On East 11th St, as you drive past the throngs of semi-crazy meat fanatics waiting for (in my and countless others’ opinions) the best barbecue money can buy, you’ll come across a lonely trailer set up in an empty grass lot. Artistically painted on the trailer you’ll find a curious word name: Micklethwait.
There’s no shortage of barbecue in Austin. However, there seems to be a shortage of good barbecue. Or, more correctly, there’s been an influx of below average ‘cue, making it feel like everything is going downhill. Got it? Well let me be clear: Hall of Flame BBQ makes great barbecue. Sit back, because I have a lot to say.
Good things happen to good people. A few months ago I had a barbecue epiphany when I tasted some mighty fine Carolina pulled pork at Curly’s Perfect Pig. Well after my first eye-opening experience, Curly’s was making plans to relocate to bigger and better things. Once a lone trailer in the parking lot of a mediocre restaurant near UT campus, Curly’s now finds itself as the anchor of the newest (and only) food trailer lot in Round Rock.
Texas is BBQ country. Beef barbecue to be clear, but you already knew that. You find your classic beef brisket, chopped beef, and beef short ribs basically anywhere you go. So what happens when a little Carolina ‘cue comes to town and starts making waves? Well Curly’s Perfect Pig is doing just that, bringing Carolina barbecue, aka pork barbecue, to the cattle-hungry Texans of Austin.
Just seven days removed from trying a brand new BBQ trailer, I knew it was time to visit an old name in Texas barbecue. John Mueller (pronounced Miller) of the Mueller dynasty is remaking his name after a decade of being out of the barbecue scene. A lot has changed since he closed the doors of his popular Austin spot in 2001, namely the meteoric rise of his former pitmaster Aaron Franklin. He’s been back in full force since October 2011 with a trailer in South Austin turning out all kinds of smoky goodness and looking to reclaim his spot at the top of the BBQ food chain.
Since moving to Texas I’ve become smitten with barbecue. I know, nothing special, but it’s true nonetheless. I’ve had my fair share, ranging from the disappointing to the divine. With a brand new barbecue spot opening (a trailer, no less!) in Southwest Austin I rallied the troops for a day of fun starting with a visit to Woodpile BBQ. Hope you’re hungry!
The “Establishment”
I’ve gotten the urge to do some real scientific, in-your-face, who’s-king-of-the-castle, head-to-head(-to-head) taste tests between some of our favorite trailers. This post is just a preview of what I have on deck. The rules are simple: 1) Each place needs to offer up a similar, nearly identical menu item for a fair competition. 2) The food needs to come from a trailer. That’s it. Let the battle(s)… BEGIN!
As far as food trucks go The Peached Tortilla is on my short-list of best evers. They focus on the highest quality food with new and exciting flavors, all while remembering everyone’s name. Their primary focus is on tacos and sliders made with unique combinations like crunchy catfish or pork belly (banh mi). On yesterday’s visit I went with the intentions of trying one of their new burritos. And let me stop you right there– burritos are not just bigger tacos.
Oh. My. God. That’s what Ev and I thought… then whispered… then screamed… as we pulled into the parking lot. But let’s back up. Our original dinner plan this evening was to hit up Conscious Cravings (t.b.b.*), a local, healthy vegetarian trailer that I’ve enjoyed before and that we both had at Gypsy Picnic (with tepid reviews). So why all the Lord’s name in vain business? Because right next door to our vegetarian destination sat the most heavenly sight to behold. The unbearably delicious Salt Lick BBQ has set up shop in an old Air Stream trailer not 5 minutes from our apartment.
I started this post right after my second trip to Chi’Lantro and I’ve been 2 more times since. Rather than write three separate posts for my favorite Korean-Mexican food truck (and yes, there’s more than one in Austin), I thought I’d spare you and combine them all into one superpost. Each visit showcased a new menu item with some good and bad to each, so keeping reading to find out what you should get when you try ’em out.
