Everything I Ate In Austin, Texas

Is it lame of me to say a destination's food either makes or breaks a trip? Probably, but sue me. It's true — if I can't find a restaurant or a local delicacy that doesn't make me want to come back to wherever I'm visiting, then the trip wasn't memorable.

Food is key to a city's past. It reflects its residents' heritage, its culture, and its people. So, whenever I visit a new place, I try to fully immerse myself in its cuisine. Texas is renowned for its food, a blend of Western and Mexican roots. And as a self-proclaimed foodie, I was ready to put the Lone Star State's food reputation to the test.

Upon visiting, it seemed that on every corner there was a taco stop or authentic BBQ — a savory foodie's dream. But between the Tex-Mex options, you'll find internationally inspired restaurants that feel genuine to the culture's traditions and ambiance. Truly, there was no shortage of food options. I believe wherever you ended up in the city, you would be pleased with the selection.

Austin itself feels small, but big with personality. It's rich with fun, diversity, arts, and culture — perfect for a girls' trip. As I was only visiting for a weekend, I needed to spend my time wisely. So, I put my best food critic hat on and visited the most viral places in Austin, Texas. Here is everything I ate (and drank) and whether it's worth the hype.

Jo's Coffee

Coffee is always the first thing I make room for in my itinerary. And I'm not ashamed to admit that it will determine how good of a day I have. Jo's Coffee is a Texas (I think) chain. When I was endlessly scrolling for recs, TikTokers convinced me that I couldn't go back home to Florida without trying it. (Or at least, stopping at its iconic green wall on South Congress).

When my friend and I landed in ATX, we went straight to our hotel downtown, which was Downright Hotel (highly recommend!). As if we were meant to try Jo's, right across the street was the coffee shop. Everybody on TikTok said the Turbo Cold Brew is a must, and apparently I succumb to peer pressure because I didn't even look at the menu and just ordered that.

It was okay. It's not my favorite, but this might be user error because I didn't order something catered to my taste. The cold brew was creamy, but didn't pack the punch most cold brews do. I will say, I loved the atmosphere of the coffee shop. It was modern and clean, but had a nice retro touch — good for photo ops!

I would definitely go back, but Texas had some better options. Stay tuned.

Cuantos Tacos

Cuantos Tacos was a happy accident. We stumbled upon it when our first option, Franklin's BBQ, had a line out the door. Cuantos Tacos was walking distance from our hotel, and you can't visit Texas without having Mexican food, so it seemed all the stars aligned.

I knew I was in good hands when we pulled up, and it was a food truck. I am a food truck truther. Food trucks have food that is made with love. I've never had a food truck disappoint me. They always have authentic, genuine, and high-quality food at a good price — sign me up!

I ordered three Suadero (brisket) tacos. They had just the right amount of seasoning, spice, and were savory and refreshing enough to refuel me from the Texas heat. It came with two delicious sauces, and as a sauce connoisseur, I wish I could bring them home with me. This is the perfect lunch spot to get your Mexican fix.

Aba

This was probably the most recommended restaurant, and rightfully so. This is a Greek restaurant, and everything is served Mezze style, meaning you share with the table. The ambiance itself was straight out of a Mamma Mia movie — awnings lined with greenery, Mediterranean-patterned tiles, earth-toned furniture. It truly felt like I was spending the night in a Summer escape on the Mediterranean coast. And the food fit the bill, too.

If I had one last meal on this earth, it would be Aba's hummus. We shared the smoked garlic hummus. It was smooth, packed with flavor, and fresh. The pita bread it came with really sold it, though. The pita was fresh out of the oven (or however they make pita). It was soft, fluffy, and just the right amount of salty to complement the hummus. Sadly, I devoured it so fast that I don't have a picture.

I never thought a kebab would go down in my history of best eats, but here we are. We opted for the salmon and chicken kebabs to share. It came with arguably the most delicious basmati rice I've ever had (I'm still thinking about it), and a very light but flavorful Zhoug sauce. The sauce has a bright taste with a touch of spice. Some would call it "Mediterranean pesto." The chicken and salmon were cooked to perfection and paired with lightly roasted red peppers and onion.

This was a 10/10 meal. It was chef's kiss. I don't know if they have a Michelin star, but boy do they deserve one. Best meal ever!

Pro tip: Wait times are long at Aba, so sit at their patio bar and get the Passiflora drink. It's going on my spritz drinks hall of fame. We waited over an hour for our table, but literally could not care less.

Amy's Ice Cream

You'll learn quickly that pretty much all you need in Austin is situated on South Congress. Amy's Ice Cream is a local favorite. Its storefront is nostalgic and whimsical. The flavors were unique, too, including an ice cream flavor with Tito's in it. I didn't experiment and went with my go-to: Coffee. Boring, I know.

I think it's hard to mess up ice cream, honestly. This was a solid dessert nightcap, and the cool atmosphere added some brownie points to its ranking.

La La Land

I'll be yearning for the La La Land Banana Cloud Latte for the foreseeable future. This is the quintessential Instagram coffee shop. In fact, I first heard about it from LA influencers. Despite the cliché of it all, it actually has some of the best coffee I've ever had.

The Banana Cloud Latte had real bananas, the perfect coffee taste, and a dreamy foam topping that we all know makes a latte better. Plus, the cups were cute, which made my drinking experience even more enjoyable. If you want good quality coffee that isn't milky or muddy, go to La La Land.

Magnolia Cafe

This is the epitome of American breakfast food. So, if that's your vibe, then this is the place for you. I'm personally not a huge breakfast fan, but nonetheless, my food was enjoyable. I got an omelette with home fries and fruit. The home fries were 10/10. The omelette was good, too, but nothing to write home about. This is an ole reliable breakfast restaurant.

Two Hands Coffee

I ended up at Two Hands after a failed attempt to go to La La Land for the second day in a row. The line was wrapped around the store; the coffee is just that good. I digress. Anyway, Two Hands is an Australian-inspired cafe with aesthetic blue accents and a warm feel. They have an adorable walk-up window where you can order coffees, teas, and juices. I didn't get the chance to try their food, but I heard it's worth the hype.

I ordered a latte with brown sugar cinnamon syrup and oatmilk (my go-to). It was solid. It was a little too milky for my liking, but it had a good flavor, and I would definitely get it again. I liked it better than Jo's, but La La Land still remains undefeated.

Terry's Black Barbecue

I was determined to try Texan BBQ before I left, even if that meant trekking through the summer heat. And let me tell you, BBQ hits different when you're drenched in sweat, starving, and severely dehydrated. It was a long wait, but Terry's Black Barbecue did not disappoint. It is the epitome of a BBQ joint, with smoke coming out of the restaurant, aromatic smells, and true Western charm that really felt like I was getting the Texas experience.

I got the brisket with mac and cheese and green beans. To cool down, I got their frozen margarita that was...black. Yeah, I could've done without that one. Margarita aside, the food was smoky, flavorful, filling, juicy, and any other adjective you think of to describe top-notch BBQ.

Pro-tip: Most of the BBQ spots in Texas have long wait times, so if you're going to be waiting outside, especially in the summer, have a portable fan. That saved me.

SomiSomi

We were on a hunt for a sweet treat that could be a nice reprieve from the Texas heat, and SomiSomi was exactly what we were looking for. This is a Korean dessert place known for “Ah-Boong," a fish-shaped waffle cone filled with your choice of filling and topped with soft serve.

I got the milk-flavored soft serve with a Nutella-filled ah-boong and a strawberry on top. The soft serve was thick and creamy, and I could've eaten the pastry on its own. It was delicious, as it is adorable. The design of the store was quite appealing, too. It had modular, almost futuristic seating. It was a taste of Korea situated in the heart of Austin.

Rocco's

Situated just outside of the bustling part of Austin is an eclectic Italian restaurant, Rocco's. To me, pasta is comfort food, and after a few days of trying different foods, I just wanted some tried-and-true carbs.

Rocco's was everything I needed and more. It's a small restaurant, but that added to its welcoming ambiance. It's referred to as a "neighborhood Italian joint," and that it is. From the dim lighting to the comfy pillows on the booth, it felt like I was eating in an Italian's family's home — and I loved it.

We started with a Caesar salad, which just might be the best Caesar salad I've had. First of all, it was huge. It had a nice crunch to it, and they didn't go light on the Parmesan cheese, aka the best part. I could've eaten just this as my meal and would've been content.

For my meal, I got the Malfaldine, a cacio e pepe with roasted asparagus, morel mushrooms, pecorino, and lemon. It was zesty, light, cheesy, and just the perfect pasta to end my trip. It was simple, but that's what I wanted. The flavor spoke for itself; it didn't need all of these extra toppings to make it worthwhile.

Bottom Line: I get it now.

I get why people live in Texas for the food alone. I'm over a week out from my trip, and I'm still day-dreaming over the La La Land coffee, Aba hummus, and Rocco's Cesear salad.