One of the main attractions for international travel is tasting diverse cuisines, but you can do the same without leaving Austin.
It’s time to embark on a culinary exploration — here’s how to travel the world with your taste buds at 15 local restaurants offering global foods and experiences.
Argentina | Buenos Aires Café, 1201 E. 6th St. | This Argentine family-owned eatery, dubbed “the birthplace of homemade empanadas,” serves heirloom recipes and vino from Argentina and its many wine regions.
Brazil | Espadas de Brazil, 2512 Rio Grande St. | Head chef and owner Robinson Figueiredo honed his culinary chops at a local Brazilian steakhouse before launching this food truck. Try its signature dish: the spicy garlic picanha.
China | Wu Chow, multiple locations | Dishes at this farm-to-table restaurant are inspired by Chef Ji Peng Chen’s recipes from eight different styles of Chinese cuisine: Anhui, Cantonese, Fujian, Hunan, Jiangsu, Shandong, Szechuan, and Zhejiang.
Egypt | KG BBQ, 3108 Manor Rd. | Owner Kareem El-Ghayesh was an avid home cook in Cairo before visiting Austin and falling in love with its barbecue scene. Now a James Beard-nominated chef, he combines the flavors of Egypt and Texas at this Oddwood Brewing food truck.
Ethiopia | Aster’s Ethiopian Restaurant, 2804 N. I-35 | You may have seen this teal green building from your car on I-35, but did you know it’s been serving Ethiopian food inside since 1991? The family-owned restaurant boasts both meat and vegetarian dishes that will transport your palate to the African country.
France | Péché, 208 W. 4th St. | Péché means “sin” in French, but it’s also called Austin’s first absinthe bar. Equally lauded for its pre-Prohibition style cocktails and French fare, this is a spot for delighting in the finer things in life and saying “bon appétit.”
Germany | Scholz Garten, 1607 San Jacinto Blvd. | This local mainstay is considered the oldest operating business in Texas and the longest-running beer garden in the US. Founded in 1866 by German immigrant and Civil War veteran August Scholz, it was a gathering spot for Austin’s German population and is now a restaurant and bar slinging some of the city’s favorite German fare + brews.
Greece | Yamas Greek Kitchen, 5308 Balcones Dr. | Stepping inside this restaurant, hues of white and blue will make you confuse Austin for a Grecian oasis. Its tasty cuisine is coupled with an ethos of “filoxenia,” a Greek concept that means “making a stranger a friend.”
India | Clay Pit, 1601 Guadalupe St. | This contemporary Indian restaurant is housed inside the 1850s Bertram Building, which local lore regards as a haunted site. Its award-winning menu features Indian dishes like chicken tikka masala and saag paneer, plus desserts like warm gulab jamun with ice cream.
Ireland | B.D. Riley’s Irish Pub, 1905 Aldrich St. | It’s not just this pub’s dishes and pints that make it a piece of Ireland in the Capital City — the restaurant’s structure was actually crafted in the Emerald Isle and shipped to Texas. From its floor and furniture to its bar and decor, tradition is steeped in the establishment’s foundation.
Italy | Numero28, 452 W. 2nd St. | Recreate a dinner in Italy on this Downtown restaurant’s patio with twinkling lights, gardens, and colorful umbrellas. The food draws inspiration from Southern Italian cooking with an emphasis on the flavors from Sicily. Pro tip: Order the cacio e pepe if you want to enhance the Italian experience — it’s tossed in a cheese wheel at your table.
Japan | Komé Sushi Kitchen, 5301 Airport Blvd. | Specializing in family-style Japanese comfort food, owners Takehiro “Také" Asazu and Kayo Asazu are from Osaka and Kobe, respectively. Osaka is considered one of the best food culture towns in Japan, while Kobe is where Kobe beef originated. Recipes from the owners’ mothers and grandmothers can be found on the menu.
Mexico | La Popular, 7415 Southwest Pkwy., Bldg. 5, Ste. #100 | There’s no shortage of fantastic Mexican eats in ATX, but this one’s roots in Mexico City’s dining scene makes it a can’t-miss experience for Austinites. Don’t skip its agave-centric beverages, sourced from distilleries in Oaxaca, Jalisco, and Guadalajara.
Serbia | Balkan Cafe & Grill, 11800 N. Lamar Blvd. | Displaced by the Balkan Wars, Živojin Zekic and his family moved to Austin in the 1990s and still run this restaurant today. Try Balkan favorites like cevapi, burek pita, and sirnica before heading outdoors to play sand volleyball.
Thailand | DEE DEE, 4204 Menchaca Rd. | Meaning “good good,” DEE DEE is a food truck at Radio Coffee & Beer serving a taste of Thailand’s northeastern countryside. Owner and chef Lakana Sopajan-Trubiana was raised in a family of farmers and learned her love of food through planting, farming, and selling foods at local markets in Thailand.
We’re full, but did we miss your favorite spot? Tell us where you love devouring international cuisine in Austin.
