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A dish from the Well.
The Well/Facebook

17 Terrific Lunch Options in Downtown Austin

Midday restaurant meals in the center of the city

by Nadia Chaudhury and Erin Russell Updated
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A dish from the Well.
| The Well/Facebook
by Nadia Chaudhury and Erin Russell Updated

Lunch deserves more attention — it’s what gets us through the day. Nowhere is that more important than in the constantly changing high-rise maze that is downtown Austin. Set aside those sad desk sandwiches and salads, duck out of the office for some fresh air, and head to these recommended lunch spots for a chance of pace.

Downtown offers classic barbecue from Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que, healthier bites from Koriente, the fun edible-filled array of Whole Foods Market, smorgasbord offerings of Fareground, and more. This update adds Cava, the Well, North Italia, Polvo’s, and two great taco options: Vaquero Taquero and Veracruz.

For more neighborhood eats, there is Austin’s downtown map and the best restaurants around the Austin Convention Center.

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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Whole Foods Market

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Head to the Whole Foods’s flagship market and food court, offering a buffet of various options, from sushi, barbecue, tacos, sandwiches, olives, seafood, burgers, and more. There’s a vegan burger restaurant too.

525 N Lamar Blvd., Austin, TX 78703
(512) 542-2200
(512) 542-2200

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Walton's Fancy and Staple

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Walton's makes it a handy lunch spot — don’t miss out on the popular Turkey Sweet sandwich on a croissant. Plus, take advantage of late breakfast, which is served until 2 p.m., with challah French toast and shrimp and grits. Takeout and delivery orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

609 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 542-3380
(512) 542-3380
The Turkey Sweet sandwich from Walton’s
The Turkey Sweet sandwich from Walton’s
Walton’s/Facebook

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Super Burrito

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The western downtown truck serves up really great, simple lunchtime tacos and burritos. The Tejana with carne asada is a good bet. Takeout and delivery orders can be placed online; there are outdoor dine-in areas.

817 W 5th St, Austin, TX 78703
(512) 443-8226
(512) 443-8226

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Wu Chow

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Sadly, soup dumplings aren’t available for lunch, but the rest of Wu Chow’s modern Chinese menu is still available for midday dining. Takeout orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

500 W 5th St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 476-2469
(512) 476-2469
A bowl of colorful vegetables next to a smaller bowl of sliced greens.
Lunch dishes from Wu Chow.
Wu Chow/Facebook

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Cava

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The fast-casual Mediterranean grain bowl chain is a great way to grab something quick. Build a bowl with options like braised lamb, lamb meatballs, falafel, or grilled vegetables — and try the crazy feta, infused with jalapeno. Takeout orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

515 Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78701
(512) 256-8002
(512) 256-8002

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Malibu Poke

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Some of the city’s finest poke can be found at the Austin location of the Dallas-based chain. The menu was after all created by lauded chef Matt McCallister. Pickup orders can be placed online or in person; there are DoorDash deliveries; and there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

211 Walter Seaholm Dr LR 115, Austin, TX 78703
(512) 609-8510
(512) 609-8510
A white shallow bowl of diced fish, grains, and vegetables with a pair of chopsticks in a paper wrapper on top of it next to a stemless wine glass of pink rose wine on a white picnic table.
Malibu Poke’s red miso salmon bowl.
Malibu Poke

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Polvo's Downtown Central

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This local Mexican spot has dishes like carne guisada, fajitas, chile rellenos, tacos, and more. Takeout and delivery orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

360 Nueces St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 450-8605
(512) 450-8605

Koriente

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Koriente serves healthy and delicious Asian dishes like curries, noodles, and a variety of bowls. Takeout orders can be placed over the phone; there are third-party deliveries; and the patio is available for on-site dining.

621 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 275-0852
(512) 275-0852
A black and red bowl with grains and vegetables and a sunny-side fried egg on a red-and-white checkered picnic table.
A dish from Koriente.
Koriente/Facebook

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Vaquero Taquero

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Gooey Oaxacan cheese makes all the difference at the downtown location of the taco spot with straightforward offerings. Options range from tinga tacos to steak quesadillas to breakfast tacos. Takeout and delivery orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

603 Sabine St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 243-8136
(512) 243-8136

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Flower Child

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For healthier fare, opt for Flower Child, where the menu features vegetable-filled plates, wraps, and bowls with add-ons like chicken, steak, salmon, tofu, and more. Takeout orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

500 W 2nd St #133, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 777-4132
(512) 777-4132
A place of meat and vegetables next to a fork and knife on a napkin with a glass of beer.
A plate from Flower Child.
Flower Child/Facebook

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North Italia

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A nice choice for a sit-down lunch, North Italia offers pizzas, sandwiches, pastas, and cocktails. Try the salty-sweet prosciutto pizza with fig and goat cheese. Takeout orders can be placed online; there are DoorDash deliveries; and there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

500 W 2nd St #120, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 777-5062
(512) 777-5062

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Numero 28

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The fast-and-friendly Italian restaurant has panini, salads, and plenty of pasta, along with espresso for the afternoon slump. Takeout orders can be placed online, and there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

428 W. 2nd Street, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 494-5510
(512) 494-5510
A sandwich with a lot of vegetables on a plate.
A sandwich from Numero 28.
Numero 28/Facebook

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The Well

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This trendy cafe offers a menu of salads, scrambles, toasts, smoothies, and green juices — and everything is gluten-free. Takeout orders can be placed online, and there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

440 W 2nd St, Austin, TX 78701
(737) 742-1129
(737) 742-1129

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Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que

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Barbecue for lunch, because it’s Austin. Takeout orders can be placed in person; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

217 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 474-4227
(512) 474-4227
A tray of barbecued meats.
Barbecue from Cooper’s,
Cooper’s/Facebook

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Fareground

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For a little bit of everything from some of Austin’s top restaurants, check out the city’s first real food hall. There’s hummus from TLV; bowls, salads, and wraps from Henbit; dumplings from Little Wu, great sandwiches from Austin Rotisserie, and more. Takeout orders can be placed online, and there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

111 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701
Various dishes at Fareground
Various dishes at Fareground.
Fareground/Facebook

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Veracruz All Natural

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Tucked inside the Line Hotel, Veracruz serves excellent tacos like the popular migas and migas poblanas, quesadillas, and smoothies. Takeout orders can be placed online, and there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

111 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 665-2713
(512) 665-2713

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Forthright

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Forthright is great for an early lunch, with offerings like topped toasts, bagels, soups, salads, bowls, and sandwiches. Takeout orders can be placed online, and there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

98 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX 78701
(737) 300-1948
(737) 300-1948
A bowl from Forthright.
A bowl from Forthright.
Forthright/Facebook

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Whole Foods Market

525 N Lamar Blvd., Austin, TX 78703

Head to the Whole Foods’s flagship market and food court, offering a buffet of various options, from sushi, barbecue, tacos, sandwiches, olives, seafood, burgers, and more. There’s a vegan burger restaurant too.

525 N Lamar Blvd., Austin, TX 78703
(512) 542-2200
(512) 542-2200

Walton's Fancy and Staple

609 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78701

Walton's makes it a handy lunch spot — don’t miss out on the popular Turkey Sweet sandwich on a croissant. Plus, take advantage of late breakfast, which is served until 2 p.m., with challah French toast and shrimp and grits. Takeout and delivery orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

609 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 542-3380
(512) 542-3380
The Turkey Sweet sandwich from Walton’s
The Turkey Sweet sandwich from Walton’s
Walton’s/Facebook

Super Burrito

817 W 5th St, Austin, TX 78703

The western downtown truck serves up really great, simple lunchtime tacos and burritos. The Tejana with carne asada is a good bet. Takeout and delivery orders can be placed online; there are outdoor dine-in areas.

817 W 5th St, Austin, TX 78703
(512) 443-8226
(512) 443-8226

Wu Chow

500 W 5th St, Austin, TX 78701

Sadly, soup dumplings aren’t available for lunch, but the rest of Wu Chow’s modern Chinese menu is still available for midday dining. Takeout orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

500 W 5th St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 476-2469
(512) 476-2469
A bowl of colorful vegetables next to a smaller bowl of sliced greens.
Lunch dishes from Wu Chow.
Wu Chow/Facebook

Cava

515 Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78701

The fast-casual Mediterranean grain bowl chain is a great way to grab something quick. Build a bowl with options like braised lamb, lamb meatballs, falafel, or grilled vegetables — and try the crazy feta, infused with jalapeno. Takeout orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

515 Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78701
(512) 256-8002
(512) 256-8002

Malibu Poke

211 Walter Seaholm Dr LR 115, Austin, TX 78703

Some of the city’s finest poke can be found at the Austin location of the Dallas-based chain. The menu was after all created by lauded chef Matt McCallister. Pickup orders can be placed online or in person; there are DoorDash deliveries; and there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

211 Walter Seaholm Dr LR 115, Austin, TX 78703
(512) 609-8510
(512) 609-8510
A white shallow bowl of diced fish, grains, and vegetables with a pair of chopsticks in a paper wrapper on top of it next to a stemless wine glass of pink rose wine on a white picnic table.
Malibu Poke’s red miso salmon bowl.
Malibu Poke

Polvo's Downtown Central

360 Nueces St, Austin, TX 78701

This local Mexican spot has dishes like carne guisada, fajitas, chile rellenos, tacos, and more. Takeout and delivery orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

360 Nueces St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 450-8605
(512) 450-8605

Koriente

621 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78701

Koriente serves healthy and delicious Asian dishes like curries, noodles, and a variety of bowls. Takeout orders can be placed over the phone; there are third-party deliveries; and the patio is available for on-site dining.

621 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 275-0852
(512) 275-0852
A black and red bowl with grains and vegetables and a sunny-side fried egg on a red-and-white checkered picnic table.
A dish from Koriente.
Koriente/Facebook

Vaquero Taquero

603 Sabine St, Austin, TX 78701

Gooey Oaxacan cheese makes all the difference at the downtown location of the taco spot with straightforward offerings. Options range from tinga tacos to steak quesadillas to breakfast tacos. Takeout and delivery orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

603 Sabine St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 243-8136
(512) 243-8136

Flower Child

500 W 2nd St #133, Austin, TX 78701

For healthier fare, opt for Flower Child, where the menu features vegetable-filled plates, wraps, and bowls with add-ons like chicken, steak, salmon, tofu, and more. Takeout orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

500 W 2nd St #133, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 777-4132
(512) 777-4132
A place of meat and vegetables next to a fork and knife on a napkin with a glass of beer.
A plate from Flower Child.
Flower Child/Facebook

North Italia

500 W 2nd St #120, Austin, TX 78701

A nice choice for a sit-down lunch, North Italia offers pizzas, sandwiches, pastas, and cocktails. Try the salty-sweet prosciutto pizza with fig and goat cheese. Takeout orders can be placed online; there are DoorDash deliveries; and there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

500 W 2nd St #120, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 777-5062
(512) 777-5062

Numero 28

428 W. 2nd Street, Austin, TX 78701

The fast-and-friendly Italian restaurant has panini, salads, and plenty of pasta, along with espresso for the afternoon slump. Takeout orders can be placed online, and there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

428 W. 2nd Street, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 494-5510
(512) 494-5510
A sandwich with a lot of vegetables on a plate.
A sandwich from Numero 28.
Numero 28/Facebook

The Well

440 W 2nd St, Austin, TX 78701

This trendy cafe offers a menu of salads, scrambles, toasts, smoothies, and green juices — and everything is gluten-free. Takeout orders can be placed online, and there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

440 W 2nd St, Austin, TX 78701
(737) 742-1129
(737) 742-1129

Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que

217 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701

Barbecue for lunch, because it’s Austin. Takeout orders can be placed in person; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

217 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 474-4227
(512) 474-4227
A tray of barbecued meats.
Barbecue from Cooper’s,
Cooper’s/Facebook

Fareground

111 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701

For a little bit of everything from some of Austin’s top restaurants, check out the city’s first real food hall. There’s hummus from TLV; bowls, salads, and wraps from Henbit; dumplings from Little Wu, great sandwiches from Austin Rotisserie, and more. Takeout orders can be placed online, and there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

111 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701
Various dishes at Fareground
Various dishes at Fareground.
Fareground/Facebook

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Veracruz All Natural

111 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701

Tucked inside the Line Hotel, Veracruz serves excellent tacos like the popular migas and migas poblanas, quesadillas, and smoothies. Takeout orders can be placed online, and there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

111 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 665-2713
(512) 665-2713

Forthright

98 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX 78701

Forthright is great for an early lunch, with offerings like topped toasts, bagels, soups, salads, bowls, and sandwiches. Takeout orders can be placed online, and there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

98 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX 78701
(737) 300-1948
(737) 300-1948
A bowl from Forthright.
A bowl from Forthright.
Forthright/Facebook

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