You only have to appear at # Austin ’s Instagram to see that we take our unhealthy obsession with consumption to a whole other grade . If you ’re to call yourself a on-key Austinite , there are sure nutrient and drink hurdles you have to , well , hurdle . You ca n’t complain that the city is changing so tight before you ’ve got these items under your proverbial belt . Here ’s a mix of erstwhile and fresh iconic item , as beseem our city in flux .
Frito pie
" Take a pocketbook of Fritos , add hot chili , add cheese , tote up Allium cepa , handclasp , enjoy . " That ’s the childlike recipe . There are home that hear to make it more complicated , but it boils down to a Hellenic American snack food plus a crowd of thing that will make or give away your gastrointestinal system . Suck it up , buddy . Take the true test atTexas Chili ParlororLambert ’s . Veggie Frito pie can be found atBilly ’s on Burnet .
Queso
Yes , it ’s the Spanish word for " high mallow , " but it ’s so much more . you could barely set ft inside Austin ’s city limit point before you ’re bombard by that ultimate cheese , meat , avocado , and whatever - else - we - can - fit - in roll of melted magic . Top contenders for best queso are alwaysMagnolia’sMag Mud , Kerbey Queso , Matt’sBob Armstrong , andMaudie ’s . Oh , and we order this by the bowl , not the cup .
Tacos, tacos, tacos
Looooong before there was an emoji for it , we had a full greaser obsession . Austin knows anything wrap in a tortilla is instantly better . Taco game is substantial all over town , and debate rages over everything from the serious breakfast to the best bistek . There ’s even aTaco Cleansefor crying out aloud . OG Austinites loveJuan in a Million , while newer transplants find themselves atVeracruz All Natural . And you ’re truly not a local until you ’ve firmly planted yourself on one side or the other of the water parting betweenTacodeliorTorchy ’s .
Topo Chico
It ’s the water from Mexico that you may imbibe without being concerned about Montezuma ’s Revenge . There ’s something about this sparkly , more or less acidic H2O confidence game natural gas that brightens up any drinkable . It has somewhat wizardly healing properties for a hangover , and its iconic bottle is the base for many a workmanship Nox or succulent planter . Vodka and soda is a newcomer ’s game . Tito ’s and Topo , on the other hired hand – that ’s a real Austin beverage .
Bloody Mary meals
The Bloody Mary is a sacred Austin Sunday beverage . As with all things , we care to go boastful . chance are you ’ll be served one in a marvelous methamphetamine with blue , savory house - made Bloody admixture and a bounty on top . Shrimp , olive , okra plant , beans , summertime sausage , cheeseflower cubes , a club sandwich … you should never be surprised to see the actual drink play 2nd fiddle to the toppings . Do n’t get us started on progress your own …
Brisket
This basic kick cut inspires more loyalty than some football game team . Though it begin as a Jewish specialty , brisket has long rule as power of the Texas smoke pack . grade it fatty or lean , sliced or hack , on a bun or bare . Everyone has an notion about the cut , color , and consistency … but we can all accord on one thing : it better be on the plate . Find the best brisket atLa Barbecue , Micklethwait , Franklin , andFreedmen ’s .
Ramen
cave in that it ’s typically live than the sun in Austin , slurred , steaming bean soup was n’t exactly on our radar . But once we figured out what the West Coast was already way into , we level it up . Ramen Tatsu - yaopened its little shop on Research Blvd , and we were instantly afflict by the slurp . you may also find great stuff atDaruma , Kanji , Jinya , Michi , andKomeif you ’re ridin ’ that ramen educate .
Pizza, pizza!
There was a fourth dimension in the not - so - distant past tense when Austin had one respectable pie : Home Slice . While our old brother Home Slice still have got up , it ’s make major rival , including the wood - fired oven and planetary house - made mozz atBufalina , the unassuming but perfectly balanced flavour atUnit - D , the hand - kneadedBackDraft , and the crispy , melty Detroit - styleVia 313 . If you do n’t have an opinion about pizza pie in Austin , you ’re not doing it decent .
Coffee snobbery
Coffee – that necessary ( and legal ) drug of productive multitude everywhere . It seems like every week there ’s a new billet that offer a novel style of blend and barista . You ’ll never go wrong with aJo ’s Turboor an former morning atMozart ’s , but take a circuit d’caffeine around floater likeCuvée , Medici , Brew & Brew , Fleet , Patika , Radio , andVintage Heartto get the full blast for your beans .
Craft beer
no matter of what the ad purports , range a domestic “ lite ” beer and you ’ll be nail the right way off . Austin ’s applied its non - mainstream vibration to the foxiness beer scene in a way that ’s as fanatical as it is grotesque for local brewers . The most mainstream we want to get here is Independence , Real Ale , or Austin Beerworks . so as to be a lawful Austinite , you ’ll necessitate to be capable to wax poetic about Jester King , Blue Owl , Zilker , Live Oak , Thirsty Planet , and Hops & Grain . Belly up your tastebuds , because this beer ’s for you .
Burgers
hutch ’s , Dan ’s , and Top Notch rule the roost for many years when it hail to the omnipotent beefburger . They ’ve since had to share some space with whippersnappers likeHopdoddy , Cow chime , andWholly Cow . It ’s hard to essay and compete in a public where everyone is a hamburger expert . Texan like their Burger , and you are n’t the tangible deal until you’re able to argue for your charbroiled contender .
Brunch
There ’s nothing so sweet-scented as a sunny day , a Acacia dealbata , and a big blessed brunch . It ’s basically a therapeutic - all . Feeling hungover?Brunch . Feeling bored?Brunch . Feeling frisky?Brunch . It stands alone , or can lead to an all - day extravaganza . spot likeLuke ’s Inside OutandJack Allen’sserve up an incredible buffet . South Congress CafeandChez Zeeare our original staples , butSnooze , Counter Cafe , andEnoteca Vespaioall do a beauteous Benedict .
Ice cream
You scream , I yell . Mostly because of the warmth . adjudicate to chill down from the inside out is not only strategic , it ’s satisfying . Amy ’s Ice Creamhas the most compelling taradiddle , Lick Ice Creams’flavors are the most creative , andSweet Ritualis the most vegan . That ’s not to mentionCow tip Creamery , SPUN , Gelateria Gemelli , or any of the numerous blot appear to keep us cold as water ice ( ointment ) .
Margaritas
It does n’t have to be Cinco de Mayo to order a margarita during dejeuner . We lie with to tope these moth-eaten concoctions any which way – frozen , on the sway , salted or non- . The lime margarita is by far the most common , but office have gotten fancy : blood orange tree Chilanga atEl Alma , the avocado margarita atCurra ’s , the many flavors atLa Fuente ’s , the watermelon atLucy ’s Fried Chicken , the twirler atPolvos . Pro lead : always shun the sweet & sour . unfermented succus is where it ’s at .
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Mattie Bamman
Flickr/fabulousfabs
Courtesy of Jacoby’s
Dan Gentile/Thrillist
Unit-D Pizzeria
Fleet
Flickr/bruthanick
Hopdoddy
Sweet Ritual
