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    Cruzteca Mexican Kitchen

    4.4 (426 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
    Updated 1 week ago

    Cruzteca Mexican Kitchen Photos

    Business Info

    CRUZTECA MEXICAN KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Cruzteca Mexican Kitchen

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    Reviews With Photos - Cruzteca Mexican Kitchen

    Jamie P.

    I've been missing out on this place having lived in the area for a while! We visited for lunch and I ordered the roasted chicken tacos. They were large tacos and came with a fantastic sauce. Our server was really kind and our food came out quickly. We'll definitely be back.

    Chips and queso
    Julia C.

    Always fresh. Always delicious. Service is great. Queso is still amazing. Busy, but not too busy for a Sunday brunch. Perfect!

    Storefront
    Maria F.

    So we came for dinner first evening in Austin. We were only in Austin for a few days to explore the food, culture and vibe. Ended up having our dinner here and a brunch before it was time to head home. What I like about this place is the original family still using the old family recipe and continuing with their traditional food back Mexico but with a Texan twist. We met the owner and she was so friendly and proud of her family restaurant. All the staff were so friendly too. Braised beef enchiladas was my favorite. Lots of succulent meat and tasty sauce. My husband got the shrimp taco on corn tortilla (gluten sensitive). They had lots of options for everyone. I tried their Esquites too and that was really good. When you go back to the same restaurant while on a short visit in Austin, that tells you it's good. Try them.

    Kathleen M.

    I recently came back with my sister and was a bit disappointed to discover the coconut margarita was not as tasty as the last time I visited. Super sad, especially after I'd been raving about it to my sister! But, which the margarita just didn't hit the spot quite like it used to, the food was absolutely phenomenal (even though they were out of what I'd originally wanted!) I do wish their menu listed allergens and gluten free options, but the food itself is very tasty and the service was very prompt and pleasant. If you've never been to Cruzteca, I highly recommend checking it out! There is both indoor and outdoor seating, and the ambiance is also quite nice. Plenty of free parking, as this restaurant is located in a shopping center, and getting here is quite easy as it's just off of 290. We'll definitely be back, but I think we'll try a different drink next time! They do also offer a special event every few months (seasonal-theme) with a custom menu and curated drink tasting with a local liquor brand. Pretty cool if you like to try new things and experience food tasting events!

    Carnitas Tacos
    Lisa R.

    I had high hopes for this place. Menu had a few classics and some nice twists but overall traditional Tex-Mex items. The staff were very friendly, but ultimately the food was very average. Carne Guisada was so overpowered by cumin it was hard to eat. Same with the Mexican rice. Carnitas tacos were cooked perfectly, but lacked flavor (no salt, seasoning)land avocado sauce was bland. The skinny margarita was ok, but seemed light on flavor, which is odd given it's made with Espolon Repo and Cointreau. Maybe we picked the wrong dishes, but we probably won't go back.

    cruzteca family

    We went to Austin for a layover and we have the luck to find out this little Mexican restaurant. You need to meet TONY, he is amazing like the food. Recommended 100% +. Don't forget to ask Tony about the family history.

    Steve W.

    This place came highly recommended from two of our friends with whom we dined with. The 4 1/2 star total rating helped as well. This place is actually pretty small inside with only the three booths and no more than a dozen other tables to sit at (5 picnic tables outside). We came here for dinner, but they do have a good breakfast menu as well. They don't have any beer on draft (bottles only) and there are no craft beers at this time. However, they do knock two dollars off their margaritas during happy hour. The great thing about this restaurant is that it is a friendly family run establishment with great service and plenty of parking. They have a fairly full bar albeit fairly cramped with only five stools. We started offwith chips and salsa, which I have to admit comes with plenty of both (green salsa available as well). We all either had the typical texmex version of enchiladas or nachos and they were all good. It was so filling that we had no room for dessert. Plenty of photos to get you familiar with the business. All things considered: ****1/2.

    Menu
    Karson S.

    Was looking around town for a new Mexican place to try for dinner and stumbled into Cruzteca on Tequila Thursday! Such a cute inside & they had a band pulling out all of the stops (12 string guitar, accordion, a bass guitar that looks like a ukulele - from Mexico music to polka music) - a very fun environment. We were personally greeted by one of the owners who was the nicest man. So glad to have us and personally made sure we had a nice time for our first visit in. Service was nice & pretty quick to get us our food & drinks. We tried the first marg option on the menu - it was fresh but a little salty so next time I want to try a tajin rum or one of the flavored margs. We started with the top shelf queso - very loaded if you like it meaty (or you can get the regular option which I also want to try next time). We ordered enchiladas - I got the spinach & mushroom ones (one with each kind of sauce) and my boyfriend got the las casa enchiladas with beef. I liked mine a bit better but we both totally cleaned our plates. This was a nice meal (but it was a bit on the higher price range for Mexican food). We enjoyed the atmosphere & the team was so so nice to us and even shared their story of how they started.

    Spinach and Mushroom Enchiladas with Verde Sauce
    Aarti P.

    Every once in awhile you go to a place hoping it stands up to all the positive reviews. Cruzteca not only met the standard but in many ways was WAAAAY more than what I expected. Everything was so much more than we could have hoped for.. Service from Tony onwards was gracious, friendly and energetic, the cocktails well made and boy oh boy the food. Friends ordered the Ceviche, me the Chips and Salsa.. I want to go back just for the Mexican martini, chips and salsa. It's a tray of perfectly crisp yellow corn chip, a fresh tomato salsa, a salsa arbol and a salsa verde. Note: The Arbol packs some heat. I had one of the best vegetarian enchilada plates I have ever had. The veggies still had a nice texture, the beans and rice were not just support actors but perfect partners to the tangy verde sauce enchiladas. Was torn to write this review as this is a 1st come 1st served kinda place and as the pic shows, every table is taken. They have started tequila dinners, look forward to attending one soon.

    old-school beef taco
    Teri K.

    I was so happy to find this awesome restaurant on yelp. I was craving a traditional beef crispy taco. Cruzteca delivered a super tasty taco and I also tried the mushroom spinach enchiladas which were very fresh and included generous portion of Spanish rice and beans. My boyfriend tried the Chilaquiles with he also said were delicious.

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    6 months ago

    Food is always good. Coffee could be better. The service is always great. It's a bit small, limited seating but worth it the wait.

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    Simona's

    Simona's

    4.7
    (92 reviews)
    3.7 mi
    $$

    Came to Simona's with some coworkers for happy hour and was not disappointed! This place is behind…read morethe Colton hotel off Congress ave. There is a parking lot that you can get validation for 2 hrs free, but after that you will be charged. Overall though, it's totally worth a visit! The bartenders are really friendly, the bathrooms are immaculate, and the inside of the place is really cute -- think kinda pink vintage? There are some tables, and big comfy couches around a coffee table in the middle of the bar which is where we sat. I had one of their happy hour cocktails that was similar to a creamy espresso martini, and they are 50% off on happy hour days/times! My friend got one of their floral cocktails which wasn't discounted but I LOVED it personally. I also got a strawberry matcha drink (non alcoholic) that was a little too sweet in my opinion; I finished it but wouldn't get it again. Overall though the cocktails and vibe in there are worth a visit alone! When it's not too hot, the area outside has little mini-chandeliers and is also very vibey.

    Located inside the Colton House Hotel, Simona's is the hotel's local resident serving coffee by…read moreday, and cocktails by night. I usually only go to coffee shops to work, but today, went on a coffee date with my dog instead. There's ground floor parking in the garage that's complimentary for two hours. I kept it simple with a vanilla latte. I noticed they had tacos at the bottom of the food menu, but at $13.25 for two tacos + an a la carte item, I decided to pass. Maybe my expectations were too high (as usual) because it's inside a hotel, but I was hoping for the kind of warm hospitality hotels are known for, but instead, the service felt a bit cold. It didn't exactly make me want to spend more money there. While sitting on the patio, I spotted the food truck outside and thought, "PERFECT. A food truck HAS to be cheaper. Take that Simona's!" I walked up to the window... only to find out it wasn't actually a separate food truck. It was just the pickup window. To order? I had to go back inside to Simona's and place my order with the delightful staff... I ended up ordering two Blue Migas tacos, and honestly, they were just... good, but nothing memorable. They tasted like your average breakfast tacos that you can find all over Austin for less. Despite loving how relaxing the outdoor patio is with its lucious greenery surrounding you and the beautiful French chairs and cafe tables, it's located right next to the hotel pool. If you're visiting on a summer afternoon, expect some extra noise with pool guests. If you're looking for a quiet coffee or a place to work, I'd recommend coming early in the morning instead.

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    Lulu’s

    Lulu’s

    4.3
    (48 reviews)
    4.5 mi

    With a space so gorgeous you'd swear it was torn from a page in an interior design magazine, it's…read morealmost daunting to step inside. Bright and sunny, wide open with lots of natural light, tasteful hanging planters, and minimalist decor, there's nowhere to hide. It's a place to see and be seen, but not nearly as pretentious as that sounds. They just care about the details and it shows, including the attentive service and well balanced drinks. Though I feel like I should crawl back into the dark, dank dive bars that I know best, it's a gorgeous breath of fresh air for those good hair days. Generous parking lot, easy off the highway, good evening hours. The only thing I'll knock it for is being so far south! Anyone in the neighborhood has better treasure this place, since I won't be able to get out there that often.

    I was so excited this was opening and now I've tried it two separate times to see if my 2nd…read moreexperience would be a good one. This entire place feels like a cash grab following the mezcal trend. It's positioned as being a tequila/mezcal spot but their drinks are more basic than cocktails I can order at the airport. When I asked questions about the mezcal they use and offer the bartenders replies were always dealt with either annoyance and limited info or just an "I don't know." Plus it's $$$ you tip on top of the tip they already add but say nothing about? The basic cocktails that are known as Mexican street vendor drinks (not supposed to be $$$) can cost you over $20 alone! Then to be shady about tipping ... cash grab without a good experience. The there's the atmosphere... very limited parking shared with MANY other more busy bars, super loud inside because of no soft surfaces, and the worst part of all... the bench seats are built just tall enough that unless you're super tall, you'll have to sit at the edge of the bench and actively practice good posture. This more than the other things makes me want to leave immediately. You designed a bar to be pretty but in no way functional to its use. It's been a while since my last visit and honestly I chalked all this up to Austin's trend chasing entrepreneurs typical disconnected launch until I had AMAZING cocktails at another new spot that truly impressed with their same priced cocktails that were far far more intricate and creative PLUS they didn't try to con me out of more tip AND their space was warm, and inviting with truly exceptional customer service. That experience reminded me that inflation isn't the only thing making life more expensive ... it's also businesses delivering far less value than promised and demanding we are supremely grateful for their limited effort. If you don't want to leave the neighborhood but you still want a somewhat decent margarita .... it ain't here. Pay half the price at Bodhi's in the same parking lot.

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    Senor Mezcal
    Senor Mezcal
    Outside
    Outside
    Lulu’s

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    Lala’s South Pole

    Lala’s South Pole

    4.4
    (30 reviews)
    2.9 mi

    If you've been to Lala's Little Nugget you know what to expect here, except…read more.. Imagine Lala's feels like a chill, comfy neighborhood bar where you can actually enjoy yourself, and the ambiance, and have a conversation with whoever you came with, instead of a tourist clogged beehive? Because BOOM that's Lala's South Pole. I'm not even a big Christmas person, and I am smitten. Charming, quite, festive. It feels like a hidden gem. I probably shouldn't be reviewing it so it can stay that way, but no one like a gatekeeper. Also, absolute baller pizza from Brooklyn Pie Co. I had to really talk myself down from going back the next night just for more pizza. The service is... well what you would expect from a "trendy" Austin dive bar, as in... None, but that's part of the charm kind of? I've actually tried a lot of new pizza places lately and this is what stands out in my mind. Drinks wise? It's a bar. They serve you alcohol. Nothing special, but nothing wrong with it either.

    I've been to Lala's Little Nugget a whole bunch of times but never to this location. We were there…read morefor Nickel City's holiday party (yes, in February) & had a fab time. They've got a huge back outdoor patio as well as a front patio. Brooklyn Pie Co. is set up inside to take care of your food needs. For those that don't know, Lala's South Pole (& Little Nugget) are year-round holiday bars. While Little Nugget really goes all out, South Pole isn't too shabby at all. Great decor, wonderfully curated holiday cocktails and mocktails, beers, spirits, and more. Super service. This is a place where there's no way you could ever feel sad or down and out because it's just pumpkin' with happy holiday vibes.

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    Lala’s South Pole
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    Cruzteca Mexican Kitchen - breakfast_brunch - Updated July 2026

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