Tex Mex: South Austin vs. East Austin

T

Texas Horn

250+ Posts
This may belong on the Around Austin board, but....South
Jovita's
Maria's Taco Express
La Feria
Polvo's
El Rancho (I know, but it has to be listed)
Maudie's Too
Evita's

East
Dario's
Angie's
Cisco's
Nuevo Leon
El Azteca
Juan in a Million
Las Palmas

Tough battle. While all do something the best, imo my all-around favorite is Dario's on the east side.

What I think each does best:
Jovita's - enchiladas, queso
Maria's - migas breakfast taco
La Feria - beef enchiladas
Polvo's - carne guisada enchildas
El Rancho - Bob
Maudie's - Diablo Sol Food, Rockin' Ruthann w/ fajita beef
Evita's - carne guisada
Dario's - any enchildadas, chips and salsa
Angie's - corn tortillas
Cisco's - migas
Nuevo Leon - crispy tacos, beef enchiladas
El Azteca - green enchiladas
Juan in a Million - breakfast tacos
Las Palmas - never been. next week

I'd have to give the nod to the East Side in a split decision. Definitely a tough call. Anyone care to tip the scales?

I love Austin.
 
For as much as I love Tex Mex, I've been to far too few of those places.

The Enchiladas Suizas at La Feria are great also; they've become my family's regular post-game dinner stop.

Does Nueva Onda rate addition to the South list?
 
No list of South Austin Tex-Mex is complete without Habanero Cafe. Leaving that one off is blasphemous.

There's a new Tex-Mex place at Ben White and Congress, I can't remember the name now, but its in the building where Lim Ting used to be just behind the Shell station. The food is ok to good, but their corn tortillas are the best I've ever eaten.
 
Polvo's is NOT tex-mex, it's technically "Interior Mexican" which is why it's so much better. Their Fajitas are the best in the world I think.
 
I've had a couple of good meals at Little Mexico on S. 1st. (However, it's pretty tough not to head down to Polvo's when in that neighborhood.)

Anyone else like Little Mexico?
 
also more "interior" than Tex Mex.....El Sol y La Luna needs to be mentioned as well. Very fresh.

also more Mex than Tex Mex is Curra's....favorite al pastor in the city
 
As a new Austin-ite from San Antonio, thank you for that list of restaurants. It is much needed. Speaking of East side, I was taken to Vivo on Manor for puffy tacos and must say they were very good.

Any good authentic tex-mex out north or northwest? Stupid question, right?
 
Vivo and El Chile right off of Manor are excellent dinner spots (and lunch for that matter). More Mex than Tex Mex, but they both have a great atmosphere. Perfect date places.

not sure of north or northwest....I limit my tex mex intake to south, east and central, but I'm sure there are some good places in those areas.
 
Elsi's on Burnet (north of Koenig, south of Anderson, close to the Putt Putt Golf) is a Mexican/Salvadoran place that we've recently been enjoying. That's the only place "north" that I can think of other than Curra's.

Texas Horn - great thread. But, you did leave out my Sunday morning favorite:

Best Posole: El Sol y La Luna
 
If you get up early enough, Mi Madre's is good, Eastside, Manor Rd. There is a new taco place opening near there too.

Ty for mentioning El Chile and Vivo. Good buzz going on about them. Arredondo's Enchilada's and the numersou Arrendinas Taquerias have a niche too.

I think we should all eat at them all and then compare, deal? Who buys the first round?
 
Can't get enough of the Homestyle enchiladas at Arredondo's (between St. David's hosptial and the football bubble on the south IH 35 frontage road). Place is a diamond in the rough.
 
Elsi's is badass. Great breakfast tacos and very cheap.

Loopy, you seem to like Manor Rd...you should hit up Taqueria Monterrey just about a half-mile down the road from Mi Madre's. Their migas were my favorite in town until a film shoot I was on ordered them for about 30 consecutive days.

Down south I just started going to a place called El Borrego de Oro, on S. Congress just north of Ben White. Their chipotle enchiladas are excellent and their home-made corn tortillas are pretty much the only corn tortillas I've ever had that I liked.

Great thread.
 
I forgot about Monterrey and yes, they rock too. When the get to know you, you get more stuff inside too.
 
I know that there are several locations around town, but Arranda's on S. 1st just south of Oltorf is solid. They have great barbacoa, carnitas, and killer guacamole. The Burnet location is solid too. They even have another location E of I-35 up north a bit.

The food is good and cheap, and the beer is cold.

Their torta Cubano sammich is mighty fine. Runs about $3.50 and is more than I can eat most of the time. Also they have a tamarind salsa that is BADASS!!!!!!!
 
The Chile Relleno Al Nogal w/Shrimp @ Polvo's is the most delicious dish in Austin, regardless of category. Try me.

I love, love, love Dario's too.
 
Great List, but it seems unfair to keep Enchiladas Y Mas (off Anderson Ln) up north off this list... They fit in with the best of 'em.
 
Y'know amigos, just looking at this list makes one realize just how lucky we are to be here. I am sure that those not here and miss it hate this thread. I will have some enchiladas for you that cannot.
 
I prefer the Arranda's on S. 1st and Wm. Cannon over the one on Burnet. The Casa Garcia's on Manchaca and Wm. Cannon is starting to suck lately.

For a far northwest spot, try La Cocina Michoacana, which is at 251 N. Bell (Hwy 183) in Cedar Park, inside the strip center behind Popeye's. Sambet's is in the same strip. It's interior (northern, I think) Mexican. I love the flour tortillas there.
 
I have bad news for all who like Jorge's on Hancock Dr. The sign still says Jorge's, but it's now something like Taco Garcia's Jorge's. They kept the name Jorge's up to woo the old faithful in the door. I bit. I paid the price. This is NOT the old Jorge's. It is bad. Real bad. Bad tacos. Bad salsa. Bad queso. Bad ritas. Bad.

I'm really upset. Thanks for listening.
 
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