When I started blogging in Austin in 2010 (wow that dates me right?), food trucks had just started popping up in the city. The first two were Chi’Lantro BBQ and Peached Tortilla (both now brick and mortars) that would park at different spots throughout the week and you would have to check their websites to track them down. The food truck scene in Austin has changed dramatically these past couple of years and due to zoning restrictions in the city, are now mostly parked permanently.
SEE ALSO: 41 Best Restaurants In Austin
In a city filled with Austin food trucks and food trailers, how do you stay in the know of the best ones to eat at? Per usual, I got you and rounded up the best food trucks in Austin and sorted by cuisine.
Table of Contents
Tacos
When you think of food trucks, the first thing that comes to mind is probably taco trucks so let’s start this list with the best taco food trucks.
Veracruz All Natural Food Truck
An ATX staple and the best breakfast tacos in Austin! I could eat these every day. – @austinfoodstagram
What to order: Migas taco
Multiple locations through Austin, veracruzallnatural.com
SEE ALSO: 16 Best Tacos In Austin, Updated 2023
Cuantos Tacos
Parked in the same food truck park as Dough Boys, is Cuantos Tacos with their Mexico City-style street tacos with options like suadero and carnitas for only $2.
1108 E 12th St, instagram.com/cuantostacos512/
Discada
The owners are amazing and the tacos are really good. The service is always amazing and they donated tacos to nurses during the pandemic. Their discada tacos with the pink salsa is easily one of the best tacos ever. – @austinfoodadventures
What to order: Discada tacos
1319 Rosewood Ave, discadatx.com
Ensenada ATX
You can’t miss this bright orange food truck in East 12th St. Ensenada ATX makes Ensenada-style food, that refers to the Mexican city in Baja California, which includes Mexico-style seafood tacos and ceviches.
What to order: entire menu
1108 E 12th St, instagram
Paprika
Food, owner, truck, and location are the furthest thing from pretentious. The owner puts a ton of care and thought into the meats, sauces, and combinations that make up his menu. Bite for bite, pound for pound some of the most taste per bite you can fine in Austin! – @austineater
What to order: Quesitaco with his secret Salsa Macha
6519 N Lamar, paprikaatx.com
El Primo
El Primo is one of the most authentic and delicious breakfast taco options in town! Made fresh to order out of a tiny, bright orange trailer on South First, you’d drive right by if not for the line of people waiting out front! They have all of the classics: your choice of (bacon, sausage, potatoes, and chorizo) cooked into freshly cracked eggs on a flattop grill with melted cheese on homemade tortillas and your choice of hot or mild salsa. You’ll wish you ordered one more after your last bite. But make sure you bring the greens — it’s cash only! – @thedanicreative
2101 S 1st St, elprimoatx.com
SEE ALSO: 13 Best Breakfast Tacos In Austin
Southern
Baton Creole
The owner is a hustling momma (who just started Tender Thighs as well – now behind Shangri-La); she has a wonderful combo of staple dishes (like her Jambalaya on a Stick and Crawfish Etouffee) – that run along-side a few innovative and surprising dishes from time to time (like a HUGE Fried Chicken Grilled Cheese). Cajun/Creole on the go, can’t be beat! – @austineater
1016 E 6th St, batoncreole.com
Burgers / Sandwiches / Hot Dogs
T-Loc’s Sonora
Dave of Dave Eats Blog introduced me to the Sonoran “con todo” Hot Dog (Sonoran-Arizonan staple) and I’m a fan of their Sonoran hotdog with a bacon-wrapped bar-s weiner, beans, tomatoes, onion, jalapeno sauce, mustard, and mayo.
T-locs stands for Tucson Local and serves regional food of the Sonoran dessert area. If you want to try authentic zona-mex food T-locs is the place. – @daveeatsblog
What to order: The Sonoran dog and Cali burrito are both incredible. Sonoran dogs comprise of soft bread, bacon wrapped hot dog, salsa, beans, onions, mayo, and more.
5000 Burnet Rd, tlocs.com
** SPECIAL
Miguel Kaiser of T-Loc’s Sonora Hotdogs is featuring Bolthouse Farms Wunderoots new carrot dogs:
- La Sonoran: Classic American Wunderoots Carrot Dog served on a toasted Sonoran hot dog bun served with pinto beans, sautéed onions, minced raw onions, fresh tomatoes, veggie mayo, mustard and jalapeño sauce
- La Tejana: Chorizo Wunderoots Carrot Dog served on a toasted classic bun served with crispy coleslaw and BBQ sauce
- La Hipster: Sweet Italian Wunderoots Carrot Dog served on a toasted wheat bun served with arugula salad and a spicy carrot vinaigrette
You can try them for free for a limited time, while supplies last:
July 2-4 + July 9-11
- Friday: 11am – 3pm, 5:30pm – 9pm
- Saturday: 11am – 9pm
- Sunday: 11am – 9pm
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Brooklyn Breakfast Shop
Chef Ryan is an amazing chef and food truck owner. He makes everything from scratch and prides himself in making delicious food. The service is always spot on and I love his homemade biscuits and delicious crispy chicken. He recently added homemade barbacoa which is spot on. – @austinfoodadventures
Popular spot for brunch btw!
What to order: The monthly fried chicken biscuit specials he makes!
7800 S 1st St, brooklynbreakfastshopatx.com
Burro Cheese Kitchen
Oogey gooey, crunchy gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches – loved dearly by locals and visitors.
Multiple locations, burrocheesekitchen.com
The Mighty Cone – temporarily closed
Asian
TaLad Thai and Lao Street Food
Mary Hermadi of TaLad is featuring Bolthouse Farms Wunderoots new carrot rice & carrot noodles:
- The Drunken Carrot: Wunderoots Thai Basil Noodles, grilled chicken, TaLad’s Ka Pow sauce, tossed with red jalapeños, sliced onions, and fresh basil
- Carrot Chicken Fried Rice: Wunderoots Carrot Rice, grilled chicken, sliced onions, red jalapeños and topped with TaLad’s signature fried rice sauce
- Carrot Fried Rice: Wunderoots Carrot Rice, tempeh tossed with sliced onions, red jalapeños and topped with TaLad’s signature fried rice sauce
You can try them for free for a limited time, while supplies last:
June 18-20 + June 25-27
- Friday 12pm-7pm
- Saturday 12pm-10pm
- Sunday 12pm-10pm
1606 E 6th St
Dee Dee
The best North-Eastern Thai street food owned by a husband and wife couple. Lakana (the wife of the duo) was raised by a family of farmers in Northern Thailand and brings influences from her childhood.
Since visiting Thailand in 2018, I have been even more in love with Thai food and culture. This is some of the most authentic I’ve found. It’s a small menu but every dish is carefully thought through and bursting with flavor! – @austinfoodstagram
What to order: Laab Moo (very spicy minced pork in chili rice) and Som Tom (papaya salad)
4204 Manchaca Rd, deedeeatx.com
East Side King
This popular Japanese/Asian fusion street-food truck is still parked in the back of The Liberty bar in addition to a brick and mortar location on South Lamar. I still love the Thai chicken karaage and Brussels sprouts salad.
1618 E 6th St, eastsideking.com
Spicy Boys
Fried chicken (boneless and bone-in), cauliflower wings, fried chicken sandwich, vegetarian fried tempeh sandwich, tater tots, and roti curry. This Pan-Asian food truck parked at St. Elmo Brewing Co. in South Austin and at Zilker Brewing in East Austin.
1701 East 6th Street + 440 E St Elmo Rd g2, spicyboyschicken.square.site
SEE ALSO: 21 Best Breweries In Austin For Craft Beer
Coat Thai
This food truck parked at The Picnic food trailer park on Barton Springs makes a pretty good pad thai and pad see-ew.
1720 Barton Springs Rd
Barbecue
Leroy And Lewis Barbecue
This new-school food truck smokes specialty meats like beef cheeks, Akaushi brisket, and barbecue sandwiches paired with kimchi by Pitmaster Evan Leroy.
121 Pickle Rd, leroyandlewisbbq.com
SEE ALSO: 10 Spots For The Best BBQ In Austin
Micklethwait Craft Meats
Founded in 2012 by pitmaster Tom Micklethwait, Micklethwait Craft Meats offers oak-fired Central Texas barbecue served from a vintage Comet trailer nestled in the heart of East Austin. Order smoked meats by the pound and scratch-made sides or two-meat and three-meat plates. Micklethwait does have family-style meals for 3-4 people or 5-6 people too. Don’t miss the individual 4″ pies (banana cream pie and coconut cheese).
1309 Rosewood Ave, craftmeatsaustin.com
Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ
You can get both tacos and barbecue at Valentina’s – they are moving further down south Austin to Buda later this year so stop by before the move.
11500 Manchaca Rd, valentinastexmexbbq.com
Italian
Patrizi’s
Not only is Patrizi’s owned by the kindest humans who have a heart for the community, but it is some of the best Italian food in Austin. They also are phenomenal at catering to folks with allergies — so good at making good gluten-free pasta. – @shelbysorrel
What to order: Cacio e pepe
2307 Manor Rd, patrizis.com
Sammataro
New York-inspired wood-fired pizza in a 24′ long trailer in West Austin – Sammataro is one of my favorite pizzas in Austin! I love the pepperoni with calabrian chilis.
1158 Lost Creek Blvd, sammataro.pizza
SEE ALSO: 19 Best Dog Friendly Restaurants In Austin
Via 313
Via 313 does have several brick and mortar locations (and expanding more soon thanks to $100 Million Fund Savory investment) but you can still go to their food trailer locations on West 6th and Rainey St.
Multiple locations, via313.comSeafood
Krab Kingz
Krab Kingz is located at the intersection of 5th St and IH-35 with fresh seafood like snow crab and crab clusters and butter options: cajun butter, spicy butter, honey garlic butter, lemon pepper butter and chili lime.
517 N Interstate Hwy 35, krab-kingz-seafood-austin.business.site/
Garbo’s Lobster
Lobster rolls with lobsters straight out of Maine. Pick from Maine style or Connecti- cut style—you can’t go wrong with either. Garbo’s does park at different spots during the week so check their schedule here.
Middle Eastern
Beirut
This Lebanese food truck parked at The Domain has shawarma in wraps, bowls, and plates, plus a fries iteration
Pro tip: ask for the rose lemonade and extra garlic sauce
3225 Amy Donovan Plaza, beirutatx.com
Abo Youssef
The Dani Creative and I were working late at Thunderbird Coffee and were starving and decided to try this Mediterranean food truck on a whim and were blown away by the mix grill plate.
2101 Manor Rd
South American
View this post on Instagram
Shirley’s Trini Cuisine
Have you ever tried Trinidad food? Go to Shirley’s Trini Cuisine in South Austin for her comfort food – lookout for her Saturday specials on her Instagram.
7800 S 1st St
Vegan
The Vegan Nom
Burritos, nachos, tacos, and queso – you wouldn’t even know that they’re vegan at The Vegan Nom. The Vegan Nom makes their own vegan queso that’s dairy-free, nut-free, soy-free, and gluten-free.
2324 E Cesar Chavez St, thevegannom.com
SEE ALSO: 21 Best Spots For Vegan Food In Austin
ATX Food Co
ATX Food Co is a vegan food truck parked at Bicycle Sport Shop that uses high-quality unprocessed ingredients from local farms and food growers for chef-prepared food. You can find wildcrafted sea moss smoothies, elixirs, green juices, gluten-free tacos, wild veggie bowls, entrees, berry pancakes, and sugar-free desserts.
517 S Lamar Blvd #1, atxfoodco.com
Arlo
The time I had the Bac’n Chezeburger at Arlo’s, I couldn’t believe how delicious (definitely not healthy tho) it was. House-made soy-free and gluten-free patty with stacked housemade seitan bac’n, melted cheese, ketchup, mustard, mayo, tomatoes, onions, pickles, and lettuce.
900 Red River at Cheer Up Charlie’s + 2908 Fruth St at Spider House, arloscurbside.com
Bistro Vonish
Fancy vegan food is how I would describe Bistro Vonish – their vegan mac & cheese is hands down my FAVORITE mac & cheese because it’s creamy but also crispy (they finish it on the flat top).
701 E 53rd St, bistrovonish.com
Dessert
Holla Mode
Thai-style rolled ice cream food truck with vegan options. Stop by on your way into or out of Zilker Park/Barton Springs.
1800 Barton Springs Rd, hollamode.com
Little Lucy’s
Hot mini donuts while bar hopping and listening to live music on Rainey Street.
75 1/2 Rainey St, littlelucys.com
Bananarchy
Frozen bananas dipped in chocolate and coated with toppings like crushed peanuts, cookies, and more.
1311 S 1st St
Gourdough’s Big. Fat. Donuts.
Gourdough’s original airstream is still parked on South 1st with their infamous big fat donuts that will send you spriling into a food coma if you eat more than one.
1503 S 1st St, gourdoughs.com
Hey Cupcake
You can’t miss this cute airstream if you’re walking down South Congress – Hey Cupcake makes original size cupcakes and minis.
1511 S Congress Ave, heycupcake.com
Churro Co.
Hot churros drizzled with chocolate or caramel and topped with ice cream or whipped cream.
1906 South First, churrocoaustin.com
