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Plates of pancakes.
Breakfast galore from Magnolia Cafe.
Magnolia Cafe/Facebook

Where to Eat and Drink on South Congress

Find coffee, sushi, barbecue, tacos, and wine along one of Austin's main streets

by Nadia Chaudhury Updated
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Breakfast galore from Magnolia Cafe.
| Magnolia Cafe/Facebook
by Nadia Chaudhury Updated

South Austin’s main artery is South Congress Avenue, sandwiched between Travis Heights and Bouldin Creek. It’s where crowds of Austinites and tourists weave in and out of restaurants, high-end boutiques, and disappearing vintage stores, taking in that straight-on view of the Texas State Capitol.

And, more importantly, everyone’s going to want to eat and drink. With that in mind, Eater presents its neighborhood guide to South Congress. This map features spots for coffee, breakfast, brunch, tacos, and drinks, and even a music venue-slash-bar (hello, Continental Club). There are longtime establishments like ideal diner Magnolia Cafe, and New York-style pizzeria Home Slice, to comparatively more recent openings like neighborhood wine destination June’s, pastry-filled cafe Manana, and new-school barbecue from LeRoy & Lewis. Alas, dive bar Crow Bar is still temporarily closed because of fire damage last fall.

For the purposes of this map, this guide focuses only on businesses located right on or near South Congress Avenue until it hits highways 290 and 71, straddling the line between the Travis Heights and Bouldin Creek neighborhoods. Check out Eater Austin’s other neighborhood dining guides too.

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Taco Joint

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Yes, this taco restaurant is technically not on South Congress, but you’d be remiss to miss the food from the campus spot's second location. Find simple breakfast tacos, lunchtime ones, and tortas. To-go orders can be placed online or in person; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

134 E Riverside Dr, Austin, TX 78704

Also featured in:

Lucky Robot

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Excellent and thoughtful sushi can be found on South Congress at this Japanese restaurant. Chef Jay Huang focuses on sustainable and responsible sourcing. To-go orders can be placed online or in person, DoorDash deliveries are available, and there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

1303 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 444-8081
(512) 444-8081

Also featured in:

The Continental Club

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Duck into the famed Continental Club for a no-frills dive with cheap beer and music. The bar is open for indoor services.

1315 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 441-2444
(512) 441-2444

Perla's Seafood and Oyster Bar

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For a fanciful brunch, the South Congress seafood restaurant’s hearty menu does justice to the meal with lobster omelets and crab Florentine, plus other dishes like brioche French toast and daily pastries. The patio serves as a prime people-watching spot. The restaurant is open for indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

1400 S Congress Ave Ste B100, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 291-7300
(512) 291-7300
A restaurant patio.
The patio of Perla’s.
Perla’s

Also featured in:

Home Slice

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Home Slice is one of Austin’s pizza pioneers, dishing up New York-style pies, garlic rolls, and reliable subs. If you can’t grab a table at the restaurant proper, duck next door to More Home Slice for pizza to-go. Orders can be placed online or in person and there are indoor and outdoor seating available.

1415 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 444-7437
(512) 444-7437

Little Brother Coffee & Kolaches

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One of Rainey Street’s best bars opened a new location on South Congress sans alcohol. The focus is well-made coffee and delightful kolaches. To-go orders can be placed in person via the walk-up window or online; there is outdoor seating available.

1512 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

Also featured in:

Mañana

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For another caffeine source, head straight to the South Congress hotel coffee shop where Superthing beans are brewed up, pairing along nicely with baked goods like the kouign amanns, everything kolaches, and macarons. To-go orders can be placed in person; there are both indoor and outdoor dining areas.

1603 South Congress Avenue, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 872-3144
(512) 872-3144

Also featured in:

Vespaio

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When all you want is a dependable bowl of pasta, longtime Italian restaurant Vespaio answers the call with cacio e pepe, tagliatelle, and more. To-go orders can be placed online; the restaurant is open for indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

1610 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 441-6100
(512) 441-6100

Also featured in:

June's

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Find a thorough wine list at South Congress restaurant June’s, the thoughtfully curated menu spans continents and types. To-go orders can be placed online; the restaurant is open for indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

1722 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

Also featured in:

Magnolia Cafe

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For day and night needs, Magnolia dishes out its hangover-curing fare. Alas, keep in mind it’s no longer 24 hours, but still, you can’t go wrong with an order of the Mag Mud. To-go orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dining areas.

1920 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 445-0000
(512) 445-0000

Also featured in:

The Meteor

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For easy cafe fare ranging from breakfast sandwiches to bowls to pizza, plus nice wines and cafe, look no further than the Meteor. Takeout orders can be placed in person; there are indoor and outdoor dining areas.

2110 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 351-9541
(512) 351-9541

Also featured in:

Teal House Coffee and Bakery

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Oh-so-excellent fluffy, gooey cinnamon rolls can be found at this South Congress bakery. To-go orders can be placed online or in person. There are indoor dining areas.

2304 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

Poke-Poke

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Excellent casual poke can be found at the Austin branch of the Venice Beach, California-based Hawaiian dish restaurant. The small or large bowls come packed with marinated raw fish (ahi tuna, shiso salmon), rice, vegetables, and more. Plus there are wine and beer. To-go orders can be placed online; there are DoorDash deliveries; there are outdoor tables available.

3100 South Congress Avenue a, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 814-1032
(512) 814-1032

Leroy & Lewis Barbecue

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One of Austin’s best barbecue truck is found at Cosmic Coffee & Beer Garden grounds. Pitmaster Evan LeRoy mixes up old-school and new-school smoked meats, from pulled whole hog to avocados stuffed with barbacoa. There are indoor and outdoor dining areas.

121 Pickle Rd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 945-9882
(512) 945-9882

Also featured in:

Little Drinks Lounge

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East Austin bar Drinks Lounge opened a South Austin outpost on South Congress, offering easy cocktails, beers, shots, and vibes. There are indoor and patio dine-in areas.

3801 S Congress Ave Suite 116, Austin, TX 78704

Also featured in:

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Taste of Ethiopia

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South Congress thankfully houses the second location of the Ethiopian restaurant. Expect meaty and vegetarian-friendly stews like doro wot (chicken with berbere spices) and yemisir wot (slow-cooked lentils), all served atop wonderfully spongy injera bread. The restaurant is open for indoor dine-in services.

3801 S Congress Ave #107, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 814-3141
(512) 814-3141

El Borrego de Oro

Copy Link

Mexican breakfasts, lunches, and dinners can be found over at Borrego de Oro, with excellent enchiladas, crispy tacos, and caldos. To-go orders can be placed in person; the restaurant is open for indoor dine-in services.

3900 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

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Taco Joint

134 E Riverside Dr, Austin, TX 78704

Yes, this taco restaurant is technically not on South Congress, but you’d be remiss to miss the food from the campus spot's second location. Find simple breakfast tacos, lunchtime ones, and tortas. To-go orders can be placed online or in person; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

134 E Riverside Dr, Austin, TX 78704

Lucky Robot

1303 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

Excellent and thoughtful sushi can be found on South Congress at this Japanese restaurant. Chef Jay Huang focuses on sustainable and responsible sourcing. To-go orders can be placed online or in person, DoorDash deliveries are available, and there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

1303 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 444-8081
(512) 444-8081

The Continental Club

1315 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

Duck into the famed Continental Club for a no-frills dive with cheap beer and music. The bar is open for indoor services.

1315 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 441-2444
(512) 441-2444

Perla's Seafood and Oyster Bar

1400 S Congress Ave Ste B100, Austin, TX 78704

For a fanciful brunch, the South Congress seafood restaurant’s hearty menu does justice to the meal with lobster omelets and crab Florentine, plus other dishes like brioche French toast and daily pastries. The patio serves as a prime people-watching spot. The restaurant is open for indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

1400 S Congress Ave Ste B100, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 291-7300
(512) 291-7300
A restaurant patio.
The patio of Perla’s.
Perla’s

Home Slice

1415 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

Home Slice is one of Austin’s pizza pioneers, dishing up New York-style pies, garlic rolls, and reliable subs. If you can’t grab a table at the restaurant proper, duck next door to More Home Slice for pizza to-go. Orders can be placed online or in person and there are indoor and outdoor seating available.

1415 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 444-7437
(512) 444-7437

Little Brother Coffee & Kolaches

1512 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

One of Rainey Street’s best bars opened a new location on South Congress sans alcohol. The focus is well-made coffee and delightful kolaches. To-go orders can be placed in person via the walk-up window or online; there is outdoor seating available.

1512 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

Mañana

1603 South Congress Avenue, Austin, TX 78704

For another caffeine source, head straight to the South Congress hotel coffee shop where Superthing beans are brewed up, pairing along nicely with baked goods like the kouign amanns, everything kolaches, and macarons. To-go orders can be placed in person; there are both indoor and outdoor dining areas.

1603 South Congress Avenue, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 872-3144
(512) 872-3144

Vespaio

1610 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

When all you want is a dependable bowl of pasta, longtime Italian restaurant Vespaio answers the call with cacio e pepe, tagliatelle, and more. To-go orders can be placed online; the restaurant is open for indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

1610 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 441-6100
(512) 441-6100

June's

1722 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

Find a thorough wine list at South Congress restaurant June’s, the thoughtfully curated menu spans continents and types. To-go orders can be placed online; the restaurant is open for indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

1722 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

Magnolia Cafe

1920 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

For day and night needs, Magnolia dishes out its hangover-curing fare. Alas, keep in mind it’s no longer 24 hours, but still, you can’t go wrong with an order of the Mag Mud. To-go orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dining areas.

1920 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 445-0000
(512) 445-0000

The Meteor

2110 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

For easy cafe fare ranging from breakfast sandwiches to bowls to pizza, plus nice wines and cafe, look no further than the Meteor. Takeout orders can be placed in person; there are indoor and outdoor dining areas.

2110 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 351-9541
(512) 351-9541

Teal House Coffee and Bakery

2304 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

Oh-so-excellent fluffy, gooey cinnamon rolls can be found at this South Congress bakery. To-go orders can be placed online or in person. There are indoor dining areas.

2304 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

Poke-Poke

3100 South Congress Avenue a, Austin, TX 78704

Excellent casual poke can be found at the Austin branch of the Venice Beach, California-based Hawaiian dish restaurant. The small or large bowls come packed with marinated raw fish (ahi tuna, shiso salmon), rice, vegetables, and more. Plus there are wine and beer. To-go orders can be placed online; there are DoorDash deliveries; there are outdoor tables available.

3100 South Congress Avenue a, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 814-1032
(512) 814-1032

Leroy & Lewis Barbecue

121 Pickle Rd, Austin, TX 78704

One of Austin’s best barbecue truck is found at Cosmic Coffee & Beer Garden grounds. Pitmaster Evan LeRoy mixes up old-school and new-school smoked meats, from pulled whole hog to avocados stuffed with barbacoa. There are indoor and outdoor dining areas.

121 Pickle Rd, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 945-9882
(512) 945-9882

Little Drinks Lounge

3801 S Congress Ave Suite 116, Austin, TX 78704

East Austin bar Drinks Lounge opened a South Austin outpost on South Congress, offering easy cocktails, beers, shots, and vibes. There are indoor and patio dine-in areas.

3801 S Congress Ave Suite 116, Austin, TX 78704

Related Maps

Taste of Ethiopia

3801 S Congress Ave #107, Austin, TX 78704

South Congress thankfully houses the second location of the Ethiopian restaurant. Expect meaty and vegetarian-friendly stews like doro wot (chicken with berbere spices) and yemisir wot (slow-cooked lentils), all served atop wonderfully spongy injera bread. The restaurant is open for indoor dine-in services.

3801 S Congress Ave #107, Austin, TX 78704
(512) 814-3141
(512) 814-3141

El Borrego de Oro

3900 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

Mexican breakfasts, lunches, and dinners can be found over at Borrego de Oro, with excellent enchiladas, crispy tacos, and caldos. To-go orders can be placed in person; the restaurant is open for indoor dine-in services.

3900 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

Related Maps