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27 Most Iconic Austin Dishes


jimmyjazz

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I'm actually pretty impressed with this list, especially given the source . . . any thoughts on what they should have added or removed? 

I'm a big fan of Ranch 616's Jalapeno Maize Chicken, which I think is more "iconic" than ALC's steak.  (It's a perfectly fine steak, but come on.)  I certainly don't get the love for the Veracruz migas tacos, as they're tasty but hardly unique or exceptional.  I'd probably find a spot for Conan's Pizza and add a burger from either Crown & Anchor, Dirty's, or Dan's, all of which scream "Austin".

 

Eater Austin

1 Smoked Duck Pastrami Sandwich at Noble Sandwich Co

2 Roast Duck at Din Ho Chinese BBQ

3 Tonkotsu Ramen at Ramen Tatsu-ya

4 Mexican Vanilla at Amy's Ice Cream

5 Enchiladas at the Dart Bowl

6 Pancakes at Kerbey Lane Café

7 Garden Patch Salad at Mother's Cafe & Garden

8 Fries at Hyde Park Bar & Grill

9 Popcorn Tofu Po’ Boy at Wheatsville Food Co-Op

10 Crispy Fried Oysters at Jeffrey's

11 Chocolate Malt at Nau's Enfield Drug

12 Biscuits at Olamaie

13 Steak at ALC

14 Chili at Texas Chili Parlor

15 Brisket at Franklin Barbecue

16 The Amarillo Burger at Casino El Camino Bar & Grill

17 Migas at Cisco's Restaurant

18 Migas Taco at Veracruz All Natural

19 Bright and Citrus Hama Chili with Yellowtail and Thai chilis at Uchi

20 The Don Juan at Juan in a Million

21 Birthday Cake Ice Cream Sandwich at Launderette

22 A slice of pizza at Home Slice Pizza

23 Rosita's Al Pastor Taco

24 Bob Armstrong Dip at Matt's El Rancho

25 Avocado Margarita at Curra's Grill

26 Chicken Fried Steak at Hill's Cafe

27 The Real Deal Holyfield at Valentina's Tex Mex BBQ

 

 

 

Edited by jimmyjazz
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8 minutes ago, jimmyjazz said:

I'm actually pretty impressed with this list, especially given the source . . .

 

What's wrong with EaterAustin? I've actually found EaterHouston to be pretty informative and well done.

I haven't lived in Austin in a long time, though I've lived there three time sin my life. But I've never even heard of most of those. (I've had five of them though.)

My list would include:

Austin's Favorite Burger from Mad Dog & Beans

Enchilada Platter and two Margaritas from Casita Jorge's

Roast Beef from Thundercloud, (20 years ago Thundercloud!)

Burger from Abbey Inn

Breve Latte from Medici

Eggroll from the foodcart in front of the Main Mall or the RLM or Coop

 

 

 

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5 minutes ago, HenryJames said:

What is iconic from Launderette?

 

The birthday cake brownie or whatever the fuck it is. Have had it, it’s exactly as iconic as it sounds. Guess they needed another dessert item.

edit: ice cream sandwich*

Edited by Hank_Hill
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5 minutes ago, Hank_Hill said:

The birthday cake brownie or whatever the fuck it is. Have had it, it’s exactly as iconic as it sounds. Guess they needed another dessert item.

Yeah, I just cut and pasted their headlines . . . I went back and edited that one to show the "birthday cake ice cream sandwich" selection.  I've never had it.  Sounds dessert-y.

So I have a feeling Hill's isn't the choice for an "iconic" CFS, but I'm struggling to identify which one would be the go-to version.  Honestly, I love Hyde Park's CFS, but not as much as their fries, and I think Eater is trying to spread the love.  My past choice would have been Bean's (2 for 1 on Tuesday, hell yeah).

DoobieWah, this list is only current restaurants, so your choices, while perhaps inspired, wouldn't make it.

Edited by jimmyjazz
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the list is "iconic dishes" therefore, by definition, uchi and launderette should be disqualified. it's not "iconic restaurants".  pick a fucking dish you lazy bastards, not the whole fucking menu.  there, now that i got that off my chest, home slice is not the correct choice for pizza.  agree with the op it should be conan's.  milto's and brick oven above home slice.

i like the cfs addition.  threadgills maybe?

as for burgers, give me hopfield's any day.  

 

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6 minutes ago, thrillhammer said:

the list is "iconic dishes" therefore, by definition, uchi and launderette should be disqualified. it's not "iconic restaurants".  pick a fucking dish you lazy bastards, not the whole fucking menu.  there, now that i got that off my chest, home slice is not the correct choice for pizza.  agree with the op it should be conan's.  milto's and brick oven above home slice.

i like the cfs addition.  threadgills maybe?

as for burgers, give me hopfield's any day.  

 

You have to check the website to see the nominated dishes on a couple of restaurants.  As I said earlier, I just did a cut and paste and in a few cases they were sloppy and didn't put the actual dish in the title.  They have verbiage to go along with each nomination.  <Uchi edited now>

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Nah, it's actually a really good point . . . I'd like to see an all-time list as opposed to just what's available now, especially since so many of these restaurants are fairly new.

 

And now that I think about it, how in the world is Fonda San Miguel not deemed worthy of at least one iconic dish?  Hell, call it "Sunday Brunch".  Worst omission of all.

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If you're starting with a Migas taco in Austin then you need to start with that at Maria's.  The rest of their menu is hit and miss but when their cook Chino throws that migas mix on the grill, with the cheddar directly on the grill, cooked all nice and crispy, it's damn near Heaven. 

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16 minutes ago, jimmyjazz said:

I must have hit Veracruz (183) on an off day, or maybe the trailer is better.  It was good, but didn't seem mind-blowing.

Veracruz is far and away my favorite breakfast taco place in Austin, but they aren't the best run joint ever and their consistency can suffer sometimes, not to mention crazy long waits.  I've only been to the one on 183 once so I can't speak much to that location. I usually go to the truck off Cesar Chavez. 

Anyone who goes there needs to get an agua fresca with their tacos, at least one of which should be a migas.

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A slice of Conan's Savage has to be on the list.

Angie's carnitas taco deserves to be on the list.

For new school, I'd probably add Ramen Tatsuya's Tonkotsu ramen even though several on the menu are better.

I have a soft spot in my heart gut for Delaware's Friday special Italian sausage sandwich.

Top Notch fried chicken.

Edited by CooterBrown
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Good list, agree with OP that Conan's is far more "iconic Austin" than Homeslice.  Swap those out and I'm pretty good with it.

Texadelphia's Founder's Favorite might also be a legitimate addition, it's certainly iconic and Austin, even if it's not the best cheesesteak in the city.

Edited by utee94
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3 hours ago, Hank_Hill said:

That seems a little extreme but it’s not great. I’d put Bouldin Creek far above it in the vegetarian restaurant cat; that chipotle pecan pesto is so fucking good.

Yeah, there's a lot of good food at Bouldin Creek.  It doesn't need to be sold as a vegetarian restaurant.   It's good and fresh.  And that's a go-to regardless of classification.  

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On 4/19/2018 at 12:33 PM, D_Goose said:

This. It's not that great. People should stop going.

it is an acceptable substitute now that the GOAT has taken themselves out of the game, but Y Mas breakfast taco (RIP)  >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> any thing Veracruz

 

Would include OT Special at Dirtys

Edited by ChickenSandwich
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21 hours ago, Bat Guano said:

Why not? It's fucking delicious and Din Ho is in Austin. Seems legit.

how is it an iconic dish though?  does it represent austin in some way?  there's lots of delicious food in austin that i wouldn't say is iconic.  additionally imo their roast duck is hit or miss compared to first chinese bbq or even ho ho.

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