Guide to Austin’s Great Late Night Bites
February 28, 2024
SXSW rips through Downtown Austin like a tornado on a yearly basis, bringing with it exciting panel discussions, product demos, film screenings, live concerts, and after parties. The festivities can easily run into the later hours of the night and even the wee hours of the morning, and it stands to reason that attendees might find themselves craving some hearty and flavorful bites well past dinnertime. That’s why we’ve rounded up 9 restaurants, bars and food trucks in Downtown Austin and East Austin that will keep your belly full and your taste buds happy at 12 a.m. or even later.
Velvet Taco
522 Congress Ave.
Late-night tacos feel like a very Austin-appropriate snack, and Velvet Taco in the heart of downtown will be ready to offer bold global-fusion versions to revelers until 12 a.m. every night. Spice fiends shouldn’t miss the Spicy Tikka Chicken taco with chicken tenders, tikka sauce, buttered cilantro basmati rice, raita, and Thai basil on a flour tortilla, and plant-based taco fans will love the Mediterranean Mushroom (grilled portobellos, French fries, tzatziki, chimichurri, cucumbers, tomatoes, queso fresco, and dill on a flour tortilla).
Casino El Camino
517 E 6th St.
For huge, juicy, legendary burgers in one of Austin’s most beloved dive bar spaces, be sure to visit Casino El Camino on Sixth Street. The ¾-pound burger patties are made with Angus beef and are cooked to a flawless medium temperature, so you’ll get a nice exterior crust and a tender pink inside. As for toppings, you can opt for classics like cheese and bacon or you could try one of Casino El Camino’s signature burgers, like the Amarillo Burger (with roasted serranos, jalapeno Jack cheese, and cilantro mayo) or the Madison Burger (with beer-braised pork belly, Shiner Bock gastrique, jalapeno Jack cheese, sauteed onions, and bacon mayo). If you’re not feeling a burger, you can go with a hot dog, Italian sausage, sandwich, or a platter of loaded fries. Casino El Camino serves food until 1:30 a.m., 7 days a week.
ZIKI
2118 South Congress Ave.
Speaking of global fusion, ZIKI has made quite a name for itself in Austin’s street food scene with its widely-dispersed trucks serving Mexican-Greek hybrid bowls and wraps. Their downtown truck on West 3rd Street serves until 12 a.m., and anyone in need of a meal that’s both healthy and flavorful will love the build-your-own option with ingredients like cilantro lemon white rice, yellow basmati rice, gyro beef, falafel, pico de gallo, cilantro cabbage slaw, guacamole, feta cheese, and much more.
