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    Licha's Cantina

    4.1 (844 reviews)
    ModerateBars, Mexican, Soul Food
    Closed 4:00 pm - 10:00 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Licha's Cantina Photos

    Business Info

    LICHA'S CANTINA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Casual
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Licha's Cantina

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    Chips and salsa!
    Bruce M.

    First time here and had an amazing experience. We were seated quickly at the bar so we could have couple cocktails. The bar has soft fun music playing in the background. The bar is fancy and the bartenders know how to create anything. Loved our drinks. When you sit the chips and salsa are a great free touch!!! We will definitely come back and try dinner next time.

    Interior
    Kristen N.

    Great dinner spot for groups on East 6th. The Verduras tacos are vegan as-is, and very good! The drinks are just okay, but the overall vibe is lively.

    Ceviche* Guacamole
    Carissa S.

    Every time we go down to ATX we make it a priority to stop by at Licha's and it never disappoints! The service, food, and ambiance are unbeatable. While Tex-Mex is often confused for true Mexican food, there is no comparison at Licha's! Pulpo con chorizo and the sweet potatoes with goat cheese are delicious authentic dishes. My husband and I brought two other people; my sister, a picky eater was surprised by how much she enjoyed every dish we ordered.

    Tia V.

    Such a fun, lively spot! I had the Calabacitas quesadillas ( cheesy, fresh, and full of flavor) and paired them with the Chulipin mezcal cocktail, which was smoky, citrusy, and dangerously easy to drink. The patio was buzzing, the music set the mood, and the staff were super friendly.

    Choriqueso with Chorizo
    Dan F.

    Chips and Hot Sauces - sauces were hot. Chips tasted like they came from a bag. Best Queso Fundido - it was great. Chorizo was tasty. Patio was popping. Tacos Alambre was a mix bag. Flavor as really good, but meat was over cooked and gristly. The soft corn tortillas and pico de gallo salvaged it.

    Amazing chips & dip
    Wendi K.

    Yummy Oaxacan Food with seemingly handmade masa items. The complimentary chips and dip are incredibly unique and delicious. They resemble creamy, spicy salsa aioli dips. Try it--you won't regret it! :) The chicken mole huarache ($15) was both filling and flavorful. The interior is adorned with lots of biblical decor, which is quite interesting. There is plenty of indoor and outdoor seating available. Service was prompt! :)

    Alambre y El Al Pastor tacos
    Ryan G.

    Overall love the Austin outdoor vibe !! As a Denver Native I am biased because we do have some of the best Mexican food (if you don't believe me come out and taste for yourself). Anywho! The meat was tender and flavored well, however there weren't enough tortillas. Our waiter was amazing and accommodated me with my entree. My advice would be to come and try for yourself and support this business as it seems to be a staple in the area!

    Chicken mole huarache
    Michelle V.

    The happy hour is so damn good!! 4-7 during the week and drinks and apps are $8! We ordered the Paloma and the Lupita - both delicious but ultimately the Lupita was the favorite - the watermelon tequila is amazing!! We also ordered the cochinita pibil sopecitos, the pastor quesadilla, and the chicken mole huaraches. Our favorites were the quesadilla and the chicken mole huarache - incredible both of them!! We absolutely loved them and had a great time for happy hour. Service was great and food came out quickly, we ate and drank and left in less than an hour! The indoor is very cute - but bring a coat in the winter bc it doesn't seem like their heat was working when we visited and it was a very cold day.

    Grilled octopus
    Leah F.

    Service was good, the ceviche was the best I've ever had... We also had the Birria tacos and the Caesar... Everything was good... The only thing was the small plates of the grilled octopus... It was giving more potato than it was octopus... Pretty pricey small plate for it to be underwhelming but it's a great location. It's a great outdoor seating area and attentive service... My girlfriend say it's the best margarita as well.

    Paayal J.

    This spot is good, not great! Love the margs and the general vibe-- good amount of indoor and outdoor seating. Salsas and queso fundido are good. Main course was okay-- a bit blander than I'd expect. The masa is really filling, though the portion looks small. I'd come back for happy hour, but maybe not for dinner again.

    Mole Con Pollo

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    3 years ago

    This place is an east Austin staple. Everything is good here. The flavors are so different and unique. Great vibe as well!

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    Page 3 of 22

    Licha's Cantina Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Licha's Cantina

    Do they allow dogs?

    I believe so; on the outside patio.

    Are dogs allowed on their patio?

    Yes! I've taken mine before

    Do they have any kid-friendly items on the menu?

    I really think this menu is pretty upscale and non traditional so there is no real "bottom of the menu" or kids section unless the kids like what is on the menu or are used to eating a variety of Mexican foods.

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    Taqueria De Diez  - Carne Asada Taco

    Taqueria De Diez

    4.7(518 reviews)
    0.7 miDowntown
    $$

    (4.5 stars) The best way to describe this joint is as a taco…read morereverse speakeasy. Go down an alleyway, enter a bar, and pass through a door with a tacos sign, and you'll find a bustling taqueria that slings some of the best tacos in town. Tortillas are homemade, and pastor is cooked on a trompo. Don't feel like a taco? You can also snag a quesadilla or tostada-like volcanes. There are several salsa options, and drinks include Mexican Cokes and horchata, among others. We ended up getting two tacos (pastor and carne asada), a nopales quesadilla, and an order of chips and guac. At $5 to $6 a taco, this wasn't cheap despite the no-frills surroundings, but it was well worth it. Everything looked and tasted fresh and smelled amazing. D/10 is known for its pastor, and it's easy to see why. Served in strips rather than chunks, it boasts a crisp edge and a nice bit of pineapple flavor. However, the asada, the salsa crema, and even the chips are all stellar here. While seating may be hard to come by, on food alone, Taqueria de Diez is a solid ten.

    I ordered the steak burrito and it was promptly delivered after ordering even though the restaurant…read morewas very busy. It was huge and worth the price. There's a bar connected with the restaurant as well if you want shots. There's plenty of room for seating and standing while you eat.

    Photos
    Taqueria De Diez  - Go between the alley

    Go between the alley

    Taqueria De Diez  - Adobada (Pastor)  Volcan and Carne Asada Taco

    Adobada (Pastor) Volcan and Carne Asada Taco

    Taqueria De Diez  - The outside of the building in an alley.

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    The outside of the building in an alley.

    Suerte - Chips and guacamole

    Suerte

    4.3(1.4k reviews)
    0.4 miEast Austin
    $$$

    had the Agua chiles , the quesadilla, the sweet potato's and there tacos !! Highly recommend…read moregetting a couple of plates ! The food was great and the service was as well. I would highly recommended a visit! The fish was fresh , the drinks were good and the desert was amazing !

    Best meal of the Austin trip: upscale tacos and housemade masa in a welcoming space…read more Food: 5 Service: 4.5 Atmosphere: 5 Cost to worth it rating: 3 Opentableable: yes Return worthiness: yes Highlights: - Waitress Kelly was wonderful and so professional. She noticed I was ordering dairy items on side and asked about if pesto in guacamole was ok. So astute and kind of her. Also on my friends second drink remembered she didn't want salt or her rim without even asking - Everything tasted so fresh and high quality - Brisket tacos: packed with flavor--maybe it was the wagyu meat or the black magic oil. Freshly made corn tortillas were awesome. Usually corn ones and pretty throwaway meh, but these added to the greatness of the tacos. 5 stars - Duck flautas: crispy covered in mild mole. Loved the mashed potato addition inside for some mellowness and texture. 5 stars - Guacamole: so fresh and that dollop of pesto on top was lovely. Served with crispy masa dippers were impressive almost a 8x11 page size. It was fun to crack off into pieces, but hard to stop eating it. 5 stars - Sweet potato: friend loved these long charred wedges. 4.5 stars - Cocktails were stellar. I got the Don Dario which was a play on a marg and delightful - $12 of a few drinks during lucky hour (Mon-Fri 5-6pm, Sat-Sun 3-5pm) - High energy vibes in a clean, open, tan colored space - Had their bottle water on the table in a champagne bottle which speaks to my heart Midlights: - In East Austin so have to Uber if you are staying more central - Tacos come in orders of 4. Wish it was less so we could've tried more variety. Lowlights - No food discounts for lucky hour - Didn't have time to try the choco taco which looked amaze - Large gap of time between items first few items coming out and the rest

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    Suerte - Cool vibe

    Cool vibe

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    Tlayuda de Hongos

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    Eldorado Cafe

    Eldorado Cafe

    4.5(1.1k reviews)
    6.8 mi
    $$

    There are some restaurants that need a review, and then there are restaurants like El Dorado, where…read morethe city has already rendered its verdict. At this point, El Dorado is an Austin favorite. People don't really debate whether it's good. They debate whether the wait is worth it, which is a very different conversation. So rather than adding another voice to the pile of praise, it seems more useful to talk about what people should actually expect when they go. First, yes, there may be a wait. This place is popular, and popular restaurants attract crowds. That's not a criticism; it's simply the reality. But it's also worth noting that many of the legendary wait times come from showing up exactly when everyone else does. If you can sneak in before or after the prime lunch and dinner rushes, the experience becomes much more manageable. Once you're seated, do yourself a favor and order the white queso. Better yet, if you're with family or friends, just get the sampler. It turns the beginning of the meal into an event rather than a formality. The white queso is every bit as good as people claim, but what surprised me even more was how seriously El Dorado takes its salsa. Most restaurants treat salsa as a free opening act before the main performance. Here, it feels like something carefully considered. Several varieties stood out, and more than one made me wonder why so many places settle for mediocre salsa when it can clearly be this good. As for the food itself, it's important to know what kind of restaurant you're walking into. If your idea of Austin Tex-Mex is fresh, light, bright, and vaguely health-conscious, you may need to adjust your expectations. El Dorado leans toward the heartier side of the spectrum. These are rich, deeply flavored dishes that feel rooted in tradition rather than trends. The portions are generous, the flavors are bold, and the meal has a certain gravitational pull to it. This is not food that politely taps you on the shoulder. It gives you a warm hug and then insists you have another bite. What impressed me most, oddly enough, were the beans and rice. Normally, they're supporting characters that exist simply because tradition demands they be present. At El Dorado, they seem to receive the same attention as everything else on the plate. It's a small detail, but great restaurants often reveal themselves through small details. The service deserves just as much praise as the food. During our visit, we interacted with several different staff members, and every one of them was friendly, attentive, and genuinely pleasant. There was none of the rushed indifference that sometimes sneaks into busy restaurants. Even better, management was actively moving through the dining room, checking on guests, talking with tables, and making sure people were enjoying themselves. It's the kind of thing that doesn't always get noticed when it's done well, but it absolutely contributes to why places like this develop loyal followings. The atmosphere itself is cheerful and comfortable. It's colorful without being flashy, lively without being chaotic. Nobody is going to leave talking about the interior design, but that's perfectly fine. The room accomplishes what it needs to accomplish: it feels welcoming and relaxed, allowing the food and the people to be the stars. As for negatives, there really aren't many. If you're looking for an elevated dining experience with dramatic plating, moody lighting, and a server who explains every ingredient as though introducing characters in a novel, this probably isn't your place. El Dorado seems far more interested in feeding people well than impressing them with presentation. And honestly, that's probably part of the reason Austin loves it so much. Go when you can avoid the biggest crowds. Order the queso. Explore the salsas. Don't overlook the beans and rice. Show up hungry. The food is hearty, the people are kind, and the restaurant knows exactly what it is. In a city where so many places are trying to become something, there's something refreshing about a place that already has.

    El Dorado Cafe appears to be a beloved Austin staple as evidenced by the fact that everytime I've…read morementioned it in front of my friends, they yell "EL DORADO CAFE?! THAT PLACE IS THE BEST". Located off Mopac and Anderson in North Central Austin, this beloved tex-mex restaurant is situated in a relatively aged shopping strip less than half a mile from the highway. Parking is ample and available so there should be no issues with access getting to the restaurant. Although easy to get to, it's a whole different story getting into the restaurant. First and foremost, they are closed on Sundays and Mondays. Secondly, they are so popular that you should almost always expect a wait. The pro move here is to book a reservation, but if you don't have one - anticipate waiting anywhere between 30 - 90 minutes in order to get in. Once in, you have the option to pick from a variety of tex-mex cuisine, including some local house specials such as the "crunchwrap supreme" which has an interesting backlore related to Taco Bell. Free chips and salsa (choose up to two salsas to try) land as soon as you arrive. El Dorado is known for its vegan tex-mex offerings so those with more particular diets will certainly be able to find something that works. The salsas are tasty. The serving portions are large. The flavors are good - there's really not too much to complain about once you're in and seated.

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    Eldorado Cafe
    Eldorado Cafe - Dart Bowl Enchiladas

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    Licha's Cantina - bars - Updated June 2026

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