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A slice of four layer strawberry cake.
The strawberry cake at Chez Zee.
Chez Zee

19 Austin Restaurants Where Desserts Truly Shine

Sweet satisfaction

by Nadia Chaudhury Updated
2 comments / new
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The strawberry cake at Chez Zee.
| Chez Zee
by Nadia Chaudhury Updated
2 comments / new

Dessert is the best course of any and every meal. No matter how full a person gets, everyone makes room for a sugary finale. And there are different ways to go about satisfying that sweet tooth, from something light and refreshing like a parfait, or indulgently rich like chocolate cake, here are Austin’s very best dessert restaurants. End your meal right, order dessert first, or just eat nothing but sweets, these restaurants will do just fine.

There are the composed plates from Japanese restaurants Uchi and Uchiko, the cakes of Chez Zee, Texas produced-filled wonders at Odd Duck, and much more.

For this map, only restaurants that have dessert menus (not businesses dedicated to desserts) are included. Look elsewhere for these picks: bakeries, cakes, pies, cookies, ice cream, soft serve, and icy treats.

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Sugar Pine

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Round out meals of onigiri, katsu, udon, and yaki soba with top-notch ice creams at the Wooten Japanese casual restaurant. The flavors are in the same vein, including matcha green tea, black sesame, taro root, and miso-caramel swirl. Takeout orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

8578 Research Blvd, Austin, TX 78758
(512) 520-9046
(512) 520-9046

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District Kitchen

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The desserts at both locations of the New American restaurant (the other down in far south Austin) from executive pastry chef Dennis Van are decadent, like the blueberry-lemon buttermilk cake with a lemon cream cheese frosting, almond crumbs, citrus curd, plus white chocolate ice cream. Takeout orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

7858 Shoal Creek Blvd, Austin, TX 78757
(512) 284-7837
(512) 284-7837

Chez Zee

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Indulge in the longtime West Austin restaurant’s wide array of classic desserts, like mile-high layer cakes, creme brulees, and shareable apple pies. Takeout orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

5406 Balcones Dr, Austin, TX 78731
(512) 454-2666
(512) 454-2666

Choo Sando

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The casual Japanese Allandale cafe is all about thick Japanese sandwiches. Along with savory options, the dessert ones are the perfect level of sweetness, with fillings like strawberries, kiwis, grapes, and mangos in whipped cream. Takeout orders can be placed in person or online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

5222 Burnet Rd Suite535, Austin, TX 78756

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Uchiko & Uchi

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The desserts at both branches of the Japanese restaurant — Uchiko in Rosedale and Uchi in Zilker — are under the helm of executive pastry chef Ariana Quant. This means sweet dishes with creative, thoughtful, and unexpected touches, like the earl grey panna cotta with habanero peppers and white chocolate crunch or the honey toast with cashew pralines. Takeout orders can be placed online; there are Uber Eats deliveries; and there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

4200 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78756
(512) 916-4808
(512) 916-4808

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Lutie’s Garden Restaurant

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Austin is a lucky place because executive pastry chef Susana Querejazu came back into town for this luxury hotel restaurant in Hancock. Her dessert prowess is on full display, especially with the kouign amann-studded ice cream. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

4100 Red River St, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 675-2517
(512) 675-2517

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Veracruz Fonda and Bar

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The Mexican food truck’s Mueller restaurant is the only place to get co-owners and chefs Reyna and Maritza Vazquez’s rich tres leches cake slices. Takeout orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

1905 Aldrich St #125, Austin, TX 78723
(737) 318-4896
(737) 318-4896

Also featured in:

Birdie's

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The Chestnut wine restaurant’s luscious vanilla soft serve has already become an iconic dessert in Austin. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

2944 E 12th St Unit A, Austin, TX 78702

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Swedish Hill

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Head to Clarksville bakery and cafe for some of the best of the best desserts from the various McGuire Moorman Lambert Hospitality restaurants. It serves as a home base for all things sweets from pastries to cakes to cookies to tarts to gelato. Takeout orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor services.

1120 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78703
(512) 472-1347
(512) 472-1347

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Diner Bar

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The Southern hotel restaurant’s desserts — under chefs Mashama Bailey and Kristine Kittrell — are solidly great. The chess pie is a staple for good reason and the texturally exciting benne bar is fantastic. There are indoor dine-in services.

500 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX 78701
(737) 257-3047
(737) 257-3047

Canje

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Of the Emmer & Rye group’s businesses, it’s at East Austin Caribbean restaurant where the desserts shine because of executive pastry chef Tavel Bristol-Joseph. Find tropical flavors such as pineapple upside-down cake, rum punch sorbet, and cassareep ice cream. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

1914 E 6th St ste c, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 706-9119
(512) 706-9119

Also featured in:

Bufalina

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For classic desserts that pair well with wine, head to the East Austin restaurant (with a second location up in Brentwood). The desserts pair well with the pizza and the wines, like the exquisite ice creams and olive oil cakes. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services. Takeout orders from Burnet Road can be placed online.

2215 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702

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Odd Duck

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The South Austin restaurant’s often-changing dessert menu highlights Texas produce (hello, peaches and blueberries) for desserts such as ice creams, cakes, and more. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

1201 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 433-6521
(512) 433-6521

Holiday

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The newer Govalle cocktail lounge’s food offerings are quite good under chef Peter Klein, and the simple yet fantastic olive oil cake, paired with a bay leaf rum syrup, whipped cream, and toasted pistachios, is a great way to end a meal. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

5020 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702

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Justine's

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For absolutely great French desserts, the East Austin restaurant is your answer. There are creme brulees, chocolate mousses, and eclairs. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

4710 E 5th St., Austin, TX 78702
(512) 385-2900
(512) 385-2900

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Launderette

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Okay, so founding pastry chef Laura Sawicki left the Holly restaurant, but her impact on the dessert menu still lives on. Take the ever-Instagrammable birthday cake ice cream sandwich, which is really that good. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

2115 Holly St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 382-1599
(512) 382-1599

Also featured in:

Maie Day

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Alas, another amazing pastry chef has left Austin with the departure of former MaieB’s Jules Stoddart of Southern restaurant Olamaie and this hotel American restaurant. Luckily, her decadent ginormous Texas chocolate cake slice is still available on the menu, a rich and delicious layer cake with coffee chantilly and benne seed cracker. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

1603 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 942-0823
(512) 942-0823

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Jack Allen's Kitchen

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For simply well-done desserts to fulfill those sweet cravings, the Texas comfort food restaurant mini-chain provides pies, cobblers, cakes, and a lot of chocolate from pastry chef Dee Dee Sanchez. Takeout orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

7720 W Highway 71, Austin, TX 78735
(512) 852-8558
(512) 852-8558

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Dee Dee

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For a simple take on mango and sticky rice, laced with drizzles of condensed milk, look no further than this Thai truck. The truck only makes it if it has the absolute perfect mangos. Preorders must be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

4204 Manchaca Rd, Austin, TX 78745

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Sugar Pine

8578 Research Blvd, Austin, TX 78758

Round out meals of onigiri, katsu, udon, and yaki soba with top-notch ice creams at the Wooten Japanese casual restaurant. The flavors are in the same vein, including matcha green tea, black sesame, taro root, and miso-caramel swirl. Takeout orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

8578 Research Blvd, Austin, TX 78758
(512) 520-9046
(512) 520-9046

District Kitchen

7858 Shoal Creek Blvd, Austin, TX 78757

The desserts at both locations of the New American restaurant (the other down in far south Austin) from executive pastry chef Dennis Van are decadent, like the blueberry-lemon buttermilk cake with a lemon cream cheese frosting, almond crumbs, citrus curd, plus white chocolate ice cream. Takeout orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

7858 Shoal Creek Blvd, Austin, TX 78757
(512) 284-7837
(512) 284-7837

Chez Zee

5406 Balcones Dr, Austin, TX 78731

Indulge in the longtime West Austin restaurant’s wide array of classic desserts, like mile-high layer cakes, creme brulees, and shareable apple pies. Takeout orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

5406 Balcones Dr, Austin, TX 78731
(512) 454-2666
(512) 454-2666

Choo Sando

5222 Burnet Rd Suite535, Austin, TX 78756

The casual Japanese Allandale cafe is all about thick Japanese sandwiches. Along with savory options, the dessert ones are the perfect level of sweetness, with fillings like strawberries, kiwis, grapes, and mangos in whipped cream. Takeout orders can be placed in person or online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

5222 Burnet Rd Suite535, Austin, TX 78756

Uchiko & Uchi

4200 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78756

The desserts at both branches of the Japanese restaurant — Uchiko in Rosedale and Uchi in Zilker — are under the helm of executive pastry chef Ariana Quant. This means sweet dishes with creative, thoughtful, and unexpected touches, like the earl grey panna cotta with habanero peppers and white chocolate crunch or the honey toast with cashew pralines. Takeout orders can be placed online; there are Uber Eats deliveries; and there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

4200 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78756
(512) 916-4808
(512) 916-4808

Lutie’s Garden Restaurant

4100 Red River St, Austin, TX 78751

Austin is a lucky place because executive pastry chef Susana Querejazu came back into town for this luxury hotel restaurant in Hancock. Her dessert prowess is on full display, especially with the kouign amann-studded ice cream. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

4100 Red River St, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 675-2517
(512) 675-2517

Veracruz Fonda and Bar

1905 Aldrich St #125, Austin, TX 78723

The Mexican food truck’s Mueller restaurant is the only place to get co-owners and chefs Reyna and Maritza Vazquez’s rich tres leches cake slices. Takeout orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

1905 Aldrich St #125, Austin, TX 78723
(737) 318-4896
(737) 318-4896

Birdie's

2944 E 12th St Unit A, Austin, TX 78702

The Chestnut wine restaurant’s luscious vanilla soft serve has already become an iconic dessert in Austin. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

2944 E 12th St Unit A, Austin, TX 78702

Swedish Hill

1120 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78703

Head to Clarksville bakery and cafe for some of the best of the best desserts from the various McGuire Moorman Lambert Hospitality restaurants. It serves as a home base for all things sweets from pastries to cakes to cookies to tarts to gelato. Takeout orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor services.

1120 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78703
(512) 472-1347
(512) 472-1347

Diner Bar

500 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX 78701

The Southern hotel restaurant’s desserts — under chefs Mashama Bailey and Kristine Kittrell — are solidly great. The chess pie is a staple for good reason and the texturally exciting benne bar is fantastic. There are indoor dine-in services.

500 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX 78701
(737) 257-3047
(737) 257-3047

Canje

1914 E 6th St ste c, Austin, TX 78702

Of the Emmer & Rye group’s businesses, it’s at East Austin Caribbean restaurant where the desserts shine because of executive pastry chef Tavel Bristol-Joseph. Find tropical flavors such as pineapple upside-down cake, rum punch sorbet, and cassareep ice cream. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

1914 E 6th St ste c, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 706-9119
(512) 706-9119

Bufalina

2215 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702

For classic desserts that pair well with wine, head to the East Austin restaurant (with a second location up in Brentwood). The desserts pair well with the pizza and the wines, like the exquisite ice creams and olive oil cakes. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services. Takeout orders from Burnet Road can be placed online.

2215 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702

Odd Duck

1201 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

The South Austin restaurant’s often-changing dessert menu highlights Texas produce (hello, peaches and blueberries) for desserts such as ice creams, cakes, and more. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

1201 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 433-6521
(512) 433-6521

Holiday

5020 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702

The newer Govalle cocktail lounge’s food offerings are quite good under chef Peter Klein, and the simple yet fantastic olive oil cake, paired with a bay leaf rum syrup, whipped cream, and toasted pistachios, is a great way to end a meal. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

5020 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702

Justine's

4710 E 5th St., Austin, TX 78702

For absolutely great French desserts, the East Austin restaurant is your answer. There are creme brulees, chocolate mousses, and eclairs. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

4710 E 5th St., Austin, TX 78702
(512) 385-2900
(512) 385-2900

Related Maps

Launderette

2115 Holly St, Austin, TX 78702

Okay, so founding pastry chef Laura Sawicki left the Holly restaurant, but her impact on the dessert menu still lives on. Take the ever-Instagrammable birthday cake ice cream sandwich, which is really that good. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

2115 Holly St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 382-1599
(512) 382-1599

Maie Day

1603 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

Alas, another amazing pastry chef has left Austin with the departure of former MaieB’s Jules Stoddart of Southern restaurant Olamaie and this hotel American restaurant. Luckily, her decadent ginormous Texas chocolate cake slice is still available on the menu, a rich and delicious layer cake with coffee chantilly and benne seed cracker. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

1603 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 942-0823
(512) 942-0823

Jack Allen's Kitchen

7720 W Highway 71, Austin, TX 78735

For simply well-done desserts to fulfill those sweet cravings, the Texas comfort food restaurant mini-chain provides pies, cobblers, cakes, and a lot of chocolate from pastry chef Dee Dee Sanchez. Takeout orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

7720 W Highway 71, Austin, TX 78735
(512) 852-8558
(512) 852-8558

Dee Dee

4204 Manchaca Rd, Austin, TX 78745

For a simple take on mango and sticky rice, laced with drizzles of condensed milk, look no further than this Thai truck. The truck only makes it if it has the absolute perfect mangos. Preorders must be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

4204 Manchaca Rd, Austin, TX 78745

Related Maps