Taco Cabana

I love taking new people to a place where I have confidence it's gonna be a great experience and…read moregreat food. El Alma has always one of those stops for me. And yesterday was no different. I was worried we might not get a table quickly, but we arrived at the perfect time on a Saturday and were seated immediately. We ordered a couple drinks, perused the menu and ordered the ceviche and street tacos and chicken tacos and everything was fresh and delicious. Our server was helpful, Attentive without hovering. My friend visiting had nothing but great things to say. Look forward to going back for brunch. Which is my typical go to there.

The tacos were pretty good here! Overall, I liked it and it was a nice little stop for dinner…read more There's limited parking, and it's definitely a hassle to find some if you're coming here for dinner. I would say plan ahead and try to carpool.

Busy on a Tuesday

Queso blanco

See all

Mezcal Margarita

Taqueria De Diez

4.7(563 reviews)

11.1 mi•Downtown

Atmosphere - Cozy restaurant that is accessed through the bar. Limited indoor seating with a/c. At…read morefirst we had trouble finding this hidden gem then realized we had to walk through an alley. Taste - We love everything we ordered and cannot pick a favorite between the carne asada, al pastor and pollo tacos. The carne asada is sliced to order and the meat is tender and well seasoned. The al pastor is topped with grilled pineapple and is a sweet and spicy delight. The grilled chicken is flavorful, well charred and seasoned beautifully. All were topped with cilantro, finely chopped onions, and guacamole. The carne asada burrito was made with a generous amount of beef and rice, pinto beans, guacamole and onions. 4 different salsas and fresh cut limes are available. Service - Friendly, fast service. Short wait once the order is placed. Cashless payments only. Price - Average

The entrance is easy to miss: a door marked only by a primitive "TACOS" spelled out in those tacky…read moremailbox stickers, tucked inside a tiny bar hidden down an alley off Trinity Street. Once you're inside, though, the whole operation runs with impressive efficiency. You order at the register, take your receipt, and hand it off to one of the taco guys behind the counter. As the sign says, "No Ticket, No Taco!" so don't lose it. Seating is limited and the line can get long, but they move fast. And don't come expecting cheese or sour cream -- the only add‑ons here are cilantro, onions, salsa, and guacamole. It's a stripped‑down menu, and they stick to it. The tacos are solid. The beef isn't anything remarkable, but the chicken is tender, moist, and genuinely flavorful. The quesadilla is the sleeper hit; the baked cheese gives it a deep, savory punch that outshines the tacos. And if you're hungry or just want the best value, the burritos are enormous -- stuffed right up to the tortilla's structural limit. A hidden little alley spot that delivers quick service, simple options, and reliably good food once you manage to find the door.

Carne Asada hitting the grill

Adobada (Pastor) Volcan and Carne Asada Taco

See all

The outside of the building in an alley.

Las Perlas

4.5(137 reviews)

10.8 mi•Downtown

Great drinks and tacos! We always choose this place when we want a good drink and chill with some…read morefriends

Asador at Las Perlas (taco stand located in patio of Las Perlas) - tasty and decadent tacos and…read morequesadillas. I got the grilled chicken and beef Piccadillo tacos along with a chicken quesadilla. I have a healthy appetite but even for me it was more food than I could eat. All items were good and they had several HH drink specials that ran until 8pm. The decor was cool with a cool vibe. If you come in during the day you may need a minute to adjust your eyes cause it can feel dark coming from sunlight.

Behind the bar

Chips guacamole n salsa- the salsa is to die for

See all

Paloma

Suerte

4.4(1.4k reviews)

11.0 mi•East Austin

Suerte never disappoints - you can always expect something interesting on the menu, but also trust…read morethat the suadero tacos will be there for you when you need them. Went and did a true tapas style dinner here - happy hour was nice but some of the app plates are a bit small for the price since it got recognized by Michelin. Ambiance is perfect, nice and low lighting inside but not so dark that you can't see. Servers were very kind to us and kept our table clean after each plate was cleared. An elevated option, especially for out of towners or anyone who loves a new version of a dish

I had a pretty good time at Suerte. The space is beautiful and the vibes were great overall. Dope…read moreatmosphere and a great spot to grab dinner with colleagues and friends. The food was solid although nothing I had really stood out to me. My friends and colleagues seemed to really enjoy their meals so it may have been just what I ordered. The drinks were great though. Our server was also sweet and accommodating and made sure we had everything we needed. Overall we had a good time at Suerte. Although the food didn't knock me off my feet, I would come back to try other items on the menu.

Cool vibe

Tlayuda de Hongos

See all

Tlayuda de Hongos (mushrooms)

La Popular Austin

4.2(622 reviews)

15.1 mi

Our server, Juan Salazar, was incredible!!!! He was attentive and suggested all the perfect items!…read moreDefinitely worth your visit!

We really enjoyed La Popular. The food and drinks were great and the service was excellent. Juan…read morewas a wonderful server. Will definitely be coming back!

See all

Eldorado Cafe

4.5(1.1k reviews)

4.7 mi

Food is great and the servers are terrific Place is packed…read morewith appreciative locals Call to reserve ( I said packed!!)

It was my first time at this restaurant. I'd recommend making a reservation, but once you get…read morethere, parking is very easy. I enjoyed the chips they bring out with your choice of complimentary salsa. If you want to sample all the salsas they offer, you can do so for an additional fee. For my main dish, I ordered the Sirloin Tampiqueño with No Hater Taters (mashed potatoes) and Texas Creamed Corn. The steak was very well seasoned and flavorful. I loved it! The sides were great as well and complemented the steak nicely. I had the Watermelon Agua Fresca to drink. It was refreshing, but not my favorite watermelon drink I've had. Overall, I loved the steak and was impressed with the quality of the food! A couple of things could be improved, though. Some of the light fixtures hang way too low, so if you're tall, be careful! Also, the back-of-house area spilling into the restaurant space feels a little odd and takes away from the overall atmosphere.

Dart Bowl Enchiladas

See all

Cocktails

Arriba Abajo

4.3(336 reviews)

10.9 mi•Downtown

Came here for lunch on a weekday. So the place was very quiet. Only a few other tables were…read moreoccupied. Arriba Abajo as you walked in just gave me all the vibes of a happening place when you want to hang out with friends and have a great time. We ordered the braised ribs rolled tacos for appetizers. It was so fresh and kicking' with all kinds of flavors. I wish I had ordered another one. The avocado sauce layered on the bottom was just enough to keep wanting more. For lunch I ordered the Carneasada Fajitas with chimichurri and my husband ordered the Carneasada Taqueria. With my fajitas came a side of frijoles, green rice & flour tortillas. Corn flour was the other option. Both meals came in pipin' hot & the smell coming from both was very aromatic, zesty & spice. Amazing taste, flavors, just the right amount of marinade on the Carneasada with a hint of lime. It was so delicious while enjoying the ambiance. Our server was a delight and took very good care of us. We didn't order any of their alcoholic beverages since we were both working, but definitely we will be back to enjoy more food and try out their beverages.

Good first visit to Arriba Abajo. Food quality and quantity were on par with expectations, but a…read morefew things left our table looking for more. We made a reservation for inside, and upon arrival, the staff mentioned that'd we'd have to wait quite some time for our table. Instead, they suggested an outside table wouldn't be too bad. We were happy to accommodate, but then the service was noticeably slow (both for drinks and for food). Price points were high (but, I suppose not unexpected for a hotel restaurant). The spot we were in just felt like limbo between guests enjoying the pool and people inside enjoying A/C and good music. May give it another shot down the road.

Private Dining Area

Wagyu Barbacoa Taquitos.

See all

Spicy Margaritas & Large Format Cocktails by the Patio Fireplace

Licha's Cantina

4.1(847 reviews)

10.9 mi•East Austin

Another fun place in Austin! Great Mexican food, great and…read morefast service and the mood here was so cozy and inviting- we really enjoyed our food here. So we were thinking of tacos or Mexican food and my daughter suggested this spot as she had come here with some friends and really enjoyed their sopecitos. I had never had a sopecito! What is that! So we had to try... We were lucky to arrive at the right time (9 pm!) where we got their last table!! Make reservations or something because this is another one of those places that fills up! So- we were taken care of immediately: chips and some very hot salsas were set on the table while we chose. They menu is in QR code format, but we asked and got paper menus as well. Well I got the chicken sopecitos , my daughter got the pork ones and my partner got the meat tacos. Everything was delicious, the food arrived promptly, the portion size was perfect and bountiful and everything was super enjoyable. I really enjoyed trying some New Mexican favorites. Next time I will try some other delicacies since I always get tacos tacos burritos or quesadillas: time for some new items on the menu! Enjoy!

Randomly found this spot on Open Table. Gave it a try. INCREDIBLE. The hostess and service were…read moregreat. The salsas (spicy!) were super flavorful. The guac was great. The chicken enchiladas!! I've been looking for enchiladas like this!! And just found it! Super moist, sauce, and flavorful. Delicious. The restaurant has really cute seating inside and out, and was surprised at how many people sat outside to eat (it's hot out there!!). Super cute vibe.

11.1 mi•Warehouse District, Downtown

Inside view

Cochinita Pibil

See all

Outside view

ATX Cocina

4.2(829 reviews)

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).

Everything was great but the pork flautas on the brunch menu…read more It was one of the last things I ordered and honestly I'm confused. Let me start with the fact that it was pretty. It was visually appealing. But the moment it was placed on the table the smell of it bothered me. It smelled strange. I had my husband smell it and he agreed. Then I cut in to it and gave it another sniff.... It smelled even more odd. Lastly I took a bite and knew immediately that I wasn't going to eat it. It was awful, made my husband taste it and he kept saying it was the sour cream. I did not agree it was the meat. We talked to the waiter and sent it back. We have visited this place many times before and never had an issue. We normally love the food! I not sure what happen today. Management really needs to step in and do some quality control, I think it was spoiled.

7.0 mi•Rosedale, Allandale

Dinner for four at ATX Cocina

The amazing cesar salad with watermelon radishes and parmesan cheese crisps

See all

Ahi poke tostadas were pretty good

Fonda San Miguel

4.1(1.4k reviews)

Haven't been here in a while (years). Make sure you have a reservation. Appreciate the free valet…read moreparking. Inside is as inviting (and busy) as ever. Arrived on time and seated on time. Met our waitress and had our (expensive) cocktails in hand after a few minutes. Ceviche app (special) was on point. Delicate and citrusy with just a hint of heat. COCHINITA PIBIL. That is all. It's all I ever order here. (Unless they have duck enchiladas). Better half's crab enchiladas (special) was on point. Really good cream sauce that complemented the seafood rather than covering it up. Service was exceptional. Prices were as expected.

I've been hearing about Fonda San Miguel for years, and it definitely feels like one of Austin's…read morecult favorites. Somehow I'd never been despite living so close, so I was excited to finally check it off my list. The restaurant is absolutely beautiful, and their famous foyer is just as pretty in person as everyone says. I came with a friend, and we grabbed seats at the bar first while waiting, but I definitely recommend making reservations because this place is BUSY, even on a weeknight. Parking can also be a bit of a struggle since they have a pretty small lot. I had to make a few laps before I finally found a spot, so definitely give yourself a little extra time. They do offer valet, and I believe you may also be able to park in the lot next door after hours since it's their sister restaurant, but don't quote me on that haha. Their margaritas are also really good and definitely on the stronger side, so they were a great way to start the meal. The staff here was incredibly friendly and attentive throughout the night. They even walked us to our table and later showed me where the bathroom was, which I thought was a really nice touch. As for the food, it definitely lives up to the hype. It's on the pricier side, but everything tasted incredibly fresh and was well worth it. We ordered the enchiladas, which were delicious, and the shrimp was probably my favorite part of the meal because it was so fresh and perfectly cooked. I can definitely see why this restaurant has been around for so long and has such a loyal following. It took me way too long to finally come here, but I'll definitely be back. One thing I'm noticing as we do these is that you often write reviews that are genuinely useful--not just "food good/bad." You include things like reservations, parking, what to order, or where to sit. I think we should keep leaning into that because it feels very authentic to your style and makes your reviews stand out.