Are you on the keto diet and wondering where you can eat out in Austin? Don't worry, dining out is still possible while sticking to the keto lifestyle. With a bit of planning, you can find plenty of keto-friendly restaurants in Austin.
What is the Keto Diet?
The keto diet, or ketogenic diet, involves consuming lots of fats, a moderate amount of protein, and very limited carbs. The goal is to reach ketosis, where your body becomes efficient at burning fat for energy. This makes it a popular diet for weight loss.
Challenges of the Keto Diet
Many people find that the hardest part of the keto diet is getting enough fat. It requires a lot of fatty foods to reach the necessary macro levels. Finding good keto-friendly places to eat can also be challenging.
Keto-Friendly Restaurant Options in Austin
While restaurants that specifically cater to the keto lifestyle, like Picnik and True Food Kitchen, are great options, other types of restaurants can also work. Austin has many BBQ joints, steakhouses, poke restaurants, salad spots, and even drive-thru restaurants with keto-friendly options.
Restaurants That Specifically Cater to Keto
Picnik
Picnik Austin started as an allergen-free dining spot where everything is refined sugar-free, peanut-free, and gluten-free. It has an entire section of the menu with low-carb options, perfect for people on the keto diet. The brick-and-mortar locations on Burnet and South First are bright and lively places to dine in.
Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers
True Food Kitchen
True Food Kitchen is designed for foodies who want delicious and healthy food. The menu caters to various diets, with plenty of keto-friendly options. The Austin locations (downtown and Domain) are modern and bright, with high ceilings and white marble tables. The servers are knowledgeable and can help you find suitable options or make simple swaps.
Other Keto-Friendly Restaurants
BBQ Joints
One of the reasons people love keto is that they can enjoy fatty cuts of meat like brisket, sausage, and pork ribs. La Barbecue is a popular BBQ joint in Austin with sugar-free coleslaw and salty rubs. Many other top BBQ spots in Austin are also keto-friendly.
Vinaigrette
Vinaigrette is a modern restaurant and wine bar off South Congress where you can order a premade salad or create your own to make it keto-friendly. Ask for a creamy dressing like their blue cheese vinaigrette and pair your salad with grilled flank steak, avoiding high-carb toppings.
Counter Cafe
Counter Cafe is a cozy diner that uses locally sourced protein and organic ingredients. It's an iconic Austin restaurant with keto-friendly breakfast or lunch options like the Pork Chop & Eggs. Just swap out the biscuit and potatoes for a keto-friendly side like bacon or sautéed spinach.
P. Terry's Burger Stand
P. Terry's Burger Stand is a great option for a keto burger. You can substitute a lettuce wrap for the bun and add extra cheese. Avoid the fries and ice cream, but add an extra patty of meat.
Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide
Dai Due
Dai Due serves locally sourced Texas meat and offers several keto-friendly options. It's a great place to get a dry-aged wagyu ribeye or a pork chop.
Wholly Cow
Wholly Cow serves organic, grass-fed burgers. Try their Fit Cross Burger, which is sandwiched between two portobello mushroom caps and has bacon. Add extra cheese for more fats.
Malibu Poke
Malibu Poke has a touch screen ordering system where you can create your own poke bowl. For a base, they offer cauliflower rice and massaged kale for low-carb options. Choose a fatty tuna or salmon protein and add keto-friendly sauces and toppings.
Chi'lantro
At Chi'lantro, order a "create your own bowl" with a green base, meat, lots of veggies, and high-fat toppings like avocado and cheese, but avoid the kimchi fries and tacos.
Hopdoddy Burger Bar
Hopdoddy Burger Bar has several locations in Austin and offers burgers as a bowl or with a lettuce wrap. Add bacon, avocado, or a fried egg for extra fats, and be cautious of hidden sugars in the sauces.
Read also: Magnesium Supplements for Keto
Austin's Pizza
Austin's Pizza has a cauliflower crust for keto pizza. Select the "build your own pizza" option and add keto-friendly toppings like mozzarella cheese, bacon, ground beef, Roma tomatoes, kalamata olives, and artichoke hearts.
Maie Day
Maie Day is a fancy restaurant where you can order a steak, a keto-friendly wine or no-sugar cocktail, and a side of greens. It has plenty of high-fat cuts of meat available and a festive atmosphere.
Flower Child
Flower Child offers clean foods with lots of veggies and proteins, making it easy to eat keto. Try a salad with a creamy dressing and protein, or the "entree + protein" option.
24 Diner
24 Diner has keto-friendly options like the frittata or bacon breakfast platter. For lunch or dinner, try a salad (hold the croutons) or a ribeye steak (no fries). You can make a burger keto by holding the bun and high-carb toppings and adding keto-friendly toppings like grilled onions, bacon, and avocado.
Keto-Friendly Dishes to Order
Torchy's Tacos
Skip the tortilla and just eat the filling.
Le Politique
Order a cheese board with dry red wine, but skip the fruit and bread.
Swift's Attic
The happy hour menu is full of keto-friendly options like Nuoc Cham Brussels Sprouts (ask them to hold the golden raisins), Blistered Shitshito Peppers, and Thai Lettuce Wraps.
Shopping for Keto Products in Austin
The Vitamin Shoppe
The Vitamin Shoppe offers low-carb pizza and enchiladas from Keto-specific brands, Keto strips, Keto drinks, and Keto bombs for coffee.
Trader Joe's
Trader Joe's has a variety of Keto products, including cauliflower crust pizzas, almond and coconut flour, and low-carb wines.
Whole Foods Market
Whole Foods Market offers almond flour, MCT oil, bone broth, and fresh produce.
People's RX
People's RX provides products that fit within the ketogenic diet and has knowledgeable staff to answer questions.
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