Sautéed, baked, boiled, and fried.
Comfort food is the culinary equivalent of a hug, and this list hits on all of the classics. The best thing you can do to feel at ease and at home is to eat a lot of comfort food in a comfortable setting. In Austin, you’ve got options. Tasty, tasty options. So go ahead and make plans to pick up food at our favorite picks for Comfort Food in Austin below.
Update Contributed by Mariel Sofia
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photo credit: The diner bar yelp
5th St. & San Jacinto
Bringing the effortless comfort of southern coastal cuisine, chef Mashama Bailey's Diner Bar gently embraces your soul with rich flavors and the soothing sound of vinyl records softly playing in the background. Helmed by chef Kristine Kittrell, the legacy of the Savannah legend to welcome anyone wanting to try her highly praised cooking continues in this Austin outpost inside the Thompson Hotel.
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photo credit: mattie's website
811 W Live Oak St
Plenty of places attempt to evoke the sense of home cooking, but Mattie's take on southern staples are prepared in a literal home. The overgrown Live Oaks cover the sky above the grounds, filled with colorful peacocks to add a touch of whimsy to the cozy wrap around porch of the manor. Each dish outperforms the comfort found on the property with crispy fried chicken that has the perfect blend of a firm crunch and soft meat. The space feels refined, and the food is clearly perfected with every detail taken care of, but it still finds a way to feel like humble home cooking rather than a stuffy restaurant.
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photo credit: jacoby's Facebook
3235 E Cesar Chavez St
There's a gluttony of good spots to grab a hearty plate of BBQ or steak in Austin, but when it comes to over the top, better than your mom's Mac & Cheese, Jacoby's is hard to beat. The space inside feels like a chic cabin, but the food is far from the trendy bite sized portions typical to other eateries. There are plenty of classic comfort food dishes like Chicken Fried Steak, or BBQ Meatloaf, but the family style Mac n Cheese could cure any seasonal depression with one bite.
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photo credit: phoebe's diner facebook
533 W Oltorf St
408 West 11th St
12001-D Burnet Rd ( coming soon )
When you need something more than binging your comfort shows, and need that emotional nourishment only comfort food can provide, a diner hardly ever disappoints. While not the all night kind of diner you might find on the East Coast, Pheobe's still has the classic plates you'd find with a Texan touch.
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6507 Circle S Rd
Nestled in South Austin, this cozy, inviting restaurant is laid-back Southern comfort all the way. With a large outdoor patio/backyard, The Little Darlin' is also dog and kid-friendly. The ambiance is casual but the menu is high-quality and wide-ranging, with mouth-watering items like crispy chicken in all its forms. They're even open late until 2 AM.
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1200 E. 11th St
2700 W Pecan St Ste 650 (Pflugerville)
Boasting the best oxtail in town, Tony's Jamaican Food also specializes in rice cooked in coconut milk, meat dishes like jerk chicken that falls off the bone, and coco bread. Each platter comes with meat, rice and peas, and plantains. Get extra authentic by pairing your meal with a Jamaican soda - choose from popular regional flavors like cream soda, Ting, champagne cola, and ginger beer.
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Photo via Sawyer & Co
4827 E. Cesar Chavez St
Fusing native Texan flavors with New Orleans soul food, Sawyer & Co is a Cajun-Creole diner that excels at fried pickles, boudin (sausage consisting of pork and dirty rice), blackened catfish, and gumbo. Finish the experience with decadent Bread Pudding and enjoy the dog-friendly patio and board games.
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Photo via Instagram
2701 Manor Rd
1401 W Koenig Lane
Owned by the same people behind Thunderbird Coffee, this hotspot for breakfast, brunch, and lunch has driven fans wild with their famously beloved biscuits (a gluten-free version will launch soon as well). Regulars claim the buttery, fluffy biscuits from Bird Bird are arguably the best they’ve ever tasted. Try them as part of a breakfast sandwich or alone with good old-fashioned gravy or jam.
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Photo via Instagram
310 E 5th St
Stella San Jac is a swanky spot located off the Westin Austin downtown. This New American Southern-style restaurant is perhaps best known for its impossibly light and floaty biscuits with honey-whipped butter, but their crispy Brussels sprouts with sweet jalapenos, braised short-ribs, and lobster mac and cheese all deserve a shout-out as well.
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Photo via Instagram
2218 College Ave
401 E Whitestone Blvd
With two locations in Austin, you can probably find a Lucy’s Fried Chicken not too far from you. Boasting good old-fashioned chicken in a bucket, their popular dishes also include deep-fried deviled eggs, fried chicken spaghetti, smoky potato salad, spicy Diablo oysters, and pecan pie. What’s more: they have home-brewed sweet tea and a $4 margarita happy hour.
photo credit: Fixe
500 W 5th Street
You might not expect soulful Southern cooking from a restaurant in the heart of Downtown, but Fixe is a reflection of the changing times. The Lobster & Crawfish Pot Pie is a star here, and the deviled eggs with smoked trout roe might be the best in town. This upscale restaurant has a much-appreciated Texas flair and caters to every hungry visitor. Promise to be healthy tomorrow, but for tonight, give in to greatness.
photo credit: Biscuits and Groovy
5015 Duval St
1210 Barton Springs Rd
Sometimes the most simple and heartwarming dishes provide the most satisfaction, and Biscuits + Groovy is here to prove it. One bite is all you’ll need to become a fan of this food truck’s signature breakfast. Make your way down the menu board and try their bestseller, The Aretha, a savory combination of bacon, egg, and cheese poured over a buttery biscuit. If that’s not yum, we don’t know what is.
Photo Credit: Colleen's Kitchen
1911 Aldrich Street, Suite 100
Comfort food has come to the Mueller district of Austin courtesy of the flavor-packed dishes at Collen's Kitchen. The Southern-style eatery has a menu loaded down with classics like fried chicken, buttermilk biscuits, wings, deviled eggs, and more.
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EVEN MORE COMFORT FOOD IN AUSTIN:
2002 Manor Rd
5811 Manor Rd
Did we miss your favorite spot for Comfort Food in Austin?
Dang it. Let us know.
