Old Austin Still Alive at North Loop Food Park

The North Loop House & Yard is a slice of Austin located just off of 53rd and Airport Blvd. Despite showcasing some of our city’s most unique food and people, it’s an easy place to pass without noticing. If you get the chance, stop by. You won’t be disappointed.

This small cluster of trailers is the center of Austin renaissance. Many Austinites are worried about how quickly Austin is changing. Dozens of people (including me) move here every day. The massive growth of our city has been good in many ways, but there are some who are concerned about Austin losing its weird, “small town” vibe.

Enter our own North Loop food park, taking a Braveheart-like stand for Austin’s traditions and neighborliness. Oh, and food. They do a lot of that, too.

The Food

Starting from stage left if you’re looking in from the street, you’ll find Taco Bout It. This is my favorite taco truck in the entire city (that’s something to say in a city so saturated by fusion tacos). I recommend either the spicy Texican or the Cali Burrito. While you’re at it, sit back and chat with Hector, the owner. You may have seen him and his truck at local fundraisers or on TV!

Next up, we have Yoko Ono Miyaki. This food trailer is home to Austin’s widely popular Japanese pancakes. Dismiss mental pictures of pancakes Americans are used to eating with syrup. In fact, roundness is pretty much the only similarity. Yoko Ono Miyaki is famous for its original pork belly pancake. You can’t go wrong with the Cajun or Texas style pancakes, either.

Let’s continue making our way around North Loop House & Yard. The Red Rabbit Cooperative Bakery is a staple in Austin’s vegan and dessert cultures. That’s right, 100% vegan donuts made by a worker-owned cooperative. This type of business would be harder to pitch to the citizens of any other Texas town, but its right at home in the Capitol City. Red Rabbit’s donuts are gourmet and downright delicious. They have me convinced that donuts are meant to be vegan. The world just needs to catch up.

The newest addition to the North Loop group is BBQ Revolution, a 100% vegan barbeque joint. Texans love barbeque, and Austin probably has more vegans per capita than any city in the South. This was bound to happen. The delicious thing about BBQ Revolution is they treat their food like any other well-loved barbeque spot. They smoke it, grill it, and serve with (vegan) comfort food.

Tuesday Is Movie and Community Night

The North Loop House & Yard is more than just a food park. It’s a community. During any time of the day, you can join other Austinites in a game of giant Jenga. Everybody is friendly and welcome. They keep their dogs on leashes (and the dogs are always friendly, too!).

Fostering a healthy community is truly at the heart of this food yard. If you find yourself craving food, fun and films, Tuesday night is the Ride-In Movie Night. This is the ultimate hang out that nobody knows about, unless you are in the loop.

Every Tuesday night on North Loop, food park lovers come together to create an evening dedicated to indie movies and good vibes. The Ride-In Movie Night is your chance to meet and mingle with some of the friendliest people in Austin.

The food trucks whip together special meals for movie night. Taco Bout It’s $2 tacos are becoming famous for this reason. As the sun goes down, the projector lights up. You are bound to see anything from slasher flicks to early Tarantino flicks.

Oh, it’s also completely BYOB.

The North Loop House & Yard is a welcoming melting pot of the things that make Austin great. If you’re concerned with the changing demographics of our city, spend your time and money with the folks at North Loop House & Yard.

And on a random side note, if you need to get a solid, affordable haircut, walk around the building to Groom Cuts. It’s a local barbershop dedicated to clean cuts and good conversations.

North Loop House & Yard is located at 701 E. 53rd St., Austin, Texas, 78751.

 

@DustyVegas asks:

Have you ever been to the North Loop House & Yard?