3. Austin Cherishes a Unique Development Style: Trailer-Park Diners

Diners in SoCo

Austin is chockablock with adorable parking-lot diners serving good food—some with definite attitude, such as the food truck asking: “Hey! You gonna eat or what?” One menu site called it the rudest food truck in Austin, but because it serves a renowned Monte Cristo sandwich, all tends to be forgiven.

An efficient way for a visitor to try different diners is to take the Double-Decker Hop-On Hop-Off tour, which makes excellent food stops, including in SoCo, the hip area south of Austin (and, if you’re sneering at the hokey bus idea, just remember: in Austin, everybody is cool, including the cute Double Decker guides). At the corner of South Congress and Elizabeth three fine diners reside: PitaLicious for falafel, hummus, and gyro; Austin City Lemons for fresh lemonade, plus slushies with strawberry and pineapple juice, jalapeño added or not as you prefer; and Hey Cupcake for dessert.