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Food from Picnik
Food from Picnik
Picnik/Facebook

The Ultimate Guide to Paleo Dining in Austin

No more almond butter for dinner

by Thea Newell
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Food from Picnik
| Picnik/Facebook
by Thea Newell

Paleo and Whole30 diets aim to return to a simple, healthy way of eating. It’s tough nixing out all processed foods. Giving up grains, dairy, legumes (that means beans, peanuts, and soy), added sugar and, perhaps hardest of all, alcohol, for an extended amount of time is truly a feat. But perhaps the most challenging part of the process is having to plan out, shop, and prepare every single meal, ensuring you know exactly what is in every bite.

There are Austin restaurants, however, that make it easier to partake in paleo and Whole30 diets for quick meals, dining out, or battle that mid-afternoon sugar craving in an approved way. While all places listed below provide paleo options, Whole30 options are harder to come by and should be confirmed with your server or cashier.

For more similar meals, scope out Austin’s best healthy restaurants, spots for vegetarians and vegans, gluten-free restaurants, gluten-free and dairy-free desserts, salads, and juices.

Everything below is listed in geographical order from north to south. Got a suggestion for a missing paleo-friendly restaurant or truck? Leave it in the comments below or let Eater know through the tipline.

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Picnik

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The undisputed kings of paleo in Austin, Picnik’s entire menu is gluten-, peanut-, corn-, and soy-free, and all other allergens or dietary concerns are clearly denoted. Order from the special diet menu to make sure the meal is also Whole30 compliant, with items like breakfast hash, brussels sprouts, rustic lamb chops, or even tacos made with cassava flour.

4801 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78756
(737) 226-0644
(737) 226-0644
Food from Picnik
Food from Picnik
Picnik/Facebook

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Dai Due

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The butcher shop and supper club use only seasonal ingredients, cook only with Texas olive oils and animal fats, and focus heavily on organic products. That, along with its focus on fermentation and preservation, means the restaurant provides for multiple dining options that don’t sacrifice on flavor, such as grilled pork chops, wagyu sirloin, chicken fat-mashed sweet potatoes, and wild boar confit with bone broth.

2406 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78722
(512) 524-0688
(512) 524-0688
Dai Due’s pork chop
Dai Due’s pork chop
Dai Due/Facebook

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Snap Kitchen

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Snap Kitchen’s user-friendly packaging will readily tell you what’s paleo or Whole30, and the available entrees, sides, and snacks make diets incredibly easy.

1014 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78703
(512) 479-5959
(512) 479-5959
Dishes from Snap Kitchen
Dishes from Snap Kitchen
Snap Kitchen/Facebook

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True Food Kitchen

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While, yes, you may have to double-check with your server to make sure certain sauces, marinades, etc. are paleo/Whole30-compliant, True Food Kitchen makes a healthy, California-vibe meal easy and tasty with its focus on healthy dishes featuring lean meats and vegetables.

222 West Ave Suite HR100, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 777-2430
(512) 777-2430
A dish from True Food Kitchen
A dish from True Food Kitchen
True Food Kitchen/Yelp

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Koriente

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The downtown restaurant is extremely ingredient-conscious, focuses on fresh vegetables and gluten-free options, and use fruit juice or honey as a sweetener wherever possible. Substitute extra vegetables for rice to make the meal paleo-friendly.

621 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 275-0852
(512) 275-0852
A bowl from Koriente
A bowl from Koriente
Yummy T./Yelp

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Flower Child

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Flower Child makes it easy to eat vegetables with its menu of salads, bowls and make-your-own plates that won’t have you yawning with boredom. Gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options are clearly denoted, making it easy to grab a quick meal that will fit whatever dietary needs.

500 W 2nd St Suite 160, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 777-4132
(512) 777-4132
Salads from Flower Child
Salads from Flower Child
Flower Child/Facebook

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Casa de Luz

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The restaurant’s menu changes daily, based on locally available ingredients, which is always a good sign, and its focus on vegan and gluten-free meals removes most of the guesswork. Ingredients are also listed clearly on the website, so you can check what’s available to you on the daily.

1701 Toomey Rd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 476-2535
(512) 476-2535
Food from Casa de Luz
Food from Casa de Luz
Wendy T./Yelp

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JuiceLand

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While neither paleo or Whole30 diets promote smoothies as a meal replacement, the juice shop’s grab-and-go meals feature plenty of paleo-friendly options.

1034, 1625 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 480-9501
(512) 480-9501
The Delhi salad with curried chickpeas from JuiceLand
The Delhi salad with curried chickpeas from JuiceLand
JuiceLand/Facebook

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Forthright

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Yes, you’ll have to bypass the delicious pastries, the bowls (sans sauces) and salads (substitute dressings with a simple combination of olive oil and vinegar), and that should keep you full and satisfied throughout the workday.

35 Brazos St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 433-6155
(512) 433-6155
A dish from Forthright
A dish from Forthright
Forthright/Facebook

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Curcuma

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Get fixes of golden mylk (turmeric and coconut milk concoction), smoothies, broths, and bowls at the East Cesar Chavez food truck.

2207 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 956-9550
(512) 956-9550
Food and drink from Curcuma
Food and drink from Curcuma
Curcuma/Facebook

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Wholly Cow Burgers

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Wholly Cow’s menu options include the Fit Cross, the paleo-friendly patty is made with grass-fed beef which is sandwiched between two Portobello mushroom caps, along with bacon and grilled onions.

3010 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 394-8156
(512) 394-8156
A burger from Wholly Cow
A burger from Wholly Cow
Wholly Cow/Facebook

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Picnik

4801 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78756

The undisputed kings of paleo in Austin, Picnik’s entire menu is gluten-, peanut-, corn-, and soy-free, and all other allergens or dietary concerns are clearly denoted. Order from the special diet menu to make sure the meal is also Whole30 compliant, with items like breakfast hash, brussels sprouts, rustic lamb chops, or even tacos made with cassava flour.

4801 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78756
(737) 226-0644
(737) 226-0644
Food from Picnik
Food from Picnik
Picnik/Facebook

Dai Due

2406 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78722

The butcher shop and supper club use only seasonal ingredients, cook only with Texas olive oils and animal fats, and focus heavily on organic products. That, along with its focus on fermentation and preservation, means the restaurant provides for multiple dining options that don’t sacrifice on flavor, such as grilled pork chops, wagyu sirloin, chicken fat-mashed sweet potatoes, and wild boar confit with bone broth.

2406 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78722
(512) 524-0688
(512) 524-0688
Dai Due’s pork chop
Dai Due’s pork chop
Dai Due/Facebook

Snap Kitchen

1014 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78703

Snap Kitchen’s user-friendly packaging will readily tell you what’s paleo or Whole30, and the available entrees, sides, and snacks make diets incredibly easy.

1014 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78703
(512) 479-5959
(512) 479-5959
Dishes from Snap Kitchen
Dishes from Snap Kitchen
Snap Kitchen/Facebook

True Food Kitchen

222 West Ave Suite HR100, Austin, TX 78701

While, yes, you may have to double-check with your server to make sure certain sauces, marinades, etc. are paleo/Whole30-compliant, True Food Kitchen makes a healthy, California-vibe meal easy and tasty with its focus on healthy dishes featuring lean meats and vegetables.

222 West Ave Suite HR100, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 777-2430
(512) 777-2430
A dish from True Food Kitchen
A dish from True Food Kitchen
True Food Kitchen/Yelp

Koriente

621 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78701

The downtown restaurant is extremely ingredient-conscious, focuses on fresh vegetables and gluten-free options, and use fruit juice or honey as a sweetener wherever possible. Substitute extra vegetables for rice to make the meal paleo-friendly.

621 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 275-0852
(512) 275-0852
A bowl from Koriente
A bowl from Koriente
Yummy T./Yelp

Flower Child

500 W 2nd St Suite 160, Austin, TX 78701

Flower Child makes it easy to eat vegetables with its menu of salads, bowls and make-your-own plates that won’t have you yawning with boredom. Gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options are clearly denoted, making it easy to grab a quick meal that will fit whatever dietary needs.

500 W 2nd St Suite 160, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 777-4132
(512) 777-4132
Salads from Flower Child
Salads from Flower Child
Flower Child/Facebook

Casa de Luz

1701 Toomey Rd, Austin, TX 78704

The restaurant’s menu changes daily, based on locally available ingredients, which is always a good sign, and its focus on vegan and gluten-free meals removes most of the guesswork. Ingredients are also listed clearly on the website, so you can check what’s available to you on the daily.

1701 Toomey Rd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 476-2535
(512) 476-2535
Food from Casa de Luz
Food from Casa de Luz
Wendy T./Yelp

JuiceLand

1034, 1625 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704

While neither paleo or Whole30 diets promote smoothies as a meal replacement, the juice shop’s grab-and-go meals feature plenty of paleo-friendly options.

1034, 1625 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 480-9501
(512) 480-9501
The Delhi salad with curried chickpeas from JuiceLand
The Delhi salad with curried chickpeas from JuiceLand
JuiceLand/Facebook

Forthright

35 Brazos St, Austin, TX 78701

Yes, you’ll have to bypass the delicious pastries, the bowls (sans sauces) and salads (substitute dressings with a simple combination of olive oil and vinegar), and that should keep you full and satisfied throughout the workday.

35 Brazos St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 433-6155
(512) 433-6155
A dish from Forthright
A dish from Forthright
Forthright/Facebook

Curcuma

2207 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702

Get fixes of golden mylk (turmeric and coconut milk concoction), smoothies, broths, and bowls at the East Cesar Chavez food truck.

2207 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702
(512) 956-9550
(512) 956-9550
Food and drink from Curcuma
Food and drink from Curcuma
Curcuma/Facebook

Wholly Cow Burgers

3010 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

Wholly Cow’s menu options include the Fit Cross, the paleo-friendly patty is made with grass-fed beef which is sandwiched between two Portobello mushroom caps, along with bacon and grilled onions.

3010 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 394-8156
(512) 394-8156
A burger from Wholly Cow
A burger from Wholly Cow
Wholly Cow/Facebook

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