Top 5 Happy Hour Specials in Austin

When it comes to happy hours, it's food first and drinks last. No, I will not apologize. I want as many apps on the cheap as my wallet and stomach can handle, and sure, a nice beer or cocktail to wash it down. But when it comes to my top five, these are places where the prices are dirt cheap compared to the amount of food coming your way. Portions, baby! It's always about the portions!

Elizabeth Street Café

My love of Vietnamese food knows no bounds but when you add a great happy hour on top of that, I become unhinged. This is why from 3-6pm Monday through Friday, Elizabeth Street Cafe is a GOLDMINE. $2 off select alcohol, half off apps AND half off bahn mi. Do yourself a favor and order any of spring rolls (BBQ Pork is my favorite), maybe even try the Escargot in Thai Basil Curry Butter if you're feeling adventurous, then get a Bahn Mi, which are massive by the way, and of course order yourself a cocktail. You will eat like royalty and your wallet won't cry when you see the bill.

Monday - Friday - 3-6pm

Foreign and Domestic

The happy hour menu is small but that just makes choosing even easier. It's very simple. You grab yourself either a select beer or wine for 50% off, then you go to town on a $8 farm to table burger with a few orders of their pomme frites, onion rings, and pop overs, which all happen to be $4. Thank me later.

Tuesday - Saturday - 5-6:30pm

Salty sow

Five words. Honey Rosemary Dipped Fried Chicken. $7. If you aren't on board already, how about some Triple Fried Duck Fat Fries??? $4. Salty Sow is serving up a decadently cheap feast for their happy hour that also comes with $2 off draft beer and craft cocktails and I'm telling you right now you'd be a fool now to check it out.

Every day - 4-6pm

The Liberty

If you're craving a liquid lunch, The Liberty has the best happy hour in town. You pretty much have to call it a happy day because it starts when they open and ends at 8pm. $4 frozen cocktails, $3 well cocktails, and $2.50 Lone Star Tall Boys. Plus, they have they're $8 beer and a shot combo if the other deals don't wet your whistle enough. And with all the money you're saving on drinks, you'll have more than enough cash to throw at East Side King, the Asian Fusion food truck parked in the back. It's a win-win no matter what.

Every day - Open- 8pm

Cheesecake Factory

I think we're all a bit shocked I'm even saying this but I quite literally just came back from happy hour at the Cheesecake Factory in the Barton Creek Mall and my friends and I nearly died from how much we collectively consumed. First of all, the J. W.'s Pink Lemonade goes down TOO SMOOTH. It is a must order. In the app department, the same goes for the Sweet Corn Tamales, the Thai Cauliflower Bites, the Bang-Bang Shrimp, and the Fried Calamari. They're pretty much perfect shareables for the table. But if you are feeling selfishly hangry, the Happy Hour Burger is the deal of all deals. No joke. It is massive. Double patty, double cheese, grilled onions and a special sauce. And did I mention everything I just listed is between $5.95 and $7.95. Don't judge a massive menu by its cover. This happy hour slaps.

Monday - Friday - 4-6pm

Article by Ryan Kober

Ryan Kober is an Actor, Food Blogger and Chef. He is taking a bite out of the Austin culinary world until his doctor gets concerned with his health.

Instagram - @thefarebear