Your Passport To Global Cuisine in Austin
Austin has no shortage of great restaurants, but some dining experiences can make you feel as if you’ve stepped into another part of the world. From richly designed interiors to bold traditional flavors, these 15 international restaurants invite diners to travel the globe without leaving the city.
Have a full Left Bank experience at Justine’s
4710 E 5th St.
On East 5th Street, a chic brasserie with late-night hours, moody decor and excellent French bistro fare brings la vie bohème to Austin. Grab a table at Justine’s, embrace the Parisian vibe set by the red-painted walls and the Art Deco pendant lights, order a glass of wine or one of Justine’s perfectly-balanced cocktails and enjoy Gallic dishes like escargots, ratatouille and steak frites.
Cheer “¡Viva Barcelona!” at El Raval
1500 S Lamar Blvd. #150
El Raval on South Lamar Boulevard takes its name from a district in Barcelona famous for its international population, and this tapas bar nails the cool and community-minded energy of coastal Spain. The blend of classic Spanish ingredients and preparations with global influences feel very true to Barcelonian cuisine, and their ceviche de hamachi with leche de tigre, patatas bravas with harissa aioli and paella with duck confit and dashi broth pair nicely with the bar’s potent housemade sangrias.
Enjoy churros and chocolate the Madrid way at San Ginés
2072 S Lamar Blvd.
South Lamar might as well be “Little Spain” these days; not only is this street home to El Raval, but it also hosts San Ginés, the second U.S. location of a famous churro vendor in Madrid. Wide windows, Spanish music and a Mediterranean-themed color scheme give this space an atmospheric feel. In addition to the crispy churros (which should be dunked in San Ginés’ luxurious bittersweet hot chocolate), guests can order a full Spanish-accented meal and a wide range of Spanish wines.
“Travel” to Tuscany at Trattoria Lisina
13308 Ranch to Market Road 150
Dining in a charming stone and terra-cotta building overlooking a stunning landscape feels like a Tuscan dream, but at Trattoria Lisina in Driftwood, just a short drive from South Austin, you can have that experience right here in Texas. Located at Mandola Winery, the restaurant leans into its connection to wine culture. The menu features hearty Italian favorites, including osso buco, bistecca alla Fiorentina and pappardelle with prosciutto and mushrooms.
Live out your “Mamma Mia!” dreams at Yamas
5308 Balcones Drive
This Greek restaurant leans heavily into a coastal aesthetic with bright blues, clean whites and plenty of natural sunlight. The dishes fit into a traditional Hellenic theme; there are flavorful dips like tzatziki and hummus, lots of lamb and octopus and bold takes on spanakopita and moussaka. The wine list highlights crisp and clean Greek bottles that make one think of lying in the sun and breathing in the salty air wafting off of the Aegean Sea.
Raise a pint like a Londoner at Nosh & Bevvy
8440 Burnet Road #100
Cozy pubs that welcome their neighbors with open arms are common sights in English cities, and in Austin, anyone wanting that warm style of hospitality can find it at Nosh & Bevvy. This Burnet Road institution looks like a strip-mall watering hole from the outside, but inside, you’ll discover comfy leather booths, a long wooden bar, TVs showing soccer games, dart boards, British movie and band posters, and a tavern menu that includes London bar-food classics like fish and chips and chicken tikka masala.
Have an Emerald Isles feast at Kelly’s Irish Pub
519 W Oltorf St.
An Irish bar that feels like it was airlifted from Dublin to Austin, Kelly’s Irish Pub on South 1st Street pours a beautiful Guinness, offers tables, booths and bar seats for groups of friends to gather, and serves pub grub with a very Irish twist. Think fried shepherd’s pie balls, bangers and mash with Guinness gravy and lamb and potato stew.
Dine in a Persian dreamland at Roya
7858 Shoal Creek Blvd. Suite C
One of the most gorgeously designed restaurants to open in Austin recently has to be Roya, an Persian spot on Anderson Lane. Roya uses Persian tiles, vivid jewel tones and luxe materials to create a dining room that feels both deeply luxurious and reflective of decor traditions from the Middle East. The menu includes plenty of a la carte dishes, but for the most authentically Persian experience, order the “Sofreh.” This family-style chef’s menu draws inspiration from Iranian home cooking and allows you to enjoy bright flavors and top-quality ingredients in a friendly and communal way.
Order Tokyo-inspired bar bites at Kemuri Tatsu-ya
2713 E 2nd St.
Modeled after Japanese izakayas (relaxed gastropubs especially popular in big cities like Tokyo), Kemuri Tatsu-ya in East Austin feels like a cool-kid hangout in Shibuya, but with a distinctly Texan twist. The walls are covered with Japanese and Texan paraphernalia, while the interior blends hunting lodge-inspired wood paneling with Zen design. The menu combines izakaya staples like karaage chicken and beef skewers with Texas barbecue techniques, making it a natural fit for Japanese whisky or an ice-cold Lone Star.
Head to Mian & Bao for casual dim sum served Chinese-style
4700 W Guadalupe St. Site A5
Friendly family-style dining with efficient service is a hallmark of Chinese restaurant culture, and in Austin, diners can find that experience at Mian & Bao in the Triangle. The restaurant is the first Texas location from a Southern California group known for its Sichuan restaurants, and it specializes in Shanghai-meets-Sichuan dim sum. The dining room is simple but inviting, with seating for groups and solo diners alike, and guests order through a QR code at the table. Don’t skip the soup dumplings or the Chengdu cold noodles.
Indulge in a Southeast Asian escape at Lao’d Bar
9909 FM 969 Bldg. 4
Lao’d Bar is located somewhat off the beaten path, near the end of a farm-to-market road on the outskirts of town, a fitting setting for a playful Laotian bar that feels worlds away from Austin. The decor is bright and tropical, the food is spicy and exhilarating, and the cocktail menu introduces ingredients like pandan, miso and yuzu in approachable, highly enjoyable ways.
Find family-style Argentine comfort at Buenos Aires Cafe
1201 E 6th St.
Restaurants often claim that they want their guests to feel like they’re “at home,” but few restaurants achieve that goal as clearly and fully as Buenos Aires Cafe. This long-standing East Austin eatery encourages guests to linger at their comfortable tables and savor family-style Argentine dishes like empanadas, steak with chimichurri, housemade chorizo and lomito sandwiches.
Have a Mexico City-style morning at Mercado Sin Nombre
408 N Pleasant Valley Road
A cafe window tucked down a narrow alley that’s lined with mismatched tables, crates repurposed as chairs, and paper garlands isn’t an unusual sight in Mexico City, but we’re lucky to have a (truly excellent) version of this type of community cafe right in East Austin. Mercado Sin Nombre serves its award-winning coffee and excellent masa-based biscuits and pastries to crowds from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. six days a week, and this is a breakfast adventure that will bring you closer to Mexico City than anything else in town.