Veracruz All Natural

Austin, TX (The Joy of Food) — As is the case with many popular dining destinations in Austin, at Veracruz All Natural your meal will come off the back of a truck.

And here, it’s not just any truck, but a converted school bus with a fully functioning kitchen inside. While you eat, surrounded you will be by grackle birds who sound like kazoos, and you’ll need to assume a defensive hunched-over position to keep them from flying away with your lunch.

Mexican food options in Austin can be overwhelming and plentiful, often veering toward Tex-Mex — giant plates of crunchy, crusty mains and sides of rice and beans that are overflowing. The food at Veracruz is just as satisfying, even though it may not look the part by comparison.

What started off in 2008 as a small trailer slinging cold drinks and smoothies grew into a beloved operation that touted noteworthy tacos. In the early days, this place mainly served the local Mexican and Latin American population, but the secret is out. Now Veracruz is a mini-empire sprouting additional trucks and brick-and-mortar stores throughout the Austin area. Each spot has a slightly different menu and gives customers a reason to rotate among their locations.

Migas rein supreme here and are Veracruz’ claim to fame, a type of scramble that’s usually eaten for breakfast. When you unwrap this you’ll find a thick flour tortilla with layers of fluffy free-form eggs, avocado, cheese, pico de gallo, and tortilla strips for added crunch. Potato, beans, eggs, and avocado make up the guts of most of the meatless items, all of them hearty and comforting. If breakfast for you does not exist without bacon, there is that too on some of the other menu items.

If it’s fish you’re after, that’s expertly done like everything else. Grilled tilapia is on the menu, made similar to fish tacos in a number of different places and dressed with the usual vegetable toppings. They also have steak, barbacoa (cow head), and al pastor (pork) tacos, or get these things stuffed into a cheesy quesadilla with all the fixings. 

There is queso, usually gut-bombing and artery clogging, but here it is vegan, made of cashews, and still decadent. An order of well-salted, yet not-greasy chips is a great vehicle for scooping the creamy queso, or you might prefer some chunky, fresh avocado as your dip. 

Drinks like smoothies and aguas frescas go pretty well with anything on the menu, especially the things that are texturally similar — fluffy eggs and creamy avocado.

Everything is scratch-made using fresh all natural ingredients, from the tortillas to the self-serve squeeze bottle sauces that make up the better part of a rainbow: a spicy molcajete (roasted jalapeños and tomatoes); a spicy verde (jalapeño); and a very spicy roja (chile de arbol). Every ingredient gets listed out on the menu, and prices are on the lower side. This is hearty, inexpensive, working-class food made with attention to detail.

Expect a line, a long one. The crush to order at Veracruz can sometimes back up onto the sidewalk in an untidy part of town a little east of downtown proper. Get your food ‘for here’ and you’ll be dining al fresco at fenced-in picnic tables for some added camaraderie and flair. During the winter months the arctic cold can be unpleasant, but the food seems to keep people happy.

Written by Joy

Thanks for reading. The Joy of Food blog celebrates eating well, traveling often, and living la dolce vita. San Diego, California is home base, but thoughts are from all over. Reviews and photos help to highlight wonderful (or not) food experiences from around the world.

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