This is such a fun casual spot to get the night started. The bartenders here have the best vibe and…read morewe loved the back patio!

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!

Came here with a large 25 person group all from out of town and it exceeded expectations. Our…read morewaitress McKenna was super sweet and gave great recommendations. Since we ordered basically one of everything - here are our recommendations. Appetizers GET THIS: 1. Corn dog shrimp (think shrimp tempura) - light, flavorful, crunchy YUM 2. Cathead biscuits NOT THAT: 1. Street corn queso dip not a favorite for our table. The cheese tasted thick and plastic like... Velveeta vibes... not much flavor Meals GET THIS: 1. Hangar Steak 2. Creole shrimp & grits 3. Chicken fried steak Not that: 1. Horseradish crusted salmon - I didn't try it but the two people who ordered at our table were disappointed and wished they would've gotten one of the above Desserts GET THIS: 1. Bread pudding was delicious! Not overly sweet & the added white chocolate gives it that dazzle dazzle 2. Chocolate Espresso Brownie - perfection NOT THAT: 1. Banana cream pudding. This was a no for the table because it was over the top sweet (I think because of the added butterscotch) 2. Peanut Butter Mousse Pie super super thick & sweet. Didn't taste much other than PB - it was like eating a giant spoonful of it and trying to swallow.

We had a group here for dinner and were excited to try it, due to reviews. The ambience is lively,…read moreloud, and buzzy. Looked super fun. Service was good, no issues there. Friendly staff overall. The food fell flat for almost all of us. The salads were fresh and good. However, the ribs were below average. Cornbread was stale and not tasty. Biscuits tasted more like firm bread and not at all flaky/soft. That seemed weird to all of us. Chicken fried steak was soggy and not crispy. Drinks were ok. Not quite sure why the food was subpar, but there were 10 of us who all agreed we wouldn't return for food. There is a swanky little cozy speakeasy in the basement that may be good? We didn't try that.

Love the queso and margaritas are a hit! Service is…read moreusually spot on with food coming out fairly quickly. I usually sit inside, however sat outside on an occasion and there was a big group truly enjoying their company's party.

Went on Sunday after Easter service because we were craving something a friend brought us during a…read morerecent meal train but felt it a bit lacking. First, the menu needs a rewrite for content and clarity. For example, buying fajitas doesn't list guacamole and based on size, single, for two and family you get more sides of rice or beans. There's no definition of how much actual meat you get and our server couldn't provide that information beyond a rough estimate. Second, the fajitas we got of family size and for two portions for 7 were not consistently cooked. We asked for medium rare and got about 25% at that with the ones in the center at a more well done. Again, the multiple tiny sides were more obnoxious than anything as it's legit beans and rice unless you want to upcharge. The cilantro lime rice tastes like nothing so skip that and go for abuelita rice which has a hint of flavor. Overall, the butter/gravy that go on the fajitas is the real winner but again a menu where you overbuy and misunderstand (that doesn't even list extras like guacamole or a simple small queso) was beyond frustrating. I would stick to them for one to possibly get a better cook.

One of the things I knew I had to try during my Texas trip was Tex Mex which is what brought me to…read moreChuy's! When they say everything is big in Texas, the food in Chuy's definitely lives up to the motto. Serving sizes were generous and I can pretty much guarantee that you'll leave with a full belly. I ordered the Chuy Changa with boom boom sauce as my entree and we also had the queso and fajita beef panchos as appetizers to share for the table. Everything was super enjoyable. Service here is exceptionally friendly and attentive! The vibes here are pretty casual. We came on a Friday night at around 10pm and our party of 6 was able to get seated immediately.

Feb 21, 2026 review: ------…read more This is one of my favorite Chuy's location. Ambience is great, both inside and outside patio at the back of restaurant. Parking can be tricky sometimes. Boom boom sauce is the star. The verde vegetarian sauce and deluxe tomatilo are amazing too. You can't go wrong with any of the those. Veggies enchiladas comes with two enchiladas, you can have different sauce for each. Other vegetarian items that we have tried are veggie fajitas, burrito, quesadilla and nachos. Guac is good too and comes in lot of quantity if you order as a side. Their jalapeno ranch is soooo good and goes well with their homemade chips which are very light. They refill the chips, and salsa and ranch as many times as needed. Oh and the best of all- tresleche cake. They run out pretty quick so make sure you ask for it up on arrival and ask them to keep aside one for you if possible. This location is almost always full so make sure you put your name on reservation list ahead of time. Parking can be little tricky on weekends but have plenty of spots in the back so should be able to find in sometime. It's walkable from zilker park location so that's another nice part about this specific Chuy's. Margherita is pretty famous, I haven't tried it but friends always loved it.

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

Duck enchiladas with mole sauce were awesome! Chips and salsa were homemade and delicious. Tacos…read moregreat and yummy margaritas. We had a wonderful server too. Ambiance very laid back but cute.

A great spot with lots of choices for anyone vegetarian/vegan/gluten free. It can be tough to get a…read morespot during peak hours but that's no surprise with the quality of food and service! Chicken tinga tacos are my go to- very light and pair so well with the spicy tomatillo salsa. The cocktails are also well made and queso blanco is always a hit. The patio is an underrated gem in my opinion, but the light airy feel of the inside is also great on a hot or stormy day.

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.

Highly recommend this place. The food was delicious and they do not use seed oils. The steak…read morefajitas were the best we have ever eaten anywhere and generous enough to split. The guacamole was mostly just avocado but they put pickled veggies with it and it will light you up! Our server was super sweet and did a good job and the place was slammed. It was SXSW weekend so all of the extra crazies were in town. The churros do not get cooked inside. They were wet and gummy. We mentioned to the manager and she was very apologetic and replaced them immediately. They were still raw inside but they were already removed from our ticket. The house margaritas were very good! Like I said, it was a crazy, busy weekend so the DJ had the tunes bumping really loudly. Not sure if it's always this way but with concrete ceilings and floors it was loud. Hard to hear server and each other. I'd still go back for the food.

Real rating is 3.5. Over all food and drinks were great. But there was a random dog running around…read morethe pool area that no one seemed to have control over. Kind of irritating when you're trying to relax. A cabana is the way to go but the seating for the couch slides all over the place. Service was great for how busy they were! Update- apparently the dog's owner is a resident of The Proper.....still not okay to be doing this....but grateful for the waitstaff for trying to manage such rude people

Genuinely such a treat to come across this spot while in Austin. My group had reserved a section…read morefor a happy hour and I was beyond pleased with the food and cocktails. Their happy hour selections were great, and the cocktails were craft fully made. The food - full of flavor and diverse creations to truly keep you fueled and filled (in a healthy way).

We celebrated our anniversary at ATX Cocina and had an incredible night. The entire restaurant is…read moregluten-free, which is a huge plus, and the food absolutely delivers -- don't sleep on the Hamachi Crudo. Our server Alexa went above and beyond all evening -- he arranged a champagne toast and a beautiful dessert for us, and at the end of the night the staff surprised us with a personalized anniversary card signed by so many of the team. It was a genuinely sweet touch that we weren't expecting. The food was outstanding across the board, but seriously -- order the Hamachi Crudo. You won't regret it. If you're looking for a spot that nails the food AND makes you feel taken care of, ATX Cocina is it. We'll definitely be back.

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