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 and house-sausage queues.
Tip: The kitchen runs Wednesday through Sunday only; order online ahead to skip the queue at 11am open.
Address: 2401 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702
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 breakfast-taco benchmark.
Try: Migas breakfast taco
Tip: Order the migas taco on a homemade corn tortilla; arrive before 09:30am to dodge the office-worker rush.
Cuantos Tacos in Austin is Luis Robledo's East 12th food truck, a Mexico City-style trompo taco operation on nixtamalized tortillas, Michelin-recognised in the Austin guide.
Try: Mexico City-style trompo tacos
Tip: Order at least three tacos; portions are small but the masa and the al pastor are the right reason to come back.
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 best-tacos list.
Try: Cowboy-wok discada tacos
Tip: One taco only; order four to share, the meat is six-hour slow-cooked beef and pork.
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 tortillas off a small grill.
Try: Al pastor and barbacoa tacos
Tip: Tacos are small; order four to start. The al pastor and barbacoa are the room's two reasons to return.
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 as their corner truck.
Try: Breakfast tacos and barbacoa
Tip: Bean-and-cheese on a homemade flour tortilla; the barbacoa runs out by 11am most weekdays.
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 Texas's best taco counter.
Try: Tacos al Pastor and breakfast tacos
Tip: Order Tacos al Pastor and a Heather; the cult Salsa Dona is the bottle you take home from the merch shelf.
