A veritable tidal wave of visitors will be descending on Austin this next weekend

for SXSW. Many sites are compiling their lists of the best panels, bands, events,
parties and films of the festival. We feel that other outlets have that well
covered. Instead, we put together our local's guide to Austin, Badass Digest's
take on where you should eat, drink, shop, play and then eat some more in
Austin.

Breakfast Tacos
Breakfast tacos are a Texas institution, and one of the best breakfast options you
can choose: fast, filling, cheap and delicious. Some of the best breakfast tacos
can be found at:
Maria’s Taco Express (2529 S. Lamar Blvd, 512-444-0261). We are crazy for
breakfast tacos in Austin and Maria’s is the best. After the addiction sets in, you
can pick up her Argentinian-influenced Loco Maria Chimichuri sauce to take
home with you.
Curra’s Grill offers an Interior Mexican take on their cuisine (614 E Oltorf St,
Austin - 512-444-0012)
El Chilito (2225 Manor Rd, 512-382-3797) It’s trendy, not terribly authentic, but
we can't deny that like their tacos!
Michocana Meat Market (1917 E 7th St #1, Phone: 512-473-8487) This is a
homegrown grocery/butcher shop with a great restaurant counter in the back.

Polvo's (2004 South 1st Street, 512-441-5446) A south Austin dive with strong
margaritas and great fajitas also does a nice breakfast taco with a great self-
serve salsa bar.
Taco Deli (multiple locations, 512-419-1900) You wouldn't know it by the name,
but Taco Deli serves some of the tasties tacos in town.
Tamale House (5003 Airport Blvd Austin, TX 78751-2708 Phone: 512-453-9842)
is another great, simple, tasty low price breakfast institution.
Torchy's Tacos (multiple locations) not super-authentic, but they offer great
fresh ingredients, gigantic tacos and unique flavors.
Cruise east of I-35 to explore for taco trucks and authentic Mexican
restaurants. SXSW's Jarod Neece authors the definitive guide to taco culture
at TacoJournalism

Breakfast
If you’re looking for a more traditional breakfast, try these places.
Bouldin Creek Coffee House and Café (1900 S 1st St. 512-416-1601) is a South
Austin institution in spite of it’s shiny new location and has lots of vegetarian and
vegan options.
The Counter Cafe (626 N Lamar Blvd 512-708-8800) A small revamped diner
has eco-friendly though not meatless cuisine (great quail and eggs).
Sugar Mamas (1905 South 1st Street, 512-448-3727) They open a bit late for
breakfast, but we would be remiss in not recommending Sugar Mamas, our
favorite sweets and incredibly rich cupcakes.
For an upscale and expensive breakfast experience, try any of the fancy hotels
downtown: The Driskill, The Four Seasons, The W, The Austonian

Lunch
Whole Foods Flagship (525 N Lamar Blvd, 512-476-1206). Whole Foods started
in Austin in 1980. Today, their flagship stands as perhaps the ultimate
supermarket in the world. Not just a spot for groceries, Whole Foods features a
dozen restaurants scattered throughout the store, and enormous specialty
gourmet sections. Surprisingly, Whole Foods features some of the best in-town
barbeque as well (though nothing comes CLOSE to Franklin's - see below).

Quality Seafood Market (5621 Airport Blvd, 512-454-5827). Years ago, Quality
Seafood was nothing more than a fine seafood shop, selling fish to restaurants
and the public over their retail counter. Then the owner had the epiphany to build
a bar in the center of the shop and start selling delectable fried and grilled
seafood as finger food. Now it is one of our favorite hangout in Austin. The raw
oysters are terrific, as are the catfish beignets.
El Meson (2038 S. Lamar Blvd 512-442-4441) The selection of Mexican
restaurants just near the theater alone is so vast as to make your head spin. The
best is probably El Meson, about 3/4 of a mile South of the Alamo Drafthouse on
Lamar.
El Pollo Feliz (6615 Berkman Drive, 512-933-9557, multiple locations, used to be
called Pollo Regio). They start smoking the chickens at about 7 AM, and by 11,
those in the know are lined up for what I consider to be one of the best birds that
has ever passed my lips. There used to be only two things on the menu (it has
since expanded a bit but I never venture from the chicken): half chicken ($6) or
whole chicken ($11). It comes with a stack of fresh corn tortillas, a roasted onion,
rice, and the tastiest, creamy green tomatillo salsa on the planet. There are
several stands now in Austin, but my favorite location is the trailer at 6615
Berkman Drive.

Burgers
Our recommendations for the best burger joints in town are:
Casino El Camino (517 E 6th St., 512-469-9330) Award winning gigantic thick
juicy burgers. Be warned, for sheer size, these take about a half hour to cook, if
there are no other orders in.
Justine’s (4710 E 5th St.), an East Side French bistro (also recommended in the
dining section) has a fabulous burger.
Hopdoddy’s (1400 South Congress Ave 512 243 7505) This place is new and
delivers some incredibly tasty burger options.
Your Mom’s Burger Bar (1701 E Cesar Chavez, 512 474-6667) is recommended
by everyone in town, though I haven’t yet been.
Nau's Pharmacy (1115 W Lynn, 512-476-3663) This is a historical, hidden,
traditional soda fountain lunch counter, with some of the best prices in the whole
city.
Barbeque
Some people have STRONG opinions about Texas barbecue. I am no
exception. The best of the best barbeque joints close down shortly after lunch,
so dinner recommendations for this traditional Texas fare are rare like fine prime
rib. Texas Monthly produces the definitive Texas Barbecue Guide if you want to
spend some time and explore the entire state looking for the unofficial Texas
state food (the official food is actually chili).
Smitty's Market (208 South Commerce Street, Lockhart, 512.398.9344) The
undisputed king of the daytime BBQ run is Smitty’s in Lockhart, about 30 minutes
south of town on 183 south. This is the oldest barbecue joint in Texas and the
inspiration for Hill Country Barbecue in Manhattan. They don't offer sauce, so
don't embarrass yourself and ask. Their mantra is barbecue sauce was invented
to mask inferior meat. Request juicy porkchops, fatty brisket, sausage and rare
prime rib and you will leave satisfied.
Louie Mueller’s in Taylor, Texas (206 W Second St, 76574, 512-352-6206) , still
in the family and truly authentic.
City Market in Luling (633 Davis St, 77027, 830-875-9019).
Franklin Barbecue (3421 N I-35, 512-653-1187) For in-town barbeque, the hands
down best is newcomer Franklin's Barbecue,which rivals (and dare I say beats)
any of the out-of-town options, and without the drive. They are just opened their
brick-and-mortar store on the first Saturday of SXSW, so expect a
wait. Franklin's has sent shock waves through the barbecue community and
everyone is itching for a taste.
Other in-town BBQ we can somewhat recommend, but it is all a notch down from
the kings above: House Park (900 W. 12th, 472-9621). Uncle Billy’s
Barbecue (530 Barton Springs, 512-476-0100) has decent ‘cue and is very close
to the theater. It’s now a hangout spot for the Alamo South Lamar Staff. They
also brew their own beers, which I can vouch for.
Vic's (3502 Burleson Rd at E Ben White 512-445-4250) has some of the best
sausage in Austin. The ribs, brisket and chicken there are all delicious too.
Another BBQ spot that is getting good raves is Mann's Smokehouse Bar-B-
Que (8624 Research Blvd, 512-459-5077), and we already mentioned the
surprisingly tasty barbecue inside Whole Foods, and the BBQ chain Rudy's is
actually surprisingly tasty and consistent. That's it. We can at this time
recommend no other spot. Deviate from this list and you take your barbecue
future in your own hands.

Trailer Food
Trailer options have exploded over the last couple of years. Excellent food of all
types come out of these unassuming little metal boxes, many of which have top-
notch chefs moonlighting from the best restaurants in Austin at the helm. Check
out all the trailer options online
atwww.foodtrailersaustin.com or www.austinfoodcarts.com
Some of our favorites are:
The Odd Duck Farm to Trailer (1219 S. Lamar across from Alamo South Lamar)
daily changing fresh, epicurean menu. These folks also run the new south Austin
fave Barley Swine (2024 S. Lamar, 512-394-8150)
Gordoughs Donuts (1219 South Lamar, next to Odd Duck) Gigantic donus that
come in a dizzying array of sweet and savory concoctions)
East Side King (1618 1/2 E 6th, 512-422-5884) permanently parked in the rear of
the Liberty Bar) De
Flip Happy Crepes (400 Josephine) Crepes so good that they beat Bobby Flay in
a head-to-head challenge on the food network.
Lucky Puccia's (817 W 5th St, next to Tiniest Bar in Texas, 512 739-8785), wood
fired Italian sandwiches
Chilantro Barbecue (twitter: @chilantro) Austin's answer to LA's Korean taco
sensation Kogi Tacos. They are constantly on the move, so follow them
@chilantrobbq on twitter to locate them during SXSW.
Some of these places keep odd hours, so check the website or follow them on
twitter.

Dinner
Uchi (801 S Lamar Blvd, 512-916-4808): Within walking distance of the Alamo
South Lamar, Uchi is hands down our favorite restaurant in Austin. Executive
Chef and co-owner Tyson Cole was named one of the top ten chefs in America
by Food and Wine Magazine and has competed on Iron Chef. Uchi features an
ever-changing menu of Japanese and fusion dishes; the fish is flown in daily from
the Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo.
Uchiko (4200 N. Lamar, ‪512-916-4808‬) Oddly our second favorite restaurant
in Austin is the new North offering from Uchi's Tyson Cole - Uchiko. With a
completely different menu than Uchi and a larger bar area, Uchiko offers a similar
style of Japanese fusion and traditional Japanese dishes. Like Uchi, we
recommend the Omakase tasting menu and allocating enough time to savor.
Olivia (2043 S. Lamar, 512-804-2700) is your nearby destination for fine
dining. Head chef James Holmes was nominated by Food and Wine Magazine
as "people's best new chef" of 2011. James Holmes was also once behind the
kitchen wizardry at the Alamo Drafthouse Village.
Hoover’s (2002 Manor Rd, 512-479-5006): “Stick to the ribs” soul food and
southern home cooking. The atmosphere is not so great, but the food
overcompensates. We recommend the fried pork chops.
A trio of great new spots have opened up on the East Side, all are great for
dinner, small plates to share, cocktails or all three. They are all are open late
too. Justine’s (4710 E 5th St.), a retro French bistro, the East Side
Showroom (1100 E 6th St) and The Good Knight (1300 E 6th St).

Late Night
24 Diner is open 24 hours, and is a good option for any meal of the
day. Everything they serve is high quality. It’s probably the best of the all night
places.
Easy Tiger (709 East Sixth Street), I haven't been here yet as it is opening for
SXSW, but Easy Tiger is the new concept by the creators of 24 Diner and I have
high expectations. Wholesale bakery by day, beer and pretzel garden by night. I
will most definitely be trying out this spot during SXSW.
The Highball (1142 South Lamar Blvd, 512-383-8309)We do own the place, so I
am a bit biased, but The Highball offers bowling, private and public karaoke, a
60s style diner and cocktail lounge. Its located right next to the Alamo South
Lamar where all the SX Fantastic films are screening and is open late.
Parkside (301 East Sixth, 512-474-9898) Sean Cirkiel's downtown French bistro
has great food and is open late right on Sixth Street.
Backspace (507 San Jacinto, 512-474-9899) Right behind Parkside is his new
wood-fired Pizza concept. Intimite dining or a quiet hideout for a glass of wine,
Backspaceis also open late.

Thai Passion (620 Congress Avenue, 512-472-1244)downtown is open late and

is a godsend for post-midnight movies.
Home Slice (1415 S Congress, 512-444-PIES) is open late on weekends and
has incredible New York style pizza.
Eastside Pies (1401 Rosewood off E 12th, 512-4524-0933) Another contender
for best pizza in Austin. Order the Meatzza, and the homemade brownies will
destroy you with pleasure.

Other Fun Daytime activites:

The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum (1800 N. Congress Avenue, 866-
369-7108) in downtown Austin, Texas, tells the “Story of Texas” with three floors
of interactive exhibits, the special effects show, The Star of Destiny, in the Texas
Spirit Theater, and Austin's only IMAX Theatre, featuring the signature large-
format film, TEXAS: THE BIG PICTURE.

Shopping on South Congress. The South Congress district has become the
hippest retail district in the city. There are a multitude of boutiques, antique stores
and galleries, but our favorite three are Blackmail (1202 S Congress Ave, 512-
326-7670) specializing in cool fashion, gifts and vintage cowboy boots; Yard Dog,
(1510 S Congress Ave, 512-912-1613, http://www.yarddog.com) a gallery
specializing in southern primitive and folk art; and Uncommon Objects (1512 S
Congress Ave, 512-442-4000) which features just that, a vast array of cool
antiques and collectible, uncommon objects.

Some of our other favorite shops are Hog Wild, Toy Joy and Room Service. Toy
Joy (2900 Guadalupe St, 512-320-0090) features a huge selection of wacky new
toys and some of your childhood favorites. Hog Wild (100 E North Loop Blvd # A,
512-467-9453) hits the other side with a huge selection of vintage toys, games
and clothing. Across the street from Hog Wild is a cool vintage clothing and
furniture store Room Service (107 E North Loop Blvd, 512-451-1057), who also
stock the Austin Vintage guide that is in the VIP bags. And check out their new
location right by the Alamo South Lamar at 1701 S Lamar Blvd, 512-383-9898

The best comic book store in town is Austin Books & Comics (5002 North Lamar
Blvd, 512-454-4197). Domy Books (913 E Cesar Chavez, 512-476-3669) is a
wildly eclectic and interesting book store with a good collection of zines, a nicely
curated selection of novels and non-fiction, and excellent choices on the subject
of contemporary art and culture.

Swimming at McKinney Falls State Park (5808 McKinney Falls Parkway, Austin
TX 78744, 512-243-1643) McKinney Falls, just 15 minutes out of central Austin,
is home to two natural secluded waterfall-fed swimming holes. You can also
hike/swim at Hamilton Pool (512-264-2740). One of the most beautiful spots in
the hill country, Hamilton Pool is a waterfall that flows into a collapsed grotto near
the Perdenales River. Call ahead, as the trail is sometimes closed. This and
McKinney Falls are both great spots for an afternoon picnic. And for downtown
Austinites, the most popular sun n' water spot remains Barton Springs, fairly near
the Alamo South Lamar at 2101 Barton Springs Road. You can also rent a
canoe here for a jaunt on the Colorado River.

If you want to return home looking a little more Texan, you can pick up boots,
hats, western shirts and boot cut jeans at local favorite Allens Boots (1522 S
Congress Ave - (512) 447-1413) or check out the warehouse
alternative, Shepler's Western Wear (6001 Middle Fiskville Rd, (512) 454-3000).

Austin's Congress Avenue Bridge is home to the largest urban bat colonies in the
United States. At Sunset every night, you can stand on the bridge and watch
500,000 bats emerge from under the bridge for their nightly
feeding. Austin360.com has all the bat info you need.

This is without a doubt an incomplete list, but it does represent some of the
things that we here at Badass Digest believe make Austin a pretty special
place. No matter what your course, we hope you enjoy your time here in Austin!

Tim League

director
Fantastic Fest