Well it happened again. We had guests in town and we went on an eating frenzy. Four of Evelyn’s good friends from college came to Austin to check out the city and see Evelyn before our little man gets here. Here’s a recap of how the weekend of indulgence played out.
My dad and step-mom came into town to visit for the first time, so we showed them the ropes. And by ropes I mean we ate a crazy amount of food in a very short period of time. Like a few weekends ago, it would be a lot for a week, let alone two days.
For six days, Truck by Truckwest, a new food trailer showcase, took over Austin’s mobile food scene. With a $20 pass you could access special deals at over 60 Austin food trucks, trailers, and carts. Some gave out free samples, others provided discounts, and a few put together exclusive menu items. As for the food trucks, the incentive came in the form of one, winner-take-all, voted-by-the-people $10,000 prize. I’d call that a big motivator!
So of course I participated in this city-wide food trailer crawl! In total I tried 17 different dishes from 15 trailers, with some surprising (and not-so-surprising) favorites. For me, my favorites came from my already-favorite trailers, like both stackers from Cow Tipping Creamery and the chopped brisket slider from La Barbecue. The dark horses included Valentina’s TexMex BBQ (smoked brisket tacos) and Llama’s Peruvian (Saltado de Pollo Sanguche (grilled chicken sandwich)). That’s not to say others weren’t delicious too. Most were excellent, with only one or two considered disappointing.
As for the event itself, I’d call it a big success. Considering the fragmented world of food trucks, where any given truck may not know it’s own schedule from day to day, coordinating such an effort is no small feat. For the most part, trucks were communicating their deals and honoring them just at the sight of a TXTW badge. Some were eager to have those badges come up to their window (Celia Jacob’s Cheesecake Experience comes to mind as being super enthusiastic). The only feedback for the event would be to create a mobile app to help organize a person’s TXTW experience, but that’s a future nice-to-have, and not a criticism.
So who got my vote? Well, that’s my little secre… COW TIPPING CREAMERY. Not for nothing, they are seemingly incapable of creating anything short of a masterpiece in ice cream form. Now, I don’t know if they’re going to win, but I sure hope they do. My fear is
that the voting may become a popularity contest regardless of the food that was served during TXTW, but that can’t
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really be helped.
As for the winner… I’ll update this post when it’s announced shortly. But really, we’re all winners. Because that was a lot of food for not a lot of money. Can’t wait for next year!
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Today I set out with two friends to do the unthinkable — have lunch at five different food trucks. Ok, it’s actually not that unthinkable, and it wasn’t even hard. And I didn’t even plan on it. Wow that was some pretty lame bragging, huh? Ok, let me explain.
Sometimes a series of events predisposes you to dislike something. We’ve all been there, whether it’s long lines, noisy crowds, or sold out menu items. In this case, it was cold, windy, and our orders took a little longer than they should. But the food –oh the food– once it arrived erased all that. This is the paradox of Melvin’s Deli Comfort.
I’ve gotta say, these Trailer Food Tuesdays events are pretty fantastic. Since the first one early last year, they’ve really found their groove and know how to show off Austin’s food trucks to Austin’s hungry residents. Ev and I headed down after work hoping to meet up with friends and try some new-to-us trucks.
Before we get started, I need you to do something for me. Forget everything you know about “eating in moderation”. Ok? Ok, let’s continue. This is a tale about a little trailer on East 6th that knows exactly who it is. No identity crisis; no sitting on the fence; no hemming and/or hawing. None of that. Fried and True is, if nothing else, true to itself. Fried and True fries everything, and they’re proud of it.
Click image to see the full 2013 AFBA City Guide
While some choose to focus the calendar around January 1st, Austin revolves around something a little more important: South by Southwest. I mean, sure, you could celebrate the day changing, just like it does 364 other times a year, along with every single person in the world. OR you could be a little weird and celebrate 2,500+ bands, 730+ film screenings, and thousands of other events, all crammed into 10 days.
I like to use this as an opportunity to reflect on the newest food trailers making a name for themselves. By no means is this list a full representation of the dozens (hundreds?) of new trailers hitting the scene. In fact, this post would get unwieldy very quickly if I tried to include them all. Here are just a few to whet your appetite. Hope you’re hungry. (all photos are mine)
Kicking things off, an entirely new trailer park has opened on UT Campus called the Rancho Rio Eatery. You could stop here in the morning and be all set until bed time, with coffee, waffles, smoothies, sandwiches, Thai food, pizza, sausages, dessert, and more.
Velveteen Coffee House – Facebook | Food Trailers Austin
Run by a young husband and wife, this trailer makes a mean cup of coffee. Though primarily targeting the bleary-eyed students on their way to class, you should plan to swing by for your caffeine boost and avoid the lines at Starbucks. If the line gets long, they’ve been known to offer up free samples of other menu items while you wait.
Coffee at Velveteen Coffee House
Cow Tipping Creamery – My Reviews One Two Three | Website | Facebook | Twitter | Food Trailers Austin
For a new spin on ice cream Cow Tipping Creamery is working its magic with soft serve. This isn’t some pedestrian TCBY knockoff; this truck puts together special flavor combinations. Grab a Cone, Shake, or Stacker (below) and sit back and let the goodness wash over you.
Fluffer Nutter at Cow Tipping Creamery
The Mighty Cone – Website | Facebook | Twitter | Food Trailers Austin
Not new by any means — in fact, one of the oldest food trailers in town — has a new home. You’ll find all the same, coney goodness in a new location. The Mighty Cone is an institution, and as such, its new location needed to be mentioned.
The North Loop neighborhood has seen a boom in bars and restaurants recently, and now trailers are finding their way there too. Two new spots, which couldn’t be more different, are offering some great eats worth checking out away from the downtown fray.
Melvin’s Deli Comfort – Website | Facebook
With a weekday, lunch-only, meat-heavy menu, Melvin’s Deli Comfort makes big sandwiches with house-made deli meats. We’re talking huge pastramis, hefty hot Italian beefs, and rich Croque Monsieurs. Get there early, though, because they seem to run out of popular menu items (ahem, pastrami) pretty quick.
Italian Beef at Melvin’s Deli Comfort
The Vegan Nom – Website | Facebook | Twitter | Food Trailers Austin
To counter Melvin’s meatastic menu, The Vegan Nom focuses on vegan tacos, along with other animal-free breakfast, lunch, and dinner fare. No promises, but you might just forget that there’s no eggs, meat, or cheese by the time you’re finished here.
Guac N Roll – Website | Twitter | Food Trailers Austin
A green truck, with a mohawk, and a clever name — talk about a winning combination! Plus most of their guacamole menu –yes, a whole section of different guacamole options– is based on musical puns (Guac The Casbah, anyone?). It’s just outside of the North Loop area, and worth a stop on your way to or from downtown. Follow them on Twitter, since rumor has it they may be going more mobile soon.
Little Big Mike’s – Website | Facebook | Twitter | Food Trailers Austin
Pizza in Austin has seen some relative improvement recently, but is still a veritable dead zone in the land of Tex-Mex and BBQ. Little Big Mike’s, located on South Congress, offers a new style to the city by featuring individual pan pizzas with all kinds of unique flavor combinations. Hatch Green Chile & Avocado, anyone?
Burro Cheese Kitchen – Website | Facebook | Twitter | Food Trailers Austin
If there’s something more comforting than a grilled cheese sandwich, I’m not sure I’ve found it. Burro Cheese Kitchen elevates the grilled cheese to the next level, while staying true to its roots. The cheese is the star of the show, made obvious by the impressive list of options listed on the menu. Check them out on South Congress until the trailer park closes down.
Waylon & Willie at Burro Cheese Kitchen
Yeti Frozen Custard – Website | Facebook | Twitter | Food Trailers Austin
You say “frozen custard”; I say “ohmygodgetoutofmyway”. With that said, true frozen custard is rare find, kind of like a Yeti. Swing by Yeti Frozen Custard on South 1st for a real treat. Even better idea? First grab some La Barbecue (scroll way down) and follow it up with some Yeti dessert.
Concrete at Yeti Frozen Custard
Tommy Want Wingy – Facebook | Twitter | Food Trailers Austin
Although I question the name choice, the premise is solid. The worst part about chicken wings is the mess. TWW does the prep work for you and you’re left with chicken wing popsicles. Think of them as wings in drumstick form, like this. Find them at the Barton Springs Neighborhood Food Court.
Honky Tonk Hot Dogs – Website | Facebook | Twitter | Food Trailers Austin
Sometimes you need a good ol’ fashioned hot dog, dressed how you like it, and served with a punch of live music. Honky Tonk Hot Dogs delivers on all counts, including performances from the very talented owner Scott. Drop by for a dog, some tunes and, as is typical with many food trailer parks, be sure to BYOB. They’re next door to Tommy Want Wingy.
All-American w/ sample of chili at Honky Tonk Hot Dogs
Lard Have Mercy! – Website | Facebook | Twitter | Food Trailers Austin
Probably the best name for a trailer, ever. Specializing in deep fried everything, Lard Have Mercy! is a great late-night snack place — y’know, when that fried Twinkie doesn’t sound quite so bad. Find them on South 1st.
One of the most noteworthy trends this past year has been the expansion of food trailers to the greater Austin area. Now Round Rock and Pflugerville each have their own dedicated food trailer parks serving the underserved and doing it quite well. From my experience, both of these mentioned BBQ trailers can hold their own against any barbecue found in the greater Austin area.
UPDATE: THE ROUND ROCK FOOD TRAILER PARK IS PERMANENTLY CLOSED.
Round Rock isn’t just home to Dell and giant donuts anymore. The Round Rock Food Trailer Park is the first food trailer park to set up in this Austin suburb.
UPDATE: CURLY’S PERFECT PIG AND HALL OF FLAME BBQ HAVE CLOSED THEIR TRAILERS AND HAVE OPENED A JOINT VENTURE BRICK-AND-MORTAR RESTAURANT CALLED CURLY’S CAROLINA, TEXAS.
Curly’s Perfect Pig – My Reviews One Two | Website | Facebook | Twitter | Food Trailers Austin
Sure, Curly’s serves barbecue, but this isn’t like any Q you’ll find in Texas. Here pig is king. At this Carolina style BBQ you’ll almost forget you’re in Texas with the first bite of pulled pork. Get it on a sandwich, baked potato, or just on a plate. No matter how you order it, you’ll be impressed. Right off of I-35, it isn’t really that far to pay a visit up to Round Rock.
Pulled Pork Baked Potato at Curly’s Perfect Pig
A little northwest of Austin you’ll find the new Pflugerville Pfood Ranch serving the outer edge of Austin to those who don’t want to fight I-35 traffic to get deep into Austin.
Hall of Flame BBQ – My Review | Website | Facebook | Twitter | Food Trailers Austin
Technically not new, but new to the mainstream scene, Hall of Flame BBQ knows how to cook meat. With brisket that rivals the best in town and a wasabi cole slaw that will blow you away, it’s worth the trip away from downtown just a bite before heading back. Currently only open on Saturdays, they’re hoping to expand hours and locations soon.
Beef Ribs and Sausage at Hall of Flame BBQ
Little Fatty’s – Website | Facebook | Twitter | Food Trailers Austin
Serving up gorditas (which quite literally translates to little fatty), these guys are taking to the streets in a seriously mobile way. At five bucks apiece, you’ll be handed an extra large arepa-like pocket packed with big flavor. Easy for on-the-go mouth filling.
Fried and True – My Review | Website | Facebook | Twitter
Oh boy. Decisions, decisions. Funnel cake or fried Oreos? Chocolate-covered candied bacon or deep fried Sriracha grilled cheese sandwich? If you’re like me, the only choice is to get all of it. Want it for half the calories? Go with a friend and share. Open late on the East side, perfect for post-drinking refueling.
Deep fried Oreo and Funnel Cake at Fried and True
Lastly, I want to mention two (three?) trailers that have reinvented themselves in the last year.
East Side King @ The Grackle – Website | Facebook | Twitter | Food Trailers Austin
Never content with success, (Top Chef) Paul Qui has rebuilt one of the East Side King trifecta. The Grackle location has a new truck and new menu, making it as new as an old trailer can be. The menu is just as inventive as the other spots, but remains heavily focused on utilizing it’s big grill. A great stop at the easternmost stretch of East 6th St to either start or end your night.
J Mueller BBQ –> La Barbecue “Texicana Cuisine” – Website | Facebook | Twitter | Food Trailers Austin
Thought of as one of the tops in the city, J Mueller BBQ has been rebranded as LA Barbecue Texicana Cuisine (don’t even get me started on the name). The change came after John Mueller was unceremoniously relieved of his post as pitmaster and replaced by Franklin BBQ alum John Lewis. It’s still turning out some of the finest BBQ in the city under John Mueller’s sister (LeAnn)’s watchful eye. (My Review of J Mueller BBQ)
Beef Rib at LA Barbecue
JSM Meat Market – Website | Facebook | Twitter
John Mueller is the pitmaster you love to hate. Not one to shy away from controversy, one thing most people can agree on is he makes some mean BBQ. Perhaps best known for his beef ribs, go grab a sampler from his new location out East.
Sampler at J Mueller BBQ
Fresh ingredients, simply prepared, generally make fresh, simple sandwiches. At Hey!… You Gonna Eat or What?, you will not find one of those sandwiches. From the snarky quote bubbles, garish red paint job, and bold menu, you get the feeling that this bus plays by its own rules. No doubt you’ll find fresh ingredients, but HYGEoW works some dark magic to create unexpected twists on classic sandwiches.
Don’t mess with Texas. Land of Cattle, The Longhorns, and BBQ. Beef is king, be it on a sandwich, bone-in, or straight up. So who has the gall to bring something so New England like a lobster roll to the Lone Star State? One brave trailer is testing the waters in drought-riddled Austin with their menu full of creative sandwiches, headlined by The Maine Event. Meet Dock and Roll Diner.
