If coming to Austin, you cannot pass up the Tex-Mex food. MANY good places abound, but Guerro's on South Congress is great. So is Chuy's on Barton Springs Road, Matt's El Rancho, Z Tejas -- heck, even Taco Cabana is good for a margarita or beer and a quesadilla. Sit outside and enjoy our sunshine. Enjoy your stay in Austin.
El Rey chocolate bars! Especially the Apamate with 73.5% cacao.
Rudy's on Loop 360 for lunch. The barbecue is great and they have good grilled turkey as well. Also, the farther west you go in Austin, the prettier the landscape. All that and you won't have to drive all the way to Lockhart.
El Chile is a bit out of the way but I like their Mexican food much more than Chuy's! :/
The Luling City market in Houston shares a name and not much else with the original Luling City Market. Don't bother with the Houston location, it's not worth the trip.
@blim8183 and @intheyearofthepig: Is it correct to assume you are referring to this Luling City Market in Luling? And what's its relationship to the Houston-based Luling City Market?
It's not "Ann's Hamburgers," it is "Fran's" and the menu is a bit different than Dan's, but Fran's is actually closer to where festival attendees might be down on South Congress (but Dan's N. Lamar or on Manchaca are much better I think)
Smitty's and Kreuz's are owned by relatives (feuding relatives) in the same family, food is pretty similar but Smitty's (in the original location) has the atmosphere and ancient seasoned pits.
Going to Guero's during SXSW is insanity but if that's what you want go for it. Chuy's has charm but the food is more Tex than Tex-Mex and although I grew up a half mile away and ate there many times, the food is really not so great. Go to South 1st St. or East 7th or E. Cesar Chavez or down South Congress below Ben White.
Luling City Market is transcendent and so is Sandy's Frozen Custard.
Kreuz Market is good but if you're going to go all the way out there you might as well go a little further to Luling. Luling City Market was the best BBQ by far that I had in Austin last year.
If you only have time for one BBQ stop in Lockhart, go to Smitty's. Better food, better atmosphere, great people. Try the clod (shoulder) and the prime rib.
A perfect meal at Smitty's is prime rib, a block of pepper jack cheese, and a cold Shiner Bock beer.
They don't take debit/credit cards, so bring cash.
Ok, I am from Eastern Massachusetts. We, and those in Rhode Island and southern NH and Maine, consider a milkshale to be milk and syrup processed in a drink blender, Thats is right, no ice cream!
If ice cream is added, it is a FRAPPE or, In Rhode Island only, a CABINET.
I feel sorry for those in less civilized parts who have never enjoyed a REAL milkshake.
I want to see this movie! In terms of milkshakes, up until the other day, I would have shamefully said I love Shamrock shakes....from McDonalds. Maybe it was something about them being around for a limited time but I used to love them, until I had one the other day and it was nastiness in a cup.
Hillary
Chew on That
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