Austin Dining Dilemmas Answered

Infatuation writers and editors live and breathe restaurants to give you honest, trustworthy recommendations about where to eat in Austin and around the world. Whether they're reviewing a new restaurant or a classic, the team always shows up unannounced, pays for everything, and calls it like they see it. Now, they’re here to solve your dining dilemmas.

• I’m dating a vegan. What are some good date-night options?

Fabrik is our favorite tasting menu, vegan or otherwise. For a date night that is less fine dining-y, try Nori, the only entirely vegan sushi restaurant in town. Nixta also makes some mean vegan and vegetarian options, including beet tartare.

• I want to go to one of Austin’s hyped-up barbecue spots, but I don't like waiting in line. Any advice?

Distant Relatives, one of the food trucks at Meanwhile Brewing, probably won’t have much of a line, and they make the best brisket around. The lines at Parish Barbecue and KG BBQ move quickly and are well worth a short wait. Or here’s a tip: Get a small group and pre-order Franklin for pickup—that way, you skip the (often very long) line altogether.

• In *these* economic times, what are Austin’s best money-saver meals?

We rounded up 15 meals that cost less than $15 here. A few standouts: Breakfast or lunch at Habanero Mexican Cafe, anything from the very affordable menu at Julie’s Noodles, the new fried chicken truck Cockti, and of course our eternal favorite, Texas Chili Parlor.