My Favorite Healthy Eats In Austin
Some of my favorite restaurants on the planet are right in my backyard! In college, my motto for all my makeshift healthy recipes was “healthy never tasted so good!”, but I never thought that I would live in a city where this motto was my reality on every block! If you’re looking for a restaurant sourcing some local produce or you have a food allergy, but want to make sure everyone else in your group can still eat all the queso their heart’s desire, look no further! I’ve highlighted my go-to spots in Austin for all your healthy cravings and boy are they delicious!
Go-To Take Out
Honest Mary’s
If you live in Austin and haven’t tried Honest Mary’s, it’s a must! Focused on organic, wild-caught, antibiotic & hormone free, non-GMO ingredients, I know I can always count on a nutritious and delicious meal while on-the-go at Honest Mary’s!
My Order: Build-your-own bowl: Chicken bowl with wild arugula, Texas sweet potatoes, sesame broccoli, pickled onions, crispy chickpeas and spicy peanut sauce!
Flower Child
I absolutely love having two Flower Child locations in Austin (one downtown and one up North) for giving me a taste of home as I would go to this restaurant all the time back in San Diego. For lunch, I love to order the chopped vegetable salad with salmon or the flying avocado wrap and for dinner, I can count on their bowls or plates to fill me with high quality nutrients while providing a ton of flavor. Trust me, their yuzu brussel sprouts do not disappoint!
My Order: Mother Earth Bowl, Chopped Vegetable Salad with Salmon or Flying
Cava
From completely plant based bowls and warm fluffy pita, to hearty braised lamb, Cava is great for a quick fix Mediterranean restaurant with high quality ingredients. Although I tend to switch up my order from time to time here, I always top it off with some pickled onions and lemon herb tahini dressing!
My Order: Green’s and Grains bowl with arugula, brown basmati rice, roasted eggplant, grilled chicken, roasted vegetables, pickled onions, cabbage slaw, tomato + cucumber salad, and lemon herb tahini dressing.
Sweetgreen
I cannot begin to tell you my excitement when I found out my favorite make-your-own salad place was coming to Austin! If you’re craving a salad, this is hands down one of my favorite places. They also have great warm bowls and protein + veggie combo plates for the days a salad wont cut it!
My Order: make-your-own: arugula, warm wild rice, cucumbers, roasted sweet potatoes, raw carrots, raw cabbage, roasted chicken, avocado and green goddess ranch dressing.
Healthy Brunch
Hanks
If you’re looking for major aesthetics and great coffee (or great cocktails!), look no further! Hanks has something delectable for everyone on their menu! The perfect balance between your staple brunch items and California style grain and vegetable bowls, Hanks is my favorite place to bring out of town visitors, grab a drink with the gals or sip a coffee while I read a book. They make all of their bread and pastries in house and whatever you do, don’t pass up on their frozen paloma’s!
My Order: Hank’s Breakfast for Brunch or Brussel Sprouts and the Pesto Rice Bowl for Dinner
Josephine House
This picturesque restaurant is located in a cute little blue house right in the heart of Clarksville. Using locally sourced products and ingredients, this charming neighborhood cottage is the perfect spot for weekend brunch or a weekday happy hour! Don’t miss their Monday night Steak Frites special, it’s worth it!
My Order: Avocado Toast or Rice Bowl
Picnik
The most allergen friendly restaurant I have found in Austin! I love heading to Picnik’s dine-in restaurant for brunch or to their food truck in south Austin for a coffee and avo toast with friends (you know who you are ;)). Although their entire menu is gluten, peanut and soy free with many dairy free and vegan options as well, you would never guess from their honey mustard chicken tenders or salted caramel banana pancakes, which are truly drool worthy.
My Order: Harvest Hash, Farmhouse Breakfast, or Picnik Cobb, but you really cannot go wrong.
Vegan Favorites
Bouldin Creek Cafe
Although I do not eat a vegan or plant based diet, this is one of my favorite restaurants in Austin. I love vegan and plant based food and this local gem serves the most delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner. Don’t discount this authentically Austin spot before trying it!
My Order: Veggies Royale or El Tipico with sweet potato tamales
Mr. Naturals
Looking for a vegan gluten free pumpkin pie for Friendsgiving? Oh, just me? Well, look no further! I brought this beauty over for a beautiful friendsgiving this year and it did not disappoint! Mr. Naturals is a vegetarian, vegan and local cafe and bakery with tons of tasty options!
My Order: GF Vegan Banana Chocolate Chip Muffin
Citizen Eatery
Looking for all day vegan breakfast? This contemporary plant based restaurant has all your favorite comfort foods! Gluten free friendly and plenty of options for those skeptical of a plant-based restaurant, their menu is full of flavor and bright colors!
My Order: Citizen Power Bowl or Vegan Paleo Bowl
Perfect Sit Down Restaurants
True Foods
I love True Foods because their menu changes with the seasons and is inspired by a variety of different cuisines. Their menu also makes it very easy if you have any food allergies or dietary restrictions. I crave their Kale Aid juice and in house-made Green Tea.
My Order: Seasonal Ingredient Salad with Salmon, Teriyaki Qunioa Bowl (pictured), Korean Noodle Bowl, or Spaghetti Squash Casserole
Fresas
Definitely one of my go-to spots in Austin because who doesn’t love healthy Mexican food? With delicious guac and margs of course because ~balance~. I love their patio at their sit down restaurant in south Austin and frequent their drive through location downtown.
My Order: Super Bol or Power Bol & Grilled Sweet Potato or Crispy Brussel Sprouts
Vinaigrette
The best salad restaurant in Austin! This salad bistro brings innovative flavor and nutritious ingredients to all of it’s salad options. Now if you’re thinking, “I’m too hungry to eat a salad”, think again. Vinaigrette’s salads are packed with high quality proteins, fats and fiber that will keep you full much longer than your average garden salad. Definitely plenty bang for your buck! Not to mention, the patio at Vinaigrette transports you to a beautiful garden oasis in the center of south Austin.
My Order: Kale Caesar with Salmon
Cafe No Se
This sunny and inviting all day café is located in the South Congress Hotel and was one of the first restaurants I went to when I moved to Austin. Always serving up original and new flavor combinations, I have now been back countless times! Its delightful ambiance and minimalist décor makes the dine-in experience even more enjoyable. The menu is California inspired and based on seasonal produce. The coffee is fantastic and they serve a wide range of meals that are conscious of food allergies and preferences.
My Order: Quinoa Bowl or Sweet Potato Hash
Two Hands
New to Austin, this NYC favorite fits right in! Right on South Congress, this is a great spot to stop in for coffee or sit down for lunch. After studying abroad in Sydney, Australia during college, I knew I needed to move somewhere with just as great of a food scene. Thankfully, Two Hands fills all of my aussie food cravings with their coastal inspired menu.
My Order: Salmon Quinoa Bowl, Chicken Bowl (no barley) or Brassicas Salad with chicken (pictured)
Quick Bites
Soup Peddler
Hands down one of my absolutle favorite spots in Austin! Their soups are incredible and perfect for a cold rainy day or when you are feeling under the weather. They also have top notch smoothies unlike any others you have tried before! Their menu changes each day and is very food allergy-friendly!
My Order: Smoothies: Voltron or Golden Ticket, Soup: Chicken & Rice, Green Detox, Chicken Chilli, or Chicken Pozole
The Well
Another new spot to Austin’s bustling foodie scene! Focused on top of the line nutrition and local sustainable farming, The Well is an excellent spot for fast healthy bites located right downtown! Their menu is completely gluten, soy and refined sugar free, and accommodating to other food allergies or sensitivities. They believe food is a life source, and nothing on their menu compromises this belief. Serving a variety of items like superfood smoothies, whole food entrees and organic bone broth, you can’t go wrong with anything your order at The Well!
My Order: For breakfast, B.A.E toast made on house-made gluten free bread and for lunch, chicken tacos (pictured)
SunLife Organics
Another California gem moved to Austin! Yummy, nourishing, unique, superfood bowls and smoothies galore! Great for a hot Texas summer day, a filling breakfast or an afternoon treat! Always know I am giving my body the high quality ingredients it craves when I stop in for a SunLife smoothie or acai bowl!
My Order: Bliss Bowl or Million Dollar Smoothie
Let me know your Austin favorites in the comments!
