The Resy Hit List: Where In Austin You’ll Want to Eat Right Now

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. The 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 — it’s 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.

This isn’t just a Southern charm facade with roaming peacocks, it’s an actual home from the 1890s that’s been an Austin institution for many years. Recently, the restaurant is getting more buzz because they added a 63-room hotel onto the estate, a gorgeous and thoughtful build out. Mattie’s is ideal for a quiet, special dinner or a celebratory brunch. Try the little gem wedge salad, wood-grilled pork tenderloin with succotash, and all of the sides. For brunch, the Bread Pudding French Toast will make you feel the Southern hospitality, as will the biscuits and chorizo gravy with scrambled eggs. It’s a high-demand spot for holidays, so be sure to get your Resy early or turn on Notify as needed.

Tzintzuntazan (pronounced zin-zoon-zan) is climbing fast up the Resy rankings, and rightfully so. We’ve always dreamed of what it would be like for Fonda San Miguel to offer brunch and now we finally know! The smaller space right next door has an intimate and modern dining room, with a private courtyard attached with the vast majority of the seating. Regional Mexican breakfast and lunch dishes include huevos motulenos — fried eggs and black beans served on a crispy corn tortilla, ham, and plantains with fresh ranchera salsa — and ceviche with guajillo, habanero, and citrus. If you can’t get a Resy, pop over to the takeout window to try coffee and pastries like the vanilla concha, mole poblano biscuits with jam and butter, and Mexican poundcake.

It’s a family affair: Three siblings who grew up working at their family’s Vietnamese restaurant opened Anh Em on West Anderson Lane to serve modern takes on their favorite Vietnamese dishes. Pop in for lunch or dinner; the bright space has plenty of seating. Opt for favorites like a vermicelli bowl with your choice of protein, grilled brisket banh mi, or vegan pho with tofu. The crab rangoon and steamed bao buns are worth sharing with friends. After your meal, save room for matcha soft serve or take a nitro Thai tea for the road.

Find more info here.

Not everyone gets a chance to dine out regularly, so if that’s you, VanHorn’s is the spot you’re looking for to put your big night out to good use. VanHorn’s is a new steakhouse from the team behind Bill’s Oyster and Teddy’s. Located downtown, it offers that New York classic steakhouse scene — martinis and all. The steaks all come with sauce options like bearnaise, chimichurri, and creamy horseradish. If you’re not up for meat, we also were wowed by the miso-glazed black cod and tuna carpaccio. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the small space, but a happening scene that works for your night on the town, birthday dinners, and corporate meals — where you can have an excuse to get the biggest steak on the menu.

This beloved food truck has relocated to a brick-and-mortar location nearby, serving the same tacos that are small in size but big in flavor. No wonder the suadero taco, made with rich, tender brisket on a fresh nixtamalized tortilla, was honored by The New York Times as a “best bite of 2024.” The al pastor tacos are a Saturday special and almost always sell out. Each taco is $4, so we’re all about ordering some variety here. If you’re up for going beyond the traditional Paprika style taco, you can also order any of their menu items as a torta or quesadilla. There are some tables inside if you want to eat them while they’re hot, but these tacos are so good they’ll travel well if needed.

Find more info here.

Don’t be fooled by Roya’s nondescript location near mattress stores and medical offices in north Austin, this is an upscale meal worth traveling to find. Centered around Persian culture and gathering around a table for a shared meal, Roya is warm, inviting, and even a bit extravagant. Starters are reminiscent of favorite Mediterranean dishes, with stars like bademjan — whipped eggplant with chickpeas, crispy garlic, and fresh bread. Entrees include minced lamb, beef koobideh, chicken thigh kebabs, or braised short rib. Get extra rice and pickled vegetables for the table. If you want to try a bit of everything, go with the Sofreh option to get the full Persian treatment.

Book on

While we have many favorite spots in Austin to get a proper cocktail, Bouldin didn’t really have many options. Enter Boni’s — a new Spanish-style cocktail bar and tapas spot from the couple behind Lenoir, located in the bungalow right next door. The restored house from the 1930s welcomes you in with wood ceilings, shiplap walls, and a small patio perfect for pre-dinner cocktails or a happy hour with friends, no Resy required. Light bites include housemade bread with olive oil and garlic, meatballs, and boiled peanuts. Drinks are the focus here, so be sure to try the carajillo with mole bitters, or the gin and tonic served with blood orange. Spanish natural wines by the glass or bottle will make you forget that you’re sweating in Texas summer heat, not Spanish summer heat.

Find more info here.

Much like sister restaurant Odd Duck, Barley Swine has been a go-to for celebratory meals and creative fine dining in Austin since before you moved here, no offense. We didn’t need Michelin to tell us how special this restaurant was, but the star was very much deserved and welcome. Their small interior and tasting menu are more than enough to impress. Recent favorites include cured hiramasa with fermented jam, and bigger dishes like chipotle halibut with Sungold pico de gallo and smoked pork shoulder with creamed corn and peaches. While a tasting menu can often feel like too much, the team at Barley Swine keep it fresh and approachable with everything from regional butchers and farmers.

Book on

When the public pools are too crowded and access to a private pool just isn’t in the cards, you’re going to want to explore the pool pass options. Hit up the East Austin Hotel during the warmer months in Austin to relax poolside. There’s easy access to frozen cocktails, local beers, and plenty of pool chairs. If you’re hungry, choose from light bites like the ceviche, tater tots, and chips and guacamole. After a solid pool day, it’s easy to grab a full meal too. And if that’s not enough, check out the two other restaurants at the hotel, and many more options nearby on the East Side.

Tucked away from SoCo’s crowds, this cocktail and wine bar from the team behind Butcher’s Daughter is built for making your night cooler. The sunken courtyard sets the mood with hi-fi DJs walking the line between destination listening and perfect wallpaper for your evening. Dishes like pan con tomate with burrata or radishes with whipped feta are intentionally light. The wine list includes surprises, like a grenache rose from Hill Country and a cava-meets-pet-nat option from Catalonia. Don’t miss the spritzes, white Negronis, and mocktail options too. Make a Resy to start your night there, to impress your date, or gather with a group of people who love a good scene.

While downtown Austin might be a great place for a meandering bar crawl, this is one you might miss if you’re not in the know. Behind a discreet door attached to a parking garage, you’ll find a dimly lit den churning out expertly made drinks. The menu champions classic cocktails, with offerings like the Air Mail with rum, lime, honey, and sparkling wine, and crisp martinis chilled to perfection with pristine hand-cut ice. Make a Resy in advance to ensure you can get a prime spot — the large-format punch bowls are great for groups and snacks like charcuterie boards, nuts, and olives will keep the party going.

If you find yourself near UT campus, you may be looking for somewhere to eat that’s not a food truck and not a chain. Luckily, Musashino on the edge of campus strikes a balance that’s casual enough for a weeknight meal but high quality enough to take out-of-towners who are into sushi. Though the ambiance is unremarkable in an office building just off Lamar, the menu is robust and filled with our favorites like the tuna tataki, grilled escolar skewers, and baked avocado with spicy mayo. Choose from nigiri, rolls, and/or, our favorite, hand rolls to build your ideal sushi experience. You can probably walk in during the week or if you want to eat early, but we recommend getting a Resy Thursday-Sunday.

After four years of lighting us all up with Northern Thai dishes, Kiin Di opened a brick-and-mortar spot on South Lamar. It’s a no-frills, easy-to-love kind of spot for any night of the week, including a weekend. The coconut milk pork ribs fall off the bone and the tom yum soup is creamy and bright. Entrees like the Dang! Curry and Khao Soi are packed with flavor and might make you sweat a bit, but you can cool down with cocktails, beer, and Thai tea. The service is efficient and there’s plenty of seating, so make your way here for a lunch or dinner to enjoy a relaxed meal without having to plan too far ahead.

Find more info here.

More than four years after a fire took down most of Texas French Bread, they are so back. At this rebuilt Austin landmark, the outdoor garden is open for coffee and pastries in the morning and sandwiches like the vegetarian on ciabatta with tomatillo hummus, local vegetables, and lemon vinaigrette for lunch. The restored interior looks homier than ever, with exposed brick and wood ceilings and mostly small tables for dinner. The menu rotates based on what’s in season. Lean casual with a burger and market salad, or make it a night out with brown butter trout with braised cabbage or handmade noodles.

It may seem unnatural that you can get espresso with homemade nut milk, pizza with snap peas and pickled shallots, pecan chocolate chip cookies, and bike chain lube all in the same spot, but we are here to tell you that you absolutely can and it absolutely works. The Meteor opened this bike shop/cafe on South Congress as an all-day kind of place for bikers, remote workers, and lovers of high-quality anything. Choose among hundreds of bottles of wine, or try the Meatier sourdough pizza topped with sausage, pepperoni, and bacon, or go with a little gem salad and harissa hot wings for something lighter.

Find more info here.