The Frisco

If I can eat biscuits and gravy, and the biscuits don’t taste like fricking cornbread, I’m a happy man. I also drank Dr Pepper so nobody could tell I wasn’t from ’round these parts.

Really good traditional breakfast. The chicken fried steak was phenomenal, along with the eggs and grits. I’ll definitely make sure to be stopping here when I’m in Austin. Great staff and customer service as well!

Classic diner with a menu that fits. Not bad choices on the menu. Good place for breakfast. The staff is awesome. Prices are reasonable.

As a young man I worked for the Nighthawk restaurant in San Antonio as a bus boy never knowing that just up I-​35 was the original Nighthawk along with this amazing little «greasy spoon» called The Frisco. Fast forward many, many years and The Frisco has become a regular for me and my family. My father in law loves the biscuits and gravy while I’m a sucker for the migas. We are always welcomed and served immediately with hot coffee and cold water. The menu is simple and limited so it makes ordering fast and easy. I saw this morning that they have $ 2 mimosas, screwdrivers, and bloody Mary’s on Easter Sunday along with a great meal! Church or Frisco? Oh, I’ll do church then hit Frisco!
We love the atmosphere and the prices are reasonable considering the servings are huge. Dad’s biscuits and gravy could be breakfast and lunch. The waiters and waitresses are so kind and always have a smile. Very engaging and the coffee is always fresh and my cup is never half full. If you haven’t been, please make it a «to-​do» if you are visiting our lovely city. You’ll be glad you did. If you live here and haven’t been, turn in your Austin pass. Heehee

Great food! Classic diner menu, but not too greasy. Our server, Eric, was on top of everything. Kept my husbands coffee full, even made me a hot chocolate /​coffee special order –delicious!
Reasonable prices, classic dinner décor, friendly host at the door. Definitely on my bfast list.

The frisco is your throwback diner that harkens back to a time we don’t speak on much. The days when folks filled themselves with good olé American grease. You know real lard, margarine and cholesterol laden dishes.
I’m not knocking the place by any means. Those of is in gen x really remember this. My point is good food isn’t always pretty or healthy. The taste of the food is was unique in its own way.
I met a co-​worker here in 2014 for lunch. I made a vow to myself I’d return. I did and January 2016 was the time. I got seated at the counter and a nice lady took my order. I got chicken fried chicken, Mac and cheese and green beans.
My waitress even gave me Texas toast seasoned with garlic. My Mac and cheese was fair and green beans good. My chicken fried chicken was good. I had no complaints.
It’s not a bad place and I would go back. The service was cool and the atmosphere refreshing. I love being around older people. They are a gift and you will definitely see them here.
Take a chance and give a old style diner a chance. Who knows you may make a friend and have a good meal.

I am not going to hold back with my initial impression of The Frisco: a little rundown and maybe a tad scary. But soon realized it’s actually an Austin classic and the charm is found in that novelty of the oldie but goody mentality.
The first sign that I knew I was going to like this place was when we were greeted by an adorable older man with heart ornaments hanging from every button on his shirt.
But my love for this place was strengthened even more when they perfectly accommodated my strange chocolate milk request. Not a huge glass, but a glass just small enough to quench my crazy pregnancy sweet tooth that I am currently in trouble with for indulging in too much.
Now, it doesn’t come as a total shock when a diner menu only offers the basics: burger, grilled cheese, club sandwich, you know… the classics. But I when a saw a grilled vegetable platter with rice on the menu, I was actually shocked. And when the squash, zucchini, tomatoes, and onions arrived perfectly cooked, seasoned, and still with their natural crunch, I was one happy diner.

My husband, mom, and I went here after seeing it on Eater’s Best Breakfast Top 10 list. None of us could understand why it made the list, or as I’m writing this, why there are so many good reviews here.
I got the decorated eggs. So ordinary and forgettable. As far as I could tell, the only thing they actually made was the eggs. The chili was clearly out of a can and the hash browns, homefries, whatever they called them, were simply the frozen cubed kind that are slightly spiced I remember having in my college cafeteria from Sodexho. Using pre-​packaged food isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it is a diner afterall, but it was just so basic and overpriced for what it was. Meh!
My husband got the chocolate chip pancakes which he said weren’t bad, but, again, just ordinary. I can’t remember (I think the biscuits and gravy??) what my mom chose but she wasn’t impressed.
To add to it, the service was far from friendly or helpful. The book and check from the previous customer was still on our table when we seated ourselves (as told). I wouldn’t be happy to know that if I was that customer, should there have been cash, etc. Thankfully we’re honest people. The waitress was abrupt and unattentive. We felt like we were a burden to her by asking for coffee refills/​water and waited an unacceptably long time for things. I regret leaving any tip at all.
Maybe we chose the wrong menu items, but none of what we had was passable as remotely enjoyable to make us go back for the food alone, and the bad service sealed its fate for us.

One of my favorite breakfast places in Austin!
Excellent homemade biscuits, too.
The wait for a table on the weekends is usually never more than 20 minutes or so – a lot more reasonable than most of the other popular breakfast restaurants around town.

We stumbled across this place this last weekend, and I’m glad we did. Everything we ordered here was amazing. I had the Chicken Fried Chicken with a side of mashed potatoes and mac n cheese. I had a few beers along with it. I nibbled on my spouses breakfast which was pecan pancakes along with a side of eggs and bacon. They all tasted great as well. I’m eager to get back to this place to try the other stuff on their menu.

Consistent dining experience. Greasy spoon meets gin joint charm. The wood décor is really pleasing. It is by all accounts a «diner» but it doesn’t feel like a greasy tin trailer. The food is always excellent. Aside from their claim to fame burgers, they dish out some really great comfort food. The biscuits and gravy are fantastic as are the chicken and dumplings. Breakfast is served all day. Today our waiter was David. He was fantastic. Made recommendations and was chatty/​friendly at the onset and then left us to our meal. Our drinks were never less than half full and we didn’t go wanting for anything. The older gentleman that seated us was also quite pleasant. I caught him singing along with the do wop as we walked to the table. All around great experience.

Since moving to the area I’ve craved something to fill the void of New England greasy diners. Maybe I’m looking for love in all of the wrong places.
The Frisco comes close. It has great feel inside. It greasy and dark without being dirty and gross. The staff was just lovely and took care of our needs.
We had breakfast and it was basic diner food and diner coffee — exactly what I wanted. There’s nothing fancy here so keep your expectations in check. What I didn’t like was the prices. This is mediocre diner food and you want how much after adding on all of the little extras? I thought the breakfast combos were a little confusing. What bothered me is that it seemed like it was done on purpose to get you to spend as much as possible.
It wasn’t a bad experience but I don’t think I would be back.

Food is always good… always. Service though is a straight up crap shoot. There are some servers there… specifically Cory, that are FABULOUS. There are also some that have the manners of a fire ant. Let’s focus on food, but know that the reason in the one star «ding» is service-​based.
An Austin institution!
Things that rock my socks on the menu:
Their famous chop’t steak is AMAZING. So very tasty and buttery delicious. Yes, they may need to serve a pill to keep your arteries from hardening with this tasty treat, but oh well, bring it on. We all have to die sometime! Said «chop’t steak» comes in 3 sizes for what ever appetite you bring to the table. They serve these steaks with homestyle sides that are always cooked to perfection. Always opt for the fresh vegetable and daily greens, yummy!
Shame on me for jumping right into the steak, but that tells you how good it is! As far as appetizers go, here’s my run down:
Onion rings = homerun, Uncle Ed’s «killer queso»…someone should have killed Uncle Ed because that stuff tastes yucky. Sweet Potato fries are pretty good.
Salads…I can’t control myself here and have never had «just a salad» here.
Chop’t Steak = can’t go wrong wonderful!
Meatloaf = amazing
chicken fried steak = amazing
Mini fish tacos… I’ve had better
chicken fried chicken = amazing
fish and chips… I’ve had better
The famous frisco burger and the down south burger are both 5 star, the justin lane burger was not something I was particularly pleased with, but maybe someone else might find it tasty.
I haven’t had anything «from the grill», but as far as breakfast goes, you can’t make a mistake ordering off the breakfast menu. They are stellar! Pancakes are light and fluffy, order 2… they aren’t the size of Kerby Lane pancakes. They have good bacon as well (said by a self-​proclaimed bacon snob). I also love their biscuits and gravy.
I completely forgot to mention the fabulously stocked dessert case. Can’t go wrong with their key lime pie. It and their carrot cake are quite tasty.
I have tried many a thing at this place and eat there quite regularly. Go in, check them out and enjoy. Hope Cory is your waitress!

Hands down the BEST greasy dive diner in Austin. Breakfast all day, yummy food, *cheap* drinks, and a variety of pies – what’s not to love?! Look, I’m shocked this place doesn’t have amazing reviews, but don’t let them fool you. It’s not fancy, it’s not gourmet, but the staff have all been there for decades and it’s exactly what you want it to be when you need a classic, go-​to. I promise once you go, you’ll get it.

We’ve eaten Thanksgiving lunch here the past two years after the Turkey Trot, and it is the place to be on Turkey Day — mostly because it’s crowded but not impossible to get a table. We’ve never waited longer than 20 minutes.
The Thanksgiving menu is solid, but the rest of the menu is amazing, too.
The chicken fried steak and eggs rivals any breakfast dish at any restaurant in ATX (if you’re looking to abandon your diet for 30 minutes). The pies are decadent and delish, and they serve up craft brews at the bar.
Go here, for it is an Austin tradition.

I tried the Frisco for the first time today. I had the sides plate: mashed potatoes, mac & cheese and green beans. The green beans were very plain and flavorless, I wouldn’t get them again. The potatoes & mac were delicious! I also got a piece of apple pie for the road and that was really good… the waiter was a little strange. We asked for lemons, honey… things like that and he would not bring them until we asked a 2^nd time. Overall, good food. I’d go back again!

Friscos saved Thanksgiving for two out of towner’s. We came here for Mr. Roy’s pies and got way more than we bargained for in terms of great service, friendly atmosphere, reasonable prices and general sense of well being.
Few roadside diners can offer all that and a bag of chips, and I have to admit I was left wanting from their pie. But turkey leg I got that day brought memories of years passed. The thing was as big as my forearm, perfectly smoked, meaty and delicious. This leg alone deserved 5 stars and so does Frisco’s for keeping thanksgiving alive for all who enter.

Great place for breakfast. Casual, affordable, and unpretentious. I meet a friend for breakfast here occasionally and I always have standard breakfast fare like coffee, juice, pancakes, eggs, bacon, etc., which is always just fine.
Usually when we go, the manager is around. He is quite nice and greets us and makes sure we are seated properly and feel at home. The service is usually good, but today we had an outstanding waiter, so that prompted me to write this review. He went above and beyond and was very friendly and sweet without being intrusive. Five stars for him!

I used to walk To the original location with my grandma and enjoy the best thick cut bacon in the world. The food is just not as good as it used to be. It’s like a fading memory that I need to stop trying to recapture. Great ice box pie and $ 2 bloody Mary’s on the weekend.

Came here for breakfast on a saturday morning after a long friday night out. The Frisco fulfilled everyone’s basic breakfast needs with eggs, bacon, omelettes, etc. This is your standard diner/​breakfast joint.
The service was fast and friendly. Oh, and the coke was perfectly carbonated!

Went for breakfast, not overly impressed.
Had chicken fried steak with eggs, potatoe hash and eggs. My hubby and daughter had pancakes. All the food was okay, nothing spectacular. Décor has a old school diner feel, which is cool. Service was decent… I was looking for something local to Austin, but as far as food goes this place is at the same level with iHop. Actually, I would prefer IHop…

If you don’t love this place — like, without being hyperbolic — then you and I could probably never really be good friends. There is zero pretension to this old school Texas diner. It’s almost hard to write about.
When you were a kid did you ever wake up early on a weekend and drowsily crawl into the back of your grandparents giant sedan, drive to a dingy part of town and jump into a scrappy looking vinyl booth. Your granddad sipped black coffee while you played with the little creamers and quietly enjoyed adults talking comfortably around you. Then the food came. Eggs — done however, sausage, bacon, hash-​browns. Toast or biscuits. The tiny jams with the peel back foil lids. Remember that place?
This is that place. You already love this place. You just grew up and now you’re too self-​important and cool to know it.
Get the chicken fried steak.

Finally had a chance to stop at this iconic Austin Eatery. started with our go to appetizer. queso…and uncle Ed’s Killer queso was tasty, thick and had good chip clingage… eating as much queso as we have .it was good, not the best and the bowl was huge. chips crisp.salsa was ehhh… but we came here for the chicken fried steak and the homemade side dishes. chicken fried steak was tender, gravy good… portion seamed small. both of us had the mashed tatters. creamy and good. fried okra was out standing. wife’s Mac and cheese was über cheesy… almost too cheesy… they also tossed in a couple cornbread muffins that were awesome… after eating all this. why did we get dessert… the case looks amazing. wife had the chocolate cream pie and was killer… I went with the salted caramel vanilla crunch cake… WOW…extremely good… Service was outstanding… SOOooo why the 3 stars… the price was up there. over $ 45 before tip (with Unilocal check-​in discount) is pretty steep… bang for your buck is something we always include when reviewing restaurants, but the Happy Hour dessert has our attention and we will be back soon to try a couple more tasty sweets… but it was nice to visit such a cool place and keep it local.

The Frisco is a diner, in all it’s diner-​y glory, that has the prices of a gastropub. Service was OK, borderline bad, but my waiter looked dead on his feet tired. As a fellow wage slave, I’ll give him that he did a pretty good job given that he looked exhausted.
The Mac and Cheese is a great example of what was not quite right with the place. For the price I was expecting something a lot nicer than I got– which was pretty reminicient of the mac and cheese I got last time I had lunch with my kid at her school. The noodles were overcooked, the sauce was bland, it was very much nothing special– but the price was the same as other restaurants where there’s a panko crust, or something else a little punchy going on.
If the prices were a little more diner-​ish than gastropub-​ish, I think I would have been thrilled. For a diner, the food is really nice, if that makes sense.
The Frisco is OK, but I don’t think Ill be going back unless for some reason I really don’t want to go to Kerby Lane that evening.

I love this place! Good service. Good food. Great atmosphere. Ample parking.
COuple helpful hints: Accepts Belly Card.
Also come between 3 and 5 for half off dessert.

I had the Migas, which was delicious! The home fries were especially yummy.
Not too many options for my pescatarian husband, which was kind of a bummer. He got the Catfish dinner and really enjoyed it though.
Monday-​Thursday they have ½ price dessert from 9−10PM. We took advantage and got a slice of Chocolate Cream pie and Salted Caramel pie. Both were really good, the Salted Caramel is VERY sweet.
The place itself is big, but still feels cozy. Great atmosphere with excellent music!

I’ve heard so much about this place. I wanted to try it out since I was bored with other options or I just knew the places I’d wanted to go would have a long wait even if I was the lone person eating. When I stepped into this place, I felt like being in some sort of tavern. There’s wood paneling everywhere and there was no obnoxious lighting. I was starting to like the place a lot. I sat the bar like I normally do when I go to diners. No sense in taking up a booth or table when it’s just me.
For the weekend, it wasn’t too packed which was surprising. Then I notice people who come in here and they happen to be regulars of The Frisco. I created my own omelette (spinach, mushroom and cheese) with biscuit and homefries. The portions were decent. The service was good. There’s not much on the breakfast menu which made me curious about their dinner menu. It didn’t help a whole lot that I sat near the dessert display which looked really good.