What food can you eat at ACL Fest? An Austin feast

Eric Webb, Austin American-Statesman
·4 min read

This — and absolutely no shade to that artificial yellow nacho cheese sauce we love — is not your typical food court. The dining options at Austin City Limits Music Festival are primo, as Austin vendors serve up park-ready versions of their specialties.

Here are some of our favorite local food options you'll find at ACL Eats 2022. Note that these eateries' festival menus will be limited and likely a little different from their typical fare.

From 2021:The best things Austin City Lunch Bunch ate at ACL Fest

Amy's Ice Creams

Austin's homegrown dairy empire (of which I was an employee in high school and college) is known for both classic and creative flavor combos. (amysicecreams.com)

Austin's Pizza

A slice is nice when you're festing. Austin's thin-crust pies are great handheld options for your afternoon concert. (austinspizza.com)

Bananarchy

By now an Austin tradition, this frozen-banana-on-a-stick business is a favorite come festival season. But you don’t have to wait, of course. My order: dipped in peanut butter and rolled in Oreo crumbs. (bananarchy.net)

Bao'd Up

Bao — steamed buns — are the name of the game here, with fillings like pork, teriyaki chicken, veggie and brisket. (baodup.com)

Blenders & Bowls

Perhaps you are health conscious even while sitting in a hot park all day. Hey, go for it. These folks specialize in smoothies and smoothie bowls, chock full of fruit, granola and more goodies. (blendersandbowls.com)

More food:One of Austin's top chefs was named to Time's 100 Next list. Here's why.

Burro Cheese Kitchen

Austin's favorite mobile grilled cheese specialists think outside the bread box, with ingredients like smoked ham and gouda. (burrocheesekitchen.com)

Chi'lantro

Those kimchi fries, though. The Korean barbecue-inspired eatery is a staple of festivals. (chilantrobbq.com)

De Nada Cantina

A newer face on the block, but De Nada Cantina's East Austin taqueria has quickly become one of our go-tos. At the restaurant, the smoked black bean and cheese quesadilla is a favorite. (denadacantina.com)

East Side King

The casual Japanese eatery has made many a fan with its fried beets and chicken kara-age. (eastsideking.com)

Hoover's Cooking

The longtime East Austin restaurant is a bastion of Southern comfort food. (hooverscooking.com)

Koko's Bavarian

Home to pretzels and bratwurst, we hope that Koko's Bavarian brings a bit of the biergarten to our ACL days. (kokosbavarian.com)

Need to go veg? Samosas from Lamba's Indian Kitchen were one of the best ACL Eats snacks in 2021.
Need to go veg? Samosas from Lamba's Indian Kitchen were one of the best ACL Eats snacks in 2021.

Lamba's Indian Kitchen

Their samosas were one of our most cherished snacks last year. Golden shells flake open to reveal steamy tufts of perfectly spiced potatoes. Pro-tip: Ask for an extra drizzle of tangy mango chutney (and a napkin). (lambasindiankitchen.com)

Micklethwait Barbecue

Statesman dining critic Matthew Odam raves about their sausage and ribs. (craftmeatsaustin.com)

Nervous Charlie's

We confess to squealing a little when we saw that this North Lamar Boulevard bagel bakery was coming to ACL Eats this year. Schmear us. (nervouscharlies.com)

A wrap from Shawarma Point is a trusty lunch option.
A wrap from Shawarma Point is a trusty lunch option.

Shawarma Point

We can confirm that their chicken shawarma wrap is one of the most reliable lunches around. (facebook.com/shawarmapointatx)

These are not Buffalo wings. We repeat, not Buffalo wings. They are darn tasty, sweet and savory cauli wings from Skull & Cakebones.
These are not Buffalo wings. We repeat, not Buffalo wings. They are darn tasty, sweet and savory cauli wings from Skull & Cakebones.

Skull & Cakebones

This Austin bakery actually served one of our fave savory dishes at last year's fest: cauliflower wings. They were sweet and savory, more tangy than with a bite. (skullandcakebones.com)

Sno-Beach

The local kids know. Sno-Beach makes the snow cones to beat. Last year, w got a half-coconut, half-tigers blood snow cone with cream. (snobeachatx.com)

Gotta add cream to the top of your Sno-Beach snow cone.
Gotta add cream to the top of your Sno-Beach snow cone.

Southside Flying Pizza

Another fine handheld option from the pizza parlor that's expanded beyond its geographic origins. (southsideflyingpizza.com)

Taco Bronco

The Salt Lick used to make our favorite ACL Fest nachos, but they're not at ACL Eats anymore. In 2021, we found an able substitute in Taco Bronco's nachos, topped with cheese, mixed beans, escabeche, crema, an avocado sauce and cilantro. (tacobroncotx.com)

The Mighty Cone

One day, we will all be gone, and Mighty Cone will still be there. The crunchy, fried, tortilla-wrapped dish comes in a few varieties, from original chicken to a "monster" with chicken, shrimp and avocado. (mightycone.com)

The Mighty Cone's fried, handheld food is a festival institution.
The Mighty Cone's fried, handheld food is a festival institution.

Tiny Pies

Listen closely. Closer. There we go. Forget actual pies. You are going to show up to ACL Eats, and you are going to order the key lime pie freeze, assuming Tiny Pies brings it back for 2022. This delightful creation blends key lime pie filling with vanilla ice cream and generous chunks of graham cracker crust. The tart lime cuts the heaviness of the cream for a refreshing treat in the heat of the day. Bonus: It comes in a cup, so your sweet tooth won't slow you down as you dash between sets. (tinypies.com)

More options at ACL Eats 2022

  • Come & Take It Fresh Squeezed

  • Flyrite Chicken

  • Four Brothers Venezuelan Kitchen

  • Goodpop

  • Happy Chicks

  • Homie Fries

  • Juiceland

  • Kababeque

  • Lonesome Dove Western Bistro

  • Mmmpanadas

  • Mama Fried

  • Nacho Daddy & Wings

  • Pelons Tex Mex

  • The Cavalier

  • The Original Black's Barbecue

  • Tiff's Treats

  • Voodoo Doughnut

  • Wholly Cow Burgers

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Food at ACL Festival 2022, from pizza to ice cream to barbecue