Barley Swine
Contemporary · 6555 Burnet Rd., Ste. 400 · Website · Instagram
Bryce Gilmore's seasonal tasting menu blends Southwestern, Mexican and Southern flavors, like ribeye with crispy black garlic.

Craft Omakase
Japanese · 4400 N. Lamar Blvd., Ste. 102 · Website · Instagram
Uchiko alums serve a restrained omakase of Japanese-sourced fish, from hamachi crudo to crispy-skin ocean trout.

Fabrik
New star · Vegan · 3108 Windsor Rd. · Website · Instagram
An all-plant tasting menu that turns Texas mushrooms, beets and corn into main courses.

Hestia
American · 607 W. 3rd St. · Website · Instagram
Emmer & Rye's downtown spot built around a 20-foot hearth, where nearly every dish meets fire or smoke.

InterStellar BBQ
Barbecue · 12233 Ranch Rd. 620 N., Ste. 105 · Website · Instagram
Former sandwich shop turned top-ranked barbecue joint, known for peppery brisket and peach tea–glazed pork belly.

Kappo Kappo
New star · Japanese · 600 W. 2nd St. · Website · Instagram
Paris-born twin chefs run a 25-seat Japanese-French counter inside the Austin Proper Hotel.

LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue
Barbecue · 5621 Emerald Forest Dr. · Website · Instagram
Food truck turned brick-and-mortar; skip past the brisket for the sausages, barbacoa and whole hog.

Briscuits
Barbecue · 4204 Menchaca Rd. · Website · Instagram
Barbecue on a biscuit; the brisket biscuit with smoked strawberry jam is the move.

Cuantos Tacos
Mexican · 1108 E. 12th St. · Website · Instagram
Mexico City–style tacos of carnitas, longaniza and cachete on small corn tortillas.

Dai Due
American · 2406 Manor Rd., Ste. A · Website · Instagram
Texas-sourced butcher shop and restaurant built on wild game, house sausages and ferments.

Distant Relatives
Barbecue · 3901 Promontory Point Dr. · Website · Instagram
African diaspora barbecue; the pecan-smoked chicken with chile vinegar butter is the standout.

Emmer & Rye
American · 51 Rainey St. · Website
Rainey Street flagship of the Emmer & Rye group, known for house-milled grains and handmade pasta.

Franklin Barbecue
Barbecue · 900 E. 11th St. · Website · Instagram
The famous line is for brisket sliced to order with a dark char, plus ribs and sausage.

Kemuri Tatsu-ya
Izakaya · 2713 E. 2nd St. · Website
A Japanese izakaya in an old barbecue building, serving mashups like cornbread taiyaki and smoked brisket.

KG BBQ
Barbecue · 3108 Manor Rd. · Website · Instagram
Egyptian spices meet Texas smoke in lamb shoulder with dukkah and sumac-honey chicken.

La Santa Barbacha
Mexican · 2806 Manor Rd. · Website · Instagram
Family barbacoa trailer; get the quesabarbacha folded in a beet-red tortilla.

Mercado Sin Nombre
Mexican · 408 N. Pleasant Valley Rd. · Website · Instagram
East Austin café built on heirloom masa, from a blue-masa Twinkie to a 100-hour biscuit.

Micklethwait Craft Meats
Barbecue · 4602 Tanney St. · Website · Instagram
East Austin pit in a former church; brisket and sausage with jalapeño cheese grits.

Nixta Taqueria
Mexican · 2512 E. 12th St. · Website
James Beard–winning taqueria pressing heirloom corn tortillas daily for duck carnitas tacos.

Odd Duck
American · 1201 S. Lamar Blvd. · Website · Instagram
Bryce Gilmore's shareable, ever-changing menu of Texas ingredients with global flavors.

Parish Barbecue
Barbecue · 10300 Springdale Rd. · Website · Instagram
Central Texas barbecue with a Louisiana accent: Cajun rubs, Tabasco glazes and boudin.

Veracruz Fonda & Bar
Mexican · 1905 Aldrich St. · Website
Sisters behind the Veracruz trucks serve their mother's fonda cooking; try the cochinita taco.

Apt 115
Fusion · 2025 E. 7th St., Apt. 115 · Website · Instagram
Hidden wine bar in an apartment building pairing French technique with Southeast Asian flavor.

Birdie's
European · 2944 E. 12th St. · Website · Instagram
Counter service with fine-dining cooking; the menu travels to a new European region each month.

Comedor
Mexican · 501 Colorado St. · Website · Instagram
Masa meets the wood grill in bone marrow tacos and a chocolate tamal.

Din Ho Chinese BBQ
Chinese · 8557 Research Blvd., Ste. 116 · Website · Instagram
North Austin's longtime home for Cantonese barbecue: roast duck, char siu and crackly pork belly.

Discada
Mexican · 1700 E. César Chavez St. · Website
One dish, done right: beef and pork discada on corn tortillas with pineapple slaw.

Este
Mexican · 2113 Manor Rd.
Suerte's sister restaurant serves seafood-led Mexican cooking in a 1920s house and garden.

Ezov
Israeli · 2708 E. Cesar Chavez St.
Israeli small plates from Emmer & Rye, like beef-and-lamb kebab and baklava with tahini ice cream.

Jeffrey's
Contemporary · 1204 W. Lynn St. · Website · Instagram
Clarksville classic since 1975, now a clubby room for steaks and duck au poivre.

Joe's Bakery & Coffee Shop
Tex-Mex · 2305 E. 7th St. · Website · Instagram
Family-run East Austin institution since 1962 for migas tacos, barbacoa and conchas.

la Barbecue
Barbecue · 2401 E. Cesar Chavez St. · Website · Instagram
Austin barbecue mainstay known for brisket, house-made sausages and beef ribs.

La Condesa
Mexican · 400A W. 2nd St. · Website · Instagram
Modern Mexico City cooking downtown since 2009; get the tuna tostada and churros.

Launderette
Contemporary · 2115 Holly St. · Website · Instagram
A converted laundromat diner with standout beef tartare and tonka bean mille-feuille.

Le Calamar
French · 1600 S. 1st St., Ste. 100
A Texas take on the French bistro on South First, opened in 2025.

Lenoir
Contemporary · 1807 S. 1st St. · Website · Instagram
South First bungalow with a farm-driven menu that changes every six weeks.

Ling Kitchen
Chinese · 8423 Research Blvd.
Ling Qi Wu's Chinese tasting menu with luxury touches, like goldfish-shaped seafood dumplings.

Lutie's
American · 4100 Red River St. · Website
Seasonal Texas heritage cooking inside the historic Commodore Perry Estate.

Mexta
Mexican · 106 E. 6th St., Ste. 110
Refined Mexican cooking in the historic Littlefield Building, from aguachiles to mole.

Mum Foods Smokehouse & Delicatessen
Barbecue · 5811 Manor Rd.
Farmers market favorite turned deli; the pastrami on house rye is the signature.

Siti
South East Asian · 1123 E. 11th St. · Website · Instagram
Pan-Southeast Asian plates like wagyu spring rolls and duck confit char kway teow.

Suerte
Mexican · 1800 E. 6th St. · Website · Instagram
Masa-focused Mexican on East Sixth; order the suadero tacos and tuna tiradito.

Tare
Japanese · 12414 Alderbrook Dr. · Website
Unsigned North Austin counter for dry-aged fish with Texas touches.

Terry Black's BBQ
Barbecue · 1003 Barton Springs Rd. · Website · Instagram
Lockhart barbecue lineage on Barton Springs Road; big beef ribs and prime brisket.

Toshokan
Sushi · 807 E. 4th St. · Website · Instagram
A six-seat omakase hidden behind a bookshelf, with playful, heavily dressed nigiri.

BCN Taste & Tradition
Spanish · 4210 Roseland St. · Website · Instagram
Barcelona-style Spanish in a 1920s bungalow; Iberian suckling pig and a gin-and-tonic menu.

Le Jardinier Houston
French · 5500 Main St. · Website · Instagram
Vegetable-forward French cooking inside the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

March
Creative · 1624 Westheimer Rd. · Website · Instagram
A tasting menu that explores one Mediterranean region at a time.

Musaafer
Indian · 5115 Westheimer Rd., Ste. 3500 · Website · Instagram
Palatial Galleria dining room for regional Indian cooking, like Malabari fish curry.

Tatemó
Mexican · 4740 Dacoma St., Unit F · Website · Instagram
BYOB heirloom-corn tasting menu, from tuna-and-caviar tostadas to mole negro.

Annam
Vietnamese · 811 Buffalo Park Dr., Ste. 120 · Website · Instagram
Vietnamese with French accents from the MF Sushi chef; try the shaking filet mignon.

Bar Buena
Mexican · 2002 W. Gray St. · Website
Goode Co.'s hidden agave lounge with Gulf shrimp aguachile and crab tostadas.

Casaema
Mexican · 5307 N. Main St., #100
Heirloom corn and coffee café; guava-queso empanadas and brisket chilaquiles.

ChòpnBlọk
African · 507 Westheimer Rd. · Website
West African rice bowls, from jollof jambalaya to suya beef skewers.

da Gama Canteen
Indian · 600 N. Shepherd Dr., Ste. 520 · Website
Portuguese tapas tracing routes to Goa and East Africa; finish with pastel de nata.

Khói Barbecue
Barbecue · 515 Patton St. · Website
Texas barbecue meets Vietnamese flavor; fish sauce–glazed chicken and coconut curry beef rib.

Kitchen Rumors
Fusion · 2310 Decatur St. · Website · Instagram
Indian-meets-global plates like butter chicken ramen and bison short rib nihari.

Mala Sichuan Bistro
Chinese · 9348 Bellaire Blvd. · Website · Instagram
Sichuan heat balanced, not oily; kung pao chicken and sweet-and-sour lotus root.

Maximo
Mexican · 6119 Edloe St. · Website
Progressive Mexican with in-house tortillas and smoked pork chop with peanut macha.

Murray's Pizza & Wine
Pizza · 9655 Katy Fwy., Ste. 3115 · Website · Instagram
Thin, crisp sourdough pizzas with a wine list strong in grower Champagnes.

Nam Giao
Vietnamese · 6938 Wilcrest Dr.
Family-run Little Saigon spot for the cooking of Huế, from rice cakes to crisp bánh khoái.

Nancy's Hustle
Contemporary · 2704 Polk St. · Website · Instagram
EaDo favorite for sesame sourdough, rib eye and parmesan cheesecake.

nobie's
American · 2048 Colquitt St. · Website · Instagram
Montrose bungalow full of records; order the dilly milk bread and daily pie.

Papalo Taqueria
Mexican · 712 Main St. · Website
Downtown taqueria griddling heirloom-corn tortillas all day.

Pinkerton's Barbecue
Barbecue · 1504 Airline Dr. · Website · Instagram
Get the giant beef rib before it sells out, then the mesquite-and-oak prime brisket.

Rosie Cannonball
Contemporary · 1620 Westheimer Rd. · Website · Instagram
Wood-fired Italian in Montrose, from focaccia di Recco to honey cake.

Street to Kitchen
Thai · 3401 Harrisburg Blvd., Ste. G · Website · Instagram
James Beard–winning Thai cooking: fiery papaya salad and deep house-made curries.

The Pit Room
Barbecue · 1201 Richmond Ave. · Website · Instagram
Montrose barbecue with prime brisket and tortillas made from brisket trimmings.

Theodore Rex
Contemporary · 1302 Nance St. · Website · Instagram
Justin Yu's shareable plates with precise seasoning, ending with brûléed butter cake.

Truth BBQ
Barbecue · 110 S. Heights Blvd. · Website · Instagram
Brenham-born barbecue in the Heights; go early for brisket, corn pudding and cake.

Xolo
Mexican · 223 Westheimer Rd. · Website
Mexico City cocktail bar with a Texas wagyu taco and blue corn tetela.

1111
Mexican · 1111 Westheimer Rd.
Big Montrose bar with a menu by Tatemó's chef; whole charcoal-grilled sea bass.

Agnes and Sherman
Asian · 250 W. 19th St., Ste. A · Website · Instagram
Asian American comfort food in the Heights, like crawfish egg foo young.

Angie's Pizza
Pizza · 1002 W. 11th St., Ste. A
Wood-fired pizza from a Chris Bianco alum; get the piccante with Calabrian honey.

Bar Bludorn
American · 9061 Gaylord Dr. · Website · Instagram
Bludorn's neighborhood tavern; start with ricotta beignets under Benton's ham.

Baso
American · 633 W. 19th St., #A
Basque live-fire cooking, from nduja oysters to Basque cheesecake with caviar.

Bludorn
American · 807 Taft St. · Website
Seafood-forward American from a Café Boulud alum; ends with a flaming baked Alaska.

Candente
Tex-Mex · 4306 Yoakum Blvd.
Sizzling prime beef fajitas with brisket-trimming tortillas, from The Pit Room team.

Credence
Contemporary · 9757 Katy Fwy., #170 · Website · Instagram
Live-fire ranch cooking from Levi Goode; dry-aged strip and deviled crab.

Di An Pho
Vietnamese · 12934 Bellaire Blvd., Ste. 108
Short pho menu with a chef who inspects nearly every bowl.

J-Bar-M Barbecue
Barbecue · 2201 Leeland St.
EaDo barbecue with peppery brisket, jalapeño cheddar sausage and brisket lasagna.

Jantra
Creative · 3401 Harrisburg Blvd., Ste. G½
Eight-seat tasting counter from James Beard winner Benchawan Jabthong Painter.

Josephine's
Fish and Seafood · 318 Gray St.
Gulf seafood with Mississippi roots; hot catfish sandwich and blue crab rice.

Levant BBQ
Barbecue · 5884 Westheimer Rd.
Middle Eastern spices on Texas barbecue, like smoked lamb neck and beef ribs.

Mayahuel
Mexican · 811 Buffalo Park Dr., Ste. 130
Heirloom-corn Mexican tasting menu named for the goddess of agave.

Oru
Japanese · 746 W. 24th St.
À la carte sushi bar cooking rice to order, plus A5 wagyu lumpia.

Osteria di Mercato
Italian · 3642 University Blvd., #101 · Website · Instagram
Intimate Italian osteria; try sweet corn mezzaluna and chocolate Basque cheesecake.

Pappas Bros. Steakhouse
Steakhouse · 5839 Westheimer Rd. · Website · Instagram
Houston's classic prime steakhouse with in-house dry-aging and a deep wine list.

Perseid
French · 4110 Loretto Dr. · Website
Bludorn's French bistro in Hotel Saint Augustine; trout amandine and roast duck.

Sushi Horiuchi
Japanese · 2701 W. Dallas St.
Six-seat omakase with luxe courses like Osetra caviar on sea bass.

The Marigold Club
European · 2531 Kuester St. · Website · Instagram
London-inspired dining room serving duck Wellington and a stuffed veal chop.

Mamani
Contemporary · 2681 Howell St., #BU4 · Website · Instagram
French bistronomie from a former Joël Robuchon chef; Dover sole and Paris-Brest.

Tatsu Dallas
Japanese · 3309 Elm St., Ste. 120 · Website · Instagram
Ten-seat Edomae omakase from a fourth-generation sushi chef in Deep Ellum.

Goldee's Bar-B•Q
New star · Barbecue · 4645 Dick Price Rd., Fort Worth · Website
Fort Worth's first star: post oak-smoked brisket from one of Texas' top-ranked barbecue joints.

Cattleack Barbeque
Barbecue · 13628 Gamma Rd. · Website
Long-line barbecue for oak-and-hickory brisket, wagyu pastrami and pork steak.

Gemma
American · 2323 N. Henderson Ave., Ste. 109 · Website · Instagram
Seasonal American plates on Henderson; start with the warm raisin scone.

Một Hai Ba
Fusion · 6047 Lewis St. · Website · Instagram
Vietnamese-French-Texan small plates like brisket bao and tempura squash blossoms.

Ngon Vietnamese Kitchen
Vietnamese · 1907 Greenville Ave.
Hanoi street food, from green papaya salad to chargrilled pork noodle bowls.

nonna
Italian · 4115 Lomo Alto Dr. · Website
Highland Park pasta favorite since 2007; the white clam pie is a must.

Resident Taqueria
Mexican · 9661 Audelia Rd., #112 · Website · Instagram
Chef-driven tacos on house flour tortillas, like pork belly burnt ends with salsa macha.

Barsotti's
Italian · 4208 Oak Lawn Ave.
Homemade pasta trattoria on Oak Lawn; shrimp scampi and lasagna Bolognese.

Crown Block
Steakhouse · 300 Reunion Blvd. E. · Website · Instagram
Steakhouse atop Reunion Tower with skyline views and triple-cooked fries.

El Carlos Elegante
Mexican · 1400 N. Riverfront Blvd. · Website · Instagram
Hacienda-style Mexican with a wood-fired grill and tableside al pastor tacos.

Fearing's Restaurant
American · 2121 McKinney Ave. · Website · Instagram
Dean Fearing's Ritz-Carlton flagship for refined Southwestern cooking.

Fond
American · 1601 Elm St., Ste. 110
Downtown day-to-night spot for Detroit-style pizza and olive oil soft serve.

Knox Bistro
French · 3230 Knox St. · Website · Instagram
French bistro classics on Knox Street, from duck à l'orange to Paris-Brest.

Lucia
Italian · 287 N. Bishop Ave. · Website
Intimate Bishop Arts Italian built around house-made pastas and cured meats.

Mercat Bistro
French · 2501 N. Harwood St., Ste. 225 · Website · Instagram
Classic French bistro in the Harwood District; escargots and moules frites.

Mister Charles
Contemporary · 3219 Knox St., Ste. 170 · Website
Glamorous Knox Street dining room for caviar fusilli and Texas wagyu Wellington.

Monarch
Italian-American · 1401 Elm St. · Website · Instagram
Wood-fired Italian on the 49th floor of The National, with handmade pastas.

MĀBO
Japanese · 6109 Berkshire Ln., Ste. B
Counter omakase that moves into binchotan-grilled yakitori.

Olōyō
Mexican · 4422 Gaston Ave.
Heirloom-corn Mexican cooking inspired by chef Olivia López's native Colima.

Quarter Acre
Contemporary · 2023 Greenville Ave., Ste. 110
Lower Greenville spot with à la carte or a tasting menu that ends with fire-cooked courses.

Sachet
Mediterranean Cuisine · 4270 Oak Lawn Ave. · Website · Instagram
Mediterranean meze from Morocco to Spain, from Gemma's owners.

Stillwell's
Steakhouse · 2575 McKinnon St. · Website · Instagram
Hôtel Swexan steakhouse serving Akaushi beef from its own breeding program.

Stock & Barrel
American · 316 W. Davis St. · Website · Instagram
Bishop Arts comfort food reworked, from wagyu meatloaf to croissant bread pudding.

Sushi Kozy
Japanese · 2000 Ross Ave., Ste. 150 · Website
Arts District omakase from a former Uchi Dallas head sushi chef.

Tei-An
Japanese · 1722 Routh St. · Website · Instagram
Handmade soba and udon from a pioneer of Japanese food in Dallas.

Written By The Seasons
Contemporary · 380 Melba St. · Website
Vegetable-driven seasonal cooking in Bishop Arts; start with the focaccia.

Birrieria y Taqueria Cortez
Mexican · 2108 E. Rosedale St., Fort Worth · Website
Jalisco-style birria from a family recipe; get the cheesy quesatacos.

Panther City BBQ
Barbecue · 201 E. Hattie St., Fort Worth · Website · Instagram
Peppery brisket with Tex-Mex extras like brisket elote and smoked mac and cheese.

Isidore
American · 221 Newell Ave. · Website · Instagram
Live-fire hearth cooking at Pullman Market; popcorn chicken and a 23-spice pork chop.

Mixtli
Mexican · 812 S. Alamo St., Ste. 103 · Website
Rotating tasting menus, each exploring a region or era of Mexico's culinary past.

Nicōsi
Creative · 221 Newell Ave. · Website · Instagram
A 20-seat dessert tasting counter from Tavel Bristol-Joseph at Pullman Market.

Cullum's Attaboy
French · 111 Kings Ct. · Website · Instagram
Brunch-only spot that started in an Airstream; French omelets and powdered doughnuts.

Ladino
Mediterranean Cuisine · 200 E. Grayson St., #100 · Website · Instagram
Israeli cooking from Emmer & Rye with puffy sourdough pita and lamb dumplings.

Mezquite
Mexican · 221 Newell Ave. · Website · Instagram
Sonoran-style Mexican at Pullman Market; ceviches and paper-thin flour tortillas.

Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery
American · 136 E. Grayson St., Ste. 120 · Website · Instagram
Gulf Coast seafood and house beer in the original Pearl brewhouse.

The Jerk Shack
Jamaican · 10234 Texas 151, Ste. 103 · Website · Instagram
Jamaican cooking from an Army veteran; get the mixed jerk and fried chicken plate.

2M Smokehouse
Barbecue · 2731 S. WW White Rd. · Website
Barbecue cut to order with Mexican-leaning sides like chicharrón mac and cheese.

Garcia's Mexican Food
Tex-Mex · 842 Fredericksburg Rd.
Family-run since 1962; come for eggs, salsa and the brisket taco.

Leche de Tigre
Peruvian · 318 E. Cevallos St.
Southtown Peruvian cevichería with pisco sours on the patio.

Little Em's Oyster Bar
Fish and Seafood · 1024 S. Alamo St.
Pink-and-white oyster bar with fish tacos and a lobster roll.

Lovers Pizzeria
Pizza · 105 E. Ashby Pl.
Sourdough pizza from a 2M Smokehouse alum; 16-inch pies with house sausage.

Petit Coquin
French · 1012 S. Presa St. · Website · Instagram
A 24-seat French bistro with a short, changing prix fixe.

Reese Bros Barbecue
Barbecue · 906 Hoefgen Ave. · Website
Brisket with house flour tortillas and salsa instead of white bread.

Signature Restaurant
American · 16401 La Cantera Pkwy. · Website
Seafood-heavy fine dining at La Cantera Resort with a big wine list.

CorkScrew BBQ
Barbecue · 26608 Keith St., Spring · Website · Instagram
Red oak–smoked beef ribs and brisket that sell out regularly.

Belly of the Beast
Mexican · 5200 FM 2920 Rd., Ste. 180, Spring · Website
James Beard–winning Mexican cooking that borrows freely, like duck with cherry mole.

Rosemeyer Bar-B-Q
Barbecue · 2111 Riley Fuzzel Rd., Spring · Website
Picnic-table barbecue for brisket, pork ribs and jalapeño-cheese sausage.

Blood Bros BBQ
Barbecue · 5425 Bellaire Blvd., Bellaire · Website · Instagram
Classic brisket meets Asian mashups like pho-rubbed beef belly banh mi.

Killen's BBQ
Barbecue · 3613 Broadway St., Pearland · Website · Instagram
Fine-dining chef's barbecue; Snake River Farms beef ribs and pork belly burnt ends.

Tejas Chocolate + Barbecue
Barbecue · 200 N. Elm St., Tomball · Website · Instagram
Bean-to-bar chocolate shop turned barbecue spot; prime brisket and Friday beef ribs.

Barbs B Q
Barbecue · 102 E. Market St., Lockhart · Website · Instagram
Lockhart barbecue on the square; lime-zested Molotov ribs and green spaghetti.

Burnt Bean Co.
Barbecue · 108 S. Austin St., Seguin · Website · Instagram
Former cook-off rivals smoking tender brisket in downtown Seguin; beef ribs on weekends.

Hong Kong Food Street
Chinese · 23015 Colonial Pkwy., Ste. A101, Katy
Hong Kong classics, from congee and wonton soup to Portuguese egg tarts.

Smoke'N Ash BBQ
Barbecue · 5904 S. Cooper St., Ste. 110, Arlington · Website
Tex-Ethiopian barbecue with smoked meats seared in spicy awaze sauce.

Harvest at the Masonic
American · 215 N. Kentucky St., McKinney
Farm-to-table cooking in a restored Masonic lodge; try the Creole shrimp.

Jashan
Indian · 7401 Lone Star Dr., Ste. B120, Plano
Regional Indian cooking from Lucknow to Chennai, plus a mango chutney negroni.