North Lamar - Austin, TX

Spanning the entire length of the city, Lamar Boulevard has existed since the early days of Austin's establishment, and over the centuries it has served as the most prominent north-south thoroughfare in Austin. The North Lamar neighborhood has shifted over the past few decades from a quiet suburban to a dense urban environment due to rapid population growth.

The Republic of Texas museum can be found a couple of miles south of North Lamar at the intersection of Highway 183 and I-35, and locals mainly commute to Austin's urban center for the thriving arts and festival scenes. The annual SxSW festival showcases the latest in film, tech and music from around the world and is held downtown at different venues, including the Austin Convention Center and the live music joints in the Red River district.

In the North Lamar area, you enjoy access to endless options for authentic ethnic food, including Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, Indian, Middle Eastern, Mexican and more. Convenient fast food chains remain prevalent in this neighborhood, and most eateries reside on the busy main roads that surround the residential streets, particularly on North Lamar Boulevard, West Braker Lane, and the frontage road of I-35.

Dine with a group of friends at the popular Korean Grill on North Lamar Boulevard, where regulars chow down on spicy bulgogi, kimchi pancakes and soul-warming bowls of bibimbap. Remember to try all the different sides of veggies, sauces and kimchi that accompany each entree in true Korean style.

Chicken Lollypop, a North Austin favorite, cooks up unique Mumbai-style Indian-Chinese dishes you can't find anywhere else. Locals flock to this modest, casual diner for the signature dish, Chicken Lollypop — chicken marinated in sweet and spicy house sauces for 16 hours before getting fried to perfection on a stick.

If in a hurry, stop at the Mexican drive-thru taqueria El Tacorrido for a hearty taco al pastor, veggie torta or quesadilla with your choice of seasoned meat. Cruise by for a late night snack or a quick breakfast taco run on your way to work, and remember to ask for an extra side of the infamous sinus-clearing salsa verde.

For nightlife, stick to North Lamar Boulevard to find a scattering of local dive bars and pool halls. C-Hunt's Icehouse located on McNeil Road features cheap beer buckets that you can enjoy on the picnic tables underneath the grapevine roof. You can also play dominoes and listen the jukebox.

Head to Zaytouna Hookah Lounge for a relaxing time with friends sipping mint tea around the hookah. Enjoy Middle Eastern desserts and even play a round of Petanque, a lawn game similar to bocce ball. With no music venues nearby, most locals venture downtown for live entertainment. Catch a show at the Mohawk or Stubbs, two of the most famous music venues in the Red River district about 7 miles south of North Lamar.

You’ll want a vehicle in this area, as you’ll likely run most of your errands on the busy streets toward the edges of the neighborhood or even in a different part of town. Locals commonly get around and commute to central Austin via car, although major bus routes surround the neighborhood, and bus route 1 will take you directly to downtown.

If you need a cab, the best bet would be to call a taxi company or utilize Uber and arrange for pickup, as hailing a cab proves difficult here. Most establishments have free parking lots, and neighborhood parking is free. The routes to central Austin and downtown could not be more accessible, as I-35 and North Lamar Boulevard sandwich the residential section on both sides. Not many bike lanes exist in the North Lamar neighborhood, and locals typically do not walk to and from places, but rather depend on cars or public transportation.

North Lamar provides its residents with one park in the immediate vicinity, Brownie Park, a field containing a playground and room to roam with your pup. There are no annual events held here, but admission is free. Alternatively, you can hit some golf balls and hone your putting skills at the neighborhood's sizable Golfsmith driving range, where a bucket of balls costs around $11.

Take advantage of a cost of living that rests about 12 percent lower than the city's average. A one-way ticket on the CapMetro bus system will cost you $1, and a day pass costs $2. Prepare to pay about $675 to rent a one-bedroom residence, and you can expect a beer to cost around $4 at a bar in the area. In the North Lamar neighborhood, you’ll benefit from gas prices that range around 9 percent less than the national average.

Small businesses and stores abound in this neighborhood, primarily along North Lamar Boulevard, West Rundberg Lane, West Braker Lane and the frontage road of I-35. This area of Austin has more family-owned storefronts than high-end shops. One of several furniture shops in the area, Austin’s Couch Potatoes Furniture provides local residents and businesses with an extensive range of quality furnishings. Browse the Marketplace Austin indoor flea market, where you'll find everything from clothing and tattoo shops to hair and beauty booths.

North Lamar's Austin’s Chinatown Center is a commercial mall that houses one of the best Asian-International supermarkets in the city, MT Supermarket. Peruse the aisles of this haven for exotic food products for all of your international cuisine wants and needs. H-E-B, Texas’ chain grocer, supplies the neighborhood with a vast array of goods, and you can check everything off your grocery list here. If you’re looking for farmers markets, make your way to the SFC Farmers Market at the Triangle located at the intersection of Guadalupe and North Lamar Boulevard a few miles south, it's open Wednesdays from 3 to 7 p.m.