Mini Guide – Food & Drink in Austin

America’s live-music capital is the king of alternative cool and a magnet for retro diners, hidden bars and some of the best barbecue joints and Mexican cantinas in the South

Margaritas

Trudy’s Texas Star. Trudy’s is a Tex-Mex joint and the menu is consistently good, but we’ll let you in on a little secret: this place could serve nothing but beans and dirt and people would still line up for the margaritas, which might very well be the best in Austin.

Polvos. Fun, festive and just a little divey, Polvos serves central-Mexican food that always packs in a crowd. Try some of the dozen or so salsa varieties with one of the fierce margaritas. Eight different ‘top shelf ritas’ are made from tequila brands including Herradura, Chinaco and Don Julio, and a variety of fruity options are served too, from mango to coconut.

Garage. Austin has dozens of hidden bars, but this one, squirrelled away inside a parking garage in Austin’s warehouse district, is a favourite. The contrast between the mundane exterior and what lies within is stark. Its cosy, dimly lit lounge draws a hip but not overly precious Austin crowd who give high marks to the first-rate cocktails, handsomely designed space and novel location.

Barbecue

Franklin Barbecue. America’s most famous barbecue spot only serves lunch, and only until it runs out. To avoid missing out, you should join the queue by 10am (9am on weekends).Treat it as a tailgating party: bring beer or mimosas to share and make friends. When your turn arrives, go for the two-meat plate, or nab all you can for a feast to enjoy later.

The Salt Lick. t’s a bit of a hike to get here and a tourist favourite, but well worth the 20-mile drive out of town just to see the massive outdoor barbecue pits at this park-like place off US 290. It’s family-run and the barbecue recipe served today has its roots in the wagon-train days of the 1800s, when the same meats would have been served around the campfire. Crowds are huge and it’s BYOB.

Stiles Switch. With manageable queues, you won’t have to suffer to enjoy fantastic smoky brisket at this popular eatery six miles north of downtown Austin. The vibe is nostalgic, playing on Stiles’ location in a ’50s shopping centre, but the name actually comes from an 1800s railroad stop. Top your meat off with a side of corn casserole and a local microbrew.

Retro Dining

Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill (above). Dating from the mid-1850s, the building inhabited by this bar is a well preserved homage to Austin’s early days. Within its exposed limestone walls, you can enjoy comfort food, happy hours and a lavish Sunday brunch buffet.

Launderette. This modern American restaurant is a in a former launderette, with a stylish, streamlined design that provides a fine backdrop to the inventive cooking. The menu is broad and features crab toast, wood-grilled octopus, Brussels sprouts with apple-bacon marmalade and wonderful brick chicken.

Güero’s Taco Bar. Set in an 1800s feed-and-seed store that closed its doors in the 1990s, Guero’s is an Austin classic and always draws a crowd. Come for homemade corn tortillas (the tacos al pastor are excellent), chicken tortilla soup, Mexican beer and refreshing margaritas. Live music and dancing is a fixture in its oak-shaded garden from Wednesday to Sunday.

Austin Essentials

Where to Stay
Former fire station, Firehouse Hostel, has the perfect downtown location and private rooms as well as bunks. The stylish lounge is all red walls, flickering candles and bespoke cocktails. The entrance is quirkily concealed behind a sliding bookshelf.

Inn at Pearl Street is a lovingly restored property, decorated in a plush European style. Rooms are across two buildings, Victoria House and Burton House.
Hotel San José is the vision of local hotelier Liz Lambert, who revamped a ’30s-vintage motel into a chic retreat with minimalist rooms, a bamboo-fringe pool and a courtyard bar that’s known for its celebrity-spotting potential.

The Know-How

Meals on wheels – Food trailers are a permanent fixture in Austin – even if they can move around at whim. Clusters of these can often be found in these spots:

South Austin Trailer Park & Eatery. This seems to be a rather settled trailer community, with a fence, a sign and picnic tables. Look for Torehy’s Tacos, which whips up some of Austin’s best.

1503 S 1st St. You’ll find a cluster of food trailers, such as Gourdough’s, which serves gourmet doughnut combos, including a doughnut burger.

South Congress Ave. Between Elizabeth and Monroe, there are lots of food options, including the decadent Hey Cupcake!

East Austin. There’s a little enclave, conveniently located among the bars on the corner of E 6th and Waller Sts. Five blocks east is East Side King, serving excellent Thai (dinner only).