What’s the best dumpy place to eat in Austin?
I thank you in advance for your suggestions.
Austin food bleg
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Bangers
Vic’s BBQ, on the way to the airport:
3502 Burleson Rd, Austin, TX 78741
http://www.vicsbbq.net/
The brisket and ribs in particular.
Paul Qui’s East Side King food truck. You have to walk through the grungy Liberty Bar to get to it in the back. Pork belly steamed buns, beet fries, curry bun.
Just about any random breakfast taco place will do ya good in Austin.
Juan in a million being the iconic option.
Fed man waliking’s 500 taco project is a good resource.
More generally:
Best noodles are at xian
A good diner breakfast is at counter cafe
Interesting and good BBQ at micklethwait
Great Thai at Thai Kuhn
Whip-in for indian-texas fusion in a convenience store setting
Welcome to Austin! For soups or kimchi, I like Manna Korean on N. Lamar. Tacos Deliciosos across from Kealing Middle School has tasty and substantial pepper and egg breakfast tacos (try the salsa verde). The quality at Las Cazuelas has dropped as the neighborhood has changed but their green sauce has been notable. Not dumpy, but I adore the spicy miso ramen at Daruma downtown, the fried chicken at Gus’ Famous Friend Chicken, and whatever strikes your fancy at Lucky’s Puccias. If you have any free time, I’d love to buy you a cup of coffee. It’s the least I could do given how much MR has guided me through the years.
Texas Chili Parlor is properly dumpy. Hole in the wall Texas food.
Juan in a Million – good tex mex on the east side.
Maudies – good tex mex. West 7th location. Nicer than the above but still in a mini strip mall next to goodwill.
I was eating lunch at the Texas Chili Parlor when the television said that Reagan had been shot. The chili was pretty good.
wunder
My favorite is Taco More off West Rundberg, in addition to the standard (and brilliant) tacos, this is one of the few places I’ve tried with Lengua and tacos chicharron, and if you grow weary of the taco, the caldo is brilliant in the winter, as are an of the traditional plates I’ve sampled. It is a top notch dump, and as a transplant from Fairfax County returning shortly, probably the thing I will miss the most.
If you’re looking for a hipper dump, I wholeheartedly recommend Tysons Tacos on airport. If you’re able to secure a helping of the beans refried in duck fat, they are transcendental, and probably against the law.
I second Taco More.
The only reasonable suggestion so far is Alex’s — East Side King is now a mini-empire, but the one in Liberty still might be the best, and it’s definitely both dumpy and appropriately representative of the dive bar-with-food truck scene. The “Detroit-style” pizza from the Via 313 truck at Violet Crown bar is surprisingly good and fits into the same category
For BBQ Micklethwait is a good bet — it’s only 75% as good as Franklin but sooo much less obnoxious as a destination (though do get there before or right at 11 as the line starts getting substantial soon after).
For dumpy tacos, La Fruta Feliz on Manor has easily the best in-house corn tortillas in Austin — in fact, they’re damn good even by DF standards — with carnitas, chivo, and lengua as good fillings. El Papalote on Lamar has very good fillings, but the tortillas are subpar.
Juan in a Million may be nostalgia-laden but the food is crap, and most Austin Tex-Mex is a gloopy mess, which I happily devour once in a while but definitely isn’t memorable. Within this scene I’d second the Texas Chili Parlor call, on ambience alone. The bathroom, now sadly repainted, used to contain my favorite restroom graffiti in town: “America is about speed. Fat, nasty, brutish speed. –Eleanor Roosevelt”
Thirding East Side King. The brussels sprouts are a miss, but the buns and chicken are mighty, mighty tasty.
No love for Casino el Camino? I haven’t eaten much outside of central Austin, but that burger is top notch for a big-ass sloppy dive bar burger.
Casino El Camino has the best burgers in town and their on Dirty Sixth.
Thank you (and tony) so much for the head’s up on La Fruta Feliz. I just went to try it out, and it was delicious. They really do have amazing corn tortillas.
(Yo, I live on the east side.)
Just go to Gourdough’s downtown (on 5th and Lavaca) and get a Ron Burgundy or a Mother Clucker. Wash it down with a 512 IPA and then get a Nutty Valentine or a Black Betty to go.
I concur. (Austin-born, but moved away.)
Daniel above has it right, the TCP (Texas Chili Parler)…best dive and genuine Texas food…
Best “dumpy” but good Chinese is Asia Cafe: http://www.asiamarketaustin.com/ – it’s not convenient to downtown and is an a crappy strip mall. You order at the counter. Its about a 50/50 mix of Chinese and White customers. Order what the former ethnic group have ordered.
Polvo’s on South First is a good bet if you’re interested in Tex Mex. There is a ton of Tex Mex in town, and I think that Polvo’s cooks good food that appeals to both the Tex and the Mex sides of of their patrons.
El Pollo Regio off of Berkman is some really good, cheap Chicken El Carbon. It’s not dine in. But for about $12 you get a whole grilled chicken, beans, rice, and grilled jalapenos and onions.
Tan Mai is good strip mall Vietnamese on Ohlen road.
Swad on North Lamar is good south Indian vegetarian.
As far as the above comments go, I agree with East Side King at Libery Bar. It’s really good food truck food. Juan in a Million is classic, but the food is not good. Gourdough’s is not what you’re looking for and neither is Maudies or Bangers (although both are a good time).
“Chicken Lollipop” is an Indo-Chinese street food fusion place inside a convenience store. They run out of their signature chicken lollipops by the end of the day, so go early if that’s what you’re hankering for.
“Mr Natural” on Cesar Chavez is an all vegetarian Mexican restaurant/health food store. They’ve got some Mexican dishes that I don’t often encounter at meatier establishments.
“Asia Cafe” seems to be the go-to Chinese place for all my ex-pat Chinese pals.
“Tamale House East” has good breakfast tacos (as does almost everyone else). However, I enjoy the decor and have spent several pleasant mornings there.
Comments on other mentions:
“East Side King” now has multiple locations with different, but overlapping, menus. What I’ve had has always been both interesting and good.
“Polvos” is a solid Tex-Mex option.
“Taco More” is authentic northern Mexican cuisine–good for what it is, but not my favorite of the regional cuisines in Mexico.
“Juan in a Million” is trash for tourists.
“Las Cazuelas” is disgusting, and I’m 99% certain it’s a front for laundering money.
I came in to recommend Chicken Lolipop. It’s about as dumpy as it gets, and the food is good. Be careful if you don’t like spicy, so make the spice level you can tolerate known when you order.
Asia Cafe is another good one, one of two good Schezuan places (the other is Szechuan House, but it’s not as dumpy as Asia Cafe). However, they’ve got a huge menu, and not all of it is good. Stick with the Schezuan staples like mapo tofu, or at the very least the Chinese dishes. Their other asian stuff isn’t as good.
Korean Grill in the tiny Chinatown area is a great place for Korean food and on the dumpy side.
Taco More is probably also a money laundering front. But it’s substantially better than Las Cazuelas.
Mickelthwaite is a trailer with exceptional bbq: http://www.eater.com/2014/11/25/7280295/everything-from-scratch-austin-barbecue-trailer-michklethwait-craft
The single most famous dumpy spot to eat in Austin is the aforementioned Franklin’s. The line is five hours long. There are only about ten tables inside and less than that on the porch but it is maybe the best restaurant not in Austin, the entire state of Texas, but in the country.
He is world famous. Has his own television show. His book is really interesting if you are really into wood smoking meat.
I have waited the five hours several times for my favorite the lean brisket as opposed to the fatty or burnt ends. Don’t get me wrong each has its following but I love the lean portion.
The ribs are to die for.
The above author called Franklin’s a destination “obnoxious”. I can see how some would find it so.
I myself find Austin’s motto “Keep Austin Weird” annoying. I find modern hipsterism’s “look at me” vibe twice as annoying. So Franklin’s oozes both of those.
But I totally disagree on that take on Franklin’s mood. The line is filled with happy people, drinking, telling stories about their homes(most of the line is out of towners). The Australians are the best. But that line has folks from the entire world. Asia, Europe. South America. Africa.
If you view the line not as a five hour wait for a restaurant, but instead as a five hour party or chance to catch up on web surfing whichever you prefer then Franklin’s is maybe the perfect restaurant.
But I know so many locals who have never once sat on Que for Cue. That is inexcusable. Even if you only do it once so that you can actually chose which cuts and amounts you want as opposed to trying to get there after 1pm and hope they just have something left.
Since moving here six years ago I have traveled over a thousand miles around central Texas hunting down famous Cue ;Taylor, Luling( far and away the best outside of Franklin’s), Lockhart, Houston, etc.
Dozens of joints that make an average of the reviewers top 50.
Nothing touches Aaron’s lean brisket. NO THING. nada. zip. nilch. null.
The sausage is excellent.
But Aaron Franklin makes the best smoked beef brisket on the third rock from the Sun.
http://franklinbarbecue.com/
Taqueria mi Trailita – gas station parking lot eatery from real Mexicans; good fresh tortillas.
Daito – Japanese from Osakans with good ingredient quality in a dumpy old location near the UT campus.
I got food poisoning before from Texas Chili Parlor; that may be either a plus or minus depending on the tone of this request.
Emo’s Kitchen near the UT campus – depending on who’s cooking and what you order, it can be very good Korean food in a very modest location with a dumpy exterior. I recommend the kimchi jjigae.
Craig had some good suggestions. I would add that Lucky now has a restaurant that also serves pizza and is no longer dumpy (I believe the old trailer is gone) but both the pizza and puccias are HIGHLY recommended.
Manna is a decent choice and if you go then the mackerel is good. Sulleuntang is also decent. It is not quite a dump though.
Las Cazuelas is still pretty good, also recommend New Orleans Po’ Boy round the back of it (Austin’s gotten a lot of good Louisiana food in the past decade).
I second Swad.
here’s also lots of good Pho; Pho Saigon is my favorite but one can almost go anywhere.
Korea House is pretty great, but tucked away inside a courtyard and hard to find unless you know it’s there.
For tacos, any food truck where they serve tongue and don’t speak English.
For barbecue, avoid the temptation of Franklin’s. Instead, drive to Lockhart and eat there. It’ll be be better and take less time.
Juan-in-a-million for breakfast.
Drive to Opie’s in Spicewood for current best bbq in Texas. Those ribs are unreal.
One of those shady fried rice carts by ACC or UT that sells Indian bread among other unrelated shit. Assuming, that is, there is one left the hasnt been incarcerated for re selling stolen stereo equipment, or whatever, Anyway, you asked for dumpy
One of the dumpiest places is Hey…you gonna eat or what. It’s a trailer outside of downtown at a place called the picnic. Uncomfortable picnic tables, the trailer itself is dirty (they have rat problems in the summer), broken windows, openly unpleasant cooks. It still is somehow the number one restaurant and food trailer in the city. Must be the food.
At the same spot you can get the best green falafel in the city at Kebabalicious Avoid the other trailers.
Taco More and Rosita’s Al Pastor have great mexican food. None of the servers speak English. The tacos trucks lining Oltorf, just a few blocks south, are the same, with better food. Oltorf is not a good neighborhood, if that counts as dumpy.
Bombay Dhaba is an Indian food trailer in a trailer park with almost nowhere to sit. Very good, for the price.
Wasota is about as authentic as West African cuisine gets in this city. They move a lot, but not always to a better spot.
Miss P’s electric cock has the best fried chicken. You will pay steeply for it. I believe the owner was on an episode of Shark Tank. She is as crazy as a shithouse rat, but sweeter than stevia.
Aside from Miss P’s avoid anywhere on Congress, First Street, and anything near the UT campus.
The best Detroit stype pizza in the country and the best pizza in Austin is at Via 313. Be cheap and get the 4 cheese or go big and get the cadillac.
Several of the Asian markets north of 183, and south of Braker have dining areas. These are usually the best Asian meals in Austin. You have to go even further north for the best Indian food in Austin.
Central Texas BBQ is boring, avoid it.
Good luck, and stay full out there.
Michael Clark Duncan: I am your attorney, not your bodyguard. He is just a foolish troll whose Mother either hugged him too much or not enough.
Geoff Stults: Imma risk it.
@Central Texas BBQ is boring, avoid it.
Opinions are…
Don’t be fooled by all the suggestions of Austin’s famous places that are now just faux-dumpy… for actual dumpy:
Taco More, El Borrego de Oro, Tamale House, Enchiladas y Mas
Casino El Camino is a good suggestion, too.
Tamale House – excellent suggestion. Dumpy and good.
+1 for Enchiladas y Mas.
Terry Black’s BBQ, 1003 Barton Springs Rd. Not dumpy but not fancy, and delicious.
I will fourth Taco More on Rundberg Lane. Ask for an order of cebollitas on the side but make sure they bring them with your meal (they tend to forget about them); make sure to smother them with lime and salt.
I would also add La Mexicana on South 1st, where you can buy jewelry, send a money order, and watch Mexican soccer while you scarf delicious pan dulce.
If you want a genuine greasy spoon, try Ross’ on North Lamar.
Neither is my favorite, but Habanero’s on Oltorf is, like Borrego del Oro, an unpretentious place and easy to get in and out of. It accepts only cash.
I understand it’s a great way for restaurateurs to get started, but trailer eating leaves me dissatisfied. You usually get no sides, just the one thing you ordered, and it’s expensive enough that (if you’re frugal) you won’t order a second thing. Dinner is over in about eight minutes, hardly worth the stress of finding parking. And no, people do not tend to strike up conversations with one another at the communal picnic tables.
Second Tan Mai in North Austin. Also Hea Cafe and Hai Ky are worth checking out (all three operated by members of the same extended family.) Gas station tacos at the Valero on Parmer lane just east of Loop one are worth the gamble as is Thai Cuisine for good strip mall fare, just a few miles west of the aforementioned. Austin shines for Indian, Thai and Vietnamese for those looking beyond the taco hype — not to say the tacos are bad though.
Hai Ky doesn’t tip out the waitstaff, avoid it.
Second el Borrego de Oro, Taco More, and Texas Chili Parlor. Also find myself convinced by the David Fowler’s Franklin Barbeque rhapsody. Truly, it’s the best barbecue I’ve ever had, even though I am too old to wait in line that long.
Cisco’s for migas etc, Dirty Martins or Hut’s for burgers.
Breakfast-oriented – Kirby Lane or Texas French Bread
Sam’s BBQ
Valentina’s TexMex – http://www.valentinastexmexbbq.com/ – a food truck on Brodie.
I know what you are thinking – that TexMex is awful. But Aaron Franklin of Franklin’s BBQ says that Valentina’s is his favorite place to get BBQ. What Aaron is talking about is the brisket taco.
There is also the Velvet Taco on W 6th that is a sister operation with the same brisket taco.
Not only will you thank me for the recommendation, I will be expecting a Christmas card every year from now on.
How about Torchy’s Taco trucks? 4.5 stars on yelp…
Mmmmm Torchy’s and add some diablo sauce to that!
El Galindo on Guadalupe is Ladybird’s old haunt. Food is okay, atmosphere pleasantly ossified. I hope you have a great time here.
The Broken Spoke on South Lamar has been reliably dumpy for longer than any place else in Austin.
Taco More on Rundberg is a good suggestion, as is La Fruta Feliz. La Fruta may have the best taco in Austin – the barbacoa de chivo.
Per bbq, the Freedman’s building is pretty dumpy, and it and the bar have a lot of history. But it’s the same price as any other top-notch bbq place. The brisket is very peppery and as good, or almost as good, as any place in Austin. The sausage is ok, skip the ribs, but if you like smoke and vinegar, get the pulled pork. They are also known for their whiskey drinks. Oh, sit at the bar.
FYI: the best Austin bbq joints, like Franklin, la BBQ, Micklethwait, and Freedman’s, are as good or better than any other place in the state, and are all better than the Lockhart places.
Chicken Lollypop is a good suggestion, but it’s been discovered by the hipsters. Last time I went, there was a 30 minute line. It won’t be in a convenience store for much longer.
Swad is legit. In a crappy strip mall in a rundown part of town, decor is vinyl and nothing with bad lighting. But the food good.
La Cocina de Consuelo has very good breakfast burritos – get their chorizo and flour tortillas as they are homemade. Suggest Connie’s Famous Enchiladas for lunch.
Not sure Casino’s has Austin’s best burger, but they are good, the bar is a dive, and it’s Austin’s best burger experience.
Via 313 is very good. East Side King is very good (check each location’s menu to see what you find most appealing). Asia Cafe is good by Austin standards, but I am pretty sure you can find much better Chinese food in Fairfax.
Hope this helps.
Not really dumps, but classic Austin restaurants with good food …
Hoover’s (manor rd location)
Threadgill’s (I prefer the north Lamar location, next to the topless bar)
Matt’s Famous El Rancho
If you can find it, I can recommend Lard Have Mercy, a delicious Southern cooking food truck:
http://lardhavemercy.net/
Casino el Camino both best burger in town and dumpiest bar on 6th. Under the criteria, if its a burger you want, it’s Casino.
That’s a good suggestion, and if you’re staying at a hotel downtown it’s an easy trip. Be prepared to wait 30 minutes for them to cook your burger. Actually Austin is a good place to look at the economics of hamburgers. P Terry’s and Phil’s are new locally owned outfits that have opened within the past few years and thrived. Who cares that In N Out Burger finally arrived?
Tyler, I’m heading to Austin in Jan, so hoping you will write up the results of your trip. I lived in Austin more than 15 years ago, way too long for me to be of any use…
For steak (I know not your normal fare) try The Hoffbrau on West Sixth – no menu, usually options of “T-Bone, small or large”, terrible salad, side options are “fries” which are quartered potatoes, and old orange tables from the 70s, and yet persists successfully on one of the most popular blocks in Austin.
Tamale House East is great but I wouldn’t call it dumpy. Taco Mex, on Manor, serves out of a window next to a laundromat, there’s a dumpy, good place.
Fed Man Walking is about as close to a definitive look at vast sections of Austin’s cuisine as you can get: http://www.fedmanwalking.com/content/archives
Tortilleria Rio Grande in a strip mall on William Cannon, no seating as I recall. My guide is a Mexican expat. Check out the salsa selection with a gordita selection. There’s another location, not sure if the quality is equivalent. Your Spanish will go a long way.