South Austin Restaurants
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Aba - Austin
Price: Very Expensive•Mediterranean•4.8(1,319)East Austin - 2
Red Ash Italia
Price: Very Expensive•Italian•4.9(4,215)Downtown - 3
Suerte
Price: Expensive•Contemporary Mexican•4.9(168)East Austin - 4
Neighborhood Sushi
Price: Expensive•Sushi•4.8(1,148)South Austin - 5
De Nada Cantina
Price: Moderate•Mexican•4.7(589)East Austin
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Paperboy
Price: Expensive•Breakfast•4.9(320)East Austin - 2
Residence by Anthony Martin
Price: Very Expensive•Contemporary French / AmericanEast Austin - 3
Sammie's Italian
Price: Expensive•Italian•4.8(1,576)Downtown - 4
ATX Cocina
Price: Very Expensive•Contemporary Mexican•4.8(2,736)Downtown - 5
The Well
Price: Moderate•Contemporary American•4.8(630)Downtown
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Perla's Seafood and Oyster Bar
Price: Expensive•Seafood•4.9(3,799)Downtown - 2
Emmer & Rye
Price: Very Expensive•American•4.6(3,581)Downtown - 3
Uchi Austin
Price: Very Expensive•Sushi•4.9(5,461)Downtown - 4
Geraldine’s
Price: Moderate•Unspecified•4.6(2,396)Downtown - 5
Perry's Steakhouse & Grille - Downtown Austin
Price: Expensive•Steakhouse•4.6(9,766)Downtown
Check out diners' favorite restaurants in South Austin
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Diners’ Choice Awards are based on where your fellow diners book, dine, and review. Only verified diners get to review restaurants on OpenTable, so our data doesn’t lie.
Cafe Malta
Price: Moderate•Mediterranean•4.7(1,433)Cafe Malta is a neighborhood bistro serving Mediterranean-inspired fare. It combines a warm, relaxed atmosphere with a perpetually creative kitchen.
Named for the island at the crossroads of the Mediterranean, Cafe Malta finds inspiration in the cuisines of Italy, southern France, Morocco, Greece and Spain, and in the Mediterranean tradition, Cafe Malta cooks seasonally and features a variety of local ingredients.June's All Day
Price: Moderate•Contemporary American•4.8(1,089)June’s All Day is a little bit of Paris in Austin—a neighborhood cafe and bar offering late breakfast, brunch, and an all day menu late into the evenings, along bustling South Congress Avenue.
The bistro-style food menu (think Croque Madame, Steak Tartare & Frites, Grilled Chicken Paillard, & Steak au Poivre) is complemented by a frequently changing wine & bar program including unique bottles and classic cocktails The restaurant has a wraparound patio (open year round) and is ideal for people watching and hanging with your friends.
El Alma South
Price: Moderate•Mexican•4.8(227)El Alma's menu is a vibrant take on the contemporary flavors of Mexico, that also features local ingredients like redfish, lamb, and Texas quail. Chef Alma Alcocer-Thomas approaches the food as if you were a guest dining in her own home.CARVE American Grille - Barton Creek
Price: Moderate•Steakhouse•4.7(3,630)Our butcher is carving the freshest cuts. Our gardener tends our Farmshelf full of herbs. Our chefs prove how wood, live-fire, and smoke—with hand-craftmanship—can harmoniously meld every ingredient into an unforgettable creation. Our mixologists stand ready to serve innovation in a glass from classic to inspired. Our bartender pours wine from tap or bottle. And our pastry specialist smokes your sweet ending. Your daily celebration is here—at CARVE® American Grille. Whether it’s a date night dinner, a casual Friday lunch, or weekend family brunch, CARVE® up some time in this amazingly modern-rustic dining room complete with a vibrant bar and patio with hill country views. Everything about CARVE® is inspired by fresh and eclectic ingredients, with every dish reinventing the American grille experience. Come share in our heritage of flavor – your experience awaits!
Fig Italian Kitchen & Bar
Price: Expensive•Italian•4.4(49)Welcome to Fig. Experience an atmosphere where culinary excellence meets relaxed sophistication. Our Michelin Guide Awarded Chef crafts Italian classics with a modern twist! Outdoor seating, mist fans, curated wine/cocktails. Perfect for any occasion!Habana Restaurant - SoCo
Price: Expensive•Cuban•4.6(43)Habana Restaurant and Bar is a family owned and operated since 2001 that specializes in Caribbean cuisine. Serving lunch and dinner, this restaurant makes everything in house from scratch since day one. Habana Restaurant offers plenty of indoor and covered outdoor seating (including our tropical Cabanas) and is good for families, small to large groups and other special occasions. Start with an appetizer like the Cuban nachos, papa rellena, croquettes, and empanadas. Feel like sharing? Get the tropical ceviche, sweet plantains (maduros) or the yucca fries. For the main course, try the world-famous Cuban sandwich, carne con pappa, chuleta fritas (fried pork chops), arroz con pollo, or the ropa vieja. Our full-service bar also serves the best mojitos and pina coladas in town along with a plethora of rum-based drinks.
Outdoor dining in Austin
See what locals rave about in South Austin
- BBradVIPAustin •25 reviews5.0Dined 2 days agoAbsolutely fantastic on everthing. Food, ambience, service, just fantastic! The entry area or waiting area is about the only thing that could be improved but you need a reservation in advance to dine here so the wait is not long. The prices are fantastic and candidly they could charge more. This is a must stop restaurant in Austin.More infoRed Ash ItaliaPrice: Very Expensive• Italian• Downtown•4.9
- LLUISMexico City •14 reviews5.0Dined 2 days agoAmazing food! Out of ordinary tequilas,,, but good quality!More infoNômadéPrice: Expensive• Contemporary Mexican• Austin•4.8
- CChristineAustin •8 reviews5.0Dined 4 days agoWe love Aba! The food is incredible and the ambience, lighting, indoor/outdoor feel is so different than other other restaurant in Austin. It’s a beautiful restaurant and the food never disappoints. Highly recommend!! 10/10More infoAba - AustinPrice: Very Expensive• Mediterranean• East Austin•4.8
- EEMILYAustin •2 reviews5.0Dined 7 days agoLove this place! Great place to take an of town friend!More infoSuertePrice: Expensive• Contemporary Mexican• East Austin•4.9
- JJacquelineNew York City •1 review5.0Dined on Apr 15, 2025The best ambiance and experience. Always my favorite sushi spot in Austin!More infoNeighborhood SushiPrice: Expensive• Sushi• South Austin•4.8
Trending dishes in South Austin
Restaurant experiences trending in Austin
Get inspired by our collections of the top restaurants in South Austin
The 12 best restaurants to dine outdoors in Austin
Austin’s best restaurants for outdoor dining come with breathtaking views, scenic streetside tables, and charming patios.
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Austin’s restaurant scene always sizzles with top-notch Tex-Mex and next-level barbecue, but 2023 brought innovative new spots that combine Lone Star State swagger with global accents. These debuts were beloved by diners and critics alike, like a New American hotspot by a six-time James Beard Award nominee or a Latin-inspired, live-fire dazzler that earned a nod from the Austin American-Statesman. Read on for a guide to the six reservations you need to make at Austin’s hottest 2023 restaurant openings.
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Austin’s best bars range from high-end cocktail lounges to charming wine bars and tried-and-true neighborhood escapes.
8 of Austin’s outstanding spots for celebrating special occasions
Austin loves a full-blown party, and the special-occasion restaurants in this famously quirky city are as distinct as the people who celebrate here. No matter what you’re marking, whether it’s an all-out graduation party—hook ’em horns!—or a romantic milestone under a sprawling Texas sky, this town’s got a spot for you. Read on for a guide to eight Austin restaurants perfect for special occasions.
Discover South Austin
South Austin is an older part of town that has rolling hills and lots of oak trees. Many restaurants offer open-air patio seating for dining and often feature live music. This area has a young, artistic vibe, so you'll easily find vegetarian fare, yet you'll also find plenty of Lone Star State barbecue staples. Tex-Mex foods featuring smoked meat and melted American cheese are on most menus in one form or another whether it's chili con queso with spicy ground beef or a giant chicken fried steak. Authentic Mexican food and Margaritas, upscale seafood and delightful French bakeries are also options.
Frequently asked questions
The best reviewed restaurant in South Austin is Easy Tiger South Lamar
The best vegan restaurants in South Austin are El Raval, It's Italian Cucina and El Alma South
The best vegetarian restaurants in South Austin are El Raval, Cafe Malta and El Alma South
The restaurants with the best service in South Austin are Red Lobster - Austin - Lamar Blvd., Easy Tiger South Lamar and Gangnam Korean BBQ
The restaurants with the best ambiance in South Austin are Easy Tiger South Lamar, Neighborhood Sushi and It's Italian Cucina
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