ICON’s Path From East Austin to Outer Space PAGE 52
Cool Off With Refreshing Frozen Treats PAGE 28
BAJA FISH TACOS at El Marisquero
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Whydowelet our curiosity makethe itinerary for the day? Following every splash of paint, every note of music, wherever it leads? ‘Cause we can.
42
The 25 Best Tacos in ATX
From birriaand barbacoa to al pastor and nopalito, thesefresh takesona Texasstaple will tantalizeyourtastebuds
52
Raising the Roof
3D-printed homes, AI architects, andsettlements on themoon: Inside ICON’s ambitiousaims.
60
Austin’s Top Attorneys Tackle anylegal issuewithhundredsofthe city’s most trusted lawyersindozensoffields.
Editor’s Letter 14
Scout
Lounge poolside with Tupelo Goods’ sculptural seating 17
TheseAustinauthors arepoised fora Hollywood breakout 18
Hotdog!The best treats and toys forpamperedpups 20
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Editor’s Letter
ON ARECENT Sundaynight,Ithoughtbackonallthetastymeals Ihad enjoyedoverthe weekend: crave-worthy suaderotacos at Suerte;a double orderofbacon,egg, andcheeseoncornatTacodeli; chickenand guacamoletacos from Fresa’s; some crispy beef shells from Mi Trailita. Laughing,I realized Ihad unwittinglyeaten tacos forevery single meal sinceFriday—butI hadnoregrets.Infact, I thinkthisisthe optimalway to spenda weekendinAustin.
Thetortilla-wrapped treasuresofour city areubiquitousand versatile.Theycanbeconsumedduringbreakfastmeetingsorafter late-night concerts andrange from an affordable snacktoa decadent splurgeatanupscale restaurant.For ourcover story, “The 25 Best TacosinATX”(Page 42), localwriterand Food Networkhost AliKhanscoured Austin in search of themostuniqueversionsof thecity’sfavoritefood.Fromduckcarnitasandswordfishvarieties to a2-foot-longdelight called“themachete,” Khan presents more than twodozen must-try tacosaroundthe capitalcity. Thefeature also includes tips on howtomakea killerfrozenmargarita at home,courtesyofDeNadaCantina’s bartending guru,and ahistoricallook at themosticonichot sauceinthe city,Salsa Doña, whichturns25thisyear.Madewithjalapeñosandgarlic,theTacodeli salsaisa veritablesuperfood—and somethingI eatmultiple timesa week
In addition to tacos, this issuedelvesintothe talk of thetown: thewild, futuristic worldof3Dprinting. In hisengrossing feature, “Raising theRoof”(Page 52), executiveeditorBryan C. Parker examines thelofty ambitionsofICON, theheadline-making local companyowned by Jason Ballard,which is lookingtoupend the architecture industry,build housingfor individualsexperiencing homelessness, andevencreatestructuresonthe moon
Therehavebeen many exciting things happening at Austin Monthly asoflate.InMay,wewonthecoveted2023GeneralExcellenceaward at theNationalCityand Regional Magazine Awards, anhonorgiventoonlythreemagazinesinthecountry.Thisspring, we were also acquired by Hearst,the world’slargest lifestyle publisher,addingtotheirportfolioofesteemed,award-winningpublications. In addition to articles in ourprint magazine,weare now publishing daily storiesonaustinmonthly.com,and this summer we launched aweekdaynewslettercalledAustinDaily.Fromour recommendations on wheretoeat around town to profileson companiesshaping thecity, consider Austin Monthly your go-to guidetoall things ATX.
Madeline Hollern Editor-in-Chief
the heart of Mex-Tex Cuisine
DR. GREGORY THIEL
Doctor Thiel has been practicingpediatric dentistry in Austin, TX since 2004. He is boardcertified in Pediatric Dentistry and aDiplomate of the American BoardofPediatric Dentistry. Hecompleted hisMaster’s degree at The Ohio State University and his Pediatric Residency at Columbus Children’sHospital.
Prior to his residency, Dr. Thiel graduated dental school Magna Cum Laude from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in 2002, where he was selected as the solerecipient of the“Outstanding Senior Dental Student”award.
Hisundergraduatedegree in Biomedical Sciences was awarded to himfrom Texas A&MUniversity in 1998.
Since2008, Dr. Thiel has annually been voted as Texas Monthly’s “Texas Super Dentist”. His dental peersand other well-known experts from the dentist Scottsdale AZ clinic also chose him asthe specialist they would want to treat their children.
Inaddition to his private practice, Dr.Thiel is also on staff at: Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas
Certifications, Associations, and Memberships
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Scout
Breaking the Mold
Afterwatchingfivedifferent sets of outdoor furnituredeteriorate in her backyard,SaraKentonwas readyfor somethingthatwould last.The formerYETIexecutiveteamedupwithtwootheralumstocreateanalfresco line as durableasitisstylish. Featuringsculptural, ergonomicdesign, Tupelo Goods craftsbackyardloungechairs,diningseats,andottomans forthe patioand even pool.Witha name partially inspired by theVan Morrison song “TupeloHoney,” thebrand’s UV-resistant,marine-grade polyethylene furnitureusesthe same rotational moldingprocess as YETI’ssignaturecoolers—so,it’shardyenoughtoendureTexassummers andMidwest wintersalike. AndunlikeAdirondackchairsthatrequire assembly,the low-maintenancefurniture arrivesinone piece. “You’re notgoing to have to oilitlikeyou do teak.You’renot goingtohaveto removecushionswhenitrainsoutside,”Kentonsays.“Theideaisyoucan setitandforgetit.”ShopthedistinctivelineatTri-SupplyandTheBackyard or onlineattupelogoods.com. —MadelineHollern
The WriteStuff
Look out for these three local authors, whohaveinked major TV and movie deals in Tinseltown.
BY DARCIE DUTTWEILER
Whorun theworld?Girls!A powerhouse trio of female writersaren’tjustrulingthe literaryscene in Austin—they’re making wavesinHollywood andbeyond. With upcoming television showsand movies basedontheir books, May Cobb, Chandler Baker, andAmandaEyreWardare bringing theirwordsmithingtalents to wideraudiences.From big-screen versions of Baker’switty tomesand Ward’s poignant narrativestoa series basedonone of Cobb’s gripping thrillers, theseadaptations arecomingsoon to ascreen near you.
MayCobb
Buckle up for athrilling doubledose of Cobb. Starz is turning herengrossing novel The Hunting Wives into an eight-episode series. In the TV version, Brittany Snow stars as Sophie,a woman lured into adark web of friendship with acaptivating socialite (Malin Akerman) in East Texas. Filming is currently underway in North Carolina, with theauthor serving as executive producer. For thoselooking fora poolside read this summer,Cobb’snew novel, The Hollywood Assistant,hits shelves July 9. The plot follows an unassuming woman who nabs her dream job as an assistant to a Hollywood power couple,onlyto become embroiled in amurder investigationafter dark secrets emerge. Via both page and screen, the writeris poised to keep fans on the edge of their seats all year long
Amanda Eyre Ward
Craving apost-Bridgerton romancefix? This bestselling author is knownfor enchanting novelslike SleepToward Heaven and The Jetsetters,but herlatest release, Lovers and Liars,takes the crown for hermost swoon-worthy story yet. Set during a destination-wedding weekend within agrand castle’s walls, the book promises dramawith atouch of intrigue.Soon, Ward’s tales will extendbeyond the page: Severalofher novels, including the 2022 hit TheLifeguards, are being adapted for the screen by writers AmyRoberts and SueTenney (Virgin River) and wiip productions (Mare of Easttown).Her book about Barton Hills mothers and their teenage sons, whoare Barton Springs lifeguards, explores the complexities of friendship,parenthood, and the loss of innocence during afatefulsummernight. We can’twait to see how the iconic wateringhole isportrayed on-screen.
Chandler Baker Ever sinceReese
Witherspoon named Baker’s novel Whisper Network as one of herbookclub picksin2019, the prolific author has been the talk of the town. Lionsgate hiredher to adapt “Big Bad,”awerewolftale from her anthology Creature Feature,which will be directed by ChrisLandon (ParanormalActivity) The writer is also busy penninga screenplay for her Stepford Wives-esque novel, TheHusbands,with Kristen Wiig set to star in the film produced by Plan B. Speaking of A-Listers, Michelle Pfeiffer was cast as the lead in Oh.What.Fun ,an upcoming holiday comedymovie directed by Michael Showalter that is basedonaBaker shortstory.Still craving more? Her buzzworthy 2023 novel, CuttingTeeth,isalso getting the TV treatment. It’s safe to say the author’s star isshining bright inTinseltown.
DeandraGrant is theManagingPartner of DeandraGrant Law. Grantisa national instructoronDWI lawand scienceand theauthorof JamesPublishing’sThe TexasDWI Manual Sheisa member of theAmericanChemical Societyand theAmericanAcademy of ForensicSciences. In 2015 shereceivedthe ACSCHAL Forensic Lawyer-Scientist designation from theAmericanChemicalSociety.In2016, Grantearnedher master’s degree in pharmaceutical scienceand agraduatecertificatein forensic toxicology from theUniversityof Florida. Sheisanassistant chromatography instructor at AxionAnalyticalLabsinChicago Granthas been nameda SuperLawyerby ThomsonReuters since2011. Sherunsall six of DeandraGrant Law’sTexas officesinDallas, Denton,Allen,FortWorth,Waco, andAustin. Herteamdefends DWIand criminal cases throughout Texasand also offersimmigration services.Grant is knownas“TheLawyerLawyers Call.”
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Top Gun
With hisstrikinggoodlooks, nice-guy persona, andserious acting chops, Glen Powell hasbecomea bona fide “it” guyinHollywood.Thissummeralone,the Austin native starredinthe RichardLinklater film HitMan andwill also have aleadroleinthe storm-chasingthriller Twisters,out in July.Here, we look at Powell’scareer trajectory from “almostfamous” to A-List celebrity. —MadelineHollern
2007-2013:
1988:
Glen Thomas PowellJr. is borninAustin on Oct. 21 to Glen and Cyndy Powell.With an older and younger sister, the middle childgrew up loving movies and theater hopping.
2003:
The budding actor makes his on-screen debut in Robert Rodriguez’s SpyKids3-D: Game Over. His very first credit? “Long-fingeredboy.”
2006:
As ateenager, he has a bit part in Linklater’s FastFood Nation.The role would be the first of many collaborations between the two Austinites,including Everybody Wants Some!! (2014)and Hit Man (2024).
2007:
After graduating from Westwood High School,where he played football and lacrosse, Powellattends the University of Texas with amajor in radio-television-film—but he quickly dropsout to pursueacting full time
In Hollywood,the actor struggles to maketraction. Despite some small castings, he failstoland parts in Friday NightLights,Cowboys & Aliens, and The LongestRide
2016-2018:
He starts to make aname forhimself with main rolesinthe blackcomedy horrorseries Scream Queens with Emma Roberts and romantic comedy SetItUp with Zoey Deutch.
2022:
Full throttle! With his breakout role as Lieutenant Jake “Hangman” Seresin in Top Gun:Maverick, Powell catapults into international fame.
2023:
The star becomes the subject of intense media scrutiny as cheating rumors flourish between himand engaged Anyone But You co-star Sydney Sweeney. The two later claim they just leaned into theirintense chemistry to drum up dating rumors for publicity
2024:
The actor is inducted into the Texas Film HallofFame at the ParamountTheatre in Austin. Before theceremony, his parents hold up playful signs behind himonthe red carpet saying, “Stop Trying to Make GlenPowellHappen” and “It’sNot GoingtoHappen.”
2024:
In May, the 35-year-old announces he has left Hollywood andmoved back to Austin,with plans to finish his degreeat UTnext year. Hook ’em!
Feast
TakeItOutside
What do thechefs at Birdie’s,LaCondesa,Suerte, andThaiFresh have in common? They alluse Made In cookware to crafttheir culinary masterpieces.The companywas co-founded by Chip Malt andJakeKalick, whosefamily hasspent nearly acentury workinginthe restaurant equipmentbusiness. “Wesold25to30different cookware brands,” Kalicksaysofhis relatives. “Weknewexactly what chefswere buying,whatchefs liked, andwhat[they]didn’tlike.”
Inadditiontoformulatingahigh-qualitylineofpotsandpans,MadeIncreatedplatewarethatadornsthetablesofhotspotslikeBarToti andJustine’s.Butthebrandhasneverdelvedintoalfrescodiningsets—untilnow.Thissummer,thelocalcompanydebutedashatterproof collectionideal forbackyardbarbecues andoutdoor gatherings.“It’s adurable melamine,soit’snot goingtobreak andit’snot goingto scratch,”Kalicksays. Thegorgeouslinecomes in blue,gray, andmarigold, thelatterofwhich is featured poolside at Commodore Perry Estate (pictured).Shopthe full 17-piece setatmadeincookware.com —MadelineHollern
Feast Raising the Bar
Make Some Noise
Enjoy ataste of Southeast Asiaatthisdazzlingnew Lao restaurant
BY MADELINE HOLLERN
At first glance, Lao’d Bar looks like the type of breezy tropical lounge you might encounter on an island vacation Buttake afew steps through its open garagedoors, and you’ll enteraworld far beyond frozen drinksand cheeseburgers in paradise. Decorated inthe style of a traditional Asian night market,the new concept helmed by chef Bob Somsith serves as Austin’sfirst Lao brick-and-mortar restaurant—and features some of themost exciting fare in the city.
Growing up in Dallas as the child of Lao refugees, Somsith bonded with his mother by learning to cook side by sidewith her. “When we first cametothe States, there wasn’t any real Asian grocery stores you could go to,so we had to makedowith what we had,” he remembers. “We’d grow our own plantsand make our own fish sauce.”
While he continued to whipupAsian cuisine at t home, Somsith got his accounting degree at St. Edward’s and went the corporateroute. But before long, he andhis friendswere taking paid time off so they could cater crawfish boils and other culinary gigsonthe side. Eventually, theaccountant left his job to launch hisown food truck, SXSE, later renamed Sek-Sē•Füd•Kō (“SexyFood Co.”). After years of lauded chef’stastingdinners,he closed the truck this springtoopen hisfirst restaurant,Lao’d Bar,
located next to Sign Bar in Far East Austin
Combining traditional Lao cooking with contemporary American dishes, themenuisanexplosion of flavors, featuring everythingfrom house-made roasted rice powder andpadaek (unfilteredfish sauce)todishes bursting with dill, lemongrass, and kaffir lime. Fans of theformertruck will recognizefavorites, like the rib-eye steak skewers served with Laobarbecue sauce, pickled cabbage, andjeow som, andthe pork baobunswith lahbseasoning.
Start yourorder with thespicy coconut ceviche escolar, arefreshingmix of cured escolartuna, coconut cream, and vinegar, with Thai chilesserved in afresh coconut bowl. The stellar fried chicken wings come in four options, from naked(no sauce) to theultra-spicy tropical sambal. Another standoutisaninnovative spin on thehot dog, which features afried sausage paired with jeow bongaioli and sauerkraut.
Filledwith live greenery, bamboo accents, and artifacts from Laos, the decor has an emphasis on the country’s mighty pachyderm. “Laos used to be called Lan Xang, which means[thelandof] amillion elephants,” Somsith says. “Theelephantswere asign of prosperity duringour glory days.” Endthe meal with atoast to that good fortune as you enjoy atraditional Beerlao, ajasmine rice lager served on ice. Afterall, you are in abar. laodbar.com
PH OTOS BY SARA LAUREN HINO JOSA
LicensetoChill
Hill Country peaches, tapioca spheres, andeven caviar aretopping coolnew frozen treatsaround town.
BY TAYLOR TOBIN
Theseasonofsky-high temps, sweat-slickedskin, andstratospheric electric bills is upon us once again. Cranking up the AC andhidingindoors forthe next several months mightbean option forsome, butif yourefusetosacrifice your summerfun to the brutal will of the elements,thenit’stime to find otherforms of relief.Asthe mercury continuestorisein Austin,channelyour innerchild with these elevated spinsonicy youthful favorites.
White Sturgeon Caviar Composed Cone
Fish eggs as afrozen treat topping has probably never crossed your mind.But accomplished pastry chef Margarita Kallas-Lee of Wolf &Wheathas quickly become known forher inventive desserts. This summer, the chefand herteamwill devote their shop to creative“composed cones” withpremium icecreamand layered toppings meant to activate thepalate. Fora memorable (and Instagram-worthy)treat, order thewaffle conefilled with smoked banana ice creamand aspoonful of white sturgeon caviar. Punctuated by the eggs’ salty brine, thissweet and creamy confection is as unexpected as it is refreshing instagram.com/wolfandwheatatx
Mango Chewy Ball
Thetime hascome, Austin! Acult-favorite dessertshop has finally madeits way to the capital city.Famous for itsfrozen mango treats, HuiLau Shan opened an outpost in Crestview this May, so localdevotees of the Hong Kong brand will no longerneed to road trip to the next nearest location in Houston to enjoy its signature“chewy ball.” Thedessert consists of mangopurée topped witha scoop of mango ice cream and finished off with pieces of the chopped fruit. You’lllove the chewytextureof thesignaturespheres, which are actually tapioca balls huilaushan.us
Peach Cobbler Ice Cream
Belovedfor its rotating seasonal offerings, Lick HonestIce Creams has tapped into abit of nostalgia with afrozen take on aclassic Southerndessert. The scoop shop’s summer-perfectflavor features avanilla base made withmilk from grass-fedcows mixed with ahouse-made peach cobblerthat uses real Central Texas peaches.The best part?Lick’s cobbler topping is based on arecipefrom co-founder Anthony Sobotik’s grandmother. Now that’sasweet idea. ilikelick.com
BlackSesame Ice Cream Sandwich
With an inventive flairthat rivals Willy Wonka, a top-notch chocolatier now has twofood trucks in South Austin, where cacao lovers can enjoy single-origin bars infused withAsian-inspired ingredients.Inaddition to stellar confections, Kesshō also makes gelato and fresh-baked goods,and this summer, it’s offering icecream sandwiches with black sesame chocolate cookies.Werecommend the ube; itsvanilla-ish andfloralflavor works brilliantly withcookies’ nutty sesameand white chocolate madewith Peruviancacao. kessho.com
PH OTO BY CARLY SNOO K
Beat
Digging aHole
After amultibillion-dollar real estate developer’s epic collapse, thousands of Austinitesfaceanuncertain future.
BY BRYANC.PARKER
Beat The City
ON DAILYWALKS withhisdog,Enzo,AustinresidentAaron Mitchell passesbya saggingchainlinkfencethatbordersa5-acreparceloflandconsistingofovergrown weedsand agiant hole in the ground.The site alongSpringdaleRoadjustnorth ofSeventhStreetwasslatedtobecomeamixed-use developmentcalledEllie May, with underground parking, 84 condos,restaurants,and office space. Butafter thedeveloper,StoryBuilt, suddenly unraveledamidfinancial disaster last year,the Govalleneighborhoodwasleftwithnothingbutacraterfilledwitha fewfeet of opaque green water. When Mitchell, whois26and worksintech, startedrenting in thearea, he kept an eyeonthe site.“Iwas really excitedtohavea newcontribution to thecommunity,especially as someone who’sinterestedinbuyinga condoina couple years,”hesays.Butthathopefizzledwhenheheard that theproject is indefinitely suspended. “It’s kind of adisgracethatit’sjusta pit,” Mitchell says Thestate of arrested developmentinEastAustintypifiesStoryBuilt itself,a companythat showedenormouspromisebutisnowmiredinlegalbattles that will determinewhathappens to a slewofprojectsstuckinlimbo.EllieMayisjustone of many StoryBuilt developments spread across fourcitiesandthreestates,butAustinhasthemost properties with17.Someofthose displaythe com-
pany’s valueand potential, likeWilla,a gorgeous, award-winning projectinSouth Austin that houses posh shopping,condos, andstandoutnew restaurantUnderdog. Butmanydevelopmentsare nowdefunct,suchasGeorge,asitewithmorethan 100residencesinEastAustin,andBruno,anapartment complexonSouth FirstStreet that hassince been foreclosed
FoundedasPSW Real Estate in 2001,the company announceda rebrandand name change in 2019,rightaroundthetimeitbegantoexpandrapidly.Handlinglandacquisitions,design,construction,and management of projects turned StoryBuilt into avertically integrated juggernautasthe teamswelledfromahandfulofemployeestomore than 250injusta fewyears.Fromthe outside, investorssaw arisingdevelopment firm with a strong foothold in oneofthe country’shottest markets. Butinternally,thingswerespiralingout of control.
VickyThai, aseniormanager whoworkedfor thecompany from 2018 to 2023,remembers feelingutterlylosttryingtonavigatedelinquentpaymentstocontractors anda constantly shifting schedule forwhenemployees wouldreceive paychecks.Thaisaysshe’s still waitingonseveral thousandsofdollars in unpaid wages. “Theywere definitely in over theirhead,”she says
TheEllie May community in East Austin lies dormant following its developer’s financial woes.
HOME GROAN
Asnapshot of Austin’s unpredictable real estate market.
1IN5
Portion of Austin home purchases made by investors from 2010 to 2020, per aKUT report.
7%
Approximate interest rate for a30-year fixed mortgage, more than double the rate in 2021.
$650K
Austin’s median home priceasofMay 2024.
9.1%
The inflation rate at the peak of its spikein2022, coinciding with StoryBuilt’s financial struggles.
$2 BILLION
The value of the real estate assets being sold off by defunct developer StoryBuilt.
What’s unfortunateis howmanypeoplethe companyhas draggedinto that chasmwiththem.
In July 2023,StoryBuiltabruptlylaidoff dozens of employees, andco-founderAnthony Siela sent anewsletteracknowledging that thebusinesshad “struggled with focusedgrowth, reporting/ financialcontrolsand liquidity.”Aroundthe same time,leadership announceda decision to take itsapproximately$2billion worthofassetsintovoluntaryreceivership—analternativetobankruptcy,whereacourt-appointedentitytakesoverthemanagement of acompany’s operationand finances
Sincethen,thereceiver,TheStapletonGroup,hasissuedaseries of damningreports that allege financialmismanagement,includingmixingfunds forseparateprojectsand borrowing millions from hard moneylenders at ratesexceeding 280%.The founders have pushed back againstsomeofthe claims as thecomplicated casehasunfoldedinthecourts.Butwhat’scertainisthatinflation, spikinginterestrates,and adownturninthe housingindustryaccentuatedstrifefor abusinessthatwas alreadyreeling.
In short, StoryBuilt duga hole that they couldn’t getout of. What’s unfortunateishow many people thecompany hasdragged into that chasmwiththem—lenders, investors, employees,contractors,and buyers alreadyunder contract whomay neversee the home they purchased.
In October2023, Stapletonmadethe company’sportfolio available forsale, as awhole or as individual components.But effortsto offloadthe assets haven’tfound much success in amarketwildly different from theone that existedwhenthese projects were financed andbroke ground.ThispastApril, construction resumed ontwoAustinsitestoattractbuyers,andStapletonsaysit’scloseto completing thesaleofone developmentinits entirety
Beyond thepeopleimmediately affected,the collapseofa key developercan have broadereffectsacrossthe market.StoryBuilt focusedonurban infill—developing vacant or underusedland within acityand adjacent to amenitiessuchasdiningand shopping.It’sexactly thekindofrealestateattractive to singlesand youngprofessionals, primedemographicsamong newAustinites. Plus,increasingrealestateinventory is akey factor in theaffordabilityofhomes in amarket, andStoryBuiltcurrently hashundredsofresidencesstuck indefinitely.
“Any majorslowdownofinfill developmenthas apotential to haveabigimpactonlocalprices,”saysCaitlinGorback,anassistant professoratUTwhospecializesinrealestateandurbaneconomics. “Ifthere areonlyfiveplayers in thegame, andone is suddenlytied up in receivership,we're losing alot of benefits of pricecompetition between developers.”
While residentsacrossAustinliveamong permanentconstructionzones,it’salsoworthrememberingwhattheseneighborhoods have lost as aresult. Foralmosta decade,the defunctsiteofEllie Maywas Springdale Farm,which grew freshproduce andsolddirectly to visitors.Whenthe urbanfarm’sownerssoldthe land in 2018,theyplannedtoreturntothe location with afarm-to-table restaurant once themixed-use developmentwas complete.StoryBuilt couldbenefit from alessoninbasic farming: They broke ground butfailedtoplant aseedand nurtureit. Andnow it’s anyone’sguess as to when somethingwill come to fruition here
Funny Business
An influx of famous comics anda spate of new clubs make Austin’s comedyscene one of the hottest in the nation
BY BRYANC.PARKER
“IFYOU DON’T likewhat you’re seeing,turnonyour glow stick,”stand-upcomedian andhostAllison Wojtowecztellsheraudience,which bubbles with thethrillofits newfound power. “Ifall three glow sticks turn on,wehit the gongandendthecomic’sset.”
It’s Litty Titty TuesdayatThe Creek andThe Cave,and the ejection risk adds an enthrallingtension to theevening. Butperformers’ jokesare usually sharpenoughtokeep the audienceinstitches—andsufficientlydistractedfrom sendingupa warningflare
Litty Titty is amongthe many homegrownshows making Austin oneofthe mostexcitingstand-upscenes in thecountry.“This is acomedyrenaissancelikewe've neverseen before,” Wojtoweczsays. “There will be documentariesbeing made aboutthistime in comedy in 20 years. ”
Patronshang outatthe entranceofSeventh Street comedyhot spotThe Creek andThe Cave.
In March2023, podcasting juggernautJoe Roganopenedthe downtown club Comedy Mothership,which hoststhe super-popular Kill Tony podcastand hasfeaturedlegendary comics andrisingcomedycelebssuchasDave Chappelle,Tom Segura,and TimDillon. But despiteRogan’s notoriety, hiscontributionis just atinyfractionofAustin’scomedyboom. Within thepasttwo years, abevyofhot new clubshaveopened, includingRozco’s,East AustinComedyClub,andSunsetStrip.Thelatestaddition,BlackRabbitATX,offerspatronsa glimpseatthe city’s bustlingunderground scene(literally—it’slocatedinabasementnear Fifthand Brazos streets)
Allthese newstageshavecomewitha corresponding influx of talent andgenerated arisingtideofcreativity. Comediansinthe capital citycanfindfreshaudiencesnightlyandexperimentmorewiththematicformats andnew bits,which Wojtoweczdescribes as a“mess around andfindout”era.For example, Creek andCave’sBananaPhone features epic roasts
wherethe crowdand performers tradejeers, andLukas McCrary’sunhingedAbsoluteShow is built around agroup of comediansriffing on raunchyand irreverent topics
That Wild West spirit hasalsogiven antiwoke comedianslikeRogan andTonyHinchcliffeadedicatedfollowinghere,whichisgreat or terribledepending on whoyou ask. In the wake of that movement,plentyofaspiring comics toss outany provocativebarbtheycan thinkof(whethertheyhaveapunchlineornot) in hopesofbeing catapulted to success.
However, Austin’s long-standingreputation forleaninglefthascreatedawelcomeenvironment forgay,trans,and nonbinarycomedians whoare just as electrifying andincisive. “I’m polyamorous,”Arielle IsaacNormantells the crowdatThe GayEnoughShow, therecurring Tuesdaynight gigtheyhostatEastAustin Comedy.“Iwas raised Mormon,soI’m just circlingbacktomyroots.”Inaway,polyamoryisa greatway to thinkabout Austin’s comedy scene: There’smoretolovethaneverbefore.
We asked: What do local comedians really thinkof their chosen path?
Working in Austin Comedyislike...
Going to college. No one fully knows what they're doing,you spendway too muchtimeonSixth Street, andyou'redefinitely not telling your parents everything.
—Allison Wojtowecz,@alliwo
Eating barbecue. It's exciting at first, andthen you realize you can't affordto live like this
—RazaJafri, @razadots
Doingchild carefor a wealthy family. It’s an amazing opportunity,as long as you canstomach hangingout with abunch of disgustinglittle boys.
—Arielle Isaac Norman, @ellendegenderless
Hot to Trot
Arerunning clubs theperfect dating hack? There’snever been abetter timetostart jogging.
BY LAUREN LARSON
FEWHISTORIANSKNOW that Pheidippides, themessenger andproto-marathonerwho chargedaroundGreeceand Sparta,actually didit to impressa girl in hislocal running club.Per legend, history’smostfamousjoggercollapsed and died afterhis lengthyrun.Ifhewantedto, he would, ladies.
Scrollingthrough Instagram, youmight notice atrend:love-seekingsingles across theglobe abandoning dating apps andreturning en masse tothewaysofPheidippides.Towit,they’rejoining andcreatingrunningclubs.Atypicalsocialmedia postmightfeatureamontageoflithe,smilingrunners anda captionà la “whenthe dating apps aren’t workingsoit’stimetolook confused at run clubs.”The promiseofthese groups is tantalizing to thosewho have been in thetrenches, goingon infinite Bumble dateswithaesthetic cowboysand swipingthrough hundreds of Hingeprofilesbragging about“thebiggest risk you’ve ever taken.” (MovingtoAustin,whichremainsoneofthemost livable cities in theUnitedStatesdespite thepro-
liferationof$18 cocktails andCybertrucks,does notcount as abig risk.)
Here in thecapital city,there is arunning club foranimpressivelywideswathofinterestsandlifestyles:one formembers of thefood-service community;one forvegans; and, of course,one for startup-types. Thecityisa proverbial high school cafeteriaofsocialmicrocosms, each with itsown vibe.Havingnow sampledmanyofthese groups, I’mstillsuspiciousoftheplausibilityoffindinglove aftera 5-mile runona humidsummernight or an even more humidsummermorning (cut to me, sweat-soddenponytailmakingwetthwacksagainst mybackwitheachstep,acolonyofgnatsdrowning in my clavicle). Butthe fact remainsthatevery day, hordes of tonedand friendly 5K kingsand ultramarathonultra-babes arescamperingaroundthe city—so,ifyou’relookingtorunintoyournewbeau, here aresomefreelocal groups to try. (Besureto checkeachclub’sInstagram or websitebeforeattending; some requirewaivers,and meetingtimes andlocations aresubject to change.)
IF YOU CRAVE CONSISTENCY:
East AustinRun Club
Mondays, 6:30 a.m., Flitch Coffee; Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m., Chi’lantro South Shore District
Runners can choose between two straightforwardroutes, a 4-mile run and ashorterrun, typically around 2miles long.Pacesinthe group vary, but the group has a“no drop” rule, meaning that no runner is left behind. O, would that relationships had no-dropclausesattached!
IF YOU’RE 22 (OR ARE STILL PRETENDING YOU ARE):
Rawdawg Run Club Saturdays,8a.m.,location varies Though occasionallymaligned by other runners who have found themselves crowded off the hike-and-bike trail by the club, Rawdawg’s “sexy faces and sexy paces” ethos (andab-forwardInstagram presence) draws amassive and energetic community to its meetups.
IF YOU LIKE A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING:
TheShip of Fools
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6p.m., O. Henry Middle School; Saturdays, 7a.m., Auditorium Shores
Smallergroupsof all agesand paces meet during the week for an hourlong track workout on Tuesdays and ahilly temporun on Thursdays. On Saturday mornings, this fleet meets for alonger run—routes are typically 10 miles or so, with shorter options available—followed by breakfast at a rotation of eateries.
IFYOU GET REALLY INTENSE DURING BOARD GAMES: RAWRunning
Tuesdays, 7p.m., Mean-Eyed Cat
RAW workouts are as hard as the group’s #HAF slogan promises: Atypical evening might consist of awarmup followed by nauseatingrepeats of a1,000-meter loop, followedbyacooldown. The fastest runners in the group are very fast, but many paces are represented among the large group that assembles at Mean-Eyed Cat every Tuesday evening.
IF YOU’RE COMMITTED TO BEATING THE HEAT:
TheMorning Jo’s
Tuesday, 6a.m., Jo’s Coffee South Congress
The Morning Jo’s are beloved by running club veterans, who describe it as very welcoming. If you’re adawn riser looking to meetothers with excellently evolved circadian rhythms, this is the group for you. (See also: Sunrise TrackClub, which gets together at 6a.m. on Thursdays at Austin High School.)
FOR ABEER-CENTRIC RUN:
Austin Beer Run Club
Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m., Hold Out Brewing
The ultra-chill runners of the Austin Beer Run Club knock out aconversational 3-mile loop on the hike-and-biketrail, but it’s merely aprelude to the extremely pleasant hang at Hold Out that follows. The bar offers a10% discount to group members—the bartenders automatically add the discount if you’re sweaty enough—so there is no excuse not to buy your trail crush abeer.
FOR ARUN-CENTRIC BEER:
East Side Beer Runners
Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m., Central Machine Works
The club’s workouts can be demanding, but the promise of acold beer afterward (as with any groups partnered with an eatery, runners are encouraged to bring shirts to wear in the beer garden) keeps the vibe relaxed. Smaller groups also meet on Sundays for trail runs, followed by breakfast and coffee.
TheTexasTravel Awards shine aspotlight on the most exciting, innovative,and inviting places around the state. The2024winners represent unique Texas places and experiences worthyofany traveler’s itinerary. Learnmoreabout each at texastravelawards.com.
STATEWIDE
Brewery
Cibolo Creek Brewing Co. (Boerne)
Distillery
Dripping Springs Distilling (Dripping Springs)
Hiking/Biking Trail
Balcones Canyonlands
National Wildlife Refuge (Marble Falls)
Iconic Tourist Attraction
Gruene Hall (Gruene)
Park
River Ranch County Park and InterpretiveCenter (Liberty Hill)
Public Art
The Woodlands' Art Benches and Art Bike Rack Project (The Woodlands)
Resort
The Woodlands Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton (The Woodlands)
Revitalization
Crown Block, Reunion Tower (Dallas)
Shopping District
Gruene Historic District (Gruene)
Views
Sunset at Entertainment District (South Padre Island)
Winery
Dry Comal Creek Vineyards (New Braunfels)
Zoo/Aquarium
San Antonio Zoo (San Antonio)
BY POPULATION
Art Festival or Event
Small/Mid Market
The Texas Arts &Music Festival (Brenham)
Big Market
Art Museum of South Texas presents: “artRageous: Cirque du Fear”
Bar
Big Market
Phoenix Saloon (New Braunfels)
Small/Mid Market
Paramount Recreation Club (Amarillo)
Community Event
Small/Mid Market
Freedom Fest (Giddings)
Big Market
Thru the Chute Cardboard BoatRace (New Braunfels)
Destination Marketing Campaign
Small/Mid Market
City of Corsicana’s 175th Celebration (Corsicana)
Big Market
Taste of Plano Foodie Pass
Breaks Records (Plano)
Food Festival/Event
Small/Mid Market
Tacos yTequila Festival (South Padre Island)
Big Market
Festa Italiana (Bryan) Hotel
Small/Mid Market
The Barfield, Autograph
Collection (Amarillo)
Big Market
The Otis Hotel (Austin)
Instagrammable Spot
Small/Mid Market
Speakeasy at the Distillery (Wichita Falls)
Big Market
8Sages -The Dolly Cottage (Gruene)
Live Music Venue
Small/Mid Market
Paradise ParkatCamp
Margaritaville RV Resort at Crystal Beach (Crystal)
Big Market
The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion (The Woodlands)
Music FestivalorEvent
Small/Mid Market
BastropMusic Festival (Bastrop)
Big Market
Hullaballoo Music Festival (Bryan)
Museum
Small/Mid Market
Museum of the Big Bend (Alpine)
Big Market
The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza (Dallas)
Outdoor Activity
Small/Mid Market
Black DragonCruises (South PadreIsland)
Big Market
Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch (San Antonio)
Restaurant
Small/Mid Market
Toscana Italian Steakhouse (Amarillo)
Big Market
Killen’s Barbecue (Pearland)
Social Media Account
Small/Mid Market
Visit Georgetown (Georgetown)
Big Market
Art Museum of South Texas (Corpus Christi)
Under the RadarActivity
Small/Mid Market
Sul Ross State University
Rodeo (Alpine)
Big Market
Thruthe Chute Cardboard
Boat Race (New Braunfels)
Unique Lodging
Small/Mid Market
The Kendall (Boerne)
Big Market
Texican Court(Irving)
PEOPLE’S CHOICE
Destination for Arts & Culture
San Angelo
Visitor Center
San AngeloVisitor Center
Destination for Families Bastrop
Destination for Outdoor Adventures
Bastrop
Destination for Food
Historic Downtown McKinney
written by Ali KAHN
Photos by Jessica ATTIE
Austin
has long been considered a destinationworthy tacotown, much to the chagrin of other Texascitieswith respectable scenesof their own(we see you, SanAntonio). But even if the hype has been overstated, thecapital cityisexperiencing arenaissancefor ourfavorite tortilla-wrapped treasure.In this vibrant culinaryscene, restaurantsare using unexpected ingredientslikebone marrow or zucchiniflower, fine-dining Mexican eateries have garnered national attention, and our taco landscape has neverbeen better.From re the2 ve justgot to tr
Papalote Taco House
What to order: Guajoloteenmoletaco
For the omnivore, tacos oftenmean rich fillings like redmeat, offal, or anything that could spike your next cholesterol check If that sobering realitydoesn’t make poultry sound enticing, there’s one taco that will the guajolote (turkey) offering at Papalote This SouthAustin taco shophas the usual greatest hits like al pastor and carnitas but leans intoCentral Mexican specialties like its richguajolote en mole, whichfuses Mexican chocolate and poblano peppers with tender morsels of turkey. papalotetx.com
Norte
What to Order: Rib-eyesteak taco
No need to shell out bigbucks at a fancy steakhouse whenyou can visit this stellar taco truck located at Hi Sign Brewery inEast Austin Owners FernandoGutierrez and Erick Hernandez grewup inMonterrey, Mexico, where weekend asados (backyardgrilling parties) featured rib-eye steaks that Fernando’s father wouldprocure from the family meatpacking business That tradition lives on inAustin, as Norte grills up USDA Choice rib-eye steaks generously seasoned in their custom rub of salt, sugar, paprika, garlic, and assorted spices A taste ofMonterrey-style asado minus the 400-mile road trip is a winfor any beef-loving Austinite norteatx com
Casita Nicole AntojitosMexicanos
What to Order: Machetetaco
Yes, technically this machete is a quesadilla, but it totally eats like a giant taco Down inSouthAustin, Casita Nicole serves up these 2-footlong treasures that resemble the titular blade With 17different fillings, youhave options, but far and wide the most exotic and interesting is the zucchini flower pairedwithhuitlacoche: a smoky flavoredfungus that grows on corn and is a cherished delicacy inMexico. facebook.com/ casitanicole
Ramendel Barrio
What to Order: Lengua taco
The best lengua taco in town comes from checks notes a ramen joint? At Ramendel Barrio, chefChristopher Krinsky blends his experience in Japanese cooking withhis upbringing inMexico Krinsky braises chunks of beef tongue and thengrills them over binchotan charcoal and dips them in thickened tare (Mexican cane sugar, sake, and mirin) The skewer is placed on a large corn tortilla smearedwith guacamole, then toppedwith a chile arbol salsa, cilantro, onion, and cotija cheese Yum ramendelbarrio com
Nixta Taqueria
What to Order: Duck carnitas taco
Cuantos Tacos
What to Order: Suaderotaco
ChefBetoRobledo made a big splash whenhe introducedMexicoCity–style tacos toAustin a fewyears ago Using a choricera, a special deep-sidedpan with a raised center, he slowly simmers a variety ofmeats in lardmanteca The most popular taco at Cuantos is the suadero, where Robledo opts for tender morsels of brisket One bite, and you will see why this little yellow taco truck caught the attention of The NewYork Times, Netflix, and the PBS series Taco Mafia. cuantostacosaustin.com
This James BeardAward–winning restaurant not only challenges the notion that fine dining canhappen in the most casual ofneighborhood taquerias, but that carnitas Mexico’s love letter topork cookery can reach equallydecadent heights withduck
The famed carnitas taco at Nixta uses Peking duck legs cooked induckfat for 16hours. To counter the richness, the dish is toppedwith tangy salsa cruda and thinly slicedwatermelon radish and placedon an earthy blue corn tortilla made in-house If this doesn’t convince you, catch the Austin episode of Somebody FeedPhil on Netflix where host Phil Rosenthal enthusiasticallydeclared this tobe one of the “best duckdishes of any kind ” nixtataqueria com
Cuantos Tacos uses tender brisket to craft its mouthwatering suadero taco.
An oasis of Mexican seafood in landlockedAustin, this trailer offers some of the city’s best flavors from the ocean. As tempting as the shrimp or octopus ceviches are, the fish taco is anequallyessential order A5-inch corn tortilla from El Milagro tortilleria is loaded to the gills (pun intended) withmildly sweet tilapia that’s batteredand fried BajaCalifornia style Shredded cabbageadds to the crunchof the tempura-like fry, while ingredients such as diced tomatoes and chipotle mayo sauce round out the toppings Whatever youdo, don’t ignore the tray of hot sauces, including some varieties brought directlyfrom Mexico instagram com/ elmarisquero.atx
Tamale House East
What to Order: Spicymigas taco
Yes, even a tamale house inAustinhas to serve tacos Luckily, the spicymigas here area breakfast standout amonga crowded fieldof top spots. Alongwitha history that dates backmultiple decades and locations, Tamale House East serves up breakfast tacos sobig, one is almost enough The filling amixture of scrambled eggs and fried tortilla strips gets bathed in chipotle and topped withqueso. Eating two of those on flour while lounging at a patio table will no doubt alleviate any hangover from the night before tamalehouseeast com
From left: El Marisquero founders Luis andEsteban Alcaraz; the trailer tops off its friedfish tacos with chipotle mayo.
ConTodo
What to Order: Bistec estillomatamorostaco
Before launching his truckat NorthAustin’s Celis Brewery, chefJosephGomez spent time cooking at a wide range of eateries, from Italian toThai. True to form, his expansive concept isn’t just about tacos, it’s about the cuisine of Gomez’s native RioGrande Valley The signature offering here is the bistec estiloMatamoros, which includes griddled beef, guacamole, and a tangy sprinkleofquesofresco(“con todo” means “with everything”) Couple that with a hazy IPA on your way to nearby Q2 stadium, andyou might have perfected the ultimateAustinFCpregame ritual contodotacos com
MorenoBarbecue
What to Order: Barbacoa taco
Ifyou’re craving a barbacoa taco, it doesn’t get muchbetter thanMoreno Barbecue Bo Moreno smokes his Akaushi beef cheeks sourcedfrom nearby HeartBrand Ranchbeforeputting them ina confit of beef tallow wisely reserved from his brisket trim While traditionalists eat their barbacoa with corn tortillas, you really ought todoubledownwithhis beef tallow flour tortillas made in-house Be sure to try the four salsas especially the creamy jalapeño that packs a punch morenobbq com
De Nada Cantina
What to Order: Crispy beef taco
While the crispy beef taconodoubt echoes memories of TacoBell or Jack in the Box’s shell tacos, De Nada’s iteration deserves the qualifier “ butbetter” Ground beef is cooked down with tomatopaste, onion, and chipotlepowder to create a sauceless MexicanBolognese The shells come from Fiesta tortillafactory, and the crema is made in-house Cap it off with the best frozen margarita in town tocombat triple-digit temps (see sidebar) denadacantina com
Discada
What to Order: Discadatacos
For thosewho strugglewith indecision, Discada makes iteasyfor you: Thenamesake dish is theonlytacoonthe menu Themoniker refers to the cooking methodand tool, which is aplowdisc fashioned intoa wok-like pan Even more interesting than the cooking vessel is the meatymishmashof steak, chorizo, andbacon, as wellas onions andbell peppers, which marinate for 24 hours andconfit for four hours. As addictive as theyareunique, thesediminutive tacos do still necessitateone choice order them inquantities of three, five, or eight? discadatx com
Tacos El Charly
What to Order: Cabeza taco
The tacodrag on NorthLamar is a late-night vibe everyAustinite should experience The bright lights of trucks that open after hours at automechanic shops and car washes just hit right But the best of the lot, by far, is Tacos El Charly, andthe lines prove it Thecabeza tacos shine here, showcasing an ideal contrastwith buttery steam-braisedbeef cheek and herbaceous tomatillo salsa It’s the perfect call after last call tacoselcharlycom
Pogi Taco
What to Order: Sisigtaco
Carnitas aficionados, bookmark this Filipino concept featuring sisig, its tangy cousin Chef partners Gino Vidaland JerryMoreno bring their decades of experience in fine dining to this tacothatgoes beyond your typical filling Thick slabs of porkbellymarinated in lime, soy sauce, garlic, and serrano (hallmarks of sisig) get toppedwith chili slaw, a serrano avocado aioli, andcrispy garlic pickled onions The tacogets a powerful boost from a surprisingly simple technique: toasting anEl Milagro corntortilla in butter on the plancha pogiatx com
Four tips to make akiller frozen margarita at home.
Whilea dipintoBartonSprings is always refreshing,afrozenmarg paired withtacos is anothertried-and-trueway to cool down.Bar ownerChris Bostickhas been churning outmargaritasinAustinfor 30 yearsand is thegeniusbehindDeNada’slegendary libations. Here,the restaurateur shares hissecrets to making astellar frozen concoction in theair-conditioned comfortofyourown home
—Katie Canales
1 2 3 4
Startwithsmall chunks of ice that areniceand cold; thinkSonic ice. Thelargerthe pieces,the more lumpsyourdrink will have.And choose atop-notch blender, like aVitamix.“They’vegot thegiddy-upyou want to blastthe ice,”Bostick says
Use100%blueagave tequila insteadoftequilas that areablend of agaveand othersugars, like Jose Cuervo Gold.Ifyou do go with theseso-called mixtos, balanceout theflavorswithGrand Marnier or Cointreau.
Stickwith high-qualityingredients, like freshly squeezed lime juice. Protip:Saveyourselfthe work and buythe juicebythe quartatCentral Market,which is what Bostickdoesfor events.“If you’re buying thesesuper sweetmargarita mixes, you’re in trouble,”henotes
Forthe rim, youneedflakes with the perfecttexture, like DiamondCrystal Salt Feelin’wild? Mixtajin andsalttogether. “Theybecome good friendsonthe margarita,”the bartendersays. “Which is what margaritas arefor:tomakefriends.”
Las Trancas
What to Order: Friedbeeftripe taco
Everynightlife-saturatedneighborhood needs a late-night taco spot, and when it comes to East Austin, Las Trancas is it Perfectlypositioned off Cesar Chavez, this eatery’s little grease bomb tacos were made togohand inhand with an evening of ice-coldpitchers or ranch waters The fattier and funkier, the better, so get adventurous with the fried beef tripe tacos. The cut of offal is far more approachable than those who are unfamiliar might think, making the savory taco an ideal midnight snack. instagram com/lastrancastaqueria official
Paprika
What to Order: Nopales taco
Growing up just over the border in Matamoros, Mexico, Margarito Perez
despisednopalitos because of the cactus pads’ texture when cooked Lucky for us, he got over that and brought his grandmother’s chile arbol–braised nopales recipe to Austin. This version is less spicy, wrapped in a corn tortilla from SanAntonio’s El Milagrito tortilleria and servedwith red and green salsa Enjoy your taco alongwith some vinyl tunes, as the trailer pops up at Long PlayLounge everyThursday through Saturday instagram com/paprikaatx
Comedor
What to Order: Bone marrow taco
Of course, anAustin taco ranking is going tohave a little bling Topping the list at $52, the bone marrow tacos at this award-winning downtown restaurant are indeedpricey, but a single order will net about sevenor eight tacos. Beef bones are brinedfor 48 hours, roasted, then caramelizedwithbrown sugar
before being servedon a bedof local kale sauteed in smokedbutter Finishing touches include herbs, radish, beets, and pecangremolata Oh, and heirloom tortillas, a traditional element to remind patrons that this inventive fare is still a taco. comedortx.com
Palo Seco 512
What to Order: Quesabirriataco
The tacobirria craze was destined tohit Austin, and from the jump, Palo Seco 512 has always been our go-to place Chef Gerardo “Jerry” Guerrero simmers pieces of untrimmedbrisket in an adobo of guajillopeppers, onion, and garlic for hours until the meat becomes fall-apart tender Going the quesa birria taco route adds a layer offried cheese to the birria on the Maseca tortilla, which is crisped up from fat skimmedoff the consommé. Tacos don’t get muchmore decadent than this. palo-seco.square.site
CarnitasElGüero
What to Order: Pork shoulder taco
MexicoCity–style carnitas take center stage at Gustavo Reyes’ Carnitas El Güero, whether yougo to its first location inside a TexacoonStassney Lane or its brick-and-mortar on North Lamar There are five cuts of pork to choose from, including espaldilla (shoulder), buche (hogs maw), and costillas (ribs), which all simmer in lard, water, garlic, salt, and brown sugar If it’s your first time, try the shoulder and graduallyget more adventurous The smoky salsa morita is fun, but the tomatillo habaneromatches the rich porkperfectly carnitaselguerocom
Tacodeli
What to Order: TheOttotaco
Abreakfast taco without eggs?Absolutely While Tacodeli’s magical combo of refriedblackbeans, thick smoked bacon, shredded jack cheese, and fat slices of avocado could theoreticallybe made at home, it’s impossible to replicate Named after a close friend of co-founder RobertoEspinosa, the Otto features organic beans simmered in garlic and onions The butteryblack mixture and savorybacon begfor a generous dollopof the restaurant’s belovedSalsa Doña (see sidebar) tacodeli.com
Comedor’sdecadent bone marrow tacosare worth the splurge.
GGIRL GIRL
Howthe Doña became the most iconic salsainthe city.
With itspleasinglight greenhue, memorabletexture,and set-yourmouth-on-fire reputation,Tacodeli’s belovedSalsa Doña hasbecome quintessential Austin lore.But the legendaryconcoctionhad humble roots during therestaurant’sfirstyear, when thecompany debutedatits original Spyglass location.In2000, co-owner RobertoEspinosahostedalighthearted salsa competitionwithhis team,and the winner wasDoñaBerthaGonzalez, who walked in withasourcream container holdingher signatureblend “Itwas literallylikethe scene in Pulp Fiction when they opened thebriefcase in thediner andit’sall glowing, andit’s just beckoningyou,” Espinosa remembers from openingthe opaque container. “I looked at this beautiful creamy textureand thecolor,and Iwas
just like,‘Oh my gosh,whatisthis?’And Itastedit, anditwas just lights out. It wasdelicious.”
Gonzalez hadservedthe same blend of jalapeños, garlic,salt, andvegetable oilather taco cart whilelivinginher native Veracruz.After Tacodeli putthe salsaonthe menu,itbecameaninstant hitwithcustomers andisnow astapleat all13locations across Texas. In 2016,a packaged versionofthe salsahit the shelvesatWhole Foods, andin2024, H-E-Bbegan distributing thesauce as well.Asthe companycelebratesits 25th anniversarythisyear, it’s planning to have ahugebashwithGonzalezin attendance.Asfor Espinosa,he’snot surprisedbythe Doña’s stayingpower: “I eatthatsalsa pretty much daily, andI have forthe past 25 years. ” —MadelineHollern
La Santa Barbacha
What to Order: Potato barbacoa taco
Beef barbacoa anchorsthe menu at this Cherrywood trailer, wheremelt-in-your-mouthsteam-braised Angusshort ribs absolutely stealthe show in itsbreakfast tacos. Thoseinthe know will orderthe potato barbacoa andthe breakfast barbacoa tacos. Thelattersubspinto beansfor potatoes,and both featureits silk scrambledeggs. But, if youcan really pick only one, optfor theformer. Beef andpotatoare amatch made in heaven—evenmoresowithone of La SantaBarbacha’s eye-catching redorgreen tortillas. instagram.com/ lasantabarbacha
Un MundoDeSabor
What to Order: Mushroom kale taco
Yearsofworking thestovesat fine-diningrestaurants shine throughLuisMendoza’s menu,particularlyinhis mushroom kale taco.The oyster mushroomsare sourcedlocally from Hi-Fi Mycology,and thepurée of cannellini beansblended with garlic confitare as rich andsilky as thebestPommespurée in Paris. Whilethe taco’s fillingwould easily fitintoa high-end tasting menu,weprefertohaveitona tortilla—and orderitoncea week. unmundodesaboratx.com
Este’sswordfish tacoincludes ahint of habaneropequin pepper.
VaqueroTaquero
What to Order: Al pastor taco
Daniel andMiguel Cobos came to Austin in 2016, bringing ataste of theRio Grande Valley anda love for tacos al pastor cooked on atrompo thevertical rotisseriewhere stacks of slicedpork shoulder marinate inanadobo andcookfor hours Eightyears later, their generous helping of expertlycarvedalpastor servedon scratch-made corntortillas remains thegold standardinthe capitalcity vaquerotaquero com
Take a moment to consider your to tilla.
e, ye tortilla hastaken center stage. Whether they featurecornorflour, many of the eateries on this list addressthe wrapping withasmuchattention to detail as thefilling. In thecaseof nationally recognized spotslikeEsteor Nixta, corn tortillasare made from heirloom corn,which is ground at the restaurant.Thatsignificanteffort highlights thechef’svisionfor itsflavor profile,evenifitcontributes to thecost of thetaco. CuantosTacos andNorte source theirtortillas from SanAntonio Colonial,while El Marisquero andPogi Taco prefer Austin’s El Milagro—the latter givesits corn tortillasa dabof butter whileheating them up on the plancha. Though oftendismissed,flour versions deservetobetreated withthe same reverence—look to Yellow Bell or Moreno Barbecue,which make their ownflourtortillas in-house with interestingingredients alabeeftallow.
Este
What to Order: Swordfish taco
Putting the “scale” inupscale, the fishtacoatthis nationally recognized high-endMexicanseafood restaurantsparesno expenseutilizing generous portionsof swordfishbattered in masathat showcases a spectacular, airycrunch Carefully considered textures and flavorsmakefor theperfect balance of toppings: atouch of habanero pequin pepper, agenerous layerof razor-thincabbage, anda dollop of salsaMexicana that hits allthe rightnotes. esteatx.com
Yellow Bell
What to Order: Bean andcheesetaco
ea ac eeso
Agoodbean-and-cheese taco seems simple enough to be made at home untilyou trychef John Bates’ odetohis youthgrowing up in Corpus Christi That’s theinspiration forhis transcendent flour tortillas, which area must when ordering this staple offering His chef skills (think award-winning barbecue, Italian, andartisanal sandwichmaking) really come outwiththe beans, whichare cooked for hours inanolive oil confitof flavorfulveggies yellowbelltacos com
underestimate the
Don’t
simpleyet delicious bean andcheese taco at Yellow Bell.
BY BRYANC.PARKER
Ona broilinghot daythis June,Jason Ballard paces across aterra-cottacoloredlandscape that feelsalmostotherworldly.Gentlyundulating curves of thestructure surrounding himstretch skywardand heighten that surreal sensation. Thesetting recalls theslotcanyons of Utah,or some othernatural rock formationcarved bywindandwater.Butthesetoweringconcretewalls in SouthAustinwerecreated entirelybya3Dprintingrobot—thefirstof itskind, andthe latest mechanical marvel from Ballard’s construction technology company, ICON
Dubbedthe HouseofPhoenix,this stunning buildingportendsa futuristic visionofhousing,architecture,andautomation.A culminationofyears of work,the achievementcould propel thecompany into awhole newstratosphere. It’s also an aptplaceofreflectionfortheICONfounder andCEO,who wantstoforever change notonlyour worldbut also thecelestial bodies beyond
Raised in Bridge City,a smalltowneast of Beaumont,Ballard grew up witnessing thedestructionofhomesasstormssuchas 1989’s HurricaneJerry batteredthe Gulf Coast. Andevenasa kid, he wanted to do somethingthatwould help people.Before turninghisattentiontothetechandhousingindustries, theentrepreneurplanned to be an Episcopalminister. Perhapsthe emblem that most perfectlymergesBal-
lard’s geographical rootsand spiritual leaningsishisubiquitouswhitehat,aclassicStetson cowboy hatpurchased from Maufrais on SouthCongress. Youcan also seeitinhis worn,mahogany-tonedcowboybootsand hear it in hisrousing sermon-esque keynotespeechesabout aiding humanity
“1.6billionofoursistersandbrothersdo nothavehousing andshelter that you wouldfindadequate,”heoncetolda crowdduringSXSW. Evokinga popular passage from theBible’s book of Ecclesiastes, he went on.“Ibelieve that thereisa time foreverything,”hesaid. “There’s a time to plant, there’sa time to harvest, there’sa time to laugh, there’sa time to cry. AndI’m here to arguethatit’stimeto build.” Ballard’s notwrong,bythe way. An NPRstory from Aprilestimated that the U.S.facesacurrentshortageofsomewhere between 4millionand 7millionhomes
Even so,it’sfairtobeskeptical of any venturecapitalist–backed tech businessmanespousing altruism.But thereisa decentrecordofdeedsthatmatchtherheto-
ICON engineer
Sidney Prets examines construction at Printland, where the company tests innovative new tech.
ric—andit’snotjustthatinitialdesiretobe aclergyman.SomeofICON’searliest projects included awelcome center andsix housesatCommunityFirst!Village,arevolutionaryhousingdevelopmentforpeople experiencing homelessness in Austin.In 2019,the companyworkedinanimpoverishedpartofNacajuca, Mexico,asa partnershipwithnonprofit organization New Story. More recently,ICONhelda contest witha$1millionprizetoincentivizearchitectstodesignsustainable homesthat couldbebuilt for$99,000 or less.
Whatever hismotives,the CEOhas a mind built forentrepreneurial business. “I don’tworry alot aboutmedium-term stuff,”headmits. Instead, he’s guided by a
set of principles that makeshis very next stepdecisive,andhehasavisionforthebig endgoal. “Inbetween,you just have to danceelegantly,” he says.The founder doesn’tspecify whetherthat’sa shuffle, a tango, or awaltz.But knowingBallard,it’s likelya two-step.The 42-year-oldmet his wife at abarndance in Durango, Colo., while he wasa whitewater raftingguide, andshe wasa rock climbing instructor
In 2017,Ballard foundedICONwiththe aimofsolving some of humanity’s most pressing problems,namelythe availability andaffordabilityofhousing.His solution wastodesign3Dprintingrobotsthat couldconstruct homesina fraction of the time with much less manpower,which
would result in much faster production andlower cost.Inpursuit of thoselofty aims,the companyhas evolvedrapidly, growingfromjust18employees in 2019 to more than 300today.Itoccupies about9 acresinSouth Austin with office spaces,a test facilitycalledPrintland,a factoryfor assemblingmachinery,andalabforexperimenting with “off-world” technologies
Since inception, ICON hasinventeda series of increasingly impressive machines,printed about150 homesinthe U.S. andMexico, andraisedaround$451 millionofinvestmentfinancing.Its early success,atleastinpart,isowedtoBallard’s penchant forpushing people around him to thinkbig,anambitious drivethatbegan
inEastAustinand is on tracktotakethe companyintoouter space.
Breaking Ground
ICON made itsfirst splash in March 2018 by buildingthe nation’s “first permitted3D-printedhouse”nearthe corner of Second andChiconstreetsinEastAustin. Thecompany’s threefoundersstayedup intothepre-dawnhoursofthemorningto finishtheprojectsoitcouldsetintimefor an on-sitelaunchevent during SXSW.Afterthe printerfailed, thetrioresortedto hand pouringa mixofviscous concrete throughthe extruder.Itwas laboriousand cost staggeringly more than expected,but it gotdone. Thehomestole headlines ‰
across thecountry,and investment fundingbegan pouringin.
Shortlyafter,Ballardtooksometimeoff andvisitedToledoBend,alakeontheTexas-Louisiana border near afamilyranch “Mymostfruitfulcreativeworkneeds some elbowroom,” Ballardsays. “When thesebig momentshappen, Ioften feel this urge to retreattoget clearabout it.”
There, he composed alettertoboard membersand hisco-founders with ablueprintfor moving forward: theneedfor a more functional versionofthe printer, a newmaterialsdeliverysystem,theacquisition of afacility, andjustificationsfor the moneyneededtohit thosemilestones. Titled theToledoBendMemo, it made a bold proposal forhomes twiceasgood at half thecostand half thetimetobuild
Exactlysix yearsafter theunveilingof theChiconhouse,Ballard strode outonto thestage of theLongCenter. “Ifyou could putyourselfinmyboots…”hesaid, overlookingthe crowdofmorethan2,000 people assembledtohearthe latest updatesfromthe groundbreaking company. “Itwas notthatmanyyears agoatall that this seemed likethe craziest idea in the world, to build houses with robots.”
Thenext90minutes revealed aslewof advancements,including theaforementioned Phoenixprinter,the company’s firstmodel with asingularcrane-likearm (Pastiterations, whichcould alreadycreatehomes in as littleasa day, consistedof twotowersand acrossbar.) Phoenixprints upto27feethigh—enablingtwo-storyconstruction—andcan create both foundationsandroofs.Whereasthewallsoftraditional stickframe construction cost approximately$34 persquarefoot,Ballard expectsthe machinetogenerateconcrete walls at just $25per square foot or less. With Phoenix, ICON is finally starting to stretchits wings.
Thepresentationwentontoannounce anew artificial intelligence tool called Vitruvius, whichturns end-user promptsinto architecturalrenderingsofhomeinteriorsand exteriorswithinseconds.An averagepersoncould type “three-bedroom,three-bathroom home suited for CentralTexas in amidcenturymodern style,”and instantlyhaveseveral concepts to choosefrom. Within ayear, ICON aims forVitruvius to deliver buildableplans for thosedesigns,anadvancementthatwould upendthe architecture industry Aworld is within reachwhere ahome-
buyercan shop fora plot of land,designa homeandfloorplan,makeapurchase,and have arobot roll outtothe site to begin printing,all within amatterofminutes Buthowever capablethe technology may seem,don’tforgethowdifficultithasbeen to getthe automotive industry to adopt electric andautonomouscars. From entrenched financialinterests to theinertia ofhumanbehavior,itwilltaketimeforthe worldtocatch up to reality.
As afinal reveal at this year’s SXSW event, ICON announceda newconcrete mixturecalledCarbonX.Ina paperco-authoredwiththeMITConcreteSustainabilityHub,studies showed thematerialresultsinlowercarbonemissionsthantraditional stickframe homebuilding. That innovation helpsassuageone of thegreatest criticisms of concrete construction,since 30 billion tons of concrete areusedeach year,resulting in around 8% of theworld’s totalCO2 emissions.
There’snodoubt that ICON hascreated
functional toolsthatcan change the world, butsofar,the applications have been limited in scope. Ballard confesses that oneofhis hang-ups forputting ICON tech in thehands of otherpeoplemight sounda littlesilly.“We don’twanthomes to be ugly,” he says.Moregenerally,he fearsthatothersmay notholdthemselves to hisstandards.“It’s notenoughtobe cheaperifitmakes theworld worse,”he says.“Buildings have to getmoreaffordable andbetteratthe same time.”
However, Ballard sees theintroduction of CarbonXand Vitruviusassolutions to theissuesofsocialresponsibilityand architecturalbeauty. “Now that we have thosethings, boy, I’mready to startthinkingabout letting this thinggo,”hesays. He imagines thearrangementlikethis: ICON will sell or leasetheir printers to buildersanddevelopersaroundtheworld; in exchange,those entities will agreeto usethe company’sproprietary concrete mixtureand only build approved designs.
Butwithonly18printersinexistence,they willneedtoexpandconsiderably—andthe road to long-termsuccess is litteredwith companiesthatcouldn’tscale
Ifthere’sacluetothebusiness’capabilities,itlies30milesnorth of Austin,where theworld’s largest3D-printedneighborhood is almost complete.Withhuman beings alreadyoccupyingits homes, ICON’s 3D-printed worldisn’t adream fortomorrow. Thefutureisnow
Fine Print
From theentry of Amyand Patrick Honey’sGeorgetownhome, agentlycurvingwallguidesvisitorsthrough thefoyer andintothediningroom.Theybegineach dayherewitha cupofblack coffee, as morninglightstreamsinthroughanoversize window that runs allthe waytothe ceiling. “It’sjusta really lovely waytostart theday,because theinterplay of thelight againsttheconcretebeadsjustcreatesthis dance,”Amysays.TheHoneyscanattestto
“Curvesare almost always associated with utopia.”
an experience many people have walking througha 3D-printed home.You might expect theconcretewalls to be austereor cold,but theripples of textureexude a much softersensation—almost likea knit blanketencirclingyourhome.
Georgetown’s Wolf Ranchdevelopment is apartnership between ICON and Lennar,thenation’ssecond-largesthomebuilder.Although3Dprintingwas used to build just 100ofmorethan1,000 homesitesinthe master-plannedcommunity, theproject still says much aboutthe constructionindustry’sinterestinand willingnesstoadopt thenew technology
AftertouringWolfRanchinApril2023, theHoneysstartedsigningpapersfortheir newresidence thenextmorning.Houses in theneighborhood startaround $429,000,justslightlyaboveGeorgetown’s median priceof$425,000. ButAmy is quicktopoint outthatinterms of value, there’svirtually no comparison.“Ifeel like Iamina custom home,” shesays. ‰
CEO JasonBallard admires the House of Phoenix nearcompanyheadquarters in South Austin.
Elegantdesignisjustone of thereasons thecoupledecided to buyanICONhome. In2004,AmyboardedaplanetoFloridato help herfatherrecover afterhurricanes Francesand Jeanne took direct aimather childhood home in Vero Beach. “We walkedinandsawthewallsweregreenand fuzzy,” sheremembers.“It wasa totalloss.” Later, thecouplelived in SantaFe, N.M., wherethe HermitsPeakfire, thestate’s largestwildfire in recorded history, burned 341,735acres in 2022. TheHoneys saythatEarth’schangingclimatewasakey part of theirdecisiontopurchasea home in Wolf Ranch.
Hurricane windsmay notbeofconcern in CentralTexas,but tornadoescertainly are, andwildfiresposeanever-increasing danger,especiallygiven thewarming climate andrecentdrought.Plus, ourregion hasroutinely seen more extremeheat, cold,and floodinginrecentyears.ICON’s homeshavespecialcertificationsforresistancetohurricanesand wildfires, andits proprietaryCarbonX concrete is mold resistant. TheareaofSouthernMexico wherethe team built acommunity has sincebeen subjectedtoa 7.4magnitude earthquake.While some of thosetremors caused significantregionaldamage, ICON’s houses survived unscathed.
It’s admittedlydifficult to thinkofa way that thecompany’s method of building isn’tsuperiortotraditional wood framing in termsofperformance.Another of Ballard’sfrequenttalkingpointsishowmuch wasteremains aftera typicalhomeconstructionproject:scrapsofunusedlumber,fragmentsofdrywallandsiding,bucketsofpaint,excessinsulation, loosenails, andmore. TheNationalAssociationof Home Buildersestimates that asingle 2,000-square-footstick-builthomegenerates8,000poundsofwastematerial.Some of that includes debris from windows, cabinetry,and otherfinishoutsthatstill exist with 3D printing,but theamountiscertainly diminished.Whenthe houseis complete,the printerstops
Although Ballard won’tdisclosethe exactmargins,hesaysthatthesecondhalfof homesatWolfRanchnettedprofitsforthe firsttimeever, thanks to advancements in both software andhardwareelements. While thesehomes were printedusing the Vulcanprinterline,ICONexpectstodeliver even greatercostefficiency with itsnew printer, whichallows onepersontooperatemultiplemachines. Ballard hasn’t
“The interplay of the light against the concrete beads just creates this dance.”
This handfulofcompanies constitutes just oneglopofconcreteinanenormous bucket.There’s no shortage of competitors,and it’s entirely possiblethatany one of them couldemergeasthe front-runner in themarket. Or that an already-entrenchedconstructioncompanylikePERI (a worldleaderinsupplying scaffolding andformwork) coulduse itssizetocrush an ambitiousupstart.Onlytimewill tell howthisrapidly evolving industry will shakeout,but there’satleast oneprestigiousclient that lendscredencetoICON’s status as an industry leader—NASA.
Shoot for the Stars
quitereachedhisambitiousgoalofhomes twiceasgood at half thecost, buthe’s getting close.
If allofthissoundssoconvincingthat you’re readytosignonthe dotted line, keep in mind this is wherethe problemof scalingcomes in.ICONestimates that Phoenixwon’t startprintinguntil 2026 Andevenifdemandspikes, thecompany willlikelyspendyearsrampingupproduction enough to starthavinga discernible effect on national housinginventory
Onebit of good news forprospective buyers is that ICON facespressure from a robust slateofchallengers. Thereare now dozens of 3D printing andconstruction technology companiesinthe race.Danish companyCOBODsellsprinterstobuilders anddevelopers, andits newest machineis beingusedinHouston by German firm PERI to constructthe largest3D-printed buildinginthe U.S.,which will be twostories andover4,000 square feet.Meanwhile,thatsamemodel is currently being used to rebuild aprimary school in wartorn Lviv,Ukraine
Just outsideofBrenham,the Texasbasedcompany Hive3D recently listeda 3,150-square-foot home for$760,000, and it planstoprint asmall community of 3DprintedhousesinNew Braunfelsbeginning this year.Italiancompany WASP has devisedanincrediblyeco-friendlymateri-
In thesummerof2019, Ballard walked outofthe Marshall SpaceFlight Center in Northern Alabamaand methis wife at the gate.She’d droppedhim offearlierthat dayfor ameeting aboutICON’s3Dprintingcapabilities.“Honey,Ithinkthey’regoingtohireustohelpinventthe machines that will build on themoon,” he said,on theverge of tears.
Despitebeing overcome with emotion, he hadn’t completely made up hismind on whetherhe’daccept themission.After all, hisnascent companywas just getting startedonTerransoil. Buildinginzerogravityata site 238,900milesawaywas a lottoconsider. He felt that acuteneedto clearhismind,andheretreatedtotheverdant woodsofMonte Sano StateParkjust east of Huntsville.Overthe span of afew days,the founderpennedanother of his famedmissivesoutlining aplanfor how thecompany wouldapproachNASA’s needsand howitmight benefitICON. Aftereffectivelyconvincinghimself,hesent theemail offtothe rest of histeamwith theheading TheMonte Sano Memo.
In November 2022, NASA awarded ICON a$57.2 millioncontracttodevelop construction systemsthatwill establisha permanentlunar presence.“Thefinal deliverable of this contract will be humanity’s firstconstructiononanother world, andthatisgoing to be apretty special achievement,”Ballard said in anews releasethe dayofthe announcement
ICON’s plan essentially workslikethis: Insteadofextrudedliquidconcrete, lasers areusedtomeltregolith(akamoon dust), whichthenhardens into an extremely strong material.Additional regolithcan then be layeredontothe hardened sur-
RO BERT GOMEZ
face, andthe processisrepeated. “Basic civicinfrastructure—landingpads, roads, things likeberms,maybe trenches—is somethingthatwe’ll seewithinthe next five or sixyears,” says MelodieYashar, ICON’s vice presidentofbuildingdesign andperformance.“It’s nota leveltopographyonthe moon,sohow we create those landingpadsand howwemoveregolithis alot of theworkthat’sgoing to happenin thecomingyears,” sheadds
Whethertrueornot,NASAoften touts theideathatspace research yields tertiary andunknown benefits forcompanies.In this case,Ballard says therigor of testing robotics elements forthe moon’s extreme environmentmadeICON’sEarth-based systemsevenbetter. Moving forward, he expectsthe software developedfor the NASA mission to become thestandard software used to operatethe company’s terrestrialrobots.“Itturnsoutthatsomeof theanswers to ourproblemsonEarth,we foundonthe moon,” he says.“Youonly runasfastascoach makesyou run. ”
Thelunarprojectisn’ttheonlythingon thehorizon forICON. At itsPrintland facilityinSouth Austin,the companyis workingontests fora 3D-printed resort anda series of vacation houses in theFar West TexastownofMarfa.The projectisa collaboration with Austin hotelierLiz Lambertand will breakgroundather property,ElCosmico,thisyear. Even with thehospitalityindustryand expanses of outerspace on theirminds,ICONhasn’t forgottenits roots. Theteamrecentlyannounceditwould return to Community First! Village,where it will printseveral
“It turns out that some of the answers to our problems on Earth,we found on the moon.”
homesfor people facing homelessness.
Back at HouseofPhoenix,Ballard runs hishands over theconcreteripples of the wall as he points outthatthe structurehas no straight lines.Whether horizontal or vertical,theedificeisalwaysmovingwitha curve. Ballard lovestoemphasize this pointashe’stalking up theaccomplishmentsofhis latest creation.Freefromthe rigidlines andright angles of lumber,the printercan create virtually anyshape imaginable,openingupahostofinspiring newarchitectural wonders.
TheCEO explains he hasa petinterest inutopianconceptsacrossliterature,oras he calls it,“thehistory of thefuture.”One recurring themehe’snoticed?“Curves are almost always associated with utopia,” he says.“Things getrounder as societygets more just andadvancedinour imagination.”TheTexaninhimemergesashesays, “That’swhy youworkhorsesinround pens.” No onelikes to be putina box.
Thelargest 3D-printed community in the world, Wolf Ranchboasts 100homes created with ICON’s Vulcan printers.
Inside HouseofPhoenix,the wavelike bulges of thewalls obscurethe exactshape ofthespaceasyougazethroughtheinterior.Noone canyet sayifBallard is heading in adirection that resemblesutopia, but theselines that curveout of view at least offera fitting metaphor forwhere ICON’s path goes from here.For Ballard,the uncertaintystokesthe imaginationina way that seemsjustasexcitingaswhatever destinationawaits.
AUSTIN’STOP ATTORNEYS
We asked Austin lawyers who they would trust to represent them; these are the most recommendedlegaleagles.*
DAVIDMINTON
FAMILY LAW
In August 1987, DavidMintonjoined MBFC as alitigator.Licensed in state and federalcourts, he hasrepresented clientsbeforevirtually everystate agencyand tried numerouscomplex civil, family, andcriminalcases alloverTexas.Litigatingfor 37 yearsnow,David has maintained an AV rating with Martindale-Hubbell for26consecutive years, 18 consecutiveyearslistedinthe Best Lawyersin America, includingLawyerofthe Year in Austin in 2021, andhas been named aSuper Lawyer in Texas each of thepast12years as well as Best of theBestTop TenTexas forbothfamily and criminal cases. Davidcan be reached at anytimeat dminton@mbfc.com
SAMBASSETT
CRIMINAL DEFENSE
Samgraduated from theUniversityofTexas Law School in 1988. He has been boardcertified in criminal lawsince 1994. He is licensed in stateand federalcourts
SamisapastPresident of theTexas Criminal DefenseLawyers Association. He has been recognized five timesbyBestLawyers in Americaas‘Lawyerofthe Year’for criminal defenseinAustin. He is a 15-year Texas Super Lawyerand is aFormerChair of theTexas Forensic Science Commission.Sam tries cases throughout Texas andhas practiced in Federal Courtinmultiplestates. Sam can be reached anytimeat sbassett@mbfc.com
PERRYQ.MINTON
CRIMINAL DEFENSE
Perry Q. Minton,2024 Austin MonthlyTop Attorney,tries criminal defenseand family lawcases to judgesand juries alloverCentralTexas.Managinghigh-profile,complex litigationover theyearshas givenPerry awell-deserved reputation as apassionateand aggressive advocatefor hisclients. Perry graduatedfromthe University of Texas andthe University of Texas School of Law and is licensed in both stateand federalcourt. Perry is recognized in Best Lawyers in Americafor bothcriminal defenseand family law. Youcan reach Perry anytimeat pminton@mbfc.com
RICK R. FLORES
CRIMINAL DEFENSE
Rick Flores has been with Minton,Bassett, Flores &Carsey for 14 years now and focuses on felony, misdemeanor,and juvenile cases. Rick is adouble Longhorn with two degrees from The University ofTexas -a B.B.A.fromthe McCombs School of Business and aJ.D. from the Law School. He is a former Travis County prosecutor,the past Chair of the Austin Bar Association Criminal Law Section, a BoardMember of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, aBoardMember of the Austin Criminal DefenseLawyers Association, aTexas Monthly RisingStar,and aTexas Monthly Super Lawyer. This is his fifth yeartomake Austin Monthly’sTop Attorney list. He can be reached anytime at rflores@mbfc.com.
ANDREW ROBERTSON FAMILY LAW
Three-time Austin Monthly TopAttorney, Andrew Robertson recently joined Minton, Bassett, Flores & Carsey in 2020 after running his own law office for six years. His practice is focused on helping people in family law matters and criminal defense. Andrew was born and raised in Austin (Westlake High School) and graduatedfromLouisianaState University and South Texas College of Law.Hecan be reached anytime at arobertson@mbfc.com
DeeDee McKee
LawOffice of Dee Dee C. McKee
9901 Brodie Lane, Ste. 160 512-668-9733
David Reiter
Reiter Brunel &Dunn 6805 N. Capital of Texas Hwy., Ste. 318 512-779-3341
Lauren Schoenbaum Ruffner Schoenbaum
Murphy
901S.Mopac Expy., Ste. 290 512-275-6277
Meera de Mel Ruffner Schoenbaum
Murphy
901S.Mopac Expy., Ste. 290 512-275-6277
Daniel Richards
Richards Rodriguez & Skeith 611W.15th St 512-476-0005
Lori Pickle Allen Dwyer Murphy Calvert 1301 W. 25thSt., Ste. 560 512-610-9639
Danielle Gilbert Partner Hal Katz Partner Nikelle Meade Partner
Mark Tobey SeniorCounsel
Lauren Collins Senior Associate
Jewart Partner
Kevin Koronka Partner
Ribelin Partner Lorinda Holloway Partner Bob Werner Partner Remy Fesquet Partner
Facing familylaw issues?
You’re notalone.
Count on ourlawyers to guidethe wayforward.
Your future. Our experience When youchoose aGoransonBainAusley attorney,you have atrustedpartner at your side.Our lawyersoffer the skill, knowledge, andproblem-solving necessarytoprotect your priorities Forany family lawmatter, turntothe lawyerswho provideclarity about what comes next, andconfidence that your future is more secure.
Gracia Emily Ogden
Kacy Dudley
Dudley Law 2300 CoronadoSt., Ste. 260 512-617-3975
Bryan Eggleston
Eggleston Law Firm 12400 W. Hwy. 71, Ste. 350-322 512-980-9975
AlysonFalk
Falk Family Law 608W.12th St 512-409-2703
Gregory Hitt
Gregory Hitt Attorney & Mediator
7000 N. Mopac Expy., 2ndFloor 512-322-0118
Hannah Bell
Hembree Bell Law Firm 5806 MesaDrive, Ste. 360 512-607-9291
Holly Davis
Kirker Davis
8310-1 N. Capital of Texas Hwy., Ste. 350 512-572-1911
Forthe fourth year in arow,the LawOffice of JasonWrightisproud and excitedtoberecognizedbyour peersasa Top Attorney in Austin Monthly. TheLaw Office of JasonWrightPLLC is afamily and school law firm locatedinNorth Austin that takesasolution-based approachtohelpour clientsindifficult times. Ourattorneysare dedicatedtoproviding reliable, responsive, and passionateprofessional legalservicesInTravis, Williamson, and Hays counties. We arecommittedto zealously workingto find thesolutionthat is bestfor youand your family.Wewill be honestand upfront with youabout your case (evenwhen it mightnot be somethingyou want to hear)aswellasupfront with youabout theexpense of handling your case.Fromhigh-conflictcontestedchild custody issues and complex, high-assetproperty division to modifications, enforcements, and conflicts over child support, our firm is committedto finding constructive solutions forour clients.
The firm focusesonthe following areas of practice:
•Uncontested& ContestedDivorce
•Divorce with Children
•Complex &High-AssetDivorce
•Custody Disputes
•RelocationCases
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•TemporaryOrders
•Modification of Orders(Child Supportand/or Child Custody)
•Enforcement of Orders(Child Supportand/or Child Custody)
•Mediation& Litigation Issues
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•ARD Advocacy &IEP Enforcement
Elecia Byrd
Zinda Law Group 8834 N. Capital of Texas Hwy., Ste. 304 512-877-5658
Elizabeth Daniel Law 411Kemp St.,Unit B 512-815-3549
Gabriel Gallas Gallas Law 1403 W. Sixth St. 512-981-7606
Julie Frey
Griffin Frey 2905 San Gabriel St., Ste. 212 512-271-3802
Brooke Hardie Hardie Alcozer 1607 Nueces St. 512-374-4922
Tracy Kasparek Kasparek Law P.O. Box161371 512-215-3407
Elizabeth Nielsen Nielsen Law 8705 Shoal Creek Blvd., Ste. 105 512-522-2890
Julia Jonas TheKarisch Law Firm 9111 Jollyville Road, Ste. 225 512-328-6346
Worker’s compensation
Richard Pena LawOffices of Richard Pena 2211 S. I-35, Ste. 300 512-327-6884
Chadwick Lee
TheChadwick Lee Law Firm
1000 Heritage Center Cir. Round Rock 512-419-1234
*HOW THIS LIST WAS MADE
Using an online survey, Austin Monthly solicited peer nominations from attorneys in the Austin area,asking them to nominate up to three attorneys per practice area who they would trust with the legal care of themselves or their family. To ensure the nomination process is peer-based, full contact information was requested before nominating, and attorneys were asked to limit their nominations to lawyers whose work they’ve personally witnessed. Austin Monthly then tallied the results, selecting the top percentage of vote recipients in each practice area before submitting the final list to our fact-checking process, which includes areview of good standingwith the state bar association.
Attorneys do not and cannot pay to be apart of the list. We recognize that many good attorneys are not included on the list; this is only asampling of the huge array of talented professionals within the region. We encourageall consumers to do their own research before selecting alawyer.
Austin Monthly uses best practices and exercises great care in assembling content for this list. It does not warrant that the data contained within the list are complete or accurate. Austin Monthly does not assume, and hereby disclaims, any liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions herein whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. All rights reserved. No commercial use of the information in this list may be made without written permission from Austin Monthly.Ifyou see an error in the information listed, please contact info@austinmonthly.com.
Attorneys: Congratulations! If you’d like to display this accomplishment with aplaque, please visit our official store at austinmonthly.com.
DJC Law has been honored with Austin Monthly’s prestigious “TopAttorneys” awardfor fiveconsecutive years. Thisyear,eightofourexceptionalattorneyshave received this recognition. But it is not just awards that define us. What matters most to us is delivering exceptional results and securing full justicefor our injured clients.
Dan Christensen,Board Certified in Texas Personal Injury Trial Law and Board Certified nationally in Civil TrialLaw,hascompliedanexpertteamoftrialattorneys who are at the top of their profession with over 200 years of trial experience collectively. It is no wonder that U.S. News and World Report recognized DJCLaw as one of the nation’s BestLawFirms.
Choose DJC Law for your personal injury case and experience the winning combination of experience, hard work,and results.
It’sanhonor to be recognized as one of Austin Monthly’s TopAttorneys.I’veenjoyed serving the Austin Community as aprosecutorand as acriminal defense attorney for thelast19years. At GBAFirm, we pride ourselves on our levelofservice and communication provided to our clients and their families. Fighting for our clients’ rights andworking towards justiceisapassion for everyoneatmy firm.Our results show it. Sometimes bad things happen to good people. It’sour job to make it right. Doing so isn’tanine-to-five job nor is it aone-man show. Iwouldn’t be hereifitwasn’t for theteam of professionals that work alongside me.Ifyou need us we’rehere; use the QR code to save our contactinformation
Thank you!
Christopher M. Gunter (Criminal Defense Litigator)
Alan Bennett (Criminal Defense Litigator)
Gary Cohen (Parole Representation)
ThomasM.Just (Criminal Defense Litigator)
Camilla Banda (Paralegal)
Sheliah Cromeans (Paralegal)
WinstonKrauseisone of only twoattorneys in Central Texascertified by theTexas BoardofLegal Specialization as “SpecialistinTax Law” as well as a“Specialist in Estate Planning andProbate Law.”
Krause andAssociatesisa client-driven firm guided by the philosophy that business trumps taxmatters.Wealways advise ourclients that when presentedwitha choice of securing agreatly desirabletax result at theriskoflosinga business opportunityorsecuringa business opportunity, regardless of thetax consequence, ourclients should first secure theirprofits before agonizingoverincometaxes.
largestlaw firm by number of Austin area attorneys, ranked by Austin Business Journal,March 2024
AMBERVAZQUEZ
BoardCertified Criminal DefenseAttorney
AmberVazquez hasbeenFightingthe HardestCases in theToughestPlaces forOver20Years.A fifth-generation Texanreferredtoasthe “Queen of Acquittals”in TexasMonthly Magazine.
AmberVazquez is a BoardCertified criminal defense attorney whohas wontrialsfor Murder,Attempted CapitalMurder, Aggravated Assault, Sexual Assaultofa Child, Burglary of aHabitation, Thefts, AssaultFamily Violence,DrugPossession, andmanyDUI cases.
Amber’ssuccessrateacrossthe boardmakes herone of themostsought-after defenseattorneys in thestate.In addition to winning aCriminalJustice Awardfrom Travis County Women’sBar,Amber hasbeennamed aSuper Lawyer in TexasLawyer, highlightedasTop Criminal DefenseAttorney2019 by the Austin BarAssociation, andnamed oneofTexas’Top 20 “Winning Women” Amberteaches criminal defenseattorneys as well as servingon
thePoliceOversight andJudicialCommittee forthe City of Austin
Afather-daughter team of trial lawyers, making our community safer and morefair,byholding negligent people and their insurance companies accountable.
HenryMoore& JaymeBombencan guideyou through thecomplicated civillegal process. “Our goal is to get resultsthatmakea differenceinyourlife.”
Henry Mooreisa member of ABOTA, aSuper Lawyer since 2011, and DOUBLE BOARD CERTIFIED by the Texas BoardofLegal Specialization in Insurance Law and Personal Injury Trial Law.
Apocalypse Sow
CAPITALCITYRESIDENTSmightthinkof DirtySixth as apigsty, but185 yearsago, that wasliterally thecase. Built on the cornerofmodern-daySixthStreetandCongressAvenuein1839, Austin’s firsthotel accommodatednot only internationaldiplomatsbutalsoadroveofpigsownedbyinnkeeper RichardBullock.One fatefulrun-in at theBullock Houseevendisrupted politicalrelationsbetweenFranceandtheRepublicofTexas before it ever gained statehood. Aguestatthehotelin1841,Frenchliaison Alphonse Dubois de Salignyhad alasting impact on ourcitybyoverseeingthe constructionofthe French Legation building (now apastoralevent spaceand museum in East Austin). However, hisprimary charge waspromoting theFranco-Texian bill that wouldcede3 millionacres of land to France forthe settlementof8,000 families and20fortsmannedby10,000soldiers.But thediplomatfaced ahealthy dose of skepti-
Thehistoric battle between awily Frenchman and some salty swine.
BY HAMILTON JONES
cism in hispursuit.“Opponentsofthe bill pointedout that this wasmoretroopsthan SantaAnna ever hadinTexas,” wroteClay Coppedgeinhis collection ForgottenTales of Texas.
To make matters worse, thediplomat’s self-aggrandizing nature garnered littlefavoramong hisTexiancontemporaries. (Dubois wasthe kind of guywho adoptedthe moniker“de Saligny”despite notbeing a member of theFrenchnobility.)The counterfeitcount soon foundhimself in anasty disputewithBullock,whose enterprising
pigs hadbrokenintothe liaison’s quarters to feastonhis fine linensand important documents. “A servantinthe employ of M. De Saligny wantonly woundedand killed severalpigsbelonging to Mr.Bullock,and thelatterina moment of greatexcitement attackedandbeattheservantseverely,”read areportinthe Telegraphand TexasRegister on June 23,1841.
Thefurious Frenchmandemandedthat Bullock be punished forthe actionsofhis pigs andthe assaultofhis servant. ButTexianpoliticians sawnoreasontoobligethe envoy, anda formal requesttoremoveDubois wasonits waytoEurope. Thehungry swine’sdisgraced victim promptly sought refuge in NewOrleans,where he issued emptythreatsofFranceexactingrevengeon hisbehalf.However,Duboisfoundlittlesupport from hisnativenation, whichhad lost patience with hisinept attempts to bring home thebacon
