The Field Manual
Survival Tacos.
The truth is this: SXSW Interactive is a taco festival with a badge lanyard. If you optimize for the tacos, the panels, parties, and people happen to you. If you optimize for the panels, you'll eat a $28 rooftop breakfast taco and cry in a rideshare.
Day 1 · Hour-by-hour
- 6:45 AMUber (not Lyft, Austin knows) to Veracruz on Cesar Chavez. Order migas and la reyna. Cash tip.
- 8:30 AMBadge pickup at ACC. Enter through the loading dock side. Everyone else does the main. Not you.
- 10:00 AMSkip the keynote. Get coffee at Merit. Text people you actually want to see.
- 12:15 PMNixta on E 12th. Beet 'chicharrón' tostada. Order it even if you don't want it.
- 2:00 PMOne good panel. Front row. Ask a smart question. That's your networking done.
- 4:30 PMGolden hour walk on Rainey. Do not enter a bar with a queue longer than a taco truck.
- 6:00 PMFranklin BBQ if you pre-ordered. Otherwise Valentina's in Buda — it's worth the drive.
- 8:00 PMWhite Horse for dancing. Continental Club for the vibe. Both are non-optional.
- 11:30 PM3rd taco of the day: al pastor at El Primo or trompo at Pueblo Viejo. Argue about it later.
- 1:00 AMHome. Water. Electrolytes. You have four more days of this.
Taco / Panel Ratio Calculator
2.00TPR
Successful trip. You honored the format.
Below 2:1 is a failed trip. Deep in the heart of Texas, this is the law.
Do Not Skip
- 🌮 A breakfast taco. Two if you're being honest.
- 🎸 One music venue that isn't sponsored.
- 🍺 A bar tab with someone you didn't come with.
- 💧 Water. Every three hours. This is the whole game.
- 🤠 A single Texas flag photo. Just one.
East Austin Bracket · Live Vote
0 votes castOne vote per truck per browser. Champion crowned Saturday of SXSW week. Ballot-stuff at your own risk — Rita Ranch precincts will find you.
1
#1 Veracruz All Natural
E Cesar Chavez · Migas taco
0
0%
2
#2 Nixta Taqueria
E 12th · Beet 'chicharrón' tostada
0
0%
3
#3 Discada
E Cesar Chavez · Discada mixta
0
0%
4
#4 La Tunita 512
E Riverside · Birria consommé
0
0%
5
#5 Cuantos Tacos
E 12th · Suadero on baby corn tortilla
0
0%
6
#6 El Primo
S 1st (honorary East) · Al pastor
0
0%
7
#7 Pueblo Viejo
E 6th · Trompo
0
0%
8
#8 Taco Flats
E 6th · Cochinita pibil
0
0%
9
#9 El Borrego De Oro
S 1st / E crossover · Barbacoa de borrego
0
0%
10
#10 Tacos El Chilango
E Riverside · Suadero
0
0%
11
#11 Rosita's Al Pastor
E Riverside · Al pastor plate
0
0%
12
#12 La Fruta Feliz
Manor Rd · Fish taco
0
0%
13
#13 Papalote Taco House
E MLK · Chorizo & egg
0
0%
14
#14 Vaquero Taquero
N Loop crossover · Trompo taco
0
0%
15
#15 El Alma (East pop-up)
E 5th · Duck carnitas
0
0%
16
#16 The Feisty Hen
E 12th · Migas breakfast burrito
0
0%