When a bloated ( possibly even flaming - shirted ) TV food for thought bozo deem one of your metropolis ’s fabled restaurants " a hidden gem , " we lie with that ’s not the slip . When you really stumble upon great chuck outside of a airstrip mall wig store … nowthat’sa hide gem . There are an abundance of unbelievable restaurants in Austin , but somehow the food for thought tastes well when it comes with a side of secret club . In the spirit of share-out , we ’ve been digging deeply to find out the places none of your booster are talking about – but should be .
College Roadhouse
You ca n’t help but say “ roadhouuuuuuse ! ” in your school principal every time this plaza occur to mind . Soju bar ? Korean eating house ? Sports pub ? Karaoke waiting room ? It ’s all of those thing , plus a basket of KFC ( Korean deep-fried wimp ) . find oneself it in the quoin of a strip show mall on north Lamar by a wigging shop and a Tejano bar for basically a perfect nighttime … and get a vodka slush , only $ 3 on Tuesdays .
Troy
Blink and you ’ll overleap it ! Tiny but mighty , Troy is one of the few Turkish places in town . Those who are “ in the know ” fuck that it ’s worth the postponement . The most speak - about stunner is the Beef Iskender – yogurt , doner , and crispen bread , with browned butter poured on top . For those sept wanting to save a twain of bills , it ’s BYOB . There ’s also alive euphony on Thursdays for a side of tune with your Turkish coffee .
Marakesh Cafe & Grill
Marakesh used to be one of the only comme il faut place to eat on Congress . My my , how metre have changed . The new embodiment lives in a small place off of Steck . The interior is retiring , with inlaid roofing tile table , hanging lamp , and bright silk throw pillows . It serves classical in-between Eastern and Mediterranean dishes and often has globe music bands to attach to your dinner party .
Southern Hospitality
Pastor Fred and crew are serving up ego - proclaimed solid food for the mortal , meaning a Southern - style buffet that is smack - yo’-momma good . The snack counter is $ 9.99 , drink admit , and waffles uncommitted at all meals ( obviously ) . Fried wimp , fried fish , mac & cheese , chicken fried steak , cornbread , sugared corn , collard commons … the list is endless . verify you check over the schedule before head up over , as it ’s close for Bible bailiwick on Wednesdays .
Royal Jelly
No , this is not a jam shop … but it is the jam . Take a right field onto St. Johns from Lamar , and you ’ve come ; this piffling gastropub is the first to pop up on this road , though it ’s assuredly not the last . Happy hour runs all day on Sunday , and 4 - 7pm Tuesday through Saturday . Small dental plate change all the metre , but the goat meatballs and merguez sliders are systematically available . lave it down with a Mol’e Fashioned , or some house - made sangria .
Vazquez Restaurant
This mom - and - pop Mexican nose dive might be surround by industrial building , but the Vazquez family has been serve it up spicy and brisk for over 20 years . The parking is tricky for sure , but once you get in , you ’re greeted with hot salsa , chilaquiles , enchiladas divorciadas , cheap breakfast tacos , and carne guisada freehanded enough for two repast . Fair admonition : the chips & salsa are seemingly endless .
Saffron
Nepalese and Indian intellectual nourishment come together here in a glorious profusion of flavors . As you credibly glean from its name , Saffron has a heavy hand when it occur to the bright and lovely flavors of both cultures . It ’s an Instagrammer ’s dream . Vegetarians and meat eaters alike will find something on its extensive carte . Try a small bit of all matter at the lunch sideboard . BYOB just sweetens the pot .
G’s Dynamite Deli
It feels like erstwhile Austin in here – wall covered in poster and sticker , a small walking - up parry , tiny kitchen , and bangin ’ sandwiches . It uses only the bracing ingredients , and you ’ll be severely - pressed to choose between killer menu options . Topping the list are the Texas Dip ( with Shiner Bock gold jus ) and the spinach artichoke grill cheeseflower , mushroom brie soup , and the buffalo chicken salad sandwich .
Alta’s Cafe
What if we state you there was a spot right on Town Lake with a pure terrace , fresh smoothies , cold brew coffee tree , local beer , excellent wine , destitute yoga on Tuesday mornings , and bottomless silver wattle on every first Saturday ? It ’s not too good to be true . Head over to Alta ’s , a posh coffee bar right next to Rō Fitness , and you too can endure witness to the ultimate unavowed spot for taking a break from the trail .
Cafe Bistro
This restaurant is n’t just hidden … it ’s entirely obscured by Nordstrom . Did you know Nordstrom had a restaurant ? Now you do . Give those reference cards and your butt a residuum and enjoy a sports stadium of crab bisque , fresh berry & fig salad … or an entire brick - oven pizza pie . The bistro is dedicated to local , sustainable , lifelike , and organic solid food . It also fully composts and recycles . Even the menus are made of post - consumer waste .
Gammad Oriental Store & Restaurant
In the way of many Asian markets in Austin , this is both a grocery shop and a small eatery . The market offer grocery store that launch the gamut , but the prepared food is chiefly Filipino . For the uninitiated , pork barrel adobo or caldereta ( beef lather ) are probably the items most familiar to the American palate . The place is n’t long on atmosphere , but the authenticity constituent is pretty bloody high-pitched .
JR’s Tacos
In this era of food - as - organized religion , even gas station are stepping up their nutrient secret plan . grade your monastic order at JR ’s windowpane and watch those Guy get to shape on make something fresh and fast . The crack of an egg , the sizzle of the grill , the on - point green salsa … cull up a 44 oz Slurpee to couple with your breakfast tacos . We recommend take it to go ( or do n’t , if the neon beer signs assume you as romantic ) .
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Alta’s Cafe
College RoadHouse
Marakesh Cafe and Grill
Royal Jelly
Saffron Indian Fusion
Alta’s Cafe