The Vitals: the spot: Texas French Bread 2900 Rio Grande Austin TX 78705 the eats: TFB Burger: 90/10 Wagyu patty, cheddar, pickles, red onion and a tangy mustard slaw + fries the bucks: $17  w/ fries the full nelson:  Luxe burger that skips shock value toppings for classic complimentary flavors There have been multiple renditions of the TFB Burger at Texas French Bread. I have had two in as many years and both times I have been more than happy ...

The Vitals: the spot: Carnitas El Momo 2411 Fairmount St, Los Angeles, CA 90033 the eats: Carnitas tacos the bucks: $2.50 a taco the full nelson: Carnitas so juicy and full of pure porcine flavor that you don’t need salsa . . . When it comes to great tacos, you can reinvent the wheel but you sure don’t have to. Case in point: Carnitas El Momo in the historic Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles. Masters of simmering pork in ...

The Vitals: the spot: Dai Due 2406 Manor Rd. Austin TX 78722 the eats: Dry Aged Double Wagyu Burger the bucks: $20 (comes with sweet potato fries) the full nelson: the best bacon cheeseburger you never saw coming Back when I started Bang for your Burger Buck, I was protesting the rise of $10+ burgers that didn’t satisfy without a side of fries, or really, just weren’t all that. I made it a point to find burgers with all the ...

The Vitals: the spot: Dave’s Hot Chicken 970 N. Western Ave Los Angeles CA + locations throughout the city  the eats: Chicken Tenders and Chicken Sliders + fries the bucks: $11-$13 for a combo the full nelson: A delicious gut buster on multiple levels Nashville Hot Chicken ain’t just a Nashville thing anymore. Take it from a guy who has been to Nashville and done the deed, you can now find spicy as Hell fried chicken in Austin, Chicago, NYC ...

The Vitals: the spot: Ippudo 65 4th Ave New York NY 10003 the eats: Ramen the bucks: $16  the full nelson: a ramen that comes with a ton of hype and some seriously good pork belly buns How much should you pay for a bowl of ramen? That answer has changed dramatically over the last 20 years, in the US at least. In college, I never touched the stuff. And by “the stuff” I mean the ramen packets my pals ...

The Vitals: the spot: Casita Nicole Antojitos Mexicanos 9618 Manchaca Road Austin TX (parked at the Texaco) the eats: Machete, Huitlacoche quesadillas, and everything else on the menu the bucks: $10 a person will set you up nicely the full nelson: the taco place Danny Trejo should have opened and Austin’s answer to a Mexico City delicacy Just when I think I have seen it all when it comes to tacos, I come across machete tacos, tacos shaped like a ...

The Vitals: the spot: Salt and Time 1912 E. 7th St. Austin TX 78702 the eats: Butcher’s Burger the bucks: $11(with cheese) the full nelson: the best burger I have had in years . . . I’ve been reading Aaron Franklin’s book about steak recently, and it got me fired up to splurge on a premium steak. Not just a Filet Mignon from Whole Foods(ps I think filet is overpriced and not close to the best) but a steak carefully ...