South Austin Dining

5 must-try restaurants worth the trek to far South Austin

In the not-so-distant past, far South Austin residents had few dining options other than generic Mexican, chains and fast-food outlets. But now there are many great restaurants in the area, all worthy of a drive from other parts of the city.

From Mexico City-style antojitos to a fabulous Indian buffet and the best Cajun in Austin, the 78745 is finally holding its own.

Asiana Indian Cuisine
Don’t let the stark strip mall location fool you. This may very well be Austin’s best Indian cuisine. The menu boasts items from many regions of the subcontinent with an emphasis on Southern cuisine and a few Indo-Chinese dishes from the Manchurian region. Lunchtime features a buffet with appetizers, curries, masalas, biryani, and tandoori chicken, among other dishes, and a condiment bar. There are desserts too, like a creamy and light rice pudding flavored with saffron and almond slices. On weekends, lesser known dishes make appearances and Indian families pack the dining room.

Dinner is strictly a la carte, with a wide array of specialties to choose from. Don’t miss the reshmi kabob appetizer (seasoned minced chicken cooked on skewers in the tandoor), the wonderfully spicy Lamb Rogan Josh and the addicting deep-fried cauliflower.

Mi Tradición Bakery
Aside from being the most authentic interior Mexican bakery in town, this little gem dishes out real Central Mexico-style antojitos. Huge quesadillas made in organic blue corn masa can be filled with tinga (spicy shredded chicken), sauteed mushrooms, picadillo, tomato-stewed squash or potato and chicken. The tlacoyos, also in blue corn, are filled with black bean puree and garnished with sour cream, grated cheese and cooked nopalitos. You’d swear you’re having breakfast at a street market.

The special taco plates are straight out of late-night Mexico City, with combinations like El Suizo, served with poblano peppers, steak, bacon, cheese and ham. The ginormous tortas, made with freshly baked bolillos, will put you into a delicious food coma. Wash them down with aguas frescas, and don’t forget to check out the gelato case.

Billie Jean’s Burger Pub
This new little joint from one of the owners of Red Shed Tavern is a very welcome addition to far South Congress Avenue. The space is modern and clean, decorated sparsely with a Rosie the Riveter theme. The half-pound Angus beef patties are hand-formed and served in slightly sweet house-made rolls, and range from a simple cheeseburger to unique offerings like the Moroccan, seasoned with North African herbs and spices, cooked medium and topped with an over easy fried egg, goat cheese, baby spinach and house-made harissa. There is also a black bean tofu patty. The fries are fresh cut and crispy, the onion rings beer battered. The menu also includes salads, sandwiches and hot dogs.

Billie Jean’s also features a full bar with specialty cocktails and a beer list that includes locals and ciders, served by friendly folks who know their stuff. Daily happy hour is 3 to 7 pm with discounted appetizers and drinks. Billie Jean's has recently started serving weekend brunch, which includes a killer Bloody Mary garnished with pickles and crispy bacon.

Evangeline Cafe
“Old Austin Didn’t Die, It Just Moved South” reads the motto at this happening hole in the wall, decked with music memorabilia and Louisiana kitsch. The staff is as friendly as can be, from the top down — owner Curtis Clarke walks the floor regularly checking on tables and making new friends. His menu is chock-full of Cajun and Creole classics such as jambalaya, red beans and rice, gumbo, and etouffee, as well as dishes of his own creation such as the Gold Band Creole: deep-fried butterflied jumbo shrimp over a bed of fettuccine with a spicy Creole sauce, Cajun aioli and a gold band of parmesan cheese. The fried seafood baskets are the best around, crispy and not greasy, perfectly seasoned, and served with house-made cocktail and tartar sauces. Cold beer and a decent wine selection keep the good times rolling.

Evangeline hosts live music almost every evening, with late-night performances on Wednesday and Friday — you never know which famous musician will show up to jam with the band. Mondays are a must, when Charles Thibodeaux and the Austin Cajun Aces take the stage at 6:30 pm.

Full English
The cozy vibe and mismatched vintage furniture at this tiny South Austin treasure will make you feel like you’re walking into your grandma’s basement garage in the '70s — if she was a punk rocker. At this hangover heaven you can enjoy all-day breakfast starting with a proper Full English: house-made bangers, British bacon, local free-range egg, mushrooms, tomato and fried bread. Stop by on Friday evenings for outstanding fish and chips, or book your High Tea service any day with 24-hour’s notice and enjoy a selection of sandwiches, scones with cream and house-made sweets with a pot of tea of your choice.

Feel free to hang out and enjoy free Wi-Fi while listening to a fine selection of music by British artists. And did we mention it’s BYOB?

Mi Tradición is the most authentic interior Mexican bakery in town, offering sweet treats and savory eats.

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News You Can Eat

Glam club's closure and beer passport map out Austin food and drinking news

Photo courtesy of Estelle's

Looking beautiful can only get you so far.

Buckle up, Austin. Hope you're ready for a lot of food news, since it seems like restaurants were holding out until Labor Day to make big announcements. This week we have more than five openings, a surprising closure, and some fun ways to change up your happy hour drinking routine.

Openings and closings

The life of Estelle's in the Warehouse District was short and beautiful; the social club has now closed after less than a year and a half in business. "We are heartbroken to share that Estelle’s has closed its doors and will not be reopening," says a message on the website. "Thank you to our employees, partners, and guests who brought Estelle’s to life." When it opened, it caught the eye of many Austinites thanks to its old-fashioned, stately-yet-airy decor. But despite the apparent readiness for a lounging upscale crowd, the actual venue was known for being very loud and tightly packed.

Another short-lived venture was Bacalar, a Mexican restaurant that was embattled from the start in September 2023, thanks to the relatively recent controversial past of Chef Gabe Erales. As of July 2024, the chef had departed and the restaurant closed, although the group he partnered with for the launch, Urbanspace, remains involved in Tómalo Grill. Formerly the sister takeout window, it will be taking over the full space officially on September 10. It is in a soft opening period throughout the weekend leading up to the grand opening date. Operating hours are Tuesdays through Sundays from 5-10 pm, with brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 2 pm starting September 14. The service window remains open Tuesdays through Sundays from 8 am to 2 pm.

ICYMI: We had lots of openings to share this week. Starting with familiar faces, Sixth Street bar Whiskey Tango Foxtrot is opening a classy-sporty spinoff that's something between a sports bar and an athletic club. Little Ola's Biscuits, a casual sister to Olamaie, is also expanding for the first time into the Mueller neighborhood. Austinites can also look forward to a brand new brunch, breakfast, and lunch spot by the Jack Allen’s Kitchen team. It was big news last year when Las Bis and Luminaire suddenly shuttered at Austin’s Hyatt Centric Congress Avenue, but now two new concepts are replacing them. Finally, two more deli-ish spots are making a comeback: Katz's is rebuilding a longtime legacy with a lot of goodwill, and Foxtrot is feeling out a possible return to a possibly hostile market.

Other news and notes

New Italian restaurant Casa Bianca is making a name for itself through interesting fusion dishes, which might make a dinner spread harder to choose compared to your neighborhood pizza spot. To help flesh out this unique POV, Chef Joseph Zoccoli has curated a tasting menu of six savory courses that will rotate seasonally. It'll be available every night of service for a market price of "around $140," plus optional wine pairings for $35. Reserve via Resy.

Central Market is creating the world's largest charcuterie board on September 11, in an attempt to break a world record. Just setting the board up isn't enough; the record depends on how much is eaten. With more than 1,000 pounds of meat and cheeses, that's a tall order. The free tickets are already sold out, but it'll be fun to see if and how the grocery store pulls this off. This is part of a larger 30th anniversary celebration that's happening all over the state, including more broadly accessible perks like in-store specials, live music, and more.

Friend groups who like to keep busy while enjoying a drink together can try something new at Electric Shuffle, a modern shuffleboard bar. It already had a similar package available for brunch, but now it's expanding out into a nighttime affair. Instead of doing things à la carte, this social sets guests up with a 90-minute open bar, family style appetizers, and a shuffleboard reservation for up to 20 friends for $65. A DJ keeps the energy up no matter how skilled at shuffleboard your party is.

Austin really does have too many places to enjoy a beer to count, but the Austin Ale Trail is attempting it, anyway. The "passport" lines up "over 50 craft breweries, pubs, bottle shops, and cideries in the Austin area," according to the website. Visitors can use it for discounts and freebies at participating businesses, or just a fun challenge to expand their horizons. The program kicks off with two parties: one September 7 at Vacancy Brewing and one September 8 at Blue Owl Brewing. Passports are also available at Black Star Co-Op, The Brewtique,Lazarus Brewing, and WhichCraft.