4 Days of Pure Culinary Bliss

When your best friend is a born-and-raised Austinite, you don't need TripAdvisor – you just need an appetite and a pair of stretchy pants. My recent work trip turned into a 4-day food marathon guided by a local, and let me tell you, we barely saw a single attraction. Who needs the Capitol when you've got brisket that'll make you cry? Here's the unfiltered, emoji-filled breakdown of every single bite! 📍 🥩 Jack Allen's Kitchen Oak Hill American Food with a Twist 📍 7720 TX-71, Austin, TX 78735 The Vibe: Upscale-casual with a Hill Country view – perfect for client dinners that need to impress without being stuffy. What We Ate: Cheese Appetizer 🧀 – Somehow tasted like lobster? Magic or witchcraft, we're here for it. Creamy, briny, unforgettable. Chicken Fried Steak 🍗 – MUST-ORDER. Tastes like fried chicken but it's STEAK. Crispy coating, tender beef inside, smothered in peppery gravy. Texas comfort food elevated. Pasta 🍝 – Skip it. Flavors were... experimental in a not-great way. Stick to the meat. Desserts 🍰 – Two options, both "meh". Standard-issue chocolate cake and crème brûlée. Nothing to write home about. Damage: ~$25-35 per person Verdict: Come for the chicken fried steak, stay for the cheese appetizer, ignore the pasta menu. 🔥 The Salt Lick BBQ The Famous Texas Farmhouse Experience 📍 18300 FM 1826, Driftwood, TX 78619 (20 mins from Austin) The Vibe: Literal farmhouse with open-air pits where you can watch pitmasters work their magic. It's like a Texas museum where you can eat the exhibits. What We Ate: Brisket + Pulled Pork Combo 🍖 – SOFT AS BUTTER. The smoke flavor is subtle, letting the meat's natural flavor shine. If you think Texas BBQ is all about heavy smoke, this will convert you. The brisket has a perfect bark (that crispy crust) and the pulled pork melts. Sides: Potato salad is mustardy and fresh, coleslaw cuts the richness perfectly. The Experience: Walk around back to see the massive smokers – it's a show! The smell alone is intoxicating. Damage: ~$20-25 per person (cash only, but they have an ATM) Verdict: YES. This is the Texas BBQ pilgrimage spot. Bring friends, order family-style, wear stretchy pants. 🥘 DAM-A Hot Pot & BBQ Buffet The Korean-Texan Fusion Feast 📍 6808 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78752 The Vibe: All-you-can-eat chaos – loud, busy, perfect for groups who want to grill their own meat and gossip for hours. The Deal: $26/person on weekdays. BUT – parties of 5+ get 20% gratuity auto-added. Why? Because big groups destroy the buffet stations like locusts. (We were 6, can confirm.) What We Ate: Korean BBQ 🔥 – Solid selection: bulgogi, spicy pork, galbi, chicken. Quality is better than expected for AYCE. Grill at your table, wrap in lettuce, repeat. Hot Pot 🍲 – American: broth has zero flavor. Skip it or bring your own seasoning packets (yes, I'm that person). Banchan (side dishes) – Decent kimchi, pickled radish, bean sprouts. Damage: $26 + drinks + 20% tip = ~$35/person Verdict: Great for groups who want variety and a long, lazy meal. Don't expect authentic Korean grandma flavors, but it's FUN and endless. 🌺 Shoyu Sugar Hawaiian Food Truck The "California Kid-Approved" Hawaiian 📍 Location varies – Check Instagram(currently at 5000 Burnet Rd) The Vibe: Massive portions served from a turquoise truck. Park in the gravel lot, eat at picnic tables, wear sunglasses to hide your food coma. What We Ate: "The Big Island" Plate 🍖 – $12-15 for a mountain of fried/bbq'd meats, mac salad, rice, and grilled pineapple. Tastes like Chinese-American takeout that got lost in Hawaii – and I mean that as a compliment! The sweet-savory glaze is addictive. Garlic Shrimp 🦐 – Think Panda Express but actually good. Damage: $12-18 per plate (feeds 1.5 people) Verdict: Better than most Hawaiian food trucks because it leans into flavors Chinese palates love. Not authentic, but crave-able. 🦆 Bamboo House Austin's Famous Peking Duck 📍 11220 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78753 The Vibe: Beijing-style Chinese restaurant that's become a local institution. Packed with Chinese families = always a good sign. What We Ate: Peking Duck 🦆 – Cheaper than Minnesota (random comparison, but okay!). Comes with all the fixings: hoisin sauce, scallions, cucumber, and ACTUAL MANDARIN PANCAKES (the OP cried tears of joy after being served tortillas elsewhere). Duck skin wasn't hot when served – docked points, but flavor was solid. Spicy Chicken 🌶️ – La Zi Ji – crispy, numbing, authentic. HIT. Salt & Pepper Shrimp 🦐 – Skip. Not seasoned enough, slightly overcooked. Di San Xian 🥔 – Standard fare, nothing special. Damage: Duck is ~$50 (half), mains $15-20 = $40/person for a full meal Verdict: Come for the duck, stay for the spicy chicken. Worth it for Chinese food cravings, but not destination dining. 🍢 Camino Alamo BBQ Food Truck The Uyghur-Style Skewer Sensation 📍 Alamo Street Food Park, 1500 S Alamo St The Vibe: Tin #US #Texas #Austin