I’ve been thinking about all of the great Austin food secrets for a while now — things I have learned over the years from friends, articles, and personal experiences. To be honest, I was worried about some of these secrets getting out. What if too many people take advantage and they aren’t sustainable or less special?
But then I realized that in sharing our knowledge and secrets with each other, we become inspired to give back even more and the entire community benefits. Many of the businesses below have earned a …

Whip In is the quintessential “Keep Austin Weird” establishment. Located on the access road to I-35 just south of Oltorf, I always figured it was just a place to make a beer run on the way to a house party. But Whip In is so much more than that! Family-owned since 1986, it sells beer, wine, and local products. In August, they began selling eat-in, homestyle recipes from the Gujarat region of western India — with South Austin flair. Meals are served from 11 a.m. – 11 p.m., seven days …