Food

Guppys is a popular Indian fried chicken food truck located at 29th,  just off Guadalupe. It was founded by Raj Bandi, and he was later joined by Beck Scott, a 2022 St. Andrew's alum and now 50/50 owner. I had the privilege of interviewing Beck and discovering what makes this company special, beyond the never frozen Halal chicken and 2nd place Austin Chronicle Mango Achari hot sauce. 

How did you meet your co-owner, Raj?

Beck Scott: Yeah, so I met Raj at the food truck two weeks after opening, and I got word from my buddy Jamo that it was the best fried chicken he's ever had in his life. So I had to give it a try. And thankfully, I went on a slow day, so Raj was able to come out and talk with me, and we built a really organic relationship from the start. He was the only one running the truck. And in between his orders, he'd come out and sit with me, and we'd just talk. Then it became a business partnership, I'd say, two or three months into kind of just meeting and me wanting to voluntarily just help with recipes and help around with the truck stuff.

What's your current job like?            

Beck Scott: So I would say I'm an operator, and Raj is a technician. He is like the boots on the ground a lot of the time, managing our employees, making sure that the food is up to our standard every time, and handling some of the prep and cleaning as well. Handling all of our financials, our growth, and setting up our new truck. And then, meeting with potential investors and people that want to, you know, invest in Guppys and believe in our growth.

What is special about y'all's ingredients?

Beck Scott: Raj grew up in a really small town in India, where they had a family chili farm that they were selling to local markets and stuff. And his mom still operates a small section of that chili farm, so she ships down a big old package probably every three weeks. Those are chilies from his family farm that we turned into a whole bunch of things, sauces, dry rubs, and a little bit in our marinade for some of our wings. I think that makes it really special, along with, they say it's kind of corny, but in SpongeBob, the secret recipe for the Krabby Patty is not any real special ingredient. It's love. But Raj and his team and the team that we work with now, they put so much love in the product, but also to the customer, that I think that experience is really what keeps people coming back, more than just the incredible Indian Fried chicken.

How do y'all name the levels of spicy?

Beck Scott: We kind of messed around with it, like South Gangster. It's got southern Indian flavors, obviously, but we're also in the south and you're a gangster if you can handle it.  The other ones, we try to keep it really simple, especially for the Indian population that's coming to try our food, so they can identify the flavors based on some of the things that they maybe had when they were growing up at home, or dishes their mom cooked for them.

Y'all have pretty unique hours. How did those come about?

Beck Scott: So that's a big part of when it gets hot. I mean, we don't want to open up Indian fried chicken when it's 104 degrees outside. There's not a lot of people who are gonna be really craving spicy food when they're already burning, right? I think having a later hour schedule that matches the bar next to us allows, you know, late-night eaters to come out and indulge in some really great chicken. That's where the hours came about, but we change them based on the season.

Where did the name Guppys come from?

Beck Scott: So Guppys came from Raj's mom, and in his culture, they kind of have a system where you go to like their priest whether you're having a new baby or you're starting a company or something like that, they give you a recommendation of a few letters that are like blessed letters is kind of the easiest way to put it. One of them was G, or one of them was P; and Guppys just came to him early on in the process of something that was catchy, and he just liked it. It's funny, though, some people think he is Guppy. He's like, No, I'm Raj.

Is there anything else you'd like people to know?

Beck Scott : Come try it, and you'll be a forever Guppys lover. Yeah, I think Raj's story is so fascinating. He came from nothing, man. And, you know, then the grit and the strength, while he still maintained such a kind and, you know, giving heart, always giving out free things, always, you know, just connecting with his customers in such a meaningful, real way, that's the heart of a good man. And as I said, it's the heart of a company that I believe you can really scale. 

Hours 

Monday        12:00pm - 12:00am (Next day)

Tuesday        12:00pm - 12:00am (Next day)

Wednesday   12:00pm - 12:00am (Next day)

Thursday      12:00pm - 2:00am (Next day)

Friday           12:00pm - 2:00am (Next day)

Saturday       11:00am - 2:00am (Next day)

Sunday         11:00am - 10:00pm 

2908 Fruth St. B Unit 101 Austin, TX 78705

(737) 710-0022 

Outdoor seating only: 10-20$ per person

Austin is globally recognized for its vibrant restaurant scene and melting pot of countless authentic cuisines, including the iconic Tex-Mex. Our city is home to hundreds of taco joints, ranging from brick and mortar to food trucks. There are endless phenomenal restaurants, making it nearly impossible to decide where to grab a quick taco on the go, or a big plate for a sit-down meal. All these outstanding options can be overwhelming, which is why I’ve reviewed what I think are some of the best tacos in Austin.

I began my taco adventure at Fresa’s Chicken al Carbon. Fresa’s has been a go to for my family for years as a place for quick, on-the-go tacos, or a sit down meal. This time, I swung through the drive-thru on 9th and Lamar. It was easy and speedy, but, fair warning, the cost can really add up if you’re also in the mood for some chips and queso or another one of their delectable sides, including grilled sweet potatoes and crispy brussels sprouts. 

I ordered my two favorite tacos there, El Rey and La Fresa. My El Rey taco included beef brisket, cabbage, chipotle mayo, cilantro, and red salsa served on a flour tortilla. It was incredible. It should be noted, though, that it doesn’t hit every time. But when the ingredients are just right, it’s perfect. My La Fresa taco was served on a yummy corn tortilla with pulled achiote chicken, guacamole, cabbage, grilled onion, and cilantro. I absolutely loved it, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone trying Fresa’s for the first time. I skipped the spicy jalapeño salsa and went for the fire-roasted red salsa, which paired nicely with both tacos. Fresa’s also gets bonus points for their thin, crispy chips, and amazing sides. Sophomore Amelia Brandon is an enthusiast, adding “Their queso and brussels sprouts are really good. As for the tacos, they have really flavorful meat and a good balance of meat to sauce to vegetables.” If you’re not a fan of brussels sprouts, I highly recommend ordering a side of grilled beets, sweet potatoes, or Mexican street corn. Overall, Fresa’s is an amazing place, whether you’re going for a quick bite on 9th and Lamar or a sit-down meal at South First or Westlake Drive.

For a more elevated Tex-Mex experience, Las Palomas is the perfect choice. This upscale restaurant is in the heart of Westlake, and excellent for a date night or celebratory meal, but casual enough for a weeknight family dinner. Las Palomas is family-run; it was established in 1983 by Javier and Amelia Corona, and is now run by their daughter, MariCarmen Corona Dale. The service is fantastic and the food is high quality.

I almost always order the chicken fajita tacos, which are cooked to perfection and taste sensational with their rice & refried beans and guacamole. When I returned to review the tacos, I decided to go crazy and order the brand-new al pastor tacos. Unfortunately, they did not live up to my expectations. The pork was slightly dry, and the tacos as a whole were not very special. However, they came with a fresh green salsa that certainly upgraded them. Additionally, Las Palomas gets bonus points for the scrumptious chips and red salsa. The restaurant is always buzzing (and you may even hear live music), but it’s not too noisy. Although my al pastor tacos were not a huge hit, Las Palomas nevertheless has fantastic tacos and a spirited vibe.

If you’re looking for a fun place to bring a group of friends, Guero’s has you covered. Its lively home is located on South Congress, among a myriad of fun shops and restaurants. Guero’s was founded in 1986 by Rob and Cathy Lippincott. The inaugural location was on Oltorf street, before it moved to its current home in 1995. Now, sisters Lyle and Bette Lippincott have taken over their parents’ business. Over the years, Guero’s has gained a massive following, notably due to its nostalgic “old Austin” feel. The establishment also features a live music venue, Guero’s Oak Garden, adjacent to the restaurant. 

I’m always indecisive when it comes to ordering food, so I was thrilled when I discovered the street taco plate featuring four tacos, each with a different meat. I was able to try the pastor, brisket, steak, and chicken al carbon. The tacos were incredible, and the beans and rice were a delicious compliment. The brisket was my favorite, but every meat was delicious. From the buzzing location on South Congress to the self-serve salsa bar, the atmosphere was super fun. It felt like a whole experience rather than just a dinner. Grab a few friends and head to Guero’s, which, according to Sophomore Slater Dalton, is “just unbeatable.” She added, “It's always so good, and their queso is spot-on. You can never go wrong with it.”

You can’t review Austin’s tacos without mentioning one of our authentic food trucks. I visited Veracruz All Natural, an incredible establishment that has food trucks and restaurants around Austin. They have been recognized nationally, including a spot in Food Network’s top five tacos in America. Unexpectedly, this powerhouse had humble beginnings. Founded by sisters Reyna and Maritza Vazquez in 2008, Veracruz originally only sold smoothies, snow cones, and other drinks. Reyna and Maritza always knew they wanted to run a taco business, and their dream came true in 2010, when they expanded to a larger truck in East Austin. They started selling tacos, their real specialty, and Veracruz quickly amassed a large following. Today, they operate several trucks and even a couple brick and mortar locations.

I visited the South Austin location at a food truck park on the grounds of Radio Coffee. I was surrounded by an array of food trucks while standing under the dim cafe lights. The ambiance was fun, but not overwhelming. Upon inspecting the colorful menu on the truck’s exterior, I knew I had to try the barbacoa and al pastor tacos. The al pastor had tasty spices and fresh pineapple. I didn’t think the meat was more special than most other pastor tacos I have tried, but it definitely beat Las Palomas’ pork. However, take my opinion with a grain of salt, because some Veracruz fans rave about this taco. Sophomore Keira Lyle said, “Veracruz has my favorite tacos. I get the al pastor, it’s really good.” If you ask me, I would say the barbacoa taco is the way to go. It comes with slow cooked cow head, cabbage, radish, cilantro, and onion. The mouth-watering meat had the perfect amount of delicious juices flowing through the soft, delectable flour tortilla. The toppings were fresh and paired wonderfully with the beef. Though, I have to note, the prices were high for a place without table service or silverware. Lyle and I are in agreement, though, that “it’s worth it.” Overall, the food was wonderful and the atmosphere was lively.

You simply cannot go wrong with any place on this list, and I believe they can all be suitable for a handful of occasions. I am confident that Austin’s tacos do, in fact, live up the hype, whether you’re returning to an old favorite restaurant or trying a new hidden gem. So, I encourage you to start your own taco journey, support local businesses, and discover what may be your new favorite taco!