market magic

10 local farmers markets freshen up Austin's weekly grocery runs

Surrounded by nature, Austin is a great city for shopping directly from farmers.

Photo courtesy of Texas Farmers Market

Very few are lucky enough to live in places where farmers markets abound all year long, and nothing quite compares to the high that comes from attending outdoor markets during springtime. The mild yet enjoyable temperatures, the seasonal fruits and veggies, and the blooming wildflowers just elevate the experience of an otherwise tedious task of buying groceries.

Not only are farmers markets a great serotonin boost, but they’re also a great way to support the local economy and the environment. Plus, the markets provide more access to fresh, nutritious food — sometimes even at more accessible prices than grocery chains, according to the Farmers Market Coalition.

If you’re looking to enjoy some fresh produce and local goods this spring, here are 10 markets in Austin to add to your weekly grocery run.

Texas Farmers Market flowers and produce Photo courtesy of Texas Farmers Market

Barton Creek Farmers Market
This market prides itself on being Austin’s original farmers market, and it's even been named one of the best in the country by several lists. What began as a simple market in 1987 at a Whole Foods parking lot has grown into a beloved weekly tradition for many, with local produce from Texas; 90 percent of vendors sell what they grow. It also draws local artisans with those one-of-a-kind gifts for family or yourself, plus prepared food that showcases what a melting pot of cultures Austin has become.

Sustainable Food Center Farmers Market
The Sustainable Food Center (SFC) Farmers Market first planted its roots in 2010 and now offers two locations — one downtown and another in Sunset Valley — expanding the accessibility of local produce throughout the city with more than 35 vendors. This nonprofit works with small to mid-size farms in Texas, and according to its website, team members personally visit the farms and ranches to verify everything sold at the market is locally made.

Texas Farmers Market at Mueller & Lakeline
The Texas Farmers Market at Mueller is one of the biggest and most popular in Austin, featuring more than 120 vendors. Of those, 40 percent are agricultural producers, ensuring shoppers get the freshest produce. It’s also consistently named one of the best farmers markets in Austin, including winning six times in the Austin Chronicle's readers poll. Folks a little farther north can also visit the sister location at Lakeline Mall, featuring a smaller but still impressive lineup of more than 90 local vendors.

The Domain Farmers Market
This newcomer to the farmers market scene (it opened in 2023) is held every Saturday on the lawn at The Domain, and is quickly becoming a favorite among folks in North Austin. This market aims to provide the best of worlds by offering fresh, farm-to-table options and local produce alongside the luxe shopping and dining The Domain is known for. Hopefully this benefits to the community that lives nearby, as well as visiting shoppers.

Farmer George Farmers Market
This pop-up farmers market is ideal for those looking for a smaller, more relaxed shopping experience. With three locations throughout the metropolitan area — South Austin, Pflugerville, and Round Rock — Farmer George is a Texas-certified farmers market with a mission to offer the best locally-grown and responsibly-raised food. However, the most exciting aspect may be its Fresh Pack Subscription, which is a weekly box of in-season local produce available for pick-up or delivery.

Lone Star Farmers Market
Lone Star has been in the farmers market game for more than 14 years, making it a beloved go-to for many Austinites. Although it offers a smaller selection of at least 40 vendors, the market’s mission is to showcase Austin’s finest local produce and locally inspired artisan food. The North Austin location is open every Sunday; The Steiner Ranch location opens the first and third Thursday of every month.

Bee Cave Farmers Market
Located in the beautiful Texas Hill Galleria, the Bee Cave Farmers Market offers a fun market experience. There's live music by local musicians, plus plenty of local vendors with fresh produce, baked goods, and handcrafted pieces. It's also a great choice for those looking for a more family-friendly market, as it offers shaded seating, yard games, and plenty of space for little ones to play.

Green Gate Farms
For those looking for a truly local experience, visiting Green Gate Farms is a must. Its mission is to create “agrihoods,” adding tiny homes to its garden spaces. They'll use community farming techniques to expand access to locally grown food and the people who are growing it. This certified organic, community-based farm offers fresh produce and flowers for purchase every Saturday at its East Austin location. Locals who'd like to get a taste can sign up to be a volunteer.

Boggy Creek Farm
Another farm that makes for a great hyperlocal farmers market experience is Boggy Creek Farm, which is located at one of the two oldest still-existing homes in Austin. The farm uses regenerative and sustainable farming practices to grow fruits and vegetables year-round. There’s also plenty of meat, dairy, and baked goods that are locally made. These are all available at the market, which is open every Wednesday through Saturday.

812 Outdoor Market
The 812 Outdoor Market is a one-of-a-kind experience, and one that's a bit unknown to those outside the Latinx community that it serves. You’ll find a little bit of everything from tropical fruits and veggies, to local artisans and handmade goods. Plus, local food trucks are on-site with some of the most authentic Mexican and Latin American food you can find in Austin. There’s also live music every night and a $2 entry fee.

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Whoops

Michelin goofs on a few restaurants honored in first Texas guide

Kau Ba/Facebook

Houston's Kau Ba has been removed from the Michelin Guide.

Texans' reactions to the first Michelin Guide in the state have ranged from glowing to unimpressed, but a few notable mix-ups are more concrete than differences in taste. The November 11 ceremony honored more than 100 restaurants across the state, but at least two were in error. In Dallas the guide confused two restaurants with each other, and in Houston one of them had closed.

Starting in Dallas: The Guide's release announcing the list of restaurants who'd won awards included The Charles, an award-winning Italian restaurant in Dallas' Design District, as one of 57 restaurants that earned a "Recommended" rating.

The Charles is a surely deserving restaurant that opened in 2018, the first concept from acclaimed food & beverage group Duro Hospitality, which has since gone on to open other restaurants such as El Carlos Elegante, Sister, and Cafe Duro.

But the Guide got the wrong Charles: The real recipient was Mister Charles, a sibling Duro Hospitality restaurant that opened at 3219 Knox St. in early 2024.

The Charles specializes in Italian and Texas-inspired dishes.

Mister Charles features French and Italian-influenced dishes.

It wasn't just an incorrect name; it listed the accompanying (incorrect) address.

A spokesperson for Michelin Guide verified that Mister Charles was the winner and said that the listing of The Charles was a mistake.

“This was an internal error caused by our geolocation process. The problem will be corrected in the most expeditious manner,” the spokesperson said. The Guide website has since updated the list and replaced The Charles with Mister Charles.

Having a difference of opinion about a critic's choices is one thing — but having an error of this magnitude is something else entirely.

And blaming "geolocation" as the source of the error is a curious excuse. Geolocation refers to the ability to track the whereabouts of an electronic device using GPS, cell phone towers, WiFi access points or a combination of these.

The Houston mix-up was also disappointing, but only involved one restaurant: In a press release issued Thursday, November 14, the Guide announced that it had removed Montrose Vietnamese restaurant Kau Ba from the list of Bib Gourmand recipients.

The reason: "Upon further investigation, our team has discovered the restaurant has been permanently closed since our Inspection team's visits occurred," the statement reads.

As has been widely noted in local media, Kau Ba closed earlier this month. The restaurant’s Instagram account now belongs to Alora, which is described as “a fresh Peruvian-Vietnamese fusion concept inspired by travels to Saigon.” It is expected to open soon.

Open since 2018, Kau Ba served an innovative take on Vietnamese fare created by Nikki Tran. The restaurant built on the notoriety Tran had achieved after being featured in two Netflix series: Somebody Feed Phil and Ugly Delicious. It earned considerable acclaim, including a spot in the Houston Chronicle’s top 100 restaurants as recently as 2023 and a nomination for Best Neighborhood Restaurant in the 2021 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards.

The restaurant went through a number of iterations during its tenure. For three-and-a-half years, Tran partnered with Aya Sushi owners Minette Corpuz and Bruce Kish to oversee operations, but they parted ways in February 2023.

In an email sent to Houston Public Media, Tran expressed regret over Michelin's decision.

“But we understand and respect Michelin’s decision to remove Kau Ba from its selection,” Tran said to HPM. “Exercising an abundance of caution from a legal position, I am not able currently to share further details of our situation but I do hope to follow up soon with more information.”

“Until then, on behalf of the entire Kau Ba team, we want to thank the entire culinary community for the recognition and support,” Tran added. “Kau Ba is proud of the dishes we created and look forward to sharing very soon what’s next.”

Thankfully in Austin, things seem to be going okay. The capital city swept the competition with seven stars (one more than Houston now that the change has been made), and two green stars for sustainability — in fact, the only green stars in the state.

Austin also had four of the first-ever barbecue restaurants to be awarded stars. Houston also had one.

Austin's winning restaurants were Barley Swine, Craft Omakase, Hestia, Olamaie, InterStellar BBQ, John Bates, La Barbecue, Alison Clem, and LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue.

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