My favorite kinds of posts are definitely the travel ones. For sure I like discovering local spots but nothing beats exploring a new city or country. This summer we headed to Austin (yes, it was scorching hot), but my brother was doing his internship there so we decided to spend a few days with him.

We stayed at the<a href="https://www.omnihotels.com/hotels/austin-barton-creek"> Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa, which turned out to be a great spot—nice pools, plenty of restaurants, and super accommodating with allergy requests.</a>

Food-wise, I had some incredible meals.

KG BBQ: Chef Kareem El-Gayesh brings Egyptian flavors to Texas BBQ in a way that’s pure genius. The pomegranate-glazed pork ribs were out of this world, and my brother’s smoked lamb chops were just as good. Heads up though, they do have a lot of tree nuts on the menu.

Leroy and Lewis BBQ: A Michelin-recommended spot, and totally worth the hype. I went for the famous brisket with burnt cauliflower ends and beef fat potato chips. After taste-testing my family’s orders, I can say confidently you really can’t go wrong with anything here.

P. Terry’s Burger Stand: Coming from California, I was skeptical. Everyone we met swore by it, but could it actually be as good as<a href="https://www.in-n-out.com/"> In-N-Out? One bite of the burger and I was sold. From the bun to the fries, it’s definitely a rival. A must-try!</a>

Home Slice Pizza: Easily one of the best pizzas I’ve had outside New York. We split a large pie with pepperoni and sausage, and it disappeared in minutes. Totally lived up to the hype.

Lick Honest Ice Creams: After all that BBQ, dessert was a must. They’ve got several locations around Austin. I went with the Dark Chocolate, Olive Oil & Sea Salt and it was amazing. My brother ordered Goat Cheese, Thyme & Honey, which sounded intimidating but was surprisingly tasty. If you’re into adventurous flavors, this is the place.

Not related to food, Barton Springs Pool and kayaking on Lady Bird Lake were the highlights of my trip.

All in all, Austin delivered big time on food and fun. It’s definitely a city worth checking out if you get the chance.

Disclaimer: My suggestions are meant to serve as a starting point for researching safe places to eat. Menus and ingredients may change, so it's crucial for every reader to do their own research. Many of these places (if not all) have treenuts, dairy, gluten and other major allergens. Always call ahead, talk to the manager, verify, and double-check to ensure a safe dining experience.