Jane Ko
Austin, Texas
Fonda San Miguel
Fonda San Miguel is one of the best non-hidden hidden gems in Austin. From the moment you walk through the old wooden doors, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into Mexico. The conchinita pibil and ancho relleno San Miguel are absolutely delicious.
Hank’s
I’m a regular at this coffee shop and restaurant in Central Austin. Love hanging out on the patio during the summer with a glass of frosé – and Hank’s is dog-friendly, too! (The cheeseburgers are half off on Mondays, by the way.)
Lady Bird Lake
My favorite activity in Austin is paddle boarding on Lady Bird Lake – the view of downtown from the water is always breathtaking. Pack plenty of water and sunscreen.
Hillside Farmacy
Originally The Hillside Drugstore in the 1950s, Hillside Farmacy in East Austin is one of my go-tos if I’m wanting a casual meal or to catch up with a friend. The Texas cheese plate is a great way to start a meal, and the mac and cheese with taleggio and aged white cheddar is probably my favorite mac and cheese in Austin.
Austin – the city that everyone wants to move to and is moving to – used to be just a small college town. Today, it’s so much more than that; home to SXSW and ACL Festival, I've been a local since 2007. Since starting my food blog in 2010, I've dined at hundreds and hundreds of restaurants. Thanks to restaurants like Uchi and Franklin Barbecue, Austin has been put on the map for one of the best food cities. We're a friendly bunch – if you're visiting, welcome to Austin and howdy!
Jane Ko is the blogger behind A Taste of Koko, Austin's top food and travel blog featuring the hottest restaurants and weekend getaways since 2010. A Taste of Koko has been voted “best local Austin blogger” by the Austin Chronicle in 2018 and 2019, and it’s been featured in O Magazine, InStyle Magazine, OWN TV Network, and The New York Times.
Ko also self-published her first book, Koko's Guide to Austin, a pocket-sized guidebook that's sold in 40 locations throughout the city.