best Mexican restaurant

[Sue Nami]

ok we can get into the discussion of tex-mex vs interior mex but let's cover them all. what are your fave Mexican food restaurants in Austin? I love Amayas, El Jacalito, Los Lomas to name a few. and let's name our favorites long gone places... Inocentes on Cesar Chavez and El Azteca are sorely missed

[Lovinglifeinaustin]

Flores…the happiest place on earth.

I still love Chuys, though they are not as good post Covid.

Matts El Rancho, love their rellenos.

Hula Hut, Maudie’s, Polvos, Curra’s, Baby A’s, Santa Rita, Guerros, Trudy’s, Serrano’s, Torchy’s

Anywhere that serves real horchata.

I miss Compadres.

There was a place on east 7th many years ago that I liked, but cannot now remember their name.

Dammit now I’m hungry.

[Sue Nami]

that was El Azteca on east 7th, it had Mexican pin up style Aztec calendars on the wall. Unlike most places, they had cabrito on the menu and a large vegetarian menu too. they gave u a free Mexican cookie or sherbet for dessert. they were soooooo great

[Groovy Johnson]

El Azteca was my favorite.

Now it's Vera Cruz.

[Tatonka4real]

Fonda San Miguel - interior Mexican, beautiful place, great food, best in Austin, imo

Matt's El Rancho - long time Austin old school Mexican restaurant, great food, love their margarita's with freshly squeezed limes.

El Patio - another long time family owned restaurant, small place but good food.

Texican Cafe - nice place good food, one of the only places I found that serves cabrito

Flores - good food but interior is nothing fancy

Papasitos - some may think it is touristy but I've always had very good meals and service there, fresh tortillas, table side guacamole

Amaya's - good food, good salsa, good reasonably priced breakfast as well as lunch & dinner, but can get crowded and not much atmosphere

I miss Antonio's - best tortilla soup I ever had, no other place comes close, they gave you home made creamy mints, different flavors, it was a perfect way to end a meal. God I miss that place.

[Cuirassier1812]

Even though its a chain, I'm fond of Lupe Tortillas in Arbor Walk over off of Mopac. Not bad a all for chain Tex-mex. They have very large portions as well, and their salsa is an interesting variation.

[i69uintx]

VAQUEROS CAFE & CANTINA - WESTLAKE
1801 S Capital of Texas Hwy
Austin, TX 78746

Owned by the Steiner Ranch Steak House people

HUGE portions
Free soft serve ice cream
Nuff said

[saustin]

In addition to all of the above, I like Las Palomas, tucked away in the corner of the West Woods Shopping Center. Shout-out to Manuels in the Arboretum, too.

[Aramis]

+ 1000 on Fonda San Miguel. That is as authentic interior Mexican as it will get. It’s a fine restaurant. Used to frequent Casa Garcia on North Austin on Pecan Street, the interior is nice but the food, to my opinion, declined some.

La Mancha (close to Fonda San Miguel location-wise) is also a good place. It’s more Tex-mex than authentic but it is pretty good.

[quzi]

Lots of good places above.

No one has mentioned Tamale House yet.

[Cuirassier1812]

Hey, Gang!
What about Taco Bell? ;-)

*dodges thrown shoe*

Edit: Kidding aside, my late first wife was a big fan of El Chicos. I would not put them into the same category most restaurants that have been named here. But some fond memories of going there with her about once a month in the late '90s. She was a big fan of their chimichangas.

[Fletchlives]

Lots of good ones already mentioned.

Here are few others.

Enchiladas y Mas on Anderson is good.
Habaneros on Oltorf.
La Traila on Burnet. This is a trailer in the parking lot of gas station on Burnet. Think they have a few around town.

[GreysonTCU]

Some friends took me to Eldorado Cafe the last time I was down there several months ago. I found everything to be really good there.

[risn2theoccasion2]

I’ve always preferred Amaya’s Taco Village, but they have really raised prices during the current economic crisis. It’s hard to justify $17 to $19 a plate. Pretty sure their choice of real estate for their locations doesn’t help.

Now my go to is Casa Garcia’s.

[Fletchlives]

Some friends took me to Eldorado Cafe the last time I was down there several months ago. I found everything to be really good there.

+1 El Dorado is another good one.