This guest post is brought to us by Louis Sheppard, former Fort Worth chef now living in Austin. Leave it to Louis to scope out all the best holes in the walls and restaurants for food adventurers and music lovers in Austin. Even if you’re not headed to SXSW check out some of these spots on your next trip to Austin.
Well kids, it’s that time again. Time to shave your beards into handlebar mustaches and bleach your hair Norwegian blond. Yes, the South by Southwest music festival is back. The bands, the parties, the booze, and the parking. As Fort Worth’s self appointed culinary ambassador to Austin, I have taken it upon myself to give you, faithful ETFW reader, the inside track on the best places to fill your bellies in the ATX.
We have a lot of restaurants here in Austin. Most of them, however, suck. This is due to a constantly fluctuating population of students, politicians, tourists and gunmen, who reward mediocrity by patronizing the multi-million dollar chain-like establishments and overpriced fast food joints that dominate the downtown and university districts.
“But, Louis, where am I going to eat lunch after 8 free tall cans of Lone Star at 11AM on a Thursday?”. And, “I’ve been stalking the drummer from Wild America for hours and everything is closed and I’m weely hungy. Where do I find something to quell my hunger at two in the morning?”. Questions we’ve all asked ourselves. So this is for you Fort Worth, here ya go.
24 Diner
600 N Lamar Blvd. (512) 472-5400
This is a relatively new place that now occupies the old Waterloo Ice House next to Waterloo records. The menu is broad without being to big. The food is simple, straight forward, and done very well. Think ‘Ol South meets Eddie V’s and you’re close. There are plenty of options for the whole crew, including the vegetarian who only eats meat on St. Patrick’s Day. Be prepared to wait for a table.
www.24diner.com
Taqueria Star
343 S. Congress Ave.
Taqueria Star is a trailer parked in a liquor store parking lot, so you know it’s good. In fact, it’s the best Mexican food I’ve had in Austin. That being said, I’ve only ever eaten one thing off their menu: Tacos al Pastor – 5 for $5.99. What else do you need? White corn tortillas, slow cooked pork, roasted pineapples, queso fresco, avocado…sorry, I just had to leave for a minute and go pick some up. I’m glad I did though, because I almost forgot to mention the red and green salsas that come with the al pastors. Nothing like you’ve had in Ft. Worth. I promise. Open till 3 a.m. on the weekends and 11 p.m. weekdays.
The East Side King
1618 1/2 E. 6th ST.(Behind Liberty Bar)
You’ve been to New York right? Remember that place your friends took you to that was sooooo good, but you can’t remember the name because it was some weird Japanese hipster word with too many vowels? It was Momofuku fool, and now we have our own little version in Austin. Without boring you (and me) I’ll just say that the owner used to work at Momofuku and is currently the chef de cuisine at an Austin culinary giant.
The first time I went here I had beef tongue steam buns and they were the shit! So I kept going back and bringing my friends and they all agreed that we had found a gem. Try the fried beets with miso mayonnaise, the fried chicken, and the brussel sprout salad. It’s all great. PLUS! It’s in the patio of a bar, so you won’t have to deal with homeless people looking for spare change while you wait for your grub (well, maybe a couple, but they’re only half homeless).
www.eastsidekingaustin.com
The East Side Show Room
1100 E. 6th ST.
I’m sure at one time or another, in those years between art school and your first kid, you thought to yourself: Wouldn’t it be great to have my own restaurant? And you thought – I’m going to use only local, seasonal food, build all the furniture from scratch, create custom cocktails that make Baptists form committees and have the coolest people in the universe as my patrons. Well, sorry, some one beat you to the punch. But, you can still eat there. I do all the time. Get the charcuterie, a shot of aquavit and quit crying you baby. You still have time get your masters in psychology.
www.eastsideshowroom.com
Emerald City Press
915 N. Lamar
Let’s face it, you will be very drunk at SXSW. After all, Paddy’s day and Spring Break will be happening as well. Don’t hold back, get good and tight. But, when you wake up at some random dude’s house and his roommate is smoking weed through a Olde English 800 tall boy can at eight in the morning, you’ll need a coffee. And why go corporate when you can go local? Get your ass down to Emerald City Press, get the best cup of coffee around. It is a wonderful place to cure that sexy hangover. Be sure to enjoy their secret patio around back.
www.emeraldcitypress.com
Counter Cafe
626 N. Lamar
O.K. You’ve had your coffee, you’re feeling better, you’re planning the days events. All you need now is the Counter Cafe’s “local food and global love.” Cheap, awesome, and filling. Sound good? Of course it does. You may have to wait for a seat, but once you sit down, your food comes out fast and hot. Try the egg sandwich. Please, for me.
www.countercafe.com
Shuck Shack
1808 E. Cesar Chavez
This place is a nicer version of JJ’s Oyster Bar. Full bar, tree covered patio, oysters and horseshoes. I’m including this on the list because once again, it’s cheap, good, and away from the SXSW madness. A great place to relax between shows. And, it’s within a mile of four piñata stores. I know, you may thank me later.
www.shuckshack.com
Brasserie Justine
4710 E. 5th St.
Speaking of being away from the madness, here is a place every city needs. Open late, 60’s soul and R&B coming from a turntable behind the bar and the kind of French food you get in France – Steak frites, escargot, salade nicoise, charcuterie. They have it all. If you were thinking of going on a date whilst in Austin, this would be the spot. Unless you’re going on a date with my dad. He’s not very fond of the French.
www.justines1937.com
Green Mesquite BBQ
1400 Barton Springs Rd.
Texans love their BBQ and rightly so. But for some reason we all want to find one BBQ place and only eat there for the rest of our lives. When a friend takes you to their favorite BBQ place all you can do is talk shit about how much better Angelo’s or Railhead is. Who cares? It’s all the same basic idea. Throw some meat and fire into the earth, cover, get drunk, pass out, wake up and 14 hours later, eat. This is not a highly refined art form, just look at the people who work at BBQ places – You won’t be seeing them at Modern ‘til Midnight. OK, that was uncalled for.
Why does BBQ get us so worked up? Where was I? Oh yeah, Green Mesquite. The brother of the guy who owns this place was on Hogan’s Heroes. That alone warrants a visit. Not enough for ya? Tree covered beer garden, pulled pork stuffed baked potato and Pearl Light from a can. I promise, you might start saying it’s the best place in Austin.
www.greenmesquite.net
Sam’s
2000 E. 12th St.
My other favorite BBQ place in the ATX is Sam’s. Rumor has it, that Stevie Ray Vaughn used to live here, literally. This old east side house, located right in the heart of Austin’s red light district, serves up the best chopped beef sandwich on the planet. All you need to know is what is says on the front of the house, “You don’t need teeth to eat my beef!”. So true. This spot is open late. Sometimes really late. So hit the ATM (cash only), get a cab to the east side and send yourself to heaven on the wings of Sam’s beef.
LaMexicana
1924 S. 1st St.
It’s four-thirty in the A.M., even the clothes you’re wearing are legally drunk and your judgment is questionable. Sounds like you’re ready for La Mexicana. This crux of humanity sits on a quiet corner of south Austin not far from downtown. This is a happy place, where you won’t be judged for loosing your flip flop at the Billy Bragg concert you snuck into. La Mexicana has you covered. Tortas, cakes, pralines, enchiladas and all other manner of Mexican food you need to help you through the night and ultimately the festival.
www.la-mexicana-bakery.com
I hope this list helps guide you through the concrete jungle that is SXSW. These are just a few of the many wonderful places to eat in Austin.
Photos courtesy of Renate Winter (click each photo to get a full view of her lovely photography)
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