Best Restaurants in Southwest Austin

Mar 02, 2022

Close-up of a freshly grilled beef steak, topped with a sprig of rosemary and steak fries in the background.

Whether you’re looking for a ‘starter home’ or you want to settle in a city, there’s no denying that the ‘Live Music Capital’ is worth checking out. Southwest Austin also has many new developments and is fast becoming a sought-after place to live. Several of its neighborhoods have large communities with a thriving economy. You can find parks, hiking trails, and top-performing schools situated in Southwest Austin.

Not to be overlooked, the restaurants of Southwest Austin are outstanding. Whatever your taste or budget, you are sure to find special places to enjoy in this highly desirable area. If you’re looking for the best restaurants in South Austin, there are a lot to choose from. Prepare to be surprised.

CARVE American Grille

CARVE American Grille offers a comprehensive brunch, lunch, and dinner menu. There are plenty of choices, from top steak to custom cuts to order for ribeye, New York strip, and Filet Mignon. You won’t forget the ‘Rare & Well Done’ experience when you try their best-selling smoked and live-grilled steaks, cooked to perfection. Vegetarian and vegan options include the vegan Salisbury steak and spaghetti squash primavera.

Make sure you don’t miss the wine offers and the mixology cocktail bar. There’s a great atmosphere here, and you can easily park, or you can opt for CARVE Curbside-to-Go. Prices range from $10 to $130.

Hours and Location: 7415 SW Parkway, Austin, TX 78735 (open for dine-in and to-go from Monday to Sunday)

Phone: 512-792-4450

Chinos Fusion Hacienda

If you’re craving Mexican cuisine with a twist, Chinos Fusion Hacienda is a great choice for Tex-Mex-Asian fusion food. Considered one of the best places to eat in South Austin, Chinos have perfected every menu option to keep you coming back for more by combining pan-Asian popular dishes such as adobo and kimchi.

Popular dishes include kimchi fries, puffy ground beef, and rice bowls selections. Are you looking for vegan options? They also have Veg’d Out and Spicy Tofu on offer. There are keto-friendly options if you need to avoid carbs. Chinos is open for dine-in, delivery, and to-go from Monday to Sunday. Prices range from $4 to $12.

Hours and Location: Chinos Fusion Hacienda is located at 6705 Highway 290 Suite 608, Austin, TX 78735.

Phone: 512-296-2761

Cypress Grill

Offering Louisiana-style cuisine, Cypress Grill is a popular spot if you’re looking for old-school Texan comfort food. There is a wide selection of Cajun food and Bayou classics. You can also enjoy daily specials and live-music nights with your family or friends.

Their specialties include seafood platters with oysters, catfish, and seafood combos. Other favorites are crawfish delight, crawfish etouffee, and Atchafalaya catfish. Check out their lunch specials and New Orleans brunch if you’re searching for the best restaurants in South Austin on the fly. Prices range from $8 to $30.

Hours and Location: Cypress Grill is located at 4404 W William Cannon Dr. Ste L, Austin, TX 78749. You can visit them from Monday to Sunday for dine-in, take-out, and delivery.

Phone: 512-358-7474

Elizabeth Street Cafe

This is a popular location for brunch gatherings. Elizabeth Street Cafe offers Vietnamese cuisine with a matching ambiance reminiscent of Vietnamese restaurants. Their selections include freshly-baked goods, wonton soup, spring rolls, Bahn mi, and pho.

People come to Elizabeth Street Cafe for the popular Elizabeth Street fried rice and ginger steamed snapper. This restaurant also has a special brunch menu available only at weekends. Expect the price to range from $8 to $25.

Hours and Location: Elizabeth Street Cafe is situated at 1501 S. First Street, Austin, TX 78704. They are open from Monday to Sunday for dine-in, private dining, to-go, and delivery.

Phone: 512-291-2881

Jack Allen’s Kitchen

True to its Texan roots, Jack Allen’s Kitchen offers some of the best Southern-inspired cuisines infused with Southwestern spices. This restaurant exudes comfort and fun. It’s great for family gatherings and group get-togethers.

Beef ribs, buttermilk fried chicken, fat jack burger, and Baja style fish tacos are some of Jack Allen’s Kitchen’s best-sellers. They also serve hand-selected single barrels if you’re looking to try good draft beers.

Hours and Location: Jack Allen’s Kitchen is situated at 7720 Highway 71 W, Austin, TX 78735 and is open every day. A Jak Original choice will cost between $17 and $24.

Phone: 512-852-8558

June’s All Day Neighborhood Cafe and Wine Bar

Fancy some New American-French fusion on this side of town? June’s All Day is one of the most frequented South Austin restaurants by those who are looking for all-day breakfast options, comfort food, and Southern draft beers. Satisfy your midnight cravings because June’s is also open until midnight. Some of their best menus include breakfast chalupa, Croque Madame, bone marrow bolognese, and matzo ball caldo.

Hours and Location: June’s All Day is located at 1722 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704 and is open from Monday to Sunday. Meal prices range from $12 to $42.

Phone: 512-416-1722

Magnolia Cafe

This family-owned restaurant has been an iconic establishment since 1979. Serving traditional comfort food, Magnolia Cafe is a local eatery frequented for brunch by locals and visitors coming to Southwest Austin. Some days there’s a bit of a wait outside this local eatery with its mouth-watering Tex-Mex options and vegetarian selections. Once you get served, the wait is worth it. Eggs benedict, breakfast tacos, migas, and French toast are some of their popular dishes. Tex-Mex plates cost around $12 and a breakfast-anytime choice will cost $10.

Hours and Location: Magnolia Cafe is situated at 1920 S Congress Ave. Austin, TX 78704. They are open every day from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. for dine-in, take-out, and pick-up.

Phone: 512-445-0000

Odd Duck

Are you searching for restaurants in Southwest Austin that offer an authentic farm-to-table experience? Odd Duck is an upscale eatery offering fresh food selections for hungry guests. Enjoy affordable and tasty new American comfort food in a warm and casual setting.

Most of the food in Odd Duck is seasonal, so it’s best to trust your waiter’s choices if you’re looking to make the most of your visit to this restaurant. Pork belly, redfish ceviche, and fried quail are some of the best-sellers to try.

Prices range from $11 to $39 for a main course.

Hours and Location: Odd Duck is found at 1201 S Lamar Blvd Austin, TX 78704 and is open every day at 5 p.m.

Phone: 512-433-6521

Phoebe’s Diner

With a 50’s diner-inspired interior, Phoebe’s Diner is a favorite spot for good classic American food with a modern twist. Enjoy unique takes of your traditional eggs benedict, omelet, and hash browns with a warm brewed coffee for a quick brunch.

Popular dishes include crab cake benedict, deep-fried French toast, brisket burrito, and hash brown casserole. You can also choose one of the Texan BBQ selections if you want a classic American meal.

Hours and Location: Phoebe’s Diner is located at 533 W Oltorf St, Austin, TX 78704 and is open every day for brunch to lunch from 7 a.m. to 3 p/m. They offer take-out and delivery but if you opt to dine-in, you may need to join the waitlist online. A typical breakfast of bacon and eggs will cost around $13.

Phone: 512-643-3218

An unforgettable dining experience is just one of the few things you will enjoy in Southwest Austin. Enjoy the scenic views of Lake Travis or take a relaxing leisurely walk along the Hamilton Pool Nature trail. Venture to Barton Spring Pools to cool off after a busy day visiting museums and bars in the city. You will find that life in Southwest Austin offers unlimited enjoyment.

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Best Restaurants in Southwest Austin

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Last updated: 03/02/2022

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I had a great experience working with Bramlett Residential Real Estate. Jean Holm was my agent and she & her team made the whole process very simple. She explained everything very well, was knowledgeable, had great advice, and got our home sold. Definitely reccomend!

Jeremy K

I worked with Jeremy Vandermause to buy my first home. Jeremy was so patient throughout the process (which I definitely dragged out as I gathered all the facts). He consistently sent me homes I was interested in and was eager to show them off, and on the odd occasions where I found one he hadn't already seen he always made himself available to walk through with me. He was very helpful in those walkthroughs pointing out home features I would have missed, or providing context on neighborhood. As a native Austinite, he definitely knows the history and cultural fabric of the city and each neighborhood. I started with close to zero knowledge of the home-buying process and Jeremy walked me through every step with clarity and patience. So excited about the home I now own! Plus, he's just a legit cool dude. I always really enjoyed our conversations and could tell from the start he was someone worth knowing in Austin

Jian M.

This review is about Joe Gage, their real estate agent. I'm based in Sam Francisco and was looking for investment property in Austin. I tried out three different agents based on recommendations from different sources, including Yelp. Joe clearly stands out. He's very patient and responsive. I'm not familiar with the area at all thus had a lot of questions. His email reply contains detailed information of the neighborhood, including shops nearby, schools and so on. He regularly screen houses and give recommendations once he sees a good fit for investment house offered at reasonable price. He's very knowledgeable about the area. All his recommendations comes with details around why he thinks it's a good investment and sales/rental data in the neighborhood to justify the price he thinks it's worth as well as the expected rental income. I found him to be very methodical and organized. He's not a typical sales person. Maybe this is because he used to be an accountant. Needless to say he earned our trust and we went with him to make the purchase. I was very impressed through the whole process. He's very calm and never pushy. His recommendation on the bid price was right on and he was very good at following up with various parties to push things through. The process went through very smoothly. If anyone is looking for a good real estate agent in Austin, I'd recommend Joe whole-heartedly. His professionalism and calm personality make him a real pleasure to work with.

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