The best restaurants in Austin right now

Texas is hot, but Canje is hotter. While it was unceremoniously snubbed by a recent guide book, Austinites continue to consider it amongst the best in the city. This East Austin new-age Caribbean spot is one of the hottest dining destinations in the state. With technicolor tastes like wild boar pepper pot, jerk chicken, Haitian griot and ceviche, Canje has a savory spell over the city. All these dishes float to tables to the delight of diners, who will no doubt leave convinced their Caribbean island travel funds should be put to better use with more dinners at Canje. 

Leading the crusade to change the game for the restaurant scene in the city, Intero is at the tip of everyone’s tongue when asking locals where to go to dinner. Light years ahead of your typical sub-par interior U.S. Italian joint, Intero bridges the culinary divide between Texas and Italy with farm-to-table Italian dishes. Far from imports, Krystal Craig and Ian Thurwachter are modern-day Julia Childs of Italian cooking, with a passion for locally sourced ingredients to ensure every dish comes with that inimitable taste of freshness. Expect to dine on dishes made from seasonal ingredients, proteins from their in-house butchery program and bites of chocolate made by Krystal Craig herself.

Adding to the slow-growing list of fantastic restaurants in the Grove, VERDAD is the Mexican spin-off from the talents over at Perry’s Steakhouse. The menu is as thoroughly modern as the restaurant's interior and covers various traditional Mexican cooking styles while infusing them with modern Texan tastes. Guests can expect the same seared meat perfection found at Perry’s with their filet mignon tacos or reconsider if cheese and seafood go together with the lobster quesadilla with Oaxacan cheese. Whatever you order, you'll likely leave the meal knowing the truth about VERDAD being a future classic in the city.

From food truck star to a Michelin star, LeRoy & Lewis continue to be as successful as they are innovative. Ushering in a new barbecue school, the timeless cuisine feels thoroughly modern at LeRoy & Lewis while maintaining a firm flavor of respect for the old ways. Frito pies share space on plates next to kale Caesar slaw while slices of brisket rub proverbial elbows with miso-glazed carrots. This results in a delicious display of where the Austin food scene started, where it is today and where it will be tomorrow. Also, don’t forget to order the banana pudding tiramisu. Seriously.

From James Beard Award-winning chef Iliana de la Vega, this upscale South Lamar restaurant is an Oaxacan oasis on a bustling bar street. Mexican fare is well represented in dishes like mole, seasonal ceviche, and tostadas. Traditional cooking methods are used, and ingredients are fresh and responsibly sourced. If your meal leaves you craving a firsthand experience, check out their Oaxaca and Mexico City culinary tours.

Now a Michelin-starred restaurant, Olamaie is award-winning Michael Fojtasek's ode to Southern cuisine. However, one thing to note is that his dishes are not the heavy and fried fare you might expect. It’s all seasonal here, so expect sample dishes like the Hoppin’ John (Sea island red peas, Carolina gold rice, soft-boiled egg) and the rye-brined pork chop with pecan, sorghum, apple and paprika. The cocktail program and wine list are equally exciting, and at the end of your meal, it's worth checking if they have any of their famous biscuits to go.

Recently crowned a one star for the Michelin Texas guide, executive chef and owner Bryce Gilmore and his staff are dedicated to complex, visually stunning food—and cocktails—on a menu that varies dramatically season by season. In the savory department, sample dishes include black cod with pecan dashi, local long beans, lunchbox peppers, basil vinaigrette and fish sauce pecans. For those with a sweet tooth, order the sunchoke flan and butternut cake. Barley Swine’s larger location makes these delights accessible to more people, and it’s worth going with a group for the adventurous tasting menu experience.

From a gas station to a grocery store, this passion project focusing on Malaysian comfort food has found a home in the hearts of everyone who has tried it. Located inside the Royal Blue Grocer on Congress Ave, this queen of nasi lemak greets her guests like family despite the entire food world descending on her. With national coverage coveting her cooking, Wee's Cozy Kitchen might have to grow to accommodate her growing fan base.

Fabrik is the vegan answer to those praying for something original in multi-course dining in a city overrun with omakase and meaty-tasting menus. As a seven-course celebration of the Earth's bounty, plants take center stage on each plate. Diners can exhale and know their preferences are not delegated to one or two menu items, but rather take their fork to each dish, knowing there's only a master class in the depth of flavor a chef can make with sustainable, locally sourced vegan ingredients. Fabrik is the hopefully first of many fine dining experiences whose only cruelty is that it ends.

At Suerte, chef Fermin Nunez uses local heirloom corn to craft his upscale Mexican dishes, which include goat barbacoa with handmade tortillas and tetela al carbon. A sizable mezcal and tequila menu is available, and you'll find both spirits in Suerte's specialty cocktails, like the Don Dario with reposado tequila, tamarind, sarsaparilla bitters and lime.

With legendary pitmaster Louis Mueller’s granddaughter at the helm, you know this Central Texas-style barbecue joint will be good. As one of three barbecue pits to claim a star from Michelin, La Barbecue serves up stellar brisket, pork ribs and house-made sausage. Sandwiches are tasty, too, both straightforward options and over-the-top ones like La Frito Loco, pulled pork and chopped beef sandwiched between chipotle slaw, Fritos, cheese and jalapeños.

James Robert and Keith House’s creative baby Hissy Fit is the “sassy little sister” to the more grown-up Fixe downtown, but the menu is far from child's play. From baked-to-order breakfast goodies like cinnamon rolls and their famous biscuits to the duck confit melt, Hissy Fit’s all-day southern faire offers playful takes on comforting classics. Even the dessert comes with a refined touch with sticky banana-date toffee cake to round out a meal worth making a scene to have again.

Franklin Barbecue has long produced Texas’ most famous brisket, and the line forms early at this lunch-only spot. James Beard Award and Michelin Bib Gourmand winner Aaron Franklin seasons and smokes his brisket to juicy perfection. It’s so good that people queue up and wait up to four hours for a taste. The line has become an experience in itself, as hungry patrons arrive early in the morning with chairs, drinks and a willingness to chat with strangers.

Everybody knows that Barton Springs institution, El Alma, is the best place for a feast slash party. The multi-tiered rooftop makes for the perfect setting to gather during the weeks surrounding Cinco de Mayo and Dia de Muertos. Outside of the fiestas, things are merrily chill, but the food’s just as lush. Popular items include the duck Relleno and pork tamales, and you can’t go wrong with any of the vast selections of tacos. Of course, no Mexican meal in Austin is complete without a margarita. Their frozen offerings are the medicine during a long, hot Texan summer.

Justine’s is located on the East side,where the city’s culinary scene is thriving with local eateries. Upon entering, though, you'll feel instantly transported to another place—one clad in deep reds, emerald-green velvet and lit by vintage chandeliers. If you’re a sucker for ambiance, you’ll embrace the fact that your dinner will take place over a couple of hours—it’s a great after-bar spot for indulging in cuisine that’s decidedly classic French. Order the escargot Bourguignonne, salade de crabe, steak frites and a Sazerac—or three.

A part of the smoked meats trinity to come away with a Michelin star rating, InterStellar delivers on “the out-of-this-world” compliment reviewers can’t help but use to play off their name. Pitmaster John Bates celebrates the new barbecue trend of expanding the flavors to bring to the pit with peach tea-glazed pork belly and turkey brined with Live Oak Hefeweizen. The line might go to the moon and back, but the pain of waiting melts away once you bite into his acclaimed brisket. 

Catch the throwback vibe at this retro-style diner, complete with a vintage jukebox and checkered tile. The cafe opens early with options like the famous matzo ball caldo, as well as crêpes and omelets. For dinner, indulge in bone marrow bolognese with handkerchief pasta, kale and parmesan. Take advantage of their daily Happy Hour specials or Pub Nights on Sundays, with pub-style Indian food, British Invasion music, and pints of Old Speckled Hen.

This Downtown modern Mexican restaurant is from Chef Philip Speer, formerly of Uchi, and a team of culinary heavy-hitters. The menu features ingredients native to Mexico and influenced by Mexico City’s food scene. There’s a Texas flare, though, which results in standouts like huauzontle fritters, bone marrow tacos with hoja santa-pecan gremolata and masa spaetzle. The impressive bar list features classic cocktails like the Comedor Margarita and more than 100 agave-based spirits.

Recommended by Michelin's new Texas guide, Garrison’s long been on every Austinite bucket list, and it never fails to live up to sky-high expectations. The upscale grill house fuses big-city glamor with small-town southern hospitality, and the food is as tasty as the Texan fare should be. That’s thanks to Chef Jakub Czyszczon, who grills with Texas post oak flame and uses all fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The result is the juiciest selection of steaks, fish and poultry. Don’t miss their famed tater tots (with aerated gruyere cheese and generous black truffle), the smokey grilled Texas redfish, and the warm pecan souffle.

The decadent French-inspired house, just north of downtown, is both a dinner date night haven and a happening weekend spot for cocktails or brunch with the gang. Sit against sultry velvet walls in the company of fabulously chic antiques and tuck into delights like steak tartare, whipped cheeses and charcuterie; and if you're feeling extra fancy, caviar with creme fraiche. Sunday brunch, meanwhile, is all about the oyster tower. Honey Moon Spirit Lounge takes advantage of the warm Southern weather with a breezy patio where you can enjoy an extensive selection of beers, ciders, wines, cocktails and more.

Another successful son of the Uchi empire, Chef Charlie Wang’s Craft brought in the only Michelin star for omakase in Austin. The accolade is drowned out by local praise for Wang’s take as he continually delivers a dinner that leaves guests blown away, despite feeling satisfyingly full. Entrust that every dish will allow the richness of the fish to shine through without any distraction as Craft centers its service on embracing complex flavors through simplicity. Every detail in the restaurant matters equal to what is served, right down to the unscented soap in the restrooms to not interfere with the handheld nigiri. It’s an easy choice you’ll likely make again after the first of many visits.

From the coast to cattle, the team behind Bill’s Oysters has come ashore with their southwestern grill, Teddy’s. While a certain restaurant at 45th and Lamar wins Austinites over with its take on the style, Teddy’s provides a more elevated menu. Their take on flautas includes duck confit as the main meat to remind diners why duck is always the right choice, while their Texas chili with beef tongue and an option to add bone marrow satiates the cravings of more carnivorous diners. Teddy's proves this team can culinarily conquer both land and sea in an extravagant style.

Growing the presence of international cuisines on the east side of Austin, OKO imports a taste of the Philippines to East Sixth Street. James Beard Winner Chef Paul Qui and  Michelin-starred Aureole and Aquavit alum Chef Harold Villarosa expertly infuse the flavors of Manilla, Ilo Ilo City and a hint of Hawaii with a Texan flair for a menu worth flying in for. From the oxtail kare-kare with nine-hour braised oxtail meat, peanut butter, annatto seed and beef stock sauce (kare-kare) to the graham cracker crusted calamansi (Philippine lime/lemon) cream pie, expect to look up prices for flights to Manilla after tasting your latest favorite cuisine at OKO. P.S. Ask about their not-so-secret menu for an even more exploratory night out.

Arguably, one of the best sushi experiences of your life is closer to you than you think… inside your very own home. No, you’re not about to magically be a sushi savant; Choo Sando offers take-home Omakase kits for anyone who wants to combine the decadence of the multi-plate experience with the comforts of home. Already beloved for his sandos that sell out faster than any Taylor Swift ticket, head chef Dong Ho Choo takes his talents to the omakase experience by preparing immaculately cut fish. A rainbow of fish with dozens of cuts comes with each kit, and while it’s pricey for takeout, the experience of dining on prime cuts of tuna while watching your favorite TV is priceless.