In a city that is as well-known for its abundant food trucks as it is for being the capital of Texas, it can be difficult to narrow down your options when hunger strikes. There’s a food truck for virtually every type of craving. Are you and your family in the mood for delectable Tex-Mex tacos? How about a fried doughnut burger? Or maybe Asian fusion is more your scene. Whatever you have a hankering for, you can bet Austin has a food truck for it.
From the classic to the weird and everything in between, these are our all-time favorite food trucks in Austin. Hire a babysitter or nanny and hit up one of these spots for a date night, or take the whole family along to sample some scrumptions local noms. Bon appetit!
Veracruz All Natural
Locations:
-
Original: 1704 E. Cesar Chavez St., Austin, TX 78702 | P: 512-981-1760
-
Radio Coffee & Beer: 4208 Manchaca Road, Austin, TX 78704 | P: 512-629-8238
Hours:
-
Original: Open daily, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
-
Radio Coffee & Beer: Open daily, 7 a.m. – midnight
In a city brimming with tacos and delicious Tex-Mex joints around every corner, dare I say that Veracruz All Natural makes the best tacos in the city? I dare. Don’t believe me? Well, even Food Network concurs! Veracruz made their list of spots serving the top five tacos in America a couple years ago. Sure, everyone talks about the migas taco — a yummy concoction of gooey cheese, perfectly scrambled eggs, and fresh veggies — but if you try anything, it has to be the fish tacos.
Pro tip: While you can’t go wrong with either of the truck’s locations, I recommend hitting up the truck outside beloved local coffee bar Radio Coffee & Beer with the kiddos in tow for one of their Monday bluegrass nights.
Arlo’s
Locations:
-
Cheer Up Charlie’s: 900 Red River St. Austin, TX 78701 | P: 512-840-1600
-
The Grackle: 1700 E. Sixth St., Austin, TX 78702 | P: 512-840-1840
-
Spider House Cafe: 2908 Fruth St., Austin, TX, 78705 | P: 512-840-8585
Hours:
-
Cheer Up Charlie’s & The Grackle: Monday – Sunday, noon – 2 a.m.
-
Spider House Cafe: Sunday – Thursday, noon – midnight | Friday & Saturday, noon – 2 a.m.
It wouldn’t be a complete list of Austin food trucks without a vegan option! A modest little truck with three locations around the city, Arlo’s is a vegan “curbside kitchen” that makes some of the most delectable burgers in the ATX — period. Once you bite into their Bac’n Cheeze Burger with its savory seitan “bacon” and freshly baked bun, you’ll forget your own name — much less that you used to enjoy meat on your burgers. Make no mistake about it, this is the all-time best vegan food truck in Austin and one of the best overall food trucks in the city.
The Mighty Cone
Address: 1720 Barton Springs Road, Austin, TX 78704
Hours: Open daily, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Phone: 512-553-5148
The Mighty Cone is definitely one of the most inventive trucks on this list. Their “Hot and Crunchy Cones” consist of avocado, shrimp, or chicken wrapped up in yummy tortilla “cones” and come outfitted with a signature mango-jalapeño slaw, sesame seeds, chili flakes, corn flakes (yep!), and other tasty seasonings. The result is out-of-this-world good! Seriously, you have to try it to believe it. And the location is fabulous. The Mighty Cone is smack-dab in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Barton Springs Road, right next to Zilker Park.
Chi’lantro
Address, Hours & Phone: Click here to view location details.
Chi’lantro is one of the most widely praised food trucks in the city for a good reason. Their original and highly appetizing fare is a mouthwatering mix of Mexican and Korean flavors — which may sound crazy, but trust me, these inspired dishes will have you coming back for more! Take the family to any of their five locations in the city and feast on their taco and burrito bowls, topped with Korean BBQ proteins like tofu and spicy chicken. Oh, and if you go to Chi’lantro and you don’t order their famous kimchi fries (a mound of crispy fries topped with kimchi, cheeses, cilantro, and Sriracha), I don’t want to know about it.
Gourdough’s
Locations:
-
Gourdough’s Big. Fat. Donuts.: 1503 S. First St., Austin, TX 78704
-
Burnet Road Trailer: 5000 Burnet Road, Austin, TX 78756
Hours:
-
Gourdough’s Big. Fat. Donuts.: Monday – Thursday, 10 a.m. – midnight | Friday, 10 a.m. – 3 a.m. | Saturday, 8 a.m. – 3 a.m. | Sunday, 8 a.m. – midnight
-
Burnet Road Trailer: Open daily, 10 a.m. – midnight
The kiddos will love you forever if you bring them to Gourdough’s, home of the best doughnuts in Austin! These insanely delicious doughnut concoctions are unlike anything you’ve ever tried. From the Mother Clucker, a giant maple doughnut topped with melted honey butter and fried chicken, to the Flying Pig, a mishmash of bacon and maple icing, these desserts are bound to leave you satisfied. Prepare to be overwhelmed (in a good way!) and hopped up on sugar. (And, if you don’t like any of the regular menu offerings, you can even make your own doughnut.)
Garbo’s Lobster Truck
Address & Hours: Click here to find out where & when you can find their trucks.
Phone: 512-350-9814
Craving New England fare in the heart of Central Texas? Look no further than Garbo’s Lobster Truck! The food truck menu (there’s also a new brick-and-mortar location in town) is sparse but delicious. Think: buttery lobster rolls doused in mayonnaise, lemon, and celery; spicy crab rolls; steaming bowls of perfectly seasoned chowder — and perfect for a wintry day. Well, whatever passes for winter here in Austin, that is.
Via 313
Locations:
-
The Violet Crown Social Club: 1111 E. Sixth St., Austin, TX 78702 | P: 512-939-1927 (pizza only)
-
Craft Pride: 61 Rainey St., Austin, TX 78701 | P: 512-609-9405 (pizza only)
Hours:
-
The Violet Crown Social Club: Monday – Wednesday, 5 p.m. – midnight | Thursday – Saturday, 5 p.m. – 2 a.m. | Sunday, 5 p.m. – midnight
-
Craft Pride: Monday – Wednesday, 5 p.m. – midnight | Thursday & Friday, 5 p.m. – 1 a.m. | Saturday, 2 p.m. – 1 a.m. | Sunday, noon – 10 p.m.
I’ve used the word “best” a lot on this list, I know. But I’m not just being hyperbolic here when I say Via 313’s pizza is the best in the city. (Ask anyone!) This Detroit-style pizza (square pies with caramelized cheese and plenty of sauce on top) is a true favorite among locals. The flavors of each pie are amazing, but the focaccia bread-like crust is where it’s at. Seriously, if you’re in the mood for seriously great pizza (um, who isn’t?), check out Via 313’s trailers on East Sixth or Rainey, or visit their brick-and-mortar locations. Bon appetit!
East Side King
Address: Liberty: 1618 E. Sixth St., Austin, TX 78702
Hours: Open daily, 4 p.m. – 1:45 a.m.
Phone: 512-407-8166
Created by hometown foodie heroes Paul Qui and Moto Utsunomiya (the dudes behind Uchi, widely considered to be one of the best restaurants in the country), East Side King is an Austin institution at this point. It’s billed as “Japanese street food with a touch of Austin soul,” which is a perfect description of ESK’s offerings. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, but the Thai Chicken Karaage Buns and the Poor Qui’s Buns are top notch.
Baton Creole
Address: 1016 E. Sixth St., Austin, TX 78702
Hours: Sunday – Wednesday, 5 p.m. – midnight | Thursday – Saturday, 5 p.m. – 2 a.m.
Phone: 512-986-3834
This cutie-patootie little East Austin food truck serves up some of the best Louisiana-style eats in the city! Seriously, if you’re in the mood for delectable Cajun cuisine, look no further than Baton Creole. You really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, whether you opt for the velvety-rich gumbo, the spicy crawfish etouffee, or the hearty crab-boil potato salad. Kiddos especially will like the Something Sweet Beignets, which are New Orleans-style fried French pastries. But if you come here and you don’t get the Cajun poutine? Well, let’s just say I don’t want to hear about it!
Burro Cheese Kitchen
Locations:
-
SOCO: 1221 S. Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78704 | P: 512-865-7730
-
SoLa: 1105 S. Lamar Blvd., Ste. B, Austin, TX 78704 | P: 737-400-1347
-
Rainey Street: 80 Rainey St., Austin, TX 78701
-
Sixth Street: 310 E. Sixth St., Austin, TX 78701
Hours:
-
SOCO: Thursday – Saturday, 11:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. | Sunday, 11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
-
SoLa: Friday, 11:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. | Saturday, 11:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. | Sunday, 11:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
-
Rainey Street: Thursday, 6 p.m. – 1:30 a.m. | Friday, 6 p.m. – 3 a.m. | Saturday, 1 p.m. – 3 a.m. | Sunday, 1 p.m. – 9 p.m.
-
Sixth Street: Thursday – Saturday, 10 p.m. – 2 a.m.
Sometimes, there’s nothing like a good ol’ grilled cheese! And at Burro Cheese Kitchen, the regular white bread-and-cheese combo gets a swift kick in the pants. These artisanal grilled cheese sandwiches are truly a feast for the eyes and, most importantly, the stomach. While you can’t go wrong with any of Burro Cheese Kitchen’s offerings, the crown jewel of the menu is undoubtedly the Croque Madame — an unforgettable concoction of gooey gouda, smoked ham, tangy pesto aioli, and even a fried egg on top.
Did we include your favorite food truck in Austin? Let us know in the comments below!
Care.com City Guides:
Atlanta, GA | Austin, TX | Baltimore, MD | Boston, MA | Burlington, VT | Chicago, IL | Cleveland, OH | Dallas, TX | Denver, CO | Detroit, MI | Houston, TX | Las Vegas, NV | Los Angeles, CA | Miami, FL | Minneapolis, MN | New Haven, CT | New York, NY | Orlando, FL | Philadelphia, PA | Phoenix, AZ | Pittsburgh, PA | San Diego, CA | San Francisco, CA | San Jose, CA | Seattle, WA | Tampa, FL | Toledo, OH | Washington, DC
