Cityscape: Austin, Texas Restaurant Scene
Austin is booming! As one of the fastest-growing major metro areas in the U.S., it has expanded by a third in the past decade and now ranks the eleventh-largest in the country. With about 355 new residents joining the metro area daily, it’s no wonder the hospitality scene here is unmatched.
Austin is a hub of culinary creativity, with innovative concepts that push cultural boundaries, celebrate local fare, and introduce fresh dining options in exciting ways. These concepts truly set the bar for dining experiences in the Lone Star State.
Read on, and y’all enjoy!
Birdie’s
Birdie’s has redefined dining with their innovative “fine-casual” concept. Enjo top-quality, thoughtfully sourced food and expertly curated wines without the fuss of a formal setting. High standards, no frills.
The family-owned and operated restaurant is built on the belief that a career in the food industry should be rewarding and sustainable. We champion this vision by ensuring fair wages and offering fantastic benefits to our team, including paid family leave, subsidized therapy, health insurance, and four weeks of paid vacation annually.
Garbo’s
Garbo’s story traces back to the East Coast, where three sisters fell in love with local lobster shacks and the ocean’s bounty—after moving to land-locked Austin, Texas, Heidi, the eldest sister, introduced the city to her beloved lobster rolls. What started as one food truck soon expanded into multiple trucks and a beloved brick-and-mortar restaurant in North Austin featuring nostalgic dishes from her coastal roots. What sets this concept apart is its ability to traverse typologies and have the idea resonate in everything from a food truck to a full-service restaurant, showing that concepts can scale in all exciting ways.
KG BBQ
Hospitality is a passion and calling for Chef KG. After leaving a finance job in Cairo, Egypt, he moved to Austin to pursue his love for BBQ and smoking meats. By infusing Texas BBQ with the rich flavors of Egypt and the Middle East, he has created a unique fusion that offers a one-of-a-kind experience packed with cultural authenticity and bold flavors.
Chef KG’s love for BBQ extends beyond the plate. He offers cooking classes, including Brisket 101, where guests can learn his techniques and hear about his inspiring journey. This blend of education and culinary artistry makes his concept truly special and a must-try in Austin.
El Naranjo
Chef Iliana De la Vega and her husband Ernesto Torrealba opened El Naranjo in Austin in 2012, bringing their acclaimed traditional Oaxacan fare. Chef, Iliana won the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef – Texas in 2022. At El Naranjo, tortillas are made from scratch using heirloom corn imported from Mexico, which also forms the base for delicious antojitos like tlayudas and gorditas. The star of the menu is the scratch-made mole, particularly the negro de Oaxaca, which takes up to three days and over 30 ingredients to prepare.
The granite-topped bar at El Naranjo is a lively spot to enjoy signature cocktails, ice-cold cerveza, and a fine selection of wines and mezcales, perfectly complementing the dinner menu. By showcasing Oaxacan cuisine, El Naranjo has redefined Tex-Mex in Austin, earning widespread acclaim and admiration.