Explore the Best Women-Led Restaurants in Austin for 2019

Discover more

Popular dish

Arlo Grey by Kristen Kish

4.5 (1776)

$31 to $50

American

Downtown

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

K

Ken

Dined on Apr 26, 2025

Simply amazing! Recently dined at Arlo Grey after it being on my list for a while. I will definitely return and try anything on the menu because I trust Chef Kish with any ingredient!

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

K

Ken

Dined on Apr 26, 2025

Simply amazing! Recently dined at Arlo Grey after it being on my list for a while. I will definitely return and try anything on the menu because I trust Chef Kish with any ingredient!

Discover more

4.7 (4660)

$30 and under

American

Northwest

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

J

Joe

Dined 2 days ago

Always a very positive experience with a diverse menu. We come here all of the time for special occasions and I highly recommend.

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

J

Joe

Dined 2 days ago

Always a very positive experience with a diverse menu. We come here all of the time for special occasions and I highly recommend.

El Alma Cafe y Cantina

4.7 (1017)

$30 and under

Mexican

Downtown

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

H

Holly

Dined on May 3, 2025

Always great food and service! Love tres leche cake for my bday, thanks!!☺️

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

H

Holly

Dined on May 3, 2025

Always great food and service! Love tres leche cake for my bday, thanks!!☺️

Discover more

Experience

Hillside Happy Hour!

Experience

Old Fashioned Adult Happy Meal! Wednesday nights!

Experience

Texas Sunday Steak Dinner ~ $25

Hillside Farmacy

4.4 (413)

$30 and under

American

East Austin

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

J

Jodi

Dined on Apr 25, 2025

Funky vibe with great service and food! Highly recommend.

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

J

Jodi

Dined on Apr 25, 2025

Funky vibe with great service and food! Highly recommend.

Discover more

Experience

Hillside Happy Hour!

Experience

Old Fashioned Adult Happy Meal! Wednesday nights!

Experience

Texas Sunday Steak Dinner ~ $25

Uchiko Austin

4.8 (6078)

$50 and over

Sushi

Central Austin

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

R

Robert

Dined 4 days ago

One of our favorites with the best dessert in town (Milk and cereal!)

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

R

Robert

Dined 4 days ago

One of our favorites with the best dessert in town (Milk and cereal!)