Oak & Ember Book a Table
East Austin · Live Fire Kitchen

Post oak.
Nothing else.

No gas, no electric, no shortcuts. Every plate that leaves this kitchen was cooked over a fire we lit at six in the morning.

42 seats · Wed – Sun

Small room.
One fire.

Forty-two seats around a single pit. Eight of them at the bar, held back for whoever walks in.

Since 2019

We light the fire at 6 a.m.

Ryan spent eleven years on gas ranges in Houston before he got tired of it. He built this pit himself in a shop off East 6th, hauled it over on a trailer, and it hasn't gone cold since.

Post oak comes from a lot outside Elgin, split and stacked out back. We burn about a cord and a half a week. When the wood runs low the menu gets shorter — that's just how it works.

We put in a gas burner our second winter. Used it twice, then ripped it out. You can taste the difference and so can everybody else. Ryan Alvarado, Owner
0Seats
0Cords a week
0Day dry-age
0A.M. fire lit

Book a Table

Eight bar seats are held for walk-ins every night. They go fast.

Parties of seven or more — call (512) 555-0148 and we'll set the long table.
We hold your table 15 minutes, then it goes to the bar.
Cancel by 2 p.m. the day of and there's no charge. After that it's $25 a head.

Hours & Directions

Closed Monday and Tuesday. We don't do lunch.

Wed – Thu
5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Fri – Sat
5:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Sunday
4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Mon – Tue
Closed
Holidays
Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day
1904 E Cesar Chavez St
Austin, TX 78702

Two blocks east of the bridge. There's no sign on the building — look for the stack of oak out front.

  • Parking — Street only. The lot next door isn't ours and they do tow.
  • Patio — 14 seats, first come. Heaters in winter.
  • Kids — Welcome until 8 p.m. No high chairs at the bar.
  • Dress — Whatever you've got on.
  • Private events — Mondays only. events@oakandember.example