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Austin is an exceptional city for people who care about food. The culinary landscape has a bit of everything, from creative food trucks to world-class tasting menus. But what if Austin isn’t your hometown? Out-of-staters who moved here (which is increasingly likely) have to dig deeper to find those familiar flavors of their homes. That’s especially true for New Yorkers, who can spend an eternity trying to replace their favorite bagel and pizza in a new-to-them place.
Luckily, New York City transplants have fortified Austin’s food scene with restaurants and trucks serving New York-style foods. There are bagels and lox for breakfasts, lunchtime Reubens, and dinners of pasta and cheesecake. To help people seeking out New York dining in Austin, here is Eater’s guide to the best New York foods found in the capital of Texas.
Bagels
The bagel is New York’s unofficial food: chewy, warm, and untoasted. New Yorkers will say it’s impossible to get the same quality carb anywhere else because the water’s not the same or just lack of magic. Fortunately, Austin does have better-than-expected boiled-and-baked bagels.
There’s Rosen’s Bagels, an operation that grew from a pop-up into two cafes. The larger North Burnet restaurant features delicious schmears (that’s bagel speak for spreads) like scallion, blueberry, and the much-adored smoked lox. There are also ingredients for impeccable sandwiches, like whitefish salad, house-cured lox, and capers. (11101 Burnet Road, Suite A100, North Burnet & 422 Guadalupe Street, downtown; takeout orders can be placed online; there are outdoor dine-in areas)
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Or find a Rosen’s bagel at Big City Bagels and Subs with more sandwich variety and a dash of no-nonsense service. (10401 Anderson Mill Road, Anderson Mill; takeout and delivery orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas)
There’s also Wholy Bagels, founded by a New Jersey native, with bagels as the perfect sandwich canvas. Get one topped generously with whitefish salad from Acme Brooklyn for a treat. (North Loop’s well-liked Nervous Charlie’s uses the same smoked fish, but bagel purists beware: the imported dough is steamed.) (4404 William Cannon Drive, East Oak Hill & 3637 Far West Boulevard, Northwest Hills; takeout orders can be placed in person or online; there are indoor dine-in areas )
Also
- Bagel farmers stand and food truck David Doughie’s
Deli Sandwiches
New York delicatessens are beloved, serving as the homes of overflowing meat sandwiches, supersized pickle tubs, and freshly baked rye loaves (all because of Eastern European Jewish immigrants in the 1880s). When Austin’s Katz’s closed, it left a hole in the hearts of many pastrami lovers, but the deli scene has since rebounded. After all, we know meat. (Never fear, Katz’s is coming back in 2025.)
Head to Otherside Deli, which serves perhaps the best pastrami Reuben. The sandwich is constructed the proper way: toasted rye with sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and Russian dressings. But don’t stop there: get the corned beef and the hot turkey sandwich. Don’t forget a bag of Dirty potato chips and a pickle. (1104 West 34th Street, near Bryker Woods; takeout and delivery orders can be placed online or in person; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas)
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NeWorlDeli feels like a little Northeast deli with plenty of heart, which is intentional: co-owner Greg Bontempo grew up working at his father’s New Jersey deli/butchery and wanted to bring that flare to Austin. Try the hot and cold sandwiches, such as double-deckers with pastrami and corned beef or the classic tuna melt. (4101 Guadalupe Street, Hyde Park; takeout and delivery orders can be placed online or in person; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas)
Go to Jewish-styled Biderman’s Deli for cold and hot sandwiches, matzo ball soup, and latkes. Owner Zach Biderman opened the restaurant to honor his grandparents, Holocaust survivors who ran a Texas dry goods store. (3742 Far West Boulevard, Suite 101, Northwest Hills; takeout and delivery orders can be placed online or in person; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas)
Also
- Korean Jewish deli Casper Fermentables
- Texas smokehouse and deli Mum Foods
Diners
Diners are quintessentially Americana — they’re lifeblood destinations for hungry New Yorkers, serving pancakes and burgers around the clock in retro settings.
If the craving strikes before 3 p.m., Austin Diner is a 1950s-styled haven. All the diner standards are here, including eggs and malt milkshakes. (5222 Burnet Road, Rosedale; there are indoor dine-in services)
Indulge in the Southern leanings of Phoebe’s Diner for another daytime-only place. The mini-chain excels at all things fried: green tomatoes; French toasts; Scotch eggs wrapped in potato, sausage, and cheddar cheese; and chicken-fried everything. There are also well-executed standbys like patty melts, buttermilk flapjacks, and brisket eggs Benedicts. (multiple locations; takeout orders for the Gracy Farms location can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services)
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Longstanding favorite Magnolia Cafe is another solid diner, open nightly with all the go-tos. The giant pancakes never disappoint. (1920 South Congress Avenue, Bouldin Creek; takeout orders can be placed online or in person; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services)
For a vintage postcard aesthetic, Toasty Badger is a vibey diner with checkerboard floors, leather industrial chairs, and chrome-lined tables stacked with pancakes, omelets, and Monte Cristos. (2206 South Congress Avenue, Bouldin Creek; takeout orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services)
Also
- All-hours diner Stars Cafe
- Austin chain Kerbey Lane’s South Lamar diner, with 24/7 service from Friday morning into Sunday night
Pizza
Eater readers rightly chose New York pizza slices as America’s most iconic regional dish. The wide, thin-crusted triangles have crispy edges, just the right amount of mozzarella, and are easy to fold for on-the-go eating.
The search starts at Home Slice, one of Austin’s premier pizzerias. Although New York pizza typically uses low-moisture mozzarella, this restaurant uses an umami-packed combination of mozzarella-provolone-Parmesan. (1415 South Congress Avenue, Travis Heights & 501 East 53rd Street, North Loop; takeout orders can be placed online or in person; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services)
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Austinites and New Yorkers worship the pizza at Little Deli, an unassuming restaurant with Jersey-style pies (New York-style but with a little more crackle when the slice is folded). Don’t get distracted by the sandwiches: you’re here for the foldable slice. (7101 Woodrow Avenue, Suite A, Crestview & 1804 Briarcliff Boulevard, Windsor Park; takeout orders can be placed in person or over the phone; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas)
For another substantial Jersey pie, drive out to Jersey Giant Pizza. Per the name, find huge take-home pies for crowds with fresh toppings along with friendly service. (13908 West Highway 71, Bee Cave; takeout and delivery orders can be placed online or over the phone; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas)
Also
- Late-night Jersey-style Hoboken Pie
- Favorite Pizza, a retro pizzeria with a deep adoration for Queens baseball team the Mets
- Brooklyn-based Grimaldi’s Austin expansion
- Austin restaurant Bufalina’s New York-style Palm Pizza
- Big New York-style slice Austin mini-chain Brooklyn Pie Company
Cheesecake
New York-style cheesecake is unapologetically rich: denser, smoother, and creamier — courtesy of creator Arnold Reuben (yes, of that sandwich). In the early 1900s, the cakes began to appear in practically every New York restaurant and remain mainstays in glass dessert cases today.
The sweets whisperers at the Celia Jacobs Cheesecake Experience whip up mean individual-sized iterations. It’s worth ordering a few varieties from the food truck. (The Thicket, 7800 South First Street, Far South Austin; takeout orders can be placed in person; there are outdoor dine-in areas)
Veteran restaurant Chez Zee is known for its indulgent dessert menu. The New York cheesecake is one of its bright stars. (5406 Balcones Drive, Highland Park; takeout orders can be placed online; whole cheesecake orders can be placed online too; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services)
Also
- Home Slice and Mum Foods
Red-Sauce Italian Food
Italian American food traces its roots to Italian immigrants in the late 19th/early 20th centuries, many of whom settled in New York. That gave way to restaurants that are now emblematic fixtures of the city’s dining scene, serving up red-sauced pasta, Chianti bottles, and some old-world charm.
Sammie’s is a newer restaurant that feels old-school with gallery walls and checkered floors. Get the house Chianti with spaghetti and meatballs, veal marsala, and many parmigianas. Desserts don’t skip a beat, like pistachio cannoli and tiramisu. (807 West Sixth Street, Downtown; takeout orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services)
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Family-owned Gino’s Vino Osteria is a fabulous choice for fresh-made pasta and mozzarella, squid ink, and warm hospitality. Although it’s a recent building, the restaurant leans into what it describes as a whole “old-fashioned Rat Pack supper club” thing with live entertainers, including a Marilyn Monroe impersonator. Food and drink are spectacles too, with tableside Caesar salads and vibrant blood orange martinis. (1239 East 51st Street, Mueller; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services)
Longtime restaurant Vespaio remains reliable for saucy Italian featuring a variety of house-made pasta — like cacio e pepe — and breads. The team butchers and cooks whole animals, so there are also great meat dishes. (1610 South Congress Avenue, Bouldin Creek; takeout orders can be placed online; there are indoor dine-in services)
Reale’s Italian Café flies under the radar, but this through-and-through New York Italian restaurant has been open since the early 1990s. The Reale family moved from New York to Austin in 1975 and ran a pizzeria, eventually leading to this business. The tacky level is exactly right: Roman columns, vinyl chairs, buttery breadsticks, live music, and undeniable appeal. (13450 Research Boulevard, Anderson Mill; takeout orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services)
Italian Ices
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Austin loves cooling off with a frozen treat, especially since there are so many icy varieties available. Italian ice (aka water ice in Philadelphia) is known for its smooth, velvety texture. It evolved from granitas brought to the East Coast in the 19th century by Italian immigrants.
Jim-Jim’s is an Austin original opened by Philadelphia native Jim Moy in the ’90s. Over 40 Italian water ice flavors are served from the window, available from March through November. It’s a perfect substitute if you miss getting brain freezes at East Coast favorites Ralph’s and Rita’s (which is opening in Round Rock). (615 East Sixth Street, downtown; takeout orders can be placed online or in person )
Family-owned dessert truck Manolis serves a streamlined selection of refreshing Italian ices year-round. The lemon or watermelon flavors hit the spot on a hot day. (8907 Circle Drive, Oak Hill; takeout orders can be placed in person; there are outdoor dine-in areas)
Sweet Frida’s truck menu includes mango and strawberry, made from real fruit, plus Mexican options like tamarind, all served in a cup adorned with the young namesake artist. (2906 Fruth Street, North Campus; takeout orders can be placed in person; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas)
Street Food
Austin has food trucks, New York has street carts. Street food has always brought New Yorkers together, offering diverse cuisine choices appealing to everyone.
For a taste of halal carts, find Mediterranean meat-and-rice platters drizzled in white sauce at mini-chain Halal Bros (not to be confused with New York-founded chain Halal Guys, which had a short-lived Austin stint). (multiple locations; takeout orders can be placed online; there are indoor dine-in areas)
Hankering for a New York-style hot dog? Frazier’s is a sound bet, especially with the bar’s ever-true combination of sauerkraut, onions, and mustard. (2538 Elmont Drive, East Riverside; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas)
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All pretzel roads lead to mini-bakery-chain Easy Tiger. The artisanal flours amplify the knotted carb, making it the city’s cherished soft pretzel. (6406 I-35 North Frontage Road, the Linc & 3508 South Lamar Boulevard, Barton Hills; takeout and delivery orders can be placed online or in person; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services)
Jamaican beef patties are ubiquitous in New York. Before opening Tony’s Jamaican Food in Austin, Jamaica native Tony Scott lived there. There’s the classic ground beef, but also chicken and vegetable varieties. (1124 East 11th Street, Central East Austin & 2700 West Pecan Street, Pflugerville; food truck takeout orders can be placed in person & restaurant takeout orders can be placed online; there are outdoor dine-in areas at the truck and indoor dine-in areas at the restaurant)
Chinese American Food
New York is known for its fantastic Chinese restaurants serving cuisines from nearly every province, thanks to one of the largest Asian American communities in the Western Hemisphere. For those missing the charm of nine Chinatowns with bright red carpets, fish tanks, and sweet stir-fries, Austin offers some acceptable alternatives.
China Palace has maroon vinyl chairs, a lacquered moon gate lined with golden dragons, Chinese porcelain, and piles of egg rolls since the 1970s. The food isn’t fancy, but it’s hot, fresh, and modestly priced. (6605 Airport Boulevard, Highland; takeout orders can be placed online; there are indoor dine-in services)
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Twin Lion is another fitting spot with its simple setting — carved wooden chairs, red vinyl cushions, and lanterns — complementing great Americanized Chinese food. Try the sesame chicken, chow mein, crab rangoons, wonton soup, and anything stir-fried with brown sauce. (4815 West Braker Lane, Suite 510, Hardrock Canyon; takeout orders can be placed online; there are indoor dine-in services)
Chinese delivery/takeout is one of those New York traditions — getting containers of chicken and broccoli straight to your door is a trope for a reason. Tso Chinese fulfills this slot in Austin. With a no-tipping policy and free in-house delivery, it’s fast and affordable. There’s the General Tso’s chicken, char siu pork over rice, Beijing beef, and more. (multiple locations; takeout and delivery orders can be placed online)
Other Iconic New York Dishes in Austin
Levain cookies
The New York bakery is home to the original supersize chocolate chip-walnut cookie. There’s a similar version with pecans at Zilker bakery ThoroughBread.
Black-and-white cookies
Many New York-style delis carry the bicolored cookie: Little Deli, Biderman’s, Otherside, and Casper Fermentables.
Babka
Find sweet braided bread from bakery BabkaATX at its farmers’ market stands and retail grocers
Dosas
For thin, crispy South Indian crepes popular in New York, stop by Milwood restaurant Sangam Chettinad or Rosedale truck Dosa Shack.
Magnolia banana pudding
A pudding so famous, there’s a candle. Grab a pint from Brentwood barbecue restaurant Stiles Switch, or try a bruleed version at Mueller Southern restaurant Colleen’s Kitchen.
Dumplings
Miss the pork-and-chive dumplings at Vanessa’s? Get the pork-shrimp-chive dumplings at Triangle restaurant Dumpling World. If you’re missing Joe’s Shanghai’s soup dumplings, find the best rendition at Clarksville restaurant Lin Asian Bar.
Liège waffles
New Yorkers who consider Wafels & Dinges part of their identities can satisfy their Liège waffle cravings at Hancock cafe Mary’s, or head to Round Rock bakery Papi’s Pies.
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