A dark gray plate of tinned sardines, a row of crackers, and a half-lemon on an orange table. — Tinned sardines, crackers, and a half-lemon at LoLo

Where to Indulge in Tinned Seafood in Austin

Sardines, anchovies, mackerel, and tuna galore

by Nadia Chaudhury Feb 16, 2022, 2:47pm CST

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Tinned sardines, crackers, and a half-lemon at LoLo

| Nadia Chaudhury/Eater Austin

by Nadia Chaudhury Feb 16, 2022, 2:47pm CST

Tinned seafood: such a simple treat and yet so very great. Nothing beats excellent fish or shellfish served from an opened tin can — often marinated in delicious oils, salty brine, drenched in tomato sauce, or spiced with pickled peppers — paired with simple crackers and/or thick slices of baguettes. Squeeze some lemon, add a glass of wine, and you’re set.

With that in mind, here are the best Austin restaurants offering tinned seafood, from East Austin wine bar LoLo, barbecue joint La Barbecue, to Italian cafe Uncle Nicky’s. The tins themselves run the gamut of sardines to oysters to mackerel to tuna to octopus to cockerels, sourced from Portugal and Spain (where they’re referred to as conservas), France, coastal America, and elsewhere.

As with all businesses right now, be sure to call ahead to make sure each restaurant is still open or if there are updates on current offerings and service models, as things are changing constantly. Be sure to wear a mask, tip well, and, if you’re ordering delivery, try to order directly from the restaurant themselves.

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.

Uncle Nicky's Italian Specialties

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The Italian cafe with two locations (the other on West 11th Street) features olive-oil cured sardines with Ritz crackers, with the option to add some focaccia (do it). Takeout orders can be placed online; both restaurants are open for dine-in services with outdoor areas available.

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4222 Duval St, Austin, TX 78751

(512) 318-2877

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LoLo

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The East Sixth wine bar is the ideal location to nibble on tinned fish (often a choice of either tuna or sardines) with half-a-lemon and saltines plus a glass of preferably white natural wine of your choice. The patio is open for on-site services.

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1504 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702

(512) 906-0053

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Salt & Time Wine Shop

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The East Austin butcher shop’s two-doors-down wine bar embraces the tinned fish-wine combination. Tinned fish — such as octopus or sardines — are paired with a charred half-lemon and green salsa. The patio is open for on-site services.

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1912 E 7th St #D, Austin, TX 78702

(512) 524-1383

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Tinned sardines in a blue container with fish on it on a wooden board. — Tinned sardines at Salt & Time Wine Shop.

La Barbecue

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The East Austin barbecue restaurant’s deli offers a fun twist to its tinned fish presentation. The tinned fish is paired with pickle relish, horseradish mayonnaise, mustard, a pile of dill, and a giant sleeve of Ritz crackers. Orders are placed in person; there are both indoor and outdoor seating available.

2401 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702

(512) 605-9696

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A tray lined with butcher paper with a tin of tuna, deli cups of white sauce, pickle relish, and yellow mustard, a sleeve of crackers, and a pile of green dill leaves. — The tinned fish board (with tuna) from La Barbecue.

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The Meteor

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The South Congress cafe offers a build-your-own tinned fish adventure, where people can pick out their tinned seafood of choice (ranging from octopus, oysters, sardines, to tuna), and pair it with cheeses, crackers, olives, and sauces. To-go orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dining areas.