Threadgill's

Austin Restaurants

Threadgill's
2 Locations
Threadgill's Menu
Sunday Brunches - 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Gospel Brunch @ World Headquarters (South)
Bluegrass Brunch @ Old Number 1 (North)
Price: $-$$

Threadgill's Overview

Threadgills in Austin Texas Talk about an Austin original. With music roots going back to 1933 when music loving Kenneth Threadgill opened his filling station and beer joint, Threadgill's is one of the reasons why Austin is what it is today.

Now with two locations, Threadgills boasts three great draws - great Southern homestyle food, live music, and a rich and storied history.

2 Locations (see maps below)

Threadgill's Old Number 1 (North)
6416 North Lamar BLVD
Austin Texas 78752
512-451-5440

Threadgill's World Headquarters (South)
301 W. Riverside DR
Austin Texas 78704
512-472-9304

Eating at Threadgill's

Eating at either location is a treat. Reasonably priced and generously portioned, this is comfort food at its best.

Some of the menu highlights include fried Mississippi catfish, chicken fried porch chops, liver and onions, glazed ham with Jezebel sauce, and a signature homestyle meatloaf with Creole sauce.

Steaks and other seafood and chicken entrees are also available as well as plenty of choices in the sandwich department for lunch visits.

And, of course, there are also the appetizers - as you might expect, there are some tempting choices in the fried department: onion rings, fried green tomotoes, chicken liver, and cheese-stuffed jalapenos.

Finally, don't forget the homemade desserts, which include various pies, and a cheesecake of the day, fruit cobblers, and more.

The Story of Threadgill's

Kenneth Threadgill, bootlegger and yodeling bad-ass, first opened his gas station (now known as Old Number 1 on North Lamar) and beer joint in 1933 at the close of Prohibition. It was also the first establishment in Travis County to acquire a liquor license when Prohibition was repealed.

Legend has it that the place never closed until 1942 when the city of Austin enacted a curfew and Kenneth Threadgill was forced to get a key for the front door.

Threadgill was a huge Jimmie Rodgers fan. Another legend is that the jukebox on site was filled exclusively with Jimmie Rodgers 78s.

The gas station and bar eventually evolved into a haven for traveling musicians and local music lovers. Most famously, this is where Janis Joplin first began performing publicly.

In the mid 1970s, after more than 40 years, Kenneth Threadgill decided to close his bar. It was purchased by another larger than life Austinite, Eddie Wilson of Armadillo World Headquarters fame who turned it into a Southern homestyle restaurant and continued its rich music tradition.