The Drag, the strip of Guadalupe that passes by the UT campus, has an unwarranted bad reputation in the Austin food world. Some of my favorite lunch spots are or were along the Drag, but few stay because of high rent and obscurity. Food carts pop up so unexpectedly that they don’t have time to get traction in the local food scene before they disappear again. Plus there are the challenges that come with the seasonal nature of the area. Either there are so many students that outsiders don’t want to bother stopping by or the students leave for the summer and there’s not enough business left to stay afloat. It’s harsh, and I feel lucky to work close by and be able to visit these restaurants while they exist.
As a Drag local, here are my recommendations for places to check out before they disappear:
I know it’s in the Dobie, but hear me out–the Burrito Factory is the best Tex-mex/Mexican in the area. Their salsa roja is actually spicy, they use rich creams and cheese, and they have tortas. TORTAS! That’s so rare around here, and when you can get one, for some reason it usually takes forever for them to make it. Burrito Factory delivers quality food with the speed of a mall food court restaurant, which it is.
Eat here fast because nothing that moves into this location, behind the old Veggie Heaven spot, lasts long. China’s Family Restaurant is the newest attempt to make that spot successful. It’s definitely the best restaurant that will deliver to my north-central apartment. Yelp reviews concur that the way to go is the fish fillet in oil and the eggplant dish. Their American takeout style dishes aren’t as great, but meat-and-potatoes types really enjoy the Crispy Chicken. All dishes are served family style, so be prepared for monstrous portions.
Song La is famous for their chicken bites with basil, but I love them for the amount of vegetables that they serve. You can even get a box of just their vegetables and rice for $5. The photo above is their veggie bento box which comes with rice, fried tofu, a slew of cooked and pickled vegetables, and two sauces. One is a kind of spicy mayo with honey while the other is Sichuan ma la chili oil.
The last time I visited, there was no covered seating. They do, however, validate parking in the University Co-op garage.
I have been in love with Arlo’s for ages, so I squeed when I learned that they were taking over the Hole in the Wall restaurant spot. I have never had a veggie burger as great as theirs, and I’ve had fancy burgers, Impossible burgers, made-with-love burgers. Arlo’s is simply the best. I tricked my team into eating there recently and the omnivores ordered the Chipotle “Chicken” sandwich and loved it. I had chili mac and it was so rich and delicious. I had that battle with myself where I can’t possibly finish it in one sitting but it tastes so good that I really want to, so I keep pushing it away from me then pulling it back and eating it some more. So good. Plus they have tots. My kingdom for a fried potato.
The Pizza Press is a chain that lets you create a pizza with unlimited toppings of your choice. You want a vegan pie piled with veggies, topped with fresh herbs and a balsamic swirl? Done. Want to go the other route and use four types of cheese? Got it. If this doesn’t excite you, I really don’t know how I can help.
That was three weeks ago. On their last week as a food truck, the line wrapped around the entire truck lot. This is a great example of what we call the Franklin Question: does it have a line because it’s popular, or is it popular because it has a line? The answer to that question could determine the future of their restaurant, when they no longer have this level of hype to sustain them.