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A salad.
The vegan Caesar salad from the Well.
The Well

18 Terrific Lunch Options in Downtown Austin

Midday restaurant meals in the center of the city

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The vegan Caesar salad from the Well.
| The Well

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, taco options at Vaquero Taquero and Vercruz, sandwiches galore, and more.

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

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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. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

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 the 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.

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.

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.

Rosen's Bagels

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One of the city’s best bagel slingers opened a downtown cafe serving up daytime bagels, schmears, and sandwiches filled with eggs, vegetables, meats, and lox. Takeout orders can be placed online; there are outdoor dine-in areas.

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 and delivery orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

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.

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.

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 DoorDash delivery orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

Flower Child

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For not-too-heavy fare, opt for Flower Child, where the menu features vegetable-filled plates, wraps, and bowls with simple add-ons like chicken, steak, salmon, tofu, and more. Takeout orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 are cheeseburgers and latkes from JewBoy, baguette sandwiches from Austin Rotisserie, dumplings from Little Wu, and more. Takeout orders can be placed online, and there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

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.

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.

Bummer Burrito

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Burritos make for quick and easy lunches, and the Rainey Street truck offers just that, paired with excellent coffee from host sibling site Little Brother. Takeout orders can be placed online; there are outdoor dine-in areas.

Whole Foods Market

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. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

Walton's Fancy and Staple

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 the 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.

Super Burrito

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.

Wu Chow

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.

Rosen's Bagels

One of the city’s best bagel slingers opened a downtown cafe serving up daytime bagels, schmears, and sandwiches filled with eggs, vegetables, meats, and lox. Takeout orders can be placed online; there are outdoor dine-in areas.

Cava

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 and delivery orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

Malibu Poke

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.

Koriente

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.

Vaquero Taquero

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 DoorDash delivery orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

Flower Child

For not-too-heavy fare, opt for Flower Child, where the menu features vegetable-filled plates, wraps, and bowls with simple add-ons like chicken, steak, salmon, tofu, and more. Takeout orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

North Italia

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.

Numero 28

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.

The Well

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.

Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que

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

Fareground

For a little bit of everything from some of Austin’s top restaurants, check out the city’s first real food hall. There are cheeseburgers and latkes from JewBoy, baguette sandwiches from Austin Rotisserie, dumplings from Little Wu, and more. Takeout orders can be placed online, and there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

Related Maps

Veracruz All Natural

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.

Forthright

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.

Bummer Burrito

Burritos make for quick and easy lunches, and the Rainey Street truck offers just that, paired with excellent coffee from host sibling site Little Brother. Takeout orders can be placed online; there are outdoor dine-in areas.

Related Maps