- what are some good hot sauce shops or hot sauces that are kinda local to the area that you might not be able to buy online from most hot sauce websites.
I know about tears of joy from the texas section here, thinking about stopping there.
Tears of Joy is literally right off of 35. That's an easy one.
Don't know anything about them, but Austin Spice Company is in Rosanky, which isn't TOO far off the beaten path http://www.austinspice.com/
- restaurants, some of your personal favorites for some good bbq, mexican, asian food, then seafood by brownsville tx
You may have to narrow this one down. How long will you be in/around Austin? Per meal budget? Anything you won't touch?
Here are some of my suggestions if you'll be around for more than just one day...
BBQ:
- Lambert's Downtown (http://www.lambertsaustin.com/) - The wild boar ribs are just plain kick ass. Brisket is good, not great, IMO. Steaks are killer and almost any side is top notch. It's 'fancy' BBQ, but don't let that fool you into thinking that the place is too formal. If you like live music, go upstairs and take it all in. This is one of my favorite restaurants in Austin right now (and my standards are very, very high).
- Black's (http://www.blacksbbq.com/) - This place is in Lockhart, and therefore off of 35. But 183 runs south parallel to 35, and if you want legendary BBQ in the Mecca of Texas BBQ towns, this is one to consider.
- Kruez Market (http://www.kreuzmarket.com/index.shtml) - Another Lockhart institution towering over the Texas BBQ landscape. I personally prefer Black's, but it's hard to go wrong. If you ask for silverware, you might get laughed at.
- The Saltlick (http://www.saltlickbbq.com/) - I am not a disciple of the Roberts Family meats, but they sure aren't BAD, and I really enjoy their sauce offerings (I prefer a little sugar in my BBQ sauce, and theirs is still my fav after all these years). And if you have friends with you, make sure you bring cash (no cards or cheques taken) and a cooler (BYOB). You'll get a bitchin' scenic drive into the start of the Hill Country south of Austin, and the place is just built for friends and fun.
- Milt's Pit BBQ - This is a hole-in-the-wall joint literally on the access road on I-35 just south of Austin in Kyle (just before San Marcos). If you opt for other BBQ, that's fine. But if you need a fix on the way down or up, this is some of the best old-fashioned brisket and smoked turkey I have ever had. Say hi to Bunny and Milt for me (Eric). They're the bees knees.
Mexican:
What kind do you like?
You'll be so sick of it by the time you leave (especially in SPI), that you may want to pace yourself.
There are literally so many Mexican/Tex-Mex joints that I'm just gonna list off a few of my favs, in no particular order.
In Austin:
- Fonda San Miguel (http://www.fondasanmiguel.com/) - Wanna go high-end interior Mexican? This is it, buddy. The Sunday brunch is particularly badass. What a spread. And it is almost all spectacular. If you're a mole fan, this is the 2nd best place in town for it.
- El Mesón Taquería - The other end of the spectrum, but one of the few joints in town that makes their own tortillas in-house. KILLER breakfast tacos. There are about four million places that churn these out in Austin, but they all start to seem the same after awhile. This place is better. Also a great lunch, and cheap as nuts.
- Habanero Cafe (http://www.habanerocafe.com/) - Great food, fast for lunch and breakfast. Some classic Tex-Mex fare, as well as some more adventurous offerings. If you're with a buddy, tell them it's his/her birthday, even if it isn't, and then have your camera ready. Trust me...
In Kyle/San Marcos:
If you need to get some down home Tex-Mex between the ATX and the SA, there are two places I'd recommend in San Marcos/Kyle area.
- Los Vega (Kyle and NOT San Marcos location) - Hot, fresh, cheap tacos and plates. Cool hole-in-the-wall feel with super nice people working the place. Get ready to wait in line for a little bit if you're getting breakfast tacos. Well worth it, though. Try the Machacado Mexicano breakfast tacos if you go.
- Garcia's (San Marcos) - LONG time family-run joint in San Marcos. Good food, good prices, classic cheesy enchiladas, and butter with your tortilla chips.
Asian:
Let me start off by saying that I really dislike bad American Chinese food. I only like one place in Austin for Chinese (maybe two), and I haven't been there in years. If you're looking for Chinese, I'm not your dude.
Uchi/Uchiko (http://www.uchikoaustin.com/) - Again, I don't know what your budget is, but these places are two of the best sushi/Japanese/Japanese fusion restaurants on the entire continent. Really. I'm not exaggerating. http://eater.com/archives/2010/12/15/alan-richman-names-ten-best-new-restaurants-of-2010.php
Granted, that's GQ, but you get my drift. And the reality is that nothing, NOTHING on the menu is bad. It's just about what you prefer. You simply cannot go wrong if you like sushi/Japanese, and you have the coin to blow. It'll be an unforgettable meal.
Tam Deli (Vietnamese) - This place is all about the bánh mì sandwiches. The chargrilled pork, and the salt-and-pepper shrimp rock the house. And if you go, spring for the yam cakes and some fried bananas with coconut dipping sauce for dessert. All that'll set you back maybe ten bucks.
Mikado (http://www.mikadoryotei.com/) - Another sushi place and Japanese grill. I really love this place. A bit more traditional than the Uchi twins, it's still knock your socks off. If you don't dig sushi, there's still plenty here to choose from and it's almost all good. The snow crab 'egg rolls' are killer, as is their tuna tataki.
Others of Note:
Another few places you might want to check out:
Threadgill's (http://www.threadgills.com/) - I'd hit the downtown location, just for better scenery. Unless you're into strip clubs, in which case the northern locale might be convenient for you. Good ol' fashioned Southern cooking, and a RICH musical history. The north location has played home base from everyone from Janis Joplin to Jimmy Dale Gilmore.
Hoover's (http://hooverscooking.com/) - Same style as Threadgill's, but, IMO, a little better and more authentic. They also have a pretty good jerk chicken, and some good burgers, too. Very close to I-35 in midtown.
Habana (http://www.habana.com/) - Two words. Fried Chicken. If you've never had Cuban food, this is as good as it gets in Texas. It ain't Miami, but it's damn good. And oh buddy, that chicken is just so, so good. Try one of their special beers on tap if you go. Good stuff.
The Czech Stop (West, Texas - http://www.czechstop.net/home.php) - Know what a kolache is? If you don't, you MUST stop here and get some fruit and some meat version. If you do, you owe yourself the stop to have some real-deal examples.
Okay, that's all I can think up for now, but more may come to me as I remember.
One of my favorite joints in SPI is the South Padre Island Brewing Company (http://pibrewingcompany.com/Padre_Island_Brewing_Company_Home.html). Pretty darn good pub grub, good beers brewed in-house, and cheap growlers to take with you to wherever you're staying.
