Y’all, I went to Houston this weekend. What are some things austin does better than Houston?
It’s hard for me to eat Asian food here now because Katy Chinatown absolutely smacked. Can you guys name some things Austin kicks Houston’s ass in other than BBQ,
by bitcoin_moon_wsb
37 Comments
southpark
Uh the only thing Austin does better than Houston in the food category is being more expensive. Houston has way better food across the board (minus bbq).
FilamentsAndVoidz
Austin is actually amazing at hype and robbery.
Sypheix
Everything but the food. Houston is a traffic filled hellscape. One of the ugliest cities on the planet…behind corpus shitsy of course
QuietRedditorATX
Roads.
Ours may be circular but they are at least fine to drive.
Dis_Miss
BBQ, breweries, nature, less humidity, and walkable areas.
Source: from there and go back often. Seafood and variety of quality ethnic food is better but that city stresses me out. I was just there last weekend and thought I was about to die with the crazy freeway drivers at least 3 times. I’ll take worse food for a slower lifestyle any day.
goneonvacation
Patio bars. Houston has a few good ones, Austin has copious amazing ones
HOU-RU
Both cities are amazing, just in different ways. Austin has better bbq and breakfast tacos, and thanks to the lower humidity there are a lot more outdoor dining opportunities. But both have excellent food – Houston’s reflects its diversity and in some areas is world class. Traffic sucks in both cities!
insidertrader68
Austin has a better food truck scene, bbq scene, and more good options in a smaller area.
Yeah Houston has better food overall but you really need to drive for it.
I like Katy Chinatown but I wouldn’t say it beats North Austin + North burbs. I might even take the Chens/Fat Dragon research blvd plaza over Katy.
somecow
Taco trucks (plenty in houston, but austin just hits different). Plenty of chill outdoor bars (most are dog friendly too). Instagram food. Pricy shit. And of course, central market, and no kroger.
dringram82
Gentrification
DudzTx
As other stated above – more outdoor patio options. With kids, more playgrounds and kid-friendly locations where the kids can roam while the parents get a much needed beer
_dotnotfeather_
Everyone saying austin bbq is better have never been to Blood Bros or Khoi, and it shows.
Water2Wine378
Nothing Houston’s food is vastly superior! Every corner there is diverse cuisine! Austin’s food is mediocre, there is nothing that stands out as unique to Austin! All Austin has is pretentious places that charge way too much for their mediocre food!
lambopanda
Austin does better on fusion. Replace traditional ingredients with something expensive and charge you way more.
Desper8lyseekntacos
Pretension
open_paths
Tejas chocolate + BBQ and Corkscrew BBQ are impeccable. I’d put them against the best in atx any day.
The one thing I miss about Houston is the food and bar scene.
spartanerik
Austin does overpriced mediocrity better than most cities!
open_paths
Overcharges for vibe and hype.
twodogstwocats
The bbq is better around Austin than in Houston.
peenpeenpeen
In terms of food… Houston has 10x choices for every 1 cuisine option Austin has, that will span in price/ quality including fine dining options. Also fun fact, a shockingly high number of popular Austin and Dallas restaurants have second or primary locations in Houston (did you know Uchi was a chain?). After living in every major city in Texas, the only thing I can say that Austin does better is food truck culture.
spicyappies
we have pinthouse …? 😀
yellowtdb1
Everything
TwistedMemories
Not being built on a swamp, have tons of mosquitoes. And not have as high of a humidity level.
littlelivethings
Really good Persian food. You’re also way more likely to come across a classic Jewish deli. Oh and excellent Vietnamese. Honestly it’s just a better food city because it’s so much more diverse than Austin.
Vast-Sherbert
Austin only does one thing better, having a river in the middle of the city instead of a bayou. Houston’s food and culture is gonna top Austin everytime.
EbbElectronic190
As far as quality of food goes, Austin doesn’t beat Houston in any respect. There isn’t a single category of food Austin does better (even Breakfast tacos).
What Austin wins at is nightlife, atmosphere and entertainment. Those things combined with food is where Austin wins. Houston is just much more diverse, international and refined when it comes to food.
And before someone bitches at me, I’m an Austin native, and lived in Houston for 3 years. I’ve eaten at just about every remarkable restaurant in both cities.
dodgerblue1212
Not being Houston
Peepeepoopoobuttbutt
I have lived in both cities for years.
Houston outclasses Austin in most food categories but that’s nothing to be ashamed about. Houston is a melting pot of millions more people and their cuisine is top notch.
That being said, while they have good BBQ, they don’t have Austin BBQ. We get to claim Uchi since the OG is here. Fonda San Miguel ranks up there with some of the best traditional Mexican food I have had anywhere in the US but Houston has great food as well and really kicks ass with Tex Mex.
Also Austin has made HUGE strides over the past 20 years with cuisine. 20 years ago, Moonshine was considered revolutionary here, now we have lots of great options.
True fine dining Austin can’t compete.
Osniffable
food wise? absolutely nothing. But they have better ambience and vibe.
oumarniasse4prez
Man when did we make food a competition. I’m just glad to be able to choose at the options of both cities
That said I hate Houston as a living experience but I can go down there for A+ food from any culture any time I like more or less
thakillashampoo
Houston beats Austin in everything food except for coffee/espresso
harlequin018
I grew up in Houston but have lived in Austin for 6+ years now…
BBQ, some great places in Houston, like corkscrew, but the general level is much higher in austin.
Houston Chinatown proper (bellaire + beltway) is some of the best Asian food in the country IMO. I still have not had a bowl of pho in austin that compares to what any hole in the wall can do in Chinatown Houston.
eric535
If you’re thinking ethnic foods, pretty much everything in Houston is better!
_Jimmy_Rustler
Unrelated to food but Austin has half the number of violent crimes per capita so I guess we are better at not being violent criminals?
trainwreckchococat
Can you tell me what’s the dish in pic 11? Restaurant and dish name. Thanks!
MezcalManika
For bars, austin has better night life, cocktails, and spaces with live music, outdoor stage etc.
It’s more laid back in Austin. I enjoy going out more in Austin than in Houston. But if we are talking food, Houston, no competition, is better than Austin.
ShtoolieBoomstein
Austin has Proud Mary. Nowhere else in Texas has coffee anywhere near that level.
37 Comments
Uh the only thing Austin does better than Houston in the food category is being more expensive. Houston has way better food across the board (minus bbq).
Austin is actually amazing at hype and robbery.
Everything but the food. Houston is a traffic filled hellscape. One of the ugliest cities on the planet…behind corpus shitsy of course
Roads.
Ours may be circular but they are at least fine to drive.
BBQ, breweries, nature, less humidity, and walkable areas.
Source: from there and go back often. Seafood and variety of quality ethnic food is better but that city stresses me out. I was just there last weekend and thought I was about to die with the crazy freeway drivers at least 3 times. I’ll take worse food for a slower lifestyle any day.
Patio bars. Houston has a few good ones, Austin has copious amazing ones
Both cities are amazing, just in different ways. Austin has better bbq and breakfast tacos, and thanks to the lower humidity there are a lot more outdoor dining opportunities. But both have excellent food – Houston’s reflects its diversity and in some areas is world class. Traffic sucks in both cities!
Austin has a better food truck scene, bbq scene, and more good options in a smaller area.
Yeah Houston has better food overall but you really need to drive for it.
I like Katy Chinatown but I wouldn’t say it beats North Austin + North burbs. I might even take the Chens/Fat Dragon research blvd plaza over Katy.
Taco trucks (plenty in houston, but austin just hits different). Plenty of chill outdoor bars (most are dog friendly too). Instagram food. Pricy shit. And of course, central market, and no kroger.
Gentrification
As other stated above – more outdoor patio options. With kids, more playgrounds and kid-friendly locations where the kids can roam while the parents get a much needed beer
Everyone saying austin bbq is better have never been to Blood Bros or Khoi, and it shows.
Nothing Houston’s food is vastly superior! Every corner there is diverse cuisine! Austin’s food is mediocre, there is nothing that stands out as unique to Austin! All Austin has is pretentious places that charge way too much for their mediocre food!
Austin does better on fusion. Replace traditional ingredients with something expensive and charge you way more.
Pretension
Tejas chocolate + BBQ and Corkscrew BBQ are impeccable. I’d put them against the best in atx any day.
The one thing I miss about Houston is the food and bar scene.
Austin does overpriced mediocrity better than most cities!
Overcharges for vibe and hype.
The bbq is better around Austin than in Houston.
In terms of food… Houston has 10x choices for every 1 cuisine option Austin has, that will span in price/ quality including fine dining options. Also fun fact, a shockingly high number of popular Austin and Dallas restaurants have second or primary locations in Houston (did you know Uchi was a chain?). After living in every major city in Texas, the only thing I can say that Austin does better is food truck culture.
we have pinthouse …? 😀
Everything
Not being built on a swamp, have tons of mosquitoes. And not have as high of a humidity level.
Really good Persian food. You’re also way more likely to come across a classic Jewish deli. Oh and excellent Vietnamese. Honestly it’s just a better food city because it’s so much more diverse than Austin.
Austin only does one thing better, having a river in the middle of the city instead of a bayou. Houston’s food and culture is gonna top Austin everytime.
As far as quality of food goes, Austin doesn’t beat Houston in any respect. There isn’t a single category of food Austin does better (even Breakfast tacos).
What Austin wins at is nightlife, atmosphere and entertainment. Those things combined with food is where Austin wins. Houston is just much more diverse, international and refined when it comes to food.
And before someone bitches at me, I’m an Austin native, and lived in Houston for 3 years. I’ve eaten at just about every remarkable restaurant in both cities.
Not being Houston
I have lived in both cities for years.
Houston outclasses Austin in most food categories but that’s nothing to be ashamed about. Houston is a melting pot of millions more people and their cuisine is top notch.
That being said, while they have good BBQ, they don’t have Austin BBQ. We get to claim Uchi since the OG is here. Fonda San Miguel ranks up there with some of the best traditional Mexican food I have had anywhere in the US but Houston has great food as well and really kicks ass with Tex Mex.
Also Austin has made HUGE strides over the past 20 years with cuisine. 20 years ago, Moonshine was considered revolutionary here, now we have lots of great options.
True fine dining Austin can’t compete.
food wise? absolutely nothing. But they have better ambience and vibe.
Man when did we make food a competition. I’m just glad to be able to choose at the options of both cities
That said I hate Houston as a living experience but I can go down there for A+ food from any culture any time I like more or less
Houston beats Austin in everything food except for coffee/espresso
I grew up in Houston but have lived in Austin for 6+ years now…
BBQ, some great places in Houston, like corkscrew, but the general level is much higher in austin.
Houston Chinatown proper (bellaire + beltway) is some of the best Asian food in the country IMO. I still have not had a bowl of pho in austin that compares to what any hole in the wall can do in Chinatown Houston.
If you’re thinking ethnic foods, pretty much everything in Houston is better!
Unrelated to food but Austin has half the number of violent crimes per capita so I guess we are better at not being violent criminals?
Can you tell me what’s the dish in pic 11? Restaurant and dish name. Thanks!
For bars, austin has better night life, cocktails, and spaces with live music, outdoor stage etc.
It’s more laid back in Austin. I enjoy going out more in Austin than in Houston. But if we are talking food, Houston, no competition, is better than Austin.
Austin has Proud Mary. Nowhere else in Texas has coffee anywhere near that level.