Our favorite restaurant in town, hands down. First tried the happy hour a few years back and have made the trek from the West side- during rush hour- countless times since. The lengua sopes are ridiculously good, with super flavorful, almost creamy lengua and crunchy escabeche. We used to share this as an app (comes with two) but realized we'd always try to make moves for a little bit of each other's, so naturally we now each get one (Is two orders a person too much? Justifiable if hungry or missed lunch?). The table salsas are also the best I've ever had. Ever. Addictive, with spice but not over the top, drinkable. We've tasted just about the entire menu and everything is amazing. Takeout since COVID has also been great, although we miss getting to dine in and listen to good music. Love you guys xo read more

Authentic food, quick service, and overall great vibes. Would recommend for a nice dinner spot.

Expect a wait. Inside of an old house that has been renovated. Good service and a fun vibe. The drinks aren't amazing but not bad by any stretch. The chips and tortillas are fresh and served warm. Would HIGHLY recommend a dish that has a pork/brisket taco that dips into an au jus. Can't for the life of me find it on the menu....maybe someone who is an expert can help me out? The guacamole is good and it doesn't have a bunch of tomatoes in it. The queso is made with real cheese. The homemade salsas are unlike any I have had before - the red is a chipotle and the verde has a great spice. read more

The Quick: Deliciius Mexican food that's not fancy nor pretencious. The unlimited chips and salsa are so addictive. Big covered outdoor area, and a few vegetarian options that are super tasty. The queso dip is legendary. Enjoy! read more

Licha's Cantina - Veggie tacos (make your own) - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I love this restaurant! I think it's charming and vibrant and cozy and homey. I mean... it's a house turned restaurant. Great front patio that kind of has a neighborhood block party vibe, everyone seems comfortable and jovial and familiar. We sat inside and were brought chips and salsa -- a creamy green salsa and a red, both were delicious and spicy. The menu is almost all gluten free which is exciting and a testament to the authenticity of the cuisine -- this isn't Tex-Mex. I don't even think they have flour tortillas. I ordered the Tinga de Pollo sopecito (corn masa cups with black beans), which was filled with chipotle-orange braised chicken, crema fresca, napa cabbage, queso fresco, and crispy chicken skins -- soooooooo good! I also had a bite of the Aguacate sopecito which was just guacamole, crema fresca, queso fresco, and parmesan. The guacamole is insanely good. The texture is so silky smooth and light, like it's whipped. All of the food was beautiful and colorful and fresh, and the prices are so affordable considering how delicious and gorgeous your plate is. They have a great cocktail list. Our uber driver on the way warned us to only have one margarita because they're strong. I stuck with a salty dog (I'm not big on tequila but if you are, this place is for you.... the tequila list is nuts). I tasted my friend's marg and it was definitely potent! Our waitress was extremely cool and laid back and answered all of our questions happily. We never lacked drinks or chips or salsa, and she was constantly bussing our table (which we needed because it's a small space and we had a ton of food/dishes/glasses). Loved everything -- food, service, prices, vibe. I would absolutely love to come back! read more

Delicious food and great atmosphere!! The place seems unassuming from the front entrance but it's very spacious especially out in the covered back patio. I thought it would be hot sitting out there l, but it was very breezy and nice. My dog enjoyed it too :) he even got a little water bowl. I loved all the food I ordered. My family of 4 ordered 4 things and shared. We all left pretty full and satisfied. I had the bone marrow pizza, al pastor tacos, lengua tacos, and pollo con mole poblano. My favorites were the tacos! They came with fresh soft tortillas and the meats were so succulent and tender. The chicken dish was yummy as well! The sweet mole sauce complemented the savory flavors. read more

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Great spot. We sat out back for brunch. Lots of great options, this time we went for the pozole (to die for), pork & pineapple tacos and sangria. They were good but pozole stole the show. Meat melts in your mouth, stock tastes like it's been simmering in soup heaven for days. read more

This place had been on my bookmark list for awhile, so I was happy to finally try it out when a friend suggested it to celebrate his recent promotion. It is an intimate little eastside bungalow that could definitely use an upgraded AC as it seemed like it was hotter inside than out (no wonder we couldn't score a seat on the patio!). So our first order was for a cold drink. We both started out with their Mula and that hit the spot. Per the norm for Mexican-style restaurants, chips and salsa were brought to the table and we added on the guac. Both were pretty solid, but since my body physically rejects spicy, I could only tolerate their mildest version of salsa in very small, controlled portions. Their guac was decent and is what I had more of. We ordered and shared the Molé con pollo, Quesadilla, and Pibil. The molé was solid, not the best I've had in Austin, but they know what they're doing. The quesadilla and pibil were solid as well, though I think of the three the only one I might order again was the pibil. The flavor was exceptional! I ordered a Paloma and my friend had a margarita. My Paloma was ok, but I wish I could have actually tasted the exotico reposado tequila that was supposed to be in it. My friend said their marg was also on the weak side. We ordered the tres leches for dessert and it was stellar. It's hard to find a place that gets the texture to soggy ratio right and they do here. We also got what I called a "Chingaso Bueno"- it was a chilled drink made on the spot by the bartender that combined tequila and espresso with creme de cacao and grand marnier. It was amazing and the perfect end to the meal. So why the 3-stars? While our waitress was very nice and as attentive as she could be (it looked like she had quite a few tables), I docked a star because when my charge came back on my credit card it was $3 higher than my receipt. Turns out $7 tip on a $35 check was not good enough because my charge came through as $45. I got the issue resolved w/my credit card company, but I definitely do not appreciate a place (or server, if it was her) that alters a charge after the fact. This is why I keep my receipts until a charge posts because I have found an alarming number of businesses seem to do this. And while $3 might seem negligible, it is indicative of underlying dishonesty and very off-putting for me personally. That being said, not sure if I would be back for that reason alone. read more

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Hands down my favorite spot in town. It's the ONE place I always recommend friends visit during their stay to Austin. The atmosphere is great, with different indoor and outdoor sections and cozy decor and lighting. The food and drinks are unique and flavorful. Overall it's a great experience! read more

The food is always great BUT this place has no A/C indoors. Y'all know how bad Texas summers are so keep in mind that you're probably going to be super sweaty and uncomfortable as you eat. Service leaves a lot to be desired as well. I went with a group of 6 people and we got terrible service (maybe bc they add 20% tip if it's a larger table.) Our server was pretty rude and took forever to bring out drinks, food, and our bills after we gave our credit cards to pay. But again, food is amazing so I guess win some lose some? read more

My fav Mexican restaurant in turn. Conchinita pibil is delicioso! Love the patio. I had a big group here and the service was great.

Licha's is great, would definitely recommend! Authentic ambiance, music, vibes. Birria tacos - AMAZING! The other food options were really good too. read more

Licha's Cantina - Birria tacos - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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WOWWIE ZOWIEE D-D-D-DELIIISHUSssss great food, great ambiance, great service. I recommend the Champińon huarache read more

Low quality, not that auténtico.But great service. The margaritas also need improvement.

Service and ambiance of this restaurant was great. Drinks were delicious. As for quality of food, it was definitely mediocre. I probably would not recommend this place to eat at, but I would recommend for drinks! read more

So this place has happy hour everyday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Pretty killer as I'm not often in Austin during the week days. I had a couple of reasonably priced Palomas - nice alternatives to margaritas, not as hangover-y for me. Must be that therapeutic grapefruit juice, right? Gluten-free foodies, Licha's has got you covered, because you know - corn! A couple of dining companions of mine had the octopus dish, which not going to lie, made me a little cringe-y because yo, octopuses are wicked smart. Don't act like you haven't received the YouTube video FWDs from your mom, octopuses are probably more intelligent than your dogs (or child, I'm just saying!). The husband remarked that although he's not typically a fan of octopus, it was the most delicious octopus he's ever had. So yay for that? Vegans, good news! The verdura tacos are vegan and they are freaking delicious! I know the concoction of sweet potatoes, mushroom, corn, watercress, and Napa cabbage probably isn't something seemingly to swoon over but as far as competently seasoned and sauteed veggies go - they were boss. I actually felt compelled to save my meager leftovers because I knew I would regret discarding any serviceable taco deliciousness for later consumption. We sat outside in front, at the oversized table and service was consistent and lovely. The restroom is interesting, one of those single toilet closet-like set-ups with a co-ed sink and mirror area. I assume this restaurant was formerly a residence? Anyway I'm pretty fond of it in its converted state, try it out y'all. read more

Licha's Cantina - Pulpo con chorizo - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I was sad that we only came here for drinks because this place is ADORABLE. Beautiful views sitting outside with string lights and cute decor everywhere. The inside is quite nice too. Chips and salsa were very delicious, and the drinks are great too. An excellent find on the east side, and I will for sure be back for food next time! UPDATE: had the sopecitas- be sure to mix and match- and they were SO MOUTHWATERINGLY DELICIOUS. Great flavors in the chicken one and the lengua (my favorite and recommended by the waitress). The texture of the beef tongue was amazing, and I basically licked my plate clean. Perfect portion for dinner also or great to share with another person in addition to your entree. The house margarita is good too, but I recommend the watermelon jalapeño margarita. I tried my friend's, and it was delicious! Not too spicy and not too sweet. I'm in love with Licha's! read more

Licha's Cantina - Sopecitas- lengua on left and chicken on right - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

My friend wanted enchiladas but they didn't have any on the menu. Our waitress was able to accommodate us and we agreed it was the best enchiladas we've ever had. Delicious food and chips and salsa. Definitely worth the wait. read more

Our party of three had a different experience than many reviewers --we thought the drinks were pretty good, not outstanding but definitely unique and that the food was very good, also unique and flavorful. We had a great front yard patio experience dining on beef tacos, the guac and tongue sopecitas and the duck mole. We liked each dish, found the ingredients fresh and the taste full of flavor . As others have noted, the complimentary Chips and red and green salsas very nice. We also had the watermelon marguerita and a ginger version of a Moscow mule. We were just ok with those drinks. The atmosphere and vibe is east Austin hipster chill. So comments about slow service? It is just part of that scene. We found street parking no problem. We loved it and will be back! In a place with loads of Mexican restaurants, it's hard to find really good Mexican and this spot did it for us! read more

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Food cold, service marginal. Never again. Too bad as flavors good. Chips cheap and store bought.

Recently visited for a quick dinner, I really appreciate how well spaced out the restaurant is and many tables available outside for dining. There were two salsas served with the chips, one of which was spicy and had a real kick to it! Ordered a margarita, which was average and tried the quesadillas for dinner. Both were decent, but also pretty average. Overall the food quality is good, but nothing was really that memorable. In a place like Austin, I feel like there are some better TexMex options that will leave you more satisfied. read more

Licha's Cantina - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Love this date spot. Another gem that makes the East Side unique. I went here on a weekend night and although it was packed out the door, the atmosphere and accommodating staff made the wait doesn't seem long at all. The food was on point and very flavorful. Be prepare to be stuffed after leaving here. Pro-tip: there's a bar out back and they sell PITCHERS, so feel free to grab a drink and chill. read more

Licha's Cantina - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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My experience at this restaurant was amazing! The servers were excellent. They were speedy and personable. The drinks were very yummy too. The Lupita was sweet yet had some spice with jalapeños. The ceviche was unreal. I haven't had ceviche in a couple years and it was back in florida. It was a nice surprise to see Lichas had ceviche! It was a sweeter ceviche due to the mangos and I loved it that way. I definitely would recommend and plan on going back! read more

Licha's Cantina - Ceviche - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Charming Eastside restaurant with lots of outdoor seating, authentic Mexican food, and a great happy hour! Happy Hour is Tuesday through Friday 4-7pm. And everything on the happy hour menu is five bucks. Including their awesome drinks - I got the Bonita (honey ginger rum, horchata, and a spicy cinnamon rim) and a ton of food options! The have a lot of vegetarian options - and they're marked on the menu! There were so many things I wanted, but I ended up trying the Flor de Jamaica quesadilla, because hibiscus flower in savory food was something new for me! It was very good! Next time I want to try nopal salad, the mushroom huarache, the nopal tlacoyo, and all of their veggie appetizers! Great food, great drinks, great happy hour, adorable setting. Great place to grab a bite or have drinks on the Eastside! read more

Licha's Cantina - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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This is one of the greatest restaurants I have stumbled upon in Austin. Hidden in an East Austin neighborhood, Licha's is putting out freshly cooked central Mexican food. All types of masa vessels grace the menu and their happy hour is stellar for both food and drinks. Not to mention their outdoor seating is great. Share huaraches with the table and choose your toppings. I suggest the mushrooms and cheese. The cochinita pibil sopes have been my favorite thing to try and will fill you up on no time. The chicken tinga has good, tangy flavor and their are great options for ceviche, unique entrees like chiles en nogada, and familiar items like quesadillas. The service was great. Fast and friendly, but not there all of the time. Big fan. read more

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WOW - hands down the best Tex-Mex food ever. I love the interior and has a cute patio outside as well. Definitely has its own unique style. I must say, they have THE BEST queso ever!! Must order forsure. read more

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Happy hour is awesome. Margs for days. Service is solid and the atmosphere is super lively and fun. After work is always a great spot to hang out. Good is on point and fresh and tasty. Great spot to see OG Austin and get all the feels for the city. read more

I like to say that Licha's is my favorite Mexican restaurant in austin, definitely NOT Tex-mex. they have a great happy hour but I don't think I would drink here not on happy hour. Drinks are $9 and not super strong, but $6 on happy hour. I personally like the Paloma as I found the margarita way to sweet for my liking. This isn't a place I would come if I am looking to drink, but the food is amazing! I have gotten the queso and the tacos al pastor. The Al Pastor Tacos were GREAT and definitely enough for 2-3 people. My boyfriend and I split the tacos and we still had left overs! read more

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Very cool environment but drinks were not strong. They were pre-made in bottles to serve. They did not have alcohol in the mixtures. I was on my 3rd drink of the night and was told," your drink isn't strong because you are drunk, you can't taste it." I was not drunk. I was on my third drink since 6pm and it was almost 11pm. Great music, but drinks are horrible! This is a critical time where business should be grateful for customers. Don't treat customers bad. read more

Had a delicious dinner and nearly forgot about the worlds chaos! The staff was prepared for the CDC standards and did an excellent job maintaining service while in face masks. The food and drinks were nothing short of perfect and the manager was on the floor making rounds to ensure guests were happy! I felt very safe and taken care of! Before the pandemic, I believe they didn't take reservations. They did this most recent time when we called the day of and we truly appreciated it! Go Lichas!!! I'll be back so soon! BTW: we had mezcal margaritas, ceviche, and the enchiladas...highly recommend all three! read more

Fresh and punch Mexican flavours, with stellar cocktails and a doting staff. We ate here yesterday, and I just tucked into my leftovers, man, they were incredible and it was even better fresh! Coming to the south from Scotland, as a vegetarian, I wasn't quite sure what to expect but this wonderful menu had so much for me to choose from I was bowled over. Putting the tortillas to my mouth, the smell of the floor, mixed with cheese and mushrooms was unbelievable. read more

Good cocktails, great guac. The entrees are a thoughtful, unique take on classic Mexican dishes.

Had such a phenomenal team dinner here on Thursday. The restaurant strikes the perfect balance of welcoming, lively, and delicious. I came here with a large group (15 people) for a company offsite dinner and was blown away by this restaurant. They made our group feel at home with plenty of chips, pitchers of margs, and of course really yummy food. Our favorite items were the red snapper, guacamole with pepitas, and chicken mole. There was something for everyone whether they were gf, df, or veggie, which I really appreciated as the host. Thank you Licha for making our visit so special. read more

First time to try Licha's. The space Cute space with an even lovelier courtyard. You can sit outside under some tall trees and even in the 100 degree heat it'd be doable thanks to the fans and a light breeze (I sat outside while waiting for the table). We sat inside the intimate old house tonight. It's a little noisy, but that's to be expected, especially on a Thursday night. There is a bar inside, too, where you can wait for your table. The service I was almost immediately brought water and chips with two sauces. Water refills were steady throughout the meal. We had a friendly server named Candice. She was helpful and attentive and took time to answer our questions about the menu. The sustenance I tried a Paloma for my cocktail and it was pretty good, though not the most flavorful I've had (although the spicy rim was good). The chips are good and not greasy, are served with a spicy green sauce and a smoky tomato sauce similar to a mole. Both were delicious! I ordered the build your own verdura tacos (sweet potato, watercress, corn, mushrooms, Napa cabbage, and pumpkin seeds) served with pico, escabeche, and four homemade corn tortillas. This is easily enough for two meals and I brought half home. The tortillas were delicious-not dry yellow chalky numbers but sweet and soft. The seasonings were tasty-a very good meal. My friend ordered the champiqueso botana, also served in a skillet and with corn tortillas, and it looked incredible! I will go back and try a couple other items that caught my eye. read more

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We visited on a Saturday and requested to sit outside on their tree-lit front patio/porch. It was about an hour wait, and we said no big deal we'd visit the bar next door. The hostess suggested their back bar and patio and I'm glad she did! The hour wait flew by; we sat in the back in communal seating, and ordered a margarita, spicy margarita, and Paloma drink unsweetened - they were all delicious! The guacamole we ordered wasn't my favorite, but when it came time to be seated, everything we had for dinner was served by a knowledgable and friendly waitstaff and tasted AMAZING. You gave to try the esquite, so good, and then the steak tampiqueno and cochinita pibil were delicious. We will definitely be back! Great place to enjoy dinner, drinks, or drinks with apps. read more

Licha's Cantina - Back Patio area - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

This is as authentic as you can get it in ATX. Gosh, I'm so lucky to have Yelp + co-workers who know all the great spots to grab a bite. This cute restaurant is on East 6th in a house. It's so adorable I can't get over it!!! My better half took me for a lunch date on a Saturday and it was perfect. It wasn't too busy or too quiet. There's seating inside and outside. The weather was nice, but we sat inside because I hate flies or any other bugs. The first thing I ordered was a cocktail of course. I ordered the Lupita (watermelon infused tequila, agave, lime, jalapeño) ah yes. It wasn't too sweet and I like that. The jalapeño gave it a good kick. Food-wise we started off with a Mahi Mahi ceviche. It was bomb. Def recommend. For the main meals I ordered the Cochinita Pibil Sope, which is achiote braised pork, pickled red onion, avocado pico, and queso fresco. MY GOODNESS that's a mouthful. Literally. I did not expect it to be as much food as it was. It was definitely shareable after an app and drinks. I can't wait to return. This is my new favorite place next to Sanchos in SA. read more

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Second time there and equally good experience. Had mezcal margarita, camote (roasted sweet potato with goat cheese balls) and a hurache (mole with chicken). I always complain that there is no good Mexican food here, then i remember this place. Bien sabroso! Also fun cozy atmosphere. Love converted home setup. read more

Are young? Are you white? This is the place for you. They won't sit you if you are an older brown person. They told me there was a three hour wait but then my white friend went to ask for a table and they sat her right away. Does that tell you something about the business??? read more

Unbelievable find!!!! This is definitely NOT Tex-Mex. To us it is in an area we had yet to discover. It's on E. 6th Street but on the other side of I-35. We found it after visiting the Texas State cemetery. So glad we did. It's located in a residential neighborhood in what I presume used to be a house. We sat in the bar area. Very cozy place with candles burning and a Spanish decor. Like your Grandmas kitchen if she was a Catholic Hispanic Abuela. I had fish and shrimp tacos with giant hunks of Mahi Mahi and gulf shrimp. The grilled jalapeño was perfect to add the heat. Grilled onions were a hit as well. My wife had the enchiladas. Not your typical rolled enchilada. These were almost deconstructed and stacked lake a lasagna. However it was presented they were amazing! Great selection of Mexican beers and Tequilas. Bartenders and staff were awesome. No doubt we will be back. read more

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Love this place! Great service, good & drinks every time. Sopesitas are to die for!!!!