By Erin Woods

Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ Review

Located in South Austin on Brodie Lane, Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ is changing the way Texans view traditional barbeque. The name speaks for itself in terms of concept as the food truck serves delicious barbeque with a Tex Mex flare. These two genres of food are must-haves when traveling to Texas and why not get the full experience at one location? Food trailers are growing in popularity, especially in the city of Austin, and citizens are continuously searching for food with uniqueness and quality; Valentina’s does both.

Although a food trailer, Valentina’s provides a true eclectic dining experience with wooden tables, potted cacti, and a gravel lot while a white tent provides relief from the beaming, Texas sun. These accommodations are not typical of a food trailer and bring a true restaurant feel to the parking lot. Overall the trailer maintains a relaxing atmosphere that almost mirrors a picnic. I arrived in the morning about an hour after opening and was eager to try a few breakfast tacos (a Texan favorite). Immediately, a smiling employee greeted my niece and I then patiently waited as we scanned the menu.

I ordered an Ultimate Bean and Cheese, a potato, egg, and cheese taco with brisket added, and a taco with pork! Barbeque for breakfast? Why not? While we waited for our eats, people began to form a line outside of the trailer and the smell of mesquite wood filled the air. On their Instagram page, the owners of Valentina’s clearly indicate they only use mesquite food for their smoking. Other photos on their Instagram include photos of meat by the pound and families enjoying food from the trailer. I imagine this place sells out of their barbeque daily like other BBQ joints around the area.

Around six minutes later our massive tacos were walked to us with a side of Valentina’s homemade BBQ sauce, which I originally mistook for salsa. Bean and Cheese tacos are my absolute favorite and these tacos definitely reached my standards. The beans were flavorful, but not overly spicy and were perfectly cradled by the homemade flour tortilla. The meat on the other tacos were so incredibly tender that my niece pulled the pork apart with her fingers in order to make the experience last longer. One taco was donned with fluffy, scrambled eggs while the other had a perfect egg over easy. Each taco was so stuffed to the brim that one taco is probably all that is needed to feel full.

On the main menu, the brisket taco (made with sea salt, lime, and guacamole) caught my eye. The sides of roasted corn and charro beans sounded amazing and of course no Tex Mex establishment is complete without the option of chips and queso. Foreigners of the state better know queso as hot, cheese dip. For the non-BBQ eaters there is a veggie taco made with rice, beans, and corn. Barbequed meat is also available by the pound to take home and enjoy. Each taco is around $6 and while the price may seem steep the tacos are piled high with meat and fixings. They are worth the price and your tummy with thank you.

Valentina’s is a family owned and operated establishment and the owner’s strive to serve food similar to the food they ate while growing up. On their website they describe themselves as, “a family that strongly encourages passion and love for family and friends” and their t-shirts, available for purchase, read “hecho con amor”. This passion is portrayed through their hand-rolled tortillas and fresh salsa.

The phrase “keep Austin weird” is a local saying and in a growing city locals are searching for places that do just that. As a native of Austin I am always hunting for restaurants that are both delicious and still provide an original Austin feel. Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ is a one of a kind place that will provide you with a one of a kind dining experience. I can truly say I have never had barbeque like this. If you are in the Austin area jump on Loop One heading south and make your way to this food trailer and get a true Austin experience.

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