A Truly Exhaustive Guide to Austin's Food Truck Parks
From burgers, tacos, and barbecue to fresh pastas, savory arepas, and game-changing vegan corn dogs.
It's no secret that one of the hardest parts of going out to eat is deciding where to go. Especially if you're going out with friends or a significant other, when the conversation about what to eat can often take longer than actually getting out there and doing the thing. And with so many great breakfast, lunch, and dinner (and brunch) options in town, narrowing it down can get even more overwhelming.
Fortunately, Austinites have an excellent tool to help with this problem: food truck parks. You want sushi but your partner wants a burger? No problem, there’s a park that can easily make that happen in one fell swoop. Craving a smorgasbord of tacos, sandwiches, barbecue brisket, and vegan snacks? No sweat, we got you. Each food truck park is bursting with a variety of options sure to satisfy every need, all with a side of sunny, outdoor dining bliss. Even a list as long and comprehensive as this one barely scratches the surface of what the city has to offer.
From plant-based oases to landscapes stocked with outstanding pizzas and freshly made pasta—here’s the definitive guide to Austin’s absolute best food truck parks.
Riverside
Buzz Mill is a community patio, coffee shop, and bar all rolled into one. One of the few venues in town that operate 24/7, they host a ton of regular programming like comedy shows and concerts alongside, of course, plenty of excellent food trucks for you to peruse. Check out Plow-Bao for vegan dim sum, Plow-Burger for plant-based burgers, 1776 Cheesesteak Co for, you guessed it, cheesesteaks, and JNL BBQ for traditional smoked meats. Stay tuned as a new trailer, Bully Bagel, will be opening up soon.
Must-try food: You can’t go wrong with the simple but effective order of a half-pound of brisket ($13) from JNL. And the vegan Pan-fried “Pork” Dumplings ($8) from Plow-Bao are always popular with newbies and regulars alike.
East Austin
Dog- and BYOB-friendly Arbor Food Park is where you can find gems like Cachitos 512, known for melt-in-your-mouth Venezuelan eats, and Cuantos Tacos, which brings you a superb range of Mexico City street-style tacos. Also onsite are the ever-reliable Ali Gyro Halal and well-loved pizza joint Sammataro.
Must-try food: Sammataro’s The Classic Pie ($26) comes with homemade tomato sauce and fresh low-moisture mozzarella, topped off with aged Parm, extra virgin olive oil, and fresh basil. What’s not to love?
26th and Rio Grande
Smack-dab in the heart of West Campus and available nearly any time of day, you’ll see dozens of college students flocking to this large collection of quality food trucks. Institutions like chicken and waffle maestro Longhorn Chicken, dessert shop Cold Cookie Co., and hand-made noodle palace Julie’s Noodles lead the pack, followed by at least a half-dozen more options. 26th and Rio is also the birthplace of rising local favorite JP’s Pancake Company, which has blossomed into a legend in its own right.
Must-try food: Check out the Hot Spicy Stew ($9.25) from Julie’s Noodles or hop on the sweet train with JP Pancake Company’s Keyshia Cole Pancakes ($7.50), dark chocolate pancakes topped with fresh berries and blackberry syrup.
28th StrEAT late-night food court
West Campus
This five-restaurant team is another stellar late-night refuge for students and post-collegiate midnight snackers alike. Draws include Halal superstar Abu Omar, the brand new Mango Feliz outpost, and Queen & King Cafe which offer a variety of savory snacks and sweet treats. Aptly named Asian food specialist Asian Express also holds its own, as does Donuts N’ Chick, which, as it sounds, serves up fried chicken stuffed between fluffy donuts.
Must-try food: Abu Omar’s Beef Shawarma Over Rice ($11) is a well-portioned meal that will definitely hit the spot, and Queen & King Cafe saves the day with refreshing Mangonadas ($8).
Ballroom Vegan Food Trucks
North Campus
While Austin institution Spider House Cafe may have closed, the Ballroom and its surrounding lot of food trucks are still going strong. And all four trucks—Arlo’s,The Corn Dog Guy, Sassy’s Vegetarian Soul FOOD, and Theano Vegan Greek—are totally plant-based. Yes, even the corndogs. As an added bonus, the folks behind the counter at each roving establishment are particularly nice and welcoming.
Must-try Food: Sassy’s Soul Bowl ($12) is a delicious heap of loaded sweet potato fries, topped with creamy black-eyed peas, greens, vegan bacon, and relish. The Corn Dog Guy’s Elote Dog ($9) is a decadent hand-dipped dog, fried in corn batter and topped with mayo, buttered chipotle corn, cilantro, grated Parmesan, and Valentina hot sauce for the ideal spicy finish.
South First & W Dittmar
Thicket is a charming food truck park surrounded by nice shady trees and colorful art, complete with a free seed swap box stashed next to their community garden. There are around a dozen trucks on the property, so you’re sure to find something for everyone. Jacque Belle Cajun Eats serves all the Cajun favorites like Gumbo and Shrimp Po’boys. Saté Texas takes care of Indonesian barbecue, while Shirley’s Trini Cuisine,Brooklyn Breakfast Company, and Arti Pasta Italian Food round out the always-fantastic offerings.
Must-try food: Crawfish Etouffee ($4 for small, $7.50 for large) from Jacque Belle is a no-brainer, as is the Monthly Fried Chicken Sandwich ($11) from Brooklyn Breakfast Company.
Burnet Road
Despite its location off of a fairly busy road, 5000 Burnet has been able to carve out a serene family-friendly escape. To give you a taste of the many options,, there’s esteemed T-Loc’s Sonoran Style Hot Dogs, Budare’s Venezuelan Food, and Dawa Sushi. There’s also a small playscape and some nicely maintained indoor bathrooms—always a plus.
Must-try food: Kick things off with a bacon-wrapped Sonoran Hot Dog ($6.50) from T-Loc’s, then polish off an order of Dawa Sushi’s Jabchae Korean glass noodles ($9.99).
South First Food Court
South First & West Gibson Street
As this list indicates, South First Street is home to a boatload of food truck parks. And if you’re heading up from South Austin, one of the first you’ll encounter is the South First Food Court. This quaint hideaway offers everything from fresh pasta aficionados Il Saporis to the meat-focused TX Shawarma. Other trucks include Manolis, known for badass pastries and ice cream, as well as 747 Burgers and cheekily named farm-to-table specialist The RAD-DISH. And while you’re there, you might as well take a jar of pickles home from Fickle Pickles.
Must-try food: The Tagliatelle Alla Vodka ($12) from IL Saporis is a big hit with locals. And it’s hard to go wrong with a rich scoop of Butter Pecan from Manolis ($5 to $10, depending on size).
Barton Springs
The Picnic sits in close proximity to Barton Springs pool, pairing crowd-pleasing trucks like The Mighty Cone and The Burger Truck with a much-appreciated BYOB policy. Explore resident purveyors like Tex-Mex haven Have a Taco and from-scratch Italian truck Cannone Cucina Italiana. Expect ample parking, lots of shade, and actual restrooms (instead of the requisite port-a-potties).
Must-try foods: Don’t sleep on Mighty Cone’s Monster Cone ($11), which crams Hot 'n' Crunchy chicken, shrimp, avocado, mango-jalapeño slaw, and ancho chili sauce into a pillowy flour tortilla.
Mueller Trailer Eats
Mueller
The Mueller Trailer Eats food park is easy to find—just look for the historic Browning Hangar, the structure that serves as a landmark for the former Robert Mueller Municipal Airport. There you’ll find Hey Cupcake!’s dreamy desserts, Conscious Cravings’ mouth-watering vegan wraps, and The Stonehouse Woodfire Grill, which has a surprisingly extensive menu of grilled burgers, toasted sandwiches, pitas, and kebabs, as well as special options just for kiddos.
Must-try food: Treat your sweet tooth to a Mini Assortment ($15) from Hey Cupcake and thank us later.
South First & Gibson
Located across the street from El Mercado, this tasty trailer park is where you’ll find Conscious Cravings, where vegetarian cuisine never skimps on flavor (or portion size), Tacoly Moly for street tacos, VSpot Atx for filling Venezuelan eats, beloved dessert shop Bananarchy, and Chivata Atx, a gourmet spot with a menu built around goat cheese.
Must-try food: Conscious Cravings’ best-selling wrap is the Spicy Chickpea ($7.99), while the GOATfather ($6.95) from Chivata is an equally great lunch go-to, served on Ciabatta and layered with arugula, tomatoes, basil pesto, and, yes, goat cheese.
West Gibson Street
Hardly a stone’s throw away from Ira and Bev’s Food Truck Park, you’ll find yet another gravel lot that’s home to reliably great Little Thai Food, Bombay Dhaba’s comforting Indian cuisine, and the excellent Juanita’s Tacos & More.
Must-try food: Little Thai Food’s tom kha ($12), a tangy, spicy coconut milk soup, is a great place to start before diving into the fiery Panang Curry ($9), served with soothing white rice.
East 11th Street
East 11th
Spread across a square block or two near East 11th and Lydia street perches this vibrant food truck hub strewn with murals and a whopping 10 or so game-changing kitchens bound to delight the whole crew. The unique lineup includes the island-style Tony’s Jamaican Food, Detroit-inspired Delray Cafe inside Nickel City, Micklethwait Craft Meats’ Texas-style barbecue, Cosmic Taco for “out of this world” tacos, and the aptly titled vegan joint, Community Vegan.
Must-try foods: Delray Cafe’s double slider with cheese ($4.61), stacked with twin patties and grilled onions on a steamed bun, is a carnivore’s dream, while Micklethwait Craft Meats’ Brisket Frito Pie ($10) nips at its meaty heels. Elsewhere, Community Vegan’s handspun dairy-free shake ($9) and Beer Battered Cauli Chikn Sandwich ($14) stand in confidently for the animal-based originals.
Rainey Street
One of the most bustling late-night destinations in town, Rainey Street hosts a giant roster of great eats. There’s Saperlipopette! for delicious French crêpes, colorful mini-donut hotspot Little Lucy’s, and no-fuss Mexican joint Wild Taco. Four Brothers Venezuelan churns out killer arepas, Tommy Want Wingy fries up some of the best wings in town, and Burro Cheese Kitchen dishes out some next-level grilled cheese sandwiches. And the fun doesn’t stop there—there’s also Wrigleyville Dogs, turkey burger specialists Gobble Gobble, seafood wizards Happy Lobster Truck, the dumpling-fueledMonk’s Momo, hearty sandwich suppliers Big Fat Greek Gyros, and so much more.
Must-try foods: Big Fat Greek Gyros’ big-enough-for-two Hercules gyro ($8.21), stuffed with tender and juicy lamb, beef, or chicken, romaine hearts, tomato, onion, green peppers, oregano, and French fries is always a sure-fire bet. Tommy Want Wingy’s five-piece, Garlic Parmesan wings, or the super-spicy Ranch on Fire wings ($13.75) also aim to please, while Little Lucy’s Not So Plain Sugar Mini Donuts($7), a set of 12 warm donuts served with a range of decadent dipping sauces, ably brings up the rear.
Jade Fabello is a contributor for Thrillist.