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    Magnolia Cafe South

    3.8 (2k reviews)
    Open Open 24 hours
    Updated 3 months ago

    Magnolia Cafe South Photos

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    MAGNOLIA CAFE SOUTH ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

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    The Magna Cristo sandwich with loaded home fries.
    Heather B.

    Yum! Stopped here for a late night/early morning meal after attending the Todd Snider tribute concert at Luck Ranch! Got there a little after midnight and there was still a pretty good crowd. We had great service from the young guy who sat us and got us our drinks, from our great server, and even a super nice and helpful lady working in the kitchen/bar area who noticed I wanted something and quickly walked out to find out what I needed. She took care of it immediately! My dish was great. I got the Chicken and the Egg dish. The jalapeño cornmeal pancake was really unique. A huge amount of shredded ancho chicken (chicken breast) and two sunny side eggs on top with avocados, lettuce, and pico. Black refried beans and salsa. Our server said we should try the queso with it and gave us a bowl of it to try. It was delicious. I didn't even get through half of it before being really full. Took a lot to go. My partner got the Magna Cristo sandwich with a side of home fries topped with cheese and bacon. He loved it! He had some to go as well. I got a piece of peanut butter pie to go. I haven't tasted it yet because I was too full. The cafe is really cute with lots of art on the walls from local artists which you can purchase. I love that they support local artists! Whenever I'm in Austin, I'll go to the Magnolia Cafe! So glad I found this cool, tasty joint while visiting.

    fish tacos
    Aruni G.

    Four of us had lunch here on a weekday (Monday) and thankfully we all found parking either in their lot or nearby. We were quickly seated and our waitress was quick to check on us and was patient while we figured out our order. I was with my 83 yo aunt so we needed a bit of extra patience. We all enjoyed our food. I had the fish tacos which were good with a side of rice and beans. The special of the day was biscuits and gravy, which my son ordered. We were tempted with the apple pie and ice cream and we all thought it was really good! I was sad when the Lake Austin location closed but glad to see it is still surviving even if at a further south location which makes it harder for me to get to. I hope they continue to thrive as it is an Austin original!

    Red pozole
    Jacklyn K.

    Solid brunch spot. An inspired souther/Tex mex menu with something for everyone! Inside is no frills, diner ish vibes. I had an omelette with lemon sour cream special sauce (so dank) but it was interesting that the vegetables were steamed and kind of rolled into the omelette rather than mixed in as I'm used to. Great hot sauce options! We also tried the red pozole soup of the day which was delish. Wait list on a weekend but moved quick. No complaints here.

    Ham & Cheese omelette with fruit and home fries
    Megan Y.

    I'd heard about this brunch place before so when a friend suggested it, I was excited. I did have diner food (IHOP) earlier in the morning so wasn't sure if I was down for it again. But it turned out to be a silver lining. We got in the waitlist at the counter at 1:09pm and stayed waiting there until our table was ready at 1:37pm. Our food arrived at the table around 2:08pm and we left around 2:45pm after feeling full. It's definitely an Austin signature and a must-do experience for anyone, local or tourists alike! Great place to bump into people who also went to your college too :)

    Entrance of the restaurant
    Sharon B.

    We stopped in and got breakfast before volleyball game. THE Food was absolutely delicious - 1000% recommend this restaurant!! The waiter was friendly & joyful! Food came out super fast, which was great for us because we were in a hurry.

    Migas (6.5/10)
    Jonathan K.

    Came on a rainy Saturday afternoon, and there was still quite the wait! They have a QR code you scan and get in queue. They offer a tent outside with 2 benches to sit at. We put "any seating is ok," and ended up at the bar after a 15-20 min wait. Bar seating was fun to watch the chefs and servers work in harmony and get all the food out to the customers, but over time, the lack of back support from the chair made the seating a little uncomfortable. Service is quick, and they definitely try to get your order quickly. This is definitely an old school "original" Austin diner establishment, and I was glad to find me make it here! The inside decor definitely fits the "keep Austin weird" vibe. Migas (6.5/10) - great portion sizes! Came with a side of flour or corn tortilla, beans, two onions, homemade pico de gallo. - the Migas itself was not what I'm used to. I originally thought that Migas was crispy fried tortillas with egg and cheese topping. However, this dish was just egg and cheese, no crispy chips underneath - not sure if this is a Tex-Mex style Migas, or just how they do the this year, but I was hoping for a little more than eggs/cheese with a side of tortilla - ultimately, the beans and salsa definitely saved this dish as both were quite delicious and paired very well with the eggs Overall, a unique Austin establishment with relatively cheap food with generous portion sizes. Expect a Tex-Mex twist on all of their breakfast dishes, and I was a little disappointed with their Migas as it had no crispy chips on the bottom (felt like eggs and cheese). Might come back in the future and try another dish.

    Ang F.

    Pro tip: tough critics out here! If you go in with the mindset of visiting a diner, you'll have an enjoyable experience for sure. Diners are open late, they have an extensive menu, they top you off whenever they get to it from a pot of whatever coffee is available, and the servers can be hit or miss. Its great! Especially when you're looking for a full meal at midnight. The server was okay. She forgot about us quite a bit and then perhaps blamed the host when she saw our coffee mugs weren't filled. But, that's not why we came. The Prima Dora was solid (Sliced avocado with cheddar/jack cheese, topped with lemon sourcream sauce, verde and chipotle sauces. Choice of two sides: Home Fries, Black Beans, Fruit, Sourdough toast, Rye toast, English Muffin). The Egg scape not so much...it literally was two eggs over potatoes. Shared a pancake. I said yay, my partner said nay. Whaddaya gonna do?

    Sign
    Evelyn S.

    Checked out Magnolia Cafe for the first time on a Saturday! You can join the waitlist via a QR code, which is posted outside the restaurant. Overall the wait was around 20 min for us. There's some parking spots in front, but somewhat limited. We got seated at the bar, which was fun because you can see all the food and orders being made. It can get kinda loud (as expected) so if you're looking to have more privacy, would recommend waiting a bit longer for booth seats. Our server was friendly and attentive, and we got the food in a reasonable time. Chicken and the Egg ($16.50, 3.5/5) - Features cornmeal jalapeño pancake with pulled chicken, cheese, and two eggs (over medium) - The cornmeal pancake itself is an interesting concept, but it came out kinda thin - would have liked it to be more dense & have more volume. - The chicken is on the drier side, so the sauces/sides come in handy. The addition of black beans, avocado, pico de gallo, sour cream, and lettuce adds a nice Tex-Mex spin. Also liked the red sauce that the dish came with! Overall, Magnolia is a charming, historical spot with the classic diner ambiance. If you're visiting, you can count on food made with traditional and fresh ingredients - just don't expect anything too complex. Would probably come back if someone I knew wanted to try it out for the first time!

    Eggs Zapatino
    Sujey L.

    Visited in the morning during the week, there was plenty of seating inside and outside. Big variety of menu items available. My family and I enjoyed everything we got! The Queso was delicious! The food and the service were great! I would go back. Parking is a bit limited but we found a spot right away.

    Shredded beef queso
    Nick M.

    Magnolia Cafe - Where Flamingos Would Totally Dine if They Could If you've never been to Magnolia Cafe, let me paint you a picture: imagine flamingos running the place--because the staff here are just that cool. Melissa and the crew glide around like a flock of pink legends, taking care of everything with grace, humor, and the kind of hospitality that makes you want to stay for three more meals. Let's talk food. The shredded beef queso? It's not just queso. It's a fully loaded, beefy, avocado-kissed, pico-dancing masterpiece. If queso could win "Most Likely to Steal the Show" in a yearbook, this one would be voted unanimously. Then there's the Magna Cristo sandwich. Top notch doesn't even begin to cover it--it's like a glorious, melty, golden-fried hug that makes you question every other sandwich you've ever had. It's indulgent. It's beautiful. It's what your taste buds write love songs about at night. Between the food and the flamingo-vibe staff, Magnolia Cafe just radiates Austin charm. Open late, full of character, and serving food that makes you do a happy dance in your booth--this is one of those rare spots where everything just clicks. Melissa and the entire wait staff? Absolute rockstars. If I could give them a standing ovation after every plate, I would. Final Verdict: Come hungry, stay silly, and prepare to leave planning your next visit. Magnolia Cafe doesn't just serve food--it serves pure joy.

    French toast breakfast
    Sabrina G.

    I've been in austin 8 years and this was my first time at magnolia! I was craving waffles so we thought we stop by. We soon found out that magnolia is pancakes only. No biggie, I settled for French toast and it was good! Service was ok, I'd say a little slow for it being pretty empty but overall decent. The ambiance was ok as well. If I went back I think I may take the food to go but I'd def give it another shot!

    Queso and salsa
    Farrah A.

    Magnolia Cafe is an oldie but goodie in Austin. They've got everything from pancakes and waffles to club sandwiches and burgers to tacos and enchies. They're best known for their enchies, "Mad Mug" queso, and pancakes. Just about every table has a stack of pancakes-well done! I got a turkey avo omelette with gluten-free bread, and my girlfriend got the black bean entree, which was essentially a multi-layer bean dip. No shade, looked good. We had great service-our server even made a simple syrup for my friend to add to her iced tea. While no longer my favorite breakfast spot in Austin (my taste has evolved since college), it's consistent in food quality and service.

    Parking lot showing outside of Magnolia Cafe South in Austin, Texas (pic taken on 06/15/2025)
    Rebecca R.

    Magnolia Cafe South has been around since foreverrrr - okay, since 1979 ;) & really is a local Austin Gem for so many reasons including -- -- - - open 7 days a week, 7am-midnight -- - - fresh, hot, tasty dishes! You can't go wrong w/ anything you order but a few of my favorite dishes are the pancakes, home fries, Turkey Reuben --- - - my NEW favorite is the frozen Mimosa w/ lemonade! Parking situation: Magnolia has their own parking lot & there is also parking across the street.

    Shredded Beef Omelette with Home Fries

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    2 months ago

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    1 hour ago

    Magnolia Cafe was a disappointment. Food was cold and some didn't look or taste fresh. Service was slow. Over-rated.

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    7 days ago

    My friends and I came here for lunch and we all really like the food. Service was great as well!

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    5 months ago

    Food was okay (I got a biscuit with a side of jello and my friend got nachos), but our server wasn't very attentive.

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    Page 1 of 51

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    Moonshine Grill - White chocolate bread pudding

    Moonshine Grill

    4.4(6.4k reviews)
    1.6 miDowntown
    $$

    Came here with a large 25 person group all from out of town and it exceeded expectations. Our…read morewaitress McKenna was super sweet and gave great recommendations. Since we ordered basically one of everything - here are our recommendations. Appetizers GET THIS: 1. Corn dog shrimp (think shrimp tempura) - light, flavorful, crunchy YUM 2. Cathead biscuits NOT THAT: 1. Street corn queso dip not a favorite for our table. The cheese tasted thick and plastic like... Velveeta vibes... not much flavor Meals GET THIS: 1. Hangar Steak 2. Creole shrimp & grits 3. Chicken fried steak Not that: 1. Horseradish crusted salmon - I didn't try it but the two people who ordered at our table were disappointed and wished they would've gotten one of the above Desserts GET THIS: 1. Bread pudding was delicious! Not overly sweet & the added white chocolate gives it that dazzle dazzle 2. Chocolate Espresso Brownie - perfection NOT THAT: 1. Banana cream pudding. This was a no for the table because it was over the top sweet (I think because of the added butterscotch) 2. Peanut Butter Mousse Pie super super thick & sweet. Didn't taste much other than PB - it was like eating a giant spoonful of it and trying to swallow.

    We had a group here for dinner and were excited to try it, due to reviews. The ambience is lively,…read moreloud, and buzzy. Looked super fun. Service was good, no issues there. Friendly staff overall. The food fell flat for almost all of us. The salads were fresh and good. However, the ribs were below average. Cornbread was stale and not tasty. Biscuits tasted more like firm bread and not at all flaky/soft. That seemed weird to all of us. Chicken fried steak was soggy and not crispy. Drinks were ok. Not quite sure why the food was subpar, but there were 10 of us who all agreed we wouldn't return for food. There is a swanky little cozy speakeasy in the basement that may be good? We didn't try that.

    Photos
    Moonshine Grill
    Moonshine Grill - Garlic appetizer

    Garlic appetizer

    Moonshine Grill - Bourbon pour

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    Bourbon pour

    Anthem - Anthem Smahs Burger and Furikake Fries

    Anthem

    4.4(824 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    This restaurant will be a fixture in Austin for decades to come! No other 5* restaurant is so…read moreScrumptiosly unique! If my scheduled allowed, I'd make reservations for lunch and dinner weekly!

    Fabulous! My friend…read moreTiffany told me about Anthem on Rainy Street. Neither of us had been, and also it's been years since we've been on Rainy Street. So we thought we would make a whole night of it. Tiffany did make reservations for us for 7pm and even though this is a bar hopping neighborhood, even at 7pm it was pretty busy. Streets were full of people. Anthem had a vibe. I felt the energy as soon as I waked in. The cozy booths with the U shaped seating with plush green velvet fabric. Wait staff wore Hawaiian shirts. Sitting up behind me on a ledge was the Easter Island statue. Insert (Night At The Museum) here, dumb dumb give me gum gum. Anthem was our first stop tonight. Just drinks and a dinner. I ordered the Peach Fuzzy drink. Not too sweet, refreshing, peachy, and beautiful garnish of a flower. I ordered the Yummy Fries which looked like a salad. Gorgeous presentation. Fries were actually waffle sweet potatoes. Pickled ginger, sesame seeds, furikake, aïoli and a few other wonderful ingredients. Could not get over how beautiful everything looked. Presentation outstanding. Service delightful. Had a wonderful time at Anthem. We both did use the ladies rooms before leaving. Inside the bathroom there is a sign about safety and if you need assistants. I did take a picture of it. On our way out, Brian the manager, said good night to us and waved. We later saw Brian at another place. And I'll write about that in my review for that place as well. Brian, you're Doll, thank you for your hospitality.

    Photos
    Anthem
    Anthem - Upside Down Pineapple Bread Pudding

    Upside Down Pineapple Bread Pudding

    Anthem - Itchy Salmon. Good but a little overpriced.

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    Itchy Salmon. Good but a little overpriced.

    Nido - Fries with amazing aioli

    Nido

    4.2(416 reviews)
    1.4 mi

    I made a reservation for 4 last Thursday evening for myself and 3 of my college friends who were in…read moretown for our annual reunion. I had hoped we would get an outdoor table to appreciate the view but all tables were booked when I made the reservation and were still booked when we got there a bit early. It was also overcast that day. Even though we were a bit early, they were able to seat us quickly. We ended up just having drinks and one side item (yummy squash dish). We made the decision to leave before a full meal because the menu wasn't as vegetarian and gluten free friendly as we'd thought it might be. Danny was our waiter and he was very understanding! He gave us several great drink recommendations. We all very much enjoyed our cocktails and mocktail with a side appetizer of squash. We appreciated the discount on valet parking if you eat at Nido and get your ticket validated. I'm sure I'll be back here on a sunny day and book far enough in advance to sit outside.

    Nido has a beautiful atmosphere, and the rooftop views overlooking downtown Austin are definitely…read morethe highlight. It's a great spot for drinks. The cocktails were delicious, although definitely on the pricey side. Unfortunately, the food didn't live up to the setting. The portions were extremely small, and the prices felt very steep for both the quality and the amount served. While the presentation was nice, the taste simply didn't justify the cost. On top of that, having to pay $15 for valet added even more to an already expensive evening. Overall, Nido is worth visiting once for the views and a cocktail, but I personally wouldn't return for dinner. There are plenty of other spots in Austin that offer much better value for the price.

    Photos
    Nido - The swanky bar

    The swanky bar

    Nido - Banana split and latte

    Banana split and latte

    Nido - Immaculate bathrooms! Unisex wash area but the toilets themselves are booth style and have their own sinks

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    Immaculate bathrooms! Unisex wash area but the toilets themselves are booth style and have their own sinks

    Eberly - Grilled Brussels app (not on the menu ;)

    Eberly

    4.0(853 reviews)
    1.1 miBouldin Creek, 78704 (South Austin)
    $$$

    I can't stop thinking about Eberly…read more Value: 5/5 Food: 5/5 Atmosphere: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Location: 5/5 Texturally exquisite. Addicting depth and balance dishes we had: 1. The beef tartare was the first to be cleaned. Our favorite starter. 2. Apple cashew salad was a refreshing take on a pad thai. 3. Tempura mushrooms were incredibly memorable in umami, sweetness, acidity, and perfect fry. Highly recommend for a comforting shareable. 4. Lobster spaghettini was a justified lobster pasta take - something you can't always say when you take chances on lobster pasta. They use the carcass of the lobster on the generous, silky beurre blanc which was worth a soup spoon. 5. Half chicken and parisian gnocci was a great alternative for a typical body builder meal. Perfectly tender and the fried gnocchi was delicious. Bonus: - Shoutout to Chris, our server, who made us feel welcomed like friend. We learned so much about the location's genesis and architecture which made it that much more interesting. - A true NY-inspired must-experience gem. Please see the structure of the patio and the ship-sourced sun room private space they have. Nice to know: - Complimentary valet - The Cedar Tavern is adjacent and next on our list for happy hour! However, I'd be surprised if we don't come back to dine at Eberly first. - Don't sleep on the caviar and dessert!

    I love that i don't have to find parking as there is valet. The staff were super friendly. Since I…read moredined alone they gave me just the right amount of attention. The restaurant is beautiful in this old cigar club kind of way I ordered the crudo which came out so quickly. It was delicious with such a good amount of acid. I had the halibut. I did not like that it came out while I was eating the crudo and would have preferred a gap. This fish was delicious. Absolutely loved the pickled chillis with it. I had the pistachio creme brulee this was delicious. I was being greedy and being from Australia I had to have the sticky toffee pudding. This sadly was disappointing. It was too salty and hard to enjoy. Wish I ended on the brulee. I would definitely come back as the service and savory items were great

    Photos
    Eberly - ONE of the main dining areas!

    ONE of the main dining areas!

    Eberly - Guinness cake $12 (ridiculously good) 3/30/26

    Guinness cake $12 (ridiculously good) 3/30/26

    Eberly - Old Fashioned

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    Old Fashioned

    Magnolia Cafe South - breakfast_brunch - Updated May 2026

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