Going to meet up with family for the MotoGP in April and hope to get to the Handbuilt Bike motorcycle show the same weekend. I see videos on YT for some barbecue place which looks delicious but is probably now a tourist destination and overcrowded. Microbreweries? Under the radar barbecue?
Chuys. Baby Alcopolcos. Shady Grove. Franklins BBQ. Blacks BBQ. Salt Lick. Rudy's.
Chuys was good, I can't remember the name of the BBQ place I went to, but it was good too. If you're looking for an activity WW2 Minigolf was an unexpected find when I was there. https://memorialminigolf.com The hedgerows were difficult as one would expect.
Pappasito's Cantina had excellent TexMex steak fajitas when we were there a couple weeks ago. No line either.
BBQ: Skip Franklins. It's good, but you'll spend the better part of a day waiting in line. There are better, cheaper, faster options. Namely Intersteller, Blacks BBQ and Salt Lick (only on Sundays, they offer baby backs that day).
Tex Mex: Chuys is very solid. El Dorado is a hole-in-the-wall in a strip mall that has a phenomenal menu. We've been going for years and literally the entire menu is top notch. They almost always have a 45 minute wait though. I personally don't like baby Alcopoloco, but it's an Austin institution. Taco Flats is also decent, though I think that's a chain. Bulevar is more interior Mexican, they also have a great happy hour and decent views off the patio. Comedor downtown is very high end, but it's worth going just to check out the cool interior.
Asian: If you've got deep pockets, Sushi Bar is world class sushi, but you'll need to make a reservation like today. Chen's Noodle house (also in a strip mall) has really tasty Asian street food at reasonable prices. A happy compromise is probably Lee's Kitchen, which is a classy Vietnamese fusion spot. Bamboo House has great schezwan style food. EurAsia3, Ramen Tatsu-ya and Pho Saigon are my go-to's for soup.
Random downtown spots: Meat & Bread - sandwiches seem pricey but they're honestly the best I've ever had. Odd Duck is consistently highly rated. Lutie's Garden is great, but pricey vegetarian spot. Aba has great seafood/Mediterranean offerings.
If you're looking for bars/breweries/distilleries, lmk.
The Domain is a big outdoor mall tourist trap, but across the street is Petrol Lounge if you want to see some interesting vehicles on display.
They may host an open house event for Moto GP but if not call ahead and they could show you around.
In reply to stroker :
Joe Rogan moved to Austin. Since there, he has built a huge Comedy Club named The Comedy Mothership serving up shows every day of the week. He has convinced many NY and LA big name comedians to either move there or come for long stays. He has billed it as the epicenter of American Comedy. So, if you are a fan of him and his ilk...that is The Place.
Seeing Shane Gillis live would be great.
I've never been to Austin, but I'd probably skip Chuy's since it's a chain you can get here in the SW. It is tasty Tex-Mex food.
I forgot that Chuys is now a chain. So the Austin restaurant everyone loved because it wasn't a chain is now a chain. Austinites are very anti chain restaurants. Or at least they were in 2008. Except for Rudy's.
Scotty Con Queso said:Chuys. Baby Alcopolcos. Shady Grove. Franklins BBQ. Blacks BBQ. Salt Lick. Rudy's.
Pretty much what I was going to say. Don't wimp out and go to the Round Rock Salt Lick. Go to the original in Driftwood. It's not far.
I would avoid Stubbs. The place is iconic, and they make pretty good sauce, but they're known for their performance venue and their sauce. I find their BBQ to be [insert nothing good to say here] There is another semi-local chain called Saltgrass. I don't normally recommend chains, but it's a TX thing, and they have excellent food. Think along the lines of a Longhorn steakhouse - one tiny step upscale, great grub.
It's a shame NXNW closed. That place was a brilliant spot.
Thundercloud subs is great for a lunch. La Madeleine is great for breakfast/brunch.
Head over to East Austin in the 2nd to 9th street areas. Tons of food trucks and great places.
Fresa's on south 1st is pretty good too.
As far as things to do, Zilker Park and the springs are nice. There is a little tiny science museum that tells you about the geology of the area, and quite honestly it's fascinating. It's a short drive to Lake Travis, and the Oasis is a big restaurant that sits on top of the hill facing west. Can't beat a daquiri on a cliff overlooking a lake at sunset.
Mount Bonnell is an easy hike to a nice overlook.
Gruene (pronounced Green) is a short drive. It's an old west town that was more or less abandoned and now has a brewery, some neat shops, and a great restaurant. New Braunfels has a neat glass-bottom boat tour on a natural spring lake. Luckenbach is a short drive and home of the iconic barn stage where all the country music folks cut their teeth.
TX Ren faire is one of the best in the country, if you're into that kind of thing. Not the biggest, but well-attended.
In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :
Mt. Bonnell is now notorious for having cars broken into.
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