This is a great location! Churros, drinks, and vibes were great. Shout out to the wonderful staff!

Myself and two other people came to La Popular for a weekday lunch and were very happy with the overall experience. We sat at the bar and had a couple of drinks each. The house margarita was really great because it was more on the sour side. The Chili Pineapple Mango Margarita was tasty too and not too spicy. We split the Salsa Tray as our appetizer. Their salsas are each unique and flavorful. I think the salsa toreado was our favorite, but we enjoyed them all. We then got the Tuna Tostadas, Aguachile, and Baja Prawn Tacos. I loved the tostadas. The crispy leeks really added a fun touch to the overall texture of the dish. The aguachile had a nice herbal flavor with a decent kick. The prawns in the tacos had a really nice batter. Overall, we each spent about $60 which is not the cheapest Mexican food in town but we still enjoyed our meals. read more

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I recently came here with my boss for a work lunch and to say we were unimpressed is an understatement. Unfortunately, while the service was phenomenal and everyone was very kind, the food absolutely failed to hit the mark and parts of it were completely inedible. I ordered the Al Pastor Enchiladas and there really wasn't a whole lot of flavor. The meat was quite sparse at best, dried out, and lacked all the incredible flavor I expect in Al Pastor. The dish was completely overwhelmed by the sauce, which at least helped add some moisture back in, but unfortunately wasn't enough to save the enchiladas. My boss ordered a salad and added steak as a protein. The steak was so overcooked and tough that she couldn't cut through it and the manager came by to apologize for how overdone it was. We're both gluten free and we had no issues with the food in that regard, but the only enjoyable aspect of the meal outside of the company was the tortilla chips, guacamole, and other sauces/dips that came with the chips. I'd hoped they might have a desert to redeem the food a bit, but they do not offer any gluten free desert options. The server and manager were both apologetic for the food, but unfortunately I'd rather have good food than a discounted meal. As far as the seating, this restaurant is located off a fairly busy road but is in a restaurant/business center so parking is plentiful and free. I have been to restaurants in this area several times now and never had an issue finding parking. They offer indoor and outdoor seating, with a variety of seating options inside (table, bar, etc.) It was a bit dim inside, so this does have the potential of being a nice romantic/intimate setting, but with the food being what it was, I would not recommend this restaurant. Carve is located in this same complex and is significantly better. read more

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To start off, I had the salsa sampler and while I don't like paying for chips and salsa at a Mexican restaurant, I think this was enough for 2 people. The hottest salsa had a kick but if you like spicy then you'll easily be able to handle it. The soy sauce salsa is different, it wasn't my favorite but nice to try something new. It had too much of a soy sauce flavor. For the entree, I had the Al pastor enchilada and that was great! I would definitely order that again. The cactus pomegranate agua Fresca was very refreshing as well! read more

La Popular Austin - Al pastor enchiladas - great! - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

First timers and we had a great experience. Shout out to Pedro for being a very thorough and attentive waiter making sure we were good throughout the whole dinner. We had Ceviche and Chorizo Queso for apptizers. 100% recommend! We also had combo plates to try the different types of tacos/enchiladas and they did not disappoint. Nothing Tex Mex about this place. Authentic Mexican for sure. We would definitely come back! read more

Definitely the last time I'll visit this restaurant. The food can be good at times but definitely doesn't justify the price tag. The service tonight also was not great - our waitress would only pay attention to the table next to us and ignore our empty water and stack of plates to be taken. Not the mentioned two out of three of our entrees were messed up (ie given fried fish tacos when ordered grilled shrimp). Additionally, we were celebrating a birthday that got no acknowledgement. Won't be returning read more

Pros: - kept my water full :)) - seated quickly and In a desirable location - friendly attentive server. Very available but very clear that we were never being rushed ! - easy to read and extensive menu - the salsa and chip combo starter ?! What !!! So beautiful and delicious and I loved the description - gorgeous drinks - the food was all presented beautiful in appropriate vessels -all the dishes were balanced, flavorful and as described on menu -creative way of serving the steak tacos ! It worked well . Cons - there's not many ! Maybe the drinks could use a bit more alcohol for the price -a bit pricey but I figure it's worth it for the ambiance, presentation, flavors and service - Would I Return? YES read more

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This place is a gem, the chicken fajitas are so good in so many ways. The chicken is cooked perfectly and tender and the seasoning they use is spot on. I always get the fried plantains and they are incredible. Also the short rib enchiladas are fantastic, it's a shame I don't eat red meat that much because I would get those every time. read more

First time and will definitely be back. Miguel was the best! Our food was amazing and the drinks were spectacular. Thanks Miguel for taking such good care of us. read more

I had dinner for the first time at La Popular back in July. My parents and I had to wait about 45 minutes on a Saturday night. They don't have a waiting area inside. There are benches around the shopping complex, but sitting outside in the summer heat wasn't a pleasant experience. Save yourself the trouble and make a reservation. Grace was our server and she was nice. I started with a cocktail called Forbidden Paradise Mule. This drink was different. It wasn't bad, it just had a different flavor profile with a slight kick (tequila, lime, passion fruit, ginger, chamoy, bee pollen). The mini honey comb that came in the drink was cute. The chips and salsa were okay. I liked that it came with four different salsas progressing from mild (avocado salsa verde) to spicy (salsa llorona - pickled jalapeño and serrano peppers) We ordered the chicken nachos for an appetizer. They were good. The chicken had flavor and the chips were nice and crunchy. For my meal, I ordered the fajitas. The presentation was beautiful but the flavor was lackluster because the fajita meat was very bland. My parents and cousin ate here a few months prior to this visit and my cousin had the same critique about the fajitas. I don't love salty food, but this meat was not seasoned at all. The cheese, pico, guac, and sour cream weren't enough to amp up the flavor. On the other hand, the side of refried beans were very flavorful. This place is more about the vibe than the food IMO. Unfortunately the table next to us had a drunk patron who was so loud and obnoxious that it killed the vibe for me. I would give La Popular another try, but I wouldn't wait 45 minutes to eat here again. read more

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The place to be if you want to socialize, or go on a date with someone who wants to impress. The food was nice.

The food was really good! Nice to find a place with authentic Mexican food. The service from Pedro was fantastic! He was so polite and great energy. The vibes and ambiance is elite! Esp nice for a date night read more

La Popular Austin - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

Loved the starred reviews and the service. The place was lovely with really know one eating. We ate at the bar and had the amazing ribeye tacos and salsa tray was fun. I am excited to come back for happy hour read more

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Had a group of 6 of us at dinner here this past weekend. The food was ok but not amazing as I had heard it would be for this traditional Mexican restaurant. The service was a bit slow so maybe they were short staffed when we were there. They were out of guacamole and bean dip that night, which is not a good sign for a Mexican restaurant! We had to hunt for our waiter a few times. He also told us they had tres leches cake and then he said they didn't so we tried the chocolate cake, which was good, and the flan, which seemed denser than typical flan. It was quite a drive for some of us to that location so I'm not sure I'd venture that far again. read more

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Came here based on a recommendation. Great atmosphere, friendly staff and good food. It's a little on the pricey side for tacos but it's an overall chill vibe with patio space. Here's what I had: Ahi Tuna Tostadas- Solid! The ahi had a great flavor and the tostada was nice and crispy. 5 of 5 stars! Al Pastor Tacos- Solid again! The pastor meat was cooked well and the tortilla was very good. 5 of 5 stars. Ribeye Tacos- Basic for me. Thin strip of ribeye with a slice of avocado. The sauce on top was very good. 3 of 5 stars. Bloody Mary- Very nice, not too spicy- 4 stars! Service- slow but friendly, they forgot my tea. 3.5 stars. I'll be back to try the enchiladas and have a drink. read more

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Great food and good service. Will definitely come back. The mahi tacos were fantastic.

Our experience was amazing!!! From the manager, Aurora, our bartender, Shaun, and waiter, Manuel, we were attended to and cared for with kindness and fun. Those three made it so enjoyable and specia The food was excellent and the ambience cozy. Loved it!!! read more

Great queso, steak tacos, and margs. Love the happy hour. Isabella was a great bar tender!

1. Appetizer. We got the chips and Guacamole and wow the presentation was phenomenal! Came out super quickly. 2. We got an Agua Fresca and a Margarita and both were killer. Margarita was a little pricey for how small the glass was but was still great. 3. The Fajita plate was SO GOOD. Came out sizzling hot and came out super fast as well. Was too full for dessert but will be back for that Flan Pedro was our server and he was AMAZING beyond measure. Gave out great recommendations the entire time and had THE BEST upbeat personality Will be coming back. read more

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We had a wonderful time!! The food, ambience, and drinks were awesome! The best part of this restaurant experience was our server Michelle!!! She is beautiful, attentive, and so perfect. She made sure we had everything we asked for, and then some. We loved our evening at La Popular and will definitely be back! Ten stars!! read more

The menu selection was great. Pedro helped us find food that met our tastes. Everything that made it to the table was excellent. The atmosphere was great for casual conversation without being too dark and moody. read more

It's been a while since we came, but the food and margaritas are still top notch. So is the wait staff, especially Ash read more

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Haven't been here in a while and still recognize some of the more colorful staff. Nice cocktails (pricey outside of HH). All the food is good, nice service and ambiance. It's just expensive for tacos. read more

Some golfing buddies and I made reservations here on a Friday night. It was phenomenal. Our server was very attentive. It was funny that he did not understand a request, and he sent someone to address it for us. The food was great and the restaurant decor was trendy. It was very dark, in the restaurant read more

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La Popular is a new restaurant to Austin that comes with a lot of hype. 3.5/5 stars. Food: I was pleased to have a nice variety of salsas and some chips delivered to my table right after being seated. I really enjoyed 2 of the 4! For my entree, I decided on the ribeye fajitas. The fajitas are one of the higher prices menu items but I found it to be incredibly tasty! The meat was tender and bursting with flavor and paired wonderfully with the veggies. The veggies were a bit unseasoned and definitely under salted. My friend order pollo enchiladas. Unfortunately she was not impressed and said her chicken was flavorless. Overall: I wouldn't go out of my way to try La Popular. It's a nice restaurant and while my fajitas were good, between the price, authenticity of the food, and the difficulty making reservations I'd just as well go elsewhere. read more

La Popular Austin - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

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La Popular had so much hype that I had to try it out. The restaurant has a nice sexy and dark interior. The service here is really good. My food came out really fast and the waiters got anything I asked for promptly. Whether you sit at the bar or at a table, you will be served complementary fresh house made tortilla chips with 4 different types of salsa. The salsas all have different levels of spiciness. They all tasted really good, even for someone who doesn't have a high spiciness tolerance! I got the Creamy Prawn tacos. The taco was okay, I just wish it had more of a special flavor to it. I'd come back to maybe try something else (and for their yummy chips and salsa!) read more

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I guess the one star is for the decor and ample parking because the customer service was horrible and the food is a bit overpriced. Decided to come here to catch up with friends. I've never heard of this place but it was suggested by my friend. Upon entering, we were seated promptly but the issue started with the waitress making inappropriate comments about what one could/could not afford. Most of the menu items range from $15-$20. While the items are a bit overpriced, I guess we looked like we couldn't afford that lol. I ordered the Baja Tacos with prawns which was about $16 for two small street tacos and we ordered the shareable drink picture which was $36. As most friends do after not seeing each other for a long period of time, there's more talking than anything. We were probably there longer than the usual diner however, how it was handled was wrong. The waitress basically came to our table and told us her shift ended so we needed to cash out. We did, then continued our conversation. During this time, another waiter stopped by to grab our water glasses but that was it. Didn't ask if we needed anything, introduce himself, none of that so we didn't think anything of it. Shortly after, an older gentleman (who we later found out was the manager) stopped by and asked if we'd like to sit at the bar. We politely told him no. He then continued to tell us that our waitress left 1.5 hrs ago and the new waiter wants to set his table for the next reservations. Now, I could understand that if it was a packed house but there were SEVERAL empty tables around us so, why was there a need to want to clear our table? We asked who the waiter was and it turned out to be the guy who came by to grab the glasses. Granted, we were there a while but instead of trying to kick us out, the proper service would have been to check on us while dining (as a waiter should) and possibly see if we needed anything further like drinks or dessert (since that was never offered) instead of just clearing our table mid conversation. We did share our thoughts with the manager and how the situation was inappropriately handled. He agreed that he was wrong and offered to bring the table some churros but we declined and decided to leave. Needless to say, I won't be back. read more

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Best authentic tacos I have had in Austin thus far!!! I love that they have vegetarian options. The salsa verde! Wow I love it when a sauce has a good flavor profile. The heat from the peppers in the sauce were flavorful and perfectly spicy. These are my new go tacos!! read more

El Popular is a great spot on Southwest Parkway! Food was tasty, atmosphere was comfortable, and it has a nice downtown feel without having to go downtown. Perfect for a casual night out in the area. Emmanuel is a great server! read more

Awesome service!! Great food and great drinks. Manuel was helpful, kind, and welcoming! read more

La Popular Austin - Watermelon & cucumber margaritas - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

5 stars for the quality salsas and tacos. The tacos are the star attraction and they do not disappoint. We tried every variety and they were all top notch. Fresh corn and flour tortillas, well prepared meats with savory spices are the key and they hit all the marks. You can also get your taco with fried cheese baked into the tortillas. This went really well with ribeye taco. The accompanying salsas were excellent. Nice mix of hot and tasty. Of the appetizers, the queso fundido and the cheese tortilla were hits. Good variety of cocktails and beers. Service was spectacular. read more

La Popular Austin - Hot Sauces and chips. All very good - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

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We went to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We walked in and the ambiance was so relaxed and comfortable. Our waitress was so friendly and provided wonderful service. I wish I would have gotten her name because I love giving kudos when it's deserved. We started off with our favorite dish which was ceviche. My husband ordered enchiladas with mole and I ordered creamy chipotle prawns. It was so good then we had to get an order of churros. The cajeta was real Mexico caramel. I will return and enjoyed that it was a nice lunch. read more

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Ambience is top notched. Very much earthy natural and chill vibes inside. Our server was knowledgeable and attentive. Hubby and I dropped in for lunch. I ordered a tortilla soup and tuna tostada. Hubs got the lunch taco special which came with three mini tacos, rice and beans. I hear the margaritas are pretty good but because we both had to go back to work, no alcohol at this meal. Presentation of the food was creative; however I was not a fan of the tortilla soup. It had ancho chile on top that was slightly bitter and the soup base had a dark roux. It did come with interesting fixing to include pork rinds, tortilla strips, avocado, and queso. My tuna came with two servings of tuna, this is more of a small bite offering. Tuna was fresh and had a great taste however one of my shells underneath was stale. Lastly my husband had the carnita (pork belly and rib) tacos. The rice and beans are very mellow in flavor. I didn't taste the tacos but he liked them. (Sorry he didn't give me much description!). Overall I would return and give it another try on some other menu items. Next time our server recommended the Baja prawns, pescado or chile relleno. read more

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Our server Anto was top notch. Great food and very good happy hour. Really authentic taste of Mexico City

We stayed at the hotel that is behind this restaurant and we decided to give it a try since it looked good online. When we arrived, we were greeted by the hostess and asked if we had a reservation when we said we didn't. They immediately sat us down anyway because it wasn't very busy at the time. The vibe in there is very nice. It's a little dark and they have a bar in the center of the place. Everything looked clean. The service was great as our waiter came and got our drink order and our food order right away. It didn't take very long for our food to come out. I got fish tacos with rice and beans and they were delicious. We tried an appetizer which was four different types of salsas with chips and they were all very good as well. If I visit Austin again, I would definitely be back read more

La Popular Austin - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Looking for solid drinks & apps, good ambiance, and a good setting to schmooze it up? La Popular fits the bill. Upon entering you're surrounded by a nice aesthetic, most certainly reminds me of an establishment you'll find in Mexico City: modern, tasteful, pops of traditional Mexican elements. Service was slow, which was not giving Mexico City. And the front door was left open making the entire restaurant seasonably warm in an already record breaking hot summer's evening. Given this place is pretty new, I really hope they fix the kinks. read more

La Popular Austin - Baja tacos (white fish) - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

Pedro was amazing! Excellent service, great atmosphere. Hands down best server we have had here. We will be back!! Thank you for a great dinner read more

My girlfriends and I enjoyed everything we ordered. From cocktails to the food, it was superb. The atmosphere when we were there was lively inside and cool, yet charming on the patio. I highly recommend getting a rez, but we weren't able to snag one and walked in with 3 ppl about 5:30pm. We were told a 30-40 minute wait and were seated around 50 minutes, but we didn't mind. We were simply happy they could get us a table. The ribeye fajitas were delicious and easily split by two of us. My friend ordered the chicken Milanese tacos and enjoyed them. The best part - the queso fundido con chorizo - who doesn't love cheese??? Served with warm tortillas, corn and flour, it's fantastic. Service was friendly too. My only complaint is the tres leches was sold out, but it just gives me another reason to go back! The cocktails included the El Ranchero = light and refreshing. Like a ranch water. The passion fruit mule and the premium margarita also hit the spot. read more

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Madie was very kind the entire time, excellent service! The Food It's always a guarantee.

Edited: I decided to give the restaurant another try and I was very pleasantly surprised with the quality of the food and the service. Restaurant has made great strides to improve the quality about the food and the service and it shows. I'll definitely be back soon. To be honest, I wasn't Blown Away by the food nor the service- especially for the price. The atmosphere is upscale and trendy. The enchiladas were good, but a little greasy. The margarita was a little too sweet for my taste. read more

La Popular Austin - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas