One of the best parts of solo traveling is the blissful fact that there will be no splitting bills. There’s no separate checks, venmo’s back and fourth or what feels like hours on a calculator trying to determine what everyone should pay and then giving up in defeat and deciding to just split the bill evenly even though everyone got drastically different portions.

When solo traveling in a new city you get to choose where you want to go, what you want to eat, and when you want to do it. On the flip side, having so many choices can be overwhelming, and if you’re given a big portion of food you don’t have someone to help you finish the plate.

Because when you’re in Austin, there’s not a lack of food anywhere. From coffee shops to BBQ, I hope you’re hungry! Check out these recs of where to eat in Austin from sun up to sun down.

Breakfast Restaurants in Austin

Cenote

📍 1405 E. 7th Street (Reopening summer 2025)

This was recommended to me from an Austin local and is a great solo travel breakfast spot. Cenote is a casual dining spot that was originally in East Austin, but is currently relocating to a new location.

I don’t know how much they are changing, but they had something good going at their original location. I’m glad I was able to go there before they closed. I went on a Wednesday, so it was easy to find a table by the window. In late March it was starting to warm up, so they also had their outdoor seating open.

I got the breakfast burrito, with egg, bacon, cheese and potatoes. It’s pretty big, but since I didn’t have a way to save it, I ate the whole thing and it kept me full until dinner time.

Paperboy

📍 1203 E 11th St

Another local recommendation that HIT. When I say this was the best meal I had on my entire Austin tip, I’m not exaggerating. I’m usually a more savory breakfast person, give me some eggs, bacon, toast, and I’m a happy girl and ready to take on the day.

For some reason, on this day I decided to divert from the norm and go the more sweet route and I’m so glad I did. This lemon blueberry roll was so scrum-dilly-umpscious. I was pleasantly surprised at how soft and airy it was, every bite was flavorful and the blueberry and lemon were perfectly mixed. The people sitting next to me were also intrigued and asked what I had ordered.

One thing to note about Paperboy is that is a small establishment and it’s popular. I was only able to get in so quickly because I was alone and there was a seat at the counter (another perk of solo traveling, you get to fill those random empty seats). I love sitting at the counter anyway, so win-win.

For my ‘main course’ I got the cinnamon toast. It was caked with icing and cinnamon topping so you didn’t need more than one piece. I did indeed eat the entire thing, with some effort, but I couldn’t let any go to waste. It was like eating a cinnamon cloud. I think my eyes bugged out of my head when I had the first bite.

Thistle Cafe

📍221 W. 6th Street Suite B110

This little cafe in Downtown Austin wasn’t one that was recommended online by other tourists or local bloggers. Instead, I did a quick google search and found something that was close by and decided to check it out.

Thistle Cafe is Mexican-American fusion and offers a generous menu of different breakfast drinks and sandwiches. It wasn’t busy at all when I arrived, so I dined inside along with some construction workers and other locals. The food and coffee was delicious. If you’re looking for a quick breakfast downtown, I would check it out.

I got a breakfast sandwich with egg, avocado and pesto sauce on a bagel and really enjoyed it.

Coffee Shops in Austin

Related post: Best Things to Do in Austin as a Solo Traveler

Austin has a huge coffee scene. I tried to visit as many spots as physically possible without crashing out from caffeine overload. Not only was the coffee good but all the spots I visited passed the vibe check. To me, that’s just as important as the taste of the drink.

Ghoul Coffee

📍 2324 E Cesear Chavez St #A

This cutie little food truck is part of a ring of vegan food trucks that provides a laid-back hangout spot for a quick bite. I was in a hurry but so glad I didn’t skip this because it was the best matcha I’ve ever had. I got the sunset, which is vanilla matcha, orange juice, and coconut milk. HEAVEN. It was so silky smooth and summery and I think about it all the time.

Flat Truck Coffee

📍 1619 E Cesar Chavez St

Flat Truck Coffee was one of those places that kept coming up online. What really stuck out to me, as someone who wants their coffee to taste like coffee but also likes silly little flavors, is they had an option on their menu I’ve never seen before, the La Chingona. Which is horchata and mexican mocha. Love!

They had some seating inside, high tops and couches, and tables outside as well.

The place just felt cool. They had a literal motorcycle in the building as decor and everyone in there was dressed in leather and probably had a mullet. I didn’t stay too long because I had a busy day of exploring but also because I was not cool enough to be in there. There’s also a bicycle repair shop attached if that also helps to set the vibe of the place.

Desnudo

📍 111 Congress Ave (Downtown) 📍2505 Webberville Rd (East Austin)

Did you know, “Desnudo” means “naked” in Spanish? In the context of coffee it refers to not having any sweeteners or milk to highlight the flavor of the coffee beans. Naked coffee. Genuis.

Not only is Desnudo a local Austin favorite, but they have a mission of sustainability and supporting small coffee farmers.

I visited their coffee truck in Downtown Austin, and I wasn’t the only one. It’s a place with a line but the staff at the registers were so friendly conversing with everyone. At this spot you can also grab some breakfast tacos on your way out.

Mañana

📍 1603 S Congress Ave

What I loved about Mañana coffee is they have unique seasonal specials. This is their current menu, which was the same as when I went, but could change at any time. I got the brown butter banana walnut latte, and while that sounds like a whole lot for one coffee, it was well mixed and wasn’t too sweet.

It’s right off of the busy South Congress so you can pick up a coffee before you venture out to explore the other shops. They also have another location in Downtown Austin.

Radio Coffee & Beer

📍4204 Menchaca Road

If I lived in Austin, I know this would be a spot I’d frequent to work remotely. It was massive, inside and out, and while there were a lot of people, they had plenty of seating so it was easy to find a spot. When I was visiting it was a hot day and I had trekked across Austin to get there so I sat inside at the bar and got a matcha. There was nothing special about the matcha, it was just a regular matcha, so no notes there. I was mainly there to take a breather and get some work done, which I quickly realized I had picked the right spot.

Radio has 3 locations around Austin. All serve coffee and alcohol, but menu options vary. Radio South has the most food options, but all carry diner food from Shortwave Diner.

Food Trucks in Austin

Bananarchy

📍 1311 S 1st St

Bananarchy has two food trucks operating year-round in Austin and is the only spot to get some frozen banana treats. Their truck in South Austin is located in a food truck park along with Eggman and Tacoly Moly. and a few others. Each truck has their own hours and there is not a lot of parking so plan accordingly.

But it’s definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area, the perfect sweet treat with a lot of options, I mean look at that menu.

Spicy Boys Fried Chicken

📍 1701 E 6th St

With four locations in each corner of Austin, the Spicy Boys food trucks will probably make it onto your Austin itinerary. Their OG chicken sandwich is a classic for a reason, and you can even increase the spice level from HOT GAL all the way to TINGLY if you want a little more zing.

Their location on E 6th ST is right beside Zilker Brewing and would go great with a pale ale, imo. The only downside was the presentation, and that they were out of the banana pudding when I went. Otherwise, 10/10.

Dem Smash Burger

📍 705 W 6th St

What’s great about this particular food truck is the location. There’s about 4 food trucks, including this one, right on 6th street in Austin. If you don’t know (and I didn’t know until I got there) 6th street is this long strip of bars where all the bachelorette, birthday, and other parties go. As a tourist, you’ll probably find yourself there.

As a solo traveler, I might avoid this area. But if you are with a group or want to explore anyway you can get some casual food and not be bothered at this small food truck park. Here you’ll find hot dogs, tacos, and at Dem Smash Burger, burgers, fries, and the like. Great fast food for before, or after you’ve been at the bars.

Barbecue in Austin

When in Texas, barbecue is a must. But when you’re in a state that is famous for said thing, in this case barbecue, you want to know you are getting the real deal and not wasting your time.

Barbecue is usually a family affair of large portions and picnic tables full of big groups of friends, which is a solo travelers worst nightmare. That doesn’t mean you should skip the BBQ, just the ones like Terry Black’s. Try these solo-travel friendly places instead.

La Barbecue

📍 2401 E Cesar Chavez St

Not only is the food delicious, but La Barbecue is a female-owned small business. They have exclusive secret recipes and the sandwiches are the perfect size for a one-woman show.

Be warned, they are a local and tourist favorite, so they may run out of some meat options prior to closing, so plan to visit earlier in the day if possible.

As a solo-diner, I can confirm it was solo friendly with enough small tables and chairs that you can find a spot to dine. I had the la chopped with pulled pork and chipotle coleslaw. That may seem like a basic combination, but whatever sauce they put on everything made it worthwhile. It’s a good choice if you can’t decide on what to get, or if you’ve already stuffed yourself with other Austin food and just want a small bite.

Rollin Smoke ATX BBQ

📍 1700 E Cesar Chavez St

I wasn’t personally able to visit this BBQ spot but after looking at their menu, I wish I had. They do offer platters by the pound and sandwich options, but what sets their menu apart is what they offer besides the typical barbecue options.

Rollin Smoke ATX BBQ serves tacos, burritos, and their players pie was featured on the Travel Channel. If that isn’t enough, you can also get dessert to round out your meal.

JNL Barbecue

📍 1505 Town Creek Dr

We couldn’t round out this part of the list without a food truck, which is a solo-travelers best friend because of their casual nature. JNL Barbecue, opened recently in 2019, is located at the Rustic Buzz Mill and has a 4.9 rating on Google, that’s insane!

They are open Thursday-Sunday from 11am until they are sold out.

Food Places Downtown Austin

One Taco Taqueria

📍 402 Brazos St

Like barbecue, Texas has a lot of Mexican restaurants and taco spots. So many in fact it’s very hard to choose. What I recommend is to not set your mind on one place and instead do a quick google search to see what places are closest when you’re there.

That’s how I landed on One Taco Taqueria in Downtown. It was less than a 10 minute walk from my accommodation, so it was a matter of convenience but thankfully it also ended up being really good.

I asked the guy behind the counter about the street tacos and he recommended 4 tacos. They were out of chicken so I got the rest, which were sirloin, barbacoa, birria and al pastor which all come with cilantro and onion on a small corn tortilla. I got some mild sauce to pour on top and they hit the taco craving exactly right.

What really made this place awesome was Tony, who was working behind the counter who was such a joy to talk to. As a solo traveler, it’s nice to talk to the staff every once in awhile when you need some human interaction, ya know?

Burger Bar Congress

📍 110 E. 2nd St

The Burger Bar in Downtown Austin is a great spot for a quick bite. You can walk up and order right on the sidewalk and they have a few tables outside to eat at. I don’t believe they have any type of indoor seating.

They have your classic options, like cheeseburgers with lettuce and tomatoes, chicken tenders but also monthly burger specials and 100% american waygu burgers. I had no complaints about my meal and was glad I wandered across it on my trip.