El Marisquero Seafood

Editor's Note - El Marisquero has moved to a new lot in South Austin. We'll update this review when we've had a chance to check it out.

Gas stations in the Austin area are a treasure trove of great food. And we’re not talking about hot dog rollers and microwaved wings. We’re talking about excellent food trucks and trailers that park themselves outside of gas stations, like Oye Taquito, or small indoor operations like Wee’s Cozy Kitchen, that turn gas fill-ups into more of a treat than a chore. Getting gas at the Shell station near I-35 and Town Lake has become one of our favorite treats of all, because it’s home to El Marisquero, a food trailer making some of the best mariscos in Austin. 

The specialty here is all things seafood—from ceviches and aguachiles, to whole fried fish, oysters, and a half pineapple filled with grilled shrimp, octopus, and cheese. Our go-to order changes with the weather—raw foods in the summer, and heartier, grilled items when it’s cooler out—but we’re also convinced that there’s never a bad time for ceviche. 

photo credit: Richard Casteel

There’s a red and a green aguachile—if you’re okay with a bit more heat, we like the red just a little bit more. But if it’s close to the holidays and you want to feel festive, get them both and pretend like it’s actually cold out. Then grab some ceviche and maybe a whole fried fish. 

photo credit: Richard Casteel

photo credit: Richard Casteel

photo credit: Richard Casteel

Order a michelada from El Marisquero, and they’ll give you a cup with everything but the beer. That’s where the close proximity to a gas station with a giant cooler of ice cold Modelos comes in handy. The food comes out pretty fast, but use those few minutes after you order to stock up on cold beverages, then grab a seat on the covered patio. Despite being just a few feet away from one of the busiest stretches of I-35, the covered patio, music, and nautical decorations  make the whole place feel like an escape. And it’s just close enough to the water that you might even feel like you’re on the coast somewhere, sipping on micheladas and eating fresh ceviche—just don’t actually get in the water. 

Food Rundown

photo credit: Richard Casteel

Ceviche 3 Amigos

Ceviches here can be made with fish, shrimp, octopus, or—our favorite—all three, known as the three amigos. It adds a little bit of texture to the mix, plus there’s something nice about knowing they were all friends, willingly or not.

photo credit: Richard Casteel

Aguachile Rojo

If you’re only getting one thing at El Marisquero, get the shrimp and scallop aguachile in red salsa. The red packs a little more heat than the green, but also a bit of a roasted flavor that works great with the lime-cured seafood.

photo credit: Richard Casteel

Baja Fish Taco

With a crispy batter, this is one of the bigger fish tacos you’ll find in town. It all gets dressed in a spicy mayo-based sauce with some pico, cabbage, and cilantro for freshness.