Austin changes fast. South First Street used to be a sleepy stretch of bungalows and mechanics, but now it’s a gauntlet of high-end boutiques and lines out the door. At the heart of this evolution sits a bright pink-and-turquoise building that somehow managed to make French-Vietnamese fusion feel like a local birthright. Honestly, the Elizabeth Street Cafe Austin menu is a bit of a polarizing beast depending on who you ask. If you’re a purist looking for a $9 bowl of pho in a strip mall, this isn't your spot. But if you want house-made croissants, a killer patio, and a spicy flank steak banh mi that actually hits, you’ve probably already bookmarked their website.
It opened back in 2011, a collaboration between McGuire Moorman Lambert Hospitality (the folks behind Perla’s and Jeffrey’s). They basically bet that Austin was ready for a boutique boulangerie-meets-noodle-shop. They were right.
What’s Actually Worth the Hype on the Elizabeth Street Cafe Austin Menu?
Look, let’s talk about the bread first because that’s the foundation of everything here. Most "fusion" spots phone it in with the baguette. They shouldn't. Elizabeth Street operates a serious pastry program. Their banh mi is served on baguettes baked in-house daily—crispy on the outside, airy enough inside to soak up the mayo and cucumber juice without turning into a soggy mess.
If you’re staring at the menu for the first time, the Banh Mi section is the safest, yet most rewarding, place to land. The Grilled Pork Belly version (No. 4) is the heavy hitter. It’s fatty, charred, and balanced with those bright pickled daikon and carrots. You’ve also got the Fried Egg and Ginger Sausage (No. 1) which is basically the ultimate Austin hangover cure. It’s messy. You’ll need napkins. Many napkins.
Then there’s the Pho. This is where the internet food critics start fighting. The broth at Elizabeth Street is cleaner and lighter than the "dirty" beefy funk you’ll find at the old-school spots up on North Lamar. Is it "authentic"? It’s authentic to their style. The Akiyama Wagyu brisket pho is legitimately luxurious. The meat is marbled and tender, not the chewy flank you might be used to. They use high-quality bones and a lot of ginger. It feels healthy, almost restorative, rather than heavy.
The Pastry Case is a Trap (In a Good Way)
You walk in and the first thing you see is that glass case. It’s unfair. They do these Macarons that rotate flavors—think lavender, salty caramel, or matcha. But the real sleepers are the Cream Puffs and the Croissants.
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- Pain au Chocolat: Flaky enough to shatter on your shirt.
- Nutella & Banana Crepes: Heavy on the Nutella, just how it should be.
- Stumptown Coffee: They take the caffeine program as seriously as the food.
Brunch is a Different Beast
Sunday morning on South First is a scene. You’ll see people in yoga gear, families with toddlers, and tourists who saw the restaurant on Instagram. The Elizabeth Street Cafe Austin menu expands during breakfast and brunch to include things like Breakfast Pho (which has a soft-poached egg) and Sticky Rice with ginger sausage and poached eggs.
The Texas Akaushi Beef Carpaccio is a sleeper hit if you’re doing a boozy lunch. It’s thin, bright, and topped with crispy shallots and herbs. It’s the kind of dish that makes you feel sophisticated while you’re sitting outside in 90-degree heat. Speaking of the heat, their drink menu is built for it. The Vietnamese Iced Coffee is punchy and sweet, made with sweetened condensed milk. If you’re going the cocktail route, the Green Tea Gimlet or any of their punch bowls are designed to be shared while you wait for your table. And you will wait.
Why Some People Roll Their Eyes
We have to be honest here: this is "Boutique Vietnamese." You are paying for the atmosphere, the South First real estate, and the fact that the herbs were likely plucked from a very expensive garden. A bowl of pho here is going to cost you significantly more than at Pho Please or Tan My.
Some folks find the portion-to-price ratio a little skewed. It’s a valid critique. If you go in expecting a massive, cheap pile of noodles, you’ll be disappointed. But if you view it as a French cafe that happens to serve incredible vermicelli bowls, the price point starts to make more sense. The service is usually snappy, though it can get a little "too cool for school" when the house is packed.
Navigating the Noodles and Bowls
If you aren't in the mood for hot soup—because Austin is a furnace for eight months of the year—the Bun (Vermicelli) Bowls are the move. They come with cold rice noodles, a massive pile of fresh herbs, cucumbers, peanuts, and a side of nuoc cham.
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- Grilled Octopus: This is probably the most adventurous thing on the noodle menu. It’s smoky and tender, not rubbery.
- Lemongrass Chicken: A classic for a reason. It’s familiar, bright, and filling without making you want to nap for three hours.
- Shredded Cabbage Salad: If you want something light, this with the ginger-chili vinaigrette is surprisingly punchy.
The complexity of the sauces is where the kitchen really shines. The nuoc cham isn't just salty fish sauce; it has a balanced sweetness and a creeping heat that builds as you get to the bottom of the bowl.
The Specifics You Need to Know
Planning a visit isn't just about knowing what to eat; it’s about timing. Elizabeth Street doesn’t take traditional reservations for small groups during peak brunch hours, though they’ve flirted with various waitlist apps over the years.
- Parking: It sucks. There, I said it. There’s a tiny lot that fills up in thirty seconds. You’ll likely end up parking in the residential neighborhood behind the restaurant. Just watch for the "No Parking" signs or you will get towed.
- The Patio: It’s one of the best in Austin, but it’s small. If it’s a nice day, expect a wait of 45 minutes to an hour.
- Takeout: They have a really solid "to-go" window. If the wait is too long, grab a banh mi and a coffee and head over to a nearby park.
- Vegetarian Options: They actually do a great job here. The Tofu and Mushroom Banh Mi is savory and doesn't feel like an afterthought. They also offer a vegan broth for the pho, which is surprisingly hard to find in some of the more traditional shops.
A Note on the Vibe
The interior is tight. It’s loud. It’s colorful. It feels like a Wes Anderson movie set in Saigon. If you’re looking for a quiet, romantic corner to whisper secrets, this isn't it. This is a place for vibrant energy, clinking glasses, and the smell of star anise and fresh-baked bread.
For those who have lived in Austin since the "Keep Austin Weird" era, Elizabeth Street represents the "New Austin." It’s polished. It’s expensive. But unlike some of the newer, soul-less developments, Elizabeth Street has a specific point of view. It’s not trying to be everything to everyone. It’s a French-Vietnamese cafe that knows its audience loves a good aesthetic as much as a good spring roll.
How to Order Like a Regular
Don't just get the pho. Everyone gets the pho. If you want to actually see what the kitchen can do, start with the Crispy Spring Rolls (pork and shrimp). They are tight, crunchy, and served with a mountain of fresh mint and cilantro. Wrap the roll in a lettuce leaf with the herbs, dip it, and eat it in two bites.
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Follow that with the Ginger Chili Oil Dumplings. They have a subtle heat that lingers on the back of your throat but doesn't blow your palate out. For the main, try the Grilled Flatiron Steak vermicelli bowl. The steak is usually cooked to a perfect medium-rare, and the marinade has a deep, umami-rich soy base that anchors the light noodles.
Finish with a Canelé. They are dark, almost burnt-looking on the outside with a custardy center. It’s a classic French pastry that most places mess up because it’s temperamental to bake. Here, it’s a staple.
Final Practical Takeaways
The Elizabeth Street Cafe Austin menu is a masterclass in balancing heavy, savory Vietnamese flavors with delicate French technique. While it might be pricier than your neighborhood noodle shop, the quality of the ingredients—from the wagyu beef to the house-milled flour—usually justifies the cost for a special meal.
- Avoid the rush: Aim for a Tuesday or Wednesday at 10:30 AM or 2:00 PM to skip the lines.
- Check the daily specials: They often have off-menu macarons or seasonal bahn mi.
- Bring your dog: The patio is dog-friendly, which is basically a requirement for any South First establishment.
- Don't skip the house-made condiments: Their chili oil is legit. Use it sparingly at first.
If you’re visiting Austin or just moved here, this spot is a rite of passage. It’s the kind of place you take your parents when they visit to show them how "cool" the city is, or where you meet friends for a long Friday lunch that accidentally turns into three cocktails. It’s breezy, it’s bright, and despite the changes in the city around it, the food remains remarkably consistent. Just remember to bring your sunglasses and a little bit of patience for the parking situation.
Next time you're there, try the Escargot served with a baguette. It’s one of the few places in town that treats snails with this much respect, swimming in a pool of garlic butter and herbs that you'll want to soak up with every last crumb of bread. It’s the perfect bridge between the two worlds the restaurant inhabits.