Only a 4 because I haven't tried more entrees. Oh my - so delicious. First visit and we opted with Enchilada Verde and kids chicken quesadilla. The salsa just right with a little kick with the light chips you can't stop eating. Chicken enchilada verde with a kick. Side of rice and beans was tiny but the entree more than enough. I only wanted "more" rice and beans. Quesadilla was not greasy and cooked perfect. Staff was efficient and perhaps a little timid but a great at home feel here. Family business and the care of the atmosphere and food quality is above and beyond. We shall be back! read more

La Cocina - Kids chicken quesadilla (rice only, hold the beans) - Mexican Near Me - Round Rock, Texas

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This place is a hidden gem! It is some of the best Mexican and Italian food I've had in a long time. The lasagna is amazing! I love that you can get both. it's family owned and being a small business my self. I absolutely love the atmosphere and the feel. All the staff is fantastic and very nice, Even though it's my first time they treated me like I was a regular. I will be back very soon! read more

AWESOME! Went this past Saturday night for the first time with my cousin who frequents the place and I can't wait to get back there. We were fortunate to catch them at a slow time and the experience was personal, now that I'm writing about it, felt like a private dinner just for me. The family who owns/operate it are very nice and family oriented. The bar is great! The weekend margaritas are fresh and very tasty. Chips and salsa are really good. I ordered grandmas guisada, came with hot tortillas and I made 4 tacos with em and I couldn't stop mmmmmmm-ing it was so good. We had a vodka pasta next and that was awesome but it was the lasagna that I thought was the best I've ever had!!!...really, I will be back for the lasagna again and again and again..... I understand that we can't all have the same experience and tastes are different BUT.....La Cocina in my professional experience.....FANTASTIC!!! read more

In town for the day, dropped by and a great dinner. Lasagna was awesome and my wife loved the carbonara. Definitely recommend.

i was pleasantly surprised that an Italian/Mexican restaurant was so good. Fast Service Cooooold Beer Reasonably priced Great food. Highly Recommend read more

This is a hidden gem in Round Rock. The taste of both the mexican and italian menus is excellent. I always tend to get whatever their special of the day is. Their presentation reminds me of the W with the small town feel. The full bar is also a nice touch. Great first date spot or a place to take your friends and family who can never make up their minds. read more

Recommend by co-workers and we were not impressed at all, especially with the lack of enthusiasm from the server. I had the crispy beef taco plate. It lacked flavor and the tortillas are Pre-made , similar to Taco Bell's tacos which tells me it is not grandmas cooking like they claimed. They do have fresh tortillas but I guess they don't use them for the taco plate. The refried beans are not lightly fried as they claim. The serving I got the beans were a dark brown similar to those out of a can. Well at least we tried. read more

Great family owned business. The son was out waiter and the father (owner) was the cook. Queso and margaritas were great.

Our favorite Mexican restaurant! Some of the dishes can be hit or miss, but when you find your dish... Stick to it! They take reservations, which is so helpful for large groups even in such a small place. The lighting is a bit dark for my taste, but for me, the rating is all about the food read more

Great food, awful service. I understand not questioning a chef's recipe or craft. However, if I am asking for pork on nachos instead of chicken, that shouldn't be a problem. Likewise, if I ask for the sauce on the side (i.e., enchiladas), the answer shouldn't be "no." They flat out will not make accommodations. No matter what. Is your food pre prepared and frozen? If not, sauce change or meat requests shouldn't be shunned as if we're peasants asking for something outrageous. read more

I read the review below and felt the need to comment. The food is delicious here. There is a letter posted on the door stating why they were closed, it was a celebration for their anniversary I believe... My husband and I have lived all around Austin and now round rock and this is by far one of the best. read more

I'm surprised I haven't reviewed this place before. My wife and I went here over a year ago and loved the place. The food was good and the service was outstanding. Talked with the owner for a while and he couldn't have been kinder to us or our 1 and 1/2 year old. read more

Visited a friend in Round Rock who suggested we have dinner here. This is a wonderful little place. I had the Chile Relleno with shrimp, very good. My daughter had the Eggplant Parm, the eggplant was not breaded and fried, excellent change from the way other restaurants prepare it. Also shared spumoni ice cream and flan for dessert, yum. I give it four stars because of location; would have never found it on my own, It's off the beaten path in a small strip mall. Located around the corner from St. William's Catholic Church. read more

I really enjoyed this place. I could do the Mexican thing while my wife does the Italian thing and the kids are happy too. I had the Maria's Enchiladas while my wife went with the Lasagna. The Red Mole' was pretty good - but not quite as good as some of the darker Mole' I've had around town. The enchilada fillings were perfect as was the texture of the corn tortillas. Beans and rice - both top shelf. Chips and salsa - excellent! The marinara is excellent as was the Lasagna! Try the Chicago pasta - it is really good and can be spicy... I'll be back. read more

Fantastic food! My boyfriend and I absolutely love going here, a quiet restaurant, amazing food, and great service! It's a must try!

Atmosphere was nice - walls and decor were well thought out. Food and service was average. We had a table of 6. Enchiladas and tacos were OK. read more

I don't usually take the time to review or post often which is funny because I am one that likes to read reviews before trying a new place. A good friend kept telling us how much they really liked La Cocina and that it quickly has become their favorite spot. I suggested going there last night with some friends and felt I needed to post about our experience. So here goes... This place is a hidden gem! The service was impeccable from start to end! Owner made the rounds to say hello and ask if our meal was satisfactory or if we needed anything. We all ordered something different and with it being a Mexican & Italian restaurant it checked off all our boxes. The chips are the best chips we've had bar none! Husband ordered the roasted Carnitas served with two different sauces, smashed beans, homemade tortillas and all the fixings. Our friends ordered the fried calamari and shared the Fajita's which they raved about. I ordered the Lasagna because on the menu it stated that it was the best lasagna in town! They were not wrong! This is one of, if not the best Lasagna I've had! We felt the prices were spot on and portions ample in size. They have a full bar with a nice wine selection. Margarita's packed a nice punch and the beer selection was good for those who want just beer. The place is understated from the outside but on the inside nicely decorated, quaint, quiet, and has a good feeling to it. All in all, we had a great meal and will be going back! read more

I trust all things Veek. So when she told me that me and the girls should meet here for dinner on our way to the Georgetown theater, I didn't hesitate. Srsly, Italian AND Mexican?? In one spot? I was salivating and just a little curious. You know what they say: Do one thing and do it right. Could they do both here....right? This is an unassuming little storefront in a strip mall. I passed it right by the first time. The decor is fairly non-descript but leans toward the Mexican side of things. In fact, so does the menu. Predominantly Mex with a fair number of Italian dishes as well. Me n the girls wisely decided on a variety: lasagna, pork al pastor, and "Grandmother's Recipe" pork. All were completely yum. I would knock Granny down to get that recipe. It was super tender pork stewed in a red flavorful rioja sauce. In fact I think I got the best dish of the three, but woulda liked some more sampling to make sure. I love my Lisa M and Jessica S, but I don't think we're close enough for me to just eat at will off their plates. I need to bring Hubby here so I can do just that and try to fathom out if the Italian is just as good as the Mexican dishes. It requires more research and I am the Gastrocist to do it! While there, we saw two other Yelpers enter separately. So apparently we all trust Veek. They need to put her on the payroll! read more

I convinced my coworkers to go there for lunch, overcoming their skepticism with my characteristic charm and a little cajoling. They were totally blown away. Service was fast, food was delicious, salsa was awesome. I still recommend they stop using word 3.0 to print out their menus and they definitely need to advertise more... we were the only peeps in there at prime lunch time. read more

It's hard to go to a mega-chain restaurant when you have access to (and can support) awesome locally-owned establishments. This is one of those places. Locally owned by a hardworking couple who puts passion into their business. We didn't realize it initially, but the menu is part Mexican, part Italian. Kinda cool--good for folks who are craving one or the other. Furthermore: - Portions are on the smaller size. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but if you're expecting Papasito's-sized portions, you'll be disappointed. - All of the items seem to be freshly prepared, and mostly homemade. The food didn't all arrive at our table simultaneously--and we're fine with that--because it tells us that the kitchen is taking their time. - We had the pulled pork. Tender, fairly plain. Served with rice and beans--the rice fairly plain, but moist and fluffy. The beans also plain, but good. Served with three tortillas. Asked for salsa (they brought two kinds ) to spice it up. - Also, we had one of the night's specials: enchiladas with chicken and roasted poblano pepper with chipotle sauce. Yum. - Also (on the Italian side), Pasta a la Chicago. Pleasantly spicy and delicious. - The prices are a tad high, and maybe I'd have a slightly more favorable opinion if the portions were a tad larger (to match the prices). Full bar. I regret not trying a margarita. A few beers on tap. Some wine, too. We'll be back to try more of their menu. read more

Hidden gem is RIGHT! Loved this quaint and cute restaurant. Came in for a quick and causal valentines date and wasn't disappointed in the slightest. Attentive staff, GREAT food, good drinks and quiet enough to enjoy each other. read more

Everything, every time, is absolutely amazing here. Pasta Arrabiata is heaven on a plate. Pasta is cooked to perfection, hot and delicious. Enchiladas are amazing as well. Place looks like a dive on the outside, but believe me, this one is worth the risk. read more

My husband and I landed at the airport today after a weekend away, and we were starving. He wanted Mexican food and so we began kicking ideas around; however, we almost always end up at the same old places. We decided to get on Yelp to find a new place to try, and boy were we glad we did!! First of all, I am usually highly suspect of a place that "specializes" in two different cuisines, though I'm not sure why. Maybe it's because it just seems like they're spreading themselves too thin. Not true here. We didn't try the Italian side of things, but the Mexican food was REALLY good. The homemade salsa is yummy, and the chips crisp and warm. They don't fill the basket to the brim, so you'll have to ask for refills fairly often (only semi-negative thing I have to say about this place.) I had Maria's enchiladas with suiza sauce, and my husband had the carne asada. Our waitress - the daughter of the family who owns the restaurant - brought out two sauces for my husband to use on his steak, which he loved. The suiza sauce was poured over three enchiladas, one each of chicken, cheese and beef - and then topped with rich cheese. I usually don't even like spanish rice, but I ate every bit of what was on my plate. Everything tasted really fresh and is full of flavor. We enjoyed talking to our waitress and learned that her parents are Mexican and Italian, which is why they combined the cuisines. That would explain why we were eating excellent Mexican food while listening to Andrea Bocelli (which was pleasant, but a tad bit odd!) The other thing I liked about the restaurant is that though it's not terribly fancy, it is extremely clean - as in, squeaky. We loved this place and will definitely be back. Highly recommended. read more

I was so impressed with this place! I've been to a lot of mom and pop shops around here in the year since we've lived in this area and I have been remarkably unimpressed. It's taken us awhile to get around to this one but WOW what a difference. The food was off the charts good, the service was spectacular, the margaritas were perfect. They made an off the menu version of chile rellenos with shrimp and a different sauce that I scarfed up like I hadn't eaten in a week! The salsa was fantastic. I can not say enough about this place. It was spectacular. They have a new regular! read more

The food was good, but I didn't think it lived up to expectations. The decor and location are cute. The service? So bad that I will never go back. I don't have to put up with being ignored. There are tons of other places that want my money and serve food just as good or better. I should caveat that the owner seemed very nice. He has a couple of female waitresses that I would fire in a heartbeat though. I mean fire like Donald Trump on a bad day fire. Really consider kicking them out the door with a boot to their backside; fire. There are many reviews here that refer to them. They're snotty and rude and lazy, and have no business working in any kind of hospitality industry. Your business is going to go under if you don't get rid of those two "ladies." read more

I do not fancy going out for Italian food, often because it just tastes like something I can make in my own kitchen. Olive Garden, Macaroni Grill, Carino's...not bad, but not worth the money either. However, La Cocina is one of those divey little places I like to go for some authentic cuisine. The family is both Italian and Mexican so they have a menu that represents both cuisines. I have had the mexican food once but have continued to order the Italian because it's just so darn good. I have tried a lot on the menu but one thing I always go back to is the Pasta a la Chicago. It has the perfect amount of spice and sausage with what seem to be thick homemade noodles. The glasses of wine are a little pricey but I enjoy the experience here so much that I don't mind spending the extra $2. Perfect hidden little spot for some good italian food. read more

My husband visited this restaurant on his own and raved about it, insisting that we return as a family. I have to admit, it's hole-in-the-wall strip mall location, dark interior, and oddly mixed Mexican-Italian menu had me raising my eyebrows and thinking that I'd be picking our restaurant the next time we went out to eat. Boy was I wrong. I totally misjudged this place. The service is impeccable- quick, happy, and extremely helpful. The margaritas were spot on. My husband and I both got the specials of the day and they were phenomenal. The salsa was good as well. We will ABSOLUTELY be coming back often! read more

Wow! What an awesome place!! The lasagna was to die for!! (And I am a pasta LOVER!) The service was great, ambience was great. Great date night! read more

I ditto all the other reviews - I never knew this shopping center existed and will definitely be back. Everything was cooked with care - not too salty/spicy and everything tasted fresh. Great for solving the "I had mexican (or italian) for lunch" dilemma. Very friendly/informative staff as well. read more

In a word; ADORABLE. Wonderful family atmosphere. An authentic fusion of traditional Mexican and Italian favorites. A non judgmental approach to accommodating dietary restrictions (most times it's like the beginning of a bad joke; "A vegan walks in to an Italian restaurant..."). A few more vegetarian options, and for me this place would easily be five stars. read more

I ate here tonight with my parents. The food was very good and the staff was extremely friendly, but I feel that we came at the absolute wrong time of day. WARNING: I will give a play-by-play recount of my experience. If you prefer not to read all this, just stick with this: DO NOT GO TO LA COCINA ON FRIDAY NIGHTS!!!!! Please note, the times listed are complete estimates. 7 PM: We arrived and got the LAST TABLE in the whole restaurant. The place was packed full, and somehow we got lunch menus instead of dinner menus. The waitress apologetically fixed this for us. But then we waited until... 7:15 PM: The server has passed our table in the last FIFTEEN minutes without taking our drink orders. She finally does, and we get our drinks. Good start, but then.... 7:30 PM: After recieving a basket of perfectly average chips, and after waiting another FIFTEEN minutes, we get our food orders in. At this point I am starting to wonder... 7:45 PM: Basket number two of chips arrives at our table--I must say we did not ask for this. They simply brought us more. How nice. STILL WAITING on our dinners, though. 8 PM: STILL WAITING! What is this? I am starting to get angry. The crowd has gone down considerably, they should be able to start whisking dinners out of the kitchen, along with apologies to the frustrated customers. But NOOOOOOO!!! 8:15 PM: We get our food (Whew. We actually GOT DINNER.) and it was totally worth the wait. The staff was very apologetic about the whole thing. My favorite part about the meal was that my pasta dish had just enough sauce to cover it--most Italian restaurants make their pasta SWIM in sauce. For the first time in awhile, I finished my Italian meal without a drop of sauce on my clothes. Overall, I would recommend this place to anyone. However, please don't make the mistake I did--stay away on Fridays. read more

Excellent independent restaurant that offers both Mexican and Italian food. It's small and cozy, with low lighting. Too bad they don't have a patio, I love outdoor seating. The food is truly excellent, and I am always suprised they aren't more packed. The location is off the beaten path, but very accessible from I-35. read more

The food is consistently gourmet and they serve both Italian AND Mexican. Don't let the stripmall exterior fool you. The family-owned and involved staff have done a remarkable job with the interior. For tex-mex: try the Carnitas or steak fajitas. For Italian: best lasagna in town. Large portion! read more

We discovered this jewel last weekend and we are going back this weekend. Mexican-Italian sounded odd at first but the owner/chef knows what he is doing and the food is fabulous. My wife enjoyed the cheese enchiladas done with Italian style cheeses. I had a chicken and sausage pasta dish with marinara done with Mexican spice overtones. Next time I will have the Italian enchiladas. They looked good on the menu and my friend raved about them. read more

Had dinner at La Cocina last night for the first time in a few years and it was amazing. Starting with the Mexican Martini, chips, salsa and queso. For dinner my wife and I both had the special Shreaded Chicken Pablano and Cheese Enchiladas with a delicious white cream sauce. I love the fact that it is truly a family owned and run business. The daughters serve the guests while husband and wife prepare delicious food. I failed to mention that the Italian food they serve is just ass good. I always arrive there not knowing if I will order Mexican or Italian food. So glad I went with Mexican last night because they were some of the best enchiladas I have ever had. If you have not been before you should give them a try your next time out for dinner. It is a neat little place tucked away off of McNeil road in Round Rock that has been there for years. I promise you will not be disappointed. Enjoy! read more

We were on our way from Austin Park and Pizza to Ikea and he knew that if he didn't feed me soon I would get cranky. Yelp app to the rescue! I had a pasta dish, he had a burrito. I liked my pasta and so did he. He wasn't thrilled with his burrito, but he ate it all. We shared spumoni ice cream for dessert. That part was cute. read more

Oh man the enchilada suizas are so good. The food is unbelievable. Everything I've tried is so tasty. The chef is always on key. Oh and it serves not just text mex, but italian. Odd combo, but I've tried a variety of each and all tastes great!! Why not 5 stars? Well we go a lot for work lunch and depending on who is working there is the experience you'll have. One staff member seems to make an effort to never smile. I believe it's family owned and the wife is so nice, friendly. The hostess, possibly the daughter, well lets say she doesn't really want to be there and she'll make sure you know she's unhappy. But if you want good food, you can definitely get them here! read more

Ok, so I've been in Austin since 1985 and I just found out about this place yesterday. The funny thing is, I find out from a co-worker who was in town from Grand Rapids, MI. Where have I been? Anywhoo....this restaurant is very cute and quaint. I love the decor, although I'm confused....Italian? Tex-Mex? Ok, so it's both. Yes...a Tex-Mex Italian restaurant. I love it. I went there for lunch today, it wasn't very crowded, which was great. The staff was friendly. The chips and salsa are fantastic. I can't wait to go back to try the Italian food. The capacity of the place is 86.....or at least that's what's on their window. It's good for a small group. read more

I wasn't sure what to expect... Mexican AND Italian... location in a small shopping center off of McNeil- didn't think anything was in that area. Turns out it was great! Cute place with friendly, knowledgable staff. Loved the menu, but ordered one of the specials- cannelloni with vodka sauce. It was delicious!! Will definitely go again! read more

Would love to be able to give a review on the food, but we pulled up 15 minutes after opening time and the doors were locked. Someone's came and looked out the door at us and walked off. Won't be trying this establishment again. read more