Destinations

Guide to Eating in Austin

Published

9 months ago

June 13, 2024

I’ve been living in Austin for two months now, and in that time, I’ve consumed a lot of food. After all, Austin is home to an incredible food scene — from BBQ joints to food trucks to healthy, organic outlets to (of course) Mexican restaurants. As more and more people move to Austin (close to 160 a day at last count) and the city balloons with a more diverse population, Austin has expanded its dining fare to include more varied and higher-quality food.

Part of the reason Austin’s food tastes so delicious is because of the locally-sourced ingredients. As the birthplace of Whole Foods, Austin has always embraced organic food, and it was one of the frontrunners in the farm-to-table movement.

Moreover, to meet the needs of the expanding population, nearly 200 new food trucks and restaurants open up each year! With so many eateries opening all the time, you’re going to get hugely increased variety, selection, and quality.

While I still have much more exploring to do and food to eat, I want to share some of my favorite places to eat in the city for your next visit:

Asian

If there is anything I dislike about Austin, it would be the lack of good Asian cuisine, as it is my favorite in the world. When it comes to Asian food, it has a lot of those fusion joints that serve Chinese, Thai, sushi, and Korean all at once. Most are simply acceptable; they won’t blow you away. However, there are a few restaurants worth eating at:

Bar Chi (206 Colorado St., (512) 382-5557, www.barchiaustin.com) – Decent sushi but an unbelievably affordable happy hour (5-7pm each day). My friends and I come here because it satisfies the sushi craving on the cheap!
East Side King (1618 1/2 E. 6th S., (512) 407-8166, www.eskaustin.com) – Located in The Liberty Bar (also a kick-ass bar), this is best Asian-Thai fusion food truck in the city! Be sure to get the pork buns, tori meshi, or the chicken buns.
Lulu B’s (3632 S. Congress Ave., (512) 921-4828, www.facebook.com/LuLuBsAustin) – I found this place thanks to Jodi from Legal Nomads. I’m not the Vietnamese food expert she is, but this place was delectable. I’ve only had the beef pho, but it was a flavorful broth.
Piranha (207 San Jacinto Blvd. #202, (512) 473-8775, www.piranhakillersushi.com/piranha-locations/austin) – My all-around favorite sushi joint. The sushi here gives you the most value for your money, and it’s always fresh and of high quality. I particularly love their yellowtail.
Thai-Khun (1816 E. 6th St., (512) 407-8166, eskaustin.com/v2/thaikun) – As a Thai food snob (ever since I lived in Thailand), I’m always disappointed at Thai restaurants because I never think the food is as breathtaking as in Thailand. This place in Austin is the closest to true Thai food that I’ve found so far.
Uchi (801 S. Lamar, (512) 916-4808, uchiaustin.com) – The fanciest high-end sushi restaurant in the city. They also have a sister restaurant called Uchiko. Both live up to their reputations and are good date places. Reservations recommended!
Wu Cho (500 W. 5th St. #168, (512) 476-2469, wuchowaustin.com) – This is one of the best Chinese restaurants in the city. They serve a very popular dim sum brunch on Sundays. Be sure to come early as it gets packed during dinnertime and Sunday brunch, and the wait for a table can be up to an hour.

Americana

If there is one thing Austin does well, it’s “Americana” food. I define that as a fusion of multiple cuisines: burgers, fries, steaks, seafood, and the like.

Launderette (2115 Holly St., (512) 382-1599, launderetteaustin.com) – Located in an old laundry store, this restaurant is one of the hottest spots in town and serves an amazing menu of Americana and seafood, as well as a decent selection of wine. Some of my favorite dishes include crab toast, burrata, okra, brussels sprouts, and grilled octopus. If you’re coming for dinner, come early, as it fills up fast.
Truluck (400 Colorado St., (512) 482-9000, trulucks.com) – This is my favorite steak restaurant because it’s one of the few places where you can also get fresh seafood (crab, oysters, lobster). It’s not cheap, but if you want a upscale steak house, try this.
Péché (208 W. 4th St., (512) 494-4011, www.pecheaustin.com) – A New Orleans–inspired restaurant serving Bayou food, and it has a very friendly staff, tasty cocktails, and an extensive whiskey list.

BBQ

Austin is world-famous for its BBQ, and you can’t walk down the street without running into a restaurant that serves it. The title for Austin’s best BBQ is hotly contested among fans, and I don’t claim to know who’s right — to me, BBQ is either good or really damn good. But these are among my favorites:

Franklin Barbecue (900 E. 11th St., (512) 653-1187, franklinbarbecue.com) – This is considered the top of the top of the top BBQ joints in the country. Even the president ate here! It’s open from 11am until they run out of food (usually in a few hours). Lines start at 8am, so it’s best to go midweek in summer when most people don’t want to wait in that line and you don’t need to line up until 9 or 10am.
La Barbecue (1906 E. Cesar Chavez St., (512) 605-9696, www.labarbecue.com) – BBQ is a matter of perspective. A lot of people say Franklin’s is the best, but La Barbecue is #1 to me. It opens at 11am. Expect two-hour waits during lunchtime, so get here early.
Iron Works BBQ (100 Red River St., (512) 478-4855, ironworksbbq.com) – Located downtown, this restaurant serves above-average BBQ with large portions and hearty helpings of side dishes. I come here for the lunch brisket plate.
Micklethwait Craft Meats (1309 Rosewood Ave., (512) 791-5961, craftmeatsaustin.com) – An awesome food truck on the east side of the city. I’m in love with its ribs, brisket, and BBQ sauce. While it’s very popular, the line here isn’t as long as the other places listed.

Tacos

Tacos are serious business in this city. I have yet to fully experience much of the wonder that Austin has to offer on this front, but I do like a few of the big names:

Veracruz (1704 E. Cesar Chavez St., (512) 981-1760, veracruztacos.com) – The best food truck in town (conveniently located across the street from my hostel). It makes wonderful breakfast tacos, and the migas was voted #1 in the country. There is never really a line, but service is slow.
Torchy’s (multiple locations, torchystacos.com/in/austin) – World famous (and another spot where the president ate), this taco place has multiple locations in the city. It lives up to all the hype! I’m a big fan of the fried avocado and trailer park tacos. Every location is always packed, so expect a wait, especially on the weekends. The food here is pretty spicy, too.
Taco Deli (multiple locations, www.tacodeli.com) – Another delicious eatery serving mouth watering breakfast tacos.

Mexican & Tex-Mex

Like tacos, there are a lot of world-class Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants in Austin! There are plenty of people who can dissect their finer points — I am not one of those people, however. But these establishments will never steer you wrong:

Vivo (6406 N. Interstate Highway 35, (512) 407-8302, vivoaustin.com) – Solid Mexican with huge portions, spicy dishes, and friendly staff.
Benji’s (716 W. 6th St., (512) 476-8226, benjiscantina.com) – Amazing margaritas, huge portions, and an outdoor patio area. Their incredible guacamole is made tableside.
Tamale House East (1707 E. 6th St., (512) 495-9504, www.facebook.com/tamalehouse.east) – Located in East Austin, this hole-in-the-wall is only open for breakfast or lunch. It’s famous for its tacos, but like the name suggests, get the tamales!

Indian

There isn’t a lot of good Indian food in town, mostly because there just isn’t a lot of good Asian food in general. I’m not an Indian food expert, but these two are my favorites:

The Clay Pit (1601 Guadalupe St., (512) 322-5131, claypit.com) – I order from this spot through UberEats all the time since it often has fast delivery. I love the samosas and jasmine rice, and their naan is just perfect!
Masala Dhaba (75 Rainey St., (512) 665-6513) – A higher-end, sit-down restaurant with a flavorful chicken tikka masala!

Miscellaneous

Some other of my favorite must-eats:

P. Terry’s (multiple locations, pterrys.com) – This is the best burger bar in the city. It’s delicious and cheap (you can get a burger, fries, and a drink for $6 USD), with filling portions. This is one of my all-time favorite spots in the city, and since it’s close to my house, I tend to eat here too often!
The Onion (408 Brazos St., (512) 476-6466, onionbaby.com) – Coming from NYC, I’m spoiled for pizza — you can buy tasty dollar slices anywhere you go there. That’s not the case in Austin: slices are around $4 USD and not as good, but if there is one pizza place I do like, it’s this one.
Gus’s Fried Chicken (117 San Jacinto, (512) 474-4877, gusfriedchicken.com/austin-texas-location) – The sister restaurant to the famous location in Memphis, this place has juicy, moist chicken with battered skin that bursts with flavor in your mouth. It’s freaking amazing! They also serve mouthwatering fried green tomatoes and pickles.
Leaf (115 W. 6th St., (512) 474-5323, leafsalad.com) – This new lunchtime salad place is incredible (also the line is long). Its gigantic salad bar has anything and everything you could ever want to put in a salad. It’s one of my favorite places for a healthy meal in Austin.
True Kitchen (222 West Ave. #HR100, (512) 777-2430, truefoodkitchen.com) – This new restaurant is incredibly popular with people after work. All its food is natural and organic. You’ll find healthy wraps, salad bowls, sandwiches, and fresh and flavorful seafood, as well as an incredible selection of wine and cocktails.

Austin’s growing food scene means that there are still plenty of places I haven’t eaten at yet — and a few locations I probably left out, as a result — but during your visit to Austin, you’ll find yourself with more than enough choices by using this list as your guide!

Destinations

Unforgettable Adventures to Know About For Lovers and Family Alike

Published

2 months ago

January 8, 2025

Adam T

Going on a shared adventure is a well-known way to strengthen relationships. Whether you want to get to know your lover better or want to enhance your family bonds, it’s worth taking some time out of your normal day to go on an adventure. As you plan an unforgettable adventure, it helps to use these ideas that lead to memorable experiences.

Plan a Romantic Escape

If you’ve ever watched a couple run off into the sunset together on horseback, then you already have an idea of how this adventure can inspire romance. Take a moment to picture you and your beloved one riding on horseback together in a gorgeous landscape setting. Most horseback riding adventures last from one to two hours. You can use this time to admire each other’s beauty along with the amazing scenery.

Make Memories With Family-Friendly Fun

Sometimes, you want to bring your kids along on an adventure. In this case, horseback riding taps into your child’s love of animals. Plus, they’ll have an adventure that they won’t be able to wait to tell their friends about. Family-friendly horseback riding adventures can be shorter when you have children under eight years old in our group. Taking them for a short walk around a lake helps them gain confidence on the horse for the first time. Soon, you can bet your child will ask to do it again as they develop more skills.

Explore the Beauty of Nature Together

The best adventures take you out of your comfort zone and encourage you to experience things you might not get to enjoy during your daily life. Exploring the outdoors on horseback involves multiple changes of scenery. On your ride, your guide might take you through a stream crossing. You may also go down an old log road as you learn more about the history of the area. As you ride, remember to keep an eye out for wildlife such as deer and wild turkeys that further give you and your companions a deeper appreciation of nature.

Establish Unforgettable Bonds

Sharing unique adventures helps to reinforce your bond with your loved one by showing you new aspects of their personality. Watching as your loved one sits atop a horse may give you more insight into their strength and willingness to try new things. You’ll also enjoy sharing the memories of the beautiful things you saw and experienced together. Making sure that your adventure stands out from your daily activities further heightens the positive effects of your shared experience. To create even stronger bonds, consider turning your adventure into an overnight rusting camping trip that gives you more time to spend together without the intrusion of phone screens.

Once you’re enjoying your adventure, remember to leave some time in your day to share your thoughts about the experience. Talking to your partner or family member about your favorite parts of going horseback riding or on a carriage ride helps to strengthen your memories. In fact, you might even find that you look forward to repeating your adventure on future dates such as your anniversary or a family member’s birthday.

Destinations

Vacation Ideas Based On 2018’s Oscar-Nominated Films

Amazing vacation ideas inspired by the settings of some of the best films of 2017.

Published

3 months ago

December 8, 2024

Loren Thorn

2017 was a great year in movies. So many amazing films made by some of the best directors and actors of our generation. And a lot of them were set in very cool places too! So when planning your next vacation, why not consider the settings of some of your favorite movies of the year? Here are the 6 best vacation spots that come to us from this year’s Oscar-nominated films.

NORTH YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND (PHANTOM THREAD)

Easily one of the more visually beautiful films of 2017, Phantom Thread owes a lot of that beauty to its location of North Yorkshire. Tucked along the coastline, it provides amazing views in every direction. And be sure to visit the Victoria Hotel in Robin Hood’s Bay to recreate the moment Daniel Day-Lewis first meets his muse!

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA (LADY BIRD)

Perhaps the perfect location for a film about a teenager looking for more, Lady Bird takes place in the California state capital of Sacramento. And while not typically considered a desirable travel destination, it is the perfect exemplification of a town someone could become nostalgic for without planning on it. Nothing beats that California sunshine!

LONDON, ENGLAND (DARKEST HOUR)

If you’re looking to take a vacation in some place rich with history than you can’t do much better than the setting for Darkest Hour, London, England. Visit the famous landmarks of Big Ben, Downing Street, and Buckingham Palace. But be sure to “Keep Calm and Carry On’ while you do!

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (COCO)

Coco may be an animated movie, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it’s setting! Well, technically the film didn’t take place in Mexico City. But the animators used specific elements of the city when designing the movie’s locations. Just be sure to plan your trip around Dia de los Muertos. It is not to be missed.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (THE POST)

If you want to experience the energy and fast-paced lifestyle of a political journalist, then look no further than the setting for The Post, Washington, D.C. Some of the crowds and lines can be annoying, but it’s worth it to experience such important American history.

NORTHERN ITALY (CALL ME BY YOUR NAME)

Italy is famous for being one of the most beautiful countries in the world. With its elegant and timeless architecture, winding cobblestone roads, and rolling hills, the Italian countryside is indeed worth experiencing. Take your time, relax, and contemplate what it must have been like to come-of-age in such an incredible place.

Destinations

A UK Bar Pretends To Be A Church To Get Around Pandemic Rules

Published

3 months ago

December 7, 2024

Tymber Aldaine

The pandemic has made it difficult for some businesses to run, which is why this bar is getting creative by registering as a church to their customers

With everyone being in lockdown and not being able to go out, not a lot people have been able to offer up prayers to the 400 rabbit gods, and with 2020 being the hot mess that it is, a tequila joint in Nottingham, England is planning to change that and keep their business afloat, as well.

England just got out of its second nation-wide lockdown as of December 2, and now implements a system where they have tiered restrictions. Nottingham currently sits on the highest risk, the tier 3 category, which states that businesses targeted towards hospitality will stay closed with the exception of delivery or takeout.

Church of 400 Rabbits is an Aztec-themed bar that has an extensive choice of tequila and an application to become a worship center that is currently waiting for approval from Nottingham’s registrar general.

This bar decided to mix spirits with spirituality in hopes that it can implement a loophole in the COVID-19 rules of England, which says that if you’re a church or a place of worship, groups from the same bubble or household can enter your business.

After posting their application that will certify their bar to operate as a place of worship, Church of 400 Rabbits is now looking for devotees through their website.

People who are interested in becoming a Bunny Believer can do this for free, and with a small fee of $13, (£10), you can be ordained as a Reverend, with a t-shirt that you use as your official robes.

James Aspell, owner of Church of 400 Rabbits isn’t too hopeful that Nottingham will consider the application, but says that it’s an attempt to show how ridiculous the tier system is and how some of the rules are contradictory.

He says that it’s difficult because the government insists on these strict rules but that there is little to no financial support. Aspell believes that even if they moved down to a tier 2, they wouldn’t be able to open without dishing out substantial meals, and adding that it’s another Scotch Egg debacle.

For those of you that don’t know what a Scotch egg is, it’s a hard-boiled egg that is wrapped with sausage meat and breadcrumbs. After a lot of debate, it has been considered a substantial meal by Michael Gove, who came under fire when he described it as an appetizer.

Church of 400 Rabbits isn’t the first business that tried to apply as a place of worship, as Atlantic Squash and Fitness Club also rebranded to Church of the Healthy Body to keep their gym open.

Aspell notes that the number of devotees for 400 Rabbits is multiplying rapidly, as rabbits would and has decided to donate all proceeds to a Nottingham homeless charity group.