It’s exciting to dine somewhere you’ve seen on TV. That’s a lot easier to do in Austin with a food-related show such as Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Guy Fieri travels around the country to find, well…those types of establishments. The name’s fairly self-explanatory.
Coincidentally, it’s just as much fun to eat next to someone you’ve seen on TV. Over the years, I’ve chowed down on ribs while Minka Kelly (Lyla Garrity on Friday Night Lights) sat nearby, sipped on a coffee next to Nolan Gould (Luke from Modern Family), and have encountered so many actors from The Office that I feel like I’m a character on the show. *Stares apathetically into the camera lens*
Alas, I’ve never met Guy Fieri (yet), but I do dig his fondness for finding gems around a city. There have been 15 Austin restaurants on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. We’re covering them all, and then I’ll give you my top five. Let’s go!
All the Austin Restaurants on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (That Are Still Open)
Boteco
Is it cliche to rave over the pão de queijo here? Probably, but the offering at this Brazilian food truck is so consistently good. Guy Fieri visited here on a recommendation from Matthew McConaughey, so you know it’s “alright, alright, alright.” Boteco was also named one of Yelp’s top 100 food trucks in the entire country.
1720 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704
Casino El Camino
Casino El Camino is in the heart of downtown and features some of the best burgers in all of Austin. The vibes are definitely old-school and rock-heavy, which is a fantastic backdrop for good grub. As a bonus, they give you a huge heap of fries when you add that to your order.
517 East 6th St, Austin, TX 78701
Counter Cafe
The location seen on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives has closed, though Counter Cafe is still going strong around Austin. The diner has curry chicken burgers that Guy christened “juicy as can be” and a snazzy quail and eggs combo, plus delectable pancakes and biscuits.
Multiple locations
Foreign & Domestic
You’ll get a taste of both American and European cuisine at Foreign & Domestic, which is among the first “farm to table-nose to tail” dining spots in Austin. The restaurant also sports one of the more impressive craft beer and wine lists in the city.
306 E 53rd St, Austin, TX 78751
Green Mesquite
Green Mesquite has been around since 1988 and is a mainstay on Barton Springs. Is there better BBQ in town? Definitely, but the vibes are pretty fun here and there’s a hearty variety of sides.
1400 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX
Home Slice Pizza
Home Slice is a staple on South Congress, and it’s gotten so popular that it’s expanded throughout Austin and even into Houston. Their eggplant pizza is one of my favorite pies in the entire city. Grab a slice to go or indulge in the better move of ordering an entire pie. The NY-style slices are HEFTY.
Multiple locations
Magnolia Cafe
Magnolia Cafe has been open “eight days a week” since 1979. Sadly, Magnolia is no longer open 24/7, but daily hours of 7 am to midnight are still pretty good. Both the Mag Mud and Sonora Queso are cheese-tastic.
1920 South Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
OneTaco
OneTaco is a bit of a misnomer, because you will certainly have more than one taco when you eat here. These authentic Mexican tacos are among the best tacos in Austin, and Guy featuring them on the show only boosted their popularity. You can even get them at Q2 stadium when you watch an Austin FC game.
Multiple locations
Pieous
The chalkboard walls of Pieous are a treat to look at, and the Neapolitan pizza and sandwiches are an even better treat to consume. If you somehow have room after your meal, grab a sweet pie to go.
Slab BBQ & Beer
Slab is kind enough to have both a north and south location, so you can get your BBQ fix wherever you happen to be in Austin. This is where Guy Fieri found the first-ever rib sandwich in the history of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, and it’s fitting: Slab’s sandwich game is incredibly strong.
Multiple locations
Taco Xpress
It was always a treat to see the giant Maria head sprouting out of the Taco Xpress location on South Lamar. That one has closed, but the tacos live on at a food truck on Barton Springs.
1210 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704
The Austin Restaurants on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives That Have Closed
Alas, not all of these restaurants have survived. Here are the Austin “DDD” spots that are permanently closed.
Holy Roller
This place was so awesome. Punk rock + diner + all-day brunch + the coolest staff. I had been to a couple of karaoke parties here where we rented out the entire location and sang our hearts out.
Luke’s Inside Out
Luke’s Inside Out was a food truck next to Gibson Street Bar. Chowing down on one of their toasted sandwiches and exceptionally good fries was always a joy during trivia nights.
Noble Sandwich Co.
Austin has a hearty number of quality sandwich spots. Noble Sandwich Co. wasn’t my favorite, but I could always count on them for a solid meal if I was in the area. They went heavy on the meat, which is especially welcome when you’re hungry.
Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ
I used to live near Valentina’s, and let me tell you, it is DANGEROUS to walk outside and immediately have the scent of brisket and sausage wafting into your nose. My favorite breakfast taco was $15 and featured just about every kind of meat imaginable—and a fried egg for good measure. Valentina’s opened up a full restaurant in Buda, but poor management ultimately led to its demise.
The Top 5 Austin Restaurants on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives
Now that you’ve met all these spots, which are worth visiting? None of them are particularly bad, though some do stand out above the rest. If you only have a couple of days in Austin, here’s where I’d recommend.
Home Slice
Any Austinite who’s spent a bit of time in the city has visited Home Slice, but hey, we like returning to our favorite places. And you may have only limited yourself to pizza, when the sandwiches (particularly the meatball sub) are also top-notch.
Casino El Camino
Grabbing a burger and fries is the ideal move here, though Casino El Camino has plenty to offer if you’re not in a burger mood. They also have some fun fruity pastries for dessert, should you want to feel uncomfortably full after your meal.
Slab BBQ & Beer
I took a boat ride on Lake Travis one time that was catered by Slab BBQ. Eating a pulled pork sandwich and then cannonballing into the perfectly cool water remains among my top Austin memories.
OneTaco
You can take your chances stumbling into a random taco joint or visiting a food truck and hoping for the best. Or, you can simply head to OneTaco and know you’re getting a top-quality option every time. The choice is yours.
Boteco
Brazilian food isn’t a terribly common cuisine in Austin, and Boteco is the best of the best. Literally everything I’ve tried on the menu has been tasty, and the people are super cool, to boot.
And there you have it! Next time you’re adventuring out in Austin, whether with a group or on your own, you’ve got plenty of spots for a good bite in between your activities.