For one week each March, the masses descend on Austin, Texas to experience the intersection of music, film and art at South by Southwest. During the five-day festival, there’s more to do than there are hours in the day, so we turned to the Austin expert and eater-in-chief of @austinfoodstagram Rachel Holtin for her tips on surviving—and where to eat—throughout the week. Austin is often referred to as the land of meat and tacos, after all.
Rachel Holtin
Rachel’s three tenants of a success at SXSW are to “make sure to stay hydrated, get plenty of rest (whenever possible) and to not get discouraged if you can’t get into a particular party (there are so many to choose from!).” Her favorite part of the week? The house parties.
Hydration, rest and partying are key, but let’s get down to what really matters here: Where are we eating? We asked Rachel to share her favorite Austin food spots that keep locals in love and inspire visitors to book another trip for just another bite.
If you’re in Austin come April, grab a scoop of Rachel’s matcha gelato at Teo Gelato to benefit
Healthcode, a non-profit seeking to empower people to live healthier lives, free from preventable diseases.
June's
Rachel Holtin: I came here for the wine, but they also have amazing food. They have the best sommeliers in Austin and the best foie gras I’ve ever had. It comes with cherry caramel on a croissant. They also have really good bone marrow bolognese.
La Barbecue
RH: Most popular BBQ in Austin other than Franklin Barbecue and they have a shorter line. It’s the type of place you go to get a big platter of everything--brisket, wholesome ribs, beans, coleslaw—and you know you’re going to like everything. It’s on the eastside close to Downtown and is easily accessible by public transit.
Veracruz All Natural Food Truck
RH: On the same street as La BBQ. They were recently featured on the Food Network for their migas taco. Possibly the best tacos in the city.
Via 313 Pizza
RH: Come here for classic Detroit-style pizza. My favorite is the Cadillac. It’s topped with prosciutto, parmesan and balsamic vinaigrette. It comes in a square and you only get four pieces, but they’re huge. They also have gluten-free crust and dairy-free cheeses available.
Le Politique
RH: Like June’s All Day, this place is also known for their wine. They’re fairly new, but they are a great place to go for cheese, wine and dessert. I love their Paris-Brest with a chocolate, orange and hazelnut creme filling. They have a crepe cake that is also really good as well. Their pastry chef, Amanda Rockman, just won an episode of "Beat Bobby Flay". She’s incredible.
Flower Child
RH: Opened a few months ago in the heart of Downtown, this place has great food for all dietary restrictions. I love their Flying Avocado wrap with turkey and gouda on it and their Spicy Japanese Eggplant.
JuiceLand
RH: Classic juice spot. I usually get the Originator, which is a meal in smoothie form. It has peanut butter and cherries and other fruit and protein sources in it.
Squeezery
RH: They opened this week in Downtown, but they are already a really good place to go for great juices and ready-to-go meals. They’re also super veggie-forward.
Kemuri Tatsu-Ya
RH: Sister concept to restaurant Ramen Tatsu-ya, this place specializes in Japanese and Texas BBQ fusion. You can get a BBQ Boat here that comes with a giant selection of meat, and they also have really great Frito Pie and Sake. They also serve Dipping Ramen, which is the traditional way of eating ramen and includes the noodles on the side of the broth, and you dip them in as opposed to them already being mixed together.
Hopdoddy Burger Bar
RH: This is a famous burger chain that started in Austin. They make delicious cross burgers like lamb and turkey and they also have great veggie burgers to choose from. They’re now also home to the “Impossible Burger,” which is a plant-based burger that has the texture and consistency and taste of beef, and even bleeds like it!
Uchiko
RH: If you want to get out of the SXSW madness, head to this classic Austin sushi place. They’re known for their sake social hour, which is like their version of happy hour and happens everyday from 5-6:30 and always has a line out the door. But, it’s totally worth it because they have the best sushi and sake in town.
Native Hostel and Bar & Kitchen
RH: The Native Hostel opened last year and is a super popular, active hostel, but it’s also an amazing restaurant and bar. People come here to eat and drink and hangout til 2 a.m. Their french fries with brisket and duck salad are super good. My coworkers also tell me they have the best Moscow Mules in Austin.
La Matta
RH: I’m actually going to their sister restaurant, Il Brutto, tonight! Like Le Politique, La Matta brings authentic European cuisine to the table with the freshest ingredients. This is definitely the best deli in town. All of their sandwiches come on fresh and soft Italian rolls and their mozzarella is super fresh. It reminds me of Spain everytime I go in because of their large selection of meats and how everything is presented and served.
Prohibition Creamery
RH: All of the ice cream here is infused with booze! There’s bourbon, vodka, gin, and so much more. The tiramisu flavor is one of my faves, but the owner is constantly switching up her menu, so there is always something new to try! I don’t know how this idea isn’t more popular in other cities, but it’s starting to become a place to hit if you ever visit Austin.
Image courtesy of Veracruz All Natural Food Truck
Image courtesy of Le Politique
Hopdoddy Burger Bar courtesy of @hopdoddy
Image courtesy of La Matta
Image courtesy Prohibition Creamery
Header Image courtesy of @austinfoodmagazine