Your parents are in town, and they're hungry.
Don't panic: We’ve got you covered. Below we recommend the perfect venues to make a positive impression on your folks, whether they’re visiting from across the country or just in from the ‘burbs.
Contributed by Ashley Wright & Kelly McComas
BEST FOR: FANCY PARENTS
photo via instagram
601 W 2nd St
The newest restaurant from the Uchi team has officially opened, and if your parents are into fancy spots, this is where you'll want to bring them. Uchibā, which can be loosely translated as "Uchi bar," is renowned restaurant Uchi's izakaya‑inspired cocktail bar and restaurant. Uchibā delivers a vast selection of Japanese whiskies, yakitori grill items, and Uchi classics. It tends to be tricky to get a table here, so plan ahead and make a reservation.
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Photo Credit: Jacoby's Restaurant & Mercantile
3235 E Cesar Chavez St
Between the stunning décor inside, the sprawling patio space outside, and the flawlessly seasoned dishes, Jacoby’s is the ideal place to take your folks for a perfect brunch in Austin. Valet the car (it’s free), then let your server guide you and your guests through Jacoby’s farm-to-table, all-local philosophy. For the meat lover in your midst, the amazing chicken fried steak and waffles is not to be missed. For those with a sweet tooth, the French toast made with seasonal tea-infused loaves is the only way to go.
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photo via instagram @mattiesaustin
811 W Live Oak St
Your parents won't believe a town they think is "overrun with hippies and live music" could also produce an elegant gem like Mattie's. (That's the magic of Austin, folks.) Whisk them out to this 19th-century home nestled among verdant ancient oak trees and freely roaming peacocks. The menu has something for every palate, from cheese plates and fried chicken to duck gumbo.
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photo via instagram @jeffreysofaustin
1204 W Lynn St
Going to Jeffrey’s is a surefire way to impress the 'rents. The attentive service, old-school American menu, and white tablecloths practically guarantee your parents will be smitten with this Austin institution. Work up an appetite by taking a little stroll around the surrounding historic Clarksville neighborhood before making your way to what will undoubtedly be a successful meal.
BEST FOR: HEALTH-CONSCIOUS PARENTS
photo via facebook
2201 College Ave
Not sure where you bring your arugula afficianado mom? Vinaigrette has a large menu of the green stuff (including the option to design your own), plus soups, sandwiches, fresh juices, wine, and beer. This spot is right off South Congress and is perfect for a relaxing post-shopping lunch on the huge shaded patio.
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Photo Credit: Bouldin Creek Coffeehouse & Cafe
1900 S 1st St
Bouldin Creek is a microcosm of Austin life: Often crowded, always worth it. Casual and eclectic, Bouldin is the ideal brunch place to take your parents if they’re jonesin' for a dose of that “weird” they’ve been hearing so much about. There’s plenty of conversational fodder in the form of knick-knacks, posters, and ever-changing local art taking up all available wall space. The exceptionally reasonable prices, unfailingly sweet service, and reliably delicious vegan and vegetarian food will ensure your parents' love for this little slice of Austin originality.
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photo via facebook
1603 S Congress Ave
This all-day café located in the South Congress Hotel has a bright, airy vibe that's perfect for brunching or lunching with Mom and Dad. Café No Sé's menu consists of lighter fare like quinoa vegetable bowls, lemon-ricotta hotcakes, and crispy cauliflower, all of which are still absolutely satisfying and delicious.
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BEST FOR: TRENDY PARENTS
photo via facebook
2944 E 12th St
Your parents can't visit without checking out Food & Wine's 2023 Best Restaurant of The Year, right? Birdie’s is a diminutive counter service neighborhood restaurant and wine bar with a pre-fixe menu that changes on a regular basis. You can expect simple, seasonal American fare with France and Italian influences at this fine-casual spot. Their fresh pastas are our favorite, but you truly can't go wrong with anything here.
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Photo Credit: Facebook / The Salty Sow
1917 Manor Rd
The Salty Sow is all about cool, semi-casual ambiance. (And pork. A lot of pork.) This is the perfect place to take your folks for a happy hour snack and a refreshing drink. Make sure to pair one of their signature cocktails with the savory duck fat fries, the banana chocolate-chip french toast, and/or the crispy Brussels sprout leaves with salty pecorino.
2115 Holly St
If something modern and delicious is more your family’s style, you can’t do better than Launderette. Clean and bright with an inventive, ever-changing selection of bites, this is the place to take parents with more discerning palates. In addition to dishes ranging from Iberico prawns to whole branzino, dessert is a must here: Executive Pastry Chef Laura Sawicki serves up imaginative creations like birthday cake ice cream sandwiches.
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photo via instagram @swaythai
3437 Bee Cave Rd
If your parents like spicy food, Sway should be on your list. We recommend the Westlake location for its covered rooftop patio with a lovely view of the Austin skyline. The dishes at this modern Thai restaurant are packed with fresh, hot flavors and made to be shared. The excellent Thai-inspired tropical cocktails make the dining experience here a well-rounded one moms and pops with adventurous taste will love.
BEST FOR: PARENTS WHO LIKE TO DRINK
photo via facebook
2613 S Lamar Blvd
Show your parents what Austin is all about at one of the best Tex-Mex spots in town: Matt's El Rancho. It's been a family-owned institution in Austin since the 1950s. Their fajitas and enchiladas are excellent, as is their famous Bob Armstrong Dip. Don't forget to order a few margaritas, or better yet, our favorite Mexican Martini in town.
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photo via instagram
1400 S Congress Ave
Just because you’re in central Texas doesn’t mean you can’t get fresh, delicious seafood when you want it. Take your ‘rents to Perla’s for lunch on a sunny day and enjoy the gorgeous patio as you choose from 10 varieties of oysters. If oysters aren’t your thing, Perla’s has a large selection of other seafood-centric dishes: fresh lobster rolls, bouillabaisse with grilled baguette, and traditional fish and chips are just a few of the worthy alternatives. The extensive wine, beer, and cocktail menu make this a great spot to get a buzz on with Mom and Dad.
BEST FOR: PICKY PARENTS
photo via facebook
1415 S Congress Ave
Home Slice serves up one of our favorite New York-style pizzas in town by the slice or in the form of a whole pie. They also have delicious wings, garlic knots, and sandwiches. If you go to the location on South Congress, make sure you shepherd your parents down the street to Amy's Ice Creams in the haze of your post-carb and -cheese bliss for a refreshing creamy cone to cap off the night.
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photo via instagram @olamaieaustin
1610 San Antonio St
Named for four generations of women in Executive Chef Michael Fojtasek’s family, Olamaie has been parent-friendly from its inception. Perfect for fans of elevated Southern cuisine, the restaurant offers a menu that caters to both your mother’s mercurial dietary restrictions and your father’s affinity for meat and potatoes. Make your parents think you have the inside track in your adopted city by ordering the delicious off-menu biscuits. (Score brownie points by reassuring your mother that no, they’re not better than the ones she makes.)
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photo via facebook
1003 Barton Springs Rd
Inevitably your mother will have done some light Googling before her flight landed and she’ll be asking you where to get some great barbecue. Enter Terry Black’s. This local favorite offers a shorter wait than Franklin’s and a shorter drive than Salt Lick, making it the perfect pit stop (sorry) to satisfy your parents’ hankering for ribs and fork-tender brisket made in classic Texas style.
BEST FOR: ADVENTUROUS PARENTS
photo via canje
1914 E 6th St
Canje, a Caribbean spot on the east side of the city inspired by dishes from Guyana, has some of the best food in town, and it's guaranteed to impress. It's a part of the Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group, so you know everything from the food and cocktails to the atmosphere is going to be excellent. Some items that you can't go wrong with are the ceviche, plantain chips (you're going to want to drink the sauces they come with), the curry wagyu beef, and extra orders of the buttery Guyanese-style roti for soaking it all up. Canje sources local produce and protein as much as possible and draws inspiration from the local growing seasons, so the menu changes throughout the year.
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Photo Credit: Odd Duck
1201 S Lamar Blvd
Assuming you and your parents have similarly adventurous taste, James Beard Award Winner Bryce Gilmore’s stylish Odd Duck is the perfect choice for a tapas-style meal full of innovative flavor combinations. Order unusual dishes like the grilled quail for the perfect conversational distraction from the latest happenings in your love life.
Photo Credit: El Naranjo
2717 S Lamar Blvd, Ste. 1085
In addition to their sudden craving for barbecue, your parents will probably ask you to take them to the best Mexican food this side of the border. El Naranjo, Iliana de la Vega’s temple to Oaxacan cuisine, fits the bill. Homemade tortillas, complexly nuanced mole, and dishes like fresh ceviche will satisfy your family's yen for all things Central American.
801 S Lamar
Uchi is the fine dining experience your parents will tell their friends about when they get home. With fresh fish flown in daily from the Fukuoka and Tsukiji markets in Japan, Uchi puts a modern spin on centuries-old Japanese tradition. Encourage your folks to step outside their comfort zone and ask your server what they recommend; the menu constantly changes depending on what James Beard Award Winner Tyson Cole can procure that day.
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MORE PARENT-FRIENDLY SPOTS:
1211 W Riverside Dr
110 San Antonio St
1101 Music Ln
401 W 2nd St
408 East 43rd Street Suite C
8557 Research Blvd #116
1716 S Congress Ave
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Have more suggestions for delicious places to eat with your parents?
