J Mueller BBQ: Hit The Pit

Texas is one of the country’s big destinations for barbecue, with a beef-centric menu and some serious slow-cooked flavor. The Hill Country is rife with barbecue joints, but locals will almost unanimously recommend J Mueller in Austin. Owner John Mueller hails from a barbecue dynasty in Taylor, Texas – his grandfather Louie’s restaurant is internationally known as one of the temples of Texas ‘cue. It took a lot for John to set out on his own, but he quickly found success in Austin. His business has had some ups and downs since then, but since opening the new location in Austin’s Bouldin Creek neighborhood, things have been looking up for Mueller. And for good reason – this is incredible barbecue, perfectly tender and flavorful. The brisket here is the meal of choice, and it’s done up as well as you can possibly do it. Beef ribs and sausage are also quite good. Note that this place has become a little more popular since it was profiled on Anthony Bourdain’s TV show.

J Mueller BBQ
1502 S. 1st Street
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 229-7366
http://www.yelp.com/biz/jmueller-bbq-austin

Beer Reigns at Black Sheep Lodge

South Austin's Black Sheep Lodge offers for good pub food, fun atmosphere, and cheap drinks.  There are bar specials every night of the week — including $2 cans like Lone Star and PBR tallboys on Friday and Saturday. You can catch the game on Sunday on one of their 20 TVs, while enjoying $2 off pitchers with friends. There are 26 beers on tap and over 100 bottles to choose from. Although beer is the heart of this establishment, don’t overlook the food — the menu features burgers and sandwiches with better taste and cheaper prices than most pub grub. Regulars love the “Little Stinkers Sliders” — garlic and beef patties topped with gorgonzola butter and mixed greens. If you’re in the mood to snack, the cheese curds are highly recommended, as are the fried pickles. The large outdoor patio is dog friendly.

Black Sheep Lodge
2108 S. Lamar Boulevard
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 707-2744
www.yelp.com/biz/black-sheep-lodge-austin

Man Bites Dog: Not Your Typical Hot Dog Stand!

Warning: this is not your typical hot dog stand! 

Man Bites Dog is South Austin’s hot dog hot spot, where signature franks are 1/5th of a pound.  The ingredients are fresh and flavorful, and you won’t find any boring buns here — they’re fluffy, sweet brioche that hold up the the mountains of toppings. The menu features inventive wieners like the Danger Dog — bacon wrapped, topped with jalapeños, hot sauce, and cotija cheese.  And, its not only beef franks on the menu; the Bruschetta Dog, for example, is made with Italian chicken sausage. These dogs are a full meal at a great price. (Smaller dogs are available for those that want a lighter snack.) There are even vegetarian franks, vegan chili, and gluten-free buns.

Man Bites Dog
3005 S. Lamar Boulevard
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 215-0422
www.yelp.com/biz/man-bites-dog-austin-4

Wholly Cow: Grab a Great Burger

Nestled inside the ZEN Food Mart Convenience Store, Wholly Cow Burgers is a purveyor of food that uses local, organic, and hormone & chemical free grass-fed beef. It's a high quality ingredient that, along with the local, organic produce used here, makes for some really wonderful food. The menu consists of several burger combinations as well as some classic beef and chicken sandwiches like the reuben and club. There are vegetarian options, too! Wholly Cow is also open for breakfast, where you'll find a nice selection of breakfast tacos in addition to french toast and some great breakfast sandwiches. A great thing about the location is that the store where it's located also has other great items like fresh fruit and produce, and a wide selection of wine and beer. That's quality and convenience!

Wholly Cow
3010 S. Lamar Boulevard
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 394-8156
http://www.yelp.com/biz/wholly-cow-austin

Dine in Grand Style at Austin’s Green Pastures

Dubbed the “Grande Dame of Austin Restaurants" by the Austin Chronicle, Green Pastures offers a majestic dining experience on the grounds of a restored southern mansion in South Austin. Dining rooms are decorated with elegance, featuring antiques and fine china. You can enjoy a picturesque view of the grounds including stately live oaks, and peacocks that roam the property. The menu offers elegant French-inspired entrees with a southern twist, like pecan salmon with lobster bread pudding.  

Sunday Brunch at Green Pastures is a step into a better, more elegant world. Be sure to try their milk punch, which tastes like spiked vanilla ice cream. White linen service is friendly and top-notch, with customers swearing that the food is just as good as the atmosphere. This is THE place for an elegant special occasion meal — be sure to make a reservations.

Green Pastures
811 W. Live Oak Street
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 444-4747
www.yelp.com/biz/green-pastures-restaurant-austin

Regal Ravioli: Fit For a King

Don’t let the food truck fool you — South Austin's Regal Ravioli is fit for a king.

It serves homemade ravioli and gnocchi made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients.  The small menu is packed with flavor, like roasted beet caramelized onion and orange zest ravioli, or spicy sausage and bell peppers ravioli.  Their sauces won’t let you down either; lamb bolognese, pecan pesto … it's all fresh, it's all good. The individual raviolis are huge, but they're so good that you'll be left wanting more!  Food is made to order — even the ravioli stuffing — so the wait might be a bit longer than a typical food truck. But it's worth it. Oh, it's worth it.

Note: Regal Ravioli only serves dinner. And it does so well.

Regal Ravioli
504 West Oltorf Street
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 364-9752
www.yelp.com/biz/regal-ravioli-austin

Holy Cacao Is For Chocolate Lovers

Holy Cacao is Austin's sweetest food truck, a chocolate lover’s dream featuring cake balls, shakes and chocolate drinks. Their version of cake balls are unique; the fresh cake is crumbled and mixed with frosting shaped into a ball and is then dipped into chocolate to form a shell.  There are several flavors to choose from including red velvet and carrot cake. The trailer also serves cake shakes that whirl their cake into traditional vanilla or chocolate shakes.  Holy Cocao is also known for their flavorful chocolate drinks – either hot or frozen – made with 65% chocolate for a creamy and rich treat. Their Mexican Chocolate is pleasantly spiced with ancho chile, cinnamon and cayenne. If you're a chocolate lover, or need a gift for someone who is, head to Holy Cocao for a sweet treat. 

Holy Cacao (in South Austin Trailer Park & Eatery)
1311 S. 1st Street
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 851-2253
www.yelp.com/biz/holy-cacao-austin

El Mesón: Savor Exceptional Mexican Cuisine

With an accessible menu of authentic and traditional Mexican dishes, El Mesón is a great spot to dine out without breaking the bank. The food here is as authentic as it comes, with many of the dishes springing from old family recipes. Incredible incarnations of classic Mexican dishes like moles and fajitas are lovingly prepared and sent out in very filling portions. If you're coming in hungry, make sure that you start out with some chips and the unbelievable guacamole. Of course, any regular will also tell you that El Mesón will make you one of the best breakfast tacos you've ever had. El Mesón is one of those places where any time is the right time to come. Make sure that you try the food of this incredible gem, and experience its amazing Mexican creations for yourself.

El Mesón
5808 Burleson Road
Austin, TX 78744
(512) 416-0749
http://www.yelp.com/biz/el-meson-austin

Austin’s Best for Japanese Food: Uchi and Uchiko

Don’t let the quaint cottage exterior of Uchi fool you. This contemporary Japanese dining and sushi restaurant is anything but quaint. The interior of this popular restaurant—with chef Tyson Cole at the helm—is striking, with bright red patterned wallpaper, and crisp, wooden lanterns hanging from a reflective ceiling. Enjoy the freshest of ingredients available—seafood is flown in daily from the Tsukiji market in Tokyo—while enjoying local tastes; the restaurant uses local seasonal ingredients and keeps a close relationship with local farmers. Open seven days a week beginning at 5 p.m., Uchi accepts a limited number of reservations each night.

And don't miss Uchi's newer sister restaurant, Uchiko, a warm, charming take on Japanese cuisine, set in a rustic farmhouse. This follow up eatery to Uchi also serves the freshest in Japanese cuisine, and plenty of seating capacity—Uchiko accepts both reservations and walk-ins alike.

Uchi
801 South Lamar
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 916-4808

Uchiko
4200 North Lamar
Austin, TX  78756
(512) 916-4808

It’s Always Taco Time at El Taquito

Head to South Austin's El Taquito for amazing tacos. Regulars rave that this little taqueria is one of the best in town. The meats are moist and well-seasoned, and the salsas are perfectly spiced. The menu is mostly tacos and enchiladas, but there are some breakfast options as well.  The Barbacoa and Al Pastor tacos are big favorites. The salsa bar provides many options to top your meal — make sure to give the roasted red pepper salsa a try. El Taquito offers authentic mexican beverages too, like La Fresca and Horchata, a cinnamon rice milk. They're open well past midnight every night so you can enjoy tasty tacos after a night on the town. Just don’t expect fast service — this place is quite laid back.
 

El Taquito
1713 E Riverside Dr
Austin, TX 78741
(512) 851-8226
www.yelp.com/biz/el-taquito-austin

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