Warm Up With 11 Bowls of Chili in Austin

So meaty (and yes, most are without beans)

by Nadia Chaudhury Updated Dec 18, 2019, 9:05am CST

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24 Diner’s chili

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by Nadia Chaudhury Updated Dec 18, 2019, 9:05am CST

Chilly temperatures means it’s time to heat up with bowls of the Texas state dish: chili. It’s meaty, warming, filling, and even full of vegetables at times; what more could you want from a meal?

The map spans from old-school styles of Texas Parlour Chili to meaty, pastrami-filled bowls at Pieous to barbecue takes at Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ to goat versions at Sour Duck Market. While, yes, it’s traditional to not even think about adding beans, be warned: some of the restaurants ahead do include the forbidden ingredient (aka beans) in chili bowls.

Remember that Guy Clark even immortalized one of Austin’s premier chili spots in a song: "I wish I was in Austin at the Chili Parlor Bar, drinking Mad Dog margaritas and not caring where you are." Eater’s Dining on the Dime digital series also checked out the classic restaurant.

Form a game plan against cold weather spells by arming up with hot soup, ramen, tea, and even warm boozy cocktails. Check out chili’s upgraded cousin, the Frito pie, and scope around other iconic meaty Austin dishes.

If a favorite chili isn’t on the map, let Eater know in the comments or through the tipline.

Cover 2

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Cover 2 and Cover 3 both serve up Matt's Chili in a bowl or a cup. It's made with beef and absolutely no beans. Fun fact: Texas-based sports teams are more likely to win if you eat chili while watching them play. Ideally.

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13701 N Highway 183, Austin, TX 78750

(512) 506-9935

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Jim's Restaurant

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Blogger RL Reeves says: "It ain't fancy by a long shot but Jim's Restaurant puts out a respectable bowl. I like the one on Research Blvd. The staff have been there forever and it's a period time capsule with tufted banquettes and what have you."

9091 Research Blvd, Austin, TX 78758

(512) 837-1119

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Lucy's Fried Chicken

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Lucy's West Texas red chili comes with a mix of ground beef and pork, and pairs nicely with a couple of the fried chicken restaurant mini-chain’s Southern-style sides.

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5408 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78756

(512) 514-0664

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Billy's on Burnet

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This longtime Burnet Road watering hole serves up both meaty and vegetarian chili, and the kitchen will happily turn it into Frito pie.

2105 Hancock Dr, Austin, TX 78756

(512) 407-9305

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Sour Duck Market

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Sour Duck’s goat chili comes with an apology to Texas for the beans.

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1814 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Austin, TX 78702

(512) 394-5776

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A post shared by Sour Duck Market (@sourduckmarket) on Dec 7, 2019 at 12:04pm PST

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Texas Chili Parlor

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This is the place to eat chili in Austin, and not just because its name includes the word "chili." The iconic campus-area restaurant has been serving up bowls of Texas red since 1976.

1409 Lavaca St, Austin, TX 78701

(512) 472-2828

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