Review: Hai Ky

Austin is weird in many ways.  One of those ways is the abundance of Vietnamese eatery choices.  I had a Vietnamese roommate that informed me that there was a huge migration of Vietnamese years back but for what reason he didn’t say.  Either way, I’m thankful for all the wonderful Vietnamese choices I have in this city.

One of my favorite places is Hai Ky in South Austin.  Tucked in a small shopping center off Oltorf, the most crime ridden street in Austin.  Despite that, the neighborhood isn’t as bad as the reputation declares it to be.  In fact, the street is relatively nice.  However, I wouldn’t visit Hai Ky past 11 PM you dig?

Hai Ky is a small operation.  I would guess it could seat 30 people or so comfortably.  Many local honors are proudly displayed on the large, store front windows.  Inside, the walls are decorated with many works from local artists.  The decor is simple but effective.  The only problem I have is that, every time I walk in, my shoes feel sticky to the floor.  It’s not like they don’t clean their floors but there is always that sticky sensation every time you walk through.  It’s more of a kitschy quirk than an annoyance.  As for the service, it’s always been fast and friendly.  Although laid back, the staff seems knowledgeable and professional.

The first dish I wanted to highlight is their Spicy Hai Chicken.  This lovely dish is a stir fry with flat rice noodles, various veggies, tender chicken, seasoned with a peppery yet sweet house sauce, and topped with fresh cilantro and chopped peanuts.  Hai Ky is best known for their fresh taste and this dish doesn’t disappoint.  There were multiple layers of flavor from salty, sweet, sour, peppery, herby, etc.  Flavors partied well together and my tongue and nose were in heaven.  As a plus, the portion was generous.  YUM.

Aside from pho, the Vietnamese are also known for their vermicelli bowls, thin rice noodles topped with meat and veggies and served at room temperature with fish sauce.  YUM.  I can safely say that Hai Ky has one of the best vermicelli bowls in the city.  I mean…check out that pic!   Trust me, it tastes just as good as it looks.  As usual, the taste was super fresh thanks to the super fresh veggies.  The egg rolls were crunchy and made a good addition to the bowl.  The grilled pork was good and tender; however, it did lack that grilled flavor I love in these bowls.  The flavor profile was fresh, herby, slightly sweet, and salty.  I had a smile on face the entire time I was eating. 

Hai Ky is the complete package.  It has great food, great prices, and great portions.  If you want something Asian, fresh, and relatively healthy, Hai Ky is a great choice.  I bet you’re wondering why I’m only giving it a 4/5 if I’m so glowing about this place.  The reason is that there are times when the food isn’t as good as it could be.  Recently, Hai Ky has been hitting the spot right on.  I hope it can be consistent in the future.  For now, it gets a well deserved 4/5.

-jj

Hai Ky

1931 East Oltorf Street
Austin, TX 78741-4031
(512) 693-2464

Review: Patsy’s Cowgirl Cafe

When people think “Texas,” I would bet most would conjure images of cowboys, horses, lassos, tumbleweed, etc.  The funny thing is that this isn’t the case.  If you live in Texas, you’d know for a fact that seeing cowboys would be an odd exception rather than the rule.  Then again, odd things are the norm when it comes to the city of Austin.

I feel that Patsy’s tries to be campy and ironic when it came to the design of the restaurant.  The cowboy or rather cowgirl theme is in full effect at Patsy’s.  It may seem a little much, but I found it to be charming.  The design is entertaining, and speaking of which, Patsy’s does offer live music and shows on some nights.

The inside of Patsy’s has a warm feel to it thanks to the wooden furnishings.  Plenty of light shines through the big, open windows, adding to the bright and upbeat look of the place.  Ambiance is welcoming and not stuffy.  The staff was extra friendly and patient, answering all of my eager questions.  They even offered some of their homemade potato chips to sample.

Just talking to the server, it was obvious there was a history and pride that Patsy’s displays.  Looking at the menu, Patsy’s pays homage to famous Austinites by naming signature dishes after them.  Including on the menu are the likes of Kinky Friedman and the more famous Sandra Bullock.

As tempting as these dishes were, I decided to try their staple, their most famous dish, the chicken fried steak.  However, I wasn’t feeling beef so I went with the chicken version instead.  Take a peek:

The veg medley was nice.  Nothing more to say other than it wasn’t overcooked or over seasoned.  The potatoes were interesting.  They were soft but not creamy.  I couldn’t tell what they used but I don’t think it was any milk product.  The potatoes lacked that creamy flavor that I find most appealing in my mashed tubers.  The chicken was tender and thin; I’m guessing they pounded a chicken breast to achieve maximum flatness.  The breading wasn’t so spectacular.  A good chicken fried anything needs a crunchy, thick crust that can withstand a tsunami of gravy.  The flavor of the crust was a little salty and peppery.  Texture was too soft for my liking.  

As for the gravy, this where my biggest complaint lies.  I love my gravy to be smooth.  I hate lumps with a passion.  Lumpy gravy is a sign of two or both of the following: 1) lack of skill or 2) laziness.  This was one of the lumpiest gravies I had the displeasure of eating.  The texture wasn’t creamy either.  Not my favorite.

On a positive note, everything else was tasty enough.  I can’t say that the food was above average, but the meal had some high points.  The veggies were good, the chicken was tender, the potatoes were okay.  I will be going again and giving it another fair shake, but until then, Patsy’s gets a solid C from me.     

-jj

Patsy’s Cowgirl Cafe

www.patsyscowgirlcafe.com

5001 E. Ben White Blvd.

Austin, TX 78741

(512) 444-2020

Review: Marcelino Pan y Vino

Interesting fact: Marcelino’s doesn’t actually sell bread or wine.  In fact, the title simply comes from an old movie according to the cashier.

Marcelino is a taqueria, pure and simple.  It’s a typical mom and pop taco place that are spread all across Austin.  I love these type of eateries.  Most of the time, the cooks are old Mexican ladies who don’t speak a lick of English.  If you find yourself at an ethnic place where there are no English speaking Americans, chances are that the place is serving serious, authentic eats.  This is the case with Marcelino…for the most part.

As you walk into the very small eatery, you’ll notice only a few tables here and there.  When you walk up to the counter to order, you’ll notice immediate that there are several busy Mexican ladies making some tasty tacos.  One other thing I noticed was that the tortillas were not homemade.  If you live in Texas, you’ll appreciate the quality of a homemade tortilla.  I compare it to freshly baked bread as opposed to bread that is prepackaged and made into a factory.  After looking at the copious amounts of toppings available, it became immediately apparent that Marcelino paid more attention to the what goes into the taco than outside.  It’s like the great sandwich debate; what’s more important: the filling or the bread?  Marcelino leans towards the former in this debate and I can’t blame them. 

Chicken fajita taco was calling my name and I had to oblige.   Fajita doesn’t mean grilled with onions and peppers on a skillet.  Fajita can also mean just cooked with onions and peppers.  The chicken was stewed and was super tender.  There was a wonderful savory flavor from the onions and peppers with a slight pepperiness in the background.  Delish.

Picadillo is essentially ground beef.  Marcelino does it with onions, tomato, and potato for a nice savory touch.  The beef was nicely spiced and flavorful.  Much like the chicken fajita, the picadillo had a nice, stewed quality to it.  You can tell it took some time for the flavors to marry and work so well in a tortilla.  Another nice touch was the fact that it wasn’t too greasy.  I’ve had picadillo where the taco was dripping with grease.  Not good eats.

Puerco en salsa verde or pork in green salsa looked too good to pass up.  The sauce was slightly fruity and spicey.  There was a nice garlicy flavor in the background that played well with richness of the sauce.  My only complaint was that the pork was little tough for me.  I’ve had this before and it was much more tender than it was this time.  However, all in all, it was quite a tasty treat. 

Did I mention that all the tacos were hefty?  Each taco was about $2.25, a steal when you compare it other places and by the fact that each taco is like a billion pounds.  Marcelino’s isn’t a classy joint.  However, that shouldn’t be a reason to not give it a shot.  The friendly old ladies making some serious tacos make it worth a trip.  A good meal will set you back $8.  A home style, Mexican meal for that price is a no brainer for me.  A foresee a return trip very soon.

-jj

Marcelino Pan y Vino

901 Tillery Street
Austin, TX 78702-3744
(512) 926-1709

Review: Tamale House

Let me preface this review by saying that lines are deceiving.  I’ve lived in Austin for a couple of years now, and I have driven by a taco place with a ever present line out the door.  I never seemed to have the time to stop by and see what all the fuss is all about.  I had the pleasure actually doing so this past weekend.

Strangely, the Tamale House doesn’t serve tamales.  Legend has it that at one point, a long time ago, they did serve tamales.  Now, it’s all about the tacos.  The $.85 tacos to be exact.  Yes, $.85.  I’m all about cheap eats.  However, $.85 seems a little too cheap.  I was right.

Tamale House’s approach seems to be more about quantity than quality.  It’s almost like a factory trying to create the most output in the least amount of time; in Tamale House’s case, it’s all about serving the most customers as fast as possible.  Check out the line.  If you had that many customers, wouldn’t you want to serve them as quickly and efficiently as possible?

Tamale House is no frills.  It’s a definite hole in the wall and they want to pass the savings along to you.  In fact, they have a sign saying that you shouldn’t complain about the heat, since turning on the AC would mean passing the cost to you.  The sign was a bit rude, and quite frankly, the staff wasn’t all that friendly either.  To be fair, if you were that busy, being courteous isn’t a priority. 

I stood in line for about 20 minutes and had some time to talk to the regulars.  One guy professed that they were the best tacos in town.  Another lady was raving about the salsa.  My expectations were high for sure.  When you look inside, you can see several Mexican ladies cooking up orders like an army of moms cooking a heart-warming meal.  I was pretty excited.

I decided to order a chorizo (Mexican sausage) and egg taco, a brisket taco, and an order of migas (scrambled eggs, onions, jalapenos, tomatoes, tortilla chips, and cheese).  First thing I noticed was that they only had flour tortillas.  Damn.  Live in Texas long enough, and you’ll discover the joys of corn tortillas.  In fact, you’ll also discover the joys of homemade tortillas.  I may be wrong, but Tamale House’s tortillas didn’t seem homemade.  I’m almost positive they weren’t because they didn’t taste fresh, and I don’t think they have time to make their own.  In summary, store-made, flour tortillas = meh. 

Let’s start with the chorizo and egg taco.  The taco was small.  Then again, what can you expect for $.85?  The other thing I noticed was the fact that there wasn’t a whole lot of chorizo.  Again, it’s a cheap taco.  The problem was that there wasn’t a lot of flavor.  The egg was overcooked, and I barely tasted any chorizo.  Sure, the eggs were a nice color red but that was it.  The bland flour tortilla didn’t help either.

I totally forgot to take a picture of the brisket taco so I apologize.  Brisket in Texas is as important as fried chicken in Georgia.  Brisket is supposed to be super tender, fall off the bone good.  The one was…..not so much.  In fact, it was a bit tough.  Sadly, the best part of the taco were the grilled onions and pico.  Overall, the taco wasn’t terrible.  It was, at least, acceptable. 

Then there is the migas.  Oh my.  I want to be tactful, so I’ll just say it was slimy and salty.  I think they used Velveeta for the cheese which would be a crime against good Mexican food.  I couldn’t taste the eggs, the jalapeno, the onions, or anything else.  Honestly, I couldn’t finish it.  The side of rice and beans weren’t that great either.

I’m pondering what the lines are for.  The general rule of thumb is that, if there is a line, the food should be good.  I suppose there is an exception to the rule.  I was looking at the yelp scores and the reception was positive for Tamale House.  In fact, a lot of the reviews were glowing.  Am I missing something?  I willing to give any place a second a chance.  I’ll be going back at some point to give it another go.  However, for now, I will say that I wasn’t impressed with Tamale House.  There are a lot of good choices for tacos in Austin, and so far, Tamale House doesn’t stand out well.

Tamale House

5003 Airport Boulevard

Austin, TX‎ – (512) 453-9842‎

Review: TaKorea

Austin is fast becoming the place for al fresco dining.  Or it could be that it already has but is fast evolving in many interesting ways.  The trailer food concept has taken off in Austin as I have said before.  More and more of these types are popping all over the city, and it feels that a new trailer makes its debut every week. 

I was driving in central Austin and found a trailer marked, “TaKorea.”  My shock  almost got me into an accident.  As the name suggests, it is a Korean taco trailer.  I never thought I would put the words, “Korean” and “taco,” in the same sentece.  I’m happy that I get to now. 

TaKorea is a fairly new establishment, about 2 weeks old.  It might seem unfair to review the place now, but I thought I’d give my initial impressions at least.  The establishment is simply the trailer, a small table for napkins and condiments, and a few chairs.  This is a small operation for sure. 

The staff was super friendly.  Paul, the proprietor, was on site to answer all my questions.  Furthermore, the cook, Alden, was just was helpful and very approachable.  Paul admits that he got the inspiration from the famous Gogi trucks in LA.  Why not bring the concept to Austin, a city with a rich history of taquerias?  With so many taco places, why not bring a new concept to spice things up a bit.  The answer is TaKorea. 

TaKorea seeks to blend the most popular parts of Korean cuisine, the BBQ, and mix with it with the taco concept.  The menu offers tacos with Korean style BBQ pork marinated in sweet chili paste, skirt steak marinated “bulgogi” style, and of course tofu.  They also offer an interesting Korean style hot dog.  I decided to try that and a pork taco. 

The pork taco was tasty.  It featured pork butt with a light chili paste flavor.  It was topped with crunchy, shredded cabbage (a very nice touch), black sesame seeds, and chopped green onions.  The red sauce is a modified “gochujang,” sweet red chili paste.  Modified in the sense that it was lighter and more tangy.  There was a tenderness and crunchiness of the taco which I really enjoyed.  If I were to improve it, I would have used a more traditional pork BBQ.  Traditionally, the pork used in Korean pork BBQ is almost bacon like with the fat attached to the meat.  Also, the meat is sauted in the sauce and served “wet.”  A more traditional BBQ would have made this a spectacular taco in my eyes.

The hot dog was really interesting.  It was your standard Hebrew National hot dog and bun with a twist.  The same topping were present in the hot dog but also with a relish with cilantro, a slice of pickle, and your choice of BBQ meat.  I decided to try their beef with my dog.  The combination of flavors and textures were really great with the hot dog.  I initially thought it would be too much, but surprisingly, it was pretty tasty.  To be honest, I liked the hot dog more than I did the taco.  The toppings seemed to work better with the dog than it did the taco.  Does this mean the taco was bad?  No, it was tasty but lacked some punch. 

TaKorea shows a lot of promise.  It has the potential to be truly special in a market full of taqueria choices.  I feel that TaKorea could be more adventurous in their food.  They have taken a brave step in combining two styles of ethnic cuisine, but they can do more.  For instance, I feel that the truly Korean part of the food is the gochujang sauce topped on the hot dog and taco.  The marinade didn’t really pop or make an impression as it probably should have.  A kimchee relish would have made it truly Korean and have given the food the pop it really needed.  In fact, a kimchee relish would have been totally awesome on that hot dog; think of it like sauerkraut but spicy. 

TaKorea is great idea and worth a try.  I can’t wait to see how it grows and evolves in the next couple of months.  It’s existence is a sure sign that Austin is becoming the place for new, creative, and inspired eats.  I thought about giving TaKorea a 3.5 pans; however, upon further thought, I decided to give it some extra credit for trying something new and taking a risk.  Give TaKorea a try; you might be pleasantly surprised. 

TaKorea

(512) 970-8256

Review: Trudy’s

As you can probably guess, there are many places in Austin where you can get good Tex-Mex.  Now if you want truly great Tex-Mex, there are a few picks. 

One of these choice places would be Trudy’s.  Although Trudy’s has been around for awhile, I decided to review the latest addition in the family located in South Austin. 

As you can see, the design is very much cabana like for better or worse.  I actually like the feel of the restaurant.  The outside feels almost like a resort while the inside is decidely modern but comfy. 

Like most places in Austin, the vibe is laid back.  The servers are almost always super friendly and courteous.  Add some fantastic food and you have a super popular restaurant worth the hour wait.  Don’t expect to get a table immediately if  you decide to patronize Trudy’s on a Friday and Saturday night.

One of the best things about Trudy’s is the staple of most Mexican places, the chips and salsa.  Now Trudy’s offers freshly fried chips that are thin and very crisy, my preference.  As for their salsa, I have to say that it’s quite tasty.  They offer a green and red salsa, both with a nice kick.  You can tell that they use roasted peppers and that the incredients are incredibly fresh.  Honestly, I can eat a gallon of the stuff. 

What’s also great about Trudy’s is that they offer great staples that they are known for but also spices things up with seasonal items and specials to tempt long time fans to straying aaway from the regular menu.  As a regular, I decided to try their special chicken enchiladas with a red chili sauce.  The actual name escapes my memory but not the spectacular flavor. 

  The chicken was nicely marinated, salty and spicy yet tenderly shredded.  The red sauce was, of course, peppery.  However, it had a very nice texture, not too thick and not too thin, velvety, almost creamy, with a slight salty background.  I also liked the fresh slices of avocado.  Honestly, I don’t think it added to the dish but it was a nice accompaniment nonetheless.   

The enchiladas were accompanied by a two sides of rice (I love the stuff).  The beans at Trudy’s aren’t bad but I am partial to the rice.  Their rice has a nice chunky quality with carrots and corn but fluffy with an aroma of what seems like chicken.  Either way, it’s delish.   

What separates Trudy’s from other Tex Mex places is the fact that the quality of the food is much higher and that not everything is drowned in cheese like most places.  When you get your food, it’s apparent that who ever prepared it, cared what it tastes like and what it looked like.  I can appreciate the attention to detail.  What’s even better is the fact that Trudy’s is afforable.  Great food at a good price.  Makes me smile.

Trudy’s

www.trudys.com

Review: Rudy’s BBQ

When out of towners speak of Austin, oddly, they mention BBQ as THE food to experience.  As I stated in a previous post, BBQ really isn’t Austin’s thing.  This doesn’t mean you can’t find some spectacular BBQ in the Heart of Texas.

Having its start just a little south of the city, Austin decided to adopt the gas station/BBQ restaurant as one of its own.  Yes, I did just say “gas station.”  Although  the reason escapes me at the moment, most Rudy’s are a combo with a gas station attached to the actual restaurant.  I think this really adds to the ”down to earth” quality that Rudy’s is proud of. 

Speaking of which, when you walk into the restaurant, you’ll immediately feel right at home.  The decor is family friendly, almost picnic style.  Formalities are thrown out  the window here.  When you’re here, it’s almost as it you’re family. And eating with your hands is perfectly acceptable.

When you walk up to the counter, almost always, you are greeted with a friendly cashier who is always willing to let you try some of their delicious offerings.  Aside from the ribs, everything is available to sample.  I highly recommend that you do if you are a new comer.  Rudy’s offers a good variety of BBQ from brisket (get the moist version – you won’t regret it) to sausage to even turkey.

Most of everything is sold by the pound.  I suggest that 1/2 pound of brisket or turkey makes two decent sandwiches.  Of course, being a fat boy, I have to get a 1/2 pound of the moist brisket and the moist turkey.  Of course, that isn’t all.  Although not super spectacular, Rudy’s offers some delicious sides from potato salad to cole slaw to their famous creamed corn that will win over even the biggest cynic.  Once you order your food, all is placed on what they call “Texas Fine China” or rather parchment paper on top of a plastic crate.  Oh and their bread is simply sliced white.  When I said “down to earth,” I really meant it.

Rudy’s is self serve only.  Help yourself to all the ”fixins” you want.  Onions, pickles, and their BBQ is available to you at your leisure.  Pick a seat from one of the many picnic style tables and prepare to chow down.    

Simply put, the food is fantastic.  Although I haven’t tried their ribs, the best of what they have to offer is the moist brisket.  Fork tender, juicy, and so flavorful, the brisket will leave a smile on your face.  The slight saltiness and peppery nature goes well with a nice slice of white bread and a dab of Rudy’s special BBQ sauce.  Good brisket takes hours to make.  I can’t imagine how long it takes to make brisket this tasty. 

If you’re not a beef fan, I suggest you try their turkey.  On a side note, they do offer BBQ chicken which I have yet to try, but I’m sure it’s as tasty as the bovine counterpart.  The turkey is smoked and baked I believe.  They take huge chunks of turkey breast and slice it up to order just like the brisket.  The flavor is simply wonderful.  Much like the brisket, their is a slight saltiness and pepper flavor.  Furthermore, just like the brisket, the turkey is super tender.  You won’t a better turkey else where I guarantee it. 

Everytime I go to Rudy’s, I leave satisfied.  It’s a vegetarian’s worst nightmare but a sweet dream for meat lovers.  The no frills atmosphere make it a perfect place to get a nice, warm meal without attitude and pretention.  Admittedly, meals can get expensive if you are feeling like trying a few things here and there, but it’s all worth it.  Austin may not be the place for BBQ but at we have a place that we can proudly call the best BBQ the city has to offer.

Rudy’s

Multiple locations.  Check rudys.com for more info.

Review: Flip Happy Crepes

 As I mentioned before, Austin has a love affair with al fresco dining.  Whenever possible, we love to eat outside.  This love becomes even more evident as you pass by stands and trailers all over Austin serving delicious eats.

One of my friends suggested I try this crepe stand in South Austin, tucked away behind more famous eatieries on Barton Springs.  I can’t imagine Flip Happy Crepes being very famous in Austin, since it was the first time I had ever heard of it in my three years in Austin.  However, according to my friend, Flip Happy is usually very packed with hungry Austinites who are willing to wait an hour or more for a delicious crepe.  I’m glad I can count myself in those huge numbers Flip Happy attracts.

As with most trailer eateries, Flip Happy is no frills.  Located on a gravel parking lot, Flip Happy has a canopy and a few tables and chairs.  Sorry, no rest rooms.  The ambiance is simple but works well.  Add the eclectic music they play over the speakers and you have a true Austin experience.

A quick look at the menu and it’s evident that Flip Happy has a great assortment that will satisfy even the most voracious meat eater to the most strict vegan.  Of course, there are sweet crepes for those with a sweet tooth.  What’s even better is the fact that everything is priced affordably.  The most expensive item is  the smoked salmon crepe priced at $9.  Most items on the menu are under $7.  As for the portions, they are very, very generous.

I decided to try a savory and a sweet crepe.  For the savory side, I decided on the Pork Special: pulled pork, caramelized onions, and cheddar cheese.  The crepe was nice and crispy with a slight buttery flavor.  It wrapped around a generous amount of pork, onions, and cheese.  I will say that I was surprised that the crepe was wrapped like a burrito.  I was expecting more of a flat experience, but I’m glad it wasn’t.  By rolling the crepe, all the tasty insides are compacted and can stay in one place. 

Speaking of tasty insides, the pork was super tender.  Best of all, it was dripping in its juices.  I was in sheer ecstasy.  The tender, juicy pork combined with the melted cheddar and sweet onions made for a heavenly experience in my mouth.  Imagine biting into a crisp yet buttery crust then being greated by melting goodness of the cheddar, followed by the sweetness of the onions and then the juicy, salty, tender goodness of the pork.  Oh my.  High marks all around.   

It wouldn’t be a meal if I didn’t try a dessert crepe.  I decided to try the peanut butter and dark chocolate crepe, because it sounded scandalously amazing.  And I was right.  The crepe featured some luscious peanut butter cream cheese and dashes of dark chocolate.  The sweet creaminess from the peanut butter plus the bitterness of the chocolate was quite good.  Of course the crepe was nice and buttery.  Add in some almonds, whip cream, and bananas and you have yourself a super treat and a great end to a meal.   

Flip Happy Crepes has done what few places have accomplished: make me blush and gush with excitement.  Not since Gourdough’s have I felt this strongly about a place and its food.  Flip Happy is a must for anyone because it’s affordable, accessible, and incredbly tasty.  It receives my highest recommendation.

Flip Happy Crepes

400 Josephine Street
Austin, TX 78704

Review: Geaux Burger

Mooyah’s now known as Geaux Burger was a fairly recent addition in the pantheon of burger choices in Austin.  Although there are many other, more established joints that offer a very good burger, Mooyah’s had something extra special that made their cow sandwiches so delectable. 

Now Mooyah’s had recently received a make-over as a result of franchising disputes.  I’m not comfortable with change when it comes to things that I already felt were perfect.  Thankfully, changes are purely aesthetic.  Instead of the family-friendly white and red décor, the establishment is now decked in LSU purple and other NCAA football team logos.  Oh and lots of TV’s.  Mooyah’s has now turned into a sports bar burger joint to my dismay but at least the food is still tasty as ever. 

So what makes a Geaux Burger so fantastic?  Let’s start with the bun.  Geaux Burger uses freshly baked bread, specially made for them.  I don’t think they are baked in house, but the freshness of the sesame seed bun is quite evident.  It has a nice soft texture with a subtle sweetness.  It’s also solid enough to hold their immense meat patties.

Speaking of which, Geaux Burger prides itself in its fresh beef.  The beef, although insanely thick like most places, is cooked just enough so it’s incredibly juicy.  Not tough but tender, not super greasy, and super moist, Geaux Burger has managed to create the perfect beef patty. 

To top it off, Geaux Burgers have a generous listing of toppings, all of which are free unlike some places.  My preference is lettuce, tomato, pickles, mayo, ketchup, jalapenos, onions.  Bacon was extra.  Even better is the fact that you can choose your cheese such as American, Swiss, Jack, etc.  What makes the burger perfect is the fact that its built well so that none of the toppings fall out or fall apart.      

As for the fries, they are cut in the store and fried to order.  They have a nice crispness and super tenderness on the inside.  To make them even yummier, they use a special spice rub that I can’t really describe.  They’re generous enough to offer it as a table season for which I am so grateful. 

I’m not super happy about the new design but at least the food hasn’t changed.  Geaux Burger offers a super juicy, super delish burger that will satisfy even the most snobbish of burger lovers such as myself.  Some might think it’s a little pricey (a double cheese burger with bacon, fries, and a drink was about $10), but the quality makes it totally worth it. 

Geaux Burger

9070 Research Blvd #303
Austin, TX 78758

Eating Out: Austin – BBQ Edition

What’s great about DLE is the fact that everyone lives in a different part of the country.  I thought it would be a great idea to do an ongoing journal about the eating out in Austin so that the readers can have a good idea on what food is like in Heart of Texas. 

For the first edition, I thought it would be great to address BBQ in Austin.  Here are some myths I would like to talk about:

1. Austin is known for great BBQ.  Eh…not really.  Don’t get me wrong.  Austin   has some spectacular BBQ eats.  However, I would give the nod to the southeast when it comes to amazing BBQ.  I will say that Austin is home to truly great BBQ  in Texas such as Rudy’s Country Store and the Salt Lick, both of which I’ll talk             more in detail later.    
2. Austin is home to meat lover’s central.  Yes and no.  Texas, in general, is a meat- loving state.  The official state food would probably be beef.  In fact, the long horn steer is a revered animal especially in Austin for culinary and NCAA reasons.  Austin, for the most part, is a vegetarian-friendly town.  Actually, in general, Austin is a very open-minded town when it comes to grub. 

 Despite these myths, Austin is home to some truly great BBQ places.  Here are a few notables:

Rudy’s is a staple food in Texas, especially in Austin.  Although only open for 20 years, Rudy’s has firmly placed itself as the place to go for some great BBQ in Texas.  Although I haven’t done a review yet, I can give you a quick preview: it’s damn good. 

Oak-smoked meats are immediately noticeable when you walk-in the very down-to-earth interior of the restaurant.  Rudy’s takes pride in their no-nonsense approach to food.  In fact, they don’t actually have plates.  Instead, they serve their food on parchment paper on top of plastic crates.  Yes, you heard me right.  It’s a great, low-key, affordable place to get BBQ that reflects the natural mood of Austin.   

Next on my list is the Salt Lick, a legendary BBQ joint just outside the Austin city limits.  The layout is similar to Rudy’s in that it’s no frills.  Rows and rows of wooden picnic tables fill the gigantic barn-like house.  As you walk by, you’ll smell the sweetness of the bbq pit.  

The Salt Lick offers a wide arrange of meats such as brisket, ribs, chicken, sausage, etc.  They also offer a family style type of meal where it’s all you can eat.       

Although technically located in Driftwood, TX, Austin has adopted it as its own.  The Salt Lick’s insistence on being low-key, friendly, and accessible makes it an easy Austin adoptee.

In general, Austin isn’t THE place for BBQ but that doesn’t mean there are some seriously good BBQ to be had.  There will be reviews on both Rudy’s and the Salt Lick in the near future.