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Austinites love their food trucks! These mobile dining establishments gather in designated areas, offering a wide array of culinary choices for people to enjoy or are now the rage to cater a party or special event. In the past, our office building hosted food trucks daily, but unfortunately, they no longer visit us. The decline in sales, coupled with the discomfort of overheated employees and the heightened stress, has created a challenging situation for food trucks operating in the Austin area during this exceptionally hot summer.

Since July 8, Central Texas has been enduring scorching triple-digit temperatures without respite, putting immense strain on Austin’s beloved food truck industry. These temperature extremes have caused significant setbacks for this iconic facet of Austin’s culinary landscape. Food trucks have traditionally been a stepping stone for aspiring restaurateurs in the Austin region, yet the ongoing heatwave is now jeopardizing their livelihoods.

In response to the adverse conditions, several food trucks, including Tejas Birria in South Austin, Buda, and San Antonio, have implemented delivery services to compensate for the loss of in-person diners and income. Tejas Birria, for instance, had to make operational adjustments due to the excessive heat within their Austin truck. Owner Alex Hernandez noted that temperatures inside the truck were 10-20 degrees hotter than the outside, leading to changes such as refraining from using the fryer.

Jon Lach, the proprietor of the Southern-style food truck “Biscuits and Groovy,” shared that they have had to replace their truck’s air conditioning unit multiple times. The demand placed on the units by baking biscuits throughout the day proves to be too much for them to handle in the sweltering conditions.

Counter Culture, an all-vegan restaurant, thrived as a brick-and-mortar establishment in East Austin for 11 years until its closure at the end of 2022. However, owner Sue Davis revived the restaurant’s spirit by opening a food truck behind Tweedy’s Bar in the West Campus neighborhood in May. Despite these efforts, the restaurant is grappling with the challenges of finding its place in the midst of the oppressive heat.

Davis expressed the struggle they face, stating, “We have experienced a significant slowdown during this heatwave. We eagerly await cooler weather and remain hopeful for the future.”

The beloved food truck culture in Austin is facing a tough time due to the unrelenting heatwave. Food truck operators are adapting as best they can, but the extreme temperatures are putting their businesses and the vibrant culinary scene of Austin at risk.