South Congress Avenue, once a seedy spot visitors dodged, has become a hip and bohemian area that is one of Austin's top places to check out for its eclectic shopping district and laid back dining.
Visitors strolling down South Congress (nicknamed SoCo) can find eateries of all sorts — like a trailer where patrons can eat meat from a paper cone or a place to sample some of Austin's live music while enjoying President Bill Clinton's favorite Tex-Mex dish.
For a sampling of diverse dining spots in Austin, Texas, here are a few notable restaurants on South Congress Avenue.
Super Casual Dining — South Congress Trailer Park Eateries
An empty lot in the heart of South Congress Avenue has become in recent years a hot spot for the super casual foodie. The collective of trailers and trucks has become a dining destination, complete with picnic tables and patio furniture for passersby to people watch as they munch. Though some trailers come and go, here are some favorites.
- The Mighty Cone! — Tasty beefy goodness served in paper cones are the best treats for visitors on the go. Adding to the trailer food twist are the hot and crunchy fried avocado wraps served with shrimp, chicken or plain. Top it all off with creamy mango-jalapeño coleslaw and ancho chili sauce.
- Hey Cupcake! — For $2.50 USD, anyone hankering for a sugary snack can choose from seven cupcake varieties. Try the Michael Jackson cupcake to indulge your chocolatey fantasies (it has a chocolate bottom with a cream cheese top.)
Soco Casual Dining
- Magnolia Cafe — Comfort diner food that has been an Austin SoCo staple since 1988. Breakfast is served 24 hours.
- Homeslice Pizza — Authentic New York-style pizza (which is a big treat to find in Texas) in a hip but relaxed atmosphere. Patrons can watch the pizza being tossed while enjoying their pie. Slices are also available in a convenient walk up window. Closed on Tuesdays.
- Fran's Hamburgers — No fancy burgers here. Less is definitely more at Fran's. Top-notch homemade burgers with a choice of onion rings or fries. Shakes are available too.
- Guero's Taco Bar — Another Austin SoCo staple offers Mexican food favorites. Try the El Presidente dish, named after President Bill Clinton who loved the combo of a chicken taco, beef taco, tamale, and guacamole. Guero's features sidewalk dining and live music in their outside garden.
SoCo's Classy Italian Restaurants
- Botticelli's — An intimate location, perfect for a date night or a special treat. Patrons must try the incredible Mussels alla Trotta, which are fresh prince edward island mussels steamed with brown butter, capers, lemon, and topped with bread crumbs.
- Vespaio Ristorante — The cozy atmosphere, hand-made pasta, and wood-fired pizza make Vespaio a classy authentic Italian dining experience.
Austin's South Congress Avenue food scene has even scored high on American celebrity chef Rachel Ray's list. She featured her favorite South Congress Avenue dining spots in her magazine Every Day with Rachael Ray.
Austin's South Congress Avenue is located just south of Lady Bird Lake and leads directly to the city's scenic downtown capitol building.
Nancy Flores - My freelance work, which ranges from writing articles, producing and editing online video and shooting photos, focuses on Mexican travel, ...
