Ensenada

Austin isn’t exactly a coastal city, but the fish tacos at the trailer Ensenada immediately  transport us to the beach in a few small bites. It’s named after a city in Baja California, where the specialty is fish tacos, and these are about as close as you’re going to get to the real deal without hopping on a plane, train, or automobile. The fish is flaky and the batter is crispy—add in a squeeze of lime and you’d be hard-pressed to find a more refreshing taco on a hot summer afternoon. Pick up some beers on the way and order a michelada for the full Ensenada by-the-bay food truck lot experience. Maybe it’s just our landlocked, daydreaming minds observing, but their bright orange trailer at the Arbor Food Park in East Austin pops out like a floating buoy, beckoning us in.

photo credit: Raphael Brion