A restaurant with a car hop service. — Top Notch.

12 Low-Key and Fun Valentine’s Day Dining Options in Austin

Avoid all of the lovey-dovey stuff

by Nadia Chaudhury Updated Feb 7, 2023, 3:37pm CST

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Top Notch.

| Top Notch

by Nadia Chaudhury Updated Feb 7, 2023, 3:37pm CST

Yes, Valentine’s Day is one of the worst dining days of the year. The so-called romantic holiday just entails costly bills and a forced amorous atmosphere. But, hey, a person still has to eat, and if you’re looking for casual dining options on Tuesday, February 14, without having to shell out a bunch of money for prix fixe menus, dreaded aphrodisiacs, and being inundated with red and pink everywhere, Eater has you covered.

Here are Austin’s best low-key picks for Valentine’s Day. Avoid the greeting card holiday with bowling and burgers at Westgate Lanes and Slab BBQ, Korean barbecue from Honey Pig, tacos from Las Trancas, noodle soup bowls from Sazan Ramen, and more.

Looking for more places to avoid the day? There are dive bars, karaoke bars, food trucks, and bars with good activities and games. If dining out is absolutely necessary on Valentine’s day, scope out Eater’s picks and suggestions for dinners and the such.

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.

Honey Pig BBQ Austin

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DIY Korean barbecue is fun and delicious. The restaurant is open for dine-in services.

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11301 Lakeline Blvd unit 7, Austin, TX 78717

(512) 358-1307

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Top Notch Hamburgers

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Instead of breaking bread, why not break fried chicken together, especially with car hop services? Takeout and delivery orders can be placed online. The restaurant is open for dine-in services.

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7525 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78757

(512) 452-2181

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Tumble 22

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Fact: chicken tenders make for the perfect meal, and the Austin fried chicken mini-chain is the place to go for tenders. Takeout orders can be placed online, and there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

7211 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78757

(512) 520-1998

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Sazan Ramen

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Slurp down delicious bowls of ramen from the Highland Japanese restaurant. Takeout orders can be placed online; there are deliveries; and there are indoor dine-in services.

6929 Airport Blvd #146, Austin, TX 78752

(512) 432-5474

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The Omelettry

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For daytime plans, look no further than the classic Austin diner. Takeout orders can be placed online or over the phone. The restaurant is open for indoor dine-in services.

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4631 Airport Blvd # 131A, Austin, TX 78751

(512) 453-5062

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Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant

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Sharing at the campus Ethiopian restaurant works best with two or more dishes, so order sharable meats, vegetables, and spongy injera. Takeout orders can be placed online, and there are indoor dine-in services.

2804 N Interstate Hwy 35, Austin, TX 78705

(512) 469-5966

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Fareground

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Mix up the meal through the array of restaurants at the downtown food hall — dumplings, noodle soups, pita sandwiches, burgers, French baguette sandwiches, tacos, and drinks. Takeout orders can be placed online; there are indoor dine-in services.

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111 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701

(512) 465-2107

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Las Trancas

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Tacos make for great meals and the East Austin truck’s menu is delicious and affordable. Takeout orders can be placed in person; there are outdoor tables for on-site dining.

1210 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702

(512) 701-8287

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Whataburger

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Perfect easy meal: drive-thru burgers and honey butter chicken biscuits.

601 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704

(512) 477-9586

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Jack Allen's Kitchen

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Avoid the downtown mess by heading to the Oak Hill location of the Texas restaurant mini-chain, to load up on everything from the chicken fried-anything to the green chile pork queso. Wash everything down with many many different types of margaritas. Takeout orders can be placed online. The restaurants are open for indoor and outdoor dine-in services.