TRIBEZA Curators

Amanda Turner’s Guide to Austin

By Tribeza Staff
September 10, 2025

Amanda Turner, a Texas native and chef de cuisine at Olamaie, has become one of Austin’s most acclaimed culinary talents. In addition to leading the Michelin-starred restaurant, she was named a James Beard Award semifinalist for Emerging Chef in 2022, a StarChefs Rising Star in 2023, and appeared as a cheftestant on Season 21 of Bravo’s “Top Chef.” Over the past 15 years, Turner has worked alongside some of the city’s most notable chefs at restaurants including Uchi, Uchiko, Odd Duck, Juniper, Jester King and Tatsu-Ya, gaining experience in everything from pasta and pastry to whole animal butchery.

Turner may be celebrated for her culinary achievements, but her love for Austin extends well beyond the kitchen. As one of TRIBEZA’s Curators, she spoke with us about her journey, her favorite local spots and the community that keeps her inspired.

Watch the full interview here:

How long have you lived in Austin?

Amanda Turner: I have been in Austin for 16 years. I originally visited for a gaming competition and really fell in love with the city. I decided to go to culinary school in 2009, and one of the top schools recommended was Le Cordon Bleu in Austin. It felt serendipitous, so I moved about six months later and have been in love ever since!

Where are you from originally, and what brought you here?

AT: I’m originally from Dallas-Fort Worth, but I grew up in Arlington specifically. I moved to Austin for culinary school, and was immediately taken by the city’s energy. Where I’m from, you never saw people outside. As in, people don’t really do patios or enjoy the outdoors much. The variety of restaurants, bars and venues also felt very cool and artsy in a way that I was not used to. At the time, it definitely felt more like the kind of place I had been searching for my whole young life.

What do you love about Austin?

AT: For me, I really love the open-mindedness of the Austin community. We’re very diverse in the way that it operates as a city — you can always find something new. From music to food to beautiful scenery just outside your front door. Most of the seasons are nice. This summer has been surprisingly mild, so I am optimistic about future summers. But to me, Austin is about community and the way that people feel like family. I love being able to see my friends when I go out to eat, to my favorite bar or to see my favorite bands. That’s a culture that is special to this city. You really don’t get that kind of camaraderie anywhere else!

What’s your perfect day in Austin—from morning to night?

AT: A perfect day for me has to start with a good cup of coffee. I recently bought a house on the east side, so I often find myself at El Tigre or Figure 8. If I want great coffee and pastry, I love to stop by Sour Duck or Rockman. If it’s truly a “breakfast” kind of day, there is nothing better than Joe’s Bakery for their handmade tortillas and super crispy bacon. After that, a nice walk around Town Lake is always great, weather permitting. My partner and I really enjoy gaming, and one of his favorite walks is to Cidercade off Riverside.

For other gaming, my friends and I are really into “Dungeons and Dragons” and “Magic: The Gathering”, so we often frequent Emerald Tavern and Dragon’s Lair for a round of games and drinks. After an afternoon of gaming, it’s lunch time. I’m not saying I always design my day around my meals, but I often do! Chef life — what can I say.

For lunch, I love June’s, Bamboo House, Gangam Korean BBQ (best lunch deals in town) and Marafuku Ramen. After lunch, we love to watch movies at Alamo Drafthouse. Especially in the late afternoon, it’s peaceful and you can have fresh-baked cookies or one of their shakes while you cool off, especially in the summer.

After a movie in the early evening, I love to meet friends for drinks at Lolo for delicious natural wines or grab my favorite beer in town at Oddwood Brewing. For dinner, it’s always so hard to choose, but I love Nixta and Birdie’s. Not only are they some of the best chefs in the city, but their restaurants are also so comfortable and welcoming. We are also huge fans of Bufalina on Cesar Chavez. I probably eat there more than any other restaurant in terms of frequency.

For late night, we swing by Nickel City, and they always have a crispy highball waiting for me or Yellow Jacket for a divey outdoor hang and a splash of Fernet.

Amanda Turner_TRIBEZA6985 — Amanda Turner (Photo by Cass Klepac)

Where do you take out-of-towners to show them the “real” Austin?

AT: I always take my friends from out of town to East Sixth Street. I’m getting a little too old for the downtown scene, but East Sixth Street is vibrant and fun! We love to have people check out The White Horse — it’s sort of a rite of passage! It feels very Texas, and the locals are always so welcoming and great dancers. I’ve had some of the most fun nights of my life there, and there’s a photobooth to document it for the future.

For live music, we frequently go to Hotel Vegas, where you can get super rowdy and dance the night away! I also love karaoke, so my visitors often find themselves ending their nights at Ego’s on South Congress Avenue. If we stop by Watertrade for some cocktails and snacks before, the night is even better.

Also — this might be cliché — but watching the bats is awesome, and it always wows guests from out of town. For great views of the lake, P6 at the LINE is always a great choice.

Last but not least, I am a huge Austin FC fan and I love to take my friends and family to the games, especially in the supporters section, where you can see the city really come alive! I love to sing the songs, do the chants and throw beer!

AT: Pocha is Back on North Lamar Boulevard has become a staple for my friend group. They are open late and serve a variety of Korean snacks.

Also, I’ve got to shout out Lao’d Bar. I think Chef Bob Somsith is doing some of the most important and delicious food in the city. It feels like you’re in Laos or somewhere in Southeast Asia. They even serve the beer on ice, which might sound unusual, but it’s really, really good. All the food is so flavorful that I have to give them props; it’s my favorite place right now.

What do you hope never changes about Austin, even as the city grows?

AT: I hope that we always keep the sense of community and creativity. Austin is a very welcoming place that supports the arts, and we need to continue to support artists and musicians so that our city can continue to thrive.