Austin street food splits between two great traditions, central Texas barbecue and the East Side taco trailer. Franklin Barbecue on East 11th codified the city's brisket pilgrimage, Terry Black's on Barton Springs Road and La Barbecue on Cesar Chavez carry the smoke, while Veracruz All Natural, Cuantos Tacos and Discada run the truck-and-trailer taco scene out east.
16 street food places in Austin we have eaten in, sorted by editor score. All cuisines in Austin · Street Food across every city.
Try Smoked brisket
Franklin Barbecue in Austin is Aaron Franklin's 2009 East 11th brisket pilgrimage, the James Beard-winning shop that codified central Texas barbecue.
Try Smoked brisket and beef ribs
Terry Black's Barbecue in Austin is the Black family's Barton Springs Road BBQ, a Michelin Plate winner from the 94-year-old Lockhart family lineage.
Try Smoked brisket and house sausage
La Barbecue in Austin is Ali Clem's Cesar Chavez post-oak barbecue, a Michelin-recognised shop with a James Beard-recognised owner, sliced brisket.
Try Migas breakfast taco
Veracruz All Natural in Austin is Reyna and Maritza Vazquez's Webberville Road taco truck, a Food Network Top 5 tacos pick and the Austin migas.
Try Mexico City-style trompo tacos
Cuantos Tacos in Austin is Luis Robledo's East 12th food truck, a Mexico City-style trompo taco operation on nixtamalized tortillas, Michelin-recognised.
Try Cowboy-wok discada tacos
Discada in Austin is the East Cesar Chavez taco truck serving a single 24-hour-marinated, plow-disc-cooked taco, Michelin-recognised and the Texas Monthly.
Try Al pastor and barbacoa tacos
Las Trancas Taco Stand in Austin is the East Cesar Chavez food truck for late-night al pastor and barbacoa, a Texas Monthly best-tacos pick with $1.50.
Try Breakfast tacos and barbacoa
Pueblo Viejo on Tillery Street in Austin is the original 2010 East Side taco truck from Nestor and Margarita, the breakfast-taco operation that locals tag.
Try Tacos al Pastor and breakfast tacos
Tacodeli in Austin is Roberto Espinosa's Spyglass Drive flagship since 1999, the local breakfast-taco chain known for Salsa Dona and a 25-year run as one.
Try Smoked brisket and house sides
InterStellar BBQ in Austin is John Bates and Brandon Martinez's North-side smokehouse on RR 620, a Michelin Star 2024-25 BBQ shop in the former Noble Pig.
Try Smoked brisket and house sausage
Micklethwait Craft Meats in Austin is Tom Micklethwait's BBQ smokehouse on Tanney Street, a Michelin Bib Gourmand kitchen relocated from the 12-year Rosewood.
Try Smoked brisket and beef cheek
LeRoy and Lewis in Austin is the South Austin brick-and-mortar of Sawyer Lewis and Evan LeRoy's BBQ since 2023, a 5,000-sq-ft smokehouse known for beef cheek.
Try Modern African-American barbecue
Distant Relatives in Austin is Damien Brockway's modern African American BBQ trailer at Meanwhile Brewing's South Austin yard, a James Beard semifinalist.
Try Pastrami sandwich and brisket
Mum Foods in Austin is Geoffrey Ellis and Travis Crawford's pastrami smokehouse on Manor Road, a Michelin-recognised deli serving the city's award-winning.
Try Brisket, sausage and ribs from the open pit
The Salt Lick in Driftwood is the 30-minute-drive-from-Austin open-pit BBQ since 1969, a destination Hill Country smokehouse with byob policy.
Try Mexico City-style trompo tacos
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.
