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Eating in Austin

With SXSW coming up there is a flurry of people interested in good places to eat. While I'm far from an expert, I've got a few suggestions that might help folks walk away from Austin with a healthy apprecitiation of its local cuisine.

To begin, lets talk about Mexican food. Austin has tons of great tex-mex restaurants. The thing to remember is that Mexican food is often a personal preference. I've had Mexican food that tasted terrible, while others swore it was the best place in town. With that in mind here are some of my favorites.

Elsi's is a bit north of downtown on Burnet. They serve Mexican food with along with some savadorian dishes. They have some of the best migas and guacamole in town. The guacamole enchiladas are a definite favorite.

Mi Madre's is another great Mexican restaurant off of Manor. They are usually only open in the mornings (they close at 2 or so), which makes sense as they are known for their breakfast tacos. Again, the migas are amazing. If you can get up in time, it is quite a treat.

Down the street from Mi Madre's is El Chile. It is a little pricier and offers a more modern twist on Mexican food. Their roasted salsa is also pretty addictive. While I'm not really a fan of micheladas, if I'm going to have one it is here. For those that don't know, a Michelada is like a spicy beer cocktail. Think bloody mary with tecate.

On the south side of town there is always Chuy's. It feel a little more like Chili's, but it is local. Also, for a cheap meal, just get some beans, rice and tortillas (maybe a side of shredded cheese) and slap on the salsas. When we first were married we shared this meal quite a bit. The best salsa, or dip really, is their creamy jalapeno.

Along a similar vein is Guero's on South Congress. This is a relatively well known restaurant (it was in that Quenton Tarantino movie, Death Proof) is personally not my favorite. But, they have the best chicken tacos I've ever had.

A little further south on South 1st is Polvos. This is the one place in Austin that I know that makes you pay for chips and salsa, but considering they have a roasted salsa, pico de gallo, red salsa and marinated veggies, it is worth it. Polvos is a little more traditional Mexican food in that most dishes don't emphasize the spice. The service can be hit or miss, but it is definitely worth a try.

There are tons of other Mexican places. Some can be really bad, but in most cases, unless you've had a lot of Mexican food and developed a palette for it, there is a good chance it'll be OK. Also, it is usually alright to check out the sketchier looking joints around town. They often times have more traditional food and cheaper prices. Some may not be the cleanest places in town, but you just might be rewarded with the best burrito or torta you've ever had, so it seems like an wager worth taking.

In addition to Mexican food, Austin is known for BBQ. While there are tons of BBQ places in town, few are really top notch. I'm not going to say you won't enjoy a nice slap of brisket and sausage from most places, but if you want to get religious about your meat, you need to be picky. The best of the best is going to be outside Austin proper, so it is good to consider what your options when you arrive or are on your way out.

First off, assuming you're driving into town coming down I-35 south, you should pass through Belton, TX. In Belton is the home of Sheopfs. They have a serving pit outside where you pick your meats. The brisket is amazing and the sausage shouldn't be missed. The sauce is a vinegar based sauce, so it might not be for everyone at first, but give it a little time and you are hooked. The sides are also really good. Cheesy potatoes are often a favorite, but I'm actually partial to their pinto beans.

Within Austin proper there are a good set of options. Ruby's is one located on the drag (Guadalupe by the university). Generally, the meat is nothing too amazing but they do only serve grain fed cattle and I think it shows. Where I think Ruby's deserves a mention is for their sandwiches. Even though most places have a brisket sandwich, Ruby's pushes the genre by adding sausage and coleslaw. For whatever reason, Ruby's always seems a little healthier. I doubt it is, but I'm sticking with it as healthy option.

Probably my favorite Austin (in the city) BBQ is Rudy's. Rudy's is a chain due to its successes and I've never really found a bad location. The brisket has a peppery flavor and their sauce is made from scratch. They offer "extra moist" brisket, which really is the only way to go. The sausage is somewhat ho-hum, but I've eaten plenty of times and have no complaints. I'm also a fan of turkey if I'm feeling healthy. It can be a little intimidating your first time, so let them know and they'll give you samples. My side of choice is the red potatoes. They are cooked in a butter sauce that is pretty much like you'd have with lobster, so it is kind of like eating the lobster of red potatoes, if that even makes sense.

Downtown Austin (2nd and Guadelupe) is home to Lamberts. It is an upscale BBQ restaurant that provides an interesting twist on classic BBQ joints. Their meat is extra smokey. They serve the brisket as a series of slices all increasing with fat. The sausage is tasty, especially when you mix some mustard with their homemade sauce. The sides are essentially served family style and can be a meal all themselves. All of them have been outstanding with the cheese grits and collards standing out as classic southern cuisine.

Heading out of Austin there are two legendary BBQ restaurants for those serious about the craft. The first is the Salt Lick. This is located south west of Austin. Before going to Salt Lick, you should consider preparing a bit. They have a huge waiting patio, often with some acoustic act playing. Most people bring a cooler with some cold Lone Star and don't mind waiting 30 minutes for the chance to dine on some delectable meats. What makes Salt Lick is the combination of excellent meat along with great sauce. They include a slight mustard flavor to their sweet and smokey sauce that begs to slather the entire meal. They also have excellent bread for making sandwiches. Even though you may feel like you can't eat another bite, go ahead and get some cobbler for desert. You'll think you can't, but you can and you will.

The second legend of BBQ to check out is also a little south of Austin in the BBQ capital of the world, Lockhart. I'm not sure what qualifies this claim, but Kreutz could easily be reason enough. Kreutz is an interesting place. It is something of a black sheep within the world of BBQ. They have a "no sauce" policy. They state that the cooking process is a mere hour (instead of the hours and hours others boast). There is a guy with crazy sideburns that cuts meat and generally rules. It is an amazing place. I've had nothing bad there, so try it all. They also give you saltines instead of break, which is actually pretty amazing. As for sides, prepare for more meat. They have sauerkraut that is really more of a brisket and sauerkraut mix. And yes, it is awesome. As a sauce kind of guy, I didn't miss it. Sure, I did consider bringing my own from Salt Lick or Rudy's but that just seems rude. I'm somewhat torn as to what is better, Salt Lick or Kreutz. I have no qualms heading back to each as much as possible trying to decide.

There are other places in town for BBQ that really aren't bad. The Green Mesquite, Stubbs, Iron Works, etc. all offer smokey meat, but non push the limits. If you want to find what the big deal is about, you need to visit Salt Lick and Kreutz's. It is that simple.

One last genre of restaurant that is popular in Austin is found in trailers. There are a wealth of small eateries around town that work solely out of a trailer of some sort and provide a taste of what Austin is really about. Lulu Bs is one example down on South Lamar that offers excellent Vietnamese sandwiches. Another, is Flip Happy Crepes, which was recently featured on the Food Network. My favorite (so far) at Flip Happy is the Cuban Crepe, a pork, cheddar, tabasco and pickle crepe that is crisp, savory and generally mind blowing with flavor. For desert there is Hey Cupcake down on South Congress, but personally I'm a fan of Sugar Mommas, which is a little farther south on 1st street.

So there you have it. Hopefully this little overview might help to find some winners when visiting Austin.