Traveling to Austin in a couple weeks

[maddezmom]

It will be my first visit...

Anyone have any tips for favorite restaurants, food trucks, etc.

[They_Live]

1. Any particular part of town?

all over?

I live Near St. Ed's near the trendy SoCo area and the "Mexican Mile".

Torchy's Tacos is pretty delicious and still fairly popular. I still like Chuy's (Tex-Mex) on Barton Springs Road, I have had excellent food and service the past couple of times there.

[maddezmom]

2. I rented a condo which is

On E 4th Street between between N Congress Ave and San Jacinto Blvd.

I love Chuey's but we have one here near me and my sister and I usually get that the day after Thankgiving. So I will have to look up Torchy's Tacos. Thanks for the tip.

[TexasTowelie]

3. Iron Works BBQ

on 100 Red River. That should be within walking distance of your condo, but the temperature could be nearly 100 by then.

You are in the middle of downtown so you should have great access to 6th Street and all of the establishments there.

The old warehouse district is on the opposite side of Congress on 4th Street--some beer gardens, coffee shops and trendy places to eat.

If possible, try to travel on Highway 360 on the west side of the city since it is on the edge of the Hill Country. I think you will enjoy the visit if the temperatures stay cool. Safe travels and have fun!

[maddezmom]

4. Thanks, Iron Works looks close enough to walk to from my rental

I figure if it too hot we can cab it. It was 90 here today but had a breeze. I am used to TX heat but my sister is coming in from MI and it might be a bit too hot for her.

[Paladin]

10. Iron Works is a good recommendation. Franklin BBQ is just not worth the hassle.

Franklin's has received the Greatest Known BBQ In The Known Universe award from various food cult types, and it is pretty sublime. But to get lunch there, you generally have to wait for hours with the assembled masses in the morning, and there's a very good chance their meat will be sold out before you get to the front of the line. Stick with Iron Works, they know what they are doing.

[maddezmom]

11. I looked them up but I didn't think I could get my sister to hang out that long in the heat.

[Javaman]

5. Torchy's Tacos. :)

Yum!!!

[maddezmom]

6. We are definitely going to makea stop there

[Javaman]

7. Another great place is...

The Blue Dalia. It's on East 11th street.

Great food.

[maddezmom]

8. Just checked out the website, looks great!

Maybe a good place for breakfast?

[Javaman]

9. I've only had lunch and dinner there...

but if their breakfast is anything like those you can't go wrong.

[DanTex]

12. Some ideas...

Check Uchi and/or Uchiko. It might seem weird going to Austin and then going to get sushi, but these are probably the best and most award-winning restaurants in town.
http://www.uchiaustin.com/

Fonda San Miguel is great interior Mexican.
http://www.fondasanmiguel.com/

For Tex-Mex there are a lot of choices but I'd say Chuy's on Barton Springs. Plus it has historical significance -- it's where Jenna Bush got busted for underage drinking (IIRC). Or you can just go down to South Congress and pick from a bunch of "Austiny" places there.

Lambert's BBQ is nice -- it's sort of a modern twist on BBQ, not traditional, but the food and ambience are good. Plus it's downtown within walking distance of where you are staying.

If you're into steak, there are a bunch of good choices. There is Sullivan's, right near where you are staying, which is an Austin fixture, but more of a see and be seen place than really top quality food IMO. My favorite steakhouse is Austin Land and Cattle, both for the great food and for the slightly more relaxed ambience.

A fun Sunday afternoon is to go down and have brunch at the Four Seasons, which is right on Town Lake, and then go for a walk around the Town Lake trail.

Disclaimer: these recommendations might be a few years out of date, since I moved, but I'm pretty sure they're all still open and still good. Austin's a great town. It's impossible not to enjoy it. Have fun!

[maddezmom]

13. Wow, thanks for all the reccommendations

My mouth is watering after visiting the sushi site.

[DanTex]

14. Yeah, your post set me reminiscing. Love it here in NYC, but part of me will always be an Austinite

Uchi is amazing. It's gotten national recognition -- the chef, Tyson Cole, has won a James Beard award -- and is probably the one place in Austin (well, two, with Uchiko) that has the sophistication to stand up to top restaurants in places like NYC and San Francisco.

One last recommendation. Don't know how long you are staying, but if you have a car or rent one for a day (not a bad idea, just to drive around and explore -- Austin doesn't have much public transportation), it's worth driving up to Lake Travis, not far, about 20-30 mins or so north of town. Grab a Margarita and catch the amazing sunset from the deck of the Oasis (but don't eat there), and then head over to Hudson's on the Bend, for a delicious and unusual Southwestern menu (rattlesnake, antelope, wild boar, etc.).
http://oasis-austin.com/
http://www.hudsonsonthebend.com/

OK, I'll leave you alone now! I'm due for a trip back there myself, but I think I'll wait until it cools down a bit. One thing I don't miss about Texas is the 60 consecutive days of 100+ temps that they seem to have every single summer.

Hope y'all beat the heat!

[maddezmom]

15. I will have a car as I am driving in from The Woodlands....so I think we will have to

Drive around a bit and I live Margaritas. I am the information gatherer and I am going to put my sister in charge of the planning as we only have a long weekend to fit everything in.

I love NYC, as I grew up in upstate NY and we made a lot of trips to the city in my youth and early 20's. Now you have me thinking my next girls weekend should be there!

[Paladin]

16. Check for special events and street closures in Austin before you go.

In the very best of circumstances, Austin traffic is a freaking nightmare---it appears that everybody who ever wanted to be a part of "The Austin Experience" has moved there, and crowd-attracting special events seem to be scheduled for practically every weekend.

Don't get me started---I'm one of those insufferable old coots who grew up in Austin, starting way back in the 1950's, so I tend to grumble some about the current condition of the city. Have a good time.

[maddezmom]

17. Thanks for the tip

The condo has a parking space and intend to use cabs while in the city. I only want to be part of the experience for the weekend, promise.

[Eleanors38]

18. Oh, my! Don't forget Bouldin Creek Cafe. Great veggie food...

at very pedestrian prices. $2 HH beer prices everyday from 3 to 7. These guys have been going for 13 years & have never spent a dime on ads. Can be quite crowded on wk end breakfasts. LOTS of coffee options, locally-made pastries. You can really fill up on zucchinni migas for breakfast! Slurp!