American diner$Daily 00:00-00:00
Magnolia Cafe in Austin is the South Congress 24-hour diner, a counter and booth room serving migas, queso and gingerbread pancakes at a low-double-digit.
Try: Love migas plate
Tip: Open 24 hours Thursday through Saturday; otherwise closes at midnight. SXSW makes Friday 1am a scrum.
Brunch$
Tacodeli in Austin is Roberto Espinosa's Spyglass Drive flagship since 1999, the local breakfast-taco chain at the low end of the price scale with Salsa Dona.
Try: Breakfast tacos and tacos al Pastor
Tip: Cult Salsa Dona is sold by the bottle to take home; the Heather taco is the cheap office-lunch order.
Taqueria$
Kerbey Lane Cafe in Austin is the all-day diner since 1980, the Central Austin bungalow that runs queso, gingerbread pancakes and breakfast tacos at a low.
Try: Pancakes or queso
Tip: Two-egg breakfast comes with home fries and toast around $11; the queso-and-chip cup is the cheapest snack.
Brunch$
Veracruz All Natural in Austin is the Webberville Road breakfast-taco truck from the Vazquez sisters, the Food Network Top 5 tacos pick and the cheapest.
Try: Migas breakfast taco
Tip: Migas on a homemade corn tortilla is the order; arrive before 9:30am to dodge the office-worker rush.
Street food$
Cuantos Tacos in Austin is the East 12th food truck for Mexico City-style trompo tacos on nixtamalized tortillas, the cheapest entry to a Michelin-recognised.
Try: Mexico City-style trompo tacos
Tip: Order at least three tacos; the suadero and al pastor are the room's standouts at the price point.
Burgers$
P. Terry's Burger Stand in Austin is the South Lamar original since 2005, the local burger chain serving fresh-ground beef burgers on the cheap.
Try: Cheeseburger and fries
Tip: The double cheeseburger combo runs around $9 with drink and fries; the soft-serve cone is the dessert.