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The falafel and grain bowl from MezzeMe — MezzeMe's grain bowl

17 Top-Quality Fast-Food Spots in Austin

Where to find quick and delicious meals

by Melanie Haupt Updated Jan 16, 2019, 12:41pm CST

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MezzeMe's grain bowl

| MezzeMe/Facebook

by Melanie Haupt Updated Jan 16, 2019, 12:41pm CST

Homegrown fast-food and fast-casual restaurants and chains are still enjoying a boom here in Austin, resulting in quick meals without sacrificing quality and physical well-being.

Switch up from that go-to Whataburger with these top quality fast food spots in Austin that also happen to be local. For the fresh-vegetable oriented, there is Galaxy Cafe, burgers from P. Terry's, shawarma from The Halal Corner, Indian curries from Tarka, drive-thru salads from Baby Greens, grain bowls from Honest Mary’s, tacos, pizza, pho, and more. This update includes Bird Bird Biscuit, Sour Duck Market, and Fareground

For quality food at a cheaper price, scope out Eater’s picks for essential or newer cheap eats or tacos under $3. Otherwise, check out more options for take-out restaurants, burgers, salads, whole chickens, kid-friendly spots, and restaurants offering easy parking.

Is your favorite Austin-based fast food spot missing? Let Eater know through the tipline or within the comments.

With updates by Nadia Chaudhury.

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Honest Mary’s

The grain bowl restaurant makes use of quinoa, poke, black forbidden rice, and soba noodles, for satisfying meals that don't sacrifice taste.

Open in Google Maps

9828 Great Hills Trl Ste 300, Austin, TX 78759

A grain bowl from Honest Mary’s

Dos Batos Tacos

This shop has been quietly serving wood-fired chicken, beef, and veggie tacos and tortas in an unassuming strip mall environment since 2010.

Open in Google Maps

2525 W Anderson Ln Bldg 1 Ste 175, Austin, TX 78757

Visit Website

A torta from Dos Batos Tacos

Baby Greens

Baby Greens came back with a brand new drive-thru and basically the same favorite salad-driven menu with some new additions.

Open in Google Maps

1508 W Anderson Ln, Austin, TX 78757

Visit Website

The Asian salad from Baby Greens

MezzeMe Mediterranean Kitchen

Owner Moody Ugur came back from Turkey to open the fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant, which focuses on customizable meals from pitas to grain bowls full of doner kebabs, falafel, cheese, and harissa.

Open in Google Maps

4700 W Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78751

Visit Website

Shakshuka and roasted eggplant from MezzeMe

The Halal Corner

Otherwise known as Kismet 2, Mueller-area folks have responded positively to this outlet’s gyros, shawarma, and vegetarian delights, all served Middle Eastern-style.

Open in Google Maps

1200 Barbara Jordan, Suite 300, Austin, Texas, 78723

Visit Website

A platter from Halal Corner

Bird Bird Biscuit

The biscuit restaurant won Eater Austin’s fast-casual restaurant of the year award for good reason: the sturdy biscuits make for great, quick, and easy sandwiches with fillings like eggs, cheese, sausages, and breaded chicken.

Open in Google Maps

2701 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78722

Visit Website

Bird Bird Biscuit sandwich — A Bird Bird Biscuit sandwich

Also featured in:

Sour Duck Market

Bryce Gilmore turned to the fast-casual approach for his third restaurant, still full of creative, seasonal dishes but with quicker service available for dine-in or to-go. Think sandwiches with spicy pork, kimchi, and turnip chutney; goat chili; and smoked short ribs.

Open in Google Maps

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

Visit Website

Sour Duck’s burger

Also featured in:

Fresa's Chicken al Carbon

Fresa’s drive-thru offers high-quality rotisserie chicken and sides under the direction of chef Rene Ortiz. The tortas and ice cream are also worth a look. There's a South First location, too, with dine-in space and margaritas.

915 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78703

Visit Website

A bowl from Fresa’s

Also featured in:

East Side Pies

Pull up and grab a slice or two at one of four locations of this scrappy pizza joint, which partners with local farms for its ingredients.

1401 Rosewood Ave, Austin, TX 78702

Visit Website

Pizza from East Side Pies

Also featured in:

Fareground

The food hall is all about great fast-casual options, from Henbit’s bowls and sandwiches, tacos with fresh corn tortillas at Dai Due Taqueria, quick sushi from Ni-Kome, and more.

Open in Google Maps

111 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701

Visit Website

Various dishes at Fareground

Also featured in:

P. Terry's

Patrick Terry redefined fast food in Austin with his emphasis on high-quality ingredients handled with care. This means non-scary beef, carefully sourced potatoes, and made-from-scratch veggie burgers.

404 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

Visit Website

A burger from P. Terry’s

Also featured in:

101 by Tea Haus

Tea Haus’ other fast-casual restaurant is an exploration of various quicker Asian dishes, from Taiwanese beef noodles, bulgogi tacos with tater tots, curry cutlets, and more.

Open in Google Maps

929 Airport Blvd Ste #132, Austin, TX 78752

Tater tots at 101 by Tea Haus

Tacodeli

This growing local taco chain prides itself on sourcing local, organic ingredients when possible, and has several vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free items.

1500B Spyglass Dr, Austin, TX 78746

Visit Website

The barbacoa taco at Tacodeli

Also featured in:

Chi'lantro

Owner Jae Kim’s growing Korean barbecue-inspired mashups include rice bowls, Korean-style fried chicken wings, and those kimchi fries.

1509 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

Visit Website

Korean fusion dishes from Chi’lantro

Also featured in:

Torchy's Tacos

Come for the Trailer Park (fried chicken and cheese in a flour tortilla), stay for the queso.

1822 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Tarka Indian Kitchen

The folks behind Clay Pit offer up Indian curries, chaat, and kabobs in a fast-casual context.

Open in Google Maps

5207 Brodie Ln Ste 120, Sunset Valley, TX 78745

Visit Website

Curry from Tarka

Pollo Rico

Pick up Monterrey-style grilled chicken as a family-style meal (whole, half, or quarter chickens), or in tacos.

Open in Google Maps

730 W Stassney Ln, Austin, TX 78745

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Honest Mary’s

9828 Great Hills Trl Ste 300, Austin, TX 78759

The grain bowl restaurant makes use of quinoa, poke, black forbidden rice, and soba noodles, for satisfying meals that don't sacrifice taste.

Open in Google Maps

9828 Great Hills Trl Ste 300, Austin, TX 78759

A grain bowl from Honest Mary’s

Dos Batos Tacos

2525 W Anderson Ln Bldg 1 Ste 175, Austin, TX 78757

This shop has been quietly serving wood-fired chicken, beef, and veggie tacos and tortas in an unassuming strip mall environment since 2010.

Open in Google Maps

2525 W Anderson Ln Bldg 1 Ste 175, Austin, TX 78757

Visit Website

A torta from Dos Batos Tacos

Baby Greens

1508 W Anderson Ln, Austin, TX 78757

Baby Greens came back with a brand new drive-thru and basically the same favorite salad-driven menu with some new additions.

Open in Google Maps

1508 W Anderson Ln, Austin, TX 78757

Visit Website

The Asian salad from Baby Greens

MezzeMe Mediterranean Kitchen

4700 W Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78751

Owner Moody Ugur came back from Turkey to open the fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant, which focuses on customizable meals from pitas to grain bowls full of doner kebabs, falafel, cheese, and harissa.

Open in Google Maps

4700 W Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78751

Visit Website

Shakshuka and roasted eggplant from MezzeMe

The Halal Corner

1200 Barbara Jordan, Suite 300, Austin, Texas, 78723

Otherwise known as Kismet 2, Mueller-area folks have responded positively to this outlet’s gyros, shawarma, and vegetarian delights, all served Middle Eastern-style.

Open in Google Maps

1200 Barbara Jordan, Suite 300, Austin, Texas, 78723

Visit Website

A platter from Halal Corner

Bird Bird Biscuit

2701 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78722

The biscuit restaurant won Eater Austin’s fast-casual restaurant of the year award for good reason: the sturdy biscuits make for great, quick, and easy sandwiches with fillings like eggs, cheese, sausages, and breaded chicken.

Open in Google Maps

2701 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78722

Visit Website

Bird Bird Biscuit sandwich — A Bird Bird Biscuit sandwich

Sour Duck Market

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

Bryce Gilmore turned to the fast-casual approach for his third restaurant, still full of creative, seasonal dishes but with quicker service available for dine-in or to-go. Think sandwiches with spicy pork, kimchi, and turnip chutney; goat chili; and smoked short ribs.

Open in Google Maps

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

Visit Website

Sour Duck’s burger

Fresa's Chicken al Carbon

915 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78703

Fresa’s drive-thru offers high-quality rotisserie chicken and sides under the direction of chef Rene Ortiz. The tortas and ice cream are also worth a look. There's a South First location, too, with dine-in space and margaritas.

915 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78703

Visit Website

A bowl from Fresa’s

East Side Pies

1401 Rosewood Ave, Austin, TX 78702

Pull up and grab a slice or two at one of four locations of this scrappy pizza joint, which partners with local farms for its ingredients.

1401 Rosewood Ave, Austin, TX 78702

Visit Website

Pizza from East Side Pies

Fareground

111 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701

The food hall is all about great fast-casual options, from Henbit’s bowls and sandwiches, tacos with fresh corn tortillas at Dai Due Taqueria, quick sushi from Ni-Kome, and more.

Open in Google Maps

111 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701

Visit Website

Various dishes at Fareground

P. Terry's

404 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

Patrick Terry redefined fast food in Austin with his emphasis on high-quality ingredients handled with care. This means non-scary beef, carefully sourced potatoes, and made-from-scratch veggie burgers.

404 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

Visit Website

A burger from P. Terry’s

101 by Tea Haus

929 Airport Blvd Ste #132, Austin, TX 78752

Tea Haus’ other fast-casual restaurant is an exploration of various quicker Asian dishes, from Taiwanese beef noodles, bulgogi tacos with tater tots, curry cutlets, and more.

Open in Google Maps

929 Airport Blvd Ste #132, Austin, TX 78752

Tater tots at 101 by Tea Haus

Tacodeli

1500B Spyglass Dr, Austin, TX 78746

This growing local taco chain prides itself on sourcing local, organic ingredients when possible, and has several vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free items.

1500B Spyglass Dr, Austin, TX 78746

Visit Website

The barbacoa taco at Tacodeli

Chi'lantro

1509 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

Owner Jae Kim’s growing Korean barbecue-inspired mashups include rice bowls, Korean-style fried chicken wings, and those kimchi fries.

1509 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

Visit Website

Korean fusion dishes from Chi’lantro

Torchy's Tacos

1822 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

Come for the Trailer Park (fried chicken and cheese in a flour tortilla), stay for the queso.

1822 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

Visit Website

Related Maps

Tarka Indian Kitchen

5207 Brodie Ln Ste 120, Sunset Valley, TX 78745

The folks behind Clay Pit offer up Indian curries, chaat, and kabobs in a fast-casual context.

Open in Google Maps

5207 Brodie Ln Ste 120, Sunset Valley, TX 78745

Visit Website

Curry from Tarka

Pollo Rico

730 W Stassney Ln, Austin, TX 78745

Pick up Monterrey-style grilled chicken as a family-style meal (whole, half, or quarter chickens), or in tacos.

Open in Google Maps

730 W Stassney Ln, Austin, TX 78745

Related Maps