Warning: You will be hungry after reading this, because we’re spilling the beans on iconic dishes (at least to the ATXtoday team) in Austin.
Your friendly neighborhood ATXtoday City Editors have tried a lot of restaurants in Austin, and sometimes, a dish stands a cut above the rest.
These are just a few of the dishes that we keep coming back for, so we want our dear readers to have a taste too. Psst — don’t miss our call to recommend a dish at the end.
Muhammara from Bar Toti | This grilled pepper and pecan dip has an irresistible creamy, tangy, and fresh profile that pairs incredibly with fresh vegetables that are grown in the adjacent garden. We recommend getting extra bread, which is delicious even on its own.
Pulled duck sandwich from Parish Barbecue | You’ll be well-fed no matter what you order at this truck — ahem, don’t skip the crawfish cornbread dressing or pimento mac and cheese — but we’re still dreaming about this succulent pulled duck take on a classic sandwich.
Any rice bowl from KGBBQ | Trust us, you’ll remember your first bite at this MICHELIN Bib Gourmand food truck. City Editor Figi here — my first time eating a chicken rice bowl here literally brought tears to my eyes.
Cauliflower tots from Better Half Coffee & Cocktails | The fried square tots paired with housemade beet ketchup at this all-day cafe are arguably its signature dish. The ATXtoday City Editors would wager that it’s nearly impossible to visit without placing an order for them.
Curry queso from Electric Gravy | Run by the folks behind Old Thousand and Mumbai-native restaurateur Peter D’Souza, this new restaurant surprised us with its stacked starter menu you can make a full meal out of. The curry queso was our top pick, but the pakora is a close second.
Dips platter from Freddo ATX | Try all three of this coffee shop + restaurant’s signature hummus dips — complete with pita and cucumber — next time you visit. Our favorite was the beetroot hummus, but they’re all worth a taste.
Fried oyster mushrooms from Lee’s Kitchen + Cocktails | City Editor Figi here. I’m picky about mushrooms, but these tandoori-spiced bites were absolutely heavenly when paired with the aioli. You’ll also want to get an order of the spring rolls and secret menu drunken noodles.
Guava empanadas from Little Patagonia | You can snag one of these delicious little morsels in north Austin or at your next Austin FC game, as they’re stocked at Q2 Stadium. Little Patagonia serves all types of empanadas — not just guava — including spicy chicken, brisket, roquefort, lamb, and strawberry Nutella.
Scallops with huitlacoche “caviar” from Verdad True Modern Mexican | These elegant (and sizable) scallops with shrimp and corn blinis are topped with huitlacoche — a rare and coveted fungus that grows on corn. Don’t knock it until you try it, because there’s a good reason they call it caviar. Oh, and don’t leave without ordering the burnt milk candy.
Kouign amann from Rockman Coffee + Bakeshop | Imagine a sweet croissant, but better. The sweet, buttery pastry is a great way to start your morning or end your evening, but beware: These beauties sell out quickly.
Mole tsukemen from Ramen del Barrio | Arrive early to try the noodles at this nondescript, 2024 James Beard-nominated spot. The mole tsukemen is big enough to share, can be made vegan, and will delight your taste buds.
Ube pancakes from Oribello’s Bar and Kitchen | These unique purple pancakes are only sold during brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends. Plus, it’s totally possible to have an all-purple meal here if you pair it with an ube-rita or ube colada.
Is there a dish you feel should be on this list? Drop us a line so we can give it a try.
