The Best Restaurants in South Austin

South Austin means different things to different people, but they’re generally referring to anything below the Colorado River—a wide stretch that runs between MoPac Expressway and I-35. If any area has led the charge in keeping Austin’s tech invasion at bay, it’s this one. Zilker Park, known for hiking trails and Barton Springs, is a refuge away from the sprawling apartment complexes eating up the pavement, and venues like Saxon Pub, The Far Out, The Broken Spoke, and Sagebrush help maintain the city's fun-loving music reputation. When you aren't swimming or dancing, there’s also an eclectic mix of restaurants, from upscale sushi to walk-up barbecue . Here are South Austin's best places to eat.

THE SPOTS

LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue

LeRoy and Lewis became the barbecue darling of South Austin when its original trailer sprang up at Cosmic Coffee + Beer Garden in 2017. The brick-and-mortar they opened about eight minutes away is even better, as evidenced by the lines that snake around the building. The potentially hour-long wait is worth it, but you can bypass the crowd and get burgers, sandwiches, and sides from an abbreviated menu at the bar. The full BBQ spread emphasizes slow-cooked meats sourced from Central Texas, including the most tender beef cheeks you’ve ever had. The vegetables are just as worthwhile, particularly the miso-glazed carrots and thick onion rings.

Perla's Seafood & Oyster Bar

Perla’s has one of the most recognizable patios in Austin, in part because it’s located on a well-trafficked stretch of South Congress where the seafood spot’s beachy cheerfulness practically bleeds onto the sidewalk. The dining room is big and airy, but when the weather is nice—or you have a date who can’t resist the pull of string lights wrapped around oak trees—you’ll want to sit outside. Order rosé and fresh oysters to start, then grab New Orleans-style BBQ shrimp, Spanish octopus, and whatever else catches your eye. (There’s no wrong choice here.) Perla’s is equally fun at lunchtime, especially since that’s when they serve colossal po’boys overflowing with fried shrimp.

Jamie’s Barbecue & Mini Tacos

This bright red Mexican food truck is in the middle of nowhere, which is to say it’s parked in a field next to a fenced-in pasture where horses, goats, and donkeys sometimes graze. Because it’s set back from the street and somewhat concealed by an awning, Jamie’s can be easy to miss. But if you know, you know—and the fact that it seems to be thriving in some random field on Bluff Springs Road proves that enough people know. The highlights are cheesy quesadillas, crispy birria tacos, and a turkey leg so big it could replace the Statue of Liberty’s torch. Jamie’s is one of the neighborhood’s best takeout options.

Odd Duck

You’ll never have the same experience twice at Odd Duck, an upbeat South Lamar institution that gives classic American dishes a Texas twang. From day to day, week to week, every item is subject to change, either because of seasonality (hell, they even have their own farm), the chefs’ whims, or how the wind’s blowing. Their gigantic burger, for example, might have fried beer cheese exploding out of the center or a soft-shell crab perched on top of the patty, which says a lot about how hearty (and delicious) the menu is no matter what’s on it. This is the kind of place you return to over and over. It’s as appropriate for an intimate date night as it is a celebratory group dinner .

Uchi

Ask any random person in Austin where to go for a special occasion , and there’s a 96% chance they’ll say Uchi. The restaurant earned its reputation by offering a mix of traditional sushi and inventive Japanese fusion dishes at a time when most places thought “Japanese fusion” meant putting spicy mayo on a tuna roll and calling it a day. Instead, Uchi is full of originality, like their signature hama chili, which is sliced yellowtail swimming in a savory ponzu broth. There’s a reason this place has expanded to half a dozen states—but it all started right here in a tiny, renovated house on South Lamar. There’s no better way to see what makes it so special than by visiting the source.

DK Sushi

When you don’t want to pay Uchi’s prices, there’s DK Sushi, a strip-mall hideout on South 1st St. that used to be known for rowdy Monday karaoke parties. Things are tamer these days, but it’s still a reliable neighborhood fixture with friendly service. The menu features Japanese and Korean dishes, including sushi rolls, spicy beef soup, a bibimbap bowl, and various chef’s specials that tend to be standouts. For the full experience, take your shoes off and sit at one of the short-legged floor tables.

Bouldin Creek Café

On weekends, the crowds waiting at this vegan/vegetarian destination often spill onto the corner of South 1st St. and West Mary St. Many of Bouldin Creek Cafe’s dishes, like the Wanna-BLTA and homemade veggie chorizo breakfast tacos, taste almost as meaty—and just as good—as their original counterparts. It’s a great place to sip micheladas or mimosas after a morning at Barton Springs, and out-of-towners will look at the restaurant’s funky mosaics, buzzing patio, and multicolored interior and say, “Yep, this is exactly what I thought Austin would be like.”

Loro

Whether you sit in the tall rustic interior or on the large covered patio, Loro is one of the city’s most fun restaurants . This collaboration between two Austin powerhouses— Franklin Barbecue and Uchi —blends smokehouse and Asian flavors seamlessly, and eating there feels like being part of a vibrant scene where everyone is in a good mood. Go with a group and order everything you can, namely the corn fritters, chicken karaage, pork belly with hoisin sauce, and smoked butcher’s cut garnished with shishito salsa verde. Loro doesn’t take reservations, so request a frozen gin and tonic from the outdoor bar and grab a seat under the string lights until your table is ready.

Evangeline Cafe

Evangeline Cafe doesn’t look like much from the outside, but inside, this casual restaurant is a wall-to-wall shrine to LSU, Abita, Mardi Gras, the Saints, and other Louisiana trademarks—and it has the energy of a French Quarter restaurant to match, with live music on weeknights. There’s a robust menu of Cajun classics, from boudin and gator bites to gumbo and jambalaya. We really like the po’boys, especially when stuffed with standards like shrimp, crawfish, oysters, or catfish.

Otoko

If you’re going to blow $300 per person on dinner, Otoko is where to do it. The small sushi restaurant’s futuristic paneling feels like something out of 2001: A Space Odyssey , accompanied by an ambient rock soundtrack and a chef who looks like he just hopped off of Davie Bowie's stage. The omakase experience is a dizzying procession of small plates and nigiri that sometimes veers into the spectacular, with a menu that brings together fish, smoke, umami, and vinegar—playing with Japanese, Texan, and Mexican ingredients—for a truly singular meal.

Artipasta

The side of this trailer located in Thicket Park is emblazoned with a quote from Italian filmmaker Federico Fellini: “Life is a combination of magic and pasta.” He’s right, and Artipasta blends both to make what we’re certain is the most velvety lasagna alla bolognese this side of the Atlantic. Equally good: tagliatelle with creamy mushrooms, casarecce with broccoli and sausage, and rich tiramisu (no pasta, all magic). Thicket, which also houses Brooklyn Breakfast Shop , the great Taiwanese fried chicken truck Song La, and The Celia Jacobs Cheesecake Experience, has picnic tables and a small stage for live music.

Magnolia Cafe

About as Old Austin as it gets, Magnolia Cafe adopts the “breakfast anytime” motto with a long diner menu that has omelets, burgers, and just about everything in between. Really, though, you’re here for stacks of buttermilk pancakes. In keeping with the Old Austin mentality, it’s a casual place where you shouldn’t (and can’t) worry about making reservations days or weeks in advance. It’s not open 24 hours like it used to be, but it still has an easygoing reputation that’s basically a time capsule from an era when South Congress wasn’t so desperate to seem chic.

Spicy Boys Fried Chicken

If you’re at a bar around dinnertime in South Austin, one of your companions might eventually turn to you and ask, “Should we get Spicy Boys?” The answer is yes. In fact, just make a habit of meeting at St. Elmo Brewing Company so you’ll already be there—its peppy yard is home to one of a few Spicy Boys trucks sprinkled throughout town. Specializing in Thai-style fried chicken, the small menu lives up to its name. You can choose the heat level of your sandwich (which rivals Popeyes) or nuggets, and the maximum is called Tingly Gai for a reason. But don’t ignore the pickled cucumbers and papaya salad, both of which are better than any two little sides need to be.

Habanero Mexican Cafe

Matt’s El Rancho and El Alma have flashier real estate, but Habanero is South Austin’s Mexican MVP. It’s cramped and fast-paced in an appealing way, with a down-home charm that makes you hope the food will be great. Fortunately, it is. Show up anytime—they’re only open for breakfast and lunch, though—and you’ll sense that half the crowd are longtime regulars who can recite the menu. It’s a diner-sized list focused mostly on dishes like fajitas, burritos, migas, and huevos rancheros, any of which can be topped with housemade salsas.

Summer House on Music Lane

Tucked away on a peaceful offshoot of South Congress , this bright, leafy spot attached to Hotel Magdelena is where you go to escape the swarm of nearby shoppers. The patio overlooks an attractive lawn, like you’re dining at a spa instead of right around the corner from Le Labo and Reformation. Summer House’s weekend brunches are lively, and it’s also good for a nice but unpretentious dinner with something for everyone. Both menus have crossovers, including baba ghanoush infused with curry oil and a juicy burger featuring beef-fat mayo. (Try the housemade Pop Tart during brunch, too.) The drinks are decent, but head next door for imaginative cocktails at Equipment Room , the basement bar spinning vinyl records.

June's All Day

June’s is an effortlessly cool South Congress bistro and wine bar. The sunny dining room is accented with a long marble bar, checkered tile floors, and a vintage jukebox, while the exterior evokes a Parisian cafe where you can enjoy a long, drawn-out conversation with your dog about what to order. The menu skews American with European influences, so you’ll find dishes like bone marrow bolognese and chicken paillard, right alongside one of the best fried chicken sandwiches in town. But June’s is, first and foremost, a wine spot, so expect lots of excellent options available by the bottle or glass.