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I went to SxSW for the first time last year. I didn’t know what or where to eat. While talking to David Bazan and getting his suggestion for nachos, this idea came about. I asked a number of bands for their recommendations on where to eat in Austin and during SxSW and here are their recommendations.

Be sure to ‘View Larger Map’ above if you’re more visually minded. What’s your favorite place to eat in Austin? What are the indie rockers forgetting?

the Apples in Stereo (John Ferguson)

• Whole Foods: “honestly, we ate at the whole foods mega store almost every meal. robert [schneider] and i are both vegetarians and its so conveniently located near that awesome record store. the grocery store has a raw food bar, a sushi bar, a sandwhich shop, italian, indian, chinese, pretty much all you could ever want in vegetarian options. a little pricey, but worth it for your health.”
  525 N. Lamar.

David Bazan

• Jovita’s: recommends the nachos
  1617 S. 1st St.
• Polvos
  2004 S. 1st St.

Birdmonster (Peter Arcuni)

• Sausage truck: “there’s always a really good sausage truck on Red River around 7th Street. they have big-ass polish, spicier blends, and classic franks with a fine assortment of condiments. it’s the best option when you’re hungry and poor and don’t want to wait an hour to get into a crowded restaurant.”
  Red River, near 7th
• Stubb’s: “for BBQ, there’s a cool place called Ironworks, but Stubb’s is honestly the best BBQ we had down there. super classic. some of the best ribs i’ve ever had. if you’re a band though, i wouldn’t recommend eating there before you play, as it’s instant meat coma. ”
  801 Red River.
• Las Manitas: “there was this great mexican place called las manitas that everyone went to for breakfast…i think it shut down because of zoning or something.” [ed.: seems like it did close]

Birds & Batteries (Mike Sempert)

• Ruby’s BBQ: “i would definitely recommend ruby’s (rubies?) bbq. its amazing. the marbled brisket sandwich with cole slaw is out of sight. ”
  2451 S. Capital of Texas Hwy + 2 other locations in Austin
• Spider House: “the food is just alright, but it has a beautiful outdoor patio and good coffee drinks.”
  2908 Fruth St.

Centro-matic (Will Johnson*):
“Mexican breakfast, lunch, dinner etc.”:

• La Flor Taco Stand
  Corner of S 1st and Heartwood
• Evita’s Botanitas
  6400 S. 1st St # B
• Maria’s Taco Xpress
  2529 S. Lamar Blvd.
• Curra’s
  614 E Oltorf St.
• Polvos
  2004 S. 1st St.
• Joe’s Bakery and Mexican Food
  2305 E. 7th St.
• El Chile
  1809 Manor Dr.
• La Mexicana Bakery
  1924 S. 1st.

“homestyle/ soul food:”

• Dot’s Place
  15803 Windemere Dr., #102, Pfugerville
• Nubian Queen Lola’s: “soul food, cajun”
  1815 Rosewood Ave.
• Hoover’s
  2002 Manor Dr.
• Gene’s New Orlean’s Deli
  1209 E. 11th St.

“BBQ (lockhart count? 30 minutes or so.)”:

• Salt Lick
  18001 FM 1826. Driftwood.
• Sam’s
  2000 E. 12th St.
• Artz Rib House
  2330 S. Lamar.
• Smitty’s
  208 South Commerce, Lockhart.
• Kreuz
  619 N. Colorado, Lockhart.

“breakfast, hangover”:

• Kerby Lane Cafe
  2700 S. Lamar + 3 other locations (like the Kerby Lane one, for instance).
• Magnolia Cafe
  1920 S. Congress.
• Tamale House
  5003 Airport Blvd.
• the Omelettry
  4811 Burnett Rd.
• Jo’s Coffee
  1300 S. Congress.
• Counter Cafe
  626 N. Lamar.

Fanfarlo

• Mexican food: “We love Mexican food, and obviously there’s plenty of that to be found in Austin. Can’t remember any particular places but we went to a bunch
  last year, they should be fairly easy to find. “
• Koriente: “We also went to a
  Korean restaurant called Koriente which had good, cheap, vegetarian
  food.”
  621 E 7th St.

the Heavenly States (Ted Nesseth)

• Magnolia Cafe: “Great food great people right on congress”
  1920 S. Congress.
• Salt Lick: “outside of austin but it is amazing bbq!”
  18001 FM 1826, Driftwood

the Hood Internet

• Torchy’s Tacos: “!”
  1311 S. 1st St + 2 other locations

the Long Winters (John Roderick)

The first several years I went to SXSW I was fixated on finding the greatest Texas BBQ, but after stuffing myself a dozen times at a dozen equally good places I realized that finding Texas BBQ is something like a religious pilgrimage for Texans and that the quest can drive a person mad. A few years in I figured out that the real culinary treasures of Austin are the taco joints. Forget BBQ–you won’t be able to avoid it anyway–and focus on tacos.

My taco guide in Austin is my good friend Chad Hamilton, host of the famous SXSE party, and he’s steered me toward some killer spots.

• El Chilito: “El Chilito on Manor Dr in NE Austin has great corn tortillas and mixes it up with unexpected ingredients. Great for breakfast. We usually come away with a couple of bags of tacos to bring back to everyone still waking up.”
  2219 Manor Dr. + 1 other location.
• Maria’s Taco Xpress: “Maria’s Taco Xpress is over the river on S. Lamar, a real rock and roll taco joint. Can’t miss it, it’s decorated to the nines and the music’s great. Maria fights the good fight.”
  2529 S. Lamar Blvd.
• Julio’s: “Julio’s in Hyde Park on Duval isn’t actually a taco joint. Order at the counter, cash only. Estella, the owner, is the nicest woman in Austin.”
  4230 Duval Rd.

Lymbyc Systym (Michael Bell*):
“cheap $-$$”:

• Bouldin Creek Cafe
  1501 S. 1st.
• Torchy’s Tacos
  1311 S. 1st St + 2 other locations.
• Mr. Natural
  1901 E. Cesar Chavez
• Rudy’s BBQ
  2451 S. Capital of Texas Hwy + 2 other locations in Austin
• Mighty Fine Burger
  5601 Brodie Ln.
• Sazon
  1816 S Lamar Blvd.

“moderate$$-$$$”:

• South Congress Cafe
  1600 S. Congress Ave.
• Home Slice Pizza
  1415 S. Congress.
• Enoteca Vespaio
  1610 S. Congress Ave.

“pricey $$$+”:

• Uchi
  801 S. Lamar
• Olivia
  2043 S. Lamar.
• Musashino
  3407 Greystone Dr.
• Marz

Mobius Band

• Go Bites: “the grilled cheese spot on Red River is the best.”
  ~603 E. Red River
• Stubb’s
  801 Red River.
• “Avoid the pizza RV!”

The Morning Benders (Chris Chu):

• Whole Foods: “Whole foods!!!!!!!!! The best whole foods in the world. Amazing.”
  525 N. Lamar
• Koriente: “Simple and some organic choices.”
  621 E. 7th St.

My Morning Jacket (Two Tone Tommy):

• Mother’s Cafe & Garden: “Mother’s Café & Garden is not only the best vegetarian restaurant in Austin but the best in the galaxy. Staffed with friendly folk serving perfectly sized, affordable portions of delicious vittles. Top picks: TLT (the T is for grilled marinated tempeh) & Mom’s Reuben. Oh, and the tofu dijon is killer.”
  4215 Duval St.

+/- {Plus/ Minus} (James Baluyut)

• Curra’s: “I know when +/- is in Austin, we almost always eat at Curra’s or Polvo’s as well as the Salt Lick and Hoover’s and uh… Taco Cabana at 3AM. ”
  614 E Oltorf St
• Polvos
  2004 S. 1st St.
• Salt Lick BBQ
  18001 FM 1826, Driftwood
• Hoover’s
  2002 Manor Dr.
• Taco Cabana
  211 S. Lamar + 3 other locations.

Port O’Brien (Van Pierszalowski):

• Polvos: “Best mexican resaturant …. good people!…. good food…!”
  2004 S. 1st St.

Shearwater (Jonathan Meiburg)

• Tam Deli: “Vietnamese sandwiches and cream puffs at Tam Deli”
  8222 N Lamar Blvd.
• Curra’s: “breakfast tacos and huevos sucios at Curra’s”
  614 E Oltorf St
• Hai Ky: “Vermicelli bowls at Hai Ky”
  1931 E. Oltorf St., Suite B
• Quack’s Bakery: “Coconut Cream Pie”
  411 E. 43rd St.
• Ruta Maya: “Coffee from Ruta Maya”
  3601 S. Congress.
• Mother’s Cafe & Garden: “BBQ Tofu and salads at Mother’s Vegetarian Cafe”
  4215 Duval St.
• unnamed? taco window: “Migas tacos from the window next to the laundromat on the south side of Manor road, east of the yuppier (but also very good) El Chilito.”
  Manor Rd. near Chestnut next to the laundromat.

Spinto Band (Thomas Hughes)

• La Mexicana Bakery: “When in Austin, I always make a voyage to La Mexicana Bakery on S 1924 1st. As you may be able to guess, it is a Mexican Bakery, but the twist is that it is open 24 hours a day. Perfect for those late or early SXSW nights. They have quite possibly the biggest variety of goods I’ve ever seen in one bakery. I’m certain you could eat one item a day for a year and only have the same thing four times. Last time I was there they had candied pumpkin! But anything you choose will probably be delicious.”
  1924 S. 1st.

Two Sheds (Johnny Gutenberger):

• Guero’s Taco Bar: “good food and they have cool day party shows during sxsw”
  1412 S Congress Ave
• Casino el Camino: “cool bar with good bar food”
  517 E 6th St
• Home Slice Pizza: “good pie.”
  1415 S Congress Ave
• Alamo Drafthouse Cinema at the Ritz: “watch a movie in a real theater and get served food and beer!”
  320 E 6th St

Viva Voce (Kevin Robinson):

• Stubbs: “stubbs is the best bbq I’ve ever had…the rest of the time I’m in austin I’m usually too drunk to tell the difference in the rest.”
  801 Red River

the Wooden Birds/ American Analog Set (Andrew Kenney)

• Torchy’s Tacos: “My current favorite Austin food item is the fried avocado taco at Torchy’s Tacos. Great for lunch. Eat them on the spot with a soda and an order of chips and salsa. ”
  1311 S. 1st St + 2 other locations.

the Wrens

• Huts Hamburgers: (recommended by Jerry MacDonald, seconded by Gerry Whelan)
  807 W. 6th St.
• Magnolia Cafe: “I was gonna say, we gotta ask the Austinites and Texans! I’ll second the Magnolia – even if it’s an out-of-towner favorite, I really do like the tradition of going there. And besides, we’re from out oftown.” (Charles Bissell)
  1920 S. Congress.
• The Broken Spoke: (recommended–in all caps–by Kevin Whelan)
  3201 S. Lamar.

*Austin resident

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 10th, 2009 at 9:23 am Posted by adrian in marginally related to music, photos, radio, SF bay area, tour dates. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.