Food destinations within easy reach of Austin, worth the early start.
Food destinations within easy reach of Austin. worth the train, the rental car or the early start.
Famous for: Black's, Smitty's and Kreuz Market BBQ
Lockhart in Caldwell County is the BBQ Capital of Texas, a 45-minute drive south from Austin with the three legendary smokehouses: Black's (1932), Smitty's Market (1948) and Kreuz Market (1900).
Famous for: Texas Hill Country wineries plus German and Czech kitchens
Fredericksburg in the Texas Hill Country is the wine-country day trip from Austin, an 1846 German village with over 100 wineries, German kitchens and Main Street German bakeries.
Famous for: Open-pit BBQ at Salt Lick since 1969
Driftwood is the 30-minute Hill Country drive from Austin for The Salt Lick BBQ since 1969, a destination open-pit smokehouse with BYOB policy and family-style platters.
Famous for: Yellow yeast doughnuts since 1926
Round Rock is a 30-minute drive north from Austin for Round Rock Donuts at 106 W Liberty Avenue, the Lone Star doughnut counter since 1926 famous for egg-yolk-yellow yeast doughnuts.
Famous for: Southside Market sausage and Meyer's Smokehouse
Elgin is the 30-minute drive east from Austin to the self-styled Sausage Capital of Texas, home to Southside Market since 1882 and Meyer's Smokehouse, central Texas's German-Czech sausage center.
Peak food season in Austin is year-round.
Local dining hours: lunch around 12:30, dinner from 19:30.
service is typically included; small extra is welcome but not expected.
Ask the next local you meet what they would order. Austin rewards trust.