Where to Eat During SXSW 2008
Here are some of the places I’ve enjoyed over the last few SXSW conferences, as well as other places that have been recommended to me.
Update: Download a map of all restaurants in this guide as a PDF.
My focus here on listing places has been mostly those restaurants that are:
- in close proximity to 6th Street and the Convention Center at 4th St and Neches (I like the Warehouse District a lot but most people won’t be willing to walk all the way out there for lunch)
- easily accessible by foot (cabs are unreliable and in extremely short supply during SXSW, if you even have a rental car, finding parking downtown can be a hassle,and even if you have a bike, your friends may not)
- relatively inexpensive and casual (or are of good value)
- relatively fast (get in, sit down, order, eat, pay, get out in time to snag a seat at a panel/film/etc.)
- not national chains like IHOP or PF Chang’s and the like
So here’s my shortlist of where you and a few friends can sit down and grab a bite downtown in between films, panels, parties, and bands. SXSW is manic enough without having to worry about eating crappy food. Personally, I try to avoid eating Asian food since I can get a lot of that at home, YMMV. As a New Yorker, I also maintain the right to be snotty about Austin’s imposter Katz’ Deli. Thanks to Yimay Yang, Karen Broyles, and Michaela Drapes for extra tips.
Additionally, here’s also a Google Map of all of these spots:
View Larger Map
I’ve also added operating hours, when I could find them, but some eateries may extend operating hours during SXSW. When in doubt, call ahead. A lot of these places will get slammed during SXSW.
Things to note about eating downtown:
- there are only three BBQ restaurants located within a short walk of the Austin Convention Center (the newest is considered upscale BBQ, and may require reservations)
- the food in the Convention Center is terrible, so stay away
- there are some good street carts that appear on 6th Street and Red River after dark (I’ve found the pizza to be...interesting)
- but there is not a large variety of late night (after midnight) food in the downtown area
Closed Sundays: Taco Shack, Iron Works BBQ, Marakesh
Closed Mondays: Stubbs BBQ, Chez Nous
Open Late: Parkside, Halcyon, Torchy’s Tacos, Go Bites, Casino El Camino, Jackalope, street carts on 6th Street/Red River St
Notable movings and closings: Angie’s (moved to a new location out of walking distance from the Convention Center), Capitol Brasserie (closed)
Downtown Coffeehouses I’ve Enjoyed (Drinks, Light Fare like Sandwiches and Soups)
- The Hideout
617 Congress Ave (at 6th Street)
(512) 443-3688
Mon-Thu 7am-11pm
Fri 7am-1am
Sat 7am-11pm
Sun 10am-10pm - Halcyon
218 West 4th St (between Lavaca and Colorado)
(512) 472-9637
Mon-Wed 7am-1am
Thu 7am-2am
Fri 7am-3am
Sat 8am-3am
Sun 8am-1am - Jo’s
242 West 2nd St (between Lavaca and Colorado)
(512) 469-9003
Daily 7am-9pm
All three of these have good coffee, good food, a nice atmosphere to hang out in, and free wireless internet access. There’s also a coffee shop (Java Jive) in the Hilton that’s always too crowded and has slow service due to the huge number of people who all want coffee at exactly the same time (i.e. ten minutes before a panel). If you’re willing to walk, there’s also Progress Coffee (500 San Marcos St between 5th and 6th) but you gotta cross under the highway to get there.
I’ve also enjoyed Jo’s Coffee, which has two locations. The closer one is 242 W 2nd St (between Lavaca and Colorado), and the other one is located in South Congress, at 1300 S Congress (at James St). And the South Congress location usually features some live musical acts during SXSW Music!
Only Open For Breakfast/Lunch
- Taco Shack
Grab a quick breakfast at this local chain with some hearty but basic breakfast tacos (the chorizo is kinda iffy, though); they also have regular tacos for lunch. Hours are limited because they cater to the Monday through Friday crowd, but it’s very handy if you find yourself hungry and around the Convention Center. They only do breakfast on Saturdays and are open until 1pm. They’re closed on Sundays.
Downtown in the Frost Tower
402 Brazos (at East 4th St)
(512) 473-0101
Mon-Fri 6:30am-2:30pm
Sat 7am-1pm
Closed Sundays - Las Manitas Avenue Cafe
I have many fond memories of dragging myself out of bed at seven in the morning to get ready for the Interactive conference and heading off to Las Manitas, or “little hands,” for fuel for a long day. Las Manitas is a well-loved Austin restaurant that’s been around since 1981 and specializes in Mexican and Central American fare. If you weren’t out late the night before (or even if you were!) the breakfast tacos are worth the effort to get out of bed. Give me some tacos with eggs, potatoes, bacon, with a side of some plantains, and freshly squeezed orange juice or coffee, and I’m good to go. Relax a bit in the warm Texas weather at the picnic tables on their big outdoor patio in back. If you don’t make it in time for breakfast, there’s always lunch. Plus, I hear the vegetarian chorizo, made out of soy bean gluten, and scrambled with eggs, onions, and serrano peppers is incredible. Unfortunately, they don’t serve dinner, but, tomorrow is, of course, another day. Note: This Austin institution is scheduled to close down and move a few months after SXSW, but never fear, as it’s just moving around the corner. Whew.
211 Congress Ave (at 2nd St)
(512) 472-9357
Mon-Fri 7am-4pm
Sat-Sun 7am-2pm
Restaurants (and Bars with Food)
- Iron Works BBQ
Iron Works does fine BBQ and lucky for us, it’s extremely close to the Austin Convention Center. They may not be the absolute best in the Austin metro area, but if you’re pressed for time, it’s a pretty good option. Tucked just behind the ACC, Ironworks reliably serves up tasty brisket, ribs, and chicken, along side the usual sides: potato salad, beans, pickle, onion, bread, and barbecue sauce. The beef ribs, slathered with spicy BBQ sauce, come highly recommended over the other options (some find the brisket boring). And don’t try to go there on Sundays, they’re closed.
100 Red River St (at Cesar Chavez)
(512) 478-4855
Mon-Sat 11am-9pm
Closed Sundays - Habana Calle 6
As you might imagine, Habana Calle 6 is a Cuban restaurant. They’re famous for their mojitos, but the food is the real star—tasty chicken and pork dishes, the usual Cuban sandwiches, and heavenly sides (I like the tamales here, too). Be especially sure not to miss the fried yucca with veggie mojo, a limey, vinegary sauce that can be addictive. Tres leches cake, an Austin tex-mex dessert staple of white cake soaked in sweetened condensed milk, is also a specialty. At the higher side of moderate it can be a bit of a splurge, but if you need to be well-nourished it’s worth the extra couple of bucks. And they have great mojitos, and a back patio.
709 East 6th St (at Sabine)
(512) 443-4252
Mon-Thu 11am-10pm
Fri-Sat 11am-11pm
Sun 11am-10pm - Casino El Camino
It’s all about the famous burgers at this low-key, classic Austin dive. “Three-Quarters of a pound of charbroiled Certified Angus Beef” or so I’m told. The burgers are giant, the fry basket is giant, and it’s a nice, dark bar to sit around and hang out with friends, as the kitchen churns out amazing medium-rare hunks of meat. Proceed directly to the small back counter window (it’s easy to find) and order, and then be prepared to wait. It can take an hour to receive your burger. Luckily, the back patio is a nice place to settle in an order a pitcher of beer.
517 East 6th St (at Neches)
(512) 469-9330
Daily 4pm-2am (may have expanded hours for SXSW) - Jackalope
I’ve heard that second best burgers downtown are at Jackalope, but I haven’t confirmed this for myself. I’ve also heard good things about the chicken sandwiches and wings.
404 East 6th St (at Trinity)
(512) 472-3663
Daily 11:30am-2am - The Boiling Pot
Ah, the Boiling Pot. I remember the glee in my friends’ faces when we first discovered this cajun seafood chain. You order dinner by the pound, and eat it on a long wooden table. Everybody gets bibs and paper towels and tiny wooden mallets. Dinner consists of a mixture of boiled shrimp, crab, crawfish, corn and potatoes, and sausage, which is dumped unceremoniously onto your table. Spicy boiled seafood that you eat with your hands + ice cold beer = a very fun, but messy time. It’s a very unique restaurant that you probably won’t find at home. Just remember to wash your hands vigorously before and after. (Sorry, vegetarians, as all they have for you is peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!)
700 E. Sixth at Sabine
(212) 472-0985
Mon-Thu 4pm-10pm
Fri-Sat 11am-11pm
Sun 12pm -10pm - Stubb’s BBQ
This 24 year old Austin restaurant also doubles as a famous live music venue, although I’m not sure if they’re more famous for the concert acts or their legendary hickory-smoked barbecue. It’s a different vibe from other downtown restaurants, with large tables, rustic walls and wooden floors. They also have a good selection of appetizers and sides like serrano pepper cheese spinach. Personally, I think the appetizers are better than the BBQ itself. They also do takeout, which is handy when you’re attending a show there. It’s always lively and fun at Stubb’s, especially with a big group. Closed Mondays.
801 Red River St (at East 8th)
(512) 480-8341
Closed Mondays
Tue-Wed 11am-10pm
Thu-Sat 11am-11pm
Sun 11am-9pm
- Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill
Alright, I know I said I was focusing on casual, inexpensive places, but I want to make an exception for Moonshine’s classic American fare since it’s so close to the ACC. And if you eat here for lunch, entrees run $11-14, but you can eat for less if you stay on the sandwiches and salads side of the menu. My friends also tell me that the pork chop they serve at dinner is divine. They also have a Sunday Brunch from 10:00am to 2:30pm with a $12.95 buffet, $3 mimosas and $3 Bloody Marys. Yum! I have really enjoyed the macaroni and cheese, as well as the beer battered asparagus.
303 Red River St (at East 3rd)
(512) 236-9599
Mon-Thu 11am-10pm
Fri-Sat 11am-11pm
Sun 10am-2:30pm, 5pm-10pm - Chez Nous
If you’re up for feeling fancier than the previous places, check out Chez Nous, regional French cuisine in a soulful brasserie atmosphere. They have a dinner prix fixe deal at $25 that includes a choice of soup, salad or pate maison, as well as entree, and a dessert. Unpretentious, friendly, and a welcome respite from Sixth Street. Note: Lunch is only served Tuesdays through Fridays. Closed Mondays.
510 Neches (between East 5th and 6th)
512-473-2413
Closed Mondays
Tue-Fri 11:45am-2pm, 6pm-10:30pm
Sat-Sun 6pm-10.30pm - Lambert’s Downtown Barbecue
Lastly, we have the newest addition to the downtown BBQ scene, Lambert’s, a self-described “fancy barbeque” place in the Warehouse district. Lambert’s is described as “modern Texan cuisine: all natural barbecue, wood grilled steaks, fresh seafood, family style sides, and homemade desserts” on their web site. This restaurant could be a nice downtown alternative to folks who crave BBQ but in upscale surroundings, and are tired of dining at Iron Works and Stubb’s. Dinner reservations are highly recommended. It only opened up last year, shortly before SXSW, so I haven’t gotten a chance to try it yet, but I’ve had these dishes recommended to me: the goat cheese and chickpeas, hangar steak, short ribs, macaroni and cheese, cheese grits, non-traditional BBQ items, and the coconut cream pie.
401 W Second St (at Guadalupe)
(512) 494-1500
Mon-Sat, 11am-2pm and 5:30-11pm
Sun, 11am-3pm and 5:30-11pm
Happy Hour Specials
- Roaring Fork
Roaring Fork is an upscale, sit down restaurant on Congress Avenue, but it has one great feature I must mention: half price food in the bar area during happy hour. Last year during SXSW, I enjoyed a delicious burger, and some crab cakes, all for an insanely good price, all in very comfortable surroundings. Upscale “cowboy food,” at very gentle prices ($9 or less). A nice change from the hectic pace of 6th Street! And the happy hour menu is offered daily from 4:30pm to 7pm in the bar.
701 Congress Ave (attached to the Intercontinental Stephen F. Austin Hotel)
(512) 583-0000
Mon-Thu 11am-10pm
Fri 11am-11pm
Sat 5pm-11pm
Sun 5pm-9pm
Happy hour daily 4:30-7pm - Eddie V’s Edgewater Grille
Eddie V’s is run by the same people who do Roaring Fork, and also has happy hour deals, with half priced appetizers and 50 cent oysters from 4:30 until 7:00 from Tuesday to Saturday, and happy hour is extended to all night long on Sundays and Mondays. The bar opens at 4:30pm. Hint, hint.
301 E Fifth St (at San Jacinto)
(512) 472-1860
Mon-Sat 5pm-11pm
Sun 5pm-10pm
Bar opens daily at 4:30pm
Late Night Snacks
- Go Bites
I heard about this light night snack window last year shortly before SXSW. They offer sliders, grilled cheese sandwiches, fries, and were recently voted best late night snacks in Austin. I’m betting this place is going to have a line down the block during the Music Fest. In any case, it all sounds delicious to me!
Go Bites (former location of K-Bar, same location as Emo’s IV Lounge)
600 East 6th St at Red River
Wed-Sat 8pm-4am (hours may change for SXSW) - Parkside Restaurant and Raw Bar
This brand new restaurant just opened, says Austin360.com and plans to be open late Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. “The menu features a simple, clean style, with entrees such as bar steak with fries and pancetta-wrapped trout and other dishes such as spinach gratin, clam chowder, sea urchin on toast and fried anchovies,” they report. Sounds intriguing. The prices are a little higher than the rest of the joints on this list, but it’s going to be one of the few sit-down, full service options downtown in the wee hours.
301 East 6th St (at San Jacinto)
(512) 474-9898
Sun-Wed 3:30pm-12am
Thurs-Sat 3:30pm-3:30am
Street Carts
Most of these carts come out at night on Sixth Street, but may be out in full force with longer hours during SXSW. Cheap and convenient, especially when hopping between bars and shows.
- Hot Dog King
East 8th St (at Red River, next to Red Eyed Fly) - Kebabalicious
East 7th St (between San Jacinto and Trinity) - The Best Wurst
East 6th Street (at San Jacinto)
Recommendations from the Chowhound.com Community
I posed the question as to where else to eat on the Austin Chowhound.com board and got a number of suggestions from the community:
- 1886 Cafe (inside the Driskill)
Bakery and cafe with sandwiches, soups, and more.
604 Brazos St (at 6th)
(512) 391-7121
Sun-Thu 7am-10pm
Fri-Sat 7am-12am - Marakesh
Middle Eastern, good for vegetarians/vegans. Lonhorn po’ boys, falafel, etc. Cheap.
906 Congress Ave (at 9th Street)
(512) 476-7735
Mon-Fri 11am-10pm
Sat 12pm-10pm
Closed Sunday - Manuel’s
Hip Mexican. Chile relleno en nogada, enchilada suizas.
310 Congress Ave (at 3rd)
(512) 472-7555
Sun-Thu 11am-10pm
Fri-Sat 11am-12am - Drogo’s
A Brazilian cafe with sandwiches and more. Try the tropical chicken sandwich.
200 San Jacinto Blvd (at 2nd)
(512) 320-8378
Tue-Thu 8am-10pm
Fri-Sat 8am-midnight
Sun 10am-2pm - Marisco Grill
Casual, seafood-focused Mexican. Ceviche, breakfast tacos. Giant margaritas.
211 E 6th St (at Brazos)
(512) 474-7372
Daily 9am-10pm - McCormick & Schmick’s (happy hour)
Happy hour specials, such as “a half pound cheeseburger with fries for $2 (with one drink minimum), along with other cheap items.”
401 Congress Ave (at 4th)
(512) 236-9600
Mon-Thu 11am-10pm
Fri 11am-11pm
Sat 4pm-11pm
Sun 4pm-10pm - Torchy’s Tacos
Get the queso and the green chile pork taco. An Austin institution that’s only recently opened up a location on Sixth Street. Check out their newest signature item, deep-fried chocolate-chip cookies, called Little Nookies!
511 E 6th St. (at Neches)
(512) 474-7000
Mon-Wed 7am-10pm
Thu 7am-12am
Fri 7am-3am
Sat 8am-3am
Sun 11am-10pm
That’s it from me! Again, here’s a Google Map of all of these spots. Happy eating!
