Mouthwatering Tex-Mex in Austin

Habanero Mexican Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.3 (792) • $$

"Dining in as a tourist makes me feel like I got invited to the cool neighbor's party. Servers are always smiling and cracking jokes with the locals while moving so quickly. You'll notice everyone is eating something different - you know that's a great sign.AWESOME fajitas, if you take the food less traveled like me, GET THE TRIPAS FAJITAS. They made it crispy like I like it. If not, the beef or chicken rancheras will do just fine. Chile Relleno got a great balance of cheese and chicken that isn't dry and is well seasoned. If you're not from Texas, get the fries instead - it's the same fries in your fave Cali burrito - enough crisp on every frie and the goldilocks of thick/thin."

Pueblo Viejo

★★★★☆ 4.4 (651) • $

"The best horchata and breakfast tacos in Austin and also in my life!! Upbeat atmosphere with ample seating inside and out! They also have a whole bar and happy hour which I will come back to try ! Service is always quick and friendly and seriously You cannot leave here without the horchata!"

Fuego Tortilla Grill

★★★★☆ 4 (576) • $

"i love fuegos - it was my go-to spot in college station when i was in college. i always get the el presidente or southern comfort tacos. the el presidente is packed with chargrilled chicken, smoked bacon, fried avocado, pico de gallo, jack cheese, and chipotle ranch - seriously, it's life-changing. the southern comfort is hand-breaded fried chicken with chipotle cream corn, crispy potatoes, grilled onions, and fresh country pepper gravy - so flavorful. the portions are huge, so i always wish i could order and eat both! you order at the counter, and they bring the food out fast - super easy. it's been too long since i've had it, and i'm so happy they have one in san marcos - the perfect place to eat after shopping at the outlet malls!"

Pelons Tex-Mex

★★★★☆ 3.5 (696) • $$

"Amazing food, cool atmosphere and seating areas are cool as well, inside and outside. Very cool vibe! Don't sleep on this place, the quality is hard to get!"

Enchiladas Y Mas

★★★★☆ 3.6 (625) • $$

"Fajitas are back to their regularly scheduled program . Where else can you get fajitas for two for $35? The beef and chicken combination is the best with lots of green peppers to boost. Get a frozen or two that are strong and tasty."

Cruzteca Mexican Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.4 (408) • $$

"Every once in awhile you go to a place hoping it stands up to all the positive reviews. Cruzteca not only met the standard but in many ways was WAAAAY more than what I expected. Everything was so much more than we could have hoped for.. Service from Tony onwards was gracious, friendly and energetic, the cocktails well made and boy oh boy the food. Friends ordered the Ceviche, me the Chips and Salsa.. I want to go back just for the Mexican martini, chips and salsa. It's a tray of perfectly crisp yellow corn chip, a fresh tomato salsa, a salsa arbol and a salsa verde. Note: The Arbol packs some heat. I had one of the best vegetarian enchilada plates I have ever had. The veggies still had a nice texture, the beans and rice were not just support actors but perfect partners to the tangy verde sauce enchiladas. Was torn to write this review as this is a 1st come 1st served kinda place and as the pic shows, every table is taken. They have started tequila dinners, look forward to attending one soon."

Vivo Austin

★★★★☆ 4.1 (457) • $$

"Very very good! Love the easy parking. The salad was huge with a generous portion of chicken. I loved the toasted pumpkin seeds. The verde enchiladas were good although the tortillas were a little too thick / tough. Overall, food was good and we would go back Service was great, friendly although they cleaned up too quickly. They took away utensils while we were still eating."

Amaya's Taco Village

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (642) • $$

"Food never disappoints! As close to Border Tex Mex as we can get. Quick pleasant service. Always busy but not too loud. Cute decor, a little worn but I didn't go there to eat the furniture! Will definitely go there again."

Tamale House East

★★★★☆ 3.6 (562) • $$

"You guys HAVE to come here oh my god. My wife and I were looking for brunch spots and this place came, what an amazing place. From the moment we walked in, everyone was so nice! Carmen was so nice and attentive to us, but so was everyone else I just didn't get a chance to get their names.This place looks incredible too! They have two separate outside seating, a small patio seating, and then the main inside which all look and feel wonderful. They have all these little plants all over the place that make it feel nice and homey as well. When you sit down, they also have QR codes on the table so you can order whatever you want, whenever you feel like, and it comes so quickly! But the food is the biggest reason to come here. I ordered the Pork Tamle with mole and WOW. The tamle was cooked perfect, it reminds me of the ones I would eat growing up, warm and tasty. Plus the mole was fantastic! The flavors blended together so well My wife had ordered the Moms Migas & Queso, this had to be the best thing on the menu. The cheese was melted perfectly, the eggs were so soft and fluffy, they even had small pieces of tortilla in it that I thought would make it taste funny but quite the opposite, it tasted perfect! It came with potatoes as well that were cooked perfect, nice and warm that complimented the eggs well.This place is a MUST for food or drink. You guys are missing out by not coming here, perfect Mexican food, perfect service. It's amazing"

Julio's Café

★★★★☆ 4 (451) • $$

"We were visiting the University of Texas and this was close by with good Yelp reviews. The area was Hyde Park, which was very cute. The lady who greeted was so nice! Since we were first time customers, she gave us free chips & salsa, which was delicious. I loved the thick and crispy chips and the salsa was perfect. I used it for my tacos too. I got the chicken taco plate, which I didn't know came with 2 tacos, and beans and rice. They are soft tacos and have lettuce and tomato on top of the marinated chicken and were yummy. I was very impressed with this little family restaurant. It seems to fill up after we arrived on a Saturday - seemed like the locals were taking advantage of their happy hour prices."

Chinos Fusion Hacienda

★★★★☆ 4.4 (357) • $

"A great visit once again to an unusual place that I have been going to for years. This is not a typical taco joint, but a fusion place that is small and laid back. Lord knows how many photos I have taken, but I have tried a lot of the items. My favorite thing is the Dragon, and it has kimchi essence (not a pile) but it can be quite strong. The green sauce is to die for. I suggest eating it with a knife and fork. The "Bad" taco is pretty traditional and quite good. They have bowls, items that can be enlarged into rice bowls and other oddities at decent prices. If you get a pork belly item and you want it cooked crisper, they can do that, and crispy changes the flavor a bit. Lunch rush can be hectic as they get large group orders to be picked up. I like about 1:00 pm, have a Dragon or Bad, then later a lite dinner. Summing up, you either love it or hate it. If you expect the kind of food you would get at a taco truck, this is completely different."

Ramos Tex-Mex Restaurant #3

★★★★☆ 4.2 (348) • $$

"Ramos is my FAVORITE place to go for Tex-Mex! They have unbeatable prices, delicious food, sizable portions, and fantastic hospitality... what's not to love?!FAST FACTS:* Parking: located in a shopping center so there's plenty of parking available in the lot in front of the building* Online ordering: available for pickup at the restaurant* Delivery: available through third-party* Complimentary chips and salsa are served as soon as you sit down* They serve all-day breakfast!SERVICE - I've been to Ramos at least a dozen times and have always had amazing service! Even when they're busy, the servers constantly make sure you have drinks, chips, and everything else you need. The workers are friendly, accommodating, and make you feel like family. It makes a great food experience that much better!PRICING - Incredibly reasonable for the amount of food you get! The total for a large queso compuesto, combination #2 plate, combination #3 plate, Chipotle shrimp plate, and flan was $62.21 after tax and the portion sizes are HUGE!CHIPS AND SALSA (9/10) - Come prepared to eat your body weight in chips because they're that good! These are served complimentary when you sit down and they'll keep bringing them to you if you ask!The chips are the perfect thickness (no one likes a thin chip that breaks the second you dip it in salsa) and have a nice amount of salt. They're crispy and addictive in the best way! They are served with a red salsa and a jalapeño ranch... both of which are delicious with a slight kick!QUESO COMPUESTO (10/10) - It's a big bowl of cheese with pico, guac, and ground beef... aka it's amazing! I get this every time and always recommend it to others. If any of your entrees come with rice, pour some of this on top and thank me later!COMBINATION #2 (10/10) - This is always my go-to because you get to try so many different things! You get 2 cheese enchiladas with tex-mex sauce, 2 chicken flautas, one soft or crispy taco, and sour cream. It also comes with rice and your choice of beans and everything is delicious!COMBINATION #3 (9/10) - This one is for the enchilada lovers! Each enchilada has a different filling and is topped with a different sauce so it's a flavor explosion! This also comes with rice and your choice of beans.CHIPOTLE SHRIMP PLATE (10/10) - This is almost like a fajita on a plate (which is obviously a compliment). The shrimp are a good size and are tossed with the onion, bell peppers, and chipotles in adobo sauce which pack that delicious sweet and smoky flavor with a little heat. It's served over rice with a side of beans, lettuce, pico, and fresh avocado. This was my first time ordering this dish and I'll definitely get it again!HOMEMADE FLAN (9/10) - Yum! It's super sweet and decadent while also being light at the same time. It's a great sweet end to an already tasty meal!Ramos is one of the best kept secrets in North Austin! Be prepared... once you visit once, it will be the only place you want to visit for Tex-Mex!"

Luna's Tacos

★★★★☆ 4.4 (306) • $

"A wide variety of tacos, which are very flavorable. The staff was very welcoming. Easy parking."

Azul Tequila

★★★★☆ 3.7 (432) • $$

"Great service and great Mexican food a decent price. Would go again. They have pretty drinks."

Juarez Mexican Restaurant & Bakery

★★★★☆ 3.9 (388) • $$

"Been to this place a few times and always absolutely enjoy being here. The service is always really good and it has a real laid-back chill vibe. This is the hole in the wall Mexican restaurant you have been looking for. The food is authentic and full of flavor. I definitely recommend coming here."

Chisos Grill

★★★★☆ 3.8 (391) • $$

"I was in the area with an 1 hr to kill before my appointment. I was craving a taco and found this restaurant on Yelp. Ironically, I ended up ordering a hamburger and fries. It just sounded good to me when I read the description. When the waitress brought out meal all I could say was "wow!" Substantial size and I *almost* finished it all. The fries were hot and seasoned perfectly. Service was great and attentive. Next time, I will try their tacos... maybe. The hamburger is just too good!"

Texican Cafe - Menchaca

★★★★☆ 3.8 (382) • $$

"The place is deceptively big! So many rooms and tables, it's easy to get a table for two at any time.I've had great service when I come here. The servers are super friendly and will refill your chips and salsa so quickly!Ive had the chicken tortilla soup and the green chili soup and both are super flavorful. The bowl is humongous so if you want to share, get the large.The flauta plate is also a great choice as well. I've never had a bad meal here!"

MasFajitas

★★★★☆ 3.6 (406) • $$

"Another great visit at my favorite Mexican food place MasFajitas the restaurant was immaculate clean everyone was so nice and polite.Well, I came here to have my crispy tacos again and they were delicious nice and fresh lean ground beef with fresh lettuce, tomato and cheese. Always a good choice when I go to MasFajitas.I also had the soft fajita tacos on flour tortillas. I had one chicken and one beef. The chicken was a little dry, but the beef was wonderful. Good flavor good taste and I love salsa just the right amount of spice. I have to say my waitress was so amazing. I went with a group of friends. There were five of us. She kept our drinks full. She was always asking how everything was. She was the nicest sweetest lady there. She had about five other tables that she was waiting on excellent Masfajitas is just right for good food not expensive good quality had a great quality price. They had a sports bar there with the Texas OU game on several TVs and we could watch the game from where we were sitting and we enjoyed a nicedinner. This is my go to place when I want the best Tex-Mex food in ROUND ROCK I'm a faithful and loyal customer"

Mama Betty’s Tex-Mex y Cantina

★★★★☆ 4.1 (312) • $$

"I consider myself to be a tortilla and beef fajita connoisseur. I have gotta tell you all if you want beef fajitas this is the place to go in Austin. A bit pricey but the meat was juicy, tender and charred just right. The tortillas are what you expect to find at Pappasito's, Ninfa's and Lupe Tortillas - home made and fresh.Our server, Betty, was excellent!The other staff was great!The bathroom was clean.The restaurant was spacious and clean.I hate to say good things about this place because the wait might be long next time."

El Arroyo 5th Street

★★★☆☆ 2.8 (604) • $$

"Have to put this down as a big disappointment. I was so looking forward to eating here, especially after following their famous funny road sign on the internet for years. Im going to have to agree with a previous Yelper who said "just take a picture of the sign, and eat somewhere else"! Sad! To be perfectly honest, we did not have any problems with the food. My Burrito was actually really good! My wife's taco salad was above average and our margaritas were okay. My problem is with the facility and the staff. It was a late meal, and maybe the staff was more interested in cleaning up and closing, but I felt we were more of an annoyance than a customer. Obviously we had never been here before, so we didn't know if we were to seat ourselves or wait to be seated. After waiting a while, we sat down at a table and asked some employee who was walking around if we needed to order at the counter or from our table. He sent our waitress, who honestly must have been pretty new, because she couldn't answer or didn't understand most of our questions. Had to ask for water multiple times.... Needed it because the salsa was kind of spicy and it was pretty freaking hot out! While we were eating (by now we were the only customers left in the place), the music that was playing started changing channels (like every 5-10 seconds). At first we thought it was kind of funny. But it soon got REALLY annoying! This was going on for at least 5 minutes, so I asked our waitress "what's up with the music"? She said "I don't know", and walked away! If there was a problem, I can't imagine why they wouldn't just unplug it of turn it off? Felt like I was a prisoner being toured! Although the place has kind of a cool roadside truck stop feel to, it leaves no excuse for my biggest let down of the evening..... the bathrooms! The men's was not great, broken urinals and kind of dungy. And this was after they cleaned it for closing! My wife said the women's was even worse. Out of the three stalls, one was out of order and another didn't have a toilet seat! Wow, the free marketing that this place gets from it's hilarious legendary road sign is amazing. Too bad the restaurant and its staff don't seem to care that they have what most business would kill for. Tourist that seek them out. Maybe they made their money already and are on cruise control. Hate when I bookmark a place to visit and it lets me down."

Burros Tex Mex Bar and Grill

★★★★☆ 4.3 (252) • $$

"I got the medium beef brisket wrapped burro with black beans and a side of guacamole. It was filling and delicious as the meat was tender and not too chewy. For my drink, I had the michelada with Dos XX as my beer of choice. It was okay as it tasted fairly watered down, so I probably would recommend another drink choice unless you are a big fan of micheladas.The service was great with our server being very patient and taking her time to answer all our questions regarding the menu. The food did take some time to get out to us but we did have a party of 5 and the restaurant was fairly busy. The establishment had a lot of televisions where we were seated and overall was decorated very nicely. There are various seating options available to accommodate various party sizes, which was nice."

Vaquero's Cafe and Cantina

★★★★☆ 3.7 (334) • $$

"Came here with a group of girlfriends on an ATX trip to celebrate a few occasions. Really, really great spread with a pleasing breadth of options from pasta, meat, vegetables, and more meats. This buffet is definitely for the savory breakfast aficionados!I got a couple frozen margaritas along with multiple trips to the buffet line and was very satisfied at the end of the meal. The service was okay, fairly disorganized but it was busy and it only impacted our drinks. I would definitely come back for a 5-star Tex-mex focused buffet any time I return to Austin."

El Nuevo Mexico- Austin

★★★★☆ 4 (283) • $$

"This restaurant is in the same plaza as my Buddhist community center, so we often come here to eat after meetings.On New Year's Day, we decided to eat there again. I wasn't feeling well, so I ordered the Tortilla Soup. It was the perfect choice for a soothing and healing meal.The small bowl was enough to satisfy my appetite and it contained a lot of delicious ingredients: corn on the cob (not typically included in tortilla soup, so this was a plus!), ample amounts of chicken, a large avocado wedge, cheese, and of course, tortilla strips. Topped with tasty cilantro, with a side of rice for the soup.The service is always good. They promptly bring drinks and chips and salsa. And they keep refilling the chips, so no one goes hungry!The atmosphere is friendly. A bonus for this trip was the large screen TV, perfect for viewing the UT game while eating. I highly recommend this restaurant."

El Mercado Restaurant

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (383) • $$

"Love the ambiance of this restaurant. The food that we got was solid, but they seemed to be out of a good bit of items (considering we got their early morning, found that to be odd) and the servers seemed a little new/unsure on a lot of things."

Kesos Tacos

★★★★☆ 3.8 (290) • $$

"Try the Pollo Flacos tacos it's grilled chicken, black beans, guac, pico de gallo, and fresh queso and I also like the triple Oinker it's Carnitas chorizo, bacon, grilled vegetables and refried beans. Service is quick and fast. Prices are reasonable and they have feee parking"

Casa Garcia's

★★★☆☆ 2.8 (518) • $$

"Love this new location! I've been going to the OG for years & they are my favorite Mexican restaurant in the whole world! The food is soo delish like your family recipe always consistent, you get free chips & salsa that is to die for. Sandra was my server she was super kind & attentive to detail as I'm a bit of a picky eater I like to exclude some typical toppings. Everything was perfect & came out fast as well, lovely location closer to us now very clean & organized layout with beautiful paintings to look at while you converse with your guest."

Cheko’s

★★★★☆ 3.6 (312) • $

"Foods yummy for the price, and the owners are so sweet. Anytime I'm in the area I always pop in!"

Taqueria Jessica

★★★★★ 4.6 (188) • $

"My husband and I always past this joint and it is always busy with customers. We finally made plans to check them out on a Saturday morning. It wasn't too busy and there was plenty of open seating which was nice. The tacos are made to order and I love that they serve it with three different salsas (mild to hot). I tried their chorizo potato and egg taco and barbacoa. Both were tasty. Their barbacoa was really delicious and not too greasy. My only complaint was their tortillas had a different taste to it that I wasn't too fond of. I'm hoping it was just a one off day but I will be back to try their other menu items!"

Las Cocinas

★★★★☆ 4.4 (193) • $

"The margaritas are really good, only one got me messed up super delicious.The food was immaculate tasteful, the only problem that I had and the reason why I am dinging a star is because they did not devain the shrimp. This is a huge pet pie of mine, so I went through each shrimp devainingin it on my own.When I spoke up about the matter, the excuse was that it was busy and that usually they do but they just didn't this time. I felt that to be a lame excuse in all honesty. Yes I would definitely come back. However I would hope that The integrity improves in the future, every plate dished out should always be immaculate, there should be no excuse because it is busy.that excuse worries me that the kitchen could be unsanitary if it is busy, but that is not a valid excuse. This place is very delicious and has potential for greatness with the authentic flavors that it has. Please make sure every dish is perfect and the way it should be.I hope this criticism is taken wholeheartedly and not in a bad way. I look forward to coming back another time ."

Tex-Mex Joe's

★★★★☆ 4.2 (200) • $$

"We have come to eat here all the time, for years! We depend on them for breakfast, lunch and dinner and even catering for our parties at home and work. The owner is very invested in making the business succeed and has invested in growing the outside patio space. Try the spinach enchiladas, breakfast huevos divorciados, chilaquiles, spinach corn tortillas, I could go on and on."

Jalisco's Restaurant and Bar

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (341) • $$

"Love the beef fajita quesadillas! I've only gotten takeouts here from the drive through. Never dined in. The people at the window are always very nice.I would call ahead on your way to pick up because it could take them a bit to prep the food. The take out outsets can be a hit and miss, but I always enjoy the food regardless. My go to dishes: beef fajitas quesadillas, beef fajitas entree for two, barbacoa tacos, and guacamole.Inside is casual."

Dos Salsas

★★★★☆ 3.5 (276) • $$

"When in Texas, you must Tex-Mex! I try not to miss an opportunity to get some Mole Enchiladas when possible and Dos Salsas did disappoint. At the Domain, I stopped in for an early dinner. There's plenty of seating and my server Devon (who shares my same name) was great! Dinner started with - you guessed it! - dos salsas! And ended with delicious fried ice cream, one of my favorite treats that I rarely get a chance to enjoy. If you're in the area, stop in and give them a try!"

DK Maria's Legendary Tex-Mex

★★★★☆ 3.7 (225) • $$

"If you are a Yelper, and you take the history of Austin food seriously, This is your Museum of the History of Austin Tex-Mex cuisine.This is a restaurant dedicated to documenting and re-creating the great signature dishes of the most important Tejano cooks who did their work in Austin.There are other restaurants in the world which re-create traditional dishes. But almost none have the commitment to identifying the historic cook and crediting them with their individual innovations and masterpieces. A "runner up" on historical commitment would be Rules in London, an upscale establishment which itself dates back to 1798. Rules goes out of its way to preserve the great dishes of Victorian cooking - even to the point of maintaining a game farm to obtain fowls and roasts that would be otherwise unavailable on a modern table. Unlike DK Maria, Rules draws its history from its own ancient recipes.DK Maria follows the Austin Mexican community as a whole.Another difference: Rules will "cheat" a bit to reflect modern tastes.That is less of an issue with DK Maria - because only a subset of the dishes are historical legacy dishes. (These are clearly identified on the menu.)Most of the dishes are the cook's own take on the basic repertoire of Tex-Mex cuisine.The cook's personal interpretation dishes are in most cases outstanding.* * *DK Maria's has the best Queso Fundido I have had anywhere on the planet.This is an easy competition to win.Most Queso Fundido is awful.What you typically get is a hot platter with a cheese blob on top with the consistency of half-chewed bubble gum.The cheese does not want to separate itself from itself Making eating the dish almost as much of a pain in the a** as eating crab.The cheese itself does not typically taste like much. (We ain't talking baked Gorgonzola here.)So the dish depends on the ingredients mixed in with the cheese. In most cases, the mix-ins are nothing special ... Making Queso Fundido the world's most inconvenient way to eat plain old onions.* * *DK Maria's El Flamedo is of another order of magnitude entirely. It is crammed with grilled vegetables. The grilled vegetables are bursting with flavor. I am guessing the vegetables are bursting with flavor because DK Maria's has a very very good vegetable vendor. These are much better mushrooms and peppers than one usually gets in an Austin restaurant.The flaming is precisely enough timed to give a lovely charred taste to the vegetables without blasting the life out of them. It is not easy to get the timing right on a dish like this.Too little time under the flame and you get no char.Too much time under the flame and your vegetables are casualties. So what you are getting is kitchen skill at work.Add to this a fine fine chorizo at the bottom of the cheese and you have great eating.* * *I am not convinced that every single solitary dish that comes out of the kitchen will be legendary.The chips and salsa at the beginning had wonderful puffy chips and an utterly indifferent salsa.How can a "Museum of Great Texmex Cuisine" have a mediocre salsa?Didn't any of the great cooks have an extraordinary salsa recipe?But everything else about this place is outstanding.Plus - reading the menu is as entertaining as eating the food.You can learn a ton of history from that menu.Some of the claims in that history are a little eyebrow raising.(Did DK Maria's ancestors REALLY cook for the armies on both sides of the Battle of the Alamo? I need to have that one explained to me.)Overall, however, this place is fascinating.Worth many visits to explore what they have to offer - even if a handful of the visits come up with duds."

El Mercado Restaurant

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (246) • $$

"YUM. We stopped here on a whim after leaving another restaurant with terrible service. The host was friendly and seated us quickly. The booths still have the plastic barriers between them- love it! We were able to order quickly and we had chips and salsa on the table immediately. We ordered the beef fajita meal for 2. The meat was seasoned beautifully, it was tender and perfectly cooked. The salsa wasn't spicy but it had great flavor. The portions were great and we had food leftover to take home. We were able to get our check easily and paid quickly. From start to finish the service was flawless. The only downside was we do love when Mexican restaurants have several salsa options and we prefer Coke products over Pepsi. None of that changes the 5 star rating. Highly recommend El Mercado!"

Recuerdos

★★★★☆ 4.1 (157) • $

"Recardos in the town of roundrock is a must stop! The green chili enchiladas are amazing! Just like home cooking with plenty of flavor. Nice chips and salsa, rice, and beans. A good hearty plate. They serve Texas size breakfast tacos, sizzling fajitas, and homemade tortillas as well as cold beer. There are lots of cool little shops here, along with historic buildings and history. This little restaurant is not to be missed! Cosey little hole in the wall. Friendly service. Wait time was reasonable. Check it out!"