International Grub — Restaurant in Bastrop

I will say this. No need to go to Roadhouse Bastrop (famous burger joint on the food network) unless you’re picking up sweet potato fries and that’s it.

Alon, (pronounced ‘Alone’) is so detailed with his prized possession International GRUB. He used to be in Austin, TX with his food truck until it made more sense to position his business in a better place, where growth and cost are big factors. This spot is a little hidden gem RIGHT ACROSS BUC-CEE’S. It is next to the barber shop “Country CUTZ”, another hidden gem that funnels the best barbers from the school it is affiliated with.

Now for the food. Wow.

Everything is made from scratch. You can see it in the fries, you can taste it in the chocolate cake. It is creamy, MOIST, sweet, so much chocolate, not like Richy Rich. More like a Tres Leches without the leches, I guess. I’m confused. The food is not overpowering or too rich. The onion rings have just the perfect amount of crispness-to-golden ratio. I mean that the onions are actually present and not overly breaded. The consistency of what you get every single time is on point. According to multiple sources.

Please don’t expect to get your food in 2 minutes like other “fast food” joints. I would consider this place somewhere in between fast food and sit down, even though it is a food truck.

There are an array of menu options but the classics are the “Juicy Lucy” and “Blue Cheeseburger”, one of which we tried and was phenomenal, the Juicy Lucy, made out of 50/50 blend (brisket to ground beef). The buns are brought in from Pennsylvania (potato-based buns).

Alon caters to Vegans also.

I was not able to try the Reuben, but I look forward to the next time I visit and bringing more friends with me to support this business as I want to see Alon turn this place into another location. Dripping Springs?!

I had the Santa Fe Burger and I asked to have it without Mayo… Alon insisted I try the special sauce and of course I obliged. If I would have known better I would have asked for a second patty to complete my burger experience.

After I kept complimenting the food, he told me the 5-piece crispy wings are off the charts and I’m going to call him a liar just so I can come back to be proven wrong.

The empanadas (50/50 also) have so much flavor and the chimichurri makes a great accomplice to this murder.

Right now, I just wish I had a scoop of vanilla ice cream to accompany this peach pie, (made from scratch) as I finish this review and look at how full my belly is. God Bless the United...

It is great to see International Grub back on the map again with a new expanded kitchen in a brand new location.

The food quality has not wavered a bit, and Alon's vivaciousness and friendlyness make this food truck a great place to grab a meal.

I spent an afternoon with my Father visiting from Florida, it was a bit brisk outside with a calm breeze, but not too cold for picnic bench lunch.

Items from our first visit to the Bastrop location:

Dad: the Reuben

Me: Jalapeno Cream Cheeseburger

Both: The garlic Parmesan Fries Elvis pie

Dad was verklempt. A few bites into his sandwich, he said he was now ruined for other Reubens. It was good enough to make him move to Texas. I'd say that pretty much sums it up. IG takes great care in tweaking the menu items to find excellence.

My burger was excellent as well. I am a picky eater and took mine sans mustard and tomatoes, so you can add the asterisk to my review here because I'm outside the official menu, but it was authentically great, with solid flavorful heat from the jalapeno nestled soothingly on a bed of cream cheese. The sesame seed bun was crispy and thin right off the flattop, adding a little nutty crunchy bookend to the juicy spicy core.

The fries are a signature at IG. Not at all an afterthought, like many places. It feels like they were toiled over to get them to Nirvana. They are crispy and well seasoned, garlicky with the tangy cheesey Parmesan goodness in each bite. The only challenge is having enough capacity to stuff in more fries.

Let's talk about pie. The King is hanging around Pike Street. The Elvis pie is really a notable item. It's an assembly of peanut butter, chocolate, banana and sin. Really delicious and I'm sure if mister Presley were here to enjoy it, he probably eat enough of them to have another massive coronary. If it means expiring on the throne in Graceland, at least you'll expire happily.

I docked a point for atmosphere, only because there are times when getting your meal to go is the only option because the dining room is picnic tables on grass. IG isn't perfect and it's not really ABOUT atmosphere, it's about a man sweating the details to bring you food that he loves to share from all corners of the globe. There is passion behind his grub, and it shows. I'll give IG half that point back because the soundtrack of our meal was the Earth, Wind, and Fire playlist.

Do you remember? The twenty first night of September?

I bet it...

Very nice owners. Super friendly. Good food. Really loved the opinion rings. Had the Juicy Lucy burger. . Was good. I wasn't that hungry so didn't eat it all. Nice stop though . Plenty of picnic tables. I'm sure they'll ad umbrellas soon. It's getting hot. Just to share my personal opinion , this is just me, I prefer less flavors on my meat other than salt and pepper. Everything was well seasoned, loved the fresh parsley on the fries. I personally don't do onion power and garlic powders or other powdered seasonings at all because the taste stays all day for me. There was some of that on the meat , and I think the fries and the dipping sauce well seasoned so that's a lot of seasonings. I know Others love that but I'm one of those who just needs less because I end up not being able to taste the meat over the seasonings, and then burping powered garlic or whatever all day. BUT! My review is in favor of this place. Nothing was bad at all. ...