Austin Metropolis Limits Music Competition: Finest Meals and Drinks at ACL

The Austin Metropolis Limits Music Competition (ACL for brief) returns this October 2024 for 2 weekends in a row, with a number of music, meals, drinks, and normal merriment. Competition attendees returning to the Austin music pageant will be capable to debate the lineup and work out what they’ll see. As visitors arrive from across the nation to see Chappell Roan, Dua Lupa, Chris Stapleton, Tyler the Creator, and others carry out stay, it’s price enthusiastic about how one can maximize your eating and consuming enjoyment throughout these three full days at Zilker Park.

C3 Productions, the pageant organizers, have tailor-made the foods and drinks choices to go well with the occasion over time — and it stays a significantly better meals courtroom than it must be. Naturally, Austin’s biggest hits — tacos, barbecue, beer, and burgers — characteristic closely. Fortunately, the choices additionally showcase native foods and drinks for weekend guests, which definitely provides to the general expertise.

There are all the time annual tweaks and adjustments to ACL’s foods and drinks lineups, and this yr isn’t any exception. There’s the first-ever taco courtroom that includes a few of the greatest Mexican eating places on the town like Con Todo, Paprika, and Veracruz All Pure, curated and together with Cuantos Tacos and Discada. Likewise, Neapolitan pizzeria Bambino is slinging pies inside the previously named Springs Beer Corridor (now known as the Huge Tent). There’s nonetheless the desserts-forever part ACL Sweets. And most significantly, pageant standby the Mighty Cone is again. There are 62 meals distributors this yr.

Beneath are Eater’s suggestions for navigating the pageant, and picks for on-site eating, in addition to picks for brunch, late-night, cocktails, and extra outdoors of the grounds. The pageant takes place from Friday, October 4 by way of Sunday, October 6, after which once more from Friday, October 11 by way of Sunday, October 13, all at Zilker Park.

Taylor Regulski for ACL Fest 2023

ACL Competition Ideas

With all out of doors festivals, the very best experiences outcome from superior planning. Observe the next meals and drink-related guidelines and associated issues to know:

• Clearly, outdoors meals and drinks aren’t allowed.
• There’s a strict bag coverage (clear baggage no bigger than 12 inches by 12 inches by 6 inches and/or common baggage that aren’t greater than 6 inches by 9 inches and/or smaller baggage with just one pocket. i.e. clutches and fanny packs).
• Empty wearable hydration packs with at most two pockets and plastic/metallic/aluminum water bottles are allowed. No glass containers. Refill stations can be found inside the park.
• Keep hydrated! Water is your buddy.
• The climate predictions for each ACL weekends at this level will likely be good, with sunny skies and scorching throughout the daytime (low 90s) and pleasant-to-chilly within the evenings (excessive 60s the primary weekend and low 60s the second). Put on layers. There’s an under-20-percent likelihood of rain the primary weekend, however do not forget that umbrellas are banned.
• Blankets and chairs are allowed. Coolers usually are not.
• It’s honest to anticipate eating places alongside Barton Springs Street to promote to-go booze once more this yr.
• Normal admission bars will serve cocktails.

ACL Competition Grounds Eats

Taylor Regulski for ACL Fest 2023

For these new to Austin’s meals scene, the alternatives on the meals courts will be daunting, particularly when strains get lengthy throughout peak dinner hours. Right here’s the place to focus your eating throughout these meals breaks to avoid wasting time. Eater didn’t obtain finalized menus from the pageant in time for this information, so we’re making normal ideas on your lunch, dinner, and dessert picks over the weekend.

Friday

Lunch

Cease by Nervous Charlie’s at ACL Eats: The bagel slingers will provide all-day sandwiches made with its every part bagels: bacon/egg/cheese ($12), the vegetarian-friendly avocado/egg/cheese ($12), and even what it’s calling a bagel canine (!!!) the place said-frank is positioned in an everything-bagel bun ($8).

or

Head to the La Pachanga Eatery for Con Todo: The Eater Award-winning meals truck will likely be slinging what it’s calling XL carnitas tostadas ($16), the place two corn tostadas will likely be topped with slow-cooked pork, guacamole, cilantro, onions, and salsas. Per the title of the enterprise, every part must be ordered “con todo” (with every part).

Dinner

Go for barbecue truck CM Smokehouse at ACL Eats: the crunchwraps are a conveyable approach to slot in this meal when you’re making your approach to the headlining phases to safe good views. There’s the brisket one ($13 for half, $24 for complete) and the vegetarian-friendly cauliflower model ($24) made in both corn or flour tortillas.

or

Cuantos Tacos at ACL Eats: The important meals truck serves implausible Mexico Metropolis-style tacos. Throughout ACL, it’ll provide trios of brisket ($18), carnitas ($18), and grilled mushrooms with adobo sauce ($18) for filling meals.

Dessert

Finish the day with JP’S Pancake Firm at ACL Sweets: The little pancakes in cups from the meals truck work very effectively for wandering the grounds. Of the out there flavors, make it a festive course with the birthday cake choice ($11), the place the pancakes are lined in a birthday cake glaze and sprinkles. Gluten-free and vegan pancakes can be found, plus you may add all of the toppings you need.

Musical performances

Take a look at Chris Stapleton, Blink-182, the Marías, Santigold (weekend two), Dasha, Norah Jones, and Model Pussy (weekend one).

Saturday

Lunch

Strive T-Loc’s Sonora Scorching Canines at ACL Eats: Get a style of Arizona in Austin by way of the Sonoran scorching canines ($15) from this meals truck. The bacon-wrapped scorching canine is doused in pinto beans, sauteed onions, diced tomatoes, mayonnaise, mustard, and jalapeño sauce.

or

Tiny Pies at ACL Eats: Sure, the bakery doles out nice sweets, however the savory choices work for a filling meal. The rooster hand pie ($14), which is mainly a rooster pot pie, is the very best guess.

Dinner

Enterprise over to Paprika at La Pachanga Eatery: The meals truck’s suadero taco trio ($16) isn’t to be missed, with confit brisket and goodies atop corn tortillas.

or

Regardless that New Texan butcher store and restaurant Salt & Time is technically closed, it’s nonetheless serving on the ACL Eats meals courtroom: Discover a model of its iconic burger, however this time, it’s a smash burger ($12 for a single patty, $16 for double) made with wagyu beef layered with cheese, mayonnaise, pickles, and non-compulsory bacon for an additional $3.

Dessert

Scope out Holla Mode: The ice cream truck dishes up enjoyable rolled Thai ice lotions, an ideal approach to cool off after a day of music. The sticky rice mango ($10) is a superb decide.

Musical performances

Take a look at Dua Lipa, Reneé Rapp, Vince Staples, Khruangbin, Remi Wolf (weekend two), the Seashores, and One thing Company (weekend one).

Paprika

Sunday

Lunch

It’s apt to get tacos for the final day of the pageant, no? Make your approach over to Discada at La Pachanga Eatery: The truck will likely be making its namesake tacos, the discada, out there in threes ($16). The meaty combination is made with confit beef and pork, plus onions, cilantro, pineapples, and habanero escabeche.

or

Steamies Dumplings at ACL Eats: Chinese language dumplings make for a wonderful lunch, and the farmers market stand-slash-cafe-slash-shop serves up a few of the greatest iterations in Austin. Half-dozen potstickers will likely be out there in pork-cabbage ($16), chicken-shiitake mushrooms ($16), and vegan ($16).

Dinner

For the ultimate (savory) meal of ACL, head to La Santa Barbacha at La Pachanga Eatery: The meals truck is all about barbacoa, per the title, so, sure, order the trio of barbacoa tacos ($16) served on corn tortillas with cilantro, onions, salsa, and limes.

or

Burro Cheese Kitchen at ACL Eats: The grilled cheese truck’s been a staple on the pageant for fairly a while. Go for one of many vegetarian-friendly sandwiches, particularly the sweet-savory Through 206 ($12) with cheddar cheese and a balsamic-apricot-fig sauce on sourdough bread. Bonus: there’s vegan cheese and gluten-free bread out there too.

Dessert

Shut out ACL with ice lotions from newcomer Dulce Amor Mio at ACL Sweets: The ice cream truck focuses on Mexican-ish flavored frozen sweets out there in cups ($10) or waffle cones ($12). The fresa con cream (aka strawberries and cream) sounds completely refreshing.

Musical performances

Take a look at Tyler the Creator, Sturgill Simpson, Chappell Roan, Dom Dolla, Kehlani (weekend one), and Orville Peck.

Bambino

Drinks

Beers

ACL turned what was beforehand the Barton Springs Beer Corridor into the Huge Tent, but it surely’ll nonetheless provide beer cans and draft cocktails. Additionally new this yr is a complete pizzeria setup by Austin restaurant Bambino. It’ll fireplace up pies just like the Mi Scusi (smoked mozzarella, marinara sauce, basil, and olive oil with a sesame seed crust), the Little Stinker (a white pie with provoline cheese, mozzarella, crimson onions, kale, and non-compulsory sausage), and the Joe Mars aka the Tracksuit (with these picturesque cupping pepperoni slices, mozzarella, ricotta, scorching honey, basil, and marinara sauce). There are additionally gluten-free crust choices and dairy-free cheeses. Count on the tent to be very crowded noon on Saturday, October 12 as folks watch the College of Texas at Austin versus the College of Oklahoma school soccer recreation.

Cocktails

ACL continues to be serving precise blended drinks in the primary pageant space. There are its normal admission bars (plus bars out there to various VIP-style wristbands) in addition to sponsored areas such because the Hendrick’s Gin backyard, Tito’s Vodka’s setup, Topo Chico’s onerous seltzer bar, Aperol Spritzes, and the Flor de Cana rum bar on the Barton Seaside Membership tiki bar. From the primary bars, anticipate Tito’s vodka-sparkling lemonade ($15 for 12 ounces and $23 for 16), amongst different choices.

Wines (alas, there aren’t any Texas choices)

The ACL’s Wine Grove is an efficient guess for carafes of wines, sometimes lighter ones like sparklings, rosés, and whites.

Nonalcoholic drinks

• Lemonade: The Come and Take It stand is providing freshly squeezed lemonade at ACL Eats.
• Excessive Brew Espresso: These transportable coffees are ubiquitous in Austin for a cause. Gas your rally to the end with a can — the double espresso is essentially the most balanced of the picks, with much less sugar than flavored choices.
• Rambler Glowing Water: The Texas-based fizzy water firm will provide its signature plain fizzy water in addition to flavored ones.

Ashley Osborn for ACL 2022

Meals Close to Zilker Park

For these trying to escape the pageant grounds for a bit, take a look at Eater’s vetted listing of foods and drinks choices proper close to Zilker Park. It covers migas, barbecue, cocktail bars, ramen, and every part in between.

Exterior of the ACL Competition Grounds

Different Austin Necessities

Eater’s complete metropolis information is a cheat sheet of types for newbies to city. On the lookout for extra choices? Listed below are a number of extra maps and guides that could be of curiosity.

Breakfast

The primary meal of the day is essential to get you ready for all of the standing, dancing, and consuming that’s forward of you at ACL. Gas up.

Katrina Barber/ACL Fest

Consuming

Hydration is necessary, however so is booze, and Austin has every kind of cocktails, beer, and comfortable hours to maintain you going.

Late-Evening Meals

Embrace the truth that you are most likely going to remain up actually late (or actually early, relying on the way you have a look at it). Would possibly as effectively soak up some meals throughout these waking hours.

This information was initially written by Tom Thornton.