Tires and hubcaps replace bricks and mortar

At any major intersection in Austin, you can find a variety of food served by an even larger variety of faces. Mobile food carts and trailers are a refreshing change from the traditional four-wall establishments most people think of when deciding where to eat. With the weather finally cooling off after a long hot summer, food carts are a great alternative to being confined to four walls or just an outdoor patio. What most people may not realize is that food carts aren't just for tacos and hot dogs anymore. You can get just about anything from popcorn to cupcakes to gluten free vegan eats.

Since Austinites love their food carts so much, it's interesting to see what made people want to get into the business to begin with. Most of the owners that were interviewed started their trailer business were for the smaller startup costs and purchased their trailers used and already outfitted to accommodate cooking. A coat of paint and some electrical work got them ready for business. Others purchased their trailers brand new and customized. The quality of the food that was tested by this writer was consistently delicious no matter how old the cart was. Surprisingly, every cart that was visited had ample seating. Food carts pose another issue altogether though. Since they are mobile, some trucks move around the city. The trickiest part is finding the mobile ones and hoping it will be there when it's time to eat.

"Two years ago, the economy was rough and the cost of opening a restaurant was too much so I decided to save the money and open a food trailer," said owner of Izzoz Tacos John Galindo.

Using a mix of family recipes with his culinary know-how, Galindo's food stand on South 1st and Gibson offers a mix of breakfast tacos as well as plates.

Izzos Tacos

Originally fitted as a concession stand for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, his 1994 trailer went on to cater movies and television shows before it became a burger stand in Lakeway.

During the time when most people were worried about getting laid off, John decided to quit his job willingly to operate Izzoz full-time. The risk paid off, and Galindo has successfully managed to make a name for himself in the mobile food world.

Name of Trailer: Izzoz Tacos

Originated: 2008

Location: South 1st & Gibson; shares a park with a few other trailers

Seating: plenty of seating, places for kids to play; the park is BYOB

Pricing: $, you get what you pay for

Hours of Operation: 9 a.m. - 9 p.m., 7 days a week

Wurst Tex

Name of Trailer: Wurst Tex

Originated: September 2010

Location: Monroe & South Congress

Seating: picnic table seating with umbrellas

Pricing: $$; they use finer ingredients and it is definitely worth it

Hours of Operation: Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday 11 a.m. -9 p.m., Thursday through Saturday 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Powdered Sugar

"I never wanted anything permanent like a restaurant, but I enjoy the food trailer culture around Austin," said Glowski who is also a student at the University of Texas at Austin.

Owning her own business works for her. The low startup cost made it possible. She found her trailer on craigslist and spruced it up in less than a month. Now she sells funnel cakes in a lot she shares with three other trailers at the corner of Martin Luther King & Nueces.

Name of Trailer: Powdered Sugar

Originated: August 2010

Location: Corner of MLK & Nueces; shares lot with 3 other trailers