Austin’s Women Restaurant Power — In a World of #MeToo, City Emerges as a Rare Female Chef Hotspot

When every week feels like it brings to light a new injustice served up in the restaurant industry, with many well-known and celebrity chefs accused of predatory behavior, women-owned and operated restaurants take on even more importance. Austin happens to be one of the rare foodie havens with a significant amount of women-led restaurants.

These are restaurants where the chef is a woman or the owner is. Or both are.

These are Austin’s female food powers:

Holy Roller

509 RIo Grande Street

Holly Roller chef and owner Callie Speer has found national acclaim for her punk rock diner that serves up comfort food, brunch all day,and craft cocktails. I’m a devoted fan of Holy Roller’s Trash Fries, a delicious mix of crispy fries, green chili, a sunny side egg, sour cream, corn, lime, cotija cheese, jalapeno and cilantro.

Think elotes mixed with chili cheese fries. For brunch, or anytime of day, the yellow cake pancakes can be served with blackberry soft serve, cookies and cream ice cream, or fried chicken with sriracha butter.

Puli Ra

12521 Twin Creeks Rd

Touted as low-country Indian meets Hill Country Texan, owner and chef Deepa Shridhar first won Austin foodie’s hearts with her chai naan croissants that she used to sell at farmers markets across the city. Now, Shridhar has expanded her mission with creative dishes like Roti Tacos, with crema, green chutney and a farm-fried egg served up in a Roti, an Indian flatbread.

Puli Ra’s menu is seasonal and always changing, so head over to see the latest creations Shridhar and her team have dreamed up.

El Alma

1025 Barton Springs Rd.

El Alma chef and part owner Alma Alcocer takes her childhood favorites and spins them to recreate the contemporary flavors of Mexico. Enjoy Gringas, flour tortillas filled with melted jack cheese, creme, arbor salsa and guacamole on El Alma’s beautiful patio — with a watermelon serrano margarita of course.

Eden East

755 Springdale Rd.

Eden East provides the real true farm to table experience, since it is actually located on Springdale Farm. Chef and owner Sonya Cote creates seasonal inspired menus for breakfast, happy hour and dinner, all updated weekly.

Follow the restaurant on Instagram to see the ever-changing daily menu.