Living out in Round Rock, a trip downtown for dinner has to be worth it. When you’re juggling family life, you want to know that the drive, the time, and the money are going toward a genuinely great experience.
For me, it all comes down to the quality of the food. If a place is expensive, it better deliver.
Over the years, I’ve found a few spots that consistently hit the mark.
These are the places I keep going back to and recommend to anyone looking for a great meal in Austin.
MEXTA Mexican Restaurant
This is, hands down, probably our new favorite restaurant. I want to give it at least a nine out of ten.
The food, the service, the ambiance, it’s all really good. We went and shared just about everything.
The Shrimp Tacos were fantastic, and I was surprisingly impressed by their Caesar Salad. My wife really enjoyed the bisque, and the Lobster Roll was another standout.
It’s one of those places that’s worth the price because the quality is just there.
QI Austin
I really enjoy Chinese food, and while it’s been a moment since I’ve been here, QI Austin is a place I’d give a solid seven out of ten.
It has a cool ambiance and a decent price point. It’s the kind of place where you can be adventurous.
My wife and I really enjoyed the QI Soup Dumplings, Sesame Chicken, Roasted Pork Belly, and Lobster Cheese Roll.
Franklin Barbecue
When you talk about barbecue in Austin, you have to talk about Franklin. It’s the most famous one for a reason—it is, bar none, probably the best barbecue in Austin.
People wait in line for hours just to get in or pick up an order, and they serve until they run out, which happens fast.
Fun fact: The worst barbecue in Austin is still better than 99% of what you’ll find elsewhere in the country, and Franklin is the absolute top tier.
If you go, you have to get the Ribs and Brisket. It’s legendary.
Lamberts
While Franklin is the king of pure barbecue, Lamberts offers a different kind of experience that I really appreciate.
What differentiates it is the ambiance. It feels more like a high-end restaurant than your typical smoky, picnic-style BBQ joint. They have live music, and the whole atmosphere makes for a great night out.
It’s where you go when you want incredible barbecue but also a more refined, sit-down dining experience.
Red Ash
For context, I used to live in the Northeast, so I am very critical of Italian food and pizza.
In my opinion, the best Italian food is in New York. That said, Red Ash is the only truly good Italian restaurant I’ve been to in Texas. It absolutely lives up to the standard.
The Octopus a la Plancha is incredible, and even the bread is amazing. If you have a high standard for Italian food and find yourself in Texas, this is the place to go.
Conclusion
So there you have it. A few of my go-to places in Austin that are always worth the trip.
Whether you’re in the mood for authentic barbecue, high-quality Italian, or adventurous Chinese, these restaurants have never let me down.
For me, it’s all about the experience and whether the food lives up to the hype, and these spots consistently deliver.
Here’s a quick recap of my top picks:
- MEXTA Mexican Restaurant: A solid 9/10 with an incredible menu where you really can’t go wrong.
- QI Austin: The perfect place for adventurous Chinese food.
- Franklin Barbecue: The legendary, undisputed king of Austin barbecue.
- Lamberts: Where you go for fantastic barbecue but in a more refined, sit-down restaurant setting with great ambiance and live music.
- Red Ash: A must-try for authentic, top-quality Italian food.