For many people, the beginning of October elicits images of pumpkins, foliage and spooky movies. For others, it sparks cravings for sausage, pretzels and cold beer. Though Texas has no shortage of Oktoberfest celebrations this time of year in New Braunfels and Fredericksburg, Austin’s plentiful German eateries will ensure that you don’t have to travel far to get your sausage on. Here are four of Austin’s finest German-style eateries to get you started.
Banger’s
This Rainey Street fixture stays true to its name, serving up 30 different house-made sausages and over 100 beers on any given day. The sausage selection at Banger’s spans everything from your basic run of the mill bratwurst to far more ambitious options like the South Texas antelope merguez. Banger’s also has an impressive brunch menu on Sundays and great live music from local bands. Though the brunch menu isn’t necessarily German-inspired, it’s still an experience worth checking out in the fall as the Texas heat subsides.
Easy Tiger Bake Shop & Beer Garden
Easy Tiger is a good place to stuff yourself with pretzel bread and beer. Though not as extensive as the selection at Banger’s, Easy Tiger’s sausage menu still features some intriguing creations like the turkey boudin or the venison cheddar hot link. All of the sausages can be served on a house-made pretzel bun that will give you your carb fix for the week. What really makes Easy Tiger stand out, though, is its awesome charcuterie and board selection. Customers can either order an
entire board specially curated by the cooks, or they can select separate seasonal charcuteries specific to their tastes. My recommendation for this time of year would be the Oktoberfest board, which features two types of wurst, corned beef and pastrami. Accompany the board with your choice of one of their 33 craft beers and you won’t leave disappointed.
Scholz Biergarten Garten
This spot is prime for celebrating your German roots while also enjoying some college football on Saturdays, as it always has the games playing on the numerous televisions in both their dining room and outdoor patio. The menu at Scholz is brief, but it has all the essentials for a well-rounded German meal. You can never go wrong with the giant pretzel, which easily feeds two or three people, and the sausage board is a good way to sample their sausages without having to make any commitments. Another great thing about this restaurant is that they seem to serve queso dipping sauce with everything. Even the chicken wings come with queso to dip them in. It’s worth noting that the folks behind Frank hot Dogs and cold beer are currently taking over operations at Scholz, but management has stated that this will not cause any drastic changes to the things that make it special to so many Austinites.
The Best Wurst
Often posted up in the heart of Dirty Sixth, this unassuming little food stand cranks out some of the most satisfying sausage one can find in a drunken quest late at night. There are only four options at the stand, including a classic brat, a smoked jalapeño sausage and a link, but coming fresh off the flat top grill, these locally sourced brats are the perfect chase for those three beers that you put down at Peckerheads only moments ago. Be sure to pile copious amounts of grilled onions, steamed sauerkraut and house sauce on your banger, because you’ll need all the food you can fit in your belly to absorb the unholy amount of alcohol that preceded it all.
