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The falafel and grain bowl from MezzeMe
MezzeMe's grain bowl
MezzeMe/Facebook

17 Top-Quality Fast-Food Spots in Austin

Where to find quick and delicious meals

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MezzeMe's grain bowl
| MezzeMe/Facebook

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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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

Honest Mary’s

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

A grain bowl from Honest Mary’s
A grain bowl from Honest Mary’s
Honest Mary’s/Facebook

Dos Batos Tacos

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

A torta from Dos Batos Tacos
A torta from Dos Batos Tacos
Dos Batos/Yelp

Baby Greens

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

The Asian salad from Baby Greens
The Asian salad from Baby Greens
Baby Greens/Facebook

MezzeMe Mediterranean Kitchen

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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.

Shakshuka and roasted eggplant from MezzeMe
Shakshuka and roasted eggplant from MezzeMe
MezzeMe/Facebook

The Halal Corner

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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.

A platter from Halal Corner
A platter from Halal Corner
Michelle N./Yelp

Bird Bird Biscuit

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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.

Bird Bird Biscuit sandwich
A Bird Bird Biscuit sandwich
Chelsea Laine Francis

Sour Duck Market

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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.

Sour Duck’s burger
Sour Duck’s burger
Courtney Pierce/EATX

Fresa's Chicken al Carbon

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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.

A bowl from Fresa’s
A bowl from Fresa’s
Fresa’s/Facebook

East Side Pies

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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.

Pizza from East Side Pies
Pizza from East Side Pies
East Side Pies/Facebook

Fareground

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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.

Various dishes at Fareground
Various dishes at Fareground
Fareground/Facebook

P. Terry's

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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.

A burger from P. Terry’s
A burger from P. Terry’s
Nadia Chaudhury/EATX

101 by Tea Haus

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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.

Tater tots at 101 by Tea Haus
Tater tots at 101 by Tea Haus
Noreen T./Yelp

Tacodeli

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

The barbacoa taco at Tacodeli
The barbacoa taco at Tacodeli
Tacodeli/Facebook

Chi'lantro

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

Korean fusion dishes from Chi’lantro
Korean fusion dishes from Chi’lantro
Chi’lantro/Facebook

Torchy's Tacos

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

Tarka Indian Kitchen

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

Curry from Tarka
Curry from Tarka
Tarka/Facebook

Pollo Rico

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

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.

A grain bowl from Honest Mary’s
A grain bowl from Honest Mary’s
Honest Mary’s/Facebook

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.

A torta from Dos Batos Tacos
A torta from Dos Batos Tacos
Dos Batos/Yelp

Baby Greens

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

The Asian salad from Baby Greens
The Asian salad from Baby Greens
Baby Greens/Facebook

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.

Shakshuka and roasted eggplant from MezzeMe
Shakshuka and roasted eggplant from MezzeMe
MezzeMe/Facebook

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.

A platter from Halal Corner
A platter from Halal Corner
Michelle N./Yelp

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.

Bird Bird Biscuit sandwich
A Bird Bird Biscuit sandwich
Chelsea Laine Francis

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.

Sour Duck’s burger
Sour Duck’s burger
Courtney Pierce/EATX

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.

A bowl from Fresa’s
A bowl from Fresa’s
Fresa’s/Facebook

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.

Pizza from East Side Pies
Pizza from East Side Pies
East Side Pies/Facebook

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.

Various dishes at Fareground
Various dishes at Fareground
Fareground/Facebook

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.

A burger from P. Terry’s
A burger from P. Terry’s
Nadia Chaudhury/EATX

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.

Tater tots at 101 by Tea Haus
Tater tots at 101 by Tea Haus
Noreen T./Yelp

Tacodeli

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

The barbacoa taco at Tacodeli
The barbacoa taco at Tacodeli
Tacodeli/Facebook

Chi'lantro

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

Korean fusion dishes from Chi’lantro
Korean fusion dishes from Chi’lantro
Chi’lantro/Facebook

Torchy's Tacos

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

Related Maps

Tarka Indian Kitchen

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

Curry from Tarka
Curry from Tarka
Tarka/Facebook

Pollo Rico

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

Related Maps