One of the world’s culinary capitals, Austin is a city where it’s hard to throw a stone without hitting a restaurant that serves good food. Eastside Austin alone is home to countless gastronomic treasures, including the following eateries.
Blue Dahlia Bistro
Blue Dahlia is celebrated for the quality of its food, service, and atmosphere. The European-inspired restaurant is so celebrated, in fact, that you should drop in at off-peak dining hours if you don’t want to wait. Reservations are accepted for parties of six or more. The good news about visiting from AMLI Eastside is you can call to see how crowded the restaurant is before making the five-minute walk. If it’s tartine, mussels, or ratatouille you’re after, the patio at Blue Dahlia may be just right for your next meal.
Buenos Aires Cafe, Este
Authentic Argentine cuisine is what you’ll find at this trendy Austin lunch destination, just an eight-minute walk from AMLI Eastside. Empanadas, medialunas, and other pastries that are staples for residents of Buenos Aires are hot items here. Soups, salads, sandwiches, and grilled specialties are also on the menu.
Bufalina
Just a five-minute drive from AMLI Eastside’s downtown Austin apartments, Bufalina is one of those restaurants industry professionals can’t help but be impressed by. Chefs from Austin’s most respected restaurants vie with non-industry patrons for seats at what is widely considered one of the best Neopolitan pizza parlors in Texas. It’s a good thing Bufalina accepts to-go orders. Even though it has experienced wild success, its pizzas remain very affordable.
Cenote
A few blocks down Cesar Chavez from Bufalina, Cenote is an Eastside Austin favorite open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A white picket fence and intimate decor give Cenote a quaint ambiance, while delightful dishes at reasonable prices round out its status as a virtually flawless restaurant. Daily specials like all-night Happy Hour Mondays, two-dollar Taco Tuesdays, and half-price wine Wednesdays have helped Cenote build a bulky base of regulars.
Juan in a Million
One of dozens of players on the Austin breakfast taco scene, Juan in a Million is open from 7 AM to 3 PM daily for your culinary pleasure. Juan’s breakfast tacos are legendary, but the restaurant serves other breakfast items as well chicken, beef, and avocado tacos for lunch diners. This Eastside culinary gem is a five-minute drive from AMLI South Shore.
Hillside Farmacy
Farm-fresh salads and sandwiches drive Hillside Farmacy patrons to sweet satisfaction. Gulf-harvested oysters give the restaurant culinary breadth and panache. The creative, resourceful decor makes it an atmospheric place to spend time. For AMLI Eastside residents, its 11th Street location, just a five-minute walk from downtown Austin apartments, gives Hillside additional appeal.
Tamale House East
Robert Vasquez’s Tamale House was an Austin institution. The original Tamale House closed its doors following Vasquez’s death, but the restaurant’s Eastside Austin location is still open for business. Tamale House East cooks up more than just tamales, but its namesake culinary creations are certainly memorable. So are the breakfast tacos and agua fresca. Less than a mile from AMLI Eastside, Tamale House East should be on you radar the next time you’re looking for hearty Mexican food at low prices.
Did reading this make you hungry? Regardless of whether its soup, salad, sandwiches, fish, tacos, oysters, or empanadas, you’ve got several great options within minutes of your downtown Austin apartments. Wherever you dine next, we hope you seriously enjoy your next meal. Bon appetit!
What’s your favorite restaurant in East Austin? Tell us what you love about it in the comments!
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