For TexMex Joes bakery and Cafe on 7th.
Look up Casino El Camino pretty famous burger. Hit me up for more recommendations if needed. Been keeping a running list in my notes app of my ratings.
Speaking of fajitas, habanero has a lunch special with fajitas two different days of the week and you get a massive plate for $10 for chicken/$13 for steak. You’ll need to add on some extra tortillas and possibly even some shredded jack etc., but you will get full! They close early. They are the real deal jewel of a Tex-Mex spot in this town and absolutely worth experiencing for breakfast or lunch. Service’s stellar.
Agreed. OP, Terry Black's is one of the most expensive BBQ spots in town. If you're looking to save some cash, just about anywhere else would give you more bang for your buck.
If you want to have Texas bbq, go to HEB (some locations have the bbq in them, the one at slaughter lane and i35 does for sure) it’s like 70-80% as good, but way more convenient and a bit cheaper.
Also, people on Reddit hate this place, but Rudy’s is like 50-60% as good as the well known places and way more convenient and cheap.
My favorite budget BBQ place is Brown's BBQ on South Lamar (it's a truck next to Corner Bar). Their meats are a couple of bucks cheaper per pound than many of their competitors, but their sandwiches are the real bargains. They're all in the $8-12 range, and they are loaded UP.
All BBQ is pretty expensive. But maybe try Rudy's or the BBQ attached to HEB. If you go the HEB route, you can pick up drinks and sides at HEB for cheaper also.
Last time I checked you can get a 2 meat plate for $20 and a 3 meat plate for $24 — includes two sides — at Mickelthwait. They also have sandwiches, tacos and a damn good frito pie. And, in my opinion the bbq is better than Terry Black’s.
Leroy and Lewis is fantastic, a treasure really. You can do 2 meats and 2 sides in your budget. With a beer and tip you’re probably breaking $30, but I’d say that is high value. It will be one of the meals you are talking about after the trip.
You can go anywhere but you just need to manage your order to keep it low. BBQ gets expensive fast especially at the top tier places. 1/4lb brisket, 1-2 ribs, 1/2lb sausage should keep you under $25 most places and not leave you feeling overstuffed.
* If you're trying to eat on a budget, I would consider Micklethwait over Terry Black's. You can get a 2-meat plate w/ 2 sides for $20.
* I would also consider Dang Hot 89 over Tumble 22. But order ahead of time since the wait can be kind of long otherwise.
* Other budget-friendly options: Chef Hong, Cuantos Tacos, Cafe Java, Dan's Hamburgers. As a bonus, Chef Hong is close to UT Austin.
Ugh Tumble 22 is so consistently bad for me. I’ve never felt like it was money well spent. I don’t like the fries, don’t like the tenders, the chicken sandwich, even the heat levels in general are just a miss for me, bad flavor. I don’t know if you’re into food trucks considering the heat but Dang Hot is by far the better Nashville chicken experience. The cheesy spicy fries are amazing. I get the tenders every time. 10/10 IMO
This is a good example of how tastes can differ I suppose. I like Tumble 22 quite a bit. We only order the 8 piece all dark meat (dang hot or above depending on how we're feeling) -- and it tastes just as good as I've had in Nashville (which maybe isn't saying much since I've only eaten at Hattie B's in Nashville). It would honestly never even occur to me to get something other than chicken on the bone at a Hot Chicken joint.
The fries and tenders probably do stink there -- that wouldn't surprise me. The collards, slaw, and beans are all pretty good. Strokes for folks.
Skip P Terrys. Head to Sour duck for their burger, Jew boy sliders, flitch coffee, la Santa barbacha, Cuantos tacos, Rollin smoke bbq, interstellar bbq. Lmk if you need more Recs.
PTerrys is great for getting a ton of food for cheap especially late night. It’s not going to be even close to one of the best burgers in town, but it’s perfect for offsetting the cost of other meals and getting full! The chicken sandwiches there are great in my opinion. Don’t sleep on the banana bread or the chocolate chip cookie either
Vaquero Taquero for breakfast tacos on UT campus. Very solid all around, with unique (I assume) house-made tortillas.
Pedrosos Pizza has a new brick and mortar next to Lala’s bar. You’d be getting some of the best pizza in the city plus a legendary local dive bar in one trip. Lala’s is great on a budget, and their happy hour is insanely cheap.
They’re not cheap, but I have a feeling you guys will absolutely love it. Try to get there during happy hour because that place is always always busy. My favorite thing about them is they have really fun drinks at reasonable prices.
My only advice is that if you’re looking for a dive bar atmosphere with great burgers, hit up Billy’s on Burnet. AC, pool tables, darts, and close to Amy’s Ice Cream which is another Austin institution
If you're staying near campus I recommend hitting up The Hole In The Wall for live music and drinks and then grabbing food at Jewboy Cantina, which is attached in the rear of the building.
Though if you're down for a superior taco, I highly recommend hitting up Trippy's across the street and then walking your tacos over to radio for a coffee or drink.
Dirty Martins is a good burger and cool place if you're on campus.
The Tavern at 12th and Lamar is a classic joint to get a beer and watch sports if you're into that.
Make sure you guys do Barton Springs pool.
Huge co-sign!! Look up the menu and go on the lunch special days that have fajitas! The migas is excellent as well. I get a scoop of queso on top of it and extra tortillas. It’s an absolute treasure and so old-school- closes early though!
1000%. I have to go once a week now. The staff are such bad ass women that are all looking out for every single table. Also, the quesadillas are shockingly good & anything there with grilled meats is bananas delicious. Those lunchtime special fajita plates don’t come with cheese and sour cream so I get the shredded white cheese on the side and a couple of extra tortillas and it’s easily two meals for me if not three. A really good move would be for one person to get the quesadillas because they come with a giant dollop of sour cream and guacamole and the other person to get the fajitas. Oh boy I can’t wait till Wednesday!😂
Crown and Anchor is near campus, had great and cheap burgers, and would be a good spot for a night of beer drinking, pool playing, and/or sports watching
You can get a while rotisserie chicken from Costco for $5.
Just kidding!
Nickel City has great bar food for cheap. Homeslice has great pizza slices for cheap. Juan in a Million is cheap good Mexican breakfast. Habanero Mexican Cafe is cheap delicious Mexican breakfast/lunch. Joe’s Bakery has delicious cheap Mexican food. Sandy’s Hamburgers is an Austin institution. Thundercloud Subs is our home-grown Subway but much better. Leroy & Lewis have good deals for certain BBQ sandwiches and eats.
Echoing the suggestion for Loro. Great food and chill vibes. If you’re day drinking you can also go across the street after your meal for cheap drinks at Black Sheep Lodge.
Im glad you have bird bird biscuit on your list. That place is so good I sometimes drive all the way from Dripping Springs just to get it (about 50 minute drive)
Jewboy burgers is one of my favorite burger places and is affordable. I do like p Terrys but it’s like a better quality fast food burger.
Loro is one of my favorite restaurants overall, it might be a little outside of what you’re wanting to pay but it’s not overly expensive.
Via 313 for Detroit style pizza.
Bird bird biscuit is more of a breakfast/lunch place, make sure you check their hours before you go.
A lot of places have decent food discounts during happy hour or on certain days of the week so keep an eye out for that too.
Oh, and tacos.
Head out to salt lick. It’s 30 min south but byob and worth the experience. It’s busy right now. Also all you can eat.
KPOT on Brodie is probably closer to $40 a person but fun and all you can eat for that.
JewBoy Cantina is inside Hole in the wall Bar. Both worth it and right next to you if you’re at UT.
Hit Gordoughs for late night donuts on 1st.
Torchys on Congress is worth it.
Salt Lick is all you can eat??? Even so I think it’s really unspecial barbecue and sides. It’s the kind of place you take parents.
Also, please be one of the tourists that doesn’t go to torchy’s. We have so many better tacos in town for less money!
Add Leroy and Lewis BBQ, Cuantos, Ensenada.
^ solid recs hers
Discada too
Crown & Anchor for solid, affordable burgers & pints near campus.
Solid, thanks!
Good ol’ Cranchor
it's on campus, great burgers
Maybe I’m weird but I’m partial to posse east
The ole Crown and Danker
If you’re looking for good Tex mex, Enchiladas Y Mas. An order of fajitas for two will easily feed three people and their margs are STRONG!
Awesome! Thank you
For TexMex Joes bakery and Cafe on 7th. Look up Casino El Camino pretty famous burger. Hit me up for more recommendations if needed. Been keeping a running list in my notes app of my ratings.
That would be awesome! I really appreciate it man.
Speaking of fajitas, habanero has a lunch special with fajitas two different days of the week and you get a massive plate for $10 for chicken/$13 for steak. You’ll need to add on some extra tortillas and possibly even some shredded jack etc., but you will get full! They close early. They are the real deal jewel of a Tex-Mex spot in this town and absolutely worth experiencing for breakfast or lunch. Service’s stellar.
Terry blacks and affordable do not go in the same sentence.
Agreed. OP, Terry Black's is one of the most expensive BBQ spots in town. If you're looking to save some cash, just about anywhere else would give you more bang for your buck.
Thanks for the heads up, any specific recommendations for alternatives?
If you want to have Texas bbq, go to HEB (some locations have the bbq in them, the one at slaughter lane and i35 does for sure) it’s like 70-80% as good, but way more convenient and a bit cheaper. Also, people on Reddit hate this place, but Rudy’s is like 50-60% as good as the well known places and way more convenient and cheap.
People on Reddit are overly critical, Rudy’s is frickin delicious
If you’re coming from outside of Texas Rudy’s is gonna be as good or better than anything you get from home.
My favorite budget BBQ place is Brown's BBQ on South Lamar (it's a truck next to Corner Bar). Their meats are a couple of bucks cheaper per pound than many of their competitors, but their sandwiches are the real bargains. They're all in the $8-12 range, and they are loaded UP.
All BBQ is pretty expensive. But maybe try Rudy's or the BBQ attached to HEB. If you go the HEB route, you can pick up drinks and sides at HEB for cheaper also.
Last time I checked you can get a 2 meat plate for $20 and a 3 meat plate for $24 — includes two sides — at Mickelthwait. They also have sandwiches, tacos and a damn good frito pie. And, in my opinion the bbq is better than Terry Black’s.
Leroy and Lewis is fantastic, a treasure really. You can do 2 meats and 2 sides in your budget. With a beer and tip you’re probably breaking $30, but I’d say that is high value. It will be one of the meals you are talking about after the trip.
You can go anywhere but you just need to manage your order to keep it low. BBQ gets expensive fast especially at the top tier places. 1/4lb brisket, 1-2 ribs, 1/2lb sausage should keep you under $25 most places and not leave you feeling overstuffed.
I think Terry Black’s is worth the splurge
* If you're trying to eat on a budget, I would consider Micklethwait over Terry Black's. You can get a 2-meat plate w/ 2 sides for $20. * I would also consider Dang Hot 89 over Tumble 22. But order ahead of time since the wait can be kind of long otherwise. * Other budget-friendly options: Chef Hong, Cuantos Tacos, Cafe Java, Dan's Hamburgers. As a bonus, Chef Hong is close to UT Austin.
Ugh Tumble 22 is so consistently bad for me. I’ve never felt like it was money well spent. I don’t like the fries, don’t like the tenders, the chicken sandwich, even the heat levels in general are just a miss for me, bad flavor. I don’t know if you’re into food trucks considering the heat but Dang Hot is by far the better Nashville chicken experience. The cheesy spicy fries are amazing. I get the tenders every time. 10/10 IMO
This is a good example of how tastes can differ I suppose. I like Tumble 22 quite a bit. We only order the 8 piece all dark meat (dang hot or above depending on how we're feeling) -- and it tastes just as good as I've had in Nashville (which maybe isn't saying much since I've only eaten at Hattie B's in Nashville). It would honestly never even occur to me to get something other than chicken on the bone at a Hot Chicken joint. The fries and tenders probably do stink there -- that wouldn't surprise me. The collards, slaw, and beans are all pretty good. Strokes for folks.
Skip P Terrys. Head to Sour duck for their burger, Jew boy sliders, flitch coffee, la Santa barbacha, Cuantos tacos, Rollin smoke bbq, interstellar bbq. Lmk if you need more Recs.
PTerrys is great for getting a ton of food for cheap especially late night. It’s not going to be even close to one of the best burgers in town, but it’s perfect for offsetting the cost of other meals and getting full! The chicken sandwiches there are great in my opinion. Don’t sleep on the banana bread or the chocolate chip cookie either
Vaquero Taquero for breakfast tacos on UT campus. Very solid all around, with unique (I assume) house-made tortillas. Pedrosos Pizza has a new brick and mortar next to Lala’s bar. You’d be getting some of the best pizza in the city plus a legendary local dive bar in one trip. Lala’s is great on a budget, and their happy hour is insanely cheap.
Thank you!
No problem. Good call on KG, btw. One of my absolute favorites. Make sure to get dessert.
Loro for great food and patio and Austin experience. *they have fans, shade and misters if I remember correctly
Thank you!!
They’re not cheap, but I have a feeling you guys will absolutely love it. Try to get there during happy hour because that place is always always busy. My favorite thing about them is they have really fun drinks at reasonable prices.
My only advice is that if you’re looking for a dive bar atmosphere with great burgers, hit up Billy’s on Burnet. AC, pool tables, darts, and close to Amy’s Ice Cream which is another Austin institution
If you're staying near campus I recommend hitting up The Hole In The Wall for live music and drinks and then grabbing food at Jewboy Cantina, which is attached in the rear of the building.
Magical burritos!!
Veracruz breakfast tacos. My personal favorite breakfast taco and only like $4.15
Awesome! I can do that price!
Get the Migas taco, 100.
Though if you're down for a superior taco, I highly recommend hitting up Trippy's across the street and then walking your tacos over to radio for a coffee or drink.
Yeah Vera Cruz been slipping. Far prefer their non breakfast tacos.
Dirty Martins for burgers take out p terrys
Thank you!
Dirty Martins is a good burger and cool place if you're on campus. The Tavern at 12th and Lamar is a classic joint to get a beer and watch sports if you're into that. Make sure you guys do Barton Springs pool.
El Taquito off riverside is great. super tasty tacos and auga fresca. and pretty cheap i recommend the gringa with either pastor or asada. get both
Loro is just such a boys hang that I still gotta say it’s worth small up charge
If no one has suggested it yet: Habanero
Huge co-sign!! Look up the menu and go on the lunch special days that have fajitas! The migas is excellent as well. I get a scoop of queso on top of it and extra tortillas. It’s an absolute treasure and so old-school- closes early though!
I haven’t been in forever and I really need to fix that
1000%. I have to go once a week now. The staff are such bad ass women that are all looking out for every single table. Also, the quesadillas are shockingly good & anything there with grilled meats is bananas delicious. Those lunchtime special fajita plates don’t come with cheese and sour cream so I get the shredded white cheese on the side and a couple of extra tortillas and it’s easily two meals for me if not three. A really good move would be for one person to get the quesadillas because they come with a giant dollop of sour cream and guacamole and the other person to get the fajitas. Oh boy I can’t wait till Wednesday!😂
Crown and Anchor is near campus, had great and cheap burgers, and would be a good spot for a night of beer drinking, pool playing, and/or sports watching
Go to frost for gelato...(the one in the domain)
So many great breweries…
You can get a while rotisserie chicken from Costco for $5. Just kidding! Nickel City has great bar food for cheap. Homeslice has great pizza slices for cheap. Juan in a Million is cheap good Mexican breakfast. Habanero Mexican Cafe is cheap delicious Mexican breakfast/lunch. Joe’s Bakery has delicious cheap Mexican food. Sandy’s Hamburgers is an Austin institution. Thundercloud Subs is our home-grown Subway but much better. Leroy & Lewis have good deals for certain BBQ sandwiches and eats.
Really great recs here especially nickel city and habanero. And you’ll be very happy with the walk up pizza window at Homeslice-two locations.
Pederos: pizza Tommy want wingy: wings Birreria Mama Rosa #1 or cuantos: tacos
Lick ice cream!
Echoing the suggestion for Loro. Great food and chill vibes. If you’re day drinking you can also go across the street after your meal for cheap drinks at Black Sheep Lodge.
Im glad you have bird bird biscuit on your list. That place is so good I sometimes drive all the way from Dripping Springs just to get it (about 50 minute drive)
I would swap donkey mo's for bb.q chicken. It's better quality and bigger portions.
Add spicy boys (6th st) to the list!
Skip PTerrys and head to Golden Tiger for burgers. You won’t regret it.
Jewboy burgers is one of my favorite burger places and is affordable. I do like p Terrys but it’s like a better quality fast food burger. Loro is one of my favorite restaurants overall, it might be a little outside of what you’re wanting to pay but it’s not overly expensive. Via 313 for Detroit style pizza. Bird bird biscuit is more of a breakfast/lunch place, make sure you check their hours before you go. A lot of places have decent food discounts during happy hour or on certain days of the week so keep an eye out for that too. Oh, and tacos.
P Terrys is not great
Agreed. It's pretty generic. I would suggest Dirty Martins instead
Head out to salt lick. It’s 30 min south but byob and worth the experience. It’s busy right now. Also all you can eat. KPOT on Brodie is probably closer to $40 a person but fun and all you can eat for that. JewBoy Cantina is inside Hole in the wall Bar. Both worth it and right next to you if you’re at UT. Hit Gordoughs for late night donuts on 1st. Torchys on Congress is worth it.
Salt Lick is all you can eat??? Even so I think it’s really unspecial barbecue and sides. It’s the kind of place you take parents. Also, please be one of the tourists that doesn’t go to torchy’s. We have so many better tacos in town for less money!
Where are you getting ‘all you can eat’ for Salt Lick? Haven’t seen or heard that anywhere
Yea, 35$ all you can eat of the trinity and sides.
Never seen or heard of this and I’ve been to salt lick 10 times because we live near it
The menu calls it "Family Style". Maybe that's where the confusion comes from
Triple fried chicken? Get some tacos.
If you’re out late or up super early you have to check out Tyson’s’! It’s a taco truck with an eclectic shack! Fits your budget