Serving up the Vibes: East Austin’s Best Restaurants 2023 Edition
Ingredients that make up Austin’s best restaurants
Words by Jessi Devenyns Photos by Baptiste Despois & Brittany Dawn Short
Dining out in East Austin is a journey that takes Austinites through a kaleidoscope of ingredients, regions, and collaborations. But what makes a destination memorable? Often, it is the vibe spun from an indescribable combination of good conversation, mouthwatering food, and a remarkable atmosphere. After all, part of the experience of dining in a restaurant is the feeling of being far away from home, where senses are transported on rounds of conversation and flavor. But it can be difficult to strike the right balance of those essential ingredients. East Austin has more than a few places that have struck that balance and are notable for their ability to offer a good time, anytime.
When Worlds Collide: Kemuri Tatsu-ya
The decor, the drinks, and the food all work hard to defy classification at Kemuri Tatsu-ya. A bricolage of horns and license plates collide with Japanese bar signs, alluding to a concept described by Director of Culinary Development, Clinton Kendall, as the “Texas roadhouse dive bar slash Japanese samurai movie.” Contrast this visual tidal wave with a thumping background of beats and a crescendo of chatter, and it’s apparent that this izakaya is fueled equally by food, drinks, and fun.
An izakaya, Clinton explains, is “the Japanese version of what you would call a gastropub: a place where you get great food and great drinks.” And both the food and drink menus here are uniquely loud in their flavor profiles. Continue reading here…
Asian Flair
Old Thousand
New rules about flavors wrap up this traditional cuisine in an atmosphere that ‘Shanghais’ the senses and defines the cozy relationship of kitsch and elegance that this re-imagined Chinese restaurant cultivates.
1000 E 11th St., Ste. 150 | oldthousandatx.com
1618 Asian Fusion
Can’t decide what sort of Asian food to indulge in? Head to 1618 Asian Fusion for an array of Vietnamese, Thai, Chinese, Singaporean, and Southeast Asian foods under the tall ceilings and flowing atmosphere that define this unique space.
1618 E Riverside Dr. (AMLI South Shore) | 1618asianfusion.com
Ramen Tatsu-Ya
A far cry from the packaged powder sold in a grocery store, the multi-layered broth is the foundation onto which noodles and toppings are added, each step adding to the savory complexity that is a bowl of ramen. Follow house rules and try eating these delectable noodle bowls with chopsticks.
1600 E 6th St. | ramen-tatsuya.com
For the Family: Home Slice
Stepping into Home Slice on East 53rd Street has the feeling of walking into a traditional New York pizzeria, except that the familiar authenticity of red vinyl booths and checkered tablecloths is punctuated by graffiti art, an eclectic collection of artifacts, and ‘80s rock references. But rather than overwhelming, the result is playfully irreverent.
Yet, that irreverence doesn’t translate to the menu, which reflects traditional New York options like pizza margherita, eggplant pie, meatball subs, and Greek salads served with complimentary garlic knots. It turns out that there are rules to creating an authentic slice of NY-style pizza, which Home Slice partner/owner Jeff Mettler says should be “a little bit larger than the old-school paper plate that it sits on.” Continue reading here…
Experiential Spaces
Barrel O’ Fun
Sure, Austin might not have a real boardwalk to wander down, but there is Barrel O’ Fun. Everything from the painted posters to the lightbulb-lit signs is reminiscent of the vintage carnivals of yesteryear. But when the lights go down, the real fun begins. The “R-E-L” burns out on all the signs, and suddenly the space transforms into the Bar O’Fun for a relaxed adult vibe.
1911 Aldrich St., Ste. 120B | barrelofunatx.com
Antonelli’s Cheese Shop
A trip to Antonelli’s is a guided tasting excursion through a world of cheese. Soft-ripened or firm? Cow or goat? The choices are numerous, and combinations are endless when one considers the accompaniments available to create a cheese board worthy of the dairy obsessed. If you still don’t know what to pick, sign up for one of the shop’s cheese education classes.
4220 Duval St. | antonellischeese.com
Birdie’s
Think of this small space like a cafeteria where patrons can order a blue plate special served on mismatched plates with paper napkins, except the food is decidedly upscale. The only catch? It’s counter service and first-come, first-serve. No reservations are taken, so make sure to arrive early. Keep an eye on their social media to catch Birdie’s during one of their pop-up events, like the beloved Aiello’s, where both the menu and the restaurant itself transform into a temporary new concept.
2944 E 12th St., Unit A | birdiesaustin.com
An Eastside Classic: Hillside Farmacy
Hillside Farmacy’s shaded windows look out onto East 11th Street where passersby amble along the sidewalk, occasionally glancing into the historic interior of this neighborhood establishment. Many enter through the historic wooden double-doors that have swung on their hinges for generations.
What is today a restaurant featuring farm-to-table fare was formerly a po’boy shop, a barber shop, a bookstore and, before that, hints the name, a drugstore owned and operated by Doc Young, one of the first African American pharmacists in Austin. His descendants still own the building and live right down the street, but two other families run this neighborhood eatery that has served Austin for 11 years now. Continue reading here…
Low Key Lounges
Skinny’s Off Track Bar
Break out the bellbottoms and get comfortable on mustard-colored bar stools surrounded by wood-paneled walls. Skinny’s is a throwback to 1970’s off-track betting parlors. And while betting is not on the menu, there are multiple televisions airing a variety of sports to go with the bar bites served from the trailer out back.
1806 E 12th St. | skinnysotb.com
High Noon
Thirsty patrons know the low-key appeal of a well-stocked bar in a converted house. High Noon delivers with a twist. This bar oozes George Jetson vibes mixed with Old West through its wood-lined walls, mirrored tables, and colorfully tiled ceilings. Add in velvet-lined booths, a sleek fireplace, a mirror behind the bar, and the crafty cocktail options suddenly seem endless. Read more about High Noon here.
2000 E Cesar Chavez St. / highnoonaustin.com
Southern Soul
Sawyer & Co.
Southern food is comfort food, and Sawyer & Co. is committed to bringing the feeling of home to all aspects of the dining experience by using a playful marriage of Louisiana cooking and Texas hospitality. Even the patio begs patrons to sit down and have a bit of fun with its retro turfed walkways and an obstacle course of mid-century patio furniture.
4827 E Cesar Chavez St. | sawyerand.co
Jacoby’s Restaurant & Mercantile
The industrial façade of this ranch-to-table restaurant hides a rustic interior replete with vintage details, like original brick from Melvin’s town square and reclaimed pipe from the family ranch. A rustic patio overlooks the Colorado River which is the perfect place to sip the summer away.
3235 E Cesar Chavez St. | jacobysaustin.com
Launderette
The hint is in the name of this reimagined laundromat. Approachable and playful, the food here is the culinary equivalent of a soft spring day. Full of color and bright flavor, the wall of windows brings the outside in, making this a perfect place to enjoy the tastes of the season.
2115 Holly St. | launderetteaustin.com
Sensory Overload: Gabriela’s
In 2018, when Gabby Bucio first began hunting for the perfect space for Gabriela’s Downtown – the original location of her soon-to-become hospitality empire – she kept passing over a house on the hill. “It was painted black, and it wasn’t well-kept, so I kept ignoring it,” she remembers. Then one day, she and her brother, Arturo Bucio, “skipped the fence, and we saw the view and fell in love with it.”
That regal view of downtown begs to be photographed, and it’s not uncommon to see diners snapping photos of themselves against the sky-lined patio while indulging in one of Gabriela’s imaginative micheladas filled with fruity paletas. However, on the weekends, Gabby recommends adding birria tacos to the order. She explains, “They’re really good tacos that come with a consomé for dipping.” For the uninitiated, a consomé is a thick broth that is not only essential for adding a layer of flavor, but it also enhances the texture of these indulgent tacos which, according to Gabby, many Mexican families grow up enjoying. Continue reading here…
Make it Mexican
Suerte
Good luck finding something that is less than delicious here. Known for its masa, the menu balances sun and earth flavors, while the atmosphere reflects the sunny dispositions of central Mexico.
1800 E 6th St.| suerteatx.com
De Nada Cantina
You’re welcome to try tacos anywhere in Austin, but De Nada has an open-aired Mayan Rivera atmosphere like none other. Not only are the tortillas pressed and cooked by hand on the comal and the margaritas are fresh, but it can also all be eaten under the verdant canopy of a greenhouse filled with a variety of tropical flavors.
4715 E Cesar Chavez St. | denadacantina.com
Este
Este makes waves with its menu: a seafood-forward concept celebrating Mexican cuisine, charcoal cooking, and masa. The coastal colors of vibrant cocktails and the drama of a seafood tower are complemented well by the restaurant’s breezy ambiance and brightly-tiled tables.
2113 Manor Rd. | esteatx.com
Grizzelda’s
Colorful chic is the theme at Grizzelda’s, and this aesthetic is readily apparent in the shareable bites served on eye-catching dishes that make the presentation almost too good to eat. But don’t just photograph the beauty here, taste it too.
105 Tillery St. | grizzeldas.com
Cisco’s
Since 1950, Cisco’s has been a community staple serving up traditional migas and warm biscuits to regulars, as well as celebrities like LBJ, Willie Nelson, and Darrell Royal. However, the celebrity of this old Austin diner has not altered the homey feel that radiates from the vinyl-topped stools to the simple dining tables that are as home-style as the menu.
1511 E 6th St. | ciscosaustin.com
Always Lavish Lutie’s
Luscious is how one could sum up a dining experience at Lutie’s. From the atmosphere to the service to the food, this small space, filled with sumptuous banquettes, vibrant color, clinking glasses, and heady kitchen scents, is in a league of its own.
One may be forgiven for anticipating a menu as lavish as the interior. While the dishes are decadently layered with flavor, they are built on a principle of simplicity. “Bradley’s style of cooking has a lot of intense flavors, but it’s also very simply presented. It just has more behind-the-scenes stuff going on,” pastry chef Susana Querejazu shares about her husband, chef Bradley Nicholson. Continue reading here…
