Austin

“It’s my first time in Texas!” I told my Uber driver as I left Austin’s airport.

“This ain’t Texas,” she paused. “This is Austin.”

There are many things that separate Austin from the rest of the Lone Star state: live country-punk-rock at The Continental Club, rowdy daytime dance parties on Rainey Street, and aerial bat shows on Congress Ave bridge are just a few of the special spectacles in this city.

And then there is the food, which is perhaps Austin’s most memorable attraction.

Elizabeth Street Cafe

When my climbing partner told me that I needed to go to Elizabeth Street Café in Austin, Texas, I stared at her baffled. I was traveling to Texas – the land of BBQ and Tex Mex – and her first recommendation was a Vietnamese restaurant?

California hosts 40% of the US’s Vietnamese-American population. I grew up close to “Little Saigon” and my dear Vietnamese-American friends have introduced me to the freshest Vietnamese foods. I grew up in California and quickly become accustomed to the flavors and smells of lemongrass, chilies, ginger, mint, and shrimp paste. I found it hard to believe that I would find Vietnamese food even on a par with that from home.

Then two additional friends highly recommended this café. Curious and confused, I conceded and made this the first restaurant stop during my stay in Austin.  

Immediately welcomed onto a porch with blush pink doors and cyan window frames, my partner and I decided to sit outside for the full Austin experience. Austin’s winters are known for being temperate, and because the summers are wickedly hot, many restaurants have spacious outdoor seating arrangement. Ironically, cold and heavy rain welcomed us during our visit, but we seized this moment of calm in the storm and took the opportunity to sit outside - albeit under heating lamps.

Everything on the menu looked amazing. Deliberating for a solid 10 minutes on what to order, we decided to share (as we always do) a few dishes.

Vietnamese dishes aim to incorporate five fundamental taste senses (spicy, sour, bitter, salty, and sweet) to correspond to five organs that are fundamental to digestion: the gall bladder, small intestine, large intestine, stomach, and urinary bladder. Vietnamese food is also considered by one of the healthiest cuisines in the world, as it finds the perfect harmony between spices, fresh herbs, and meats. The food is aromatic, but not overbearing.

Torchy’s Tacos

I love Tacos. I also love Torchy’s Tacos. The menu is stacked with good options but I love the fried avocado tacos with a hefty side of queso and guacamole.

Paco’s Tacos

Because no trip to Austin would be complete without also having breakfast tacos. These might not look the most appetizing tacos, but I promise they are the real deal. Layers of beans, cheese, eggs, and avocado. Everything is made fresh to order, and Paco’s Tacos staff are the most welcoming.

Kerlin’s BBQ

I don’t eat meat anymore, but when I did this was mysteriously BBQ pick. Long picnic tables scattered the faintly green grass where the food truck stood. Behind the truck sat big smokers preparing the long racks of ribs and peppered brisket. It’s best to share the food here family style. Menu favorites are Prime Angus brisket, pork ribs, blue cheese coleslaw, jalapeño dill potato salad, and kolaches.