I thoroughly enjoy being a AAA inspector but I also like stepping away from the normal activities of reviewing hotels, restaurants, campgrounds, and attractions and forging a new path.  Recently, I did just that and took a day strolling around Austin, Texas sampling the food offerings from the hardworking and very friendly people who operate what has been described as the “explosion” of cleverly-named vendor carts and trailers. 

This excursion brought back memories of a time when I lived in midtown Manhattan some 40 years ago and would take lunch breaks strolling down the avenues while grabbing a slice of pizza and moving onto the Sabrett’s cart for loaded frankfurters that snapped off in your mouth.  I can still taste the tangy sauerkraut, sweet onions, and that unique mustard…mmmm.  Then, maybe creamy gelato from yet another street vendor.  Now, I invite you to join me on this modern culinary adventure. 
 
SoCo
New York City has its Soho District, in Austin there’s SoCo, a trendy area of South Congress Avenue sporting eclectic shopping and some very interesting dining spots.  In the 1300 block of South Congress on the west side of the street you’ll find the Gibson Street Food Court where four outlets are waiting for your patronage. Fusion Crepes offers twenty-three selections from vegetarian to sweet to savory tastes. If you’re thinking barbeque, then Smokilicious Bar-B-Q is there to satisfy your craving. The adventuresome eater might try the menu at The Flying Carpet which specializes in Moroccan burgers. And, there’s always the Sno-Cone stand to help with that heat problem.

Three blocks further south in the 1600 block on the east side of the avenue is another enclave of mobile emporiums which validates the emerging upscale food cart trend.  Austin does not take a backseat to anyone in this arena. Mighty Cone is not what you might expect from its name.  This is not an ice cream stand, but rather an eatery operated by the folks at Hudson’s-on-the-Bend, an upscale fine dining establishment in Austin.  Ingredients are wrapped in a tortilla and served in a paper cone.  I recommend the Hot and Crunchy Shrimp Cone crusted with almonds, sesame seeds and chili flakes topped with a very nice mango-jalapeno slaw and ancho sauce.

Next door, the Frigid Frog Shaved Ice stand offers more than seventy flavors.  If you’re taking a four-legged friend along on your journey, treat him or her to a chicken or bacon flavored version. Then we come to Cutie Pies, presenting award-winning individual-sized buttermilk pies in several flavors. If your sweet tooth hasn’t been satisfied at this point, don’t miss Hey, Cupcake and their vanilla, chocolate, carrot, and strawberry cupcakes with decadent buttercream icing.  Just outstanding!

South First Street
At the 1300 block on the east side of South First Street you’ll find the South Austin Trailer Park and Eatery.  This is not a residential trailer park, but rather a park of food trailers. Anchoring the location is Torchy’s Tacos, open every day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner where you can choose from Migas and breakfast tacos, thirteen different meat tacos and fajitas as well as burritos.

Holy Cacao is chocolate central!  Hot chocolate, milk shakes, and very interesting cake balls are the perfect ending to any meal. Man Bites Dog is your stop for all sorts of gourmet sausages.  Franks and brats as well as pork, lamb and chicken based sandwiches served on soft, grilled rolls are exceptional.  I tried the Danish Bratwurst and was delighted with the flavor coupled with the spicy mustard.  Open every day for lunch and dinner.

Downtown
Here, I focused on the area between Congress Avenue on the west, I-35 on the east and from Cesar Chavez Boulevard on the south up to 7th Street on the north.  While the vendors are not as concentrated as much as they are in the South Congress and South First Street areas, there are plenty to choose from.  Here are just a few that tantalized my taste buds:

The Crazy Crepe food cart is located on the southwest corner of 5th Street and Congress and has a wide selection of choices ranging from vegetarian, Greek Salad, Sausage and Onion and dessert crepes. Just down the street at 2nd and Congress you’ll find Turf ‘n Surf Po’Boys.  Their signature offering, the fried shrimp sandwich with cilantro fries, was very good. Magic Madgies Red Hot on Pedernales between 5th and 6th Streets has those famous Nathan’s hot dogs as well a burgers, brats and steak sandwiches.

Weinerville, as the name suggests, specializes in hot dogs, chili dogs, and as well as Frito Pie.  They are located at 7th Street and Trinity. Kebabalicious is not what the name implies as they offer wraps of chicken, beef, lamb, or falafel.  They can be found at the corner of 7th and Trinity as well. Best Wurst is at 6th Street and Red River.  In business since 1994, this stand sells brats, Italian sausage, jalapeno, and beef sausages.  The wait in line is well worth the effort. So successful that they now have two sites, one at 4th and Colorado and the other at 7th and San Jacinto, Roppolo’s Pizza serves up slices of pies in many varieties.

Until I actually went out and did some exploring I did not realize the extent to which this cuisine has blossomed in Austin.  Virtually everywhere you travel in the city, a vendor cart is within easy accessibility.  A word of note: with the exception of those business that I have indicated above as being open every day, it appears that Monday, Tuesday and/or Wednesdays are the days when many of the carts are closed.  So, if you are planning to participate early in the week, a little research on hours of operation might be of benefit.  A good source is austinfoodcarts.com. 

Another small piece of advice…do not try to sample everything that these good folks have to offer in one day. Take your time, spend a few days walking around town and enjoy the sights while tasting some really fine innovations.  Then again, gluttony isn’t really a sin.

Good luck, good eating and go carts!