-
Step 1
Do your research. Pick up copies of the local newspapers, magazines and weeklies like the Austin American-Statesman, Austin Monthly and the Austin Chronicle, or visit their websites to browse restaurant reviews and recent write-ups on local dining. For most online sites, you can search restaurants by price, cuisine and neighborhood (see Resources below).
-
Step 2
Follow up. If you have found some promising leads, but want or need a little more feedback, especially with regard to cost and quality, try a foodie message board, where locals talk about their recent restaurant experiences. Local restaurant reviews will also be in papers.
-
Step 3
Go exploring. There's no better way to find a hidden treasure than to go out on a quest. Try checking out Happy Hours too - sometimes even the priciest restaurants have incredible deals at happy hour to lure new guests. Also, try visiting one of Austin's fabulous organic markets, or farmer's markets, which have local produce and prepared foods that, with a little creativity, can be put together into a fine meal within a tight budget.
-
Step 4
Ask around. Austin is a friendly city, so head out to your favorite neighborhoods and you're sure to find locals who would be glad to give you the scoop. In areas like South Congress, Fifth and Sixth Street, and the Warehouse District, you are apt to find many young people who frequent the city’s best cheap eats.
-
Step 5
Go for it! Once you have decided on the restaurant you would like to try, get out there and start eating. Know in advance if the restaurant takes reservations, and if not, give yourself enough time to wait a bit before you're famished. Then get ready to enjoy a delicious meal that will please your palette and won't break the bank.
