The Best Austin Paleo Restaurants: Your Ultimate Food Guide
article by Lauryn Lax | photo via Eberly
Austin Paleo restaurants are not hard to find.
Although we are deep in the heart of Texas where a love for beer, barbecue and breakfast tacos runs deep, Austin’s progressive, booming foodie scene and health conscious culture make finding Austin Paleo restaurants a breeze—at least finding restaurants with plenty of Paleo-friendly options, and waiters who are happy to accommodate gluten-free, dairy-free, canola-oil-free requests. (Hey, you have standards).
While this list is not exhaustive, here are our top 10 Austin Paleo restaurant picks—plus our top recommended menu options on tap.
Casual Cavemen Fare
Honest Mary’s
honestmarys.com
Although technically “grain bowls” are there signature menu item, all bowls are totally Paleo-izable.
Top Picks:
Build your own bowl:
Start with Texas Sweet Potatoes and/or Spinach Greens as the base,
Top with sustainable protein (chicken, steak or Poke) and add in plenty of veggies (kale, cauliflower, portobello mushrooms, beets, carrots, butternut squash or more greens and micro greens).
24 Diner | 600 N. Lamar
24diner.com
Open, well, 24 hours, 24 Diner is a staple for breakfast and brunch all day long…not to mention bunless burgers.
Top Picks:
Bunless Bacon Avocado or Mushroom Burger
Half Roasted Chicken with Daily Local Veggie
Sweet Potato Hash (sans cheese)
Vinaigrette | 2201 College Ave
vinaigretteonline.com/austin_menu
Who said salads have to be boring? A robust menu of hearty greens built to your liking with any fish, shrimp, steak, pork tenderloin or lemon herb chicken of choice on top. Simply sub any dressing with oil and vinegar, or fresh squeezed lemon and avocado to avoid added sugars.
Top Picks:
The Beet Goes On
Classic Cobb
Spinach Mushroom
Hillside Pharmacy | 1209 E. 11th St
hillsidefarmacy.com
Dedicated to fresh farm-to-table fare from locally and sustainably grown produce. Although there is some savory (non-paleo) fare, there are a few winners.
Top Picks:
Bangers & Eggs
Nicoise Salad
Roasted Chicken with Braised Greens
Fresa’s | 915 N Lamar/1703 S. First
fresaschicken.com
Fresh, quick, simple and flavorful. Mexican food as it should be.
Top Picks
Half Chicken with Sweet Potatoes
Any Taco atop Greens (no tortilla)
Guacamole with Veggies
Thai Fresh | 909 W Mary St.
thai-fresh.com/menu
Real fresh Thai food. We drool over the Tom Kha!
Top Picks
Coconut Soup Tom Kha or Tom Yum
Chu Chee Chicken Curry
Love Meal Stir Fry with Added Protein
Wholly Cow Burgers | 3010 S Lamar Blvd
whollycowburgers.com
Grass-fed and grass-finished burgers are good for the soul. They even have a burger just for us: The Fit Cross! Boom.
Top Picks
The Fit Cross Burger (portobello mushroom “bun,” bacon, lettuce, tomato and avocado).
Sweet Potato Fries
Grass-Fed Beef Chili
Freedman’s BBQ| 2402 San Gabriel
freedmensbar.com
BBQ with a classy flare. Order any meat without sugary sauce and you’re golden!
Top Picks
Brisket
Pulled Pork
Turkey
Choose sides such as the slaw, potato salad (no mayo) and smoked beets.
Koriente | 621 E 7th St.
koriente.com
Fresh Asian fare that people wait outside in line for. We love that you can add free-range eggs, roasted garlic or onion to anything AND MAKE EVERYTHING GLUTEN FREE!
Top Picks:
Garden Handroll & Side of Chicken or Fish
Pan Seared Ahi Tuna on Bed of Spring Greens
Japchei (sweet potato noodles with veggies, chicken or beef)
Obake Bowl with choice of chicken, beef or shrimp, served with tons of veggies
Cenote | 1010 East Cesar Chavez
cenoteaustin.com/food/east-austin/weekday/
A casual east Austin cafe with great coffee and simple (but delicious) breakfast and lunchtime fare.
Top Picks:
Fish Tacos (sans tortillas)
Cobb Salad
Wild Salmon Salad
Kale Salad with Chicken
Galaxy Cafe | 1000 West Lynn (and 3 other locations)
galaxycafeaustin.com
A large menu to please any crowd for a casual lunch or dinner. Galaxy is an old-time Austin staple, and you can find just about any protein and veggie here. We like their gluten free menu.
Top Picks:
Turkey Burger (sans bun) with Avocado & Sweet Potato Fries
Buddha Bowl with Sweet Potatoes (sans lentils and rice) with Chicken
Grilled Salmon & Seasonal Veggies
Forthright | 35 Brazos St.
forthright.cafe/
Breakfast, brunch and lunch fare with the gluten-free foodie in mind.
Top Picks:
Avocado Toast on Gluten-Free Bread
Autumn Bounty Salad with Chicken
Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with Chicken
Super Food Bowl (sans quinoa) with Salmon
Snap Kitchen | 4616 Triangle Ave (+ 7 other local locations)
snapkitchen.com
Snap Kitchen can be a life saver from their meal delivery service to picking up food on the go!
Top Picks:
Naked Beef
Mango Beet Poke Bowl
Naked Salmon
Roasted Broccolini and Roasted Butternut Squash
Dinner Digs
Picnik | 4801 Burnet Rd/ 1700 S. Lamar Blvd.
picnikaustin.com
You can’t go wrong at one of Austin’s beloved and paleo-friendly restaurants (and trailers!), Picnik. From the butter coffee and hash to the bone broth and pulled duck chile relleno everything is amazing.
Top Picks:
Butter Coffee, all of them (try their creamer too! :p)
Harvest Hash and Southwest Hash
Loaded Guacamole
Rainbow Chopped Salad
Salt & Time | 1912 E 7th St
saltandtime.com
A revolving fresh, sustainable protein sourced menu (since it is also a butcher shop). Serving dinner only.
Top Picks:
Request any protein and boat loads of fresh veggies—brussels sprouts, cabbage, sweet potato, collard greens, etc.
Beef Tartare and Smoked Beet & Kale Slaw
Burger (sans bun) with Beef Fat French Fries (we couldn’t resist)
Citrus & Herb Steak with Roasted Chicken with Braised Cabbage & Carrots
East Side Cafe | 2113 Manor Road
eastsidecafeaustin.com/contact/
Locally grown produce and a full gluten-free menu make this one a no-brainer. Eastside Cafe opened in 1988 as one of the first restaurants on Manor Road, now a bustling restaurant row with more than a dozen local cafes, taco joints, coffee shops, and pubs. Eastside was also a pioneer in the urban farming movement, using herbs and vegetables from the garden on its property.
Top Picks:
Beet & Goat Cheese Salad with Herb Marinated Chicken
Ruby Rainbow Trout with Market Fresh Veggies
Salmon Veracruzano
Eden East | 755 Springdale Rd
edeneastaustin.com
A farm-to-table experience at Springdale Farm with a rotating seasonal dinner menu. Open Friday and Saturdays 7-10 pm for dinner reservations, and Brunch. Wednesday and Saturday mornings from 9 am-1pm.
Top Picks:
Check out the weekly menu https://edeneastaustin.com/springdale/menu/
Odd Duck | 1201 S Lamar
oddduckaustin.com
Another farm-to-table experience with a seasonal menu of small shareable plates. This one is great if you don’t mind sharing eats.
Top Picks:
Sunny duck egg*, duck ham, giardiniera, creamy buffalo sauce
Wagyu strip steak*, mushroom croquette, charred onion, tarragon
Oven roasted sweet potatoes, whipped cajeta, pecan pork fat crumble
**They are VERY accommodating and can create anything gluten and dairy free.
Eberly | 615 S Lamar
eberlyaustin.com
A newer kid in town, this pop up on South Lamar boasts local farm fresh fare with plenty of veggies and proteins to be had.
Top Picks:
Herb Roasted Carrots, Asparagus & Morel Mushrooms with Chicken or Steak
Atlantic Halibut with Fennel Salad & Saffron Broth
Wood Grilled Filet with Asparagus, Onions & Scallions
Sway Thai | 1417 South 1st Street
swaythai.com
Thai at your service. Everything here is yum yum in our tum.
Top Picks:
Tom Kha Gai Soup
Chicken Wings
Soft Shell Crab
Green Curry (Sub Chicken for Tofu)
Yam & Brussels Sprouts
Salty Sow | 1917 Manor Road
saltysow.com
A “mindfully sourced” gastro-pub with American bistro fare, from local farms in town. Perfect for a special dinner out.
Top Picks:
Chicken Liver Mousse (nutrient-dense organ meat for all the essential Zinc, Iron & B-Vitamins)
Crispy Brussels Sprout Leaves
Duck Breast
Clarks Oyster Bar | 1200 W 6th St.
clarksoysterbar.com
Word on the street is that they not only have amazing orders…but one of the best burgers in town!
Top Picks:
Oysters (duh)
Pan Roasted Black Angus Hamburger (sans bun) with Slaw
Oak Grilled Hangar Steak with Asparagus & Warm Crab Salad
Roasted Cauliflower & Oak Grilled Brussels Sprouts
Fresh Catch of the Day (Flounder, Scallops, Red Fish)
Honorary Mentions:
We couldn’t forget to leave out these “honorable” mentions—many of which often are listed on “Paleo Austin Restaurant” lists, so we didn’t want to beat a dead horse. Nevertheless these dining spots boast plenty of real food fare to keep you from ordering dry lettuce, and you can find pretty much anything “Paleo friendly” and CrossFit friendly.
Modern Market |9828 Great Hills Trail/ 401 Congress Ave
modernmarket.com
Whole Foods Downtown | 525 N Lamar Blvd.
wholefoodsmarket.com
Central Market | 4001 N Lamar Blvd
centralmarket.com
True Food Kitchen | 222 West Avenue
truefoodkitchen.com
Flower Child | 11721 Rock Rose Avenue
iamaflowerchild.com/#locations
Now, who’s hungry?