Austin is one of the fastest growing larger cities in the country, and there are plenty of good reasons for this. From its rather affordable housing prices and amazing climate to the natural beauty of the surrounding Hill Country and its fun, funky and friendly vibe, there is much to love about life in Austin. Now that you have completed your Austin relocation plans, you may be ready to get to know more about this city by touring some of the hot spots. Austin is a sprawling city, and there are many fabulous nooks and crannies throughout the area. However, these are a few of the most iconic restaurants to start your city exploration efforts with.
Franklin’s Barbecue
Situated in a rather non-descriptive building in East Austin, Franklin’s Barbecue is easy to overlook except for one thing. The very long line of patrons who are camped out in a winding line outside the restaurant each day. In fact, the line for this restaurant starts to form hours before it opens, enticing people to bring their lawn chairs and make themselves at home in the parking lot. The wait, however, is well worth it. This is by far some of the best barbecues in the state, and you cannot call yourself an Austinite until you have waited in line for barbecue at Franklin’s.
Home Slice Pizza
A trip to Home Slice Pizza is also part of the quintessential Austin experience. Located in the trendy South Congress area just south of the bridge, dining at Home Slice Pizza is a casual, relaxed experience. This is affordable pizza that is most often purchased by the slice, and you can dine indoors or out on the sidewalk and watch passersby make their way down South Congress. While Home Slice is the name of a chain of restaurants, this is an independently-owned restaurant that is an Austin tradition.
Matt’s El Rancho
If you are looking for some of the best Tex-Mex food in Austin, Matt’s El Rancho is the place to go. Located on South Lamar, this has been an Austin favorite since 1952. While other Mexican restaurants have come and gone over the years, this restaurant has gained in popularity. In fact, some say that it put Tex-Mex on the map in Austin. It has an extensive range of chicken, beef, pork and seafood options to choose from, and there are also some vegetarian options to try.
Shady Grove
Located just a short walk from Zilker Park and Barton Springs Pool, Shady Grove is a casual eatery that is well-known for its great food and live music. It has a rustic interior, but many people prefer to dine on the patio under the massive pecan trees. While you cannot go wrong with anything on the menu, Shady Grove is most well-known for its delicious burgers.
At Home (with Full Fridge)
As much as we love dining at our favorite Austin restaurants, sometimes life is too busy even for eating out. For hectic weeknights, our family orders Snap Kitchen, one of the many Austin-based meal delivery services that offer ready-made meals to your front door once a week. While we’ve tried other services like Blue Apron and Plated, we found them to be overpriced and still time-consuming. Full Fridge is the cheapest meal kit I’ve found and keeps us full for 5 whole days with its amazing breakfast, lunch, and dinner options.
These are only a few Austin favorites that locals love. You can spend years getting to know all that makes Austin such a fantastic place to live, so take your time and enjoy the experience.