News you can eat
Iconic campus Tex-Mex restaurant temporarily closes following fire
One of the campus area’s most popular haunts is temporarily closing following a small blaze. According to a manager, the Trudy’s location at 409 W. 30th St. will be closed for two to three weeks as it recovers from a kitchen fire.
The Austin Fire Department responded to the alarm around 11 pm on November 9, according to officials. The fire broke out in the kitchen vent, but the initial cause is still unknown.
Crew were able to quickly extinguish the blaze without injuries but the final assessment was complicated by the restaurant’s unique structure. With three roofs stacked atop one another, crews had to cut through each layer to see if the fire had spread.
Trudy's Texas Star location was the first outpost of the beloved local chain. Since 1977, it has been a staple of North University neighborhood, offering Tex-Mex classics like nachos, tacos, and quesadillas and especially renowned for its punchy margaritas and Mexican martinis.
During the hiatus, Trudy’s other locations at 13058 Four Star Blvd., 8820 Burnet Rd., and 901-C Little Texas Lane will remain open as usual. Happy hour margarita deals can also be found at South Congress Cafe, which the restaurant group also owns.
Trudy’s isn’t the only Austin favorite forced to rebuild in recent months. In mid-October, downtown cafe Forthright reopened after a stove fire triggered a year-long closure.