MacArthur’s Restaurant

MacArthur’s Restaurant has anchored the 5400 block of West Madison Street since MacArthur Alexander opened the doors in 1997. Service is cafeteria style: pick up a tray, point at the fried chicken, beef short ribs, barbecue turkey legs, greens, macaroni and cheese and cornbread, and pay at the end. Portions are large and the room is big enough for church groups after Sunday service. Barack Obama gave Alexander several pages in his 2006 book The Audacity of Hope, and in 2015 the Austin Chamber of Commerce gave the restaurant the chamber’s first Austin Good Business certification. Catering is a large part of the business.

What to know

• MacArthur Alexander opened the restaurant in 1997 at 5412 W. Madison St.
• Service is cafeteria style, with fried chicken, short ribs, turkey legs, greens and macaroni and cheese on the line.
• Barack Obama wrote about Alexander in his 2006 book The Audacity of Hope, per Austin Weekly News.
• The Austin Chamber of Commerce gave MacArthur’s the chamber’s first Austin Good Business certification in 2015.
• Catering menus are available for pickup and events.