“Second Helpings” offers tasty, bite-sized restaurant listings compiled from new and previous reviews, guides, and poll results. This week’s entries were updated by Erin Mosow. For quick, reliable info about Austin eateries, check here.
El Moreliana
3600 S. Congress, 442-8398 Monday-Friday, 6am-10pm; Saturday-Sunday, 5am-10pmThis is a small, but remarkably well-stocked market. Although the taqueria is small and the selection limited, the meat market makes up for it with an excellent selection of Mexican cuts. Parking is very limited, but their long hours make it accessible. On weekends, don’t miss the authentic barbacoa de borrego and barbacoa de chivo (goat).
Henry’s Butcher Block
1702 N. Mays, Round Rock, 310-7007 Tuesday-Friday, 8am-6pm; Saturday, 8am-3pm; Closed Sunday and MondayFamily-owned and -operated, Henry’s offers all-natural, hormone-free meat and poultry products, prepared by their on-site butcher, who doubles as the owner. Prime beef cuts, Wagyu and Kobe beef, fresh ground sausages, lamb, venison, boneless chickens, and more are available to take home for dinner or have them vacuum sealed to store in the freezer. In addition to smoked meats, poultry, and recipe-ready freezer packs, Henry’s offers game processing for the local hunter. Check their Web site for a complete list of available products (www.henrysbutcherblock.net).
Hudson’s Meat Market
1800 S. Congress, 445-6611 Monday-Friday, 6am-6pm; Saturday-Sunday, 9am-6pmDon’t show up at Hudson’s empty-handed — they don’t cater to the meatless. But they will make that whole deer or hog of yours into something you can bring home in the front seat. Hams, backstraps, and shoulders can come whole, halved, in steaks, or ground. Fajita meat, jerky, and sausage also available. Call for detailed information.
La Michoacana Paletas
1917 E. Seventh, 473-8487 6908 Cameron, 851-9404 512 W. Stassney, 916-9938This excellent carnicería and frutería fulfills every need of the Mexican kitchen. The meat market has all the cuts of meat preferred in Mexican cooking, including some interesting “grill packages” that come with an assortment of meats at a very reasonable price. On weekends, people line up early for freshly cooked pork carnitas, beef barbacoa, and best of all, barbacoa de borrego (lamb or mutton), the classic barbacoa of Interior Mexico, all available by the pound. Also available are Mexican cheeses, sour cream, and chicharrones.
Long Horn Meat Co.
2411 E. MLK, 476-5223 Monday-Friday, 8am-5:30pm; Saturday, 8am-4pm; Sunday, 9am-1pmLong Horn has a great variety of custom-cut, packed, and freezer-ready meat options, perfect for the large family or the individual. T-bones, sirloins, pork chops, ribs, and wieners are just a few items from the large selection of beef, pork, lamb, and poultry products. Not a red-meat eater? Goose, duck, chicken, and quail are available as well as goat and rabbit for those with the hankering.
World Food & Halal Market
9616 N. Lamar, 832-8365 Daily, 10am-10pmThis Pakistani-owned spot has a very cleanly run meat market with fantastic meaty goat heads for your goat-head soup and many more Middle Eastern/Southwest Asian goods than other local Indian/Pakistani markets. They have a large assortment of groceries for their size, and though their produce selection is limited, it’s all fresh.
This article appears in November 28 • 2003.