Learn about all that Austin has to offer!
The Season IX World Ninja League Tier 2 Championships are set to take place on April 13 and 14 in Austin, Texas. While we know the competition site Austin Ninjas Cedar Park will be on the agenda for all travelers, here are some places available to visit during the time outside of the event. This will be a combination of listings from the WNL site as well as suggestions by me, Kane Casillas, as I competed in Austin for 2023’s Tier 2 Championships. The staff of Austin Ninjas has also provided recommendations on food, which you can also read below!
As you fly into Austin, it’s incredibly likely that you’ll be flying into the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Once you’ve touched down, there are a large number of quality hotels nearby. For those looking for a place to stay, the Quality Inn Cedar Park includes a special group rate for the World Ninja League between the dates of April 11 and 15. You’re also able to book a special WNL rate at Avid Hotels and ask for the group name “World Ninja League Championship 2024” when you call.
I stayed at the Hyatt Place Austin Airport, complete with a pool, gym, and free breakfast. It was close to Austin Ninjas, the airport, and allowed me to stay active in the days leading up to the competition. There are also a number of Hiltons and Marriotts with similar amenities that are all 3-star rated or higher.
With Austin being such a large city, there are countless places for entire families to enjoy themselves when they’re not competing. For all you racing fans, the MotoGP Grand Prix will be held at the Circuit of the Americas on April 12-14. There’s also a venue for K1 Speed Karting, and as someone who works part-time on a go-kart track, it’s an activity I would highly recommend.
Austin will also be hosting multiple Texas Farmers’ Markets the weekend of the competition, a comedy show by Shane Gillis at the H-E-B Center and a handful of parks, complete with playgrounds, water activities and hiking trails. My personal favorite is the Twin Lakes Family YMCA, which consists of a pool, gym, and even a ropes course!
As always, people have to eat. And since everything’s bigger in Texas, there are so many options in Austin. One of the biggest chains is Chuy’s, known for being the best Tex-Mex in the Lone Star State (I can vouch, it’s really good!). In the words of Austin Ninjas Staff Member Nick, “The Chuys and Torchy’s around Austin are just better than anywhere else.”
There are many other Tex-Mex restaurants as well, including Rosa’s Cafe and Jardin Corona. Austin Ninjas Staff Member Nick commented, “I LOVE a good hole-in-the-wall, so for Tex Mex I’m going with Jardin Corona, but if I’m feeling like seafood, I’d go to CR Surf & Turf for the spicy cajun rice!”
Staff Member Lu Lu added in on the Tex-Mex conversation, stating, “My favorite place to eat is Texican Cafe it is an El Paso style restaurant. It is not far from the gym. The address is 11066 Pecan Park Blvd, Cedar Park.”
Of course, there’s more than just Tex-Mex in Austin. The city actually offers a large variety of Asian cuisine, from sushi to poke to high-quality seafood dishes. After the competition, my wife and I visited HoneyPig Korean BBQ to celebrate, and we were not disappointed. Many of these locations, including HoneyPig, will allow you to either cook or watch someone cook your meal before your eyes, creating a shared experience for all you’re traveling with.
Other members of the Austin Ninjas team contributed suggestions for Asian cuisine, as well. Lindsey recommended PokéFit for poke bowls, while Kallon suggested Umiya for Thai food and Logan selected Teriyaki Tom’s for other classic dishes from all around Asia.
We hope you enjoy your stay in Austin! Of course, if there’s anything in particular you’re looking for, be sure to check our website for more venues of various types so you can enhance your stay. Good luck at the competition, and have a great time before and after!
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