These are our high picks for meals vans in Austin (pictured: Madras Dhaba) — Picture courtesy of Brian Cicioni
No different Texas metropolis has meals vans ingrained into its tradition fairly like Austin. Whereas Houston will be the hands-down winner in relation to sheer range and quantity of meals choices in a Texas metropolis, Austin has a vibe all its personal.
Most estimates of what number of meals vans are in Austin begin at 1,000. That signifies that the Texas capital has at the least one meals truck for roughly each thousand residents.
Whereas there are sufficient meals truck parks within the downtown space to maintain you exploring for days, you will additionally discover a few of Austin’s most revered meals vans alongside farm-to-market roads that really feel a world away from the Texas capital of cool.
Listed here are 10 of our high meals vans in Austin.
Cannone Gelato
Cool off with a cone from Cannone Gelato at The Picnic — Picture courtesy of Brian Cicioni
Whereas there is not any such factor as an ideal meals metropolis with out a mixture of old school ice cream parlors and a gelateria or two, Austin has an impressive gelato store on wheels. Cannone Gelato is a derivative of Cannone Cucina Italiana, which was began by Italy native Salvatore Cannone. Cannone moved from Monaco to Austin for love, and the remaining is nice historical past. Select from two dozen gelato and sorbetto flavors, starting from conventional Stracciatella gelato to spicy-sweet pineapple-jalapeno sorbet.
As of this writing, each Cannone vans are at The Picnic.
Ceviche Love
Ceviche Love, simply south of Austin-Bergstrom Worldwide Airport — Picture courtesy of Brian Cicioni
Ceviche Love, 10 miles south of downtown on FM 812, makes you are feeling such as you’ve been transported to Mexico, as you get pleasure from an ice-cold michelada and contemporary seafood fare. Whereas the workers communicate English, the menu is generally in Spanish, which is the language you will hear most among the many patrons.
At Ceviche Love, you will uncover a big selection of aguachiles, ceviche, seafood cocktails, and way more, all of that are underneath $20. Ceviche de Mango is a must-try dish right here. The extra conventional ceviche components come topped with a complete chopped mango and purple pepper flakes sprinkled on high to provide it some spice.
Churro Co.
Attempt the Campfire churro, a high vendor at Churro Co. — Picture courtesy of Brian Cicioni
With components like popcorn sugar and goat’s milk caramel, Churro Co. is probably the most enjoyable place on our record. The small however candy specialty menu has three gadgets that appear to be in a “cutesiness” competitors in relation to names. Campfire, tossed in graham cracker and topped with torched marshmallow and Mexican chocolate, is the highest vendor. Texas Consolation is as American because the apple pie filling and cardamon sugar that tops this churro.
East Facet King
East Facet King’s Thai hen kara-age — Picture courtesy of Brian Cicioni
You have to be 21 to enter Liberty Bar, which is the gateway to East Facet King’s meals truck in East Austin. (There is a brick-and-mortar location in South Austin.) This Japanese-leaning Asian avenue meals idea feels hidden however is price searching for out. The Thai hen kara-age, served with contemporary basil, mixes Japanese avenue meals and Southeast Asian flavors. The delicate spice stage enhances the candy sauce.
You can also get pleasure from their signature kara-age on a bao bun or in a bowl. The menu presents loads of vegetarian choices.
Touring to Houston? East Facet King additionally has a spot at POST, one in every of Houston’s eclectic meals halls.
Madras Dhaba
Madras Dhaba, the place the hen tikka taco is a high vendor — Picture courtesy of Brian Cicioni
Madras Dhaba is the longest-standing vendor occupying an area at 1606 East Meals Trailer Park. The turmeric-colored meals truck is a well-liked spot for biryani and Indian tacos. Based on proprietor and Chennai native Shyam, his hen tikka tacos are a crowd favourite. At simply $10.99, beneficiant parts of the UK’s nationwide dish are folded into paratha bread like tacos and topped with flavored rice, onion and cilantro.
Shyam additionally owns the adjoining Royal Fusion Indochinese, which opens at 6 p.m. and caters to a night crowd. Based on the spirited entrepreneur, everyone seems to be welcome at both truck. He likes to joke that his meals is “white individuals spicy.” For those who’ve by no means had Hakka noodles, Royal Fusion is the place to strive.
Patrizi’s
Watermelon feta salad and cacio e pepe from Patrizi’s — Picture courtesy of Brian Cicioni
No different meals truck on our record has a historical past like Patrizi’s. The truck, situated at The VORTEX, is the place you may strive recipes that date again to at the least 1948. That is when the unique Patrizi’s opened in Beaumont, Texas.
Consuming pasta dishes, akin to cacio e pepe (olive oil, grana padano cheese, cracked black pepper) and diavolo (lemon, olive oil, rosemary, egg yolks, purple chili, grana padano cheese) on paper plates could appear awkward at first, however Patrizi’s is one in every of Austin’s extra standard meals vans. There’s ample seating throughout the truck, and sometimes there’s reside music.
Patrizi’s is open seven days per week for dinner.
Sammataro
The Traditional Pie from Sammataro — Picture courtesy of Brian Cicioni
Sammataro is situated alongside East twelfth Avenue in Arbor Meals Park. This mozzarella-colored pizza truck has a wood-fired oven hooked up to the again, from which the Sammatro group makes three totally different crispy-bottom pies.
We suggest making an attempt the Traditional Pie first. It is a conventional margherita topped with shredded, aged parmesan cheese and complete basil leaves. The meat-centric Sammataro Supreme is the Traditional Pie topped with sausage and pepperoni. The White Pie is sort of like a dessert, due to the lemon ricotta cream.
Shirley’s Trini Delicacies
Stewed oxtail from Shirley’s Trini Delicacies — Picture courtesy of Brian Cicioni
Three generations of Trinidadian women from San Fernando (Trinidad, not California) run this Caribbean meals truck, situated in the identical 1606 E. sixth Avenue meals trailer park as Madras Dhaba and Royal Fusion. At Shirley’s, all meat is served on the bone, so that you get most taste.
The stew oxtail plate with rice is a well-liked dish and the one we suggest for first-time guests. It is a great strategy to expertise the flavors of South Asia and Africa, that are so prevalent in Trini cooking. Shirley’s serves this hearty and sizable dish with plantains, salad and white rice. The oxtail meat is tender sufficient which you could take away it from the bone with a plastic fork.
Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ
The road at Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ — Picture courtesy of Brian Cicioni
Valentina’s is a type of “get there earlier than they promote out” meals vans. Sandwiches make up the “Tex” a part of the menu, whereas a handful of meat tacos put the “Mex” in Tex Mex. All meats used within the tacos and sandwiches can be found for buy by the pound.
Whereas each metropolis has its vacation spot eating places, that is Austin’s vacation spot meals truck. It is situated 14 miles from downtown, but individuals from world wide have been right here. Take a look at the big map to the left of the tin shack, which serves because the eating corridor. Based on the pins, patrons have come from so far as Mozambique and North Korea to strive the award-winning smoked meats.
The barbecue sauce you will discover on every desk comes with a written warning that it’s going to self-destruct if faraway from the premises. We suggest shopping for your individual bottle for $9.
Veracruz All Pure
Veracruz All Pure is understood for its migas tacos — Picture courtesy of Brian Cicioni
Whilst you can simply make a listing of taco vans in Austin, we narrowed it right down to Veracruz All Pure for this record. Run by two sisters initially from Veracruz, Mexico, this native favourite has a handful of places all through Austin and is understood for his or her migas tacos. However there are 16 different choices, starting from barbacoa to a half-dozen vegan dishes. The menu additionally boasts a wide range of refreshing juices and smoothies.
Common patrons know the drill: both order on-line or enter your order by way of the POS. Accomplished orders are positioned by the service window in a brown paper bag each couple of minutes with meeting line effectivity.
We suggest the South Austin location, which shares a seating space with the favored Radio Espresso and Beer.