More Maps

Where to Dig Into Seafood Towers in Austin

The 14 Hottest New Cocktail Destinations in Austin Right Now

The 8 Hottest New Brunches in Austin Right Now

More in Austin See more maps

Austin Restaurants Truly Keeping It Local, Mapped

by Ashley Cheng May 13, 2014, 7:44am CDT

10 comments / new

View as Map

by Ashley Cheng May 13, 2014, 7:44am CDT

10 comments / new

[Photo: Eden East/Facebook]

May is the height of the Central Texas spring growing season, which means it's a great time to enjoy Austin restaurants committed to sourcing locally. "Local" has become something of a marketing buzzword, obscuring the hard work done by many local chefs and restauranteurs to support small farms and provide superior quality to their customers.

Eater recently checked in with local farmers and ranchers to get their take on which restaurants in town are stocking the freshest seasonal and sustainable produce and meats. Here now is Eater's guide to some of the city's top restaurants who are supporting local. Don't see a favorite on the map? Hit up the comments or the tipline.

Read More

If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Greenhouse Craft Food

Think Texas comfort food with Texas ingredients. You'll be extra comforted by the fact that they keep out pesticides and antibiotics from their produce and meat.

1400 E Old Settlers Blvd, Round Rock, TX 78664

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Black Star Co-op Pub & Brewery

In addition to sourcing locally for its menu, Black Star Co-op is also known nationally for its forward-thinking fair labor practices, which include a "living wage" and paid vacation for employees.

Open in Google Maps

7020 Easy Wind Dr, Austin, TX 78752

Visit Website

Workhorse Bar

Try the "Bastrop Burger," so named for the grass-fed beef from nearby Bastrop Cattle Company.

Open in Google Maps

100 N Loop Blvd, Austin, TX 78751, Austin, TX 78751

Olive & June

Olive & June is the "slow" food mecca of the Shawn Cirkiel empire, which also includes Chavez, Parkside and Backspace. Check out executive chef Justin Rupp's Sunday night family dinners menu, which include hand-picked ingredients from places like Green Gate Farms.

3411 Glenview Ave, Austin, TX 78703

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Contigo Austin

Owners Ben Edgerton and Andrew Wiseheart swear by Farm to Table for most of their local sourcing needs, which include rabbit from Countryside Farms for their Country Rabbit Pate and Rabbit & Dumplings.

Open in Google Maps

2027 Anchor Ln., Austin, TX 78723

Visit Website

The Carillon

Expect to see executive chef Josh Watkins at the SFC farmers' markets on Saturdays, where he gets much of what you'll find on The Carillon's $50 four-course, pre-fixe menu. He names Dewberry Hills Farm, Countryside Farm and Richardson Farm as some of his top sources.

Open in Google Maps

1900 University Ave, Austin, TX 78705

Visit Website

Josephine House

Liz Baloutine of Seedlings Gardening runs the on-site gardens for all the McGuire Moorman properties, which also include Jeffrey's and Elizabeth Street Cafe. Josephine House also employs its own forager, Libbey Goldberg.

1601 Waterston Ave, Austin, TX 78703

Also featured in:

Wink

One of the first restaurants in Austin to advocate for local sourcing, chef de cuisine and forager Eric Polzer has a long-standing relationship with east side's Boggy Creek Farm, who were recipients of Slow Food Austin's 2013 Snailblazer of the Year award.

Open in Google Maps

1014 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, TX 78703

Visit Website

Cafe Josie

A regular at many markets around town, Cafe Josie's Brandon Fuller is a favorite of the fine folks at Springdale Farm for his ingenuity and dedication to local. He also does a killer job making red curry magic out of the goat ribs from Windy Hill Farms.

1200 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78703

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Arro

Arro, along with sister restaurants 24 Diner and Easy Tiger, source from more than 80 farms per year. The entire Elm restaurant group puts a big emphasis on supporting local business, which includes coffee roasted at Texas Coffee Traders, cheese sourced from Antonelli's Cheese Shop and beer brewed from Real Ale and Austin Beerworks.

601 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78701

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Dai Due Butcher Shop

Dai Due's Jesse Griffiths is 100% committed to local. Known for helping tame Texas' feral hog population, which he describes as "destructive, dangerous and delicious," Griffith also inspired HausBar Farm's Dorsey Barger to start her own urban farm.

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Peché

With seasonal items that change daily, they post the new menu to Facebook every afternoon. Expect fresh veggies from area farms, like Springdale and Johnson's Backyard Garden.

208 W. 4th St., Austin, TX 78701

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Driskill Grill

The Driskill sources from Texas Quail Farms for its signature dish Cornbread-Stuffed Texas Quail. You'll also find free-range wild boar, antelope or venison from Broken Arrow Ranch, which partners with more than 100 Central and South Texas ranchers to help maintain their wild game populations through a humane field harvesting system.

Open in Google Maps

604 Brazos St, Austin, TX 78701

Visit Website

Hillside Farmacy

Chef Sonya Cote has become a bit of an icon of the local food movement in Austin and beyond. Her menu lists particular shout-outs to farm favorites Springdale, Richardson, JBG, Countryside, Rain Lily and HausBar.

Open in Google Maps

1209 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702

Visit Website

Eastside Pies

This quintessentially Austin pizzeria with three locations tops their thin-crust pies with produce and meats from Bastrop Cattle Company, Boggy Creek Farm, Johnson's Backyard Garden, Springdale Farm, Tecolote Organic Farm and Urban Roots.

Open in Google Maps

1401 Rosewood Ave, Austin, TX 78702

Visit Website

QUI Restaurant

In addition to sourcing from HausBar, Johnson’s Backyard Garden and Farm to Table, Qui also works regularly with Urban Roots, a youth development organization that uses sustainable agriculture to transform the lives of young people and increase access to healthy food in Austin.

1600 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Salt & Time

Not only is this east 7th butcher shop the source of the fresh-cut local meat that stocks Austin institutionts Qui, Franklin's and Contigo, they're open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday and brunch on weekends. Meats come from nearby sustainable ranches, dairy from Mill-King Market & Creamery and vegetables from local urban farms like Springdale.

1912 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702

Also featured in:

Bufalina

Recently nominated as an Eater Young Guns Semi-Finalist, Owner Steven Dilley picks up his salad fixin's from nearby Boggy Creek Farm. The Neapolitan pizzas are, obviously, also worth checking out.

1519 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Eden East at Springdale Farm

They're located in the front yard of one of Austin's beloved urban farms. Any closer to the source, and you'd be eating straight out of the dirt.

755 Springdale Road, Austin, TX 78702

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Justine's Brasserie

Tucked away on the east side, this classy little French bistro-house will romance you with its Austin-grown charm and ingredients.

Open in Google Maps

4710 E 5th St, Austin, TX 78702

Visit Website

Odd Duck

There's not enough room here to list the more than two dozen small farms that help create chef Bryce Gilmore's dishes like "Carrots roasted in hay, goat feta, pistachio crumb" or "Andouille, cornmeal pancake, coffee mayonnaise." You'll have to take Eater's word for it, or just check out their web site for the full list.

Open in Google Maps

1201 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

Visit Website

Snack Bar

Snack Bar proudly supports a number of local purveyors, such as Animal Farm, Farm to Table and G & S Orchards, for everything from its Farm Salads to Vermicelli Bowls.

Open in Google Maps

1224 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

Visit Website

Barley Swine

2014 James Beard finalist Bryce Gilmore has helped bring local sourcing into the forefront of the Austin food conversation. His list of providers include Springfield Farms, Phoenix Farms, Milagro Farms, Swede Farm, Brazos Valley and Twin County Dorpers, among many, many, many others.

Open in Google Maps

2024 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

Visit Website

Thai Fresh

Many restaurants claim to have the freshest ingredients, but Thai Fresh actually delivers. They also offer antibiotic- and hormone-free meat from Dewberry Hill Farms, Bell and Evans, Peach Creek Farm, Richardson Farm, Loncito and Bastrop Cattle Company.

909 W Mary St, Austin, TX 78704

Also featured in:

Lenoir

Husband and wife team Todd Duplechan and Jessica Maher source locally almost exclusively for a seasonal menu that runs $38 for three courses and changes weekly.

Open in Google Maps

1807 S. 1st St., Austin, TX 78704

Visit Website

Whip In Convenience Store & Pub

Austin's original dhaba pub, Whip In conveniently lists current farm and ranch providers on their chalkboard of rotating specials and menu items, which include Whip-Indianized Nachos featuring Austin Slow Burn queso.

Open in Google Maps

1950 S Interstate 35, Austin, TX 78704

Visit Website

Jack Allen's Kitchen

Their slogan says it all. "Local in source. Texan in spirt." But in case you're curious for more, those sources include Amador Farms, Milagro Farm, Dos Lunas, Oak Hill Farms, Simmons Family Farms and Two Happy Children Farm.

Open in Google Maps

7720 W Highway 71, Austin, TX 78735

Visit Website

Loading comments...

© 2023 Vox Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

Link copied to the clipboard.

Greenhouse Craft Food

1400 E Old Settlers Blvd, Round Rock, TX 78664

Think Texas comfort food with Texas ingredients. You'll be extra comforted by the fact that they keep out pesticides and antibiotics from their produce and meat.

1400 E Old Settlers Blvd, Round Rock, TX 78664

Visit Website

Black Star Co-op Pub & Brewery

7020 Easy Wind Dr, Austin, TX 78752

In addition to sourcing locally for its menu, Black Star Co-op is also known nationally for its forward-thinking fair labor practices, which include a "living wage" and paid vacation for employees.

Open in Google Maps

7020 Easy Wind Dr, Austin, TX 78752

Visit Website

Workhorse Bar

100 N Loop Blvd, Austin, TX 78751, Austin, TX 78751

Try the "Bastrop Burger," so named for the grass-fed beef from nearby Bastrop Cattle Company.

Open in Google Maps

100 N Loop Blvd, Austin, TX 78751, Austin, TX 78751

Olive & June

3411 Glenview Ave, Austin, TX 78703

Olive & June is the "slow" food mecca of the Shawn Cirkiel empire, which also includes Chavez, Parkside and Backspace. Check out executive chef Justin Rupp's Sunday night family dinners menu, which include hand-picked ingredients from places like Green Gate Farms.

3411 Glenview Ave, Austin, TX 78703

Visit Website

Contigo Austin

2027 Anchor Ln., Austin, TX 78723

Owners Ben Edgerton and Andrew Wiseheart swear by Farm to Table for most of their local sourcing needs, which include rabbit from Countryside Farms for their Country Rabbit Pate and Rabbit & Dumplings.

Open in Google Maps

2027 Anchor Ln., Austin, TX 78723

Visit Website

The Carillon

1900 University Ave, Austin, TX 78705

Expect to see executive chef Josh Watkins at the SFC farmers' markets on Saturdays, where he gets much of what you'll find on The Carillon's $50 four-course, pre-fixe menu. He names Dewberry Hills Farm, Countryside Farm and Richardson Farm as some of his top sources.

Open in Google Maps

1900 University Ave, Austin, TX 78705

Visit Website

Josephine House

1601 Waterston Ave, Austin, TX 78703

Liz Baloutine of Seedlings Gardening runs the on-site gardens for all the McGuire Moorman properties, which also include Jeffrey's and Elizabeth Street Cafe. Josephine House also employs its own forager, Libbey Goldberg.

1601 Waterston Ave, Austin, TX 78703

Wink

1014 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, TX 78703

One of the first restaurants in Austin to advocate for local sourcing, chef de cuisine and forager Eric Polzer has a long-standing relationship with east side's Boggy Creek Farm, who were recipients of Slow Food Austin's 2013 Snailblazer of the Year award.

Open in Google Maps

1014 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, TX 78703

Visit Website

Cafe Josie

1200 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78703

A regular at many markets around town, Cafe Josie's Brandon Fuller is a favorite of the fine folks at Springdale Farm for his ingenuity and dedication to local. He also does a killer job making red curry magic out of the goat ribs from Windy Hill Farms.

1200 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78703

Visit Website

Arro

601 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78701

Arro, along with sister restaurants 24 Diner and Easy Tiger, source from more than 80 farms per year. The entire Elm restaurant group puts a big emphasis on supporting local business, which includes coffee roasted at Texas Coffee Traders, cheese sourced from Antonelli's Cheese Shop and beer brewed from Real Ale and Austin Beerworks.

601 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78701

Visit Website

Dai Due Butcher Shop

Dai Due's Jesse Griffiths is 100% committed to local. Known for helping tame Texas' feral hog population, which he describes as "destructive, dangerous and delicious," Griffith also inspired HausBar Farm's Dorsey Barger to start her own urban farm.

Visit Website

Peché

208 W. 4th St., Austin, TX 78701

With seasonal items that change daily, they post the new menu to Facebook every afternoon. Expect fresh veggies from area farms, like Springdale and Johnson's Backyard Garden.

208 W. 4th St., Austin, TX 78701

Visit Website

Driskill Grill

604 Brazos St, Austin, TX 78701

The Driskill sources from Texas Quail Farms for its signature dish Cornbread-Stuffed Texas Quail. You'll also find free-range wild boar, antelope or venison from Broken Arrow Ranch, which partners with more than 100 Central and South Texas ranchers to help maintain their wild game populations through a humane field harvesting system.

Open in Google Maps

604 Brazos St, Austin, TX 78701

Visit Website