Spending four days in Austin. What to see, do and eat?
October 11, 2016 12:00 PM Subscribe
SO and I will be in Austin Tx from late on October 30 to early on November 3. We're staying close to downtown and we'll have a vehicle. We're not into the 20 something bar scene. We'd much rather listen to some music (blues and country) and eat some good food. Not really picky eaters, but at least one BBQ meal. Franklins is amazing, but we're not sure we want to line up for 3 hours. Any suggestions from the community?
The Broken Spoke for country music. Iconic and dancing.
posted by GPF at 12:17 PM on October 11, 2016
posted by GPF at 12:17 PM on October 11, 2016
Places to go:
Rudys (worst bbq in texas, so good) a chain so there are surely better places but it's so solid....
Uchiko (amazing food, "farmhouse japanese" very creative)
Avoid chuys. It's just not good and i often get dragged to one when in town. Ugh.
posted by chasles at 12:22 PM on October 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
Rudys (worst bbq in texas, so good) a chain so there are surely better places but it's so solid....
Uchiko (amazing food, "farmhouse japanese" very creative)
Avoid chuys. It's just not good and i often get dragged to one when in town. Ugh.
posted by chasles at 12:22 PM on October 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
Short trip out of the city to Lockhart for BBQ. I am partial to Kreutz's there, but you essentially can't go wrong with any single place there.
posted by goggie at 12:34 PM on October 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by goggie at 12:34 PM on October 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
I've never been to Austin, but when I go I am definitely going to see the bats.
posted by ejs at 12:34 PM on October 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by ejs at 12:34 PM on October 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
Seconding the Lockhart suggestion. When we visited for the F1 race a couple years back we made that trip and it was delicious.
(Related AskMe.)
posted by notyou at 1:13 PM on October 11, 2016
(Related AskMe.)
posted by notyou at 1:13 PM on October 11, 2016
Just nearby Franklin's is my favorite bbq spot. No waiting in line. Micklethwait Craft Meat.
I have also never had a bad meal from any of the places on Rainey Street. They're all relatively new spots, but Banger's seems to have a reputation at this point (based on anecdotal conversations). Via313 has great Detroit Style Pizza. Since you're not into the 20s bar thing, I would do this during afternoon hours (but also check because some places don't open until 4). The street gets crazy once it gets dark. Both places on Rainey also have some of the top beer lists in town, if that's your thing.
Speaking of beer, I would Absolutely 1000% recommend the drive out to the Hill Country and stopping by Jester King if you're into farmhouse beers. Even if you're not, its one of the prettiest places in 'town,' and its sister company is a great pizza place called Stanley's that serves excellent non-farmhouse beers.
nthing Elephant Room for jazz and Broken Spoke for country. The bats are also really cool if you're into nature.
If you're into non-beer alcohol options, you can memail me. Same for coffee.
posted by lownote at 1:15 PM on October 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
I have also never had a bad meal from any of the places on Rainey Street. They're all relatively new spots, but Banger's seems to have a reputation at this point (based on anecdotal conversations). Via313 has great Detroit Style Pizza. Since you're not into the 20s bar thing, I would do this during afternoon hours (but also check because some places don't open until 4). The street gets crazy once it gets dark. Both places on Rainey also have some of the top beer lists in town, if that's your thing.
Speaking of beer, I would Absolutely 1000% recommend the drive out to the Hill Country and stopping by Jester King if you're into farmhouse beers. Even if you're not, its one of the prettiest places in 'town,' and its sister company is a great pizza place called Stanley's that serves excellent non-farmhouse beers.
nthing Elephant Room for jazz and Broken Spoke for country. The bats are also really cool if you're into nature.
If you're into non-beer alcohol options, you can memail me. Same for coffee.
posted by lownote at 1:15 PM on October 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
Micklethwait (http://craftmeatsaustin.com/) and La Barbecue (http://www.labarbecue.com/) are solid choices for BBQ, and the lines aren't as horrendous as Franklin's.
Terry Black's (http://terryblacksbbq.com/) and Cooper's (http://coopersbbqaustin.com/) are part of the BBQ Mafia Families, and the line vs taste are a better tradeoff than the more hip and popular places.
As always, when you're in Texas, try the brisket. Sausage and birds are side dishes.
The food in this city has come a long way in the last 5-10 years. You can get pretty solid Ramen (http://ramen-tatsuya.com/), or try some interesting and amazing sushi at Uchi/Uchiko.
Seconding Broken Spoke & Elephant Room for music.
I'm hitting the Rev show on the 26th, so I'm biased towards that recommendation. If you're a fan of rockabilly and haven't seen them play, it's a treat in a great Austin venue.
Feel free to MeMail me if you need any more recommendations or have any questions!
posted by fnord at 1:21 PM on October 11, 2016 [2 favorites]
Terry Black's (http://terryblacksbbq.com/) and Cooper's (http://coopersbbqaustin.com/) are part of the BBQ Mafia Families, and the line vs taste are a better tradeoff than the more hip and popular places.
As always, when you're in Texas, try the brisket. Sausage and birds are side dishes.
The food in this city has come a long way in the last 5-10 years. You can get pretty solid Ramen (http://ramen-tatsuya.com/), or try some interesting and amazing sushi at Uchi/Uchiko.
Seconding Broken Spoke & Elephant Room for music.
I'm hitting the Rev show on the 26th, so I'm biased towards that recommendation. If you're a fan of rockabilly and haven't seen them play, it's a treat in a great Austin venue.
Feel free to MeMail me if you need any more recommendations or have any questions!
posted by fnord at 1:21 PM on October 11, 2016 [2 favorites]
Seconding fnord's BBQ suggestions. Another fun thing to do is eat different breakfast tacos every morning and join the locals in the great debate of which tacos are best. Try Tacodeli and Torchy's as well as any hole in the wall you spot.
For music without a "20 something" vibe, try the Continental Club. Allot yourself enough time to play the tourist on South Congress before the show, peeping into the various retail shops, eating a burger at Hopdoddy, and getting a snack at the candy store, Big Top.
posted by tofu_crouton at 3:32 PM on October 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
For music without a "20 something" vibe, try the Continental Club. Allot yourself enough time to play the tourist on South Congress before the show, peeping into the various retail shops, eating a burger at Hopdoddy, and getting a snack at the candy store, Big Top.
posted by tofu_crouton at 3:32 PM on October 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
Get some gingerbread pancakes at Magnolia on Congress. Go hear some great music at the Continental Club, also on Congress. I would ask you to tell a person who plays there that I said "Kiss My Grits," but he's not playing while you're there. :-)
Oh and see the bats for sure.
posted by 2soxy4mypuppet at 6:18 PM on October 11, 2016
Oh and see the bats for sure.
posted by 2soxy4mypuppet at 6:18 PM on October 11, 2016
I was going to suggest my favorite smaller bbq place, but it appears to have been seized by the state. Sad trombone.
Second for the quality of La Barbecue. It does have less of a crazy line than Franklin's, but not always - I have waited for multiple hours only to have them run out of brisket. And as fnord rightly points out, in Texas you want brisket. Fun Austin BBQ trivia, the proprietors of La Barbecue and John Mueller (seized by state, above) are siblings in an honest to goodness sibling barbecue rivalry.
In Taylor, TX - Louie Mueller (yes, same Mueller).
Nth for bats, second for Magnolia. Torchy's is the McDonald's of breakfast tacos, and that is a good thing. Kerbey Lane, but that may be nostalgia talking.
(I like Rudy's. Don't tell my bbq snob friends.)
posted by yaarrgh at 7:37 PM on October 11, 2016
Second for the quality of La Barbecue. It does have less of a crazy line than Franklin's, but not always - I have waited for multiple hours only to have them run out of brisket. And as fnord rightly points out, in Texas you want brisket. Fun Austin BBQ trivia, the proprietors of La Barbecue and John Mueller (seized by state, above) are siblings in an honest to goodness sibling barbecue rivalry.
In Taylor, TX - Louie Mueller (yes, same Mueller).
Nth for bats, second for Magnolia. Torchy's is the McDonald's of breakfast tacos, and that is a good thing. Kerbey Lane, but that may be nostalgia talking.
(I like Rudy's. Don't tell my bbq snob friends.)
posted by yaarrgh at 7:37 PM on October 11, 2016
Torchy's is not the McDonald's of anything! It has way more flavor than that! (Moved to Austin a few months ago, have already taken sides in the Torchy's vs Tacodeli wars.) I can recommend trying breakfast tacos (and non-breakfast tacos) though. For science!
We had a really good time at the White Horse with recent guests -- honky tonk music, big dance floor with couples of all ages Texas two-stepping. Our guests, used to the very 20-something bar scene in DC, remarked how refreshed they were that they didn't feel too old to be there.
We did not go to the Broken Spoke, because all reviews indicate that lately, the food is beyond terrible and everyone is rude, for which experience you have to pay a $15 cover. Would be happy to hear these reviews are wrong!
Barbecue: I also like Rudy's and am wholly unwilling to line up for 5 hours for Franklin's. Rudy's sides are meh though. I recently went to Pok-E-Jo's and quite enjoyed it. Wherever you go, get brisket.
Go have a walk around Lady Bird Lake. Really lovely park.
posted by snowmentality at 8:09 PM on October 11, 2016
We had a really good time at the White Horse with recent guests -- honky tonk music, big dance floor with couples of all ages Texas two-stepping. Our guests, used to the very 20-something bar scene in DC, remarked how refreshed they were that they didn't feel too old to be there.
We did not go to the Broken Spoke, because all reviews indicate that lately, the food is beyond terrible and everyone is rude, for which experience you have to pay a $15 cover. Would be happy to hear these reviews are wrong!
Barbecue: I also like Rudy's and am wholly unwilling to line up for 5 hours for Franklin's. Rudy's sides are meh though. I recently went to Pok-E-Jo's and quite enjoyed it. Wherever you go, get brisket.
Go have a walk around Lady Bird Lake. Really lovely park.
posted by snowmentality at 8:09 PM on October 11, 2016
The bats are mostly gone for the season by now. If you decide to go see them, lower whatever your expectations are.
posted by donajo at 3:04 PM on October 12, 2016
posted by donajo at 3:04 PM on October 12, 2016
Seconding White Horse.
I think Torchy's is only ok, but their queso is truly delicious. For tacos I like Veracruz All Natural (get the migas), El Chilito, Taco Joint, and Las Trancas. I've heard Pueblo Viejo is delicious, but I've never been. These are all fairly close to downtown and easily accessible with a car.
I also highly recommend Valentina's Tex Mex BBQ for both BBQ and tacos in one convenient gas station parking lot. Seriously, it's really good. Aaron Franklin (of Franklin BBQ) is a big fan.
Other food spots I recommend: Lenoir, Uchiko, Hopfields, Easy Tiger, Licha's, Unit D Pizzeria, Barley Swine and/or Odd Duck, Launderette, Via 313, and Dai Due
Lastly, it seems very unlikely y'all will go to 6th Street if you're out on the 20 something bar scene, but extra avoid it on Halloween as it will probably be totally wild.
posted by vakker at 4:17 PM on October 15, 2016
I think Torchy's is only ok, but their queso is truly delicious. For tacos I like Veracruz All Natural (get the migas), El Chilito, Taco Joint, and Las Trancas. I've heard Pueblo Viejo is delicious, but I've never been. These are all fairly close to downtown and easily accessible with a car.
I also highly recommend Valentina's Tex Mex BBQ for both BBQ and tacos in one convenient gas station parking lot. Seriously, it's really good. Aaron Franklin (of Franklin BBQ) is a big fan.
Other food spots I recommend: Lenoir, Uchiko, Hopfields, Easy Tiger, Licha's, Unit D Pizzeria, Barley Swine and/or Odd Duck, Launderette, Via 313, and Dai Due
Lastly, it seems very unlikely y'all will go to 6th Street if you're out on the 20 something bar scene, but extra avoid it on Halloween as it will probably be totally wild.
posted by vakker at 4:17 PM on October 15, 2016
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Elephant Room for Jazz. Music every night.
Reverend Horton Heat will be playing the night you get there. Iconic and fun.
posted by GPF at 12:12 PM on October 11, 2016 [2 favorites]