Explore the Best Women-Led Restaurants in Austin for 2019

by The OpenTable Team

Updated 03 February 2023

March 8th is International Women’s Day. In celebration, we created a list featuring some of the most exceptional women in Austin’s culinary scene. As the capital of queso and keeping things weird, this BBQing, freewheeling, food-trucking city is all about innovation and experimentation. Next time you’re in town, we invite you to celebrate women (and eat something delicious) at one of these top spots.

Arlo Grey by Kristen Kish

4.5

4.5 (1713)

$31 to $50

American

Downtown

About the restaurant

Self-taught chef Kristen Kish rose to fame after winning season 10 of Top Chef in 2012. However, she didn’t stop there. She traveled extensively for five years, before moving to Austin and diving into the world of the hotel restaurant. Kristen says cooking for others gives her confidence, and that confidence is certainly apparent in every aspect of Arlo Grey. Local Texan ingredients are elegantly and expertly fused into a French and Italian menu, including simple yet indulgent weekend brunch options. Add in the view over Lady Bird Lake for a restaurant that’s almost perfect in every way.

Top review

Amber

Dined 2 days ago

Absolutely incredible food! We had the pre fixed menu and loved every bit!

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4.6

4.6 (4554)

$30 and under

American

Northwest

About the restaurant

Chez Zee has been an Austin favorite since 1989. Owner Sharon Watkins used to run an ad agency but decided to buy a little dive known as Chez Fred and make a go of it in the restaurant biz. She wanted to combine the sense of an old-world bakery with the simple and satisfying charm of an American bistro. Today, Chez Zee continues to delight diners with a range of dishes from fried pickles to flat iron steak. Board games and author-featured nights ensure guests are always entertained. Come and be enchanted by this fun and welcoming restaurant.

Top review

Jan

Dined 5 days ago

Chez Zee is lovely and special especially in December, with the lights and Christmas decorations. Wesley was our waiter, and he did a very good job taking care of us. We were glad to have a table that didn’t have a lot of noise around us, near the red piano.

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Popular dish

Breakfast in Bed French Toast

El Alma Cafe y Cantina

4.7

4.7 (981)

$30 and under

Mexican

Downtown

About the restaurant

Chef Alma Alcocer hails from Mexico City and honed her culinary skills at Jeffrey’s, an Austin fine-dining institution. She is now the executive chef for the entire El Chile restaurant group, and along with friend and restaurateur, Carlos Rivero, she has opened her own venture: El Alma. The vision was to meld Alma’s Mexican roots with her fine dining training. This has resulted in a unique menu that includes delights such as Huevos Franceses. The rooftop patio is a favorite spot for stunning views of Austin’s skyline.

Top review

Oscar

Dined 1 day ago

The food was delicious and the setting is great. The staff was also exceptional and helpful. Thanks!

Hillside Farmacy

4.5

4.5 (370)

$30 and under

American

East Austin

About the restaurant

Hillside Farmacy is another restaurant owned by award-winning Sonya Coté, named by Marie Claire as one of their "women on top." Glass display cabinets, bottles, and jars are all clever nods to the building’s heritage as a local drugstore. Sonya’s vision of a neighborhood grocery, deli, and bar, and Hillside has certainly achieved all of this. Her passion for local produce goes as far as ingredients picked at neighboring urban farms the very morning they're cooked and eaten. Hillside Farmacy is about as fresh as it comes.

Top review

Daniel

Dined on 21 Nov 2024

Farm to table restaurant with quality food and taste! We will definitely be back!

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Experience

Texas Sunday Steak Dinner ~ $25

Experience

Hillside Happy Hour

Experience

OLD FASHIONED ADULT HAPPY MEAL

Uchiko Austin

4.8

4.8 (6045)

$50 and over

Sushi

Central Austin

About the restaurant

Billed as the "child of Uchi," one of Austin’s finest and most popular restaurants, Uchiko is Japanese cuisine with a farm-to-table philosophy. Uchiko is famous for its divine private dining and immaculate events, and the woman behind the scenes is Camille Ross. Her position as events manager at Uchiko has transformed it into so much more than just a restaurant. Uchiko’s women continue with Angela Majko, expert sushi chef and veteran of Food Network’s Chopped. Majko is popular with regulars, often getting a personal mention in reviews. Sushi delights at Uchiko include boquerones with white anchovy and hotate with scallop and avocado.

Top review

Paulvip

Dined 5 days ago

My problem with Uchiko is that the food is so good that I cannot control myself. Broiled oysters and kinoko and hotate make me weak in the knees.

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