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6 Austin Restaurant Shutters to Know

From Pollo Tropical to Trackside to Hey!...You Gonna Eat or What?

The deep-fried Monte Cristo sandwich from Hey!...You Gonna Eat or What?
The deep-fried Monte Cristo sandwich from Hey!...You Gonna Eat or What?
Amy H./Yelp
Nadia Chaudhury is the editor of Eater Austin covering food and pop culture, as well as a photographer, writer, and frequent panel moderator and podcast guest.

April and May brought about a whole bunch of restaurant, bar, and food truck closures to Austin, along with major ones like Scarlet Rabbit in Round Rock, Cantine, Isla, and the just-announced Apothecary. Here’s a look at the latest shutters in the city, with a few winter ones that were recently brought to light.

SOUTH LAMAR — Pollo Tropical, the Caribbean-inspired chain from Fiesta Restaurant Group, closed up its South Lamar location in late April (along with others across Dallas, Forth Worth, and Nashville). The South Austin address used to be home to a Taco Cabana, which also falls under the restaurant company’s. There is no word on what will happen to the space, but perhaps it'll revert to a Taco Cabana again.

MEALS ON WHEELS — Sandwich trailer Hey!...You Gonna Eat or What?, known for its the deep-fried Shiner Bock-battered Monte Cristo, is closed with an uncertain future. According to a Tweet from the truck’s account, presumably from chef/owner Eric Regan, it’s looking to reopen as a brick and mortar, or not come back at all. People have noted that the truck is no longer parked at the Midway Food Park on Loop 360 since mid-April.

EAST AUSTIN — The third iteration of the 507 Calles Street spot, Trackside, closed without any notice. The sports bar was run by Bridget Dunlap and her Dunlap ATX company, and its name no longer appears on its company website and the phone number doesn’t work anymore. Before Trackside, the space housed Cajun restaurant Ophelia, where Dunlap teamed up with Baton Creole, and before that, her first East Side restaurant Mettle.

GOVALLE — Looks like Austin sausage house Smokey Denmark shuttered its companion food truck last December. The meat market is still churning out links, some of which will even be found at upcoming arthouse theater AFS Cinema.

CHESTNUT — Similarly, East Austin’s Dilly Deli closed up last December without any word. Chronicle was a fan of the market which served a strong array of sandwiches and salty (in a good way) dishes.

DOMAINBlackfinn Ameripub shut down its location up in the Domain, as pointed out by Reddit. The Austin expansion of the casual dining chain no longer appears on its website.

Hey!...You Gonna Eat Or What?

, Austin, TX 78704 (512) 296-3547

Smokey Denmark's

, Austin, TX 78702

Pollo Tropical

211 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704 (512) 590-1086