Where to Eat Clean in Austin
Austin is a city full of young, active residents with many fine options for eating well. Whether you’re in town for live music, business or just a fun night dining out, try the following for clean meals.
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Garrido’s
Where: Austin (downtown)
Chef: David Garrido
Garrido’s is housed in a modern condominium development on the west end of downtown (near Shoal Creek). The bright, creative food of Chef David Garrido, a veteran of the city’s culinary evolution, includes delicious bocaditos (tiny bites) and both small plates and platters with a variety of Mexican-inspired fish and meat preparations. Many dishes incorporate local and organic vegetables with clean, spice-forward flavors. When the weather is beautiful, which is much of the year in Austin, diners can enjoy lunch or dinner on an expansive outdoor patio.
Uchi
Where: Austin (South Lamar)
Chef: Tyson Cole
Diners looking for Japanese-influenced food with modern twists can find that and more at Uchi, a popular dinner spot just south of downtown Austin. The menu features sustainable, traceable fish and locally sourced produce. Standouts include hot and cool dishes such as raw crudo and carpaccio plates, sushi and sashimi, and yakimono, a Japanese method of preparing meats and seafood on charcoal grills. Omakase-style tasting menus are also available for guests who wish to follow the kitchen’s lead. A sister restaurant, Uchiko, offers “Japanese farmhouse dining” and sushi in a contemporary setting north of the University of Texas main campus.
Whole Foods Market
Where: Austin (downtown)
This flagship store is a core attraction of the corporate headquarters (including the Whole Foods Market Culinary Center) for the world’s largest retailer of natural and organic foods. Its countless aisles and displays stock all the organic produce, meats, fish and specialty products guests expect. But a staggering selection of nutrient-dense foods are also on offer for casual dining inside the store, at outdoor patio tables, for takeout orders and even via downtown bicycle delivery. Hot and cold self-serve food bars include vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. A series of cuisine-themed mini-restaurants throughout the complex serve everything from light wraps and soups to fresh tacos, Japanese foods and even Texas-style smoked barbecue.