Best Restaurants in Cedar Park, Texas!

This is my guide to Cedar Park, Texas. I've lived in this area for the past 8 years, so these recommendations come from someone who knows the neighborhood well. While I still spend most of my time eating around Austin, I've also found plenty of local staples that I keep coming back to. Whether you're a longtime resident or just passing through, these are the restaurants and spots in Cedar Park that I think are worth checking out.

I will be including some Lakeline and Leander Spots that are nearby as well.

Here is the Map

Kane Sushi

Kane Sushi is my favorite sushi spot in Cedar Park. They recently opened in a new shopping center and have quickly become one of my go to restaurants in the area.

One of my favorite dishes was the Hamachi Carpaccio with uni and citrus sauce. I also highly recommend ordering the uni pasta, which is rich, buttery, and one of the more unique dishes on the menu. The Katsu here is my favorite in the greater Austin Area as well. Their Big Toro roll is a must too!

The portions here are also surprisingly large, so it's easy to share a few dishes with the table. Service is excellent here as well and very personable.

One last thing worth mentioning is the restaurant itself. In my opinion, it's one of the most beautiful dining spaces in the Austin area.

Reservation is a must here but it's easy to get one in my opinion!

Here is their instagram

Ramen 512

Ramen 512 is the closest thing you'll find to authentic Japanese ramen in the Austin area. The owner originally started as a passionate ramen hobbyist before completing a stage at Ramen Shack. After returning to Austin and hosting multiple pop ups, he eventually opened his own brick and mortar restaurant.

Since then, he's continued refining his craft by investing in an expensive noodle machine, making Ramen 512 the only ramen shop in the area producing its noodles entirely from scratch. He also imports flour directly from Hokkaido, resulting in noodles with incredible chew and texture.

One of the things I appreciate most is that the menu is constantly evolving with seasonal specials. My favorite is the tsukemen whenever it's available, but I also highly recommend the shoyu ramen, mazesoba, and a side of chashu rice topped with an onsen egg.

If you want a taste of authentic Japanese ramen without flying to Japan, Ramen 512 is absolutely worth the drive to Cedar Park. If you already live here, it's the kind of place that can easily become part of your regular rotation.

Aleidas

@aleidasrestaurant is a cozy Venezuelan eatery run by a family. Their must try items include the Arepa Pabellon, Cachapa with Cheese, and Tequenos. The Arepa Pabellon, adorned with fried plantains, cheese, beans, and pulled pork or chicken is my favorite in town. As for the Cachapa, it's the best I've ever had, especially when paired with cheese.

Here is their instagram

Whipped Bakery

Cake from Whipped Bakery

Whipped is hands down the best Asian bakery in the greater Austin area. Located in Leander, their cakes and pastries are characterized by their lightness and delicate sweetness, which earns them the Asian thumbs up. Their macarons, filled with whipped cream, are divine, and their cupcakes are good. I highly recommend trying their desserts, which are not overly sweet. They also do custom cake orders for special occasions.

Peached Tortilla

Peached Tortilla is very similar to their Austin location, so if you've been to one, you'll know what to expect. The dish I recommend most is their pork belly bowl, which is one of my favorites on the menu. I also really enjoy their kakigori for dessert.

Other popular items include the bacon jam burger and several of their Asian fusion dishes, all of which are solid choices.

Overall, Peached Tortilla isn't what I would consider a destination restaurant, but it's a consistently good option if you live in Cedar Park or find yourself in the area

Kizza Pizza

Kizza Pizza is my go to spot for Sicilian style pizza. I would describe their pizza as leaning more toward Sicilian than Detroit style because the dough is incredibly soft and fluffy, and they use a sourdough base that gives it a subtle tang.

My favorite pizzas here are the Sweet Heat and the Hot Honey Harvest, but honestly, I've enjoyed just about everything I've tried.

I also recommend ordering the beet salad and the rosemary fries to round out your meal. Overall, it's one of my favorite pizza spots in the Cedar Park area and one I keep coming back to.

Soto

Soto is one of the origins of what I consider some of the best sushi spots in Austin. Soto originally started in the Lakeline area and was somewhat of a hidden gem before growing in popularity and eventually opening their South Lamar location. However, the original location is still in Cedar Park.

I haven't been back in a few years, but from what I remember, I was a big fan of their bento lunch special. Every visit I had was consistently enjoyable, and they were one of the first restaurants in Austin to really showcase high quality sushi.

My only complaint is that the portion sizes can feel a little small for the price, but overall, I still think Soto is an important restaurant to mention. They helped pave the way for the sushi scene we have in Austin today.

Interstellar BBQ

Interstellar BBQ is my favorite barbecue spot in town. Well, let me rephrase that. It was my favorite spot in town, and right now I would probably rank it as my second favorite behind Parish Barbecue. However, the owner of Parish Barbecue actually trained at Interstellar, so I think Interstellar deserves the crown overall.

Interstellar originally started as Noble Pig, where they focused on sandwiches, before eventually closing that concept and shifting their focus entirely to barbecue. Since then, they have become one of the most popular barbecue spots in Austin, with lines that can stretch for multiple hours.

That long wait is honestly the main reason I don't visit as often anymore. If I do go, I usually pre order, but the downside is that sometimes the meats can arrive a little colder or not have the same quality as when you order directly in person.

Some of my favorite things here are their chili when it is available, their brisket taco, their beef rib, and especially their pork belly bites, which are probably my favorite item on the menu.

I do miss the days when I could walk into Interstellar, order whatever I wanted, and not worry about the wait, but I am also really happy to see how successful they have become. If you're in the Cedar Park area, this is absolutely a must try barbecue spot. Just be prepared for the line.

Sami Sumeli

Khachapuri

Sami Semeli is Austin’s first Georgian restaurant, serving khachapuri bread bowls and traditional Georgian dumplings. On my first visit, I really enjoyed the food, though I’m still new to this cuisine. We tried the karcho soup, a hearty beef stew, and their live tea, which was refreshing but a bit hot for summer. The khinkalis, Georgian soup dumplings, were packed with flavorful broth. you hold them by the tops and enjoy the filling inside. We also tried the beef kebabs, though they were slightly overcooked. Overall, it was a solid introduction to Georgian cuisine. Cedar Park Location. Click Here for Website

Stuffed Cajun

Stuffed Cajun is probably my favorite spot for Cajun food in Austin. They focus on New Orleans style Cajun food, and they do a really good job bringing those flavors to the area.

One of my favorite things here is their lunch special, where you can get a boudin ball, cup of gumbo, half a po’boy, and fries for a really great price. It is one of the best value options if you want to try a variety of their food.

I also really enjoy their Cajun style crawfish. Their seasoning is done really well, and the flavors are exactly what I look for in a good seafood boil. Another thing I appreciate is their frozen section, where you can purchase many of their menu items to take home and enjoy later.

For those reasons, I highly recommend checking out Stuffed if you’re craving Cajun food in Austin.

New Fortune

New Fortune is one of the few dim sum options you can find around the Lakeline and Cedar Park area. Austin is relatively limited when it comes to dim sum, so while I wouldn't say this is the best dim sum you'll ever have, it is a convenient option if you are craving it.

The quality can depend on the visit, but when they are having a good day, their dim sum can be pretty solid. Some of my favorite items here are their egg tarts, shumai, and har gow.

I do want to set expectations that I have had some visits that were better than others, so consistency can be a little hit or miss. However, if you are in the area and really want dim sum, New Fortune is a spot I would consider checking out.

Burger Bar

Burger Bar is one of the spots that pleasantly surprised me. They focus mainly on wings and smash burgers, and while I wouldn't say you're going to find anything groundbreaking here, I personally enjoyed the burgers we tried.

We ordered their smash burger, as well as the Willy's Western, which comes with onion rings, bacon, cheddar, pickles, and barbecue sauce. Both were solid, and I thought the flavors worked well together.

Outside of the burgers, their wings were also worth trying. We enjoyed their lemon pepper wings and their Buffalo mild wings, which had a good balance of seasoning and flavor.

Overall, Burger Bar is a solid neighborhood option if you're in Cedar Park and looking for burgers or wings.

Tacos Take it Easy

Tacos Take It Easy is doing Texas barbecue fusion with their tacos, and it is a really unique concept in the Cedar Park area.

Their nachos are one of the things I recommend trying. They are topped with asada, which in this case is more like their smoked brisket style meat, and it adds a really nice barbecue twist to a classic dish.

Their tacos are also worth checking out. I personally enjoyed the chicken and al pastor tacos, and I want to go back to try their tri tip tacos, which are only available at night.

I do want to mention that you should not expect traditional Mexican meats here. They are intentionally incorporating Texas barbecue techniques and flavors into their dishes. However, if you're looking for something different and you're in the area, this is definitely worth a visit and might even be worth the drive.

Whip My Soul

Whip My Soul is one of my go to spots for comfort food in Austin, Texas. It's located a bit further north in the northwest part of the city, but it's one of those places that is absolutely worth the drive.

The fried chicken here is on point, and I also really enjoy their fried fish. Their hush puppies are excellent, and the mac and cheese along with the other sides really round out the meal. I also like that they have Kool Aid on tap, which makes the whole experience feel fun and nostalgic.

Another highlight for me are their stuffed egg rolls, especially the mac and cheese and oxtail versions. It's a comfort food heavy menu in the best way, and it's one of my favorite spots in Austin when I'm craving something indulgent and satisfying.

Some other spots worth checking out that I haven't reviewed in awhile -

Fez, Tacos Al Patron, Sushi Fever and Kai Sushi