That rush hour traffic in Austin is lethal. If it starts raining too, oh buddy, what a nightmare. Eventually you'll make it to your destination and if it's half as good as El Alma, it'll be a sigh of relief. I've driven by El Alma many times being in the Austin area, but I never went until last Thursday, and after surviving a brief monsoon, I was glad to get a few drinks and eat some good TexMex with my large party just before a wedding. The best way to describe El Alma is that it is TexMex that is Austinified. Everything feels a little more unique and special than your classic TexMex options. I started off with a Mezcal Margarita that put a little hair on my chest and got me going. My group ordered two of their Nachitos, which were these nice nachos. For my main entrée, I got 3 Al Pastor tacos on corn with a side of their rice and beans. Their pastor was served with pineapples, onions, and cilantro with limes on the side. They were great and I immediately crushed them all. I thought their rice and beans were pretty good as well and a step above the typical TexMex rice and beans. The server was pretty attentive throughout our whole visit, and I honestly have no complaints about what they had to offer. Pricing on the meal and drinks was pretty standard for Austin, and I didn't think anything really took me out of the experience. On top of that, for being in Barton Springs, there is quite a bit of parking. I would love to come back at some point in the future and hang out on their rooftop bar because that seems like a lot of fun. Shoutout to El Alma for being a TexMex oasis saving me from the MoPac traffic. RIYL: TexMex, but better than your average read more

El Alma - Mezcal Margarita - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

Who designed this menu?!? How can anyone read this? This 4-point-font requires a magnifying glass and surgical lighting to read. I'm 43. I have 20/20 vision. I'm not old. Yet. However, this is illegible. The pink on pink color scheme actively works against any sensible comprehension of what's to order. There is so much empty real estate on the back of the menu - QR code, etc. That wasted space could easily be used for a bigger font. Please redesign this IMMEDIATELY. read more

walked in at 9pm on the dot (says on the door they close at 10pm) guy says "sorry kitchen closes in a couple minutes" with a stale look on his face yea never comin back read more

never disappoints no matter what you order. The food is soo good!! Staff is very nice and attentive never have had bad service. Love they add a 3% wellness charge for the staff. Everyone is so happy inside it makes the restaurant even more amazing. Live the environment and food. read more

El Alma - Chicken tinga enchilada with verde mole salsa and avacado margarita - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

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If you're going to eat here, you have to eat on the rooftop patio. The vibes up there are nice and the view is cool. I ordered the duck enchiladas and was pleasantly surprised. The salsas were good too but they should give you more chips at once. I got a mezcal cocktail and it was fine. The food was sort of greasy and rich and I didn't feel great after the meal so not sure I would come back. read more

El Alma - Duck enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

We weren't ready for dinner but couldn't walk past without checking it out. So adorable perched on the hill. Cool vibe, pleasant servers. With aerial view across the river to the new downtown. read more

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El Alma has been on my radar since moving to Austin, but we finally just tried it for a random casual dinner and are now going to be regulars. We went here on a weekday evening around 6:30 and just beat the rush. We sat inside in the window and started with margaritas. I got the mezcal marg and it was seriously so good. I can't wait to go back for it. I also had a house marg that was good too, but the mezcal marg was great. Complimentary chips and 2 salsas were brought out right away. Our server was very friendly and patient while we took a few minutes to decide. We ended up just doing tacos and we loved them!! They were huge! I got a shrimp and a cactus taco - loved them both and will order the same thing. Also the side of plaintains covered in cheese - omg - the star of the show. We will each get our own order next time. Lastly, we finished with the tres leches which was the most unique version I've ever had. It was soaked in espresso, and I've never had anything like it. Do not miss this dessert! We can't wait to go back again very soon and sit on the rooftop. 10/10 tacos, margs, salsas, tres leches! read more

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First time in Austin and our first meal was amazing. We had a mole chicken dish and a chicken torta and some plantinos and spicy duck dish. Our server Brittany had our drinks and orders going right away and has a pleasant smile that helped make our experience even more delightful. The restaurant is great for families and couples alike. Has a great rooftop outdoor seating , which sounded like good time up there as I was listening while walking to our car. If live here or visiting , look this place up and swing on by , you will not be disappointed read more

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Been here several times for lunch. Good food. Sat outside upstairs as it seems quieter and more relaxed. Nice flavorful food

El Alma is one of our to-go restaurants where we know we'll always eat great! Their tacos are so good, their queso is chef's kiss, their happy hour is also top notch, and their margs are margalicious! The place gets crowded at prime time, but if you go early you can get a spot on the rooftop with no resy. I would still recommend going to open table and make a reservation. Parking is tough, patience is key. Pro-tip: If you can't get in this one, they have a bigger location by central market with the almost exact same menu :) read more

El Alma - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Dropped in for a quick bite prior to a Long Center show. Even though it wasn't busy, it was loud. We wanted something quick--we arrived at 6:30pm and we were out by 6:50pm. So mission accomplished. Decided on four tacos. I'd say their tacos are on the smaller side, even though they are well-filled. Their corn tortillas were hot and floppy, rather than slightly crisped up. This meant that they tore, somewhat easily due to potential sogginess. Their garnishes were prepared uniformly (in terms of cuts and size) and well. Lamb Barbacoa -- lamb, with habenero pickled carrots and cilantro. This barbacoa was drier than it should be. Because of the dryness, it was chewier than it should be. This is not melt-in-your mouth barbacoa. This barbacoa is not the kind that makes you involuntarily happy. As a side note, I didn't really notice spiciness or cilantro. I did notice the slight sourness from the pickles. Pastor -- topped with onions and pineapple. Tender pork, pretty good flavor. Onions and pineapple went well with it. I didn't bother adding the lime squeeze. More tender than the barbacoa. Pato -- roasted duck, with almonds, pepitas, and those pickled pink onions. I suppose this is their answer to carnitas. The texture of the duck was satisfying. More so than the barbacoa. Chicken Tinga -- shredded chicken, jack cheese, and cilantro. This was the softest of the four. Chicken and jack cheese, what more could you ask for in a simple flavor profile? Food-wise, I'd say their tacos are not bad. But they are missing that which would take them from not bad to exceptionally amazing. Honestly, I might venture to say their choice of garnishes might be distracting from the underlying flavor profile of their meat in certain cases. None of their tacos is exceptional. Service was friendly. Pretty fast. The table top surface was sticky. The bathroom situation is interesting. The first floor has a pair, so be prepped for a bathroom line. In this particular instance, one of the bathrooms became dysfunctional due to someone's bowel explosion. The staff promptly cleaned it up. Overall, I'd be up for coming back to check out some other dishes. And maybe the rocky leaf lined stairwell leading up to their patio. read more

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Wonderful setting, great service and unique take on popular Mexican food. I would go back for just the margaritas! read more

El Alma - Grand kids loved the outdoor seating. Perfect day for the patio. - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

First time here and it was a pleasant experience. Most of their seating were for reservations upon entry and speaking to the host. Our waitress was friendly, gave input on menu and checked in occasionally. There is a rooftop like area if you prefer outdoor dining. My margarita drink was perfectly blended shout out to the bartender that made a little too much of my drink so I ended up with two servings. Our food was delicious. The only thing that I personally found different was having white rice with corn and green peas apart of the dish. I'm not Latino but haven't had that elsewhere before so... yea. Ambiance was severely lacking. The 2 single room bathrooms are directly in front of the bar in the main dining area. There are swing doors to try and separate but that doesn't work. There's a lot of exposed wires and such which is questionable. You don't come here for the vibe/ambiance but I would say the food. Not sure if I would return but it's worth checking out if you're near zilker park. read more

El Alma - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

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We hear the Mexican food in Austin was fantastic, so we had to stop by El Alma! My boyfriend tried three different tacos and I had the grande ensalada. Probably one of the best salads I've had!! The fried cheese was the best part. Our drinks were also perfect for the hot day and service was quick and pleasant. We'd definitely come back - the tacos were gone in seconds! My bf gave them a 10/10. read more

El Alma - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

Wow this place is a huge mess and needs SERIOUS HELP. Management/owners need to sit down and have a legitimate conversation. The food and the dining room are a completely different experience. I feel bad for the kitchen team because the food is delicious and deserves respect, the FOH on the other hand is ATROCIOUS. Dirty restaurant, neglected guests. Table next to us was yelling and one woman actually talked about owning a gun and talking about killing people. This is not a restaurant it is a club with bright lighting, you can see ALLOF THE FLAWS. We didn't get drinks 30 minutes into being seated. Got them when we were done with our food. I noticed that another table next to us that seemed really sweet was having a similar experience and we actually BONDED OVER how bad this dining room was kept. Yall should be embarrassed whoever is managing here. read more

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REALLY enjoyed El Alma! It's not a place that jumps out at you but I saw great reviews online and decided to give it a try. The servers are nice, and although I was ordering takeout they seated me at the bar since it was a 15ish min wait. I took a little lap of the restaurant and thought it was cool they have an outdoor seating area technically on the roof -- there's a cool slightly spiraled stone staircase right inside the restaurant by the bar that leads up there. Re: the food - I got one of the tortas on the lunch menu, it comes with a little chipotle-like sauce and it was very very good, albeit had a LOT of bread in the bread-to-filling ratio (some people like that though!). Nevertheless it was very flavorful. Also got the tres leches, it was quite good but doesn't beat another Austin restaurant (Nomade) who still has my favorite tres leches dessert to date. Overall this place has a great location right by downtown, clean bathrooms, great food, and a nice ambiance. Would recommend! read more

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Great find in a large city!! The corner is busy with pedestrians and activity. There is a first level and outside top level that is covered with tree and umbrellas. We ate inside. We had the ahi tuna tostadas. They were so good!! read more

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While visiting Austin, el Alma came highly rated. It was a weeknight and we were able to grab a seat at the bar right away. We shared the platanos machos and I love platanos! They were delicious. Crispy edges, just enough crema, they were just what I needed. For my meal I had the sweet potato rellenos and it was a nice meal non meat dinner! The sauce was lovely, the sweet potatoes were cooked correctly, and the pepper itself had so much flavor. If you're vegetarian in a meat heavy city, come to el Alma. This meal was so good! read more

El Alma - Relleno Sweet Potato - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Happy Hour. Service was on point. Creat margaritas at good HH prices. Get the ceviche - it's awesome. Although the food and service are comparable to the original on Barton Springs, this location pales in comparison to the awesome North location. read more

I stumbled upon El Alma by complete chance. My friends wanted to go to Terry Black's for BBQ, but I am vegan, and I didn't want to go to a BBQ place. El Alma is two doors down, and it was literally perfect! I went to El Alma while others went to Terry Blacks! El Alma has a vegan mushroom taco on their Brunch Menu!! I got really lucky that they were still using their Brunch Menu on a Monday because I went for a Holiday, and it was delicious! I ordered two tacos, and although it was on the more expensive side for a taco, I left feeling very full with just the two tacos! I didn't get anything else, but everyone on the staff was super nice and the decor inside was really cute! I went on a solo data and got a table by the window and read while eating! Overall, a very cute vibe! I bet the tables upstairs are very cute! I think I would definitely come back if I'm ever in Austin again, and I would absolutely recommend! I only wish they had more vegan options! read more

El Alma - Vegan mushroom brunch tacos - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

We sat at the bar waiting on table the bartender was excellent. Got us chips and salsa and some killer drinks. Then we moved up to our patio table. This patio that is under the tent section is subpar. Our table was dirty. Had to be cleaned while we stood around. Our waitress was absent and when she did come around she was riddled with attitude. So much attitude she had problems looking at us and would turn her head and look out towards the river. I started making a joke she was looking over there because she wished she was some place else. We've also had better Mexican food. It was decent. If the derive was better I would have given 4 stars. We are only in Austin for 3 nights and this place was recommended to us. read more

For a unique TexMex adventure try El Alma's next to Terry Blacks. (Heck, they have easier parking!) In our quest for REAL Austin TexMex, we should have come here long ago. Their Saturday - Sunday Brunch options are intriguing and inspired. The main menu is also full of unique items (duck rellenos?, heck yeah) As a starter recommend the guac which comes decorated with sunflower seeds, chipotle aoli, and tomatoes on a bed of lettuce. You can get a taco or a extremely gourmet meal featuring duck, quail, shrimp, crab Side note: They do have 2 locations in Austin. So, on to the food. Hubby's first response to his Pollo enchiladas "Wow" and OMG! My shrimp and crab relleno was a multiple flavor explosion. Shrimp,sauce,spinach,crab. Amazing! The owner, orgunally from Mexico, attended Le Cordon Bleu Paris to give you an idea of the menu uniqueness and gourmet level. In the cooler months ask to sit upstairs for a very special grotto treat. Service was fast and friendly. And the dishes all dressed to the "9's". Quite a fun foodie delight. read more

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I really liked this place. We just walked in, party of 6 and they sat us right down even though it was pretty busy. We had several appetizers and I'd say the queso with crab was the best. Absolutely delish. The service was great too. Skip the corn pudding (I think its called). The chile rellanos (I got the crab and shrimp) was quite good. My friend got lamb chops and they were also good. Ambience is casual sit down. Fine to bring kids here too. read more

A coworker took me here for a team dinner and it is definitely a spot I would return to for a nice TexMex experience with a simple, cute, and modern atmosphere. The food is delicious, ambiance is hip, and prices are beyond reasonable (from a California girl's perspective). The duck enchiladas in mole sauce were great and the rice was so buttery and tender. I do wish the refried beans weren't black, but it was a solid entree. The fundido dip in tortillas was more or less a DIY quesadilla and the ceviche was just okay. I would unfortunately pass on both the desserts we got...the chocolate cake wasn't soft at all and the flan was also very crispy and not at all custard-like. Tldr; come for the entrees, but skip the apps and desserts I tried. read more

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Was craving Mexican food and wanted to try the top rated option here on Yelp! Good location and service, but the food didn't really impress us. Although, you really cannot see the view of downtown from most of the tables on the roof, so if that's your goal maybe try a different spot! Tried the Queso! It's thin, lil less cheesy than most! It was more of a soup in consistency and flavor! Tried it just by sipping it with a spoon rather than dipping it with a chip, which confirmed this! Ordered the carne asada tacos, pastor, and fish! Recommend the carne asada & pastor! Great flavor! Steak had great flavor & so did the pastor! Strong drinks and delicious mocktails! It's a good restaurant with a good atmosphere just wasn't a favorite for us! This is a unique spot & everything was alright! Really torn on whether to leave 3 or 4 stars! read more

El Alma - Queso Blanco Y Rojo - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

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My son introduced me to this restaurant today. The food was delicious. We had chicken enchiladas with a soft taco that was probably the best I have had in a long time. I highly recommend El Alma. read more

This place rocks! Food and drinks were so incredible! And the ambiance and view is to die for. Service is also great, Keaton was amazing! This place really doesn't get the credit it deserves. read more

Was introduced to El Alma today and it was a delicious experience. Bella led the way by checking on us regularly, but not intrusively. Her timing was perfect! The food was so flavorful, especially the homemade guacamole and, for me, the ensalada grande. The taste element was elevated by each brightly colored, fresh, crisp, and tasty veggie and the tender, grilled chicken. Those who ordered more traditional Mexican food were also happily full. If possible, you have to eat on the rooftop patio. The view, the vibes, and the ambiance are an added bonus. read more

Disclaimer: Only went for drinks, and definitely plan on returning for happy hour and dinner. Pro Tip: happy hour EVERY DAY 3-6 PM, order the Avocado Margarita. El Alma is conveniently located in walking distance to much to see for travelers and locals of all kinds. Unfortunately we rolled up after 6 PM, after a nice walk on Lady Bird lake. While we missed happy hour, the Avocado Margaritas were still worth the visit and fueled us enough to walk and explore a next spot downtown. We recommend an evening up on the patio when the sun is on it's way down. As you walk up the stairs, you feel like you're traveling somewhere in Central or South America, as its dressed in greenery and stone. After a few rounds of servers walking past us with all sorts of dishes to different tables, we knew we'd come back. read more

El Alma - Stairway to heaven, I mean the patio - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

This was a cute and yummy find in Austin! I must say the place itself is very well placed and setup. You have the choice for inside seating or a top deck outside that is quite lovely. I opted for inside given the hot weather. Okay but what about the food? Well let's start with the salsa and mole- the heart of any Mexican restaurant. Verde Salsa: I preferred the verde salsa because of the nice punch of citrus flavor and roasting of the chiles, that you can taste. I thought it was put together well. Roja salsa: A good kick, but I would opt to request to green salsa's next time. Mole: While mole comes on both the Chile relleno and the enchiladas they are two different types of mole. I think in the future I can go for no mole at El Alma. The mole tasted to put it simply, straight out of a can. Chile Relleno: The chile Relleno itself, however, was fantastic! A great crunch and filled generously. I was a fan of the batter. I have seen it be made so many ways and this was definitely a winner because it was smooth and after eating I didn't feel like it was too oily or anything. Enchiladas: I was not particularly a fan of this plate at all. The rice, being white rice with vegetables, was too simple. It didn't complement the enchiladas and I was expecting more for the salad. I will say it was a lovely presentation. That said, I will be back for the Chile rellenos. I don't recommend this spot, however, if you want traditional Mexican food, especially enchiladas. If you're looking for a spot a bit more fun than yes this is a great spot. read more

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THIS PLACE IS SO GOOD OMG!!!!! Best enchiladas I have had in a WHILE. You have to get the Queso Fundido with Chorizo, it is delish!!! Can't wait to go again!!! read more

These margaritas are no joke. I had no idea. So good but beware haha! I loved the jungle look of the place :) and the queso fondito was delish! Definitely heading back for margs and snacks again soon!! read more

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El Alma is incredibly delicious. I love how their menu offers food that is different than the average Mexican restaurant. I have taken friends and family to both locations, and they were equally pleased. Also, you can made reservations on OpenTable, either through the app or opentable.com. read more

It's a cute place. Food was delicious! And our server was very attentive and helpful! Great atmosphere and perfect walking distance from our hotel... read more

El Alma - Enchilada chicken tinga and queso blanco - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

Friday 7/26/2024 Came here for a sitdown meal and the service was solid. I got the 2 lunch taco plate with a lamb barbacoa taco & carne asada taco $13 and a banana bread pudding $8. - we got some complimentary chips & salsa to start off with and they were solid. The chips tasted homemade and it was pretty standard for what you would expect. - The 2 lunch taco plate came with a lamb barbacoa taco, carne asada taco, and sides of rice & beans. Both the lamb taco and carne asada were served on a flour tortilla and they were both good. It was close but I think the lamb taco was a bit better than the Carne asada. The rice & beans were decent as well. - The banana bread pudding was a very unique & creatiion with the pairing of a fried plantain on top of a rum bread pudding with ice cream. The banana bread pudding turned out to be pretty good. All in all, el Alma was a solid Mexican experience that I would recommend and be open to returning to. read more

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Came in for dinner on a Friday night. Did not have a reservation, but was able to grab appetizers and drinks on the patio and our table was ready within 20 minutes. Super friendly service with a smile. We had a variety of tacos, the chicken mole, and friedplantains. All was delicious and fresh. Super fun environment, lively atmosphere. Will be back! read more

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The most mediocre, overpriced Americanized Mexican tex. No idea why the reviews are so high. The only enjoyable part of our experience was the ambiance. Pop hits are playing in the background, creating a relaxing vibe. Indoor dinning space on the first floor is spacious and can accommodate large parties. Second floor outside patio is for small parties only, and in the cooler weather can be a nice way to dine outdoors. Staff are not welcoming nor friendly. Very harried and overwhelmed. Service is super slow. You'll wait for your food for a while. Food was beyond disappointing. Overpriced and small portions for bland, tasteless food that was prepared without care of finesse. Our favorite dish was the $14 quesso appetizer--a skillet of baked cheese that came with flour tortillas. Literally, just a skillet of melted/baked cheese. You can't go wrong with that. Also, little skill actually goes into that "dish". $18 Duck enchiladas were disappointing. Meat was utterly bland. $19 shrimp enchiladas were tasteless in the same vein. Except, I was scandalized that for almost 20 bucks a portion has three shrimps on top of the actual enchiladas. Three. And the insides of the enchiladas had cheese and mushrooms, not shrimp. The sides that come with the enchiladas were bland. Zero seasoning. No salt or pepper. Only the two complementary salsa dips (served with chips) had flavor: they were spicy. All other food--utterly disappointingly bland and tasteless. What a missed opportunity. Do not recommend. There are plenty of better options all over Austin. read more

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Cute plate decorated with stairs leading to the rooftop. Ate downstairs as it was cold that night. The meats in our tacos were well prepared but on the bland side. Would have liked some salsa to go with them but we're not offered any so assumed that was the way they are served. Had a server who didn't crack a smile the whole time they interacted with us as well as the other tables they served. Asked a question about an appetizer and they said, "It's a decent size". Like what does that mean? Is it like 1 cup or 2 cups or can you show me with your hands how big the circumference of the container might be? Did not order the appetizer and the restaurant lost out on money and the server missed a chance for a bigger tip. Upsell to help the restaurant and yourself! read more

OVERALL An absolute Austin gem for Mexican food with casual seating, wonderful service, and an *excellent all-around menu* of snacks, entrees, and desserts. So delighted we took this recommendation and would 10/10 return! AMBIANCE Wooden high tops, dining tables, bar seating and a spiral staircase to outdoor seating with hanging plants and dim-cozy lighting and music vibes. Great for date nights and hang-outs. Parking is limited though. SERVICE We visited on a late evening just before 6pm to snag the happy hour deals. Upon entering, we were asked whether we preferred indoor or outdoor seating. After selecting, we were promptly seated at a high top table near the bar and kitchen area. A few moments later, our waitress came by to offer drinks, place delicious chips and salsa verde and salsa rojo on the table, and ask if we had menu queries before giving us a few moments to look it over. FOOD As we perused the menu, our waitress replenished our salsas which tasted fresh, tangy, and bright. With an assorted menu options of antojitos (snacks), rellenos, tacos, and kitchen entrees, we ultimately put in an order for the happy hour ceviche classico offer, arranchero with corn and flour tortillas, and 4 various tacos given they were street taco sized. 1. ANTOJITOS The ceviche classico arrived quickly soon after, with the citrus marinated corvina (or white sea bass, I think) well balanced with serranos and tomato's and guacamole flavors and the crunchy corn tostados. We found this dish super refreshing, colorfully displayed! It's true that perhaps a flatter bowl may have made scooping and sharing more convenient, we are glad we ordered this light pre-entree snack to start the evening. 2. ENTREES Once we finished, after 10 minutes or so, both our entrees arrived. Both were beautifully plated and fairly portioned for the price point in our opinion. The arranchera was a perfect medium-rare!, flavorful, and served with deliciously grilled vegetable medley and lovely roasted papitas to close the dish. The tacos were also quite delicious: offering a good combo of textures from the soft (roasted meat), chewy (tortilla), crispy (fresh vegetables), and crunchy (pickled carrots) with every bite. We were particularly pleased with the arranchera, duck taco and lamb barbocoa! 3. DESSERTS We couldn't skip out on dessert given the excellent experience so far and the interesting menu options, so we went for the espresso les leche and chocolate cake with an additional scoop of vanilla ice cream for a charge because no one can turn down a warm chocolate fudgey cake with ice cream! Both were absolutely excellent! The chocolate cake was warm and fudgey, gooey interior but nicely crunchy on the edges. The les leche cake with espresso tequila was quite a special mini twist with the mango bits. It was tall, light and fluffy, and the right balance of sweetness (and not too heavy on the espresso). Would definitely order these two again! read more

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We came here for a business lunch today and had a positive experience! I accidentally booked the reservation for the el Alma south location, and when I called ahead 30 minutes to update it I was very happy that they were able to get me in with same day availability!! Once seated, Andrew was our server who took great care of us. As for the food, it was delicious! Definitely recommend the guacamole as an appetizer. The ceviche was also solid too, and everyone enjoyed their entrees. The shrimp & crab rellino was what I got, and it wasn't the largest quantity size portion but the quality was excellent. Overall, it was a fun trip. We will be back! read more

El Alma - Ceviche Classico - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

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