The Resy Hit List: Where In Austin You’ll Want to Eat Right Now
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
- Stars in the City: Last month, Michelin finally announced its first awards in Texas. Edgar Rico, the chef of Nixta Taqueria won the Michelin Young Chef award and Dai Due received a Green Star. Odd Duck was also honored with a Bib Gourmand.
- Fizz the Season: Whether you need help picking out a bottle that will impress your in-laws or just want an excuse to try some bubbles, head to Lenoir on Dec. 15 to taste five different styles of Champagne. You’ll learn about the differences and eat some snacks as well. And as always your Resy Events page has lots more to do.
- Little Tree Tunes: If you haven’t heard Vince Guaraldi’s “A Charlie Brown Christmas” in hi-fi audio, this is your chance. Equipment Room is hosting an Omakase Vinyl event to play the Christmas classic on vinyl on Dec. 22.
- Holiday Spirits: Bars all over Austin are decorated in their holiday best. Some of our favorites include Hanukkah at Kitty Cohen’s, Fairytale on Old 6th at The Dead Rabbit Austin, and, of course, Lala’s Little Nugget, which celebrates Christmas year-round. Need more great drinking options? We got you.
New to the Hit List (Dec. 2024)
Casa Bianca, Loudmouth Pizza, OKO, P Thai’s Khao Man Gai & Noodles.
1. OKO Central East Austin
Filipino food in Austin is not easy to find, so we’re doubly excited about the high-end take on traditional dishes at OKO. Born in the Philippines and raised in the Bronx, chef Harold Villarosa creates dishes like oxtail kare-kare stew made with nine-hour braised oxtail in peanut butter sauce and lechon (crispy pork belly). While the menu is very pork-heavy, other options include pinakbet (acorn squash, sweet potato, eggplant and more vegetables over carrot puree) and kinilaw (hamachi in coconut vin, topped with salmon roe). Drinks are made with bright ingredients like mango puree and lemongrass, plus three different gin and tonic choices. Bring friends; you’ll want to share dishes to ensure you try as many as possible.
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. Odd Duck South Lamar
Odd Duck started as a beloved food trailer and quickly grew into a more grown up restaurant now serving an ever-changing menu in a brick and mortar location on South Lamar. While it’s been around for 10 years now, you definitely still need a Resy because it’s among the best spots in Austin. The menu is locally sourced and currently features beer-battered squash with green goddess dressing, cast iron cornbread, and wagyu strip steak with roasted turnips and fritters. Finish off your meal with their chocolate & masa icebox cake with caramel corn and a nitro espresso martini.
6. Loudmouth Pizza Rosewood
The team behind Paperboy opened a pizza spot in late 2024 in the historic building off 11th Street. With a few large booths inside, ample picnic tables outside, and a small kids play area, this makes for a great group dinner and they offer a lunch option on the weekends. For pizza, we love Joe’s Pie which has sausage, mushrooms, olives, and Calabrian chile and the Emerald City with pesto, pickled onion, and ricotta. And if you’re a chicken on your pizza kind of person (no judgment), try the Lone Star with barbecue sauce and cheddar. Don’t miss the other parts of the menu though — wings, chopped salad, and arancini balls were all great additions to the meal. They have a full bar with frozen drinks, local beers, and plenty of wine too.
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. The Flower Shop Central East Austin
This New York-original hot spot is now open in Austin on East Seventh Street. With a retro interior including a cheetah print pool table and cush pleather booths, the Flower Shop team is hoping you’ll want to stick around a while for both drinks and food. Try their michelada cocktail served with mezcal, tequila, and the tiniest Corona, or the vodka cold brew martini. Don’t miss their bar food classics like the super meaty burger made with special sauce, chicken wings doused in Frank’s, or the mozzarella sticks. If you want to go lighter, or at least vegetarian, there’s also a cauliflower steak served with quinoa and a fried egg. Make a Resy for a dinner with friends or even a first date you want to impress with your billiard skills.
11. Kalimotxo East Side
The tapas bar from the Emmer and Rye Hospitality Group made the move from west to east and is now open at the Arrive Hotel. Similar to its original location, it’s an ideal Resy to get for happy hour. They offer pinxtos (individual bites) and larger plates for sharing. Try the tomato and chorizo tosta with manchego or the Iberico ham and chips. If you’re hungrier, go big with the salt-roasted prawns or whole roasted fish. There is a major Spanish wine list to pick from and classic Spanish cocktails like their namesake kalimotxo, a mix of Coca-Cola and red wine.
12. 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.
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. Rockman Coffee + Bakeshop Holly
Amanda Rockman led the pastry program at the South Congress Hotel and restaurants for many years before stepping out to create her own bakery. Try rip and dip bagels — plain with New York cheesecake schmear or everything with French onion schmear. Croissants can be savory like the ham, cheese, and mustard or super sweet like the churro. For drinks, we’re partial to the nitro oat latte and matcha latte. They sell out of baked goods early, so come early if you want the gluten, sugar, and butter part of what they promised on the sign.
Find more info here.
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. P Thai’s Khao Man Gai & Noodles North Loop
The beloved food truck that was P Thai’s is now a beloved brick-and-mortar spot on Airport Boulevard. They’re famous for their traditional rendition of khao man gai. The chicken for the dish gets poached and hung to dry (yes, they are on display), which creates the most tender bird you’ve ever tried. We like ordering the combo which comes with half of the chicken fried and served over chicken fat rice and spicy fermented bean and ginger dipping sauces on the side. Other dishes to try are the fried pork belly or the sukiyaki — a spicy bowl full of bean thread noodles, shrimp, and pork.
Find more info here.
18. Casa Bianca East Cesar Chavez
They’re calling themselves “weird Italian” at Casa Bianca, but we think fun might be a more accurate descriptor. Start your night with a Negroni on rooftop Bar Alcina and then head down to the dining room to experience their different take on Italian. Starter items like the spicy bluefin tuna cannoli or broiled oysters all’amatriciana are dishes you can’t find anywhere else. Their handmade pastas are the stars of the show like the shrimp and pork belly tortelli and Hoja Santa Cannelloni. Hoja santa is a Mexican herb (pepperleaf) which comes on top of pasta stuffed with ricotta in arrabbiata sauce. Try to get a happy hour Resy to try other menu items and get a half dozen oysters for $20.
19. Terrible Love Hyde Park
One of our tiny favorite coffee trucks moved into a slightly larger space in a quieter part of Hyde Park at the old Baker School. They renovated the tiny brick boiler room into a coffee counter that serves dirty chai lattes, the Terrible Latte with grapefruit brown sugar, and more. There are limited pastries from Texas French Bread, pre-made breakfast tacos, and some dog treats for your furry friends. If you want to stick around while you drink your coffee, there’s a lovely area of tables under the trees next to the boiler room.
Find more info here.
20. 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.
