Music and food are two things a lot of people in Austin are passionate about. I don't think Austin is even close to being a food mecca on the order of New York, Paris or some of the great eating cities across the globe. Still, Austin has its strengths. As an example, for a city this size, I can't imagine any other place possessing an equivalent food trailer culture. Aside from the dozens and dozens of great trailers and stands selling tacos and the like, you can find great cupcakes, cake balls (yeah, you read that correctly), burgers, wraps (those who've been to ACL have probably tasted or at least heard the hype about the chicken cone), crepes, kebabs, empanadas, fried chicken, Chicago-style hot dogs, sausages, shave ice, bagels and more sold out of trucks, trailers and other tiny eateries. There's even a little stand that just popped up on North Lamar that just sells frozen bananas. No, these are not your daddy's roach coaches.
The mobile grub phenomenon is indicative of the characteristics that typify the stronger points of Austin's food culture: Down scale and simple. What sorts of food do they do well down here? The first things that come to many people's minds would be Mexican and barbecue. Austin does have lots to offer along those and similar lines. Like burgers? There are tons and tons of great, independent burger stands throughout the city.
But that's hardly the end of the story. And to help guide you through the Austin and Texas food landscape, there are lots of great resources available on this here World Wide Web.
Brisket, Chapter 15 Verse 9
Me saying that Austin is in the middle of a great barbecue region again is probably about as original as President Obama touting change. If you’ve been following this blog, you are either well aware that Austin is located in the middle of the Texas Barbecue Triangle or you don’t actually read our posts.
Not only is Central Texas a barbecue mecca, but the whole state is overflowing with quality ‘cue. But don’t worry, because Full Custom Gospel BBQ is there to help guide you through the smoke. This amazingly comprehensive blog, which has been going strong for over a year, describes its mission it its “BBQ Manifesto”:
Some food does more than sustain us. Through the alchemy of smoke and time, there is food that can also nourish your soul. This site is dedicated to praising those that have mastered this art and perhaps even teaching a few to fish for themselves. While most BBQ review books, magazine articles, and websites will tell you the best places, this website will tell you which places are good, mediocre, and awful. We suffer through bad BBQ so you don't have to.
Full Custom has rated nearly 200 BBQ joints, ranking them on a scale of one to six stars. So far, 11 places have managed to pull in a five-star rating, including a few in Lockhart that we’ve written about here (Kreuz Market, Smitty’s Market, and Black’s BBQ). None, however, have attained the coveted sixth star. When that happens, it’ll be time for a road trip.
Smoking out all the good 'cue in Texas (source: Full Custom Gospel BBQ)
Tacos Deliciosos
If tacos are your thing, don’t worry, you’re covered as well. The folks at Taco Journalism are always on the hunt for great tacos. No matter if it comes out of a restaurant, truck, trailer or stand, if word gets out that the product is tasty, it’s a safe bet that these guys will be there. So far, the Al Pastor taco truck on East Riverside sets the standard at 5 1/2 stars. Can't wait to try it.
Everything you always wanted to know about burgers ...
Another food blog dedicated to the downscale is Texas Burger Guy. The blog features reviews of a number of burger joints (31 so far), plus a running Top 5. Burgers are rated on various criteria -- ooze factor (juiciness), herd killer (size & weight), handling (ease of handling), bling bling (price), and gravedigger (number of days it will take off your life) -- each on a scale of 1 to 10. TBG was even mentioned in a recent Sunday New York Times article.
Here's Texas Burger Guy's current Top 5:
#1 Boondocks
#2 Christian's Totem
#3 Chris Madrid's
#4 Mel's Country Cafe
#5 Lankford's Grocery
The Austin Dining Scene
Full Custom and Taco Journalism have those two niches well covered. If you're looking for more general food advice, there's lots of help out there.
- Foodie is the New Forty is a blog with a catchy name run by Michelle, who we met at a recent Dai Due event. Michelle has posted a staggering 521 reviews on Yelp! Need I say more? She also has a fetish for close-up food photos, evidenced by her post on the aforementioned Dai Due dinner at Montesino Farms.
- Coffee & Queso is an active blog that describes its scope as "the joys and sorrows of spontaneous meals, lucky breaks, and stolen recipes from Austin, Texas." It features some tasty looking recipes, like this one recently posted for turkey and kale mole tacos.
- Relish Austin is one of several food blogs featured on the Austin American-Statesman's entertainment website, Austin360.com. It features lots of good, general Austin food news.
- The Austin Chronicle, Austin's arts weekly , features a similar blog, Virginia's On The Range.
- Being vegan in the Longhorn State is probably not that easy, but Lone Star Plate makes it a bit easier.
Come eat with us in Austin!
