We all know Polvo’s as the beloved Mexican mainstay with delicious quesadillas, fajitas, and more. But if you’ve never tried the tortilla soup, it makes for a filling, nourishing meal worth trying. This soup dish is truly a hefty meal made with chicken, tortilla strips, carrots, squash, and corn—and served with rice, beans, and avocados.

Garbo’s serves up New England seafood with an Austin twist at their two locations—one on Lamar and one in Northwest Austin off Mopoac. Their clam chowder is incredibly rich and will satisfy that seafood hankering with a thick bowl of creamy goodness, including crispy bacon, potatoes, cherrystone clams, and oyster crackers.

We’d be remiss not to mention Elizabeth Street in a soup guide because their Pho is so undeniably good. Their flat rice noodle soup comes with various proteins and additions—but we recommend the chicken (which is full of chicken thigh, chicken breast, and chicken grilled around lemongrass skewers). It comes with fresh herbs, limes, raw veggie toppings, and sauces for a vibrant, feel-good meal.

When you want something truly decadent, head to June’s for their French Onion Soup. A seasonal dish served in cooler months, this ultimate comfort food comes together with onions caramelized to perfection, crunchy croutons that absorb the rich broth, and a thick layer of melted gruyere cheese.

An incredibly satisfying gluten-free and vegan option, Summer House makes a Pozole that hits all the senses. It’s made with hominy, smoked guajillo chile, and cabbage, and topped with Fritos. Available at brunch and dinner, it makes a great main dish, with the option to add grilled mushrooms or chicken to make it even heartier.

Our beloved Thai Fresh serves up one of the creamiest, most flavorful soups in town. The Tom Kha is a coconut soup made with coconut milk, lemongrass, galangal, mushrooms, and other Thai spices. You can add your protein of choice (we recommend chicken or shrimp), and with the side of white rice, it comes together for the perfect winter meal.

Oseyo recently started serving their nourishing Korean fare for brunch from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. One standout dish is the Hot Pot Ramyun—a creamy chicken broth, tender pork belly, sausage, charred corn, cabbage, and Korean ramyun noodles—all served family-style with chili oil and housemade kimchi. This hearty dish is a great way to refuel and rejuvenate after a late night out or a cold weekend on the trails.

Now with seven locations around town, The Soup Peddler makes picking up your favorite soup to go convenient. Our favorite is the Mulligatawny, a vegan and gluten-free lentil-based soup made with cauliflower, potato, tomato, apple, coconut milk, and curry powder. It’s hearty yet oh-so-healthy — perfect for warming the soul on a winter day.