If you enjoy trying local restaurants throughout the Greater Austin area, there's a good chance you're leaving money on the table every time you dine out.
Enter inKind, a dining app that rewards you for eating at participating restaurants. And unlike coupon apps that send you chasing mediocre deals, many of the restaurants on inKind are places you'd actually want to visit anyway.
So, what exactly is inKind?
Think of inKind as a restaurant payment app.
You dine at a participating restaurant, enjoy your meal, and when it's time to pay, you pay through the inKind app instead of handing over your credit card. In return, inKind typically gives you up to 20% back in inKind Cash, which can be used at other participating restaurants.
The basic process is simple:
- Download the app.
- Find a participating restaurant.
- Eat.
- Pay through the app.
- Earn rewards for your next meal.
The Austin area is packed with participating restaurants
Whether you're meeting friends for brunch in Cedar Park, grabbing coffee in Round Rock, planning date night in Georgetown, exploring restaurants in Pflugerville, enjoying happy hour in Bee Cave or Lakeway, or discovering hidden gems in Leander, Liberty Hill, Hutto, or Dripping Springs, there's a good chance you'll find participating restaurants nearby.
Restaurants you may recognize
The restaurant lineup changes regularly, but Greater Austin diners may recognize quite a few familiar names. From coffee shops and sandwich spots to family restaurants and date-night destinations, there are hundreds of participating restaurants throughout the area.
A few restaurants that are popular in the greater Austin area and worth searching for in the app include:
- Paperboy
- Kerbey Lane Cafe
- Rosen's Bagels
- The Well
- Dovetail
- Quince Lakehouse
- RedFarm
- Jack Allen's Kitchen
- Happy Slice
- Mama Betty’s
- Tiff’s Treats
- Ike’s Love & Sandwiches
- Plank
- True Food Kitchen
- Peached Tortilla
- Via 313
- And many more
Because participating locations can change, the easiest approach is simply opening the app and searching your city or ZIP code before heading out.
Why do restaurants participate?
inKind isn't just a rewards app. The company helps restaurants access funding by purchasing dining credits in advance. Restaurants get cash when they need it, and diners receive rewards for using the app. It's a model designed to support independent restaurants while encouraging repeat visits.
In other words, you're not just saving money. You're helping local restaurants while you dine.
Why diners love it
The biggest appeal of inKind is its simplicity. There are no points to track, no complicated rewards programs to learn, and no need to change your dining habits. If a restaurant already participates in the program, diners can simply pay through the app and earn rewards toward future meals.
With hundreds of participating restaurants throughout the Greater Austin area, there's a good chance some of your favorite spots are already on inKind. And if not, you may find a few new places to try along the way.
Additional savings
The rewards don't stop at the standard 20% back. inKind also occasionally offers bonus promotions when purchasing dining credit. For example, a recent promotion added 40% extra credit, turning a $100 purchase into $140 available to spend at participating restaurants.
Combined with the rewards earned from dining, these promotions can create significant savings for people who frequently eat at participating restaurants. While offers vary throughout the year, they're worth watching for.
New users get an extra bonus
New users can currently claim:
$25 Off Their Next $50+ Meal
That's a nice bonus for a date night, family dinner, or trying a new restaurant you've had your eye on. Start saving here.
Final bite
The Austin area is packed with great restaurants, from neighborhood favorites in Cedar Park and Round Rock to popular dining destinations in Georgetown, Bee Cave, Lakeway, Leander, Pflugerville, Liberty Hill, Dripping Springs, Hutto, and Austin itself.
If you're already dining out, inKind is one of those rare apps that can make eating out a little more affordable without changing where you eat.
Download the app, browse restaurants near you, and see what's available. You may discover a new favorite restaurant, earn rewards toward future meals, and save more than you expected along the way.
Have a favorite restaurant in the Austin area that's on inKind? Let us know. We’re always looking for the next great recommendation.
Photo by Tim Toomey on Unsplash