Why We Bite

On to Austin for my first non-Seattle food expedition!

The first thing I did in Austin was buy a burrito. I haven’t had a really really great burrito since going down to San Diego like 6 years ago. I mean the taco trucks in Seattle are alright and everything, but this is Texas! This isn’t child’s play.

So the first stand I found in downtown Austin was this grungy, blue brick building in the middle of the strip. Torchy’s Tacos barely has any seating room inside, and a large window to cater to a large line of hungry hipsters. There’s a good amount of garbage all over the ground, no doubt because of the constant business they’ve had since everyone’s hangovers started wearing off. I ordered at the window, the food wait was about 20 minutes. Not bad, considering the line.

I got a spicy chicken burrito with the fixin’s. It had good heft to it, and I enjoy the natural looking tortillas with the toast bubbles. The chicken’s spicy marinade wasn’t spicy enough. Shame on you, Texas. Sorry I don’t have a picture of the burrito innards, I ate it too fast.

My cohort was not happy with her “messy” burrito, I don’t think she was prepared for the amount of mess. It looked delicious to me.

She also got a soft taco. Looks good! But not extraordinary. Beans, meat, cheese, ho hum. I paying to be impressed!

So my introduction to Austin street food was “pretty great,” but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t expect to be blown away. Also disappointing was how expensive it was. I hope these were SXSW prices because if I pay six dollars for a burrito it better have a fancy-sauced meat in it or weigh as much as a small dog.