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Where to Eat in Austin to Avoid SXSW Madness

Dine well while dodging the festival

by Erin Russell Mar 12, 2022, 8:13am CST

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Pasta from L’Oca d’Oro.

| L’Oca d’Oro/Facebook

by Erin Russell Mar 12, 2022, 8:13am CST

In March, South by Southwest (SXSW) will consume the city, to the adoration or irritation of Austin residents. What everyone can agree on is that dining out anywhere near the downtown epicenter is basically impossible. Here is Eater’s updated guide with restaurant suggestions outside of the city’s crowded, very-branded centers (downtown, east side, Rainey, South Lamar, South Congress), offering great meals without the hassle.

If you’ve got friends in town for the conference asking you “Where should I eat now?” direct them to Eater’s SXSW guides for more dining and drinking ideas.

For other dining suggestions, look to the Eater Austin 38 essential restaurants and the heatmap.

As with all businesses right now, be sure to call ahead to make sure each restaurant is still open or if there are updates on current offerings and service models, as things are changing constantly. Be sure to wear a mask, tip well, and, if you’re ordering delivery, try to order directly from the restaurants themselves.

Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; it may pose a risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial COVID transmission. The latest CDC guidance is here; find a COVID-19 vaccination site here.

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

Carnitas El Guero

This taco shop is known for its flavorful carnitas, which are served in fluffy tortillas.

Open in Google Maps

8624 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78753

Also featured in:

28 Must-Eat Tacos in Austin

Barley Swine

Try Bryce Gilmore’s true Texas dishes at the Brentwood restaurant, which has both tasting and a la carte menus, along with a full bar. Don’t skip the desserts, either.

Open in Google Maps

6555 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78757

Barley Swine

The Peached Tortilla

The restaurant outpost of this beloved food truck features a full bar and expanded menu of Asian-Southern fusion dishes.

Open in Google Maps

5520 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78727

Visit Website

Ramen from Peached Tortilla

Epicerie

Epicerie is a grocery/cafe in Rosedale, selling artisan goods and handmade breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner from a French-inspired Cajun menu. Order the beignets.

2307 Hancock Dr, Austin, TX 78756

Also featured in:

Quality Seafood

Quality Seafood is known city-wide for its fresh sea fare, whether you’re looking for a take-home tuna steak or a dine-in po’ boy, fish taco, or fried catfish. Stay a while and grab a cold beer, too.

5621 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78751

Quality Seafood

Also featured in:

Foreign & Domestic

This chef-owned restaurant in North Loop is home to farm-fresh local produce, a killer burger, and fun dishes like light Parisian gnocchi. It also offers a nose-to-tail prix fixe menu for adventurous diners.

306 E 53rd St, Austin, TX 78751

Visit Website

Also featured in:

L'Oca D'Oro

This humble Italian charmer in the Mueller development has become a stable for Italian fare for good reason. Its straightforward and thoughtful approach to rustic cuisine allow simple ingredients to shine.

1900 Simond Ave, Austin, TX 78723

Visit Website

L’Oca D’Oro

Also featured in:

Hoover's Cooking

Soothe your SXSW-addled psyche with some of Austin’s best Southern and soul food at Manor Road restaurant Hoover’s. Chicken fried steak solves everything, right?

2002 Manor Rd., Austin, TX 78722

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Aviary Wine & Kitchen

The South Lamar wine restaurant is an ideal spot to spend a calm afternoon with friends, a bottle of wine, and a rotating selection of cheese and charcuterie.

Open in Google Maps

2210 South lamar, Austin, TX 78704

Aviary Wine & Kitchen

Abby Jane Bakeshop

Go for full peace and quiet at this bakeshop in Dripping Springs, which offers breads, cakes, croissants, all made with Barton Springs Mill flours. Abby Jane also offers sandwiches, picnic-ready sides, and beer and wine on tap, as well as a shaded picnic tables for eating outside.

Open in Google Maps

16604 Fitzhugh Rd Unit C, Dripping Springs, TX 78620

Visit Website

A tiered glass display of various pastries. — Pastries from Abby Jane Bakeshop

Also featured in:

Papalote Taco House

The stellar taco spot is far enough south that few will venture down that far. It has great tacos, and a liquor license. For those staying north of the river, there is a second location, too.

Open in Google Maps

2803 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

Visit Website

Jack Allen's Kitchen

Chef Jack Gilmore’s locally sourced, Southern-inspired restaurant mini-chain Jack Allen’s Kitchen is a great destination for a lively, filling meal without the downtown mess. There are also locations out in Round Rock, 360, and West Anderson Lane.

7720 W Highway 71, Austin, TX 78735

Jack Allen’s Kitchen

Also featured in:

Radio Coffee & Beer

Looking to grab a casual coffee or beer while surrounded by some of Austin’s best food trucks? Radio’s patio is a great place to enjoy the spring sunshine, whether to work, relax, or enjoy some tacos (Veracruz), Thai (Dee Dee), or brisket biscuits (Briscuits).

4204 Menchaca Rd, Austin, TX 78704

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Sichuan River

Craving Chinese? Try Sichuan River’s take way off the normal beaten path in Westgate.

4534 West Gate Blvd, Austin, TX 78745

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Pieous

Take a wander out in the southwesterly direction to Pieous in Belterra Village, which specializes in Neapolitan pizza, house-cured pastrami, and absurdly large cookies and other sweets. It also has beer and wine on tap.

166 Hargraves Dr h, Austin, TX 78737

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Valentina's Tex Mex BBQ

Barbecue and Tex-Mex combine at this highly acclaimed far south barbecue and taco truck, which boasts massive tacos including the popular Real Deal Holyfield with a fried egg, potatoes, refried beans, bacon, and brisket.

Open in Google Maps

11500 Manchaca Rd, Austin, TX 78745

Visit Website

A tray of six tacos, each filled with a slice of bacon, brisket, and fried eggs. — Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ. [Photo: Nick Solares/E]

Also featured in:

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Carnitas El Guero

8624 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78753

This taco shop is known for its flavorful carnitas, which are served in fluffy tortillas.

Open in Google Maps

8624 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78753

Barley Swine

6555 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78757

Try Bryce Gilmore’s true Texas dishes at the Brentwood restaurant, which has both tasting and a la carte menus, along with a full bar. Don’t skip the desserts, either.

Open in Google Maps

6555 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78757

Barley Swine

The Peached Tortilla

5520 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78727

The restaurant outpost of this beloved food truck features a full bar and expanded menu of Asian-Southern fusion dishes.

Open in Google Maps

5520 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78727

Visit Website

Ramen from Peached Tortilla

Epicerie

2307 Hancock Dr, Austin, TX 78756

Epicerie is a grocery/cafe in Rosedale, selling artisan goods and handmade breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner from a French-inspired Cajun menu. Order the beignets.

2307 Hancock Dr, Austin, TX 78756

Quality Seafood

5621 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78751

Quality Seafood is known city-wide for its fresh sea fare, whether you’re looking for a take-home tuna steak or a dine-in po’ boy, fish taco, or fried catfish. Stay a while and grab a cold beer, too.

5621 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78751

Quality Seafood

Foreign & Domestic

306 E 53rd St, Austin, TX 78751

This chef-owned restaurant in North Loop is home to farm-fresh local produce, a killer burger, and fun dishes like light Parisian gnocchi. It also offers a nose-to-tail prix fixe menu for adventurous diners.

306 E 53rd St, Austin, TX 78751

Visit Website

L'Oca D'Oro

1900 Simond Ave, Austin, TX 78723

This humble Italian charmer in the Mueller development has become a stable for Italian fare for good reason. Its straightforward and thoughtful approach to rustic cuisine allow simple ingredients to shine.

1900 Simond Ave, Austin, TX 78723

Visit Website

L’Oca D’Oro

Hoover's Cooking

2002 Manor Rd., Austin, TX 78722

Soothe your SXSW-addled psyche with some of Austin’s best Southern and soul food at Manor Road restaurant Hoover’s. Chicken fried steak solves everything, right?

2002 Manor Rd., Austin, TX 78722

Visit Website

Aviary Wine & Kitchen

2210 South lamar, Austin, TX 78704

The South Lamar wine restaurant is an ideal spot to spend a calm afternoon with friends, a bottle of wine, and a rotating selection of cheese and charcuterie.

Open in Google Maps

2210 South lamar, Austin, TX 78704

Aviary Wine & Kitchen

Abby Jane Bakeshop

16604 Fitzhugh Rd Unit C, Dripping Springs, TX 78620

Go for full peace and quiet at this bakeshop in Dripping Springs, which offers breads, cakes, croissants, all made with Barton Springs Mill flours. Abby Jane also offers sandwiches, picnic-ready sides, and beer and wine on tap, as well as a shaded picnic tables for eating outside.

Open in Google Maps

16604 Fitzhugh Rd Unit C, Dripping Springs, TX 78620

Visit Website

A tiered glass display of various pastries. — Pastries from Abby Jane Bakeshop

Papalote Taco House

2803 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

The stellar taco spot is far enough south that few will venture down that far. It has great tacos, and a liquor license. For those staying north of the river, there is a second location, too.

Open in Google Maps

2803 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

Visit Website

Jack Allen's Kitchen

7720 W Highway 71, Austin, TX 78735

Chef Jack Gilmore’s locally sourced, Southern-inspired restaurant mini-chain Jack Allen’s Kitchen is a great destination for a lively, filling meal without the downtown mess. There are also locations out in Round Rock, 360, and West Anderson Lane.

7720 W Highway 71, Austin, TX 78735

Jack Allen’s Kitchen

Radio Coffee & Beer

4204 Menchaca Rd, Austin, TX 78704

Looking to grab a casual coffee or beer while surrounded by some of Austin’s best food trucks? Radio’s patio is a great place to enjoy the spring sunshine, whether to work, relax, or enjoy some tacos (Veracruz), Thai (Dee Dee), or brisket biscuits (Briscuits).

4204 Menchaca Rd, Austin, TX 78704

Visit Website

Sichuan River

4534 West Gate Blvd, Austin, TX 78745

Craving Chinese? Try Sichuan River’s take way off the normal beaten path in Westgate.

4534 West Gate Blvd, Austin, TX 78745

Visit Website

Pieous

166 Hargraves Dr h, Austin, TX 78737

Take a wander out in the southwesterly direction to Pieous in Belterra Village, which specializes in Neapolitan pizza, house-cured pastrami, and absurdly large cookies and other sweets. It also has beer and wine on tap.

166 Hargraves Dr h, Austin, TX 78737

Visit Website

Related Maps

Valentina's Tex Mex BBQ

11500 Manchaca Rd, Austin, TX 78745

Barbecue and Tex-Mex combine at this highly acclaimed far south barbecue and taco truck, which boasts massive tacos including the popular Real Deal Holyfield with a fried egg, potatoes, refried beans, bacon, and brisket.

Open in Google Maps

11500 Manchaca Rd, Austin, TX 78745

Visit Website

A tray of six tacos, each filled with a slice of bacon, brisket, and fried eggs. — Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ. [Photo: Nick Solares/E]

Related Maps