In Austin, you can have the best meal of your life off a paper plate while sitting on a wooden bench behind a gas station. Food trucks and trailers are all over this city—we estimate there’s approximately one for every three people living in Austin. And they’re serving everything from world-class brisket and barbacoa to aguachile tostadas and Uyghur-style Xinjiang lamb kabobs. This list could be a lot longer, but we narrowed it down to the highest-rated spots on our site.
THE SPOTS
9.0
LeRoy And Lewis Barbecue
$$$$Perfect For:Impressing Out of TownersLunchOutdoor/Patio SituationCasual Weeknight Dinner
While most of the pitmasters in Texas argue over who makes the jiggliest brisket, LeRoy And Lewis is looking at the rest of the cow. You’ll experience the same techniques here that have made other local barbecue spots famous, but in the form of rich and tender beef cheeks, shredded barbacoa served in an avocado, and a smoked cheeseburger that’s one of the best in the whole city. Just know that the secret is out, and you might wait an hour or two on the weekends. Grab a drink from Cosmic Coffee inside—it helps the line go by faster—or just show up early during the week when things are a little more relaxed. They also operate a brick-and-mortar in South Austin with a bigger menu and a large, indoor dining room.