East Side King

Me and my husband really enjoyed eating here. We got the Thai Chicken Karaage (#1), Poor Qui Buns (pork belly buns — #2)and the Tako (grilled octopus — #11). They were all REALLY good. We both really enjoyed the thai chicken best. It’s not overly spicy, which was great for me, since I’m not really a fan of spicy food. However, they have a nice selection of hot sauce on the side that you can choose from. We will definitely be returning!

Consistency people. They have it. The dishes are all great. Order one of each for nearly under $ 50 and enjoy the picnic tables and beer garden.
I didn’t think I could love fried chicken and beets so much, but ESK has changed my mind.

One word can describe East Side King… Amazing, delicious, must-​try, best food trunk in Austin :)
If I lived in Austin I would eat at East Side King everyday! The cabbage 2-​ways is one of the best dishes I have had from a food truck. In addition East Side King is located within The Whisler’s and it is the perfect pairing. This food truck is worth the walk and is a definite must go to!

WOW. Looking through the menu I was a little stressed because I literally wanted to try every single thing. I think I was able to taste about ²⁄₃ the menu thanks to my generous friends. Standouts for me were the curry buns, fried kimchi & brussels sprout salad, but, tbh, everything is a winner at East Side!

ESK is the best! I’ve been here so many times and brought so many people here to the Liberty Bar to try out the ESK I can’t even remember how many times I’ve been here. You MUST try the Brussels sprouts, even if you’re complete Anti-​Brussels sprout. The buns are amazing. I particularly like Qui-​Buns and the Curry-​Buns (they’re made with peanut butter) and the chicken Karage is out of this world.
Look, if you really want to impress out of town people. Bring them through the dark Liberty Bar and outside to the back patio in the sunshine to experience this amazing and one-​of-​a-​kind place.
PRO TIP, order everything on the menu and definitely get the chicken sandwich. It’s like a chic-​fil-​a sandwich but with grown-​up spices and taste. It’s probably the best chicken sandwich in Austin.

Wow when they say the food is spicy, they really mean it. I’m good with spicy, but MAAAAAN that beef panang curry though… not an unbearable spicy, but isn’t enjoyable. It didn’t taste good, but the spiciness was addicting. We ordered a lot of other items on the menu (thai-​kun fried chicken, waterfall pork, grilled bread with peanut curry sauce, and black noodles)… they were all meh… the best was the black noodles for sure though. Perhaps I got spoiled by thai food in norcal/​bay area, but I wouldn’t come back here…

This menu here is awesome at ESK! Wish the brick & mortar offered the same items. Wish I could get chicken buns at the brick & mortar BUT the quality and care that the trailer gives is better.

I got to try the liberty rice with the chicken karaage. The chicken was tasty with a sweet and spicy tang. This chicken was nice and crispy and the garnishes (basil, cilantro, mint, onion) complimented the dish very well. The reason I gave East Side King a ⁴⁄₅ is because I feel that it is pricey — $ 9 — when the portion is quite small and not that filling.
I think the ambiance of the place is great! The food truck has easily identifiable artwork painted on and the staff was really nice. I do find myself coming back to try their other food mostly because of its location.

The wife and I got into Austin the day AFTER SXSW and made the mistake of coming to East 6^th St… on a Monday no less. Fortunately this was one of the places on our list… even with Paul Qui’s unfortunate turn of recent events with his legal issues. His main restaurant, Qui, a few blocks away was closed, however, and probably won’t open for a while if he is the main anchor for the place.
Anyway, ESK as locals call this place is a cool Asian-​inspired food truck/​outdoor eating joint located in the back yard of a bar (you have to walk through the bar and you have to be over 21 to get in so not kid friendly). Grab a beer on your way through the bar and head to the back area!
This was our 2^nd dinner so we only wanted to grab a few bites and chose the pork buns and Brussels sprout salad. Coming from SF we’ve been pretty spoiled in terms of pork buns and this one wasn’t anything too out-​of-​this-​world. Nice soft bun and FATTY pieces of pork. I felt like it was a little nonstandard without too much of the XO sauce flavor but still a decent bun.
The Brussels sprout salad I wasn’t too big of a fan. My wife enjoyed it though. We just had a Brussels sprout dish from Uchiko that had a nice sweetness to balance out the bitterness of the sprout. However, the chili sauce and the basil elements of the salad was tasty although I can see how some would think there are too many powerful flavor elements.
Overall, love that this place was open on a Monday night, good beer from the bar, nice seating area minus the cigarette smoking (not used to the smoke coming from Cali) and decent food with fair pricing.

I was beyond hyped to try this place out as it is owned by Top Chef’s Paul Qui. I, along with 7 friends, ordered a slew of items on the menu– Poor Quis Buns, Beet Home Fries, Fried Brussels Sprout Salad, Liberty Rice, Curry Buns, and Thai Chicken Karaage Buns. Everything looked gorgeous. Upon tasting everything, each bite was just too bold or strong. There wasn’t anything to help calm the flavors — I needed something like pickled ginger to cleanse my palate after each bite. Even the craft beers didn’t help, instead the combination of the flavors of the food and beer made each other stronger. It was too much of a flavor explosion for me.

Beet fries, fried kimchi, fried brussels sprout salad, and karaage chicken bun things… you really can’t go wrong with any of these things.
Located on the back patio of the Liberty bar in Austin, I was delighted to find that the line wasn’t super long, and that they not only took cash, but card as well (hey, you never know).
The patio was completely full, so we had to sit inside the bar itself (kiiiiiinda humid). When our food arrived, I didn’t know what to start on first — do I dig into the brussels sprouts? Do I pick thru the beets or the kimchi? GAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH.
So many things. And so so so good. I loved this place. I want fried kimchi everyday now, thanks to this place.
Couple these food items with a rye manhattan from the bar and my night was pretty much golden :)

As good as it gets, but beware!
Order the Beet Home Fries once and you will be consumed with getting your next fix thereafter.
Taste the sauce in the Brussels Sprouts Salad and you will literally crave it again within 15 minutes of having licked its paper container spotlessly clean.
A gluten sensitivity won’t save you from your East Side King addiction, as both of these dishes and many other habit forming delicacies can be made gluten-​free, but they still will make you need, not want, to come back for more. Again and again.
You’ve been warned.

Now since I’m only visiting Austin for a short time this might not be a total fair review but @ 1 am and hungry as beck after visiting 6^th street this place provided some great eats when you are starving in the middle of the night. The liberty already quieted down and the hungry folks are outside munching and chatting.
I got the poor quis. Get it porkie? Ahhahahahaha! These pork belly slices are atop a bao type bun you know like where they put roasted duck on with hoisen sauce and green onions. These bad boys seriously were good.
Now I’m sorry for not ordering anything else. Wish I did. Now the menu looked very Asian influenced with beef tongue «tacos» (on a bad bun). Curry bun, etc.

Always heard of East side king but never tried it before. Last time I searched on Unilocal,it took me to the trailer at wonder bar, which has a similar name but not as good as this one. The appearance from the outside might not be the best, but once you enter its really kicking.
The drinks were really good, we tried a bunch. All good priced stuff, I was surprised our bill for 3 rounds for 3 people for 32 $!
The food is really on another level! All the options have a really different and new mix of ingredients that surprise you! We had almost everything on the menu and it was delicious. The fried chicken was good spicy, the chicken and rice had a flavor that really hit the right spot!

Had the pork belly bun which was tasty but not quite what I wanted. Fried kimchi same thing — good but not as flavorful as you might think. Service was excellent, fast and precise. Also the fried chicken thighs — delicious. Sit at the patio in the back.

Why??? Why? Do u want to eat here. maybe because you are drunk and want a quick eat… their menu is limited and what they have is made of shit… frozen chicken served as fried chicken and noodle served with bowl of soya sauce…

If you haven’t ever been to East Side King, do yourself a favor and RUN here.
Tucked behind the Liberty in east 6^th, you’ll find a delicious Asian fusion food truck. I’m not much of a east side of 6^th girl, but I’ll always come back for you, esk.
Super bowl Sunday was my first visit. I let the man in charge of slanging this deliciousness know that I hadn’t ever been before. He recommended the top 4 items and I am not disappointed in any. I took the Thai chicken karaage, por quis buns, and fried kimchi. Seriously heaven in a carton!
I know esk has been an «austin» thing for awhile that I’ve pondered wandering into. I’m so glad that I found you! What a treat!

We walked into The Liberty bar not even realizing the East Side King trailer was in the back. Actually, I have never heard of ESK and my boyfriend thought they were a taco truck, so that goes to show we had no expectations before coming here.
We got the fried chicken buns which were tasty and VERY spicy, so I only recommend it to those who enjoy the heat (like myself). I know it’s not totally fair to judge a place based on just one dish but almost everything on the menu sounded pretty similar; karage done in different forms (either by itself or in a bun) and spicy kewpie and cilantro thrown on top. Seems like these flavors are a novelty here in Austin so maybe that explains the exceptionally high reviews.
The guys here seem really nice though, and their offerings at their other locations see more extensive so I would be open to checking them out if I come back to Austin.

Wow! Like Seriously Wow! I thought I’d tried all iterations of Brussels sprouts and nothing could surprise me. The tame looking Brussel sprouts salad at East Side King blew my mind.
In the midst of a BBQ laden city these tiny little green veggies hold their own. They stand to assert themselves as some of the tastiest things to eat while in Austin. I didn’t think Vietnamese herbs tossed with creamy roasted brussel sprouts would mélange well but they do! They wallop with fantastic flavors and textural nuances! Don’t miss out on the culinary treats available at East Side King.
The staff here know they are cooking up amazing eats. While in line I overheard, «Well, at least you don’t have to make shitty food everyday» when one was lamenting about the state of his life. They know they are making food that will blow your mind and they are proud to be the ones who make it and serve it to you.

All other food trucks need to get out of the competition. There’s a good reason that «King» is part of the name.
I don’t know what they do to those brussels sprouts, but I’ve never had any that good in my entire life. I went back for a second order because one wasn’t enough — this might be the only time that’s ever happened in my life. Perfectly cooked sprouts (crispy leaves included), shredded cabbage, alfalfa sprouts, fresh basil, cilantro, mint, onion, and jalapeño, spicy sauce… are you KIDDING ME.
I also tried the Thai chicken karaage (fried chicken thigh), tongue buns, and curry buns, and the liberty rice, and everything was incredible. If you can make even the rice craveable, then you’ve worked miracles, in my opinion. The only thing I wasn’t a superfan for was the fried buns that were a part of a few different offerings, but to each their own.
I was only in Austin for 4 days, and I ate at ESK twice, both at the request of friends that live in Austin. It’s now been a few weeks since I left, and I still haven’t stopped telling people about this place.

There truly is nothing that can compare to East Side King. This place has really brought my inner foodie to the next level. I’m not a very adventurous eater, but I closed my eyes and went head first into trying the Poor Qui’s Buns. They consist of pork belly, which is adventurous food for me. Wow. Those were delicious! If you are at all a picky eater, I would suggest trying those pork belly buns. I literally could eat ten. The savory pork belly was so tender and it paired nicely with the sweetness of the bun and hoisin sauce. The fried Brussels Sprout Salad is another ESK creation you wish you had as a kid. I know it would’ve made me feel quite differently about the vegetable had I tasted it in my youth. Every small little sprout is bursting with flavor. It had me hunting them out in my salad. ESK is incredibly delicious and a restaurant for everyone, in my opinion.

As much as I love the food, the truck location gets a one star from me after running my card for an extra transaction.
Nothing like having your experienced ruined by seeing fraudulent charges on your credit card.

OK amazing brussels sprout salad perhaps the best of my life! I’m a big fan of the Brussel sprout salad and I’ve eaten a lot of them. The flavors are perfect, it’s absolutely to die for. If your not too big on spicy have them skip the jalapeños. Don’t look for a food truck from the street level, this place is a bar with food truck parked out back. That was a bit of a surprise. Great find.

I came here only because I forgot that they were at Liberty Bar and I was pretty full after eating two other trucks, but I’ve been dying to try this place. I had the beet fries and the brussel sprout salad…
I wet myself…
Plain and simple. This place is good. There’s no need to think about it.
Get your ass there if you are on sixth street. Save money on that last drink you are going to buy and fill your stomach with this deliciousness.

Look No Further Entertainment had the pleasure of working with East Side King during a chilly, November wedding at Stonehouse Villa. Their food truck was a SUPER COOL TOUCH. They served up some serious delicious grub and added a very Austin vibe to the whole event. Paul Qui really has his ducks in a row. Hats off to these guys!

I went to the location of dirty 6^th street. The bar was awesome. Pool table, games etc… Sloppy joe was a little over seasoned, but still yummy. Beet fries are my new favorite food! Worth checking out any location, but the dirty 6^th spot was pretty cool.

This menu here is awesome at ESK! Wish the brick & mortar offered the same items.
The food is so on point at this location we order an obscene amount but we love the chicken & I just have to have the Brussels Sprouts & Beets!!! So worth to find parking but tonight we lucked out; parked right up front. Sunday night around 9 is the time to come before the true alcoholics make their way down here. Have a beer, get some quality grub & then you can book it home to wash your face get your jammies on & don’t forget to brush your teeth, then rest your head with a content tummy full of deliciousness!

I came here a couple of months ago for a very late late night snack. I ordered the veggie meshi (brussels sprout salad + liberty rice) — tasty! The ambiance of this place is also quite chill. I’d come back here to just hang out, have some beer, and eat some food, low key style.
–L.

OMG I WANT TO PAY MONEY TO PARK EAST SIDE KING IN MY BACKYARD. I was visiting Austin and told to visit ESK by a long-​time Austin local. This, not kidding, may have been one of the best meals I have ever eaten. I grabbed a drink inside The Liberty and headed out back to ESK. I had no expectations for the food, since I was supposed to eat dinner with a friend that night, and when they cancelled I texted my local friend and asked for a last minute suggestion, and alas, there I was. I went for the chicken buns and an order of the oddly appealing beet home fries.
The food was incredible. Truly. The flavors were all strong without being overpowering, with light fluffy buns wrapped around perfectly crispy chicken and tangy slaw that were so so so good. And oh my goddddd the beet home fries. What can i even say? So creative and juicy, and perfectly paired with a tangy mayo to dip. Love this place. I was in Austin 5 months ago and I haven’t stopped talking about my meal at ESK. A must.

Awesome hipster place, great crowd, great people, great service ! This is the way to really experience Austin nightlife!

I’ve been wanting to try qui’s Brussel sprouts for a while now, and thank goodness for awesome food at ACL because east side King was there! The Brussel sprout salad was delicious– just as I expected. The light flavors in the seasoning and dressing complemented the flavors of the vegetables really well. I’m excited to try the Liberty rice and qui buns at the actual spot sometime soon!

This is the first time we tried out this location, and it was pretty darn good. Let me get straight to the food, it was DELICIOUS. Everything, I mean everything we had ordered was so fresh and delicious. We had the curry buns and the chicken buns, as well as the fried kimchi and their Thai style chicken with liberty rice. The ambience is funky cool, with outdoor seating (make sure you utilize some OFF spray before coming. If you forgot too, they have bug spray you can use if the bugs are biting). Even after dousing myself with their bug spray, I was bitten alive by these critters (still getting used to these Texas-​sized monsterous mosquitoes). But I decided to suck it up, and I sat through the torture because the food was absolutely delicious. In fact, I am craving me some curry buns right!
I know I will be going back soon, and often.
Oh, and Curry Buns.

Poor Qui’s buns (pork belly) were divine. I don’t know how they cook the pork belly to have that perfect tender texture, and it was really flavorful too. Could’ve used more greens in my opinion, but the meet really did shine.
I think their brussel sprouts were the best I’ve ever had. Crisp, packed with sweet Asian soy sauce-​based flavor, but not completely masked/​drenched in sauce like most places seem to prepare brussel sprouts.
Rather pricey for a food truck, but definitely worth the try. As a big fan of Paul Qui as well, I had high expectations and left satisfied.

When I walked up to one of their trucks, I was confused when I saw the menu because I was looking for some pork buns but there was none. Turns out, there is more than one truck that is specific to what kind of food they serve (i.e. Thai, Chinese). According to the guy taking our order, the trucks are not far from one another. We were at the Thai one so my review will be specific for that one.
I ordered the beef curry one which was one of the spicy dishes. The guy made sure I could tolerate the spiciness so he handed me a sample. I like eating spicy food so this was finally up to par to «spicy.» It came with rice which alleviated some of the spiciness. The other dish I sampled from my sister was the sweet & spicy pork belly. The meat was soft and definitely on the sweeter side. My friends seemed to enjoy that dish the most.
I wasn’t a huge fan of the sausage dish since it was a little too sour for me. Next time when I’m back in Austin, I want to try their other trucks and see what else they have to offer. Overall, I enjoyed the food and the staff was nice!

Came here as part of the food tour. Can’t comment on too much, but I did feel inclined to say…
The thai chicken bao was soooo good. Great heat on it.
Cool thing they do is the beet fries.

Located out the back of Liberty.
Crispy Thai chicken wings here were so incredibly flavorful that they were one of the best single things I’ve ever tasted. Just a couple of bites in, this place got an «insta-​5» from me. I wanted to come back for every meal, but wanted to still experience more of Austin.
Love the ambiance in the back here– gravel floor with many picnic tables, smoking is allowed though. Food truck is «Austin style» where it is immobile, sitting permanently in the back of the lot. You can bring your craft beer from Liberty out here and have a glorious time.

My absolute favorite food truck on planet earth. If I lived in Austin I would eat here every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s seriously that good. I was so eager to get here, I got here at 2pm and they didn’t open ’til 4pm.
Since I couldn’t grab lunch here, I came back for dinner. The door guy inspected our drivers license for a solid minute, then asked to see them again once we walked in. I thought that was a little peculiar, but he wasn’t rude about it. We immediately walked to the back to order food and find a seat.
It was my girlfriend’s first time so we ordered the chicken buns, the fried chicken and Brussels sprout salad… twice. No seriously, she loved it so much, we sat there for 2 hours and pigged out again. We couldn’t finish the second round, but we boxed it up and brought it home for a snack.
I noticed they added more picnic tables to accommodate the high volume of patrons there to eat. Every table was full but spots opened up pretty quickly.
East Side King is a MUST when you visit Austin. I wish they’d open one in Houston.