The Emerald Restaurant: Authentic Irish Cuisine in Austin

Celebrate a special occasion with an authentic meal at The Emerald Restaurant in Austin, Texas. The restaurant's 1927 cottage setting is decorated with Irish lace and china. The quaint ambiance transports you across the Atlantic and makes you feel like you're dining in someone’s home. Many customers enjoy the three course meals for two. “The Kinsale” is especially popular which includes the famous potato soup, a tenderloin steak with a Madeira mushroom sauce, and Irish Whiskey cake. Plan for a leisurely pace meal, as everything is made from scratch and cooked to order. The Emerald can seem pricey, but keep your eye out for discount deals and coupons. Reservations are required at this elegant West Austin restaurant.

The Emerald Restaurant
13614 W Highway 71
Austin, TX 78738
(512) 963-4272
www.theemeraldrestaurant.com
www.yelp.com/biz/emerald-restaurant-austin

Free Beer and Stellar Brisket: la Barbecue

Perhaps the only downside of eating at one of Austin's popular food trucks is that they always seem to have a line stretching away from the window, requiring would-be eaters to wait in the oppressive Texan sun. At la Barbecue, though, customers cross their fingers for a long line. The food truck offers a simple amenity to make the wait bearable, even pleasant: free beer.

Cool off your complimentary suds while you decide what to order. It should be a relatively easy decision, given the fact that la Barbecue's brisket is the favorite by far. However, pulled pork, sausage, turkey, and chopped beef are also on the menu. For some added flavor, order one of the specialty sandwiches like El Sancho Loco with your choice of meat and pickled red onions. Make sure you arrive well ahead of the lunch rush, though, because la Barbecue's opening hours are simply 11 a.m. to "sold out."

la Barbecue
902 E. Cesar Chavez
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 605-9696
www.labarbecue.com
www.yelp.com/biz/la-barbecue-austin-3

The Flying Carpet: Truck It to This Tasty Moroccan Eatery

Austin’s culinary scene is well-known for its diverse assortment of food trucks, and The Flying Carpet is one of the city's most popular mobile eateries. This Moroccan fare restaurant cooks and serves its food from inside of a colorful food truck, and it also hosts a dining room inside of a separate building in front of the truck. This quirky layout makes The Flying Carpet a bit difficult to find for first-time visitors, but once you figure it out it becomes quite convenient. If you prefer to sit outside on a warm Austin afternoon, The Flying Carpet also offers a few shady tables on the outdoor patio.

Dishes like the Big Abdu consist of freshly baked pita bread, ground meats, and seasoned vegetables, and many regular guests order a pot of fine Moroccan tea to pair with their meal. With affordable prices and a knowledgeable staff, The Flying Carpet is ideal for an adventurous lunch.

The Flying Carpet
504 West Oltorf
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 744-5651
www.tfctheflyingcarpetaustin.com/#about
www.yelp.com/biz/the-flying-carpet-austin

Dine on Brazilian Fare From a Food Truck at Boteco in Austin

Austin is known for its numerous food trucks that make it easy to eat well on the go, but Boteco is one of the most popular in the area. This Brazilian eatery operates out of a bright yellow truck in the Seventh Street food truck park, and it even has covered wooden picnic tables that are perfect for grabbing a quick lunch outside in the sunshine.

On the menu, you'll find Brazilian sirloin steak with rice, beans, and yucca fries served out of convenient (and portable) aluminum foil takeout containers, as well as queso empanadas and cheese croquettes that are great to share with your friends. On Sundays, Boteco also offers an expansive brunch menu with offerings like picanha, fiejoada, and coxinha topped with a fried egg. Wash it all down with fresh juice or coconut water and you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to Brazil without leaving Austin!

Boteco
1403 E. Seventh Street
Austin, TX 78702
www.botecoatx.com

Polvos Mexican Restaurant: Always Take a Trip to the Salsa Bar

Polvos Mexican Restaurant's chefs take a Texan approach to Mexican cuisine. They master the Tex-Mex balance, especially when it comes to patrons' favorite dish, the fish fajitas. With garlicky grilled shrimp or fish at the center, these fajitas feature a colorful medley of veggies. Build your own creation with the rice, beans, and corn or flour tortillas that accompany the meat and veggies.

Flautas are another perennial favorite at Polvos. Order yours with potatoes, chicken, cheese, beans, or picadillo. The lengthy menu also boasts a slew of other authentic eats, from enchiladas to burritos, but no single entree can upstage Polvos' salsa bar. Chefs stock it with freshly blended salsas throughout the day, and the flavors range from "regular" to "exotic." Smother your fish fajitas with classic tomatillo or chipotle salsa, cover your burrito with mole or chile con queso, or slather your enchiladas with the more adventurous margarita or huasteca salsa.

Polvos Mexican Restaurant
2004 S. 1st Street
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 441-5446
www.polvosaustin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/polvos-mexican-restaurant-austin

No Austin Restaurant Tour is Complete Without a Visit to Uchi

Austin has long since become a foodie’s playground, and despite the city's laundry list of so-called "must-try" restaurants, few have quite as much buzz as Uchi. This popular sushi spot is upscale without being pretentious, which makes it the perfect place to go for a first date, a family dinner, a business meeting, and everything in between.

The breezy outdoor patio makes the perfect place to relax while waiting for a table inside the warm, minimal dining room, which is always a great place to see and be seen in Austin. Once you find your table, you’ll face the difficult task of choosing from the delicious selection of baby octopus pops, salmon toro, seared Wagyu beef and foie gras sushi rolls, among many other creative dishes.

There is also a well-regarded selection of wine, beer, and sake. Regulars recommend arriving a bit before the restaurant opens to avoid a long wait.

Uchi
801 S Lamar Boulevard
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 916-4808
www.uchiaustin.com

Super Bowl Restaurant: Wok This Way for Great Chinese Food Takeout

If you’re craving Chinese food in the South Austin area but just don’t feel like leaving the house, ordering delivery from Super Bowl Restaurant is a great option. This Chinese takeout spot offers all of your favorite dishes ranging from egg rolls and steamed dumplings to lo mein and Kung Pao chicken, as well as a wide variety of other specialties made true to tradition.

Flavorful dishes like Mongolian beef and General Tso’s chicken will satisfy your craving for something spicy, while vegetable fried rice, sesame tofu, and other veggie meals are made entirely without meat for vegetarian diners. The prices at Super Bowl are very reasonable for the large portions, and the small delivery fee is more than worth it for the convenience of having hot, tasty food delivered right to your door.

To order from Super Bowl Restaurant, fill out the form on the restaurant’s website.

Super Bowl Restaurant
719 W William Cannon Drive
Austin, TX 78745
(512) 445-3399
www.beyondmenu.com/21269/austin/super-bowl-austin-78745.aspx

Maudie’s Hill Country: Where the Tacos Are Spicy and the Margaritas Are Icy

Maudie’s Hill Contry is a Tex-Mex favorite in a city full of similar eateries, which says a lot about the quality of its food. With a colorful, casual interior and a somewhat secret upstairs bar and patio, this popular spot is just as inviting as it is delicious. You’ll find flavorful Tex-Mex fare morning, noon, and night at Maudie’s, starting with breakfast dishes like blueberry pancakes, huevos rancheros, and sausage migas and a very wide selection of enchiladas, tacos, and burritos for lunch.

There are vegetarian options and gluten-free options for those with restricted diets, as well as affordable lunch specials throughout the work week. During happy hour at Maudie’s, you’ll find even more savings on the restaurant’s fresh, fruity margaritas and Mexican cervezas, and during the weekend brunch, the Bloody Marys are a must-sip.

Maudie’s Hill Country
12506 Shops Parkway
Bee Cave, TX 78738
(512) 263-1116
www.maudies.com
www.yelp.com/biz/maudies-hill-country-bee-cave-3

Java Dive Bistro: Charming and Healthy!

The Wall Street Journal callsJava Dive Bistro's morning meal “the breakfast of champions,” and locals agree with that assessment. Java Dive Bistro makes what the regulars call “enlightening meals” that makes you want to walk in and just sit for the day and sample everything they have to offer. A particular favorite is the scrambled eggs and cheese on a toasted organic sprouted bun with organic pesticide-free tomatoes and fire roasted poblano peppers. Another of their signature ideas is the coffee ice cubes made of coffee and the regulars are hooked. Their specialty organic coffee beans are only served within days of being roasted and you can tell the difference. The atmosphere matches the quality of the food and it is top notch with a clean quiet patio to sit and just enjoy the savory foods and coffee. They’re also a certified gluten free restaurant so they can accommodate a number of dietary needs.

Java Dive Bistro
900 Ranch Rd 620 S
Lakeway, TX 78734
512) 263-5995

www.javadivecafe.com
www.yelp.com/biz/java-dive-organic-cafe-lakeway-2

Banh Mi Tacos Meet Habanero-Infused Margaritas at The Peached Tortilla in Austin

The Peached Tortilla is a fusion in both make and menu, as this unique business operates a food truck and a brick-and-mortar location here in Austin. The food is expressive of the restaurant's personality: an eclectic mix of Southern- and Asian-influenced dishes, like bahn mi tacos for dinner and brisket hash with kimchi miso corn for brunch. Locals say you need to return regularly to ensure you taste a bite of every dish on the list.

The Peached Tortilla's hours vary during the week, so be sure to check the website before popping by, but don’t miss happy hour, offered 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily. (Make sure you try one of the specialty cocktails, particularly the habanero-infused margarita or the Wasabi Mary, which is garnished with Thai peppers.) Another popular time to visit is during the Sunday Brunch, served from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. weekly.

The Peached Tortilla
5520 Burnet Road
Austin, TX 78756
(512) 222-8781
www.thepeachedtortilla.com

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