ATXReview
photo credit: Jordan Haro
Thundercloud Subs
In 1987, a group of brave, pissed-off hippies stormed every Subway across Austin and created their own anti-corporate sandwich chain that later became known as Thundercloud Subs.
This is a completely made-up story, but it’s certainly plausible. There are many TClouds all over town - even one in the f*cking airport - and half of them feel stuck in time from Richard Linklater’s early 90’s ode to Austin, Slacker.
The ordering process is simple. You will interact with a burnout sandwich maker - who has a world of meats, cheeses, veggies, and toppings at his or her fingertips - to build your ideal sandwich. You can also choose from a number of signature sandwiches should you be in need of inspiration. There aren’t any Sriracha aiolis or anything hip like that here, but they have everything you need. Add a bag of chips and a drink and you’ve got a full meal for under ten bucks. You can also turn most sandwiches into a salad if you’re living the Atkins life.
Thundercloud has long been an Austin staple, and for good reason - it’s cheap, fresh, unpretentious, fast, and has a wide variety of healthy/vegetarian-friendly options.