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Food & drink

in Austin

America’s live-music capital is the king of

alternative cool and a magnet for retro diners,

hidden bars and some of the best barbecue

joints and Mexican cantinas in the South.

Austin’s South Congress

Avenue is a Texas landmark

Margaritas

Art & sculpture Retro dining

FRANKLIN BARBECUE

America’s most famous barbecue

spot only serves lunch, and only

until it runs out. To avoid missing

out, you should join the queue by

10am (9am on weekends). Treat

it as a tailgating party: bring beer

or mimosas to share and make

friends. When your turn arrives,

go for the two-meat plate, or nab

all you can for a feast to enjoy

later (franklinbarbecue.com; 900

E 11th St; Tue–Sun; mains from

US$5).

THE SALT LICK

It’s a bit of a hike to get here and

a tourist favourite, but well worth

the 20-mile drive out of town

just to see the massive outdoor

barbecue pits at this park-like

place off US 290. It’s family-run

and the barbecue recipe served

today has its roots in the

wagon-train days of the 1800s,

when the same meats would

have been served around the

campfire. Crowds are huge and

it’s BYOB (saltlickbbq.com;

18300 FM 1826, Driftwood;

11am–10pm; mains from US$9,

cash only).

STILES SWITCH

With manageable queues, you

won’t have to suffer to enjoy

fantastic smoky brisket at this

popular eatery six miles north

of downtown Austin. The vibe is

nostalgic, playing on Stiles’

location in a ’50s shopping

centre, but the name actually

comes from an 1800s railroad

stop. Top your meat off with a

side of corn casserole and a

local microbrew

(stilesswitchbbq.com; 6610 N

Lamar Blvd; 11am–9pm Tue–

Thu & Sun, to 10pm Fri–Sat;

mains from US$9).

TRUDY’S TEXAS STAR

Trudy’s is a Tex-Mex joint and

the menu is consistently good,

but we’ll let you in on a little

secret: this place could serve

nothing but beans and dirt and

people would still line up for the

margaritas, which might very

well be the best in Austin. And,

because this is Texas, they

usually only cost US$4 (trudys.

com; 409 W 30th St; 11am–

2am Mon–Fri, from 9am Sat–

Sun; mains from US$9).

POLVOS

Fun, festive and just a little divey,

Polvos serves central-Mexican

food that always packs in a

crowd. Try some of the dozen or

so salsa varieties with one of the

fierce margaritas. Eight different

‘top shelf ritas’ are made from

tequila brands including

Herradura, Chinaco and Don

Julio, and a variety of fruity

options are served too, from

mango to coconut (polvosaustin.

com; 2004 S 1st St; 7am–11pm;

mains from US$10).

GARAGE

Austin has dozens of hidden

bars, but this one, squirrelled

away inside a parking garage in

Austin’s warehouse district, is a

favourite. The contrast between

the mundane exterior and what

lies within is stark. Its cosy,

dimly lit lounge draws a hip but

not overly precious Austin crowd

who give high marks to the

first-rate cocktails, handsomely

designed space and novel

location (503 Colorado St;

5pm–2am Mon–Sat).

Dating from the mid-1850s, the

building inhabited by this bar is a

well preserved homage to Austin’s

early days. Within its exposed

limestone walls, you can enjoy

comfort food, happy hours and a

lavish Sunday brunch buffet

(moonshinegrill.com; 303 Red River

St; 11am–10pm Mon–Thu, to 11pm

Fri–Sat, 9am–2pm & 5pm–10pm

Sun; mains from US$12).

GÜERO’S TACO BAR

Set in an 1800s feed-and-seed

store that closed its doors in the

1990s, Güero’s is an Austin

classic and always draws a crowd.

Come for homemade corn

tortillas (the tacos al pastor are

excellent), chicken tortilla soup,

Mexican beer and refreshing

margaritas. Live music and

dancing is a fixture in its

oak-shaded garden from

Wednesday to Sunday (gueros.

com; 1412 S Congress Ave;

11am–10pm; mains from US$10).

Sausages, pork ribs and brisket

sizzle over the pit at Salt Lick

Trudy’s Texas Star is known for its

Mexican martinis and margaritas

Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill

serves up a good apple pie

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MINI GUIDE

LAUNDERETTE

This modern American

restaurant is a in a former

launderette, with a stylish,

streamlined design that

provides a fine backdrop to the

inventive cooking. The menu is

broad and features crab toast,

wood-grilled octopus, Brussels

sprouts with apple-bacon

marmalade and wonderful brick

chicken (launderetteaustin.

com; 2115 Holly St; 11am–

2.30pm and 5pm–10pm Sun–

Thu, to 11pm Fri–Sat; mains

from US$17).

MOONSHINE PATIO BAR

& GRILL