mediumrare Austin: Well Done
Trailer Flavor
Golden Crunch
pg. 20
pg. 10
Food trailers are Austin’s hometown speciality
Find some of the crunchiest fried chicken in Austin
Fine Dining
The most exquisite in Austin pg. 16
Smokin’
In Texas, barbecue reigns supreme pg. 6
Contents
Feature Stories
Pg. 6 Barbecue Barbecue in Austin is superior. In this town with hundreds of barbecue restaurants, we explore the history of a small barbecue joint. by Sam G.
Pg. 16 Fine Dining Estancia Churrascaria carries the Brazilian tradition of unique meats. Come enjoy the things that make Estancia special. by Gabe H.
Pg. 10 Fried Chicken Some people in Texas try frying other foods, but none can match the classic fried chicken. We explore the world of fried chicken in Austin. by Edmund G.
Pg. 20 Trailers The idea behind creating gourmet doughnuts at Gourdough’s has changed doughnuts forever. by Keirnan G.
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Food Suggestions 8 Barbecue
10 Fried Chicken 12 Tex-Mex 18 Fine Dining 22 Trailers
Photos used under Creative Commons licensing
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Letter from the Editors At mediumrare, we evaluate some of the best restaurants and trailers in Austin and the dishes that make them such. We have included everything from fine dining to trailers, and from barbecue to Tex-Mex so that we can present all of our readers with the best options of local food. Whether you’re looking for a place for catering, going out or just enjoying the wide varieties of unique Austin food, this is the magazine for you.
Above: Photo used under Creative Commons licensing Other phtotos by Sam G.
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mediumrare staff
Sam G. Sam’s favorite subjects are math and science and he is particularly interested in physics. Sam also plays soccer. He likes many types of food, but doughnuts are certainly near the top. One food that he could’t live without is ice cream.
Gabe H. Gabe plays baseball, basketball, and loves to watch football. He also plays baritone in the LBJ Marching Band. He loves almost every type of food and has always been willing to try unique and different things. One food that he couldn’t live without is a good old fashioned cheeseburger.
Keirnan G. Keirnan loves to plays basketball and ultimate frisbee. Once he ate a baker’s dozen of donuts in 10 minutes, without throwing up. One day, after a basketball game he went to Chuy’s and he ate the Elvis Special, which is 3 and ½ pounds of Mexican goodness. One food that he couldn’t live without is ravioli.
Edmund G. Edmund knows most things about food in general. He specializes in fast-food, home-style Mexican, and fried chicken. Edmund has always been a fan of food of any kinds, from fried to grilled to spicy, and anything that ends with “a large side of fries and Diet Coke”. One thing that he couldn’t live without is pancakes.
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Barbecue Barbecue is more Texan than any other food. It has been a great and delicious tradition ever since the people of the Caribbean started the tradition of slowcooking meat over a wooden platform. The Spanish called it barbacoa.
Since then, it has continued to change a lot and become more and more popular, until it became what it is now: the best style of cooking meat in the world. But in Texas, you’ll find ribs that brings pure joy into your mouth and brisket which is
second to none. You can buy two pounds of this pure goodness for only $26. With one of the best styles of food merging with a city with reputation for restaurants, it’s no wonder that barbecue is such a popular food in the capital of its home state.
Smokin’ the Good Stuff Barbecue joints have meaty histories by Sam G.
Austin is full of barbecue joints. Whether you want to try some of the most tender ribs or the best barbecue sauce in the U.S., Austin is no doubt the place to go. Austin has been rated the best city for barbecue in the U.S. by The Huffington Post. Franklin BBQ (an exclusively Austin restaurant) was chosen as the best barbecue joint in America by Bon Appetit magazine, and second by The Huffington Post. Austin also has The Salt Lick, Rudy’s, the County Line, Iron Works, and Stubb’s. “It’s a staple food here in Texas”, says Andrew Alexander, owner and founder of Big Brotha’s BBQ. With all of these restaurants with so much popularity, it’s worth knowing how they started. The Alexanders are a family that has been cooking barbecue at home for almost 15 years. After cooking barbecue at home for so long, they started catering for fundraisers. They also started entering barbecue competitions, in many of which they won the best brisket award. The family soon bought a trailer and sold barbecue from it in Pflugerville. The trailer was not very successful, so the family opened up a restaurant and named it Big Brotha’s BBQ. These types of findings come about all over Austin, so we now have many barbecue trailers and restaurants all over town.
Above: Photo by Sam G. Other photos used under Creative Commons licensing
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What’s Cooking in Austin Where to get barbecue in central Texas
Big Brotha’s 100 12th St., Pflugerville (512) 351-3359
Big Brotha’s BBQ is a small, family-owned barbecue restaurant located outside Austin in Pflugerville. Their brisket melts in your mouth; the ribs are cooked so perfectly that they are just barely not falling off the bone. They also specialize in sausage and soft tender turkey. The environment is friendly, but the food is hard to smell until it comes out for you to eat it and the ambiance is nothing special, but it doesn’t take away from the quality of the food.
Live Oak
2713 E 2nd St., Austin
Live Oak is a great place to grab some delicious barbecue. The pork ribs are amazing. At most hours of the day, there is no wait, which is really great feature. The menu is fairly small; the basic items are great chicken, delectable pork ribs, sausage that is a little dry and has less flavor, and good brisket, though also somewhat dry. The barbecue sauce is a thin and Carolina styled sauce that serves as a great topping. The ambiance is not like that of the ultimate Texan style as seen in the Salt Lick or the County Line, but the smell of barbecue becomes apparent immediately upon entering. They occasionally feature live music.
The County Line 5204 Ranch Road 2222, Austin (512) 346-3664
The County Line is a very popular barbecue restaurant with some of the best ribs in Austin, a great menu, and a great ambiance. The brisket sliders are a great appetizer, and aren’t far from serving as a whole meal. The thick brisket is delicious but the ribs are definitely the highlight. Both the pork and the beef ribs are to die for. Along with the scrumptious food, the County Line On The Lake offers a pretty view and Texan ambiance, especially when outside.
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The Salt Lick 18300 FM 1826, Driftwood (512) 858-4959
You can’t live in Austin without going to The Salt Lick. All of their food is smoked in a giant pit, visible when you go inside. Their menu features turkey, pork ribs, sausage, beans, and brisket. The consistency of the brisket is a weakness of the restaurant, but the pork ribs and turkey far exceed the necessary amount to counter that weakness. In a party of eight or more, the $20 all you can eat special is useless because you can order more than you need (in barbecue measurement, just enough) for less. The price might be on the higher end of your spectrum, but the Texan atmosphere, the lovely waitresses, the occasional live music, and the great food make it money well spent. The Salt Lick barbecue sauce is a sweet, very unique topping that makes their already great plates even better. Another unique aspect of the Salt Lick is that they serve pickled jalapeños to go along with the meal — but caution: these babies are smoking hot.
Stars at locations of Big Brotha’s, Live Oak, The County Line, and The Salt Lick Big Brotha’s photo, The County Line photo, and map: Photos by Sam G. Other photos used under Creative Commons licensing
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Krunchy Fried Chicken by Edmund G.
Fried chicken has influenced meals in the South for many decades. Texas has taken the basis of the famous dish, and transformed it into a creation all its own. The ways that the chicken is prepared, cooked, and served is something done in the Lone Star State. These restaurants have found a way to make their chicken some of the best in Texas.
Lucky J’s Chicken & Waffles 5035 Burnet Road, 78704 (512) 524-2917
Not only does Lucky J’s have their own restaurant, they also have a separate trailer to sell all kinds of their unique chicken. They have original pieces of chicken, but also pieces served with a buttermilk waffle. One of their more unique and crazy plates is Ms. M Taco. It includes a chicken strip, a slice of bacon, and Swiss cheese to finish it off. This is one restaurant in Austin that has some of the oddest combination of dishes, but still takes fried chicken a step above.
Center: Lucy’s electronic sign. Above: Lucky J’s waffle chicken taco.
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“feeds four for under $30.” Lucy’s also serves other varieties of food including pies, fried oysters and deep fried deviled eggs. According to Thompson, the chickens are all naturally sourced and hormone free. “It is locally farmed, antibiotic free, and sourced from Texas.” Lucy’s is a perfect place to bring a few friends to eat a great meal, with having to pay a big price.
Bush’s Chicken 9815 Brodie Lane, 78704 (512) 280-1600
Lucy’s Fried Chicken 2218 College Ave., 78704 (512) 297-2423 Lucy’s takes home-made to a whole new level. “It’s a family recipe, passed down through many years” Lucy’s manager Kendra Thompson says. Thompson says that James Holmes is the owner, and his grandmother, Lucy taught him how to make the classic chicken. One of the most popular meals at Lucy’s is the Bucket of Chicken says Thompson. She said that it
Bush Chicken had actually started with Keith Bush, who lived in Odessa, Texas, and created his chicken-chain in Waco. Along with the fried chicken, Bush’s has gone more in-depth, including the livers and gizzards, both of which are both taken out of the bird and deep fried. Both of the innards are not something that is on a regular menu, but they still are some of the most ordered dishes that are on Bush’s menu.
Photos used with permission of Lucy’s and under fair use
Bush’s Chicken sign in Austin, Texas
Top Notch 7525 Burnet Road, 78757 (512) 452-2181 Top Notch has almost everything that a classic Texas meal can have: hamburgers, french fries, and fried chicken. One of their best dishes is their classic fried chicken. A single piece comes with two sides, like their mashed potatoes, fried okra, or potato salad. . The sides might be bigger than the actual chicken. Top Notch has created some really good chicken, and the huge number of sides also helps them become a ‘top ‘notch’ restaurant.
Left: Top Notch classic fried chicken. Photos used under Creative Commons licensing
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Texican Food
Mexican food has inspired the tastes and flavors we find in Austin. There are many places that serve classic Mexican cuisine yet still add the Texas kick. We explore some of these restaurants that have the original Mexican flavor and still incorporate Texas into every meal.
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Photo used under fair use
Casa Maria 4327 S. First St. (512) 444-8861 Casa Maria has some of the greatest breakfast plates, and adds some classic American plates for people who like the simple breakfast with eggs, potatoes and pancakes. One of their many breakfast items is the nopalitos con huevos. This is a unique plate, because ‘nopalitos’ is Spanish for cactus. Cactus is actually a huge staple in the classic Mexican plate, and is still commonly found is Mexican meals. Casa Maria not only has classic Mexican food, but also has a panadería, a separate part of the restaurant made just for the sweet bread and desserts. The panadería has a long counter with almost hundreds of different deserts, including tres leches, a cake made with three different kinds of milk to give it creamy sweetness. This is one of the things that gives Casa Maria its name; a restaurant that Casa Maria has a lot of classic Mexican food, from breakfast in the morning, to a late night dessert.
Casa Garcia 1000 S. Lamar Blvd. (512) 851-8684 One of the staples of Mexican food is Mole. Mole, is a sauce which is poured over meats such as chicken and beef, to add a strong and sweet flavor to it. Casa Garcia is able to add this specialty to their mole enchilada. Their mole enchilada plate includes two chicken enchiladas wrapped inside corn tortillas. They add rice and refried beans drowned with mole.This is one of the specialities of Casa Garcia. Everyone’s mole is made a differently, but Casa Garcia is able to make it that classic homeade taste.
Center: Cactus, or “nopales” from Casa Maria
Photos used under Creative Commons licensing
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Habanero Mexican Cafe 501 W. Oltorf St. (512) 416-0443 This restaurant has been in Austin since 1998, when owner Arturo Ibarra moved from East Oregon to Austin to make a restaurant. “I was working as a farm worker, and I got tired of working on the farm,” Ibarra said, “So, I got into the restaurant business.” Habanero’s best plate is a mix between the fajita plate and fajita tacos. “Growing up in the valley,” Ibarra said, “eating fajitas everyday up there.” Before Habanero came to be, the restaurant was owned by Ibarra’s father. Then, it was Dos Hermanos.
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Although they don’t serve dinner, they serve all-day breakfast and lunch. The only problem is that they close early during the week, so you would have to wait until the weekend to get a great dinner. The occasional five to ten minute wait in line is worth it to get a great Mexican meal. Fajita taco picture taken by Edmund G. Others used under Creative Commons licensing
Maudie’s Tex-Mex 10205 N. Lamar Blvd. (512) 832-0900
Chuy’s 1728 Barton Springs Road. (512) 474-4452
Matt’s El Rancho 2613 S. Lamar Blvd. (512) 462-9333
Maudie’s was a home-cooking restaurant, before it was bought by now-owner Joe Draker, and transformed into a Mexican food hot-spot. “I bought it from Maudie Hamilton Wilson as a growing concern [during this time, Wilson was in poor health],” Draker said. Wilson opened her restaurant in 1954. According to Maudie’s “about” page on their website (www.maudies.com), there was a house for-rent next door to Wilson. After moving back to Austin, Draker was looking for a new home. After talking with Wilson, her daughter Bennie said, “Hey, you wouldn’t wanna buy a cafe, would ya?” After that offer, Draker bought it in 1992, and made it into an award-winning restaurant. The most ordered plate at Maudie’s would be Pete’s Tantalizing Tacos, made with sausage, egg, potato, cheese, onions, and serranos. Draker said that he named them after the creator, Pete, and added the appropriate descriptor.
Chuy’s is actually a large chain, with restaurant from all around Texas to all around the country, like in Alabama, Florida, and Kentucky. This proves that Chuy’s has a great state-wide taste. One of Chuy’s best plates is the Elvis Presley Memorial Combo, named after the late and famous singer and actor. The plate comes with three enchiladas; one beef, one cheese and one chicken, a sirloin taco, and chips with chile con queso on the side. This dish would have made the American superstar proud, to have such an amazing plate named after his greatness. Chuy’s is a great place to get amazing Mexican food and to get a picture with an Elvis statue at every Chuy’s.
Tacos are a basic meal in Mexican food and they are eaten every day. Matt’s El Rancho makes their tacos into a amazing combination of the best of Mexican ingredients. Matt’s El Rancho has started creating classic and unique Mexican food since 1952, and their flavor has only changed for the better. One of their best plates is the tacos al pastor, made with marinated pork and pineapples in homemade corn tortillas, and served with rice and beans. These are classic tacos that can be made anywhere, but Matt’s make them taste incomparable.
Right: Matt’s El Rancho home-made flan dessert. Left: Home-made tortillas from Habanero. Left Center: Fajita taco from Habanero. Photos used under fair use
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Food at its Finest
Enjoy dining at Austin’s upscale establishments People know Austin for its trailers, barbecue and fried chicken. These are staple foods in Austin; you practically can’t be an Austinite without loving them.
But there are other foods that are sometimes are disregarded when you think of Austin. Fine dining is an art that incorporates uniqueness and creativity with good taste.
Photos used under Creative Commons licensing
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Here is a local place that changed fine dining with family style cooking and a list of the three finest and fanciest places in Austin. Grab your fork and dig in!
Best of the Best
Why Estancia Churrascaria is so special by Gabe H.
Estância Churrascaria is a restaurant that originated in Austin, but the food itself originated long before that. Estância is an all you can eat steak house where the chefs personally serve you their delectable meats. Their salad bar is exquisite, with multiple varieties of vegetables and lettuce. Estância opened at the Arboretum in October of 2011 and has remained one of the best all you can eat meat places you can find. Robinson Igueridio, manager of Estância, says that the restaurant’s unique flavors and delightful tastes that are in Estância Churrascaria originated in Brazil. “We love to serve the people. On the weekends [in Brazil] we would meet all together, friends and make barbecue, and we talk about family” says Igueridio. This history and tradition of the food in restaurants is hard to find. Brazilian cuisine is influenced greatly by Portugal and of the African slaves who colonized Brazil in the 15th century. The national dish of Brazil is also influenced by meat. The feijoada is a type of black bean stew with rice and a variety of pork meats. It was a native dish of the African slaves, and it has changed over time. The plate originally contained pig ears. While Estância doesn’t bring the whole authentic plate to Austin, they do use the native meats and they do bring the style.
Most restaurants that you can The elegant salad bar is second find nowadays don’t have this to none. According to Igueridio, history of great food. their salad bar includes over 20 Estância is so special because different types of greens and they are a local, vegetables, family owned including restaurant smoked that serves salmon, food you can’t artichoke find anywhere and palm of else. It has heart. Estância great meats, Churrascaria authentic has the fanciest flavors, a and finest salad --Robinson Igueridio delicious salad bar you can Manager, Estância Churrascaria bar, and a great find. service. “The chefs These outstanding aspects to come from Brazil and cut the the restaurant are the reason steaks right here. We teach them it has been chosen for the how to cut the meat the Brazilian mediumrare Best of the Best. way” says Igueridio.
“
We’d like to show the people the culture of Brazil.
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Fine Foreign Food Vespaio: Italian food at its finest, Vespaio incorporates fine dining with authentic Italian. They offer a variety of handmade antipastas, salads and pizzas. One of their most ordered dishes is the special of the day. This handcrafted dish is unique every day, so frequent customers can go there and try something new. It’s a great fine dining option for a great Italian night.
Uchi: Head chef Tyson Cole premiered Uchi to Austin in 2003. Uchi is one of the most popular Japanese restaurants in Austin, with great fine dining. There main specialty is sushi and sashimi. 22 different types of these are served. They have some of the best in Austin. It’s a must go place, one with a creative and diverse menu. If you want a night with great food, Uchi is the place to go.
Congress: Congress is undoubtably the most fancy restaurant in all of Austin. Your wallet will be empty after a night going to Congress. But if you want a magical sevencourse meal, this is the place to go. The presentation is an art at Congress, featuring the works of Chef David Bull. They feature great food, great art, and a lovely night for tasting some of the best food in Austin.
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Photos used under fair use
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Inside the Fryer
Gourdough’s makes doughnuts different by Keirnan G.
Gourmet doughnuts. Is that even possible? Gourdough’s made it possible. At Gourdough’s they take the traditional doughnut and turn it into a delicacy. With a variety of toppings and fillings like whipped cream, dark chocolate, peaches and even bacon, they take the doughnut to the next level. “Everyone likes to put stuff on top of stuff and that was the inspiration,” said RJ. But doughnuts aren’t the only things that the employees here enjoy. When ever owner RJ wants to grab a mid day bite to eat he heads over to Mellizas Tacos or LA Barbeque. “Mellizas is how Torchy’s used to be before it became big,” said RJ. In Austin the food seen has been evolving and changing constantly for the past 10 years. In this time spam airstreams have been turned into successful businesses and unique, unheard of foods have become the well know and signature dishes of Austin. From the gourmet doughnuts at Gourdough’s to the unique tacos at Torchy’s to the entree filled ice cream cones at the Mighty Cone, you can find some of the best and cheapest food in the city at trailers. Photos by Keirnan Green
and fewer. At Gourdough’s customer Gourdough’s opened back in loyalty is key. Being a doughnut 2008. At this time most trailers shop that doesn’t actually sell were just plain, old, food trucks. normal doughnuts does have They wanted to be different and some drawbacks. the airstream let them do that. Some people will come up to “The airstream was picked so the trailer asking for a normal doughnut and then end up getting that it would be the silver bullet peeking out from all of the white turned down. food trucks,” said RJ. Even if you request a normal They are starting to expand as doughnut or you are willing to a resturaunt, with venues possibly pay extra they will not make springing up in Houston and San you one. It Antonio, it looks like gourmet is made very doughnuts are going to be the celar by the next food craze. staff that they With this expansion they are will not sell also thinking about expanding you a normal their menu. doughnut. With new, even more delicious The reason doughnuts possibly on the way that they wont they are going to need something make regular to cleanse the thirst of hungry doughnuts is customers. Because of this, there that “it isn’t the best doughnut you can get for is a high possibility that they are going to start roasting there your dollar,” said owner RJ. own coffee and if it is successful, They want to customer to get selling the mix so that people can the best they can get for he $4.50 make it at home. cost of one of their doughnuts. The recently The popularity opened store of gourmet has become doughnuts their base of has been operations and rising though. will be in the On thursday future. to sunday Because of mornings they their growing regularly have clientèle 100 people in Gourdough’s line outside is on its way the trailer to become and requests America’s next for normal big restaurant. doughnuts are -- RJ becoming fewer
“ Everyone likes to put stuff on top of stuff and that was the inspiration.
Owner, Gourdough’s
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Top Five Trailer Flavors 1. Gourdough’s
The Gourdoughs’s trailer on South First Street
1503 South First Street 512-707-1050
Who would have thought to make a fried chicken and honey butter doughnut? Gourdough’s did just that. It is now one of the most well known food trailers in the United States. It has been featured in numerous magazines and on various websites. They sell speciality doughnuts that range from the Flying Pig with bacon and maple syrup icing to the Puddin’, which is cream filled, has cream cheese icing, banana slices and vanilla wafers. They also have beverages ranging from coffee, to apple cider, to Dublin Dr. Pepper. There is only one possible complaint that anyone could have with this trailer and it is a problem that all popular restaurants have: a wait. But considering the reward, this is a wait that is definitely worth it. There is a way to completely avoid this problem though, and that is to just go on a weekday. On weekdays there is almost no one there unlike the crowded weekends. When I went there, I had the Son of a Peach, which has peach filling and a cinnamon, sugar and cake mix topping. This is a doughnut that would definitely seem like it would be overkill, and I thought that it would be but boy was I wrong. The mix between the savoriness of the cinnamon and the sweetness
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of the peach filling combined with the ever so slight crunch of the cake mix creates one of the best pastries that I have had the chance to enjoy.
2. The Frigid Frog Snow Cones
1603 South Congress Ave. 512-229-6939 This cool Central Austin snow cone stop has some of the best summer time snacks in the city. With their endless flavor combinations and various toppings such as whipped cream and even raisins. My favorite thing to get here is a grape snow cone with a topping of whipped cream. If you mix the whipped cream with the actual snow cone it makes it turn into a creamy delight with almost the same texture as frozen yogurt.
This texture combined with the sweetness of the grape gives it a feel in your mouth that is very different from most snow cones.
A black cherry and blue bubble gum snow cone from the Frigid Frog
3. Torchy’s Tacos 1311 South First Street 512-366-0537 This Tex-Mex twist taco shop has some of the best tacos in the city. From the Trashy Trailer Park: a flour tortilla filled with fried chicken, pico de gallo, cheese poblano sauce and queso to the Democrat: a corn tortilla with shredded beef barbacoa, avocado,
Photos used under Creative Commons licensing
queso fresco, onions, a lime wedge and tomatillo sauce. The creative names of their tacos also make the trailer different from the rest. I don’t think most people would think that the Republican would be a taco. I know that if I hadn’t been to Torchy’s, I wouldn’t.
The Trailer Park from Torchy’s Tacos
4. Hey Cupcake! 1600 South Congress Ave. 512-476-2253
This hip, little cupcake joint on South Congress is a must go for any sweet tooth. This resturaunt started with the “vanilla dreamin’” of a little boy. The idea of having the best cupcakes in Austin was one that stayed with him for the rest of his life. With a multitude of ways to get a cupcake from them such as delivery and pick-up, you can always satisfy your craving for a sweet treat. My personal favorite cupcake that they have on their menu is the 24 Carrot. The cream cheese icing which has been whipped into cream perfection, combined with the intense sweetness of the carrot cake adds up to be a delicious treat.
With a nice staff and family friendly atmosphere, you can even bring the little devils along with you if they can’t be trusted to stay at the house alone. There is one problem with Hey Cupcake though. Having a small staff, they can’t make limitless amounts of cupcakes every morning. Because of this, by the end of the day there are very few cupcakes left and most flavors are sold out. So, if you do want to come here you need to go before about seven. After this there are very few cupcakes left.
Reuben and the Dog Named Sue, there is always something that will tingle your tastebuds. My personal favorite hot dog that they sell is the Hair of the Dog. It’s a beef frank covered in chile, cheddar cheese, a fried egg and tobasco sauce. This delicious combination of flavors and textures will win the heart of any young man.
5. Man Bites Dog 5222 Burnet Road 512-614-1330 With some of the best dogs in Austin, this hot dog shop finishes out the list. With awesome dogs like the
Photos used under Creative Commons licensing
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Raffinato
Italian food your way
4398 Travis Way Drive (512)-555-1698 Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day
Buono Mangia!