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 Kuway’s Banh Mi, or Oye Taquito—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: Nicolai McCrary

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. 

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.

photo credit: Nicolai McCrary