Carl's Jr. - Austin, TX

Pressed for time this afternoon, I made my maiden voyage to the Carl's Jr. drive-thru.  Yes, I promise I won't review too many fast food places, as most opinions have long since been formed, and it's generally not interesting, but I felt compelled to review this one for a few reasons:

1.  Carl's Jr. is quite easily the dumbest name I've ever heard for a restaurant, no offense to Carl or his dad.

2.  A Hardee's Mushroom & Swiss loyalist (I'm from the midwest) as a kid, this was my first visit to it's twin brother.

3.  They've brought Pulp Fiction's Big Kahuna Burger to the real world, and to the lucky residents of Westlake.

And because everything is funnier in German...

Anyway....

Cleverly disguised as the Teriyaki Burger, we all know what this is.

Yep.

Chargrilled beef, grilled pineapple, Swiss (the fake kind) cheese, tomato, red onion and mayonnaise.  Yep, Sammy Jack's favorite, the Big Kahuna Burger.  Worthy of a tasty beverage to WASH down this tasty burger.

I opted to go without lettuce, according to the picture menu it looked like the wilted green variety that certainly wouldn't make the drive, and I'd recommend you do the same.

This thing was actually really good, though you'd better be ready for the sweet tang of teriyaki sauce.  Now I've never been to a Carl's Jr., but they do a good burger.  It's actually got flavor, a nice chargrilled flavor at that, without that sickly gassy flavor that other fast food joints have, though I won't say who.

Anyway, in addition to the beef, the sauce was pretty good, and onion was perfect to cut the sweet of both it and the pineapple, as well as add a much needed texture to an otherwise very soft (and that's a good thing) sandwich.

Decent fast food if your'e in the mood for fast food.



Summary:

It's fast food, I'm not going to bother with this.

Texas Honey Ham Company - Austin, TX

Texas Honey Ham.................YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAWWWWWW!

Reviewed this one already...

http://thefatartery.blogspot.com/2011/11/texas-honey-ham-company.html

...but stopped in for breakfast yesterday after hearing their breakfast tacos were no joke.

Their breakfast tacos were no joke.

Sausage and egg, bacon and egg, baked potato hash and egg, and ham, egg and serranos.

All were very good...but let me sidestep here and say that just watching the guy working the morning shift on the flattop yesterday was like watching an artist with a canvas.  Eggs handled right hand only...crack, split, tossed...yes tossed (his range was about two and half feet) to the appropriate part of the griddle in the same swoop that delivered the shell to the trash.  His work with the spatulas (two of them simultaneously) puts him one rice volcano and a shrimp flip shy of the great Benny Hanna, and has me thinking his chopstick skills might rival Miyagi.

That said, back to the tacos.  All were good, the eggs being that half scrambled variety that though properly chopped together with the rest of the ingredients, leave you with a few really nice yolk bites and some texture.  The meat, all good, though there is no chorizo on the menu and the sausage, while nice, was fairly bland.  Ham was their signature ham, nicely chunked and sweet and salty at the same time.  Bacon, not over crisp, but not chewy.  Perfect consistency to be cut into the egg.  Potatoes were a nice change from a hash brown, darker in color and a little deeper in flavor, though I couldn't exactly put my finger on what they had done to them.  Tortillas were soft, and nicely wrapped in foil perfect for eating in the car if you needed to, and the salsa was homemade and fresh, on the mild side, but perfectly complementary of the tacos, not overpowering in flavor nor heat.  My recommendation if you're into heat in the morning is to adjust it using peppers.  Mild:  just use the salsa.  Medium:  get fresh jalapenos cut into your taco.  Hot:  same but with the serranos.  Just enough heat to make it hum, but not enough to cause you to turn back around on your way to work.

So, my order of preference of these things:

1.  Ham, egg, serrano
2.  Bacon and egg
3.  Baked potato hash and egg
4.  Sausage and egg

Alphabetical order of these things:

1.  Bacon and egg
2.  Baked potato hash and egg
3.  Ham, egg, serrano
4.  Sausage and egg

Front to back on the pig:

1.  Baked potato hash and egg (they'll eat anything, and trust me you want the way in, not out)
2.  Sausage and egg
3.  Bacon and egg
4.  Ham and egg

Right aligned, reverse alphabetical by ninth to last character, spaces being before A and punctuation being after Z:

1.  Ham, egg, serrano

2.  Bacon and egg

3.  Baked potato hash and egg

4.  Sausage and egg

Now, all that said, this is a mix and match place.   I'm a heat and freshness guy, so will opt for the serranos on whatever I get next, and though I do love the front part of the pig, I'll probably pass on the sausage and stick to ham and bacon.

Maybe I'll add some cheese to complete the trifecta...

Summary:

Check out the prior review.

Torchy's Tacos - Austin, TX

Torchy's Tacos has a following like no other taco place in Austin, or Texas for that matter, stemming from a loyal student base in search of great food on the cheap.   It's this following that has allowed Torchy's to aggressively expand, from it's start as one of Austin's premier trailers, to numerous brick and mortar locations around Austin, and now...GASP!...Dallas.

I've been a fan of Torchy's since my first visit, and unless I'm in a rush and passing by a location, I like to head down to it's humble beginnings, in the trailer park of South 1st, one of the nicest and easiest in town.

Now, first things first.  Let's boil down what kind of "Mexican" we're talking about here, an important first step for anyone looking for "Mexican" food in Austin.  I've drawn up a little organizational chart here, focusing on the taco side of the equation.

First things first, let's differentiate between Mexican and Tacos.  If you're "going out for Mexican", you're talking about more of a full meal, ranging from something like Taco Cabana to Maudie's to Fonda San Miguel.  Varying degrees of quality, options including enchiladas, burritos, plates, rice, beans, and also different styles such as Interior Mexican, Tex-Mex, or Coastal Mexican.  Now, tacos may very well be a part of your Mexican meal, and that's alright.  For instance, I ate at Maudie's last night.  We "went out for Mexican" and in this instance, Tex-Mex.  I had a combination plate featuring among other things, a crispy beef taco.  But we didn't "go out for tacos", like we did Saturday, when we hit up Torchy's, meaning we were heading somewhere specializing primarily in tacos, though most will likely feature things like chips, salsas, queso, and in the case of some of the authentic Mexican places, tortas...the Mexican sandwich.  That said, generally you're talking about a quicker, more on-the-go meal, something you might associate more with lunch, carry-out, or late-night.

Alright, now that we've got that out of the way, let's briefly touch what I view as this area's primary taco types.

Mexican Street Tacos:  these are the more authentic Mexican tacos, ranging from the more normal classic recipes for al pastor (pork), picadillo (ground beef), and bistec (steak), to the scary...lengua (cow tongue), tripas (small intestine), cabeza (cow face)...and always served on small, usually corn, tortillas with minimal accompaniments, typically cilantro, onion and lime, and your choice of red or green salsa.

Tex-Mex:  think back to taco day at your elementary school growing up, and you've got it, and if your school didn't have taco day, God help you, then drive through Taco Bell and take a look at the menu.  Crispy corn taco shells or soft flour tortillas, seasoned ground beef or shredded chicken, beef or chicken fajita, you got it.  Cheese is typically a component of these tacos, as well as some combination of lettuce, onion, tomato, and salsa.

Fusion:  we're seeing these in the taco trucks quite a bit around here...Korean, Vietnamese, Barbecue, Southern...any kind of non-Mexican food prepared in a tortilla, typically with some sort of meat or vegetable base, cooked, and then any sort of toppings depending on the style...kimchee, slaw, carrots, greens...you name it.   REALLY good.  Not Mexican.

Breakfast:  the pride of Austin, with everyone and their brother, mother, grandmother and everyother making them...I mean come on you can go to Dan's Hamburgers in the morning and get breakfast tacos.  Sounds like a Mexican breakfast joint, doesn't it?  Anyway, you know the drill here, basically corn or flour tortillas, base of eggs, and any assortment and combination of meat, beans, vegetables, tortilla chips, herbs, etc.  Basically, its how you need to start your day.

And there you have it.  Sorry to have digressed.

Alright, so then back to Torchy's.  From a classification standpoint, I'm going to consider Torchy's a Tex-Mex Fusion with side of Breakfast and just a spritz of Street.

Chemically,

 S-Tm – F (B)-S

So I got an assortment to bring back to the house on Saturday for My Lovely Wife Mrs. Gordo and me to share.  First off, they traveled well, due to care in preparation.  Salsas, specific to each taco, are left off of the taco and served in little containers, keeping liquid from gumming up the tortilla.  They're also wrapped tightly in foil, giving juice from the meat little room to squeeze out to the outside of the tortilla.  So, I got all of ours on flour and cut them in half upon arrival for your viewing pleasure.

From left to right:  Ranch Hand, Crossroads, Trailer Park, and Dirty Sanchez.

The Ranch Hand was my least favorite of the four, but not because of failed preparation or a bad mix of ingredients...it was just ordinary, lacking the creativity, flair and flavor that the others celebrated.  Don't get me wrong, this is a good taco, and though not in the breakfast portion of the menu, is basically a steak breakfast taco.  Ample, fluffy scrambled eggs, grilled beef fajita, and shredded cheese, served with their homemade Diablo Sauce, which is basically kind of a creamy fire-roasted habanero sauce, which is quite excellent.  Frankly with the tiny amount of beef featured on this taco, it provided all of the flavor, which was great, but pretty basic.

From here on out it gets a bit more difficult to rank them, as each is very different, very good, very innovative, and any one of them could be your favorite based on what you're feeling like the day you're there.  So let's move to the Crossroads.  Smoked beef brisket with grilled onions, jalapenos, cilantro, jack cheese, and a slice of avocado served with tomatillo sauce.  WELL DONE, TORCHY'S!  What I really like about this is that it's a brisket taco with a great charred and smoky flavor, complemented with sweet grilled onions and the crisp bite of jalapenos and cilantro.  The intentionally acidic tomatillo salsa is a perfect match for this one, with it's vinegary bite and heat cutting through the smoke and tender juiciness of the meat.

Trailer Park.  BAM!  I resisted the temptation to go trashy on this one, replacing the lettuce with queso,  though I'm not sure that really makes it all that much healthier.  Either way, this one is GOOD.  Fried chicken, green chilies, lettuce, pico de gallo and cheese with poblano sauce, an almost jalapeno/poblano infused ranch dressing which is fantastic, and goes really well with this one...think chicken fingers and ranch.  Yep.  The chicken is hot, juicy and crunchy, and the lettuce and pico provide both a temperature contrast and a cool crispness that make this thing perfect.

Dirty Sanchez, also incredibly good, might be my favorite of the four, but I think it's going to depend on the day.  Ready?  Scrambled eggs, a breaded and fried poblano chile, guacamole, escabeche (pickled jalapenos and carrots), and shredded cheese with that same poblano sauce.  Again, think about anything fried...mushrooms, pickles, onions, potatoes, jalapenos...that you like to dip in ranch, and that's what you've got on a tortilla here with non-intrusive scrambled egg providing the body.

Summary

Atmosphere:  covered and uncovered picnic seating in a shaded trailer park, food truck, great place on a nice day for lunch, BYOB

Food:  Tacos

Crowd:  a little bit of everyone

Dog Friendly:  Yes

Best Time to Go:  lunch on a nice day

What to Order for the First Timer:  Trashy Trailer Park, Dirty Sanchez

Texas Honey Ham Company

Do you ever long for those leftover ham sandwiches in the weeks following Easter and Christmas, but find that fifty weeks out of the year don't have a religious holiday that justifies you cooking four times the quantity of food that any normal person should?

Then folks, Texas Honey Ham Company is for you.

I know, I know, this place is a little flashy for a sandwich shop, but try to see through all the pomp and circumstance and see that this place is THE place to go for a hand-carved sandwich that makes you feel like you're in the comfort of your childhood home.

Several different sandwich options here, based mainly on ham and turkey, and I opted for their signature sandwich, The Choice Slice Sandwich.

A third of a pound of carved, cooked ham, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onion, dirty mustard, and mayo on a toasted fresh baked bun.  Wow, this was great.  The ham tasted just like a holiday ham cut right from the bone, tender and juicy, the lettuce and onion provided a crisp crunch, and the sweet-side mustard brought it all together on a really, really good, soft bun.

The baked potato casserole you see to the side of it I could do without on my next trip.  Really nothing more than lumpy mashed red potatoes with nearly undetectable traces of bacon and onion.  Remember though, you're here for the sandwich.  Get some chips.

Summary

Atmosphere:  homey, neighborhoody, great for a lunch meeting, family friendly, carryout

Food:  ham and turkey sandwiches, soups and salads

Crowd:  families, neighbors, hotmoms, businessmen

Dog Friendly:  yes, at a few outside tables

When to Go:  lunch

What to Order for the First Timer:  The Choice Slice Sandwich or the Club

Counter Cafe - Austin, TX

Walked down to Counter Cafe this morning with the intent of getting breakfast tacos, one of the two breakfasts I tend to rotate between when I go, but after a quick discussion with my waitress, I decided to go with the special of the day, two sausage, egg, and cheese sandwiches on homemade biscuits.

Glad I did.  Great batch of sausage today.  Very fresh, cooked medium well, heavy on the sage and red pepper, giving it immense flavor and kick.  Topped off with a over-medium egg and shredded cheddar.

Full reviews here, just wanted to share today's special with you...

http://thefatartery.blogspot.com/2011/02/counter-cafe-austin-tx.html

http://thefatartery.blogspot.com/2011/02/counter-cafe-austin-tx_27.html

http://thefatartery.blogspot.com/2011/03/counter-cafe-austin-tx.html

24 Diner - Austin, TX

Alright, this is long overdue, but I've had a chance to eat at 24 Diner a few times in the last three weeks, so here goes...

24 reasons I love 24 Diner:

24:  Wait for your table while browsing the vinyl at Waterloo Records

23:  Short walk from the bars of West 6th, and more importantly, from my house

22:  Full bar and a great value wine list

21:  Hotchicks

20:  One of the best weekend hangover brunches in town

19:  Square cups

18:  Bloody Marys and Micheladas

17:  Deviled eggs with bacon on arugula with lemon vinaigrette

16:  Full Bar

15:  Macaroni and Cheese

14:  Incredible scenery

13:  Chicken and Waffles

12:  Sassy yet classy service

11:  On-Site ATM

10:  Meatloaf Sandwich

9:  They willingly serve drunks...food

8:  Meatloaf with Mashed Potatoes and Sweet Brown Gravy

6:  Grilled Cheese

You know what one looks like

5:  Egg Sandwich

4:  Full Bar

3:  Bar Seating

2:  Open whenever you want to go there


1:  Full Bar

Hey, nobody said I could count

Whip In - Austin, TX

Whip it.

Whip it real good.

I did.

It's a beer store.  It's a concert venue.  It's a convenience store.  It's a restaurant.  And best of all, it's a bar.

What better way to spend the time mulling over the hundreds of beers they have for sale, than with a fresh draft beer in your hand?

Chances are, if you don't have one in your hand, someone will find you and make sure you get one.  This is a convenience store on steroids, and an incredible one at that, with a concept that I can't believe hasn't been replicated a thousand times over.

We're not talking about getting a Bud Light or Miller Lite while you shop either.  This place has between 50 and 60 beers on tap behind a long and deep bar, ranging from the basics to local brews, to microbrews, to Belgians, to imports, and the people working there know their stuff, so let them guide you. I didn't get one today, as I just stopped in to pick up a couple bottles of wine and a sandwich, but the last time I was in there, Dipak was incredibly excited about having just gotten some of Real Ale's Devil's Backbone Tripel on tap, and convinced me (not difficult) to have one.  Glad he did, and I thoroughly enjoyed it as I glanced over the Belgium section of the store for a good, new beer to take home with me.

This place is a beer and wine store first and foremost, but nearly equally as much a restaurant and bar specializing in draft beers and Indian food.  Nestled between the register and one of the coolers is a sleek polished wood bar behind which tower taps from brews all over the world.  Choose from the taps or choose from the chalkboard which changes daily and is arranged by beer type, and pull up a stool, but don't take your cell phone out, they are forbidden at the bar.  Somewhat annoying in today's age, but truly captures the historic spirit of a bar, where you and the bartender strike up a conversation and a relationship taking you away from the problems of the world for a few minutes at least.

The food, also on chalkboards above the bar, is Indian based, with Austin twists incorporating local meats, chili, and sandwich combinations, some of which change daily and weekly, with some constant staples that keep people coming back.  As tempting as it was today, I opted not to go with the lamb beeryani, made with mushrooms, carrots, and both Saison and Abbey Brown ales, and instead opted for one of their hot sandwiches, the SoCo.  House made gingered roast beef, pepper chutney, and gorgonzola, folded up in fresh naan bread and grilled.

Doesn't look like much, I know, but it was good, with my only knocks being that it was a little on the dry side, and I wish it had been oozing with gorgonzola, which was only sparingly used.  The beef had a great fresh roasted flavor, the gorgonzola added a little flavor and salt, and the pepper chutney added a nice sting to the tongue.

As I waited, I took a look at the wines, and picked out a Sardinian and a Tuscan white to take home to My Lovely Wife Mrs. Gordo, and I took a deeper look at the menu, which will have me coming back.  A few of the highlights that I'd like to try include that lamb, the Woodland naan sandwich with tequila pulled pork, spicy mango chutney, and feta cheese, the "Whip In-dianized" Beef and Beer Chili Curry, the Indjun gingered chicken fried steak with garlic gravy (dinner only), and the bison and porkbelly meatloaf (dinner only).

Though it's a beer store, the bar is a comfortable place to sit for breakfast, lunch or dinner, as is the small indoor dining area and the picnic tables in an enclosed courtyard next to the parking lot, which is where the stage is, featuring local music most days of the week.  If you're a beer connoisseur, this is your place to shop, second to none, and if you're hungry, it's a great spot to pick up lunch or dinner, or dine there with a recommended beer pairing.

Summary

Atmosphere:  bar, beer and wine store, outdoor seating, good if you're flying solo, good for a group on a nice afternoon or evening, fantastic beer selection, for drinking there or taking home, great wine selection, tv behind the bar, and friendly staff

Food:  Austin Indian

Dog Friendly:  yes

When to Go:  breakfast, lunch or dinner

Crowd:  locals, singles, hipsters, beatniks, me

What to Order for the First Timer:  pending

South Congress Cafe - Austin, TX

Who likes short shorts?

I do, I do.

But that has zero bearing and nothing to do with this review, terribly that just happens to be the song that's stuck in my head right now.  Not sure what I did to deserve this.

South Congress Cafe

This is a place on my "must go to" list for anyone going to Austin for short visit, particularly for a weekend.  Specialties:  dinner and brunch.  This place embodies Austin culture in a nice, clean setting better than anyplace in town, and with more than just the food.  A funky little spot on the continually growing South Congress strip, it offers a true taste of Austin featuring game, southwestern fare, and innovative creations with bold flavors.  It's also a fantastic place to belly up to the bar and have a drink and a meal.  AND, don't quote me on this because I'm not sure if it's still true, but if you sit at the bar, it's 20% off.  I'm not sure there is a better place in town for a morning after a long night for a bloody mary and some grub.

Let me start with brunch, because that's where I found myself on Saturday morning.  First off, YOU WILL WAIT for a table, but maximize it.  My recommendation is to pack yourself into the bar area and start with a bloody mary, or a beer, or a poison of your choosing.  It's tight, but there are seats for waiting around the bar area which you can snag if you're lucky.  On a nice day, if you don't feel like starting with booze before food, sit outside and watch all of the people, it's some of the best people watching you'll find in the city, with all walks of life, or stroll up and down and stop in the shops and outdoor stands filled with funky art, furniture, vintage clothing, costumes, and all sorts of crap you don't need.

So, the brunch menu features all sorts of incredible entrees ranging from breakfast to lunch to dinner to appetizers.  I'd recommend starting with some chips and salsa or queso as well as the prosciutto wrapped quail while you figure out what to order.  The breakfast options lean toward the savory, and include three to four omelets, three to four different benedicts, a smoked briskey hash, and the standard Mexican migas, and the lunch-type options range from burgers to venison meatloaf to fish.

I opted for the Italian omelet on this most recent trip, after a really tall bloody mary garnished with celery, olives, and a pepperocini.  The omelet was a fluffy egg disk stuffed with wild boar Italian sausage, a spicy pepper and onion mix, fresco, panela and asadero cheese, and was topped with a creamy tomato gorgonzola sauce, which was incredible.  Awesome combination of flavors, very savory, and served with a smoked gouda potato pancake with a dollop of sour cream, which is worth ordering in and of itself.

On the dinner side, I particularly like the mesquite smoked pork chop, the jalapeno-venison meatloaf, and most of all the barbecued quail, which is served on a bed of goat cheese bacon grits.  Yeah, that's right.  Goat cheese and bacon.  But choose what sounds good to you, as the menu is a great mix of steaks, pasta, and seafood, all of which are no doubt flavorful and well prepared.

This is one of my favorite spots to hit up if I'm looking for a good, casual dinner and am by myself.  It's the kind of bar you sit at, and will have conversations not only with the friendly staff, but with the locals as well who are also bellied up.  As I said from the get go, a must stop to experience Austin on a short trip for a short trip.

Summary

Atmosphere:  truly Austin, funky, great bar to sit at, fantastic place for a weekend brunch, good for groups, great if you're flying solo, great people-watching, nice place to take a date or meet a friend, great spot for meeting new people

Food:  southwestern, game, meats and seafoods

Dog Friendly:  no

Best Time to Go:  weekend brunch, dinner

Crowd:  eclectic, 20somethings, 30somethings, hotchicks, hipsters, beatniks, artists, musicians, loners, hangovers

What to Order for the First Timer:  quail

Tacos La Guera - Austin, TX

Quick review here, with very little humor.

Great spot for breakfast tacos, especially if you don't feel like getting out of your car.  Drive-thru, order at the window, and have patience as they are cooked to order.

Taco Loco - chorizo, grilled onions, tomato, jalapeno, cheese

Bacon & Egg

Chorizo & Egg

All very good, and pretty cheap.  As for the salsas, they have a red (mild) and green (hot).  The green has a great kick and I strongly recommend bypassing the red and getting all green.  It's of the super bright green and smooth variety and is perfect for any breakfast taco you want to get.

Summary

Atmosphere:  fast food drive-thru

Food:  tacos

Dog Friendly:  no

When to Go:  breakfast

Crowd:  drivers, the hungover, Mexicans

What to Order for the First Timer:  breakfast taco of your choosing, green sauce

Maria's Taco Xpress - Austin, TX

I think Carlos Santana sang a song about this place, and I know Guy Fieri tried it out.  So it's got to be good, right?

Right.

I headed over there around eleven this morning for some breakfast and lunch together.  I'd heard good things about their migas taco, so wanted to try it, and figured I'd get something else at the recommendation of the staff.

Let's start with the place itself though.  I've never seen a place quite like it, unless you count the traveling carnival.  This place has more colors, in more places, than I've ever seen, and upon arrival you're greeted by a massive statue of Maria herself, welcoming you with open arms.  From the outside it's hard to see if this place is a food truck or a restaurant (it's the latter), as it's positioned in the parking lot of a Walgreens, and the entrance is no more than just an opening to a partially covered multi-story patio.

Yep, that's her.  You must be this tall to enter this restaurant.

Once you verify your height and are granted access to the carnival, you find a door and go inside to an order at the counter and wait for your number to be called restaurant.

I ordered my migas taco and asked the guy at the register what his favorite menu item was, and he immediately answered "pollo guisada" almost before I finished the question.  He explained that it was slow roasted and pulled chicken in a chipotle broth, and he gave me a little bowl of it to taste.  How could I refuse such confidence?  I didn't.

While I waited for the "Number 39" call, I ventured over to what I think is my favorite part of this whole place, the condiment bar.  I love condiment bars.  This one had fresh chopped onions that weren't at all wilted like they'd been sitting for hours, chopped cilantro, pico de gallo, a classic red salsa, a bright orange and smooth salsa, a dark verde salsa, and in a nod to Maria's homeland, a chile-laced chimichurri.

I got a little of each of the salsas, heard my number and sat down.  I quickly removed the migas taco from the container they both were in to save it from drowning in the chicken juice, and I'm glad I did.  I recommend you do to. The pollo guisada was very basic and very good.  The smokiness of the chipotle didn't really come through at all, but the chicken was tender and moist, and contrasted nicely with the shredded lettuce and chopped tomato which came on it.  I tried it with each of the salsas, and think with this one, I liked the orange one the best.  It had the best heat of all of them, and a good sweet flavor that went well with the chicken.

 Now, the migas taco.  This was like a migas taco like I've never had before.  It's like an egg pancake full  of onions, jalapenos, tomatoes and smashed tortilla chips, topped with a ton of cheddar cheese.  The flavor was awesome, and while I'm generally not a cheese on a breakfast taco kind of guy, I loved this because of the sheer volume of it (see picture below).  The other really nice thing about this was that it all stayed intact, and nothing fell out the back of the taco because it was one big pancake.  I once again tried all of the salsas with this one, and think the verde was my favorite, which is normally the case.

The chimichurri was something I had high hopes for, but I thought it fell a little short.  The spice was good, but it was overwhelmingly vinegary, not having been balanced out with some olive oil, and would have been very good on a smoked pulled pork sandwich but not so much on a taco.

I liked this place, and I want to hit it up on a Sunday morning, as I understand they have a full gospel choir for entertainment.  Good spot.  Don't shy away because it's been publicized on Triple D, it's still as Austin as Austin gets.

Summary

Atmosphere:  carnival-like restaurant, ample seating indoor and out, order at counter, mix and match salsas, good for a family, good for a group, good for a quick breakfast or lunch

Food:  mexican and tex-mex

Dog Friendly:  yes

When to Go:  breakfast, lunch, Sunday mornings

Crowd:  carnies

What to Order for the First Timer:  migas taco

Piroshky Piroshky - Seattle, WA

Two and a half hour flight from Seattle to Los Angeles

Two hour layover in Los Angeles

Three hour flight from Los Angeles to Austin

What would you do immediately before leaving?

I booked it down to Piroshky Piroshky at the Pike Place Market and had myself a beef and onion piroshky.

No one ever accused me of being smart.

So as much as it may not have been the best choice before a day filled with air travel, it was a perfect spot for a breakfast to go while I walked around the market.

Piroshky Piroshky is an authentic Russian bakery, serving up all sorts of piroshkys and pastries, both savory and sweet, in a tiny little shop on Pike Place with nothing more than a counter a just a few stools. Man, everything looked incredible here, everything, and while I wanted to try more than one thing, there's absolutely nothing small.  So I decided I'd go savory, and the beef and onion looked the best.  The piroshkys are all a little bit different, not the same type of crusts with just a change of fillings.  While the beef and cheese looked tempting, its sturdy looking, egg-washed pastry didn't look nearly as good as the soft flaky crust of the beef and onion.

This and a coffee was right around $4, and fit the bill perfectly.  Just enough to fill me up and get the day started, but not too much.  The insides were moist and flavorful, without being kicked up with too much spice.  The pastry was exactly as it looks, a flaky outer crust and incredibly soft and slightly sweet inner layers.  A great combination, and a fantastic breakfast on the run.

As for the effect on travel...it worked out just fine.

Summary

Atmosphere:  bakery, just a few stools and a counter

Food:  piroshkys, pastries, coffee

Dog Friendly:  sure, its take-out

When to Go:  breakfast

Crowd:  tourists, Russians

What to Order for the First Timer:  I liked the beef and onion, but it's breakfast, you call it

Curra's Grill - Austin, TX

If the chorizo egg breakfast taco is your go to, there is absolutely no reason other than convenience to go anywhere but Curra's to get one.

Just incredible.

They're loaded with incredibly authentic and flavorful homemade chorizo, and for $1.50 each, one will satisfy you, and two will push it.

I got mine with chopped fresh jalapenos this morning.  We'll see how that pans out.

Now I know I've said in prior posts that I'm not a mathematician, but I really am.  So let's apply some associative math to Curra's.

Mr. Gordo's Favorite Breakfast Taco = Chorizo Egg

Curra's = Best Chorizo Egg Taco Mr. Gordo has had in the State of Texas

Curra's Chorizo Egg Taco = Best Breakfast Taco in Texas

There.  I said it.

Summary

Atmosphere:  bright authentic Mexican, family friendly

Food:  interior Mexican, done very well

Dog Friendly:  not sure, maybe on the porch but probably not encouraged

When to Go:  breakfast, lunch or dinner

Crowd:  families, groups, young and old, and most importantly, REAL Mexicans

What to Order for the First Timer:  chorizo egg tacos with borracho salsa, tacos al pastor, cochinita pibil

http://thefatartery.blogspot.com/2011/03/curras-grill-austin-tx.html

Portabla - Austin, TX

I like my sandwich shops down and dirty.  Generally.

Portabla is certainly not that, but puts out some great sandwiches.  I'm a big fan of having this in the neighborhood.

This place comes off as a somewhat froofroo (froofru, frufru, separated?) place, which has the look of (and I'm not sexist by any means I promise you that) a rather girly place which is a catering operation cranking out counter food.

See?  Salads in plastic.

BUT, I'll go there anytime, because they really know what they're doing as far as sandwiches go, which is all I've had, and I think the real secret is the bread.  It's fantastic.

I've had two sandwiches here, the Italian Panini, and the hot All-Natural Roast Beef Panini.  I know I generally avoid paninis around these parts, having indicated before my hatred for Atdoh (Any Tom, Dick or Harry) buying a Foreman and opening up a shop.  Truth is, the paninis that Tom, Dick and Harry make are most of the time nothing more than a sandwich you'd make, on regular sliced bread, heated and pressed, but Mr. Portabla does it right, and I'll vouch for his paninis any day.

Today's Roast Beef Panini was a very well proportioned mix of roast beef, roasted tomato, cheddar, pepperocinis and red onion on fresh ciabatta bread.  The bread came out with a perfect crunchy and the insides warm and covered with melted cheddar.  The flavors of the condiments worked very well, and their texture held despite the sandwich being cooked.

Yeah, look at that!

The Italian Sub I had previously was also great.  Same great bread, cooked perfectly, with incredible flavor coming from salami, ham, cappocolla, basil pesto, roasted peppers, roasted tomatoes, provolone, pepperocini and artichoke hearts.

This is a great spot to meet someone for lunch during the week, or to pick up a sandwich to go.  The carry doesn't diminish the quality of the sandwich in the least.

Summary

Atmosphere:  fancy deli, lots of two tops, quaint, good spot to meet for lunch or to pick up food to go, no bar

Food:  sandwiches, paninis and more

Dog Friendly:  yes, a few tables outside

When to Go:  lunch

Crowd:  girls, women, businessmen

What to Order for the First Timer:  Italian Panini

Czech Stop - West, TX

At Exit 353 between Dallas and Austin straddling I-35 lies a small Czech community which contains perhaps the best snack in the state of Texas.

For a small town touting several authentic Czech bakeries, the single best item is at a gas station, right off the interstate.

I give you...

...drum roll please...

...the Hot Chubbie with Cheese

Don't even get me started on the name.  It's one of the reasons, but not the reason, that you order it with cheese, so that you don't have to say to the girl behind the counter, "give me a hot chubbie"...which may leave you wondering..."IS IT, OR ISN'T IT"?

These things used to have a name you could be proud of, Czech Stop Hots, which were nearly identical to the Chubbies, but the sausage was cut in half lengthwise, so you just got half.  Somewhere along the line, the old Czech ladies making these things got lazy, stopped cutting them, upped the price, and changed the name to something quite ridiculous, despite the fact that the CSH's half-sausage made that kolache the perfect size, gave it the perfect meat to cheese to pastry ratio (M:C:P), and helped the whole thing stay together better.  (I've raised this with them, and it was very, very clear that they didn't give a damn what I thought)   Anyway, sorry...the real reason you order it with cheese is because the cheese is the some of the most perfect processed American cheese that I've ever had.  I don't know whether it's Velveeta, Land O'Lakes Extra Melt Yellow, or some top secret government cheese that they've gotten their hands on, but it stays melted once heated and provides the perfect flavor and texture to go with the sweetness and softness of the buns and the snap and the heat of the sausage (WHOOOOAAAA!  IS IT, OR ISN'T IT?)

And the cheese isn't the only great part of these things.  One of the things that really makes a Chubbie are the sweet, soft buns (what?), which despite being melt in your mouth soft, do really well in contain the spicy sausage (huh?).  The sausage is homemade, and has great flavor and pretty substantial, but not overbearing, heat.  These ingredients come together perfectly, and it's the ultimate road food too.  This Chubbie is self-contained, not messy at all, and fills you up.  If you're going to eat it on the road, ask them to heat it up, but you can also get them boxed up to go, or even frozen.  They're all great, and allow you to have a Chubbie at home!

Now, as many times as I've stopped in this place, I've had a chance to try most of their kolaches.  Here's what they've got:

From a traditional fruit kolache point of view, I'm guessing you're going to get more authentic and probably better kolaches a half mile away in town, as well as some of the traditional non-fruit kolaches.  Try them here if you want, but don't come here for them.

Simply put, when you stop here, get the Hot Chubbie with Cheese.  There are other ones that are pretty good, and which I still sometimes get in addition to a HCwC...poppy seed, sausage swiss and kraut, jalapeno sausage with cheese, sausage with cheese, and breakfast sausage with cheese (runner up to the HCwC, and one I get on morning drives)...but I always come back for a Chubbie, which stands much taller than all the rest.

Summary

Atmosphere:  gas station, bakery, cleaner bathrooms on the bakery side, better drink selection on the gas station side

Food:  kolaches, pastries, sandwiches

When to Go:  every single time you get to exit 353 on I-35

Crowd:  it's a gas station, does it really matter?

What to Order for the First Timer:  Hot Chubbie with Cheese, or two

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