El Alma

We love El Alma!!!!! My mom is always searching for a great Mexican restaurant that scratches her itch from back home, and every time she visits, this is always her first suggestion. No matter what, El Alma never fails her--or us! The service is consistently top-notch, from the kind hostesses to the kind, attentive servers, to the insanely talented artisan bartenders who can mix up whatever you're craving.The restaurant itself is stunning, sitting right on Barton Springs with one of the loveliest covered patios in Austin--arguably unbeatable for its charm and ambiance. I've lost count of how many times I've been here--whether it's with small groups, big celebrations, intimate dates, or just swinging by to pick up dinner. It's a go-to every time, and for good reason!Their verde enchiladas? Literal perfection. They're soft, fresh, and bursting with so much flavor it feels like magic with every bite. Pair them with their sides, and it's like a match made in heaven--everything on the plate works so beautifully together.And let's not forget the drink menu! While tequila reigns supreme here, the bartenders are more than happy to create a custom cocktail to fit your vibe. Trust me, it's worth trying whatever they come up with.El Alma hits the mark every single time, whether you're there for the food, drinks, or the incredible atmosphere. It's no wonder my mom (and I) can't get enough!I'd also like to note, these owners really take care of their workers, you see on the bottom of every receipt that theres a tiny surcharge that goes toward giving workers benefits to every employee at El Alma, something I haven't seen very often and always more than happy to support a restaurant that values the people that make it happen! Good food and great people! In all, bring your friends (or your mom) grab some drinks, some queso, and an amazing entree to top it off! You'll love El Alma too.

I stopped in for lunch this afternoon and was very disappointed. This was my fourth or fifth visit, and I've generally had good experiences in the past. However, after taking our order, our waiter never returned until it was time to pay.I ordered the two-taco lunch plate, but after waiting 30 minutes, I received only the tacos -- no sides. Since the waiter never checked on us, I had no opportunity to ask about the missing items. When he finally brought the check, I inquired about the sides, only to be told that there was no lunch menu today due to President's Day. That would have been helpful information before I ordered, so I could have chosen a complete meal.

Enjoyed a girls night out at El Alma on Monday night & we were impressed with everything we got! The restaurant is really cute and has and indoor and outdoor space, I would definitely do a reservation, we got the last open table of the night and I'm sure the wait was long. We had queso (great!), tacos & a Jalapeño cucumber mojito. Everything was so good! This would be a great GNO or date night spot! Great drinks & a great variety of stuff on the menu.

It's a cute place. Food was delicious! And our server was very attentive and helpful! Great atmosphere and perfect walking distance from our hotel...

Came in for dinner on a Friday night. Did not have a reservation, but was able to grab appetizers and drinks on the patio and our table was ready within 20 minutes. Super friendly service with a smile. We had a variety of tacos, the chicken mole, and friedplantains. All was delicious and fresh. Super fun environment, lively atmosphere. Will be back!

Al Alma is where to go when you want to take guests who don't know the difference between Mexican and tex-mex, since their menu meets that middle ground, and then some, with unique dishes too. Their location makes any meal feel special, and the service completes the experience. There's a good reason they've stayed in business for years!

Made an early reservation to grab a bite before the makers market across the street and it was one of the best decisions I made all day except for the amazing handmade earrings I bought! I'm still thinking about the delicious breakfast torta I had yesterday. The bread was fluffy and toasted perfectly and the roasted potatoes were absolute perfection! Had the horchata cocktail which was smooth and my friend had the chilaquiles and loved every bite. I forgot how consistent and delish this place is. Service was on point as well.

Disclaimer: Only went for drinks, and definitely plan on returning for happy hour and dinner. Pro Tip: happy hour EVERY DAY 3-6 PM, order the Avocado Margarita. El Alma is conveniently located in walking distance to much to see for travelers and locals of all kinds. Unfortunately we rolled up after 6 PM, after a nice walk on Lady Bird lake. While we missed happy hour, the Avocado Margaritas were still worth the visit and fueled us enough to walk and explore a next spot downtown. We recommend an evening up on the patio when the sun is on it's way down. As you walk up the stairs, you feel like you're traveling somewhere in Central or South America, as its dressed in greenery and stone. After a few rounds of servers walking past us with all sorts of dishes to different tables, we knew we'd come back.

This was a cute and yummy find in Austin! I must say the place itself is very well placed and setup. You have the choice for inside seating or a top deck outside that is quite lovely. I opted for inside given the hot weather.Okay but what about the food? Well let's start with the salsa and mole- the heart of any Mexican restaurant. Verde Salsa: I preferred the verde salsa because of the nice punch of citrus flavor and roasting of the chiles, that you can taste. I thought it was put together well. Roja salsa: A good kick, but I would opt to request to green salsa's next time. Mole: While mole comes on both the Chile relleno and the enchiladas they are two different types of mole. I think in the future I can go for no mole at El Alma. The mole tasted to put it simply, straight out of a can. Chile Relleno: The chile Relleno itself, however, was fantastic! A great crunch and filled generously. I was a fan of the batter. I have seen it be made so many ways and this was definitely a winner because it was smooth and after eating I didn't feel like it was too oily or anything. Enchiladas: I was not particularly a fan of this plate at all. The rice, being white rice with vegetables, was too simple. It didn't complement the enchiladas and I was expecting more for the salad. I will say it was a lovely presentation. That said, I will be back for the Chile rellenos. I don't recommend this spot, however, if you want traditional Mexican food, especially enchiladas. If you're looking for a spot a bit more fun than yes this is a great spot.

We sat at the bar and ordered 7 tacos along with guacamole for lunch for the two of us and were full afterwards. The bartender was great, friendly, knowledgeable and the food came out quickly. They have an outdoor upstairs area, so when it is busy you can order the bar and then take it to eat upstairs.The guacamole was tasty and a good portion size. The tacos were very good and bigger than some of the other tacos we ate in Austin. We ordered the lamb barbacoa, pastor, pato (duck), carne asada, chicken tinga, shrimp, and fish taco. Each one was good, but the lamb barbacoa was my favorite. The duck was unique in that it had almost a Moroccan flavor to it spice wise (and had almonds), the shrimp was very good and perfectly cooked and the fish taco was light and refreshing. The prices are reasonable and we enjoyed the meal. Overall I would recommend it if you are in the area.