The Flying Carpet - Austin, TX

Sixty-five and sunny out Saturday, and I was feeling like something of the Middle Eastern variety.  

Wide left by about 2,000 miles, but I hit the mark with The Flying Carpet, which serves up authentic Moroccan street food just off of South Congress in Austin.

The couple that runs The Flying Carpet picked a great little shaded spot under an oak tree, slightly off the main drag in a little lot that on the weekends functions as kind of a mini farmers market right in the heart of the vibrant South Congress neighborhood.  In addition to being passionate about their food, they are also passionate about their customer, augmenting this quaint and comfortable location with some small tables out front and in the shade, complete with vases of flowers.  

Their specialty is what they call a Moroccan Burger, but throw your notion of a burger out the window when you order here.  While it's described simply as ground beef, fried egg, tomato sauce, and greens, it's much more than that, and thankfully so.

First off, it's more like a gyro or a kabob than a burger in the way that it's structured, wrapped in what I'll call a pita, but which I'm sure has a Moroccan name that I don't know, and then expertly wrapped in paper and foil to hold it all together while you eat it.  The burger is a sausage shaped patty of beef, which is laced with onion and Moroccan spices, and appears to be baked and then finished on the flat top before making it to the pita.  The tomato sauce isn't your typical Italian or canned variety either, but is rather a fresh tomato garlicky condiment which is really, really good, and in addition to flavor gives some moisture to the sandwich to counter the well done meat and solid-yolked fried egg.  Don't take that last bit as a knock, the flavors and textures of this burger all work incredibly well together, and this is a great sandwich, even before they give you a small container of a magical sauce, which is a really good, really flavorful and garlicky yogurt sauce, which kicks this up another level.

The fries, at just $1.50, are a nice side to the sandwich, but not necessary unless you feel like some filler.  These fries are of the McDonalds-sized variety, and are very well cooked with a crispy outside and soft fluffy inside.  They are advertised as being cooked in 100% canola oil, and I'll say that these things are the most healthy tasting fried french fries I've ever tasted.  I don't know how to describe it except as really "clean", grabbing no flavor from the oil is cooked in, and also not exhibiting much potato or salt flavor, but somehow it works, which I'll attribute primarily to the texture.  

Summary

Atmosphere:  food truck, small tables

Food:  Moroccan street food

Dog Friendly:  yes

When to Go:  lunch

Crowd:  varied

What to Order for the First Timer:  Moroccan Burger