El Chilito

Atmosphere - Cozy restaurant that is accessed through the bar. Limited indoor seating with a/c. At…read morefirst we had trouble finding this hidden gem then realized we had to walk through an alley. Taste - We love everything we ordered and cannot pick a favorite between the carne asada, al pastor and pollo tacos. The carne asada is sliced to order and the meat is tender and well seasoned. The al pastor is topped with grilled pineapple and is a sweet and spicy delight. The grilled chicken is flavorful, well charred and seasoned beautifully. All were topped with cilantro, finely chopped onions, and guacamole. The carne asada burrito was made with a generous amount of beef and rice, pinto beans, guacamole and onions. 4 different salsas and fresh cut limes are available. Service - Friendly, fast service. Short wait once the order is placed. Cashless payments only. Price - Average

The entrance is easy to miss: a door marked only by a primitive "TACOS" spelled out in those tacky…read moremailbox stickers, tucked inside a tiny bar hidden down an alley off Trinity Street. Once you're inside, though, the whole operation runs with impressive efficiency. You order at the register, take your receipt, and hand it off to one of the taco guys behind the counter. As the sign says, "No Ticket, No Taco!" so don't lose it. Seating is limited and the line can get long, but they move fast. And don't come expecting cheese or sour cream -- the only add‑ons here are cilantro, onions, salsa, and guacamole. It's a stripped‑down menu, and they stick to it. The tacos are solid. The beef isn't anything remarkable, but the chicken is tender, moist, and genuinely flavorful. The quesadilla is the sleeper hit; the baked cheese gives it a deep, savory punch that outshines the tacos. And if you're hungry or just want the best value, the burritos are enormous -- stuffed right up to the tortilla's structural limit. A hidden little alley spot that delivers quick service, simple options, and reliably good food once you manage to find the door.

Carne Asada hitting the grill

Adobada (Pastor) Volcan and Carne Asada Taco

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The outside of the building in an alley.

Las Trancas

4.6(627 reviews)

4.1 mi•East Austin

I've been on a hunt for a great taco spot, and I think I finally found it…read more It wasn't busy when we got there, and our food came out pretty quickly. I ordered an al pastor, lengua, and asada taco, and honestly, they were all so good. The asada was my favorite, but the other two were right behind it. The meat was flavorful, and the salsas had some heat to them, which I appreciated!!! My boyfriend ordered the chicken burrito, and it was just okay. The chicken was shredded and could've used a little more seasoning for my taste. I'm also not a huge fan of lettuce in a burrito, so that may have played a part in it not being my favorite. That being said, I'm definitely coming back because those tacos were SO good. Next time, I want to give the burrito another shot and order it my way. If it's anything like the tacos, I have a feeling it'll be a winner.

Reasonable prices, and good quality. Wish their sauces were spicier, but I also don't think they're…read moremade in house so maybe that's why. Tacos were delicious! Al pastor is on the more firm side rather than fatty soft pieces, I think it's a decent balance although would've liked a bit more soft (personal preference). I would come back if I was in this part of Austin again, and was really craving some reliable tacos. It's not impressive enough for me to go out of my way to eat, but it's a really good choice if you're passing through already. They're also very quick to get the food out, and the seating area is outdoors but has fans in some spots.

Ambiance

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Veracruz All Natural

4.4(1.2k reviews)

5.1 mi•East Austin

Lives up to the hype. Here's the thing--You may end up waiting quite some time for your food…read more However, if you give yourself the time to wait, you will not be disappointed. I had the Migas taco and the La Reyna taco. Both were excellent. I loved the veggies combination on the La Reyna taco. I would want to stop in and eat these every week if I lived in Austin. And the hot sauce was on point, both the green and the red. My husband had the Grilled Fish taco and the Grilled Steak taco. He couldn't decide which he liked better, but mentioned that the steak itself had amazing flavor. Do yourself a favor: free up two hours on your day off; order some tacos; order a Desnudo coffee or matcha or hibiscus tea and enjoy the tree-shaded outdoor dining area while you wait for some truly outstanding tacos.

Till my all-time favorite tacos in Austin. The shrimp taco is literally the most flavorful shrimp…read moretaco you will ever have. Period. The shrimp is sautéed in this extremely flavorful and spicy chili paste and it is an explosion of flavor in your mouth. The fish taco is also absolutely amazing. For the vegetarians, their cauliflower taco is great. And for the meat lovers, they're steak and Barbacoa taco is off the charts. Their beverages and juices freshly made in house are also always hit. Hard to find such fresh juices at that price point anymore.

3.9 mi•Warehouse District, Downtown

Ofrenda

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Smoothie and juice truck

Velvet Taco

4.4(822 reviews)

Perfect spot for late-night tacos!…read more The best part is that they have great vegetarian options, including both paneer and tofu tacos, and both are absolutely delicious. It's not always easy to find flavorful vegetarian tacos, so this place was a pleasant surprise. I loved it so much that I ended up visiting twice during my two-day trip to Austin. If you're in the city, this place is definitely worth checking out!

Needed a quick bite and walked two blocks from my hotel straight into downtown Austin's busy…read moreCongress Avenue stretch, right at the corner of 6th Street in the middle of the Warehouse District energy. Sixth Street's neon and noise are basically next door, the Capitol sits up the hill, and the whole area is packed with people, bars, and that classic Austin mix of polished downtown hustle and late-night chaos. Velvet Taco is pure counter-service: you walk right up, order at the register, and then grab a seat. There's plenty of seating, so even with a couple of kids in tow it was no problem finding a spot. The place leans hard into what can only be called white-people tacos--soft, sad flour tortillas that taste like they came straight out of a grocery-store package, loaded with every wild creation the kitchen can invent. Global mashups, brunch hybrids, burger impostors, the works. No one is pretending these are the real deal. I went for the chicken-and-waffles taco, which was actually built on a thin, real waffle instead of a tortilla. Surprisingly good--crispy, a little sweet, chicken holding its own. The burger taco tasted exactly like a cheeseburger that had wandered into a tortilla and decided to stay. We also tried the shrimp taco (fine), one daughter got the kids' chicken taco (perfectly kid-level), and the other ordered the chicken tikka (spicy, saucy, and very much in the "why is this on a tortilla?" category). Everything was okay. Comparable to Torchy's in that same creative-American-taco lane. If you're looking for a true Mexican taco, stay far away. But if you just want to play around with some decent flavors on a cheap flour store-bought tortilla while sitting in the middle of downtown Austin, this is your spot. Not my favorite. Glad I tried it. Won't be back.

Velvet Taco 8

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Velvet Taco 1

Cuantos Tacos

4.7(457 reviews)

4.8 mi•East Austin

Another visit to Cuantos Tacos and it still does not disappoint! If you're looking for excellent…read moretacos in Austin, then look no further. They are so good that I've always had to go back up for another order. I did learn on this recent visit that they use pork fat. If you don't eat pork, then please be cautioned that this is likely not going to work for you.

Awesome food truck in a little park with 4-5 food trucks. This is one of the few that is open at…read morelunchtime and the service is very fast, which is ideal for a weekday lunch! My Dad bought the sample platter of all five or six tacos and loved it, while I had three - chorizo, cachete and longaniza. All were very tasty.

Food Truck and Menu

Close up of the Brisket Tacos

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Close up of the Pork Tacos

OneTaco

4.3(155 reviews)

3.8 mi•Downtown

After a few drinks at Cockfight Bar around the corner, we stopped by for a late-night bite before…read morecalling it a night--and I'm so glad we did. These are honestly some of the best tacos I've had in Austin! The pastor was cooked perfectly: flavorful, slightly crispy around the edges, and packed with plenty of meat, all wrapped in a delicious handmade tortilla. Every bite was so good that I immediately wanted more. I also ordered a quesadilla, which was perfectly cheesy and just the right size to satisfy without feeling too heavy. Honestly, if I had more room, I would have ordered enough tacos to last me the whole next day! I'll definitely be coming back the next time I'm in Austin. This spot is a must-try for anyone craving amazing tacos.

The branding in here is almost enough to make it worth the trip. I loved the mask stenciled into…read morethe double doors, the playful color palette, and the Coke bottle cap stools they're hiding by one of the counters. I dropped in at 7:30a on a Friday, and watched a steady stream of people come in for takeout. All our food came quickly. Apparent regulars got a friendly recognition by the front of house when they got to the front of the line. I had a Migas and a Taco Jefe. The fill ratio was correct: I was able to hold it closed without really squeezing, and better, nothing was soggy to weaken the very lightly warmed tortilla. But I wanted a higher salt level in the eggs and steak, and some crisp on both proteins would've improved texture balance. It's pretty solid. I think my mom would give it a 5. But for me, it's a solid 4.

Margarita!

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Signage

Veracruz All Natural

4.1(590 reviews)

3.6 mi

The Austin heat was breathing down my neck like a dragon as I walked a place recommended by a…read morecoworker. I walked into this unassuming restaurant and perused the menu, which felt like Mexican tarot cards. Pictures. Titles. Small description. It all looked basic. But simple food made with fresh ingredients and seasoned well has won Michelin stars. Unfortunately, I don't foresee them receiving one. The al pastor taco was tasty. The steak taco had too much fat in it. If I was strictly bashing this review on the food. I'd give it a three. It's not worth the price. Now, the service seemed to be decent until I didn't put a tip on my takeout order. Things seemed to go south. When my name was called, I grabbed the small paper bag and paused. No guacamole. If I hadn't have looked, I could've walked a really long wasteful before noticing. Maybe long enough to not go back. The last behind the counter, said okay I'll get it. It felt like a chore. I said thank you and made the long walk fighting the heat of the dragon's breath once again. The story does not stop there, I thought 3 tacos, a drink, and guacamole couldn't honestly cost $43. The guilt of spending that kind of money on such little food that was also just average, screamed in my conscience. Well, that was because the woman also had not given me my tres leches, which was going to be for my wife. I took the long walk back, stood at the counter for what felt like 10 minutes,and again it felt like a chore to get me what I paid for. No sorry. I would suggest taking a little longer walk to Taqueria de Diez

OMG where do I start? My plans started horribly today, and I didn't even plan on eating here today,…read morebut the food here at Veracruz All Natural completely turned my day around. I had only stopped by this Food Truck (area) to try Desnudo Coffee, and spotted this business. I had heard some good things about Veracruz, but I was planning lunch elsewhere. Well, that other spot was CLOSED ON WEDNESDAYS! Seeing my situation, I saw it as opportunity to try the options at Veracruz --- including the famous from Food Network, migas taco. I ordered 4 tacos: the migas, migas poblano, shrimp macha (!!), and the Dona Reyna tacos. All of these specific tacos were priced between $6 and $6.75 per taco, not bad in Austin, and not bad considering the quality of said tacos. As you can see from my order, I opted on the more "novel" choices and they did not disappoint; that said, I do HIGHLY recommend the two variations of the migas taco and the shrimp macha taco. Oh, the shrimp macha was so FIRE, the flavors were bold and smoky with a kiss of heat. The migas tacos were FULLY LOADED, and the scramble with the tortilla chips were flavorul. TIP: They will ask corn or flour --- do flour. Everything is handmade, but those corn tortillas fall apart with all the sauce. Flour = durable and flavorful. I had plans, but the Universe had other plans for me that were superior. Try Veracruz All Natural --- and if your limited on $$$, you can snag 3 EXCEPTIONAL LOADED TACOS for about $20, that you will not find anywhere else!

Interior part of the hotel

Migas tacos

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Shrimp Macha Taco

Las Perlas

4.5(137 reviews)

4.1 mi•Downtown

Asador at Las Perlas (taco stand located in patio of Las Perlas) - tasty and decadent tacos and…read morequesadillas. I got the grilled chicken and beef Piccadillo tacos along with a chicken quesadilla. I have a healthy appetite but even for me it was more food than I could eat. All items were good and they had several HH drink specials that ran until 8pm. The decor was cool with a cool vibe. If you come in during the day you may need a minute to adjust your eyes cause it can feel dark coming from sunlight.

Solid taco spot / bar!!!…read more Was visiting Austin Downtown with some coworkers and we were craving Mexican food, but also wanted to get a drink. This place had the best of both worlds!! I had the guava margarita - refreshing and yum - as well as the quesadilla (brisket) and chicken taco. Both were devoured. delicious. no notes. I would say the only thing that is keeping my rating in the 4.5 range is the smaller menu, some things were sold out, and got a little bad vibe from one of the workers when picking up my food. Other than that, food was solid. Outdoor area was nice. Would come back again!

3.5 mi•Warehouse District, Downtown

Behind the bar

Chips guacamole n salsa- the salsa is to die for

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Paloma

Torchy's Tacos

4.0(475 reviews)

This Torchy's delivers with the same great quality as the rest of them. Tacos are packed with meat…read moreand veggies, and the meats are marinated nicely. My go to is 1 streak fajita taco and 1 democrat taco on their house made corn tortillas. That and a beer should fill you up. Theres a lot of indoor and outdoor seating, high top and low top. They have kiosks to order if you already know, and a couple cashiers incase you want to order directly from a person. 7 beers on draft, 16 and 24 oz options and a few different margs on the menu. The bartender was attentive and drinks are very reasonably priced.

Convenient spot if you're already gonna be downtown, but hard to find parking or even a table…read moreinside. So, not really worth to come to this location solely for the food. But workers are super friendly even despite it being so busy and crowded inside. As for the food, the tacos are always decent. But I always find myself coming just for the queso and guac.

3.9 mi•Oltorf/East Riverside

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Pueblo Viejo

4.4(672 reviews)

Tucked away in a building across from Popeye's, this charming little restaurant doesn't have a wide…read morevariety to choose from--but what they offer is pretty special and definitely worth a visit. I ordered 2 steak tacos and horchata, both very delicious. The horchata is milky and sweet but not crazy sweet, and topped off with cinnamon. The steak tacos came out pretty hot, fresh from the grill. I got them on corn tortillas and I'm glad I did: idk if they make them in house but somebody in some house is making these because they definitely aren't store bought, and if they are I want to know where! I tried the orange habanero and creamy serrano salsas. The habanero was spicy off the bat, while the serrano had more of a lingering burn. Both paired well with the steak. They have a little bar, too, though I did not imbibe this time. Seems like they have a decent selection of agave spirits, and even Campari behind the bar (iykyk). Give them a shot, and thank the ladies in the kitchen.

I personally don't eat breakfast tacos usually, but the breakfast tacos here are delicious. Out on…read morea whim, happen to drive by and saw this place. Decided to come in and the cashier greeted us and was really nice and patient because of questions with the menu. The Taco Bueno is what I had ordered and requested no potato. Sat down and after a few seconds, chips & salsa was delivered. Then after a few minutes, the food came. Quick service for sure and the food, AMAZING. Anyone reading this, try this place out and if u like it, come back! Cuz we are for sure =D

Dining Pueblo Viejo ~ Riverside

Steak Burrito

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Delicious pineapple cucumber agua fresca!

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3 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Briggs T.

169

9 years ago

This location has high potential to be a neighborhood staple, and I really wanted el chilito to be great! It wasn't. Saturday at noon, ordered two tacos and a coke totaling $12.50, waited around 20 minutes for the food, and was overall underwhelmed. Even with the nice seating area, orders are presumed to be takeout and are wrapped up. Tacos / tortillas were soggy - ingredients mediocre. Overpriced and lackluster flavor. Won't rush back. read more

Christine M.

2 years ago

I drove by today and they are open again! 6/2/24 Looking forward to going back for all the goodness.

Veronica Z.

Elite 24

9 years ago

Tocos not that good - tortillas not that good. My coffee was ok - I will not be back.

El Chilito - salad - Updated September 2026

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Good food and service. Neighborhood vibes, slow and low…read more Unable to say enough good things about this South Austin gem.

They just can't seem to get down how to do "extra crispy bacon" and I don't want to eat chewy fat…read morechunks lol ! The pics are from two separate experiences. Their service over the years has really gone downhill with the cooking (the waitresses are great), the tacos are smaller and they dont make them correctly a lot of the time. Sad bc I really have enjoyed it here before !

Taqueria Arandas

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(143 reviews)

This is where I go for simple tasty Tex-Mex without frou-frou, pretension, or fat price tags. The…read moreburritos are big but not excessively huge, the tacos are simply good solid tacos. The servers don't introduce themselves and promise to Take Care of You, thank goodness. They're friendly enough, but they are just going to bring you fresh hot food. This is a great chain of restaurants, long may they wave.

Service was very good. Salsa and chips were tasty, the…read morequeso needed more seasoning. The scenery was nice inside. I got cheese enchiladas with rice and beans. The enchiladas and beans were good but the rice didn't have any flavor. Overall I would come again

Taqueria La Escondida

3.8

(77 reviews)

I'll come back to try different things, but this current rating is just on the breakfast tacos,…read morewhich are merely average. I had chorizo and egg on flour. Tortillas were meh. Filing was OK, but not the greatest eggs. Only $2.25 though. On the other hand, the red salsa is fabulous. Tastes very fresh. Nice spice. Good chips. Everything is over priced though on the main menu. Edit. Won't be back. Just got my bill and they charge for chips and salsa. Come on now. No one does that.

This location used to be a Dunkin Donuts back in the day. And, since it's closure I've never set…read moreback into the building until last weekend. The ONLY reason you should dine here is you don't want to sit for hours in the Discount Tire waiting room. That's why the GF and I decided to try it. I'll point out above average salsa paired with mediocre yellow corn chips. Her taco salad for the price was a bit off putting. Minimal lettuce and oversized tomato slices. Two micro slivers of avocado. Cheese applied with tweezers? I had just had a taco salad the day before and it was twice the ingredients for the same price. Had better balance lettuce with diced tomato, huge dollops of guacamole and sour cream. She asked me to mention the beef fajita meat was quite tasty. Mole can be a touchy subject with me. I spent my first 10 years on yelp cataloging every chicken enchilada mole dish in my travels. This one was less chocolate and more spice. More black in color versus deep brown in color I'm used to. Service was MEH.

El Secreto de la Abuela 2

4.3

(58 reviews)

Walked in about 30 minutes before closing to order foot to go and received kind service and really…read moregood food. I got the 5 mini tacos as well as the Texanas combo fajitas. 100% will be returning. Actually has pretty nice tables and seating on the inside - the exterior is just very unassuming. Really reasonable prices as well. The combo fajitas was a sizeable portion with chicken, steak, a couple shrimps, rice and beans, and all the fixings including guac for $20.99. I almost wanted to gatekeep this place and keep it a secreto lol.

My son goes to the high school across the street, so I've seen this place literally 100s of times…read more We're huge fans of Mexican food, so I don't know why it's taken us so long to give "El Secreto" a shot. Boy, do I wish we had paid them a visit sooner. Service - Excellent Chips - Perfection Green Sauce - Outstanding Red Sauce - Outstanding Refried Beans - Outstanding Mexican Rice - Outstanding Cheese Quesadilla- Outstanding Street Tacos - Legit! Value - Outstanding - if you can, please tip generously! We also hit up Sazon, Hecho En Mexico, La Posada, Betos, and El Patio, which are all solid in their own right. El Secreto is firmly affixed in our rotation. We can't wait to explore more of their menu.

Papalote Taco House

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Best breakfast tacos in Austin. Full stop…read more I lived in ATX 12 years ago and this was my favorite place to get tacos. Returned today and the restaurant has expanded into a larger, fancier space, and the tacos are exactly as delicious as I remember. I recommend trying both the red and green sauce, made in house and amazing. The same kind owner was here serving them! Don't miss it.

I've only been here for breakfast. (Still missing Maria's.) Usually I just grab a couple chorizo,…read moreegg, and cheese to go. But, if you've got time to sit down, get the chilaquiles. The bomb! Lunch/dinner options look good and I'll have to make the effort to come back to try them. Folks are nice, it's affordable, and it's always clean.

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Hands down my favorite breakfast place! I've been here a bunch of times and the food is always…read moreincredible, and the staff is very nice! Food comes out quick and it's the best chicharrón and eggs I've had in a while. I'm not a breakfast or morning person but I'll get up early for this place!

Loved this place. For what it lacks in fanciness / trendiness: it makes up for it with soul, sweet…read moresmiles, and reasonable prices. You can tell a lot about a place by the quality of their beans and these were delicious. The chips were hot, light, and fresh. I love the fact that this place is in what clearly was a chinese place that hasn't been remodeled in decades. Our server was so sweet and attentive. I recommend the enchiladas with salsa verde and the burritos. I've been meaning to come in here for years because I've heard good things from several locals. So glad I finally made it in!

Pueblo Viejo Traila

4.0

(155 reviews)

Yummy food truck located at Cosmic Pickle with some great options…read more They're one of three different food trucks at Cosmic's mini food park. There are so many different types of tacos to choose from, salads, enchiladas, and more. The brekkie taco with potatoes, cheese, egg, and chorizo is tasty and FILLING!! The quesadilla taco is super good too and also super filling. Fast and friendly service!

I came to Cosmic pickle to do some reading. Cosmic pickle is wonderful. I usually bring my own…read moresnack but I decided to have lunch here. There's 3 food trucks onsite. I went with Pueblo Viejo. The food is just okay and really did not sit well with me. Service as others have mentioned is awful. I should have read reviews before ordering here.

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No limes, wrong meat, and the sauces TRASH!! The meat was dry too. The tortillas were fresh and…read moregood but hell no. I couldn't even finish them...I tried

Food: 3/5 portion was generous, salty Service: 3/5 we got 7…read morebreakfast tacos and waited about 12 minutes (2 ahead of us) Parking: 4/5 easy, plenty, it wasn't busy Value: 3/5 7 breakfast tacos for $28 Full disclosure: we only got breakfast tacos. I cannot speak to their other offerings which is plenty. This is the second time I've given this spot a chance and I must say, the value is okay but unmemorable for breakfast tacos. I might come back for their meat tacos or quesadillas to try. Personally, what we got were too salty and a bit greasy. Very comfort food. If this is what you like, you might like this spot! I came here for convenience but would likely drive to southwest austin for BTBH off of Brodie next time for the migas.

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