While the temptations of Tacos, Tex-Mex, and BBQ might loom large, Austin, Texas, boasts a vibrant health and fitness scene, earning it a reputation as one of America's healthiest cities. From running and biking along Ladybird Lake to climbing at Crux Climbing Center and paddle boarding around Hamilton Pool, the city is alive with activity. While preparing meals at home ensures complete control over ingredients, dining out offers a unique social experience. This guide highlights top restaurant picks in Austin and beyond, along with tips on how to navigate menus for healthier choices.
Austin's Healthy Hotspots
Koriente: This casual, pan-Asian downtown spot is perfect for a quick, healthy meal. With a focus on vegetables and rice, Koriente offers large portions in dishes like curries, bibimbap, and sautees. The Obake Bowl A with Chicken and brown rice, or the Papaya Salad with Ahi Tuna, and the soft vegetarian summer rice paper rolls are highly recommended. Try a cinnamon iced tea with no sugar for a unique beverage option. Whether dining solo on the back patio, catching up with a friend, or opting for UberEats or pick-up, Koriente provides a nourishing experience.
Casa de Luz: This macrobiotic, ayurvedic, vegan establishment offers a peaceful and healthful atmosphere. Known for its communal setting and excellent value, Casa de Luz offers a daily special for $14, including soup, salad, and an entree typically featuring kale with almond sauce, beans, rice, and a main dish. The guacamole taco or butternut squash are flavorful choices.
Swedish Hill: This bakery and cafe provides several lighter options. The rotisserie chicken, cold salads in their refrigerated case, or the Clarksville Crunch Salad with Kale, Cauliflower, Almonds, Seeds, and Tahini are excellent choices for a light lunch. For a treat, consider their Salted Chocolate Chip Cookie.
Honest Mary’s: In a world of seemingly healthy grain bowls, salad spots, and poké shops with hidden calories, Honest Mary’s stands out. Unlike some places where added sugars can be detected, Honest Mary’s offers genuinely healthy options that taste like homemade meals. The Songbird with Black Forbidden Rice, Steamed Kale, Rainbow Carrots, Beets, and Pumpkin Seeds is a delicious dairy-free and gluten-free choice. Adding grilled naturally raised chicken complements the bowl without needing dressing.
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Pho Please: This restaurant shines with its Grilled Chicken Rice Paper Rolls or Salad with fried egg, pickled veggies, cabbage, and fish sauce (add shrimp!). The salad is particularly appealing due to the flavorful Nuoc Cham sauce and the addictive pickled vegetables.
FoodHeads: With a classic Austin vibe, FoodHeads is a popular lunch spot. The Chicken & Eggplant Sandwich is a standout, and the option for a half sandwich combined with half soup or salad is a great way to sample multiple offerings. The dairy-free sweet potato soup is creamy and satisfying, perfect for a casual lunch.
Elizabeth Street Cafe: While known for Vietnamese cuisine and French pastries, this cafe offers healthy choices. Opt for the wonton soup made with clear broth, order the Snapper Bun sans vermicelli and extra spinach, or enjoy a steeping bowl of pho without noodles, adding extra vegetables and a side of rice. Creativity is encouraged to craft a flavorful and healthy meal.
Bouldin Creek Cafe: This vegetarian restaurant offers a straightforward menu with several salad options. Scrambled eggs with broccoli, tomato, and toast is a simple and satisfying choice.
Fresa’s Chicken al Carbon: Unlike typical Mexican restaurants with rice and refried beans as standard sides, Fresa’s offers dressed-up vegetables. Choose the sweet potatoes and beets over the flash-fried Brussels sprouts for a healthier option. The Jerez Salad with Power Greens, Marinated Chickpeas, Spicy Carrots, Pepitas, and Queso Fresco is a recommended salad. For dessert, the Rice Krispie Treat ice cream is a local favorite.
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Josephine House: This farm-to-table cottage in historic Clarksville features vegetable salads displayed on marble in front of the kitchen window. The salads change seasonally and often include sweet additions like dates, dried cherries, nuts, and seeds.
Kinda Tropical: This unique east side spot, combining a gas station, bodega, and cafe, offers a Sesame Salad with Pulled Chicken, Butter Lettuce, Avocado, Peanut, and Cilantro. Add the Cuban Yucca Fries with Jalapeño Avocado Dip for a more indulgent treat.
Veracruz Fonda and Bar: While famous for breakfast tacos, the sit-down restaurant in Mueller expands on fresh, Veracruz cuisine with larger plates like the Camarones Enchipotlados and Shrimp Ceviche. The flavorful rice and black beans served with the Calabacitas con Queso are also noteworthy. The restaurant offers healthy-ish Agua Frescas, particularly the Cantaloupe flavor.
Aster’s Ethiopian: The lunch buffet at Aster’s Ethiopian provides a pleasant surprise with authentic Ethiopian cuisine. The Gomen (Ethiopian-style collard greens) and Alicha Miser (split lentil) are excellent choices. The buffet includes about two dozen items, allowing for a customized plate.
Oseyo Lunch: This restaurant features hip decor and a chic outdoor patio, creating a perfect setting for Korean-American cuisine. The Korean Bento Plate with Bulgogi, steamed white rice, potato salad, doenjang green beans, fish cake, kimchi, and house salad is a substantial and flavorful option. Alternatively, the Oseyo Salad is a lighter choice. Don’t miss the Brown Butter + Miso Chocolate Chip Cookie or ice cream from Pastry Chef Laura Sawicki.
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Proud Mary: The menu at Proud Mary is small but focuses on breakfast items like Eggs on Toast, Avocado Toast, and a Scrambled Egg Roti.
P Thai’s: The traditional Thai dish of Khao Man Gai, featuring poached chicken, rice with chicken fat, cucumbers, and a fermented bean ginger chili sauce, is a highlight at P Thai’s. The Wontons are also excellent, and the Khao Man Gai comes with a broth, making it a complete meal.
ATX Food Co.: This food truck offers a variety of smoothies, elixirs, power bowls, and tacos, with a focus on healthy options. Anything with butternut squash is a good choice.
Vinaigrette: Known for its extensive list of salad options and a lovely outdoor patio, Vinaigrette offers The Omega salad with leafy greens, corn, bell pepper, tomato, avocado, red onion, toasted pine nuts, and chicken.
The Well: Located downtown, The Well offers a menu free of gluten, soy, and refined sugar. The restaurant features smoothies, bowls, cold-pressed juices, bone broths, and immunity shots.
Beyond Austin: Healthy Dining in Other Cities
Phoenix, Arizona: La Grande Orange (LGO) is a Phoenix staple with French-inspired breakfasts, a bakery, and healthy salads and sandwiches. The kale quinoa salad is a popular choice. Flower Child is another option, offering fresh ingredients, fun flavors, and vegetarian and vegan options. The Original Chop Shop is known for its chopped salads and veggie bowls, like the green curry tofu bowl with quinoa. For quick meals, Modern Market Eatery in Scottsdale is a great choice. ProteinHouse is a favorite for lean lunches and post-gym shakes. Juice Core offers organic, fresh-pressed juices and smoothies. Pa’la features a constantly changing menu centered around fresh seafood, grains, and local vegetables.
Los Angeles & San Francisco, California: Gracias Madre is a plant-based Mexican restaurant with organic dishes. Some favorites include quesadillas de calabaza, crab cake (made with hearts of palm), Bowl Uno, Bowl Tres, and El Plato. My 2nd favorite restaurant is owned by the same people as Gracias Madre, so it’s no surprise that the food is also superb. I love that there is always a question of the day, meant to spark discussion, like what brings you joy? Or what are your dreams? The Great Cardini salad, Mediterranean bowl, vegan Caesar, and the Real Food Meal are all favorites. One can also find a stylish hip restaurant, but the menu is stealthily as healthy as it gets. The menu is 100% plant-based, and quite inventive. Really high end creations. For dessert, don’t miss Kippy’s ice cream, the cutest little shop that only churns out coconut milk ice cream. Get the date flavor (which you guessed it, is only sweetened with dates), and add your choice of superfood toppings, like goji berries and black sesame seeds.
Orange County, California: Flower Child in Newport Beach offers vegan, gluten-free, vegetarian, and organic options. Urban Plates in Aliso Viejo features healthy options like salmon, chicken, tofu, salad, and vegetables. Vibe Organic Kitchen and Juice in Newport Beach offers organic, plant-based, vegan, and gluten-free choices, including bowls and smoothies. butterleaf in Irvine serves vegetarian burgers, sides, and bowls.
Tips for Healthy Eating Out
- Be mindful of hidden calories: Dressings, sauces, and seemingly healthy ingredients like sweet potatoes can contain added sugars and fats.
- Customize your order: Don't hesitate to ask for modifications, such as omitting certain ingredients or requesting dressings on the side.
- Focus on whole foods: Choose dishes that emphasize vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains.
- Read menu descriptions carefully: Pay attention to how dishes are prepared and what ingredients are included.
- Don't be afraid to ask questions: If you're unsure about an ingredient or preparation method, ask your server for clarification.
- Consider portion sizes: Be mindful of portion sizes and consider sharing a dish or taking leftovers home.
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