This was a fun spot with a fantastic elevated patio! I had the chilanga margarita, and it was incredible. There was a hint of orange and a healthy dose of Valentina, my favorite salsa. That combined with the tajin rim was next level. I ordered cheese gringas for my meal. They were good, but I probably would choose them again. Overall, this is a great spot to grab a drink and some apps with friends! read more

El Alma - Cheese Gringas - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

If you're looking for good Mexican food with flavor... sorry but this ain't it. Tacos lacked flavor big time. The drinks and atmosphere is what is saving this review. The mangorita was fresh and ranch water was pretty good. Definitely more of a drink spot. Environment was dope but...that's what you're paying for. Service was good, our waitress was super sweet. read more

Nestled on a street corner close to Terry Black's BBQ, El Alma is a multi-story restaurant with a funky rooftop with varying views of the Austin "skyline". Despite the waitstaff having to run up and down a flight of stairs to bring you food and drink on the rooftop, the service and attentiveness of our waiter was fantastic! Friendly service and great recommendations to us El Alma newbies. We ordered the Ceviche, which had the perfect balance of citrusy acid to bring out the flavors of the fish. They came with crisp, thick cut chips, which was the perfect pairing. They offer several duck options for entrees, so I had to try the enchiladas with mole. The mole was rich and chocolatey, but comparatively speaking, I do like Veracruz Fonda and Bar's mole better. The duck was not quite as tender or juicy as I had hoped - may slightly overcooked? Light portions of of rice and refried beans on the side helped with the lack of moisture of the duck. Would come again for more drinks and apps! read more

El Alma - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

Waaay overpriced for food quality, service, etc. Service was inattentive, and the restaurant was not busy at the time. Margaritas were expensive, the taste was nothing special, and they took forever to arrive. We liked the thick house made chips, but only ate the red salsa; the green salsa was very tart. The salsa servings were tiny and we asked for refills several times. The chicken mole enchiladas were pretty tasty, but the accompanying white rice (wtf!) and black beans were both very bland. Chile relleno with shrimp and crab: filling was mushy, and red sauce on side was flavorless. Corn cake was nice tho. Our meal with 4 margs and tip was $155--NOT worth it! (We miss the old Hyde Park location that used to be here!) read more

The perfect date night or girls night spot! The restaurant is absolutely stunning with ample seating and tons of delicious menu items available. 10/10 recommend anything on the menu - go for the atmosphere if anything! "Instagrammable" spot for sure read more

Came on a Saturday night with a few friends. We had to wait for a table, but it was worth it! We sat on the rooftop and - IT'S ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS! Tons of string lights, plants, and light music to create a vibrant, uplifting vibe. Highly recommend the Mexcaloma. It wasn't too sweet, with the right amount of mezcal. I also had the chicken tinga taco (BOMB.COM) and the fish taco (a little dry). I also recommend the guac. It's very fresh and the chips taste alot better than the complimentary batch. Overall - I recommend this spot for a girls night out or date night before hitting the town! read more

El Alma - Mexcaloma - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

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The patio at El Alma has a great view of the Austin skyline. Food is decent, couple of vegetarian options on a mostly standard Tex Mex menu. The varieties of salsa served with chips were tasty. Nice cocktails. Perfect location for dinner date with a view. read more

Great food and service! We loved the variety of taco options, the shredded duck was a favorite and enchiladas were great as well. read more

El Alma - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

The margaritas at El Alma are strong and picture perfect. I ordered some tacos to enjoy with them and those were perfect to set the tone for a night of drinking. The area in which the restaurant is located appears to be underwhelming when arriving at night, but the interior of the restaurant and its offerings make up for it. I think they also have an upstairs/rooftop area. I could be wrong but I saw the stairs leading to it. read more

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Most awesome atmosphere with a patio outside overlooking Downtown Austin....food was spectacular and the service was great as well!

In all my years visiting Austin, I've never noticed this unassuming little gem. I came for a quick pick me up and was not at all disappointed. I had a few snacks, and it was certainly with the trip in. The chips for the queso blanco are diff than chips for the complimentary chips and salsa. Thicker, heftier, crunchier, and the queso itself gives Kirbey Lane a run for their money! Lamb Barbacoa what? Get this taco! Although it's missing a bit of salt and acid, it's otherwise fantastically flavored. The bar works if you're dining solo, but for a group, the patio is where it's at. Wherever you choose to eat, I'm sure your meal will arrive mindfully prepared and delicious! read more

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El Alma has a great mid-upscale vibe! Can show up as-is or dress it up. I loved how accommodating and knowledgeable the server was about which options could be made vegan, and it was delicious! I got modified tacos and their spicy cauliflower which was really good. Appreciate that they have free parking. read more

I've wanted to try El Alma for so long. It's a place I pass up on my way to the gym everyday and it is always packed, so I figured, it HAD to be good. Now, from a photographic standpoint, this restaurant is ideal. They can seat you indoors or outdoors and the outdoor seating has a BEAUTIFUL view. I ordered horchata for a drink. While it was good, I can definitely tell this wasn't traditionally made and I think this is a big indicator of how close to traditional mexican you'll end up getting. For appetizers, we ordered queso and ceviche. I thought the queso was decent and the ceviche was good as well. It wasn't amazing, but it also wasn't bad either. For dinner, I ordered the mole enchiladas with chicken. It came with refried beans and mexican rice. While the refried beans tasted good, I had issues with the mexican rice (I wonder how it's made because it didn't have the flavor I am personally used to). The mole was decent, but the enchilada on the whole was forgettable. Outside of the view, I felt like the restaurant overall is forgettable. If I want mexican food, I think a drive to San Antonio would be more worth it. Unfortunately, I can't say I'd come back here. read more

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I've always wanted to have happy hour on their patio. On a random Tuesday in October, the occasion came up. It's walk in only for patio seating and you walk through the interior and up these stairs with lotsa greenery to emerge onto their rooftop. It's a lovely place with umbrellas that adjust (with a little help). I like their prices and food options for happy hour. Flautas are always my go to, which are really good here. We also got empanadas and ceviche. There's plenty of chips and dip. I would come here for happy hour and snacks but go to their south location for dinner. Our server, Britney, was great! She helped adjust the umbrella because my friend's chest was getting red from the sun. She also came by at the right moments to ask for our second drink orders. Also parking is kind of limited so count yourself lucky if you snag a spot! read more

I kept hearing about El Alma and how I needed to go so I finally did and wish I had sooner! El Alma is a great Austin spot right on Barton Springs. Lunchtime was pretty busy when we were there. Great food and drinks. I ordered the 2 taco lunch plate with the duck and salmon tacos. You have to save room for dessert as well! It is all so good!! read more

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Such a welcome change from standard TexMex. Different seasonings, different dishes, and interesting twists on old favorites like Queso. The Crab Jalapeño Queso was subtle. You could almost take it for the common type until you came across a lump of crab. It's very rich. The serving size is mall, but it was enough. My companion's shrimp and Jack cheese enchiladas were excellent, especially paired with the smoky tomatillo sauce. I went for the shredded duck enchiladas, with that same smoky sauce. They did not skimp on the duck, and the combination of flavors was so intriguing that I ate very slowly, to savor every bite. Service was friendly and efficient, the Margaritas were tart and not too sweet, the chips and salsa thick and complex. Excellent all around. read more

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A buddy suggested we try this place for their happy hour. It was a little south but not too bad. We sat right at the bar and got the happy hour stuff. They had a avocado margarita that kills so definitely try that. Tacos are bomb too. It can get a little pricey if you order everything (even with the hh prices) so keep that in mind but I loved it. read more

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This is a great spot! Nice, diverse menu & a beautiful view of downtown Austin from their patio, especially in the winter when the trees are bare. read more

El Alma - Sunset view of downtown from their patio - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I went here this past weekend before going to a concert. OMG what a pleasant surprise! The rice looks like it's just plain steamed rice but it was so flavorful. The sweet potato relleno was amazing!!! That and the mole sauce was just perfect. Our waitress was also very attentive refilling waters, salsas and chips etc. highly recommend. Also highly recommend making a reservation because this place gets packed and there's limited seating. The parking situation can also be a negative. Kinda pricy but worth it. I will definitely be back. read more

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

The Food is good, we had super fast and friendly service, bur we went for late lunch. Prices are decent.

Fire service, fire food and it's so cute! Everyone was super nice and the chips were so good. Not to loud or crowded read more

El Alma - Pollo Asado Taco 10/10 - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

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We came on a Friday night. Ordered a few tacos (chicken, $5 and duck, $6) and a relleno side ($8). The relleno was very unique, it is stuffed with sticky rice and a bit of cheese. Everything was fine. I'm not sure how authentic the food is but the interior is beautiful and trendy. I'd like to try other things on the menu. Drinks were also solid! read more

El Alma - Rice & Cheese Relleno ($8), Duck Taco ($6), Chicken Tacos ($5) - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

My sister and I decided to pop in here the other day for happy hour and were lucky enough to get seats at the bar. Seth took great care of us, and we loved the drinks and food! It's a really cute place, and the patio is probably amazing with good weather. We had delicious queso fundido, tostaditas, and Sangria Blanca...yum!! We will absolutely be back. That Sangria Blanca is already calling my name!!! read more

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I came here for a quick lunch, and ordered to Huevos Franceses. The eggs were poached nicely, the chipotle Hollandaise was tasty and I liked that it was served spinach and a corn pudding. The avocados and tomatoes on the side didn't add much to the dish, but I ate them anyways. Chips and salsa were good too, I liked the roasted tomatillo salsa more. Quick, easy experience, I enjoyed it but may have to come back to try more of their offerings. read more

El Alma - Huevos Franceses - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

Honestly I had higher hopes. The enchiladas weren't great, the verde crema sauce was more rojo y no crema and the flavor was just off. The queso chips are much better than the salsa ones, but the queso also isn't very good. It's in an iconic location but honestly I probably won't go back. read more

From the first sip of the watermelon margarita to the first chip with two great sauces , it just continued to get better. We shared a great salad loaded with special ingredients. We then ordered a stuffed pepper and a pair of enchiladas. The rice was amazing along with the black beans. We finished wit the plantains on the bread pudding and ice cream. Best meal in a few months. Not that I haven't been eating but because it was so good. Be patient they stay busy. By the way service was superb. This is not Tex/mex. read more

What an incredible hidden gem. The street view might leave a little to be desired, but don't be fooled. Inside is a great rooftop patio with tons of seating! The cocktails are perfect, and the food is next level. read more

The food was amazing, the atmosphere inviting and the service was outstanding I had the salmon taco which was prepared to perfection. The location is convenient and parking is plentiful. read more

Being from Austin, I'm surprised I hadn't been here before now. We had walked in on a hot Sunday around 5 and were surprised that it was only a 10 minute wait for their rooftop patio and an hour wait for inside. We opted for outside and they had plenty of umbrellas and misters for comfort. I ordered the pina margarita and it was delicious and sneaky strong. Having been told the tacos were street size, I went ahead and ordered three, but I was full after two. I ordered one shrimp, one chicken, and one fish taco and all three were very good! My fave was probably the shrimp taco. On top of the good food and drinks, the service was great too. I'll definitely be back! read more

El Alma - Fish, shrimp, chicken tacos - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

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delicious elevated mexican food! good service and i also love the interior. such unique decor. overall great experience and one of my favorite meals in austin read more

Ryder was an exceptional waiter. His service and attention was really special and his recommendations of the menu were helpful! I would recommend folks to this place just for his entertaining service. The duck taco was especially delicious and the rooftop was a gorgeous atmosphere especially at night. read more

I'm giving this place 5 stars, even though I probably will not be returning. We were exploring the downtown area of Austin for new places we hadn't been when we happened to drive by El Alma. The parking lot was crowded, and we could see what appeared to be a cool outdoor patio area, so we turned around and stopped. Even though the parking was limited, we found a spot fairly easily. When we went inside and were promptly greeted and seated. It was an extremely hot day (100+), so we chose indoor seating rather than the patio, though the patio was cool (as in the vibe, not temperature). We were promptly waited on, and our drinks and food came out fairly quickly. Margaritas were spot-on, and the food was nicely prepared. So why wouldn't we return? It just wasn't our kind of Mexican food, and we somewhat expected that from reviewing their menu online before going in, but hey.....nothing ventured, nothing gained! Their food was referenced as being "inventive Mexican", and it was. There was nothing wrong with the food, and we got exactly what we ordered, it just wasn't "us", but that's not their fault, hence the 5-stars. read more

I was looking for a swanky spot and came across El Alma. It's an authentic Mexican food restaurant with a fun vibe and ambiance and green plants alongside rocks as an interior decor with a rooftop. We happened to get a parking spot right in front of the restaurant. Upon entry my wife and I were greeted and seated immediately. This was Mother's Day around evening time. We choose to sit inside to avoid a 30 minutes wait for the rooftop seating. Our server quickly introduced himself and got us started with a couple of cocktails. I had the Cara Tropical, Cara Tropical (carabuena blanco, passionfruit, ginger liqueur, lime, agave, sugar rim ) on the rocks. My wife had the Flaquita (watermelon-serrano infused El Jimador tequila, watermelon, lime, agave, chile rim) on the rocks. Both of these drink were very good. We ordered the Jalapeño crab queso dip (Ancho butter, crab, grilled jalapeños, cilantro, white queso). This was very tasty, the has a pleasant taste and the crab isn't overpowering. The chips were very good too. I ordered the Pastor (Adobo pork, pineapple, raw onions, cilantro, lime) and the Pato (Roasted duck, almonds, pepitas and escabeche onions). The Pastor, I had on corn and it was a quality pastor taco. if you're a pastor afficianando definitely give this taco a try. It's very flavorful and moist. The Pato was good too and the ingredients blended well. The duck was moist, this is definitely a uniquely flavored taco. Definitely try both of these. I had a bite of the two tacos my wife ordered. She ordered the Shrimp al pastor (Adobo shrimp, pineapple, slaw, avocado, lime) and the Lamb barbacoa (Habanero pickled carrots and onions, cilantro). The shrimp was good but the taco had too much slaw which pulled away the flavors from the shrimp. It was better when I removed some and took another bite. The lamb barbacoa was a little dry, but if it has great potential to taste awesome if it wasn't on the dry side. For dessert we ate the habernero empanadas served with a side of vanilla ice cream. Unfortunately we didn't like it. The crust was very doughy and had a spice which I thought was nutmeg that was very overpowering. The ice cream was good but as whole dessert this wasn't for me and perhaps not for you either, however i would recommend everything else I mentioned in this review! read more

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Another too Austin restaurant that gentrifies Mexican food. If you're looking for authenticity, it's not at El Alma. We wanted something refreshing to start and ordered the Cerviche Clásico. I didn't like how thick the chunks were... it made the fish taste bland and chewy. In addition, the ceviche didn't provide that chef's kiss I was looking for. It tasted rushed and cheap. For my entree, I ordered the Enchiladas. If you order the enchiladas, you get to mix & match your filling and sauce. El Alma provides two enchiladas with a side of rice & beans or slaw. I got the Tinga de Pollo with the Smoky Tomatillo, which was lackluster. Bland and unmemorable. read more

El Alma - Enchiladas: Tinga de Pollo with Tomatillo - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Always have a good experience at El Alma. The servers are always so helpful and friendly. Today we came here straight from Deep Eddy pool and were seated inside right away. The wait for outside was going to be a little bit, but with this early summer heat it was a nice escape inside. The only bad part about our visit was that I became super indecisive about what to eat. There were so many items on the menu that I wanted to try. I settled on ordering a meal composed of three sides so I could have a variety. I tried the plantains, roasted cauliflower, and crispy potatoes. Be sure to try their flour tortillas. They looked and tasted homemade, I think that's a safe assumption. Everything was delicious! My pepino picoso drink was fantastic and tasted like a cucumber lime agua Fresca. Very refreshing and light! We've been frequenting el alma for a while now and will continue to do so. read more

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The hubby and I visited over the holiday week and decided to grab a reservation "just in case".. and we were absolutely glad we did! Upon arriving, we were one of three tables, but by the time we left, the place was packed! This place is so cool and unique in that one wall of the restaurant is open face cliffside and provides stair access to the patio at the top of the cliff. The outside is somewhat unassuming, but the food was delicious! We had crab queso and enchiladas with both of their mole sauces. While the verde mole is delicious, the vasilla mole was special. I would go specifically for that sauce every week if we lived closer! Service was great and the whole place was full of conversation and enjoyment of company shared. We'll be back when we're back in Austin again! read more

My friend and I wanted to come here for some drinks on the rooftop patio on a Saturday afternoon. The host told us there would be about an hour wait, so we put our names down and went to another spot down the street to wait. After about 10 minutes, they called us and said our table was ready, but we had already ordered drinks at the other spot, so we had to let our table go. Luckily, when we came back about an hour later they said they could get us seated within 15 minutes. This was around 2:30 pm, and the restaurant was still packed inside, so keep that in mind when planning your visit. The rooftop patio is a cute little area with plenty of shade and fans with misters for the heat. I ordered: - Classic Mimosa- Mango flavor (5/5): The classic mimosas are only $4 during brunch hours, and they're pretty strong (and pretty big)! I loved that they gave us limes with them too. - Mangorita (4/5): This is a frozen mango margarita with a chile rim which you can substitute for sugar or salt if you don't like spicy margs. At $8 during happy hour, this is a great deal! - Guacamole Al Chipotle (3/5): This guacamole was a little unique, it came with chipotle crema and sunflower seeds on top, which was a nice addition. The strange thing for me was that it had lettuce mixed in, which I wasn't expecting. I think it could have been seasoned a little better overall, but it wasn't bad. It also came with different chips than the free table chips, these ones were a little thicker and more crispy. Overall, the drinks were strong and our waitress was super nice, so I think this is a solid spot for happy hour/brunch deals! read more

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One of my all time weeknight favorites! They have great happy hour specials too! Lamb was deliciously seasoned and the pepita made a symphony together. The torte was good, and did not make me feel guilty after eating it. I think the torte may taste better hot, by the time we tried it -it was cooled. read more

El Alma - Lamb Chops, Ceviche Classico, Queso Blanco Y Rojo, Queso Blanco, Quesadillas, Lamb Barbacoa Taco, and drinks were delicious! - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

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We had lunch here today. I had the pork torta and my wife had the chicken tinga tostadas. Everything was super fresh and delicious! While we were eating, someone ran into our brand new car in the parking lot area. While I was outside dealing with that, the manager came to check on my wife and see if there was anything they could do to help, which was really thoughtful. When it can time to pay the bill, they apologized for the accident (which obviously wasn't their fault) and comped our entire check. Such a super friendly act of kindness. It really cheered us up after the accident. Wish there were more places that encouraged great management like el Alma! Thanks guys! read more

Be sure to make reservations this place does get busy . The food and drinks were so delicious. I got the mango margarita and my friend got the avocadorita , and my other friend got the michelada and I would recommended all three drinks . We got the elote, it was pretty easy to cut and eat , so tasty . The shrimp was so so good , best in town . The pollo asado tacos were also tasty. The place was dark , it was giving cute date night or girls night . I would recommended and go back ! read more

El Alma - Shrimp , pollo asado tacos and elote - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas