Encompassed in that growth is an emerging food and dining scene, and most recently the city grabbed headlines when Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ, which has been featured in the New York Times and Texas Monthly, announced this week it will soon be making Buda its new Central Texas home.
In roughly the last year, however, Buda has been quietly adding to the number of unique eateries, both brick and mortar and mobile, that are coming to the city just south of Austin. While not close to comprehensive, the list below highlights a smattering of noteworthy restaurants in Buda that are new or have an established reputation.
Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ announced May 10 that it will relocate its food trailer and restaurant to Buda within the next year. Currently operating at 11500 Manchaca Road, Austin, the restaurant plans to open in the Buda Mill and Grain Co. facility at 306 S. Main St., Buda. According to a company spokesperson, the space will require a full build out and is slated to open within the next year. Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ serves breakfast and lunch tacos, barbecue sandwiches, meat plates and sides. The new location will also have a full bar. 512-221-4248. www.valentinastexmexbbq.com
Louie’s Craft BBQ, located at 122 N. Main St., Buda, is officially moving from a food truck to a brick-and-mortar location at 108 N. Main St., Buda. Owner Matt Carver made the announcement May 10 and stated he will be working with the city of Buda to complete the project. Louie’s first opened in Buda in 2019, and aside from brisket, pulled pork, sausage and ribs, serves sandwiches and various types of loaded potatoes. Carver said the anticipated opening time frame is spring 2022, and in the meantime Louie’s will continue operations in the food truck. 512-649-2727. www.louiescraftbbq.com/
Mudbugs – A Cajun Joint, located at 306 S. Main St., Ste. 107, Buda, is expanding its outdoor seating patio area after being granted a permit from the city to build a deck. Restaurant management said the updated outdoor seating area will accommodate 60 more diners and should be ready by mid-July. Mud Bugs opened in March 2020, and specializes in seafood fare that includes gumbo, crawfish etouffee and walleye pontchartrain. 512-523-8241. www.peaceloveandcrawfish.com
A new coffee shop called Burgundy Star Espresso, which was inspired by similar businesses throughout the Pacific Northwest, opened April 22 in Buda at 1710 FM 1626. Burgundy Star Espresso is accepting walk-up customers, but owners plan to have a drive-thru function open by May. The shop sells specialty lattes, mochas, cold brews, frappes, macchiatos and more. 360-324-9567. www.burgundystarespresso.com
The mobile food truck known as Parasol opened for business April 14 at 400 N. Main St., Buda. The food truck’s featured menu items include the Chimichurry Steak Salad, Pork Karate Schnitzel Sandwich and cornflake-crusted “PBJ”. 512-333-4543. www.facebook.com/ParasolFood
Buda Full Foods, a food truck and catering company that specializes in pub food including burgers, charred brats, sliders, fried pickles and brat bites, has taken over the kitchen menu at Willie’s Joint, located at 824 Main St., Buda, as of March 15. Popular Buda food truck Bandit Tacos, which opened July 4, also operates under the Buda Full Foods company umbrella and relocated in October from 2610 Main St., Buda, at Sunfield Station to the parking lot of Willie’s Joint. 512-748-3932. www.williesjoint.com, www.bandittacos.com
Shugabee’s Texas BBQ has been a mainstay for residents of Hays County since it first opened in March 2011, said Victor Garcia, who co-owns the establishment with his wife, Sarah, and his son, Victor Jr. Originally located at the corner of FM 967 and FM 1626 in Buda, it has since taken residence a few miles south at 1750 FM 1626, Buda, in the lot outside of local music venue Buck’s Backyard. Garcia said Shugabee’s is most known for two items, both of which are made on-site and combine into what he describes as one of the joint’s top sellers. “Our No. 1 item is our brisket, and it’s always been,” he said. “It’s just a really good cut of beef. And then, we’re also known for our homemade flour tortillas. They’re about 12 inches, so we’re able to get about a half pound of brisket on there.” 512-749-6340. www.shugabees.com
Tejas Birria, located at 2390 FM 2001, Buda, opened its doors Dec. 4. Tejas Birria is a food truck specializing in different variations of birria, which is a traditional beef stew with origins in Jalisco, Mexico, made with meat that is cooked for 12-16 hours. Co-owner Alex Hernandez said their version of birria is more in line with the Tijuana style that is more known for beef rather than goat. Hernandez said there is no phone number, but Tejas Birria has a website pending to facilitate an upcoming online ordering platform.
The central focus for Los Brothers Mexican Kitchen is authenticity—not toward the Tex-Mex cuisine that permeates the Central Texas area, said co-owner Adele Tinoco, but toward full Mexican recipes. Tinoco, who in 2019 opened the food truck with her husband, Sven Muehlhan, at its location at 204 FM 2001 in Buda, said her ambitions centered on providing another option for the community. “Around here, we have a lot of Tex-Mex,” she said. “So, here [at Los Brothers] we have authentic Mexican food.” The food truck has a diverse menu that includes breakfast tacos and combo platters, but two of the most popular items include the beef fajita (fajita de res) taco with peppers and onions and the compechanos taco, which has asada, or skirt steak, and chorizo dressed with cilantro and onions. 512-361-0477. www.losbrothersmexicankitchen.com
