7 Best Restaurants in Greater Austin, Austin

This scenic Austin institution, on a 450-foot cliff above Lake Travis, is famed for its sunsets and special-occasion atmosphere, popular with tourists, birthday revelers, and anniversary lovebirds. If you can, arrive early to get a table directly overlooking the lake, but most seats in the multitiered eatery have decent views. The menu includes unremarkable Tex-Mex fare like burgers, fajitas, and margaritas, but weekly and seasonal events, such as their Sunset Music Series, create an enjoyable ambience that justifies the 30-minute drive from downtown.

This no-frills favorite of off-duty chefs keeps its diehard Sichuan fans satisfied. The unassuming strip mall location in far northwest Austin might look rundown, but the order-at-the-counter joint serves up reliably authentic specialties, like the palate-tingling Asia Eggplant and the Chicken Delight (kou shui ji, bone-in, chilled chicken slices in a spicy sauce). Sichuan peppercorns and fiery red oil are used liberally, so be prepared. Take-out is available.

Sandwich lovers once had to trek out to 620 and Anderson Mill Road to experience the blissful creations of chefs John Bates and Brandon Martinez. But the modest sandwich shop (formerly known as Noble Pig) recently expanded their renowned finger-lickin’ empire with a Burnet Road location that draws big crowds, especially during peak lunch hours, when the line can stretch out the door. Choose from a menu of flavor-packed sammies such as duck pastrami with Russian dressing and the Noble Pig, with ham, pulled pork, and bacon. Homemade sides, like the spicy jalapeno slaw, pack a punch. Breakfast hours have also been added, with knockouts like biscuits and gravy and a braised oxtail with potato and leek waffles.

This little nondescript shack usually has a swarm of locals each morning clamoring for their favorite breakfast tacos. But for a sit-down meal, head across the street to the official restaurant in a big, red building where you can order Rosie's signature tamales or enchiladas. Famed Texas singer-songwriter Willie Nelson is a frequent enough customer to have his very own dish, Willie's Plate: a crispy beef taco, one cheese enchilada smothered in chili con carne, and a side of guacamole salad. There's no liquor license, so bring your own cooler of beer.

Many local barbecue snobs turn up their noses at Rudy's because it's a chain (albeit Texas-based) with hokey interiors, but plenty of Austinites count this as their "go-to" choice for a laid-back BBQ lunch. Three kinds of brisket—regular, extra moist, and extra lean—are cooked with dry spices over oak wood (not mesquite). Aside from brisket, there are pork and baby back ribs, turkey breast, pork loin, and prime rib. Sides are uniformly good, especially the creamed corn, which has a cult following. Take-out is brisk (and popular with large groups), but many diners chow down at the vinyl-covered picnic tables. 

Part of a local chain, The County Line has a few too many amenities to be considered a classic Central Texas barbecue joint. Chairs instead of bargain-basement picnic setups, little loaves of multigrain bread on tables, and functional air-conditioning make things downright civilized, but anyone seeking a traditional BBQ meal in bucolic surroundings can find solace in the slow-smoked ribs—huge slabs of beef and tender pork—that can be ordered in family-style options, replete with generous sides of coleslaw, potato salad, and beans.

Another kind of orange mascot now greets visitors at the Austin airport: Texas fast-food favorite Whataburger, a statewide chain that any true Texan will tell you is a must-try on any visit. Situated at the cell-phone waiting lot, the 24/7 drive-through and 72-seat casual eatery offers a last-chance opportunity to satisfy any preflight cravings for patty melts and onion rings.