The Best Restaurant Contractors in Austin, Texas

Last updated on May 22nd, 2024 at 01:59 am

Austin’s kitchens write torrid love letters to those who adore barbeques, beer, and Tex-Mex. With all the warm weather in Central Texas, the people of Austin do not shy away from enjoying grilled meats, migas, and margaritas. In recent years the Austin dining scene has become more and more diverse, with Asian and European cuisine making a deliciously palpable impact on the city’s restaurant tables. 

Considering Austin’s love for food and merrymaking, it is no surprise that the restaurant market in the city is expanding. And that means an expanding restaurant infrastructure, and that means a lot of eatery building and refurbishing. Austin area contractors understand that a restaurant is more than a financial investment; it’s a contribution to the communal culture of the city. 

This list features the best restaurant contractors in one of the most enjoyable and welcoming cities in the union. These firms are experts in commercial and restaurant contracting, they have a strong understanding of the Austin market and the capacity to respond to the unique demands of restaurant projects. In order to collect and rank the best contractors, our team applied a thorough set of criteria that gauges the work quality produced by each company. We also considered awards, citations, work experience, and the capacity to build exciting and inviting eating establishments.

If you are thinking about building a restaurant, we recommend checking each builder’s license with the local licensing board, speaking to past clients, and using our bidding system to get competitive quotes from at least 3 contractors. Getting multiple bids is the best way to ensure you get a fair price and that bids include the complete scope of work.

Hinckley Construction

200 E Live Oak, Austin, TX 78704

Shawn Hinckley is a US Army veteran who fulfilled his military duties as an equipment mechanic. When he moved to Austin from Lockhart, he started constructing homes built with a detail-oriented approach and expert-level craftsmanship. 

20 years later, Hinckley still produces residential and small commercial projects all across greater Austin. Among the projects handled by the company is Zen Japanese Food Fast, a casual Japanese concept. Zen uses a relaxed approach to traditional Japanese dishes like sushi and donburi. Zen restaurant puts an emphasis on affordability, fun, and wellness, reflected by its use of farm-fresh ingredients and fair pricing.

Davila Contractors

2100 Kramer Ln. Suite #900, Austin, TX 78758

Family-run and operated Davila Contractors is a commercial contractor that is fluent in both ground-up construction and renovation. Johnathan Davila serves as the company president, carrying the torch ignited by his great-grandfather Eliseo Davila in 1952 and passed on to his father, Joe Davila, Sr. 

Presently, the firm operates in Texas, Oregon, and Iowa, with a focus on building commercial and healthcare facilities. Davila has been able to put together a strong portfolio comprised largely of boutiques, medical facilities, and restaurants. One restaurant project that stands out in Davila’s portfolio is The Baked Bear, a dessert restaurant that serves ice cream, ice cream sandwiches, and delicious cookies. 

DKC Construction Group

1205 Sheldon Cove Suite 1-F, Austin, TX 78753

DKC Construction is a budding design-build contractor that offers full-range contracting services all throughout Texas. DKC’s main competitive edge is the team of in-house architects and engineers. These dedicated professionals strengthen the company’s capacity to complete industrial and commercial projects that range anywhere from $3,000 to $8 million.  

Fukumoto, a Japanese Izakaya, hired DKC to build its 3,500 square-foot restaurant in Austin. This $412k construction involves building a patio, bar, and a specialty kitchen that includes three kitchen hoods and the capacity for Yakitori equipment. Chef Kazu Fukumoto and his team serve Japanese skewers and sushi in a warm open space that displays contemporary Japanese design.

MDS Builders

3901 South IH 35, Suite #205, Austin, TX 78704

With a strong presence in 46 states, MDS Builders is among this list’s most prolific commercial builders. MDS has been building commercial projects since 1989, totaling over 5,000 completed projects. The firm uses computerized management information systems for the finances of each project. That system quantifies estimation, project management, scheduling, and cost accounting.

Mark Speedy currently serves as MDS’s CEO. Speedy administers organizational operations from marketing to project management. He was a member of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee at Associated General Contractors (AGC) Palm Beach County Chapter. 

MDS has completed restaurant projects all across the country, with restaurants such as Truluck’s enlisting its help. Truluck’s Seafood Steak & Crab House is an upscale restaurant chain present in four states, known for its long wine list and fresh seafood. 

Wurzel Builders

630 Ralph Ablanedo Dr., Austin, TX 78748

33-year industry veteran Barry Wurzel established his namesake construction company in 1998, serving Texas and the Southwest region. Today, Wurzel specializes in the construction of multiple markets including healthcare, corporate, retail, hospitality, and food.

Of special note is Wurzel’s brick-and-mortar buildout for Independence Brewery, a hip, progressive bar in Austin. Wurzel assisted Amy Cartwright’s concept in moving from a small warehouse in South Austin to the luxurious spot where it stands today. The 17,500 square-foot restaurant space is massive but engaging for those who share the love of draft beer and great company.

Franklin-Alan

1209 W 49th St., Austin, TX 78756

High-end commercial contractor Franklin-Alan is founded through University of Texas alumni John Atwater and Ken Burger’s construction expertise. Since its inception in 2006, Franklin-Alan has built major projects in various industries from offices to restaurants. The firm has an astonishing portfolio filled with famous local restaurants like Vinaigrette, Flyrite, Italic, and Mattie’s at Green Pastures. 

Green Pastures is an iconic Victorian home in South Austin built in 1895. In 1946, Mary Faulk-Koock decided to remodel the family farmhouse to build a restaurant which she named after her late mother. If centuries of heritage is not enough to convince, the unusual cuisine will. The restaurant features Southern and French cuisine served in an enchantingly beautiful space.

G. Creek Construction

9033 South IH 35, Austin, TX 78744

Third generation builders John and Matt Haralson have been running G. Creek Construction for nearly three decades. In those years, the two have built commercial and municipal projects across Central Texas. John and Matt propelled their careers through learning from the ways of their father and grandfather, local water construction experts. Presently, the duo has an experienced background in general contracting, design-build, and construction management.

Among the company’s interesting restaurant projects is Coopers BBQ. This project was completed in partnership with Kevin Stewart and Stewart Architects. This 13,000 square-foot project, estimated to cost $3.3 million, is built on a 1800s masonry building and remodeled with steel structures, reclaimed wood, and reframed trusses and walls. 

Pinnacle Construction of Austin

1018 W 11th Suite #200, Austin, TX 78703

In 1989, five years after working as a project manager for a restaurant construction specialist, Beth Selbe Lasita established her own construction company in Austin. Guided by Lasita’s construction expertise, Pinnacle Construction builds commercial projects from retail stores to restaurants. 

Considering Lasita’s familiarity with restaurant construction, it comes without surprise that the company has a solid portfolio of local restaurants such as Vince Young Steakhouse, La V, Odd Duck, Barley Swine, Fixe, and Lonesome Dove. 

Among Pinnacle’s most revered work is an inventive fine dining concept by Chef Tim Love called Lonesome Dove. Much like any of Love’s concepts, the restaurant serves an elevated Western cuisine. Lonesome Dove serves exotic game dishes made from Montana Bison, Rabbit, Elk, Rattlesnake, Antelope, and Idaho Rainbow Trout in a 15-seater bistro decorated with ornate leather, dark wood, and taxidermied animals.  

Rizzo

1715 S Capital of TX Hwy., Suite #100, Austin, TX 78746

Seven-time AGC Austin Outstanding Construction Awardee Rizzo is an Austin-based construction institution that has been in operation since 1982. Over the years, Rizzo has completed over 500 projects in Central Texas for public and private markets. Founded by University of Texas Architecture alumnus Robert Rizzo, the firm promoted architecture-oriented general contracting. This approach appealed to multiple sectors, including education, religious, commercial, and the food industry.

Max’s Wine Dive, a brand famous for uncommon wine pairings, hired Rizzo to build its Austin branch. Max’s warm and welcoming environment is channeled through the use of warm tones and conventional materials. This cozy yet elegant atmosphere fits the cuisine perfectly. The brown and red tones reflect the famous fried chicken and wine pairings.

PWI Construction

3903 West Martin Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89118

PWI Construction is a general contractor and a construction management firm headquartered in Las Vegas with offices in Phoenix, Austin, and Miami. PWI has nationwide operations with a strong focus on luxury retail, hospitality, specialty, and restaurant construction.

The firm has developed luxurious restaurants all across the country, such as Lightkeepers at the Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne in Miami. The restaurant was conceptualized and named to honor those who watch the ships along the Florida Coast. Serving exciting dishes made out of local ingredients, this restaurant provides a casual yet refined dining experience at the heart of the famed resort hotel.   

Burt Group

2201 Donley Dr., Suite #200, Austin, TX 78758

Despite only being around for two decades, Burt Group has already completed over 24 million square feet worth of projects. Burt works in four major divisions: ground-up, tenant improvement, restaurant construction, and healthcare. 

Tommy Burt, president of the firm, is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the company. He oversaw over 16 million square feet of commercial interiors, amounting to over $1.5 billion. 

Burt’s impressive portfolio consists of interesting projects like True Food Kitchen, a healthy restaurant concept popularized by Oprah Winfrey. This health-conscious restaurant and bar concept believes that food should make one feel better, not worse, after eating. The restaurant’s vibrant and functional interior perfectly encapsulates that concept. The welcoming and fun ambiance characterizes the restaurant’s refreshing approach to healthy food.

 Maxx Builders

4150 Bluebonnet Dr. Suite #102, Stafford, TX 77477

Founded in 2008, Maxx Builders has built more than 3,000 projects, totaling more than 3 million square feet and amounting to over $650 million. Maxx made a name in the industry by winning awards like the Pulse of the City award in 2019, being a finalist for Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2019 as well as ranking on Inc. 5000 America’s Fastest Growing list in three straight years from 2017 to 2019. The firm’s reputation has also been documented on the pages of Houston Business Journal and Bisnow.

Maxx offers preconstruction, design-build, and construction management services all over Texas, completing projects in major commercial industries. One project in the restaurant market is Glazed, The Doughnut Cafe in Houston. This humble cafe serves handmade sweet and savory pastries around-the-clock. Maxx handled the 1,420 square-foot interior build-out for Glazed’s straightforward setting.

Sabre Commercial

2001 Chicon St., Austin, TX 78722

With more than 850 accomplished projects, 85% of which are projects with repeat clients, Sabre is regarded as one of Austin’s best commercial contractors. The firm gained local prominence as it gathered awards such as Austin Business Journal’s Fast 50 awards. Sabre is also a frequent collaborator of Austin brands and institutions like The University of Texas at Austin and PlainsCapital Bank. In addition to these ventures, the firm is also committed to local charities and non-profit organizations like Creative Action, Boy Scouts of America, Crossroads Scholarship Fund, and Caritas.

Headed by Matthew Lutz,  the firm builds gorgeous projects all over the city. The firm often works with big names in architecture like Michael Hsu Office of Architecture, Page Architects, and HOK. 

One of Sabre’s most notable works is a renovation project for award-winning Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille. Perry’s is a food business prodigy that started from a humble stall in a meat market in Houston. Now it has branches in Birmingham, Chicago, Denver, and across Texas. Together with the services of Identity Architects, Sabre completed the bar renovations while daily operations of the restaurant remained uninterrupted.

How can I find a contractor near me?

Read our latest articles on the best contractors in and near Austin. If you don’t see your project type below, just let us know – we are happy to create a tailored recommendation list just for you.

Retail Contractors in Austin

Tenant Improvement (Office) Contractors in Austin

Hotel and Hospitality Contractors in Austin

About Our Rankings

This list takes a range of ranking criteria into consideration, including but not limited to: work history, customer satisfaction, awards and recognition, geographic area of work, cost, building permits, and clientele. We spent over 40 hours researching local contractors before calculating the final ranking for this post. If there is additional information about your business that could affect these rankings, please fill out this form and we will take it into consideration

Get Bids For Your Build

If you are thinking about building a restaurant, we recommend checking each builder’s license with the local licensing board, speaking to past clients, and using our bidding system to get competitive quotes from at least 3 contractors. Getting multiple bids is the best way to ensure you get a fair price and that bids include the complete scope of work.