Austin Food Bytes - Texas Cuisine

Austin Food Bytes
Texas Cuisine

When my family comes to visit, I like to take them to at least one very down-home restaurant. You just can’t get good chicken fried steak or fried green tomatoes in California. In fact, you pretty much can’t get anything good fried in California. If you like smoothies, sushi and seafood, California is great. But when the family is in town, I try to take them out for some food they can’t get at home.

Hoover’s
I’ve only been to Hoover’s a couple times, so I’m not an expert, but everything I’ve had there has been excellent. I love fried chicken, and they do a fried chicken breast with gravy that is to die for. They have a plethora of great sides, some regular, some special. The mashed potatoes are excellent, as are the mustard greens. Hoover’s is always packed, so schedule some extra time to wait to be seated.

Threadgills
Threadgills has been around in one form or another for almost three-quarters of a century. An Austin original, it’s been a major hangout for some notable musicians over the years, whose pictures and artifacts you can see all over the walls. It’s kind of an authentic Texas version of the Hard Rock Café. With much better food. Threadgills is a great place to take out-of-towners for that “Austin” experience. My favorite dishes include the blackened catfish and the fried green tomatoes. The sides are really good too, especially the spinach casserole and the garlic cheese grits.

Top Notch
Top notch is a little burger joint on Burnet Road, just below Anderson. It’s a favorite place for my team to grab a quick but satisfying lunch when we’re in the mood for comfort food. The décor is straight out of the 60’s, and it’s always packed. You can also drive up and order food to-go outside. Top Notch grills their burgers with charcoal, so the flavor can’t be beat, but my favorite is the fried chicken. You can get a fried chicken sandwich, or a plate, which includes a fried chicken breast, salad, Texas toast and fries.

This is not California cuisine, folks. What it is, is satisfying, tasty and very authentic Texas cooking.

Top Notch Restaurant
7525 Burnet Rd., 452-2181
Monday-Saturday, 11am-8pm

THREADGILL'S OLD NO. 1
6416 N. Lamar, 451-5440
Monday-Saturday, 11am-10pm; Sunday,11am-9pm

Threadgill's World HQ
301 W. Riverside, 472-9304
Mon-Thu, 11am-10pm; Fri-Sat, 11am-10:30pm; Sun, 10am-9pm

HOOVER'S COOKING
2002 Manor Rd., 479-5006
Monday-Friday, 11am-10pm; Saturday-Sunday, 9am-10pm