Austin Motel is ready to let the (hot) dogs out. The South Congress staple is bringing old-school fun back with its first "wiener cart."
Launching this Thursday, October 19, visitors and locals alike can enjoy a quick bite from the hotdog cart located in the property’s courtyard. Bunkhouse, the management company behind Austin Motel wanted to keep the fun and nostalgic experience the hotel is known for, and the wiener cart was the perfect bite.
“It encapsulates the motel perfectly,” wrote area general manager Robert Vogel in an email. “It’s fun, Americana, and a tad tongue-in-cheek.”
Aside from providing poolside or on-the-go snacks, the cart also adds German and winter influences for the holidays — including the annual Winter Wonderland — and it will be available to book for events and pop-ups around town.
The menu includes two rotating dogs of the day: a Texas dog with toppings such as chili sauce, beer cheese, and pickled jalapeño peppers; and a Chicago dog with chopped onions and peppers, relish, pickled hot peppers, mustard, and pickle chips. The cart will also offer a classic dog and a veggie dog, plus smaller bites such as pretzels with mustard, chips, and soda.
Photo by Constanza Ulloa-Colina
The hotdog cart will be a permanent fixture at Austin Motel with seasonal closure during the winter months of January through March. The concept has been an exciting project for the entire team behind it and there are already plans for snow cones and additional floaters once the weather heats up again, according to Vogel.
“It’s been a project we’ve been working on as an entire team," he writes. "From our art department making the best art/stickers to our culinary team creating a fun and nostalgic menu, I think it’s a fun example of what Bunkhouse does so well: intentional and thoughtful concepts.”
The wiener cart will be open every Thursday through Sunday from 1-7 pm at Austin Motel, located at 1220 South Congress Ave. More information about Austin Motel is available at bunkhousehotels.com.
