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NYT and StatesmanBest Kept Secrets

The New York Times highlights BBQ and Mexican cuisine as the backbone of Austin's food scene, naming over a dozen such joints in their top 25 list.

Published April 22, 2024 at 10:00am by Matthew Odam

The New York Times is expanding its food coverage to cities across the US, including Austin, Texas. Taking its 'Where to Eat Right Now' model national, the Times now offers city guides to the best restaurants in various metropolitan areas. This week, they've turned their attention to Austin's dining scene.

It's a daunting task to capture the essence of a city's cuisine, but the Times reporters assigned to Austin are familiar with the area. Brett Anderson, a longtime resident of New Orleans and a respected critic, and Priya Krishna, a Dallas native, bring their expertise to the table.

The list includes:

Barbecue and Tacos: Franklin Barbecue, Interstellar BBQ, LeRoy & Lewis, Micklethwait Craft Meats, Mum Foods Smokehouse & Delicatessen, Kemuri Tatsu-Ya, Cuantos Tacos, Discada, Nixta Taqueria, Veracruz All Natural, and Ramen del Barrio.

Mexican Food: Suerte, Este, El Naranjo, and Comadre Panaderia.

Best New Restaurants: Este, Ezov, Ramen del Barrio, Underdog, Wee's Cozy Kitchen, and Birdie's.

Annual Favorites: Olamaie, Dai Due, Joe's Bakery & Coffee Shop, and Uchi.

Notably missing from the list are pizzerias like Bufalina and Home Slice Pizza, sushi, steakhouses, Chinese restaurants, and the McGuire Moorman Lambert Hospitality team's eateries. The NYT promises updates to the list in the future.

Check out the full list of the 25 Best Restaurants in Austin Right Now according to the New York Times.

Previous city guides by the Times include:

As the Times continues to expand its coverage, it'll be interesting to see which city gets tasted next.