, but James Beard award-winning chef Edgar Rico and his wife Sara Mardanbigi found a way. Their tacos are a blend of traditional Mexican ingredients and flavors with a more modern American twist like the duck carnitas taco or the beet tartare taco. It’s casual, so you can walk-up, wait in a (hopefully) short line, and eat at their picnic tables out back. And if you want the ultimate experience, you can book their taco omakase to get multiple off-menu tacos and dessert.
15. DipDipDip Tatsu-ya Crestview
The beloved shabu-shabu spot from the team behind Tiki Tatsu-Ya, Ramen Tatsu-Ya, and Kemuri Tatsu-Ya has revamped their menu after four years of being open. The shabu-shabu cook-it-yourself experiences are still at the core of what they offer, but now there are also ready-to-eat menu items like nabemono one pot soup, tuna tataki, and daily oysters. With its dimly lit ambiance and small tables, DipDipDip is an ideal spot for a romantic date or special occasion Resy. And with their new menu additions, it also works for a more casual weekday treat, too.
16. Mum Foods Windsor Park
Mum Foods won over many hearts and stomachs with their stands at the local farmer’s markets. They offer even more at their brick and mortar spot in Windsor Park, which deserves a spot on best barbecue in Austin and best sandwich in Austin lists. On the barbecue side, be sure to get some pork ribs or the pastrami which is great on its own and most famous in sandwich form. On the deli side, the matzo ball soup is the best in town with a light and fluffy matzo ball, perfectly balanced broth, and lots of fresh dill. They offer walk-in counter service, so arrive early to avoid lines or missing any of their most popular items.
Find more info here.
17. Bufalina Holly
Bufalina, on the corner of a tiny building on Cesar Chavez, is easy to miss. It’s a cozy dining room with a small bar, so we recommend coming with just one or two others otherwise you may have to wait for your table outside. When you walk in, if you don’t smell it first, you’ll see the giant wood-fired pizza oven where a hardworking team is making pizzas like the Fresca (arugula and prosciutto) and an ‘nduja pie. While pizza is the star, the appetizers and pastas are also worth your attention. And, pro tip: Check out the lengthy wine list in advance to figure out your perfect bottle of choice. While we remain partial to the East Side location, Bufalina Due on Burnet serves Neapolitan pizzas at the same lovely levels.
Find more info here.
18. Gina’s on Congress Downtown Austin
Located in the heart of downtown, the team behind Gusto and Gracia Mediterranean have an Italian bistro with a charming dining room and long bar for drop-ins. Their all day menu works for a mid-work day lunch of a little gem Caesar or croque madame. At night, go for the lardon salad with crispy kale, the hand-made conchiglie pasta with pork sausage, and shoestring fries for the table. It’s a great spot for a date or casual friend dinner. The most coveted Resy is during happy hour to get half-off snacks and cocktails, including any of their Negroni options.
19. Mercado Sin Nombre Govalle
Another farmers market to brick-and-mortar success story, Mercado Sin Nombre recently opened as a coffee shop and bakery on the East Side. Hidden down an alley, there’s a to-go window and a few small tables if you want to dine there. Try the atole cortado made with their famous masa milk or the horchata cold brew. They also use their masa to make soft biscuits that are served with either butter and jam or a fried egg, chicken sausage, and cheese. Pro tip: Get there early to ensure you snag one of their famous masa twinkies too.
Find more info here.
20. The Dead Rabbit Austin Downtown Austin
An Irish pub is a comfortable go-to spot for many folks around the world. But Dead Rabbit takes what you love about that pub, and remixes it in a contemporary, high-end way, which is why the New York original has won seemingly every bar award out there. Its Austin outpost recently opened in a historic building on East 6th Street. Irish Coffees are made in multiple forms with small-batch whiskey, served frozen, up, or with a cream float. If you’re hungry, you can also enjoy pub-food favorites like fish and chips, Scotch eggs, and corned beef sliders. And dhey also have specialty cocktails just for Austin like the First and Formosa, with Tequila, smoked watermelon, curacao, and lime. Make a Resy for a happy hour or weekend night out to get an respectably upscale experience on the rowdy part of Sixth Street.
