Happy Trails

If there is something that food trucks do well, it’s the modern spin on classic cuisine. Enter: barbeque mash ups--taking two of your favorite things and putting them together for something undeniably delicious.  This National BBQ Day, come with us as we spot the food trucks around town that prove bbq doesn’t have to stand alone.

1. We all love a baked potato, but mash it with brisket from Louie’s Craft BBQ in Downtown Buda and you have yourself a Loaded Brisket Baked Potato that comfort food in Texas is made of. This buttery, cheesy, burnt-endy chunk of pure comfort is our go to meal when we just want all the things that make us feel at home. Pair it with the spicy green salsa, wash it down with a Big Red and you’ll never look back. 

2. Move over brisket, cauliflower has something to say and you need to hear it. Say hello to this bite-sized delight that is the Big Daddy Cauliflower Wings with their signature spicy barbeque sauce from Bat Wings Co. in Jordan and Cambria’s Rail Switch. Delicious to even meat eaters, this vegetarian take on chicken wings is perfectly crisp and full of flavor. Add a dunk of their homemade sweet and spicy barbeque sauce for that mash up of wings meets barbeque we are living for. 

3. Top three foods in Texas: and go! If you just enthusiastically yelled at your screen chili peppers, queso and brisket then we are on the same page. I’d like to introduce you to an off menu concoction from Shugabees Texas BBQ that includes all three. Start by ordering their hatch green chili queso and scoop in some of their chopped brisket for a *chefs kiss of an experience. The slight spice from the chilis mixed with the sweet bbq sauce from the chopped brisket will find you at the end of the queso bowl asking for more.  

Whichever mash up you choose to enjoy this National BBQ Day, we promise you this: you will not be disappointed. No one is judging you if you try all three. Besides, every day is National BBQ Day with Visit Buda, Tx. Share your experience on social using the tag #budafuleats.

1. Two Wheel

by Jeremiah Galo

Comfort, country-style is the best way to describe this Texas BBQ trailer. The unique aesthetics of the trailer and fenced yard for seating really set the tone for the delicious meal it had to offer. To start off, we ordered a ½ lb. of lean cut brisket which came neatly wrapped in a fresh 12 in. homemade tortilla. We were given their specialty-made sauces, but first, we wanted to see if the brisket could hold its own without the help of any add-ons. The first bite gave us a soft, juicy and tender chunk of meat. It was a thick slice, but well-cut, as it was not tough to chew. The meat had a different flavor, other than the traditional smokey aftertaste. The fat on the brisket is what held most of the flavor to give a savory taste of good seasoning. After the first few bites of eating the brisket with tortilla, we decided to crank up the heat. This is when the special sauces came into play.

Shugabee’s Unique Sauces -

Mustard Twang: If you think Honey Mustard is your go-to sauce, you haven’t tried this twang.

Shugabee’s Orange-Habanero Honey: Sweet with a hint spicy, you could distinctively taste both the honey and habanero (couldn’t stop pouring on the brisket taco).

Shugabee’s Habanero Sting: If you like spicy definitely pour this on your BBQ, but be careful because when you’re dealing with this sauce, it will sting.

2. Louie’s

Tucked away in Downtown Buda you’ll find a modern, colorful, tex-mex style food trailer welcoming you to take a seat at their BBQ filled table. There were plenty of benches in this courtyard where the trailer and BBQ pits were set up together. After getting our food, we could smell the smokiness of the brisket on the walk to our seats. The bark on the outside layer was a nice dark color, while the inside had a nice smoke ring hue just underneath the bark giving it the perfect details to a well-cooked Texas brisket. Before taking a bite of the meat, we could not keep our eyes off how delish the sides looked. We ordered a side of a cheesy mac-n-cheese along with smoked elote (as anyone who loves tex-mex knows -- street corn). This corn was prepared exactly the way we like it and added a Texas BBQ twist to the meal. It was tempting to stuff our faces with a spoonful of corn and mac, but we stayed strong and took bites of the BBQ brisket we came to try first. The texture of the brisket was tender and had a satisfying smokey flavor with slices that were thick and flavor-packed. The homemade BBQ sauce added a tangy touch to the brisket that we’re 100% here for! You could argue that this BBQ trailer is a secret gem of the downtown dining scene.

3. Willie’s Joint

Making our way into the last destination, we got a distinct western and Texan vibe from this Bar and BBQ joint. The outdoor space is perfect for any entertainment and outdoor dining experience. Inside the restaurant, we ordered our meal and helped ourselves to a serving of pickles, jalapenos and their very own original BBQ sauce and Mustard BBQ sauce. We patiently waited to taste the sauces until our food was brought out. Our order for the day was a ¼ lb. of lean-cut brisket with a side of spicy baked beans and potato salad. The brisket slices held a nice pink color and smoke ring while juices dripped off the inside layer. The first bite gave us a moist, mouth-watering taste with a soft texture. The fat held onto the juicy flavor, however, the brisket overall had a unique blend of spices and seasoning. It gave us enough flavor to enjoy without requiring the addition of any sauces, but we did add some just for looks. The original BBQ sauce was sweet, thick and peppery, while the Mustard BBQ sauce packed a zesty and tangy kick to the brisket. After lighting up our taste buds with the brisket and homemade sauces, we shifted our focus on the sides. The potato salad was a good mixture of ingredients to give a sweet and creamy flavor. Taking on the spicy baked beans, we were surprised by the balance of sweet and moderate spicy bites of these Texas BBQ style beans. The sides did a great job of adding a sweet kick to the sharp taste of BBQ.