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Charcuterie from Drink.Well.
DrinkWell/Facebook

16 Can’t-Miss Restaurants and Bars in North Loop

From vegan food to New York pizza to fancy cocktails in the north-central Austin neighborhood

by Erin Russell Updated
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Charcuterie from Drink.Well.
| DrinkWell/Facebook
by Erin Russell Updated

Tucked away in north-central Austin and unfamiliar to tourists (for now), North Loop is hiding some of the best, most varied dining in Austin. The densely packed, fully walkable area has a true neighborhood feel, with chef-owned restaurants, eclectic coffee shops, a vegan bakery, longtime local institutions, and nary an out-of-town restaurant group in sight.

Keeping with the Austin tradition of streets with multiple names, East 53rd Street/North Loop Boulevard is the main drag. It is home to one of the city’s best restaurants (Foreign & Domestic), one of the city’s best cocktail bars (Drink.Well), one of the city’s best dive bars (Workhorse), and one of the city’s best coffee shops (Epoch), all within a four-block range. Below is the map of can’t-miss restaurants, food trucks, and bars in North Loop (which, quite frankly, is most of them).

For the purposes of this map, North Loop is defined as south of Koenig Lane, north of 51st Street, east of North Lamar Boulevard, and inclusive of Airport Boulevard down to 45th Street. Check out Eater Austin’s other neighborhood dining guides too.

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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Titaya's Thai Cuisine

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Long-standing Thai restaurant Titaya’s has solid options for traditional dishes from pad see ew to curries to sticky mango rice. The restaurant is open for dine-in and takeout services. Order online.

5501 N Lamar Blvd Suite C101, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 458-1792
(512) 458-1792
A square bowl of noodles and nuts and bean sprouts.
Pad Thai from Titaya’s.
Titaya’s/Facebook

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Nervous Charlie's

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One of Austin’s best bagel shops, Nervous Charlie’s uses dough imported from New York City. Those magical rings are the basis for hearty breakfast and lunch sandwiches, lox, or one of several kinds of cream cheese schmears. The shop is open for takeout and indoor and patio dining. Order online.

5501 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 366-5305
(512) 366-5305
Someone holding up a bagel sandwich with strips of bacon hanging off.
A lunch bagel from Nervous Charlie’s.
Nervous Charlie’s

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Epoch Coffee

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Cozy coffeeshop Epoch sits in a small shopping center with a record store and a vintage shop. Open until midnight, it has excellent coffee drinks, a variety of snacks from tamales to pastries, and general good vibes. The shop features art from a different local artist each month. The cafe is open for dine-in and to-go.

221 W N Loop Blvd, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 454-3762
(512) 454-3762
Coffee with a heart latte art at Epoch.
Coffee at Epoch.
Epoch Coffee/Facebook

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Quality Seafood Market

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Quality Seafood opened in 1938, and has been serving some of the city’s best seafood ever since. Both a fish shop and a restaurant, it has become the go-to source for oysters, crawfish, fish, and other seafood items both simply prepared or ready to cook. The restaurant and market is open for indoor dining and takeout. Order online.

5621 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 452-3820
(512) 452-3820
A plate of halved oysters with slices of lemon and containers of red sauce in the middle.
Oysters at Quality Seafood.
Quality Seafood/Facebook

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Workhorse Bar

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Workhorse is one of the best examples of classic Austin: an absolutely solid dive bar with cheap margaritas and great burgers. Plus, there’s a great patio for hanging out. The bar is open for dine-in, patio dining, and takeout. Order online.

100 N Loop Blvd E Suite B, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 323-5700
(512) 323-5700
A wooden picnic table in front of a bar.
The patio at Workhorse Bar.
Workhorse Bar/Facebook

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The Tigress Pub

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This intimate little bar on 53rd Street is a friendly place to try some interesting cocktails (including low-ABV and mocktail options) or just grab a beer. The bar is open for indoor seating, outdoor seating, and takeout. Order online.

100 W N Loop Blvd unit g, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 600-3232
(512) 600-3232
A red tall drink and an orange drink in a martini glass on a bar with fresh flowers on it
Cocktails from the Tigress.
The Tigress/Facebook

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Tacos Yo Soy

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Despite its small size, this Mexican food truck on 53rd Street has a massive menu that encompasses tacos, tortas, quesadillas, breakfast sandwiches, and tasty daily specials. The salsas have a nice spicy kick to them. The truck offers takeout and patio dining. Order online.

E 53rd St, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 945-8472
(512) 945-8472

Drink.Well

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One of the city’s best cocktail bars, Drink.Well serves expertly crafted, well-balanced drinks (try the daiquiri) alongside classy pub fare like crispy Brussels sprouts and a great burger. The bar is open for indoor and outdoor dining and takeout. Order online.

207 E 53rd St, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 614-6683
(512) 614-6683
A dark bar room.
Drink.Well.
Drink.Well/Facebook

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Foreign & Domestic

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Chef-owned nose-to-tail restaurant Foreign & Domestic is consistently rated as one of the best in the city. Nathan Lemley and Sarah Heard have creative dishes that become instant classics like indulgently buttery Parisian gnocchi with mushrooms, tomato leaf casarecce, and mushroom crème brûlée. The restaurant is open for indoor and outdoor dining and takeout. Order online.

306 E 53rd St, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 459-1010
(512) 459-1010
A restaurant front with the words “Foreign & Domestic” on it and a flying pig.
Foreign & Domestic.
Raymond Thompson/Eater Austin

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Home Slice Pizza

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The smell of garlic permeates the entire block around the second location of the popular local New York-style pizzeria. The North Loop location of the South Congress original has a larger menu with wings, thick Sicilian-style pies, and a full bar, in addition to slices and whole pies. The pizzeria is open for indoor and outdoor dining and takeout. Order online.

501 E 53rd St, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 707-7437
(512) 707-7437
A pizza slice with pepperoni slices on it on a paper plate.
A pepperoni slice from Home Slice.
Home Slice/Facebook

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Bistro Vonish

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Fancy vegan food truck Bistro Vonish has everything from mac and cheese to a barbecue sandwich to a truly excellent chocolate pie. There are also kolaches and cinnamon rolls for weekend brunch. The truck requires online ordering for takeout or patio dining services.

701 E 53rd St, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 579-9854
(512) 579-9854
Three plates of food, one with a sandwich and pickle slices, another with a sandich, and another with food.
The tofu sandwich at Bistro Vonish.
Bistro Vonish/Facebook

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Zucchini Kill Bakery

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Vegan bakeshop Zucchini Kill is known for its many flavors of cupcakes, from chocolate caramel to goji lemon lavender. There’s also a full array of baked goods like doughnuts, coffee cake, cookies, and more, plus a rad retail space with cards, tinctures, and witchy goods. Look for the custom hearse outside. The bakery is open for takeout and delivery. Order online.

701 E 53rd St Suite C, Austin, TX 78751
(737) 215-5936
(737) 215-5936
Three cupcakes with white frosting with pink spots.
Cupcakes from Zucchini Kill Bakery.
Zucchini Kill Bakery/Facebook

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Komé

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Okay, so the casual sushi restaurant Komé is technically temporarily closed right now as it gears up to reopen its dining room, but it has a reputation as one of the best in the city, with both traditional and creative rolls, like the Stardust Cowboy roll with hanger steak, shrimp tempura, asparagus, spinach, candied jalapeños, tomatoes and avocado. Komé also serves bento boxes and donburi bowls, and is currently home to Daruma Ramen. Takeout only, order online (but reopening for dine-in very soon).

5301 Airport Blvd #100, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 712-5700
(512) 712-5700

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Jewboy Burgers

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Jewboy chef and owner Mo Pittle uses his Jewish and El Paso heritage to create a comforting menu with burgers topped with hatch chili queso, latkes, crispy onion rings, and more. The restaurant is open for indoor and outdoor dining and takeout. Order online.

5111 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 291-3358
(512) 291-3358

Also featured in:

Vamonos

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The Tex-Mex restaurant from local hospitality group Parkside Projects has great enchiladas, margaritas, and skirt steaks grilled over Texas oak. The restaurant is open for indoor and outdoor dining and takeout. Order online.

4807 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 474-2029
(512) 474-2029
A plate of cheesy enchiladas and rice.
A dish from Vamonos.
Hayden Walker

Also featured in:

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The Omelettry

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This old-school diner is the place to go in the neighborhood for fluffy pancakes, a bacon-filled BLT, omelettes, and other brunch options. The Omelettry is the kind of place where sandwiches are less than $10, thick with filling, come with soup, and taste great. The restaurant is open for indoor dining and takeout. Order online.

4631 Airport Blvd # 131A, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 453-5062
(512) 453-5062

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Titaya's Thai Cuisine

5501 N Lamar Blvd Suite C101, Austin, TX 78751

Long-standing Thai restaurant Titaya’s has solid options for traditional dishes from pad see ew to curries to sticky mango rice. The restaurant is open for dine-in and takeout services. Order online.

5501 N Lamar Blvd Suite C101, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 458-1792
(512) 458-1792
A square bowl of noodles and nuts and bean sprouts.
Pad Thai from Titaya’s.
Titaya’s/Facebook

Nervous Charlie's

5501 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78751

One of Austin’s best bagel shops, Nervous Charlie’s uses dough imported from New York City. Those magical rings are the basis for hearty breakfast and lunch sandwiches, lox, or one of several kinds of cream cheese schmears. The shop is open for takeout and indoor and patio dining. Order online.

5501 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 366-5305
(512) 366-5305
Someone holding up a bagel sandwich with strips of bacon hanging off.
A lunch bagel from Nervous Charlie’s.
Nervous Charlie’s

Epoch Coffee

221 W N Loop Blvd, Austin, TX 78751

Cozy coffeeshop Epoch sits in a small shopping center with a record store and a vintage shop. Open until midnight, it has excellent coffee drinks, a variety of snacks from tamales to pastries, and general good vibes. The shop features art from a different local artist each month. The cafe is open for dine-in and to-go.

221 W N Loop Blvd, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 454-3762
(512) 454-3762
Coffee with a heart latte art at Epoch.
Coffee at Epoch.
Epoch Coffee/Facebook

Quality Seafood Market

5621 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78751

Quality Seafood opened in 1938, and has been serving some of the city’s best seafood ever since. Both a fish shop and a restaurant, it has become the go-to source for oysters, crawfish, fish, and other seafood items both simply prepared or ready to cook. The restaurant and market is open for indoor dining and takeout. Order online.

5621 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 452-3820
(512) 452-3820
A plate of halved oysters with slices of lemon and containers of red sauce in the middle.
Oysters at Quality Seafood.
Quality Seafood/Facebook

Workhorse Bar

100 N Loop Blvd E Suite B, Austin, TX 78751

Workhorse is one of the best examples of classic Austin: an absolutely solid dive bar with cheap margaritas and great burgers. Plus, there’s a great patio for hanging out. The bar is open for dine-in, patio dining, and takeout. Order online.

100 N Loop Blvd E Suite B, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 323-5700
(512) 323-5700
A wooden picnic table in front of a bar.
The patio at Workhorse Bar.
Workhorse Bar/Facebook

The Tigress Pub

100 W N Loop Blvd unit g, Austin, TX 78751

This intimate little bar on 53rd Street is a friendly place to try some interesting cocktails (including low-ABV and mocktail options) or just grab a beer. The bar is open for indoor seating, outdoor seating, and takeout. Order online.

100 W N Loop Blvd unit g, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 600-3232
(512) 600-3232
A red tall drink and an orange drink in a martini glass on a bar with fresh flowers on it
Cocktails from the Tigress.
The Tigress/Facebook

Tacos Yo Soy

E 53rd St, Austin, TX 78751

Despite its small size, this Mexican food truck on 53rd Street has a massive menu that encompasses tacos, tortas, quesadillas, breakfast sandwiches, and tasty daily specials. The salsas have a nice spicy kick to them. The truck offers takeout and patio dining. Order online.

E 53rd St, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 945-8472
(512) 945-8472

Drink.Well

207 E 53rd St, Austin, TX 78751

One of the city’s best cocktail bars, Drink.Well serves expertly crafted, well-balanced drinks (try the daiquiri) alongside classy pub fare like crispy Brussels sprouts and a great burger. The bar is open for indoor and outdoor dining and takeout. Order online.

207 E 53rd St, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 614-6683
(512) 614-6683
A dark bar room.
Drink.Well.
Drink.Well/Facebook

Foreign & Domestic

306 E 53rd St, Austin, TX 78751

Chef-owned nose-to-tail restaurant Foreign & Domestic is consistently rated as one of the best in the city. Nathan Lemley and Sarah Heard have creative dishes that become instant classics like indulgently buttery Parisian gnocchi with mushrooms, tomato leaf casarecce, and mushroom crème brûlée. The restaurant is open for indoor and outdoor dining and takeout. Order online.

306 E 53rd St, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 459-1010
(512) 459-1010
A restaurant front with the words “Foreign & Domestic” on it and a flying pig.
Foreign & Domestic.
Raymond Thompson/Eater Austin

Home Slice Pizza

501 E 53rd St, Austin, TX 78751

The smell of garlic permeates the entire block around the second location of the popular local New York-style pizzeria. The North Loop location of the South Congress original has a larger menu with wings, thick Sicilian-style pies, and a full bar, in addition to slices and whole pies. The pizzeria is open for indoor and outdoor dining and takeout. Order online.

501 E 53rd St, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 707-7437
(512) 707-7437
A pizza slice with pepperoni slices on it on a paper plate.
A pepperoni slice from Home Slice.
Home Slice/Facebook

Bistro Vonish

701 E 53rd St, Austin, TX 78751

Fancy vegan food truck Bistro Vonish has everything from mac and cheese to a barbecue sandwich to a truly excellent chocolate pie. There are also kolaches and cinnamon rolls for weekend brunch. The truck requires online ordering for takeout or patio dining services.

701 E 53rd St, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 579-9854
(512) 579-9854
Three plates of food, one with a sandwich and pickle slices, another with a sandich, and another with food.
The tofu sandwich at Bistro Vonish.
Bistro Vonish/Facebook

Zucchini Kill Bakery

701 E 53rd St Suite C, Austin, TX 78751

Vegan bakeshop Zucchini Kill is known for its many flavors of cupcakes, from chocolate caramel to goji lemon lavender. There’s also a full array of baked goods like doughnuts, coffee cake, cookies, and more, plus a rad retail space with cards, tinctures, and witchy goods. Look for the custom hearse outside. The bakery is open for takeout and delivery. Order online.

701 E 53rd St Suite C, Austin, TX 78751
(737) 215-5936
(737) 215-5936
Three cupcakes with white frosting with pink spots.
Cupcakes from Zucchini Kill Bakery.
Zucchini Kill Bakery/Facebook

Komé

5301 Airport Blvd #100, Austin, TX 78751

Okay, so the casual sushi restaurant Komé is technically temporarily closed right now as it gears up to reopen its dining room, but it has a reputation as one of the best in the city, with both traditional and creative rolls, like the Stardust Cowboy roll with hanger steak, shrimp tempura, asparagus, spinach, candied jalapeños, tomatoes and avocado. Komé also serves bento boxes and donburi bowls, and is currently home to Daruma Ramen. Takeout only, order online (but reopening for dine-in very soon).

5301 Airport Blvd #100, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 712-5700
(512) 712-5700

Jewboy Burgers

5111 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78751

Jewboy chef and owner Mo Pittle uses his Jewish and El Paso heritage to create a comforting menu with burgers topped with hatch chili queso, latkes, crispy onion rings, and more. The restaurant is open for indoor and outdoor dining and takeout. Order online.

5111 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 291-3358
(512) 291-3358

Vamonos

4807 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78751

The Tex-Mex restaurant from local hospitality group Parkside Projects has great enchiladas, margaritas, and skirt steaks grilled over Texas oak. The restaurant is open for indoor and outdoor dining and takeout. Order online.

4807 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 474-2029
(512) 474-2029
A plate of cheesy enchiladas and rice.
A dish from Vamonos.
Hayden Walker

Related Maps

The Omelettry

4631 Airport Blvd # 131A, Austin, TX 78751

This old-school diner is the place to go in the neighborhood for fluffy pancakes, a bacon-filled BLT, omelettes, and other brunch options. The Omelettry is the kind of place where sandwiches are less than $10, thick with filling, come with soup, and taste great. The restaurant is open for indoor dining and takeout. Order online.

4631 Airport Blvd # 131A, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 453-5062
(512) 453-5062

Related Maps