Austin's restaurant scene adds and loses concepts fast enough that even longtime residents lose track. Dillar Schwartz with The Dillar Group keeps a running list for relocating clients who want to know what's actually new and worth trying, not just what's been hyped, but what's opened, where it is, and what to expect walking in.

Downtown and Central
The Driskill Grill returned in May 2026 as an American steakhouse inside the historic Driskill Hotel, following a multi-year renovation of the dining room that first opened in 1930. It's a special-occasion spot rather than a casual weeknight one, reservations are worth making ahead, particularly for weekend dinners.

Poeta, an Italian restaurant, opened its third location inside East Austin Hotel in January 2026, bringing a downtown-adjacent option for a cuisine that's historically been scattered across the city. Kappo Kappo opened downtown serving an eleven-course tasting menu blending French and Japanese technique — a reservation-only experience best suited to a planned special occasion rather than a spontaneous dinner.

Austin Sports Club, a dining and sports bar concept co-owned by NBA player Kevin Durant, opened in downtown Austin in 2026 near the site of the former Vince Young Steakhouse — a higher-energy, group-friendly option for anyone wanting a game-day atmosphere with an elevated menu.

The Domain and North Austin
Ēma, the sister restaurant to the well-regarded Aba, opened at Domain Northside in late January 2026, serving Mediterranean small plates in a space designed for both a casual bite and a longer group dinner. It's one of the more walkable new options for anyone living in or visiting North Austin, with the Domain's broader shopping and entertainment district right outside.

East Austin
Austin Oyster Co. opened its first brick-and-mortar location on East Cesar Chavez Street in early 2026, evolving from a popular pop-up that had previously shown up at Luck Reunion and Circuit of the Americas events. The menu centers on oysters sourced from the restaurant's own farm in Brunswick, Maine, alongside crudos, caviar, and lobster rolls — a walk-in-only spot, so arriving with some flexibility on timing helps, particularly on weekend evenings.

Oria, from the team behind Space Cowboy, opened in the former Austin Eastciders space with a Mediterranean-inspired menu built around charcoal- and wood-fired cooking. The space includes a large patio with an outdoor pita oven, making it a strong warm-weather option for groups wanting to eat mostly outside.

Central Austin
Roya, a Persian restaurant from Chef Amir Hajimaleki, opened on Shoal Creek Boulevard after building a following through a series of pop-ups dating back to 2018. It's a more intimate, neighborhood-scale addition to Central Austin's dining options rather than a large-format restaurant, and it's worth calling ahead on busy nights given the smaller footprint.

South Austin
The Butcher's Daughter, an all-day vegetarian café originally from New York and Los Angeles, opened on South Congress Avenue in the former Trudy's Del Mar and South Congress Café space, bringing a plant-forward, all-day menu to a stretch of South Congress that's historically leaned more toward Tex-Mex and traditional brunch spots.

Practical Notes Before You Go
Reservation expectations vary widely across this list — Kappo Kappo and the Driskill Grill are both worth booking ahead, particularly on weekends, while Austin Oyster Co. and most of the East Austin openings tend to run walk-in-only, which means arriving earlier in the evening improves the odds of a shorter wait. Parking is generally easier at the Domain and South Congress locations than at the tightly packed East Cesar Chavez and downtown spots, where street parking or rideshare tends to be the more practical option on busy nights.

For groups with kids, the more casual East Austin and South Congress spots tend to be a better fit than the reservation-only tasting menu experiences downtown — worth keeping in mind when picking a spot for a family outing versus a date night or celebration dinner.

"New openings move fast in Austin — what's buzzy in January can already feel established by August. The list worth keeping isn't the newest, it's the ones that actually stuck."

If You're New Here
Austin's dining scene turns over quickly, and locals tend to treat "new restaurant" excitement with a bit of patience — waiting a few months for the initial rush to settle before judging a place fairly is a common local habit, since early-opening kinks (long waits, incomplete menus) tend to smooth out within the first couple of months.

This list will keep shifting too — some of this year's openings will still be going strong a year from now, and a few won't. That churn is part of what keeps Austin's food scene feeling current rather than static, even if it makes it harder to keep a definitive list.

If you're moving to Austin and want to live near the things you love most, Dillar Schwartz with The Dillar Group can help you find which neighborhoods match your lifestyle. Get a foodie newcomer guide.