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.
Consider it your essential resource for dining in Austin: a monthly-updated guide to the restaurants that you won’t want to miss — tonight or any night.
Four Things In Austin Not to Miss This Month
- Get in Formation: For a very different kind of omakase experience, head to Equipment Room on Jan, 12 to listen to Beyonce’s Lemonade at their Omakase Vinyl night. There will be curated cocktails, small bites, and undoubtedly, someone who feels the need to dance. And always keep an eye on the Resy Events page for more special happenings.
- Pre-Tribute Plans: To celebrate the legacy of Austin artist and musician Daniel Johnston, Andrew Bird and Cunningham are performing at the Paramount Theatre on Jan. 24. Grab a quick bite before at Gina’s on Congress or a drink or two at Eden Cocktail Room. And of course we’re never short on other ideas of where to grab a great drink.
- Half Marathon, Full Brunch: You don’t need to run 13 miles to have an excuse for a big Sunday brunch. But if you or someone you know are running the 3M Half Marathon, make a Resy for a celebratory meal after at Bill’s Oyster or Two Hands.
- MLK Day: Starting at the capitol building, join the annual community march to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. all the way to Huston-Tillotson University. There will be music, food vendors, and programming in honor of MLK Day.
New to the Hit List (Jan. 2025)
Apt 115, El Naranjo, Knuckle Sandwich, Lin Asian Bar + Dim Sum.
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. El Naranjo Austin
Let this be your call to veer away from Austin Tex-Mex for a moment and find the earnest interior-Mexican food Austin has to offer. There is no better place for that than this staple on South Lamar. Chef Iliana de la Vega focuses on traditional Mexican recipes and highlighting different regions of Mexico. They are most well-known for their moles. The mole negro comes over duck breast and is made with over 30 ingredients including nuts, seeds, and chocolate and comes with hand-made corn tortillas and rice. Other items to try include the ceviche of the month, queso Oaxaca fundido, and tacos dorados which you can only get at Sunday brunch.
3. 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.
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. APT 115 East Austin
This hit list spot is worthy of being added to your Notify list — with only 22 seats inside, Resys are hard to come by. Most people are going to try the expansive wine list, which features 400 wines from around the world. We recommend the tasting to sample each wine they are serving by the glass. These change often, so keep coming back to see the newest bottles they’re highlighting. Right now, the food at the restaurant is in partnership with chef Grae Nonas of Le Cowboy. The Italian menu features garganelli Bolognese if you’re feeling hungrier or Le Lunchable with meats, cheese, and Ritz crackers if you want to nosh while you drink wine.
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. Lin Asian Bar + Dim Sum Clarksville
Chef Ling Qi Wu’s original spot continues to be a go-to spot for dumplings in Austin. While she’s expanded her restaurants to The Grove and Lantana, we prefer the Clarksville location for their intimate space with small tables and a dim sum bar. Most people are there for the soup dumplings and Shanghai seafood dumplings, so we recommend ordering plenty to share. The entrees like the Akaushi beef, shrimp kung pao, and beef fried rice. The ultimate Resy is for their brunch experience so you can get even more dumplings and sweet options like an egg cream bun and pineapple puff.
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. 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. Knuckle Sandwich South Austin
In an area that used to be warehouses and tire shops, St. Elmo now offers a variety of unexpected food options. This food truck at Ant’s Beer Cave serves a short list of specialty sandwiches made by chefs who worked previously at Emmer & Rye and Joel Robuchon. They are on the pricier side at $17, but well worth it. The signature is a 9-inch Italian sandwich made with mortadella, salami, capicola from Olympia Provisions in Portland, Ore. It’s topped with Mamma Lil’s Sweet Peppers (also from Portland), za’tar, aioli, and parm crisps for crunch and served on bread baked at Pullman Market in San Antonio. The other three sandwiches are also carefully crafted with thoughtfully picked ingredients, so come back to try the Not Boring Turkey, Lamb Sammie, and Mushroom “Reuben” which is vegetarian.
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.
