All Food & Drink - Critics Picks
Best Place to Burn Your Taste Buds Off While Eating Caribbean
Twin Isle
As Rosewood – like the rest of Austin – grows more homogenous by the second, Twin Isle shines (or, rather, burns) as a beacon of bright island flavor. Helmed by Shirley’s Trini Cuisine alum Janelle Romeo, the fast-casual Caribbean outpost sells killer oxtail fries, decadent doubles, and other classics like jerk chicken and rice and peas. They’ll ask you when you order if you’d like to add pepper sauce to your items; be forewarned that that shit is hot as hell, but delicious. A new vision of old East Austin, just a stone’s throw away from the Carver Museum.
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Coziest Breakfast Biscuit Palace
Lynny’s
Lynny’s has an adorable food truck on Gunter that we recommend visiting before perusing the quaint neighboring MASS Gallery and Time Being Books, but the biscuit bakers’ new brick-and-mortar on East 12th is even more picturesque. With Sixties-themed decor, diner coffee that doesn’t make you wince, and, of course, those biscuits – get a Good Morning for sustenance and a Peaches & Cream for fun – this kitschy cafe is made for slow brunches and decadent comfort food.
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Paprika ATX
Bad Bunny’s painted on the side of the building. Paper bags painted “FUCK ICE” line the walls. Despite ATX expenses and New York Times name checks, its one-page menu remains pleasantly, reasonably priced. This is a taqueria pa’ la gente, alright. Paprika, Margarito Pérez’s food truck-turned-brick and mortar on North Lamar, delivers some of the best tacos north of the border, and though the sparse, industrial-ish interior is ever-buzzing with clientele, its friendly staff always manages to thank every customer, smiling and panting (the salsa’s got a kick to it), on their way out. Get the torta.
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Leona Botanical Cafe & Bar
South Austin’s idyllic Leona Botanical Cafe & Bar, a collab between the Veracruz All Natural and DEE DEE teams, knows that even those of us who are lashed to a laptop deserve to feel the sun on our face. The beautiful grounds boast 20 different tree species, a teeming garden, and a tranquil stream, providing a calming retreat for worker bees and the leisure class alike. All that nature isn’t just healing, it’s hungry-making, and you’ve got options: Leona’s main cafe – and bar, if it’s after the work whistle blows – plus the Mexican and Thai noms you already love from Veracruz and DEE DEE. Their next co-pro? An on-site burger bar.
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Best Pop Up-Turned-Permanent Bakery
Matok Bakery
It can be tough for any food pop-up to make a name for itself in Austin; this city’s competitive dining scene gives small operations no choice but to sink or swim. Luckily for us, Matok, a hugely beloved Middle Eastern & Mediterranean-inspired bakery that started its life as a viral pop-up powered by online orders, found enough success to establish a brick-and-mortar location on South Lamar this year. Swing by for their wildly good za’atar buns, feta-filled croissants, pastries, breads, and cakes.
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Brown Sugar Bake Shop
If you happen to be enjoying lunch at the Webberville Food Truck Park and feel like you deserve a reward for whatever decent thing you’ve done in recent memory, this cart full o’ goodies has you covered. One cookie can be shared, for sure, but when you see the selection (there are regular “drops”), you'll probably end up with a few options to share with the table. Go with the classic chocolate chip (with sea salt, of course) or try the Hot Honey Cornbread for a bit of spice. We have yet to taste anything that didn’t impress, but cross your fingers that they bring back the Fruity Pebble Cheesecake Cookie because, damn, it’s something special.
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Le Calamar
Prix fixe menus often come with high prices and bizarrely small portions, making them a tough sell for budget-minded diners. But at Le Calamar, a French-Texan bistro on South First Street that just celebrated its first anniversary, the daily $77 menu includes four hearty courses that feature some of Le Calamar’s most popular items, like their seasonal fish crudos and their wagyu filet mignon with au poivre sauce and beef tallow fries. It’s the rare prix fixe in Austin that’s truly worth every penny.
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Best Matcha Origin Story on Wheels
Kriya Matcha Cafe
With matcha’s popularity showing no signs of slowing down, Kriya Matcha stands out for more than its vibrant green drinks. Co-founder Nina DeFrancisco launched the West Campus truck after a health scare and successful cancer-removal surgery prompted her to rethink her career path. The result is a welcoming stop for ceremonial-grade matcha, serving rotating flavors like pistachio and rose to UT students and locals alike. In a city where food trucks are woven into the local fabric, Kriya is proof that some of the best ventures begin with a leap into the unknown.
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Best New Spot to Get Your Za’atar and Pizza Fix
Old Jerusalem Restaurant
This Middle Eastern restaurant opened in Northwest Hills in early 2025, and it’s already a huge favorite. Load up on excellent halal staples: hummus, falafel, baba ghanouj, shawarma on a platter, shawarma in a wrap. Wood-fired meats on skewers, on pies, and gooey cheesy pizza pies! Explore the veggie options and bold fresh ingredients at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The bright, cozy space takes reservations and walk-ins and the big patio is a bonus. Soccer watch parties seal the deal for soon-to-be regulars. Generations of tradition have a way of creating community.
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Armando’s Kitchen & Deli
Tucked inside a West Campus Shell gas station, Armando’s Kitchen serves up an eclectic and satisfying mix of Mexican food, deli sandwiches, breakfast staples, and American classics like hot dogs and hamburgers. More importantly, the quality – and portion sizes – don’t suffer despite the menu’s diversity. The burritos are massive, the tacos come street-style, and the sandwiches are stacked with Boar’s Head meats and cheeses. The bestselling Armando’s Club arrives on sourdough bread and is packed with the restaurant’s homemade chipotle mayonnaise.
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