We had such a nice time at El Alma South, chatting with the bartenders at their cozy bar. Great margs made with special attention, and tasty apps to accompany a fun afternoon. We'll be back next time we're in Austin! Love this location, thanks, El Alma! read more

El Alma South - Drinks at the bar! - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

Stopped by for a quick lunch while visiting Austin and was very impressed with the enchiladas that were suggested by my lovely server, Marina. Margaritas were very very tasty, food came out fast and service did not skip a beat! Thank you Marina for the kind and compassionate service and for welcoming me to Austin! read more

El Alma South - Flaquita Margarita and chips and salsa - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

My server Marina was so welcoming and attentive from the moment I sat down! I ended up getting what she recommended for drinks and food, her picks were perfect for me and the food came out within 5 minutes!! Delicious Al pastor tacos and mangorita. Will definitely be back! read more

I sat at the bar, and the only open spot was off to the side near the kitchen. It's kind of an odd location--not the best view--and feels more like where waitstaff pick up drinks and orders than a place meant for guests. Sit on the other side of the bar if you can. The chairs weren't very comfortable, but I did appreciate the hook for my purse. The bartender was friendly, and I was greeted right away. The chips and salsa were good, and the green sauce was favorite --I liked it so much I asked for more. The only downside is that it comes in a really small container, which makes it hard to scoop and doesn't last long. I noticed the people next to me also ended up ordering extra. I ordered the street tacos. The filling was flavorful, though the tortillas seemed a bit soggy. I ended up scooping the filling onto some chips from my chips and salsa, and it was perfect. The green salsa was the cherry on top! Sorry I didn't get any pictures this time! read more

This place sums up "MEH" perfectly. The 3rd star is due to solid service this time around... not great, but friendly enough, attentive enough, and we got what we ordered. We went here when it first opened (we live close and used to semi-frequent Hyde Park and were excited at the prospect of something new to replace our guilty pleasure - Lupe Tortilla)... and initially had experienced the same issues everyone did (hot, chaotic, LOUD AF, long wait times, no reservations) multiple times... and felt the food was always okay, but there was always at least one thing that was tasty enough that we left feeling like they were still figuring it out and/or we just hadn't figured out the right order yet. Went to give them another try last night after a year or so... glad to say they took some advice from dozens of negative reviews and reworked the interior including sound treatment so even with a semi-full house, we could hear each other talk. Sad to say they still either have HVAC issues or are cheep and won't run the AC; for a place with that many windows, TURN IT DOWN y'all, it was like 78 in there. We ordered chips and salsa - meh. Store bought chips, kinda okay somewhat smokey, very mild and all around underwhelming in both salsas. We had the guac app and the mushroom queso.... Guac was pretty good, it was fresh... but somewhat flavorless for Guac... more of just a fresh avocado smashed dip with seeds... no garlic or lime or tang or spice... the queso was mild, the mushrooms were good... but all around not terribly exciting, nor tangy, spicy or creamy, and was lukewarm warm as served. Entrees: wife got the ceviche, I had 2 crispy shrimp tacos. Both were just fine. Shrimp at least were not fishy, which I appreciated.batter was crispy... they were just flavorless. Came with a basic cabbage slaw and on a flour tortilla... small for the price, but it's Austin... but I wanted sssssomething tangy or spicy at least a little... poured lime juice all over them, dripped the queso on them, dribbled the jalapeño ranch I asked for on them.... And? Honestly... 'meh with sauce'. Wife said the ceviche was equal parts tomato and fish and felt like a central market prepared HEB basics and should be labeled 'mild pico with white fish', preeeeety underwhelming. The experience was overall FINE. But for $97 for 2 people; 2 apps, 2 entrees, 1 beer and 1 margarita... there are just so many options in town that may not be as close, but are just way better in their flavors even if not in their location. read more

We ended up at this location of El Alma last weekend because we were going to an event down south and this place seemed just as good as any. Things started out auspiciously: a nice, clean, open dining space, a friendly server, great chips and salsa, and some fairly priced happy hour margaritas. Then the queso came out--it was way too runny, and they served it with, like, 8 total chips. Not good. And then when the main meals came out, quality really plummeted. Their elote was drowning in a sauce that had way too much lime. The beef barbacoa crispy relleno that two of us shared was just OK; the meat got kind of lost and the whole thing, which sounded amazing on paper, was pretty boring. And the side of beans tasted like they got microwaved straight out of a can--seriously. Our daughter's cheese quesadilla was equally ho hum. Maybe we ordered wrong, but based on this visit, our recommendation would be to come here for chips and drinks and a pleasant atmosphere and skip the rest of the food. Three stars. read more

I LOVE the El Alma in south Austin! I feel like the food, service and vibe are just all better here?! How? I don't know, ‍ I've tried almost everything on their menu, their corn soup with the crab at on is DELISHHH slightly on the sweet side but that's okay, try it in the cup size first. They have mocktails, which I always love and were even able to whip up an off menu Mocha for me on an extra cold day haha. read more

See all

I can't seem to catch a good meal at this restaurant. Back in 2013 the original El Alma didn't exactly impress. Never receiving an appetizer that I ordered. Relleno that didn't exactly impress either. And yet, we try again because of the usual coined Yelp phrase "We really wanted to like ******". I mean, I'm at the adjacent Buffet Palace at least once a month. I'm in the minority here; most of Yelp despises a buffet setting. Have no problem with raw fish, crustaceans, questionable germ laden chocolate fountains at the Golden Corral. No appetizers ordered for this visit. Chips and salsa were a good start. BTW, it's worth mentioning this was originally a Grandy's before being remodeled by now closed Hyde Park Bar and Grill. Same Relleno ordered with the new updated addition of crab. Same dish; something was off. Usually I would devour a pepper but there was a smell that wasn't exactly right. Same pudding/muffin thing. Sauce the same too. I ate three bites and pushed it toward the center of our two top. She enjoyed her two tacos and one went home with us. Wife satisfied; me not so much. I still vow to try again because of tenure. read more

See all

Visited El Alma's Westgate location and really enjoyed it! They have a large outside patio to enjoy, which was perfect for us bc the weather was stunning! Food was great and the service was excellent. We especially loved their ceviche clasico! read more

El Alma South - Crispy Shrimp Taco, Barbacoa Taco, Queso Blanco, Quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

See all

As a Texas native, there's a Mexican restaurant for every occasion. There's your interior spot, for when you want the real thing. There's your lazy tex-mex comfort food. There's your personal favorite. And... The bougie spot for date nights/special occasions. That's where I would place El Alma. It's a lovely restaurant, with a festive, but not loud, ambiance, above average prices, and the service is almost too good. They must pay well, because all the servers have the vibe of working at a five star, white tablecloth restaurant, and while El Alma's nice, it's not "fancy." The food is all a little bit "different," I think they call it elevated, but I would call it fusion, because it's not better, just different. In a see of Mexican restaurants I appreciate the differences as something new/fresh, and for the price I would expect to be getting something at least a little special. I love the vast drink menu. Margaritas are on point, which is the most important thing, but I've tried several drinks and they have all been good. I got the Chicken Tinga Tacos and Crema De Elote both times I've gone, because they were too good not to get again, but I also tasted other dishes my party got, and liked them all. I also really enjoyed the Queso Fundido. A lot of places just slop baked cheese in a little cast iron and pretend it's Queso Fundido, but El Alma's is actually done right. The sides are where they lose me a little. Nothing has really wowed yet, but also nothing has been "bad," just not as good as the entres. All that said, I have to dock a star in transparency, because while my sister and I love this place (she's been three times and I've been twice), and we would go back anytime... When we introduced it to the whole fam (a party of 8) no else liked it besides us. So, I guess it's not for everybody. read more

Food was great overall. Good brunch/ lunch spot. Spacious for big parties They give free chips and salsa, which are honestly one of the best items and highlights of the place. Very addicting. Would recommend you dont eat too much or you end up full for the main food Recommends: Queso fadito- so good! The fresh tortillas and crispy cheese is great. Would def get it again. Great as a sharer among the table Atx taco- bacon, egg breakfast taco. Recommend this over the potato one w same items. Theres a ton of bacon so it makes it super flavorful Tres leches- the mango on it is so nice and its huge and very moist. Very good as a dessert Good but can skip: - salmon taco- nice cajuny flavor. But overall less flavorful because it feels like a chunk of salmon - duck taco- i think i preferred the salmon. But my friend who likes duck in general liked it. So i guess it depends if you like duck a lot in particular. Otherwise. Just generally ok - shrimp tacos- wish it had more sauce of some kind felt a bit normal read more

See all

Happy Hour Every day from 3-6pm!!! We came in on a Saturday around 5:45 pm with a later reservation but they were able to seat us right away. We didn't know it was happy hour but our server came right over and let us order immediately. The alcoholic happy hour drinks are STRONG and yummy. The aqua fresca was a bit on the watered down/ not as sweet side. We had 2 appetizers to start (also happy hour). The ceviche was average, a whole lot of salad and not a ton of fish. read more

The service here is always great! I usually sit on their patio but today was especially windy so we sat inside. What a lovely vibe the inside has. I started with an espresso martini and then had their ceviche, which is pretty tasty. I tried the corn pudding, which was pretty interesting. This is a great place to meet a group but also non-threatening vibe if you want to eat solo or at the bar. Lots of good options for Big meals or having just a few snacks. read more

See all

Came to El Alma for dinner with my husband after not being here for about a year, and it was as I remembered. I can't recommend the seafood enough - I feel it's the best on the menu. We ordered the ceviche to share, then I ordered the shrimp tacos and my husband got the duck (can't remember what the name of dish is). The duck was very rich, tender and favorable. But the shrimp and ceviche are the winners for me. Side note: as of yesterday, in an effort to limit waste, they no longer bring out waters or chips/salsa unless you request it. (We weren't charged for the chips/salsa) read more

See all

Not the most flavorful street tacos, but their salsas helped. I had a good service and enjoyed their patio area. read more

El Alma South - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

See all

My husband and I came to El Alma south recently for some nice margs and enchiladas. I got the Tinga de pollo with tomato chipotle. It was alright and definitely had a little kick to it. My husband's food arrived significantly later than mine (they had apparently forgot to put it in) and so they gave us happy hour pricing on one of our drinks to make it right. The margs were okay, definitely had better elsewhere. I like El Alma for an occasional fancy dinner and the service is pretty sweet. read more

El Alma South - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

See all

Love this location. The original is wonderful but parking by is a challenge. Not so here, there is ample parking. The patio and inside seating is comfortable. During our last visit, we sat outside because the music was a bit too loud inside, it felt more like a nightclub than restaurant. Outdoor was more comfortable for the music level. Others must have thought so too because after we sat outside, 5 other tables sat down, this was in December when it was a bit chilly. The food and mimosas were delicious. If you're a light weight ask for extra orange juice for the mimosa. The food is always strong and the staff is friendly! Always a solid choice especially for brunch. read more

El Alma is comfort food for me. I came here after my mom's funeral, I've come here for girls nights, and I love popping in for lunch dates with my husband. I can't explain it but this place is casual, but still feels "nice." I love the Barton Springs location- you can't beat that view BUT I hate the parking there. This south location is in the west gate shopping center, and the lot is huge. Zero issues parking, making this the El Alma I will drop in to more often. This spot feels more family friendly, you can actually fit a stroller through here without feeling like you're impeding on anyone else's meal or space. The food maintains the great taste of the original location. I can't come here without ordering the crispy papitas- they are seasoned to perfection and the dipping sauce is some sort of creamy jalapeño- so good! My husband had the enchiladas and cleaned his plate off. I always forget how generous the portions are so I got the chicken tinga taco and a barbacoa taco. I left very satisfied and uncomfortably full, In the best way. The drinks are good here, the servers are friendly, the parking is easy- will always come back. read more

See all

Great food and great location. I love the original but parking at El Alma South is a dream. Always have great service. read more

I was really drawn in by the ambiance of this place--perfect spot for a late lunch or happy hour! We went with the nachos, margaritas, and tacos. They also bring out chips with two kinds of salsa--the verde one was especially delicious. The pickled carrots on the nachos were an interesting twist... still undecided on those. The margaritas were tasty but could've been mixed a little better. As for the tacos, the meat options were solid, but the duck definitely stole the show. I'm already planning to come back and try more from the menu! read more

See all

Johnny was an amazing bartender very personable had great recommendations! He is a gem so glad to have met him

My wife and I were in South Austin to visit some friends. We live in Gracywoods, about 20 miles north across town. Having dined there before, and at the Barton Springs Rd location, we knew the food was great. So we made a 5:30 reservation, but arrived at about 5:05, early for the reservation, but they pleasantly seated us anyway. We were quickly greeted by our waiter. A few minutes later, after we had a chance to browse the menus, he came back snd offered to get us drinks--and mentioned that we had the good fortune to have arrived during Happy Hour. So, looking at the drink menu, I opted for the $14 Don Quixote Martini, and it was great. We received our dinner order promptly and both my wife's chicken enchiladas and my pastor tacos were great. At about 5:45, our waiter came by and offered us drinks again, and also mentioned that we were lucky ss it was still happy hour, so I ordered another of the same, and it was served promptly as well. He offered us dessert and we chose the tres leches one. And it, too was delicious. And after we finished it, the waiter brought us containers for our leftovers and removed all of our dirty dishes. Then he left the bill. Here is where a problem surfaced. On the bill for the two cocktails, we were charged $14 apiece. I picked up the drink menu and double checked it, as I expected there would be a discount for the drinks, since (1) the Don Quixote Martini was the first drink listed under the heading reporting the happy hour. So, when the waiter came by to pickup and process the bill, I mentioned to him that I had noticed a discrepancy, was charged full price for the cocktails, instead of the Happy Hour price. He then proceeded to inform me that only certain cocktails were discounted for HH, and those were the ones that had "HH" noted by them on the menu. I then countered his explanation, noting that he had twice specified it was happy hour, and that the VERY TOP COCKTAIL mentioned under the Happy Hour referenced was the upscale Don Quixote. I looked at the menu again, to find where IN PRINT this policy defined what the terms were for the HH, and there was no definition of this "secret symbol." He again, reiterated that this was the policy. He added that he had mentioned to management that this same situation had created similar problems in the past, but that the policy remained in place. I responded to him, pointing out that nowhere on the menu was this policy published and I told him that this constituted a deceptive trade practice. While my complaint was calmly delivered, he was very understanding but I went ahead and left my credit card for the payment. Several minutes later, he returned and informed me that he had consulted with the manager and discounted my bill by the $4 I was expecting, but denied. I thanked him for adjusting the bill, and still left a tip-between 15-20%. While I was grateful for the adjustment in the bill, in my opinion, I shouldn't have HAD TO raise the issue, of being overcharged--simply because I didn't have the secret handshake--or known that the drinks where the HH price was valid--were ONLY the ones with the HH secret code. Normally, if the first item listed is DIRECTLY under the Happy Hour heading, the average person would interpret that to mean that ALL of the subsequent cocktails would be discounted. But they weren't. I consider El Alma to be FAR above the average restaurant, but a guest shouldn't have to know a secret code to receive a break on a discount that is entirely conditional. read more

El Alma South - A partial view of the drink menu. - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

Four of us dined here last Sunday for birthday. We have been to the other location but the first time here. This location is fabulous in every way from friendly nice staff to perfection of the food they serve. We each ordered different dishes and each one of them is so unique and beautifully decorated. We just LOVED them. Very spacious inside with nice warm wooden tables and chairs to give you a peaceful feeling. The price is reasonable and the food quality is top-notch. Simply the five star restaurant. read more

Gave 4 start because of the great tasting food. Otherwise I'd given a 3 star because of service. Good margaritas, the queso is very good. Creamy and not super spicy, great flavor with the poblanos. Roasted salsa was flavorful and ate a bunch of it. I ordered the Crispy Barbacoa Relleno. Fantastic dish. The crunch with the pepper and the sauce along with the beef barbacoa was so good. Service was average but expected a bit more for the caliber of the restaurant and price of meals . Service wasn't very attentive. Some examples were not being attentive to keeping table cleared of empty plates and not well at keeping drinks full. Not asking if we wanted desert or boxes. Not friendly. Had to ask for everything. Saw this from another reviewer. Didn't even see this on the menu. What the heck is a Wellness Charge. Sorry, you don't do the best at service doesn't deserve an automatic fee. Some noise in the restaurant, but overall good for groups and holding conversation. read more

See all

This place was great. The atmosphere and options for food as well as drinks really stoodout (vegatarian options are wide) . Our waitress Courtney was on point and very pleasant the entire time. 5/5 We ordered: A vanilla latte- it was good nice and creamy I'm not sure if it was the coffee or the vanilla but something taste a tad bit off- couldn't pin point it .4/5 The enchiladas juevos- interesting combo but it worked! Egg and cheese enchiladas with tamatillo sauce! It could have has a little more cheese but they were still delicious as were the refried back beans. 4.5/5 The breakfast croissant- nice and flaky- could have been toasted more , the tomato came served as 3 large wedges - a bit hard to eat and you didn't really get all the flavors so we opted to cut it smaller. We noticed the ratio of tomatoes to avocados was way more tomato heavy. 3.5/5 for how it was served but 4.5/5 for taste! Definitely a cute spot and will be be back if in the area! read more

See all

This was my first visit to El Alma and I was a little disappointed. Service is really the big reason for 3 stars! I was meeting a friend for dinner and she got there before me but water wasn't even brought to the table until I got there (and I was at least 10 minutes late). Then the waitress just wasn't attentive. Again I was more so disappointed because my friend actually liked this location. Also there were specials- we only found out the special when we went to the bathroom ‍ Food: I got a salad and added beef- not the prettiest thing BUT it was yummy. I definitely do not regret that pic! My friend got a soup and she was also satisfied! We got the blanca sangria and again a great choice. read more

See all

Such a cool place. This location is nice and full of light during the day. We were sat quickly for an afternoon of drinks and snacks. We ordered cocktails and an appetizer. Gabriel was a super friendly server and gave great recommendations and advice and steered me away from a drink he knew I wouldn't like after a few questions (my friend got it, I tried it and he was correct)! The green salsa was sweet and not really spicy - I could have eaten a gallon of it even though I usually prefer more spice. The jalapeño crab queso was to die for. Such a fantastic combination. We ended with a nice surprise dessert after hearing there was a birthday, the banana bread pudding was delicious with the grilled plantains. I can't wait to come back and try more off the menu past just snacks and drinks. Thanks Gabriel and friends for making my birthday special! read more

See all

Who doesn't bread and deep fry a Relleno?? This place. Shrimp inside was ok but the crab was indistinguishable mush. The rest of the menu just doing too much - trying too hard. Make it simple. read more

Amazing happy hour, every week day til 6. Perfect outdoor seating and really good margaritas. The nachos came with jalapeños on top, my favorite. They also had great specials going on. Would definitely recommend for happy hour!! read more

El Alma South - Nachos, queso, margs - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

See all

Parking is convenient, thanks to the spacious lot. Service was prompt and efficient. The espresso martini I ordered was fantastic, though the brunch dish I tried didn't quite hit the mark for me. As a big fan of eggs Benedict, I had high hopes for the huevos franceses. However, I wasn't expecting the corn pudding to replace the traditional English muffin, and unfortunately, it wasn't to my taste. read more

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

See all

My husband and I had to drop off our car in this area and decided to try it. After we were there we thought it might be the second location of a place on Barton Springs. The old Hyde Park bar and grill has gone through some renovations. We asked to sit on the patio. We then asked to be moved as we were right under a speaker. Our server was friendly. The food was ok. I ordered the shrimp, and they were overcooked. My blanca sangria was not good. My husband thought his food was fine. There is a 1.5% wellness charge to every bill. I am not sure what that is about. $80 dinner for two drinks, two entrees. I was ok but not great. I do not think I will be back. read more

See all

Great food. Great service. Great food. Great service. Great food. Great service. Great food. Great service. Great food. Great service. read more

There are amazing restaurants in Austin and awful restaurants in Austin. This is neither of those. It's middling, good food. The ahi tuna ceviche is a highlights Stay clear of asking for any drink not already on the menu, I had a lemondrop and it was basically Margarita mix with some sugar on the rim. I've had one here before that was delightful, this was... Yuck. it was an absolute train wreck. The crispy barbacoda relleno is good but the planko crust was a bit mushy, the meat was good. Servers were busy but always lovely and attentive. Overall, 7. read more

Food and service were great! Not your typical Austin Tex-Mex spot, which I love. I hesitate to call it "authentic" Mexican but it's damn close. Highly recommend the Barbacoa Flautas! Autumn was our server and she was fantastic. Will be coming back read more

El Alma South - Barbacoa Flautas - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

It was busy and we didn't want to wait (Fri. 6:30), so we sat at the bar. Our server, Marina, gave us one of the best dining experiences I had in a while. Got the ceviche as an appetizer. It was good. Not the best I've had, but good. I went with her recommendations and got the enchiladas with tinga de pollo and mole verde. My wife got the barbacoa relleno. My enchiladas were delicious! Could have been spicier, but very good, none the less. I enjoyed the relleno. My wife was ambivalent about it. In general, I recommend the restaurant. Food was good but the staff, or at least Marina, was the best thing about it. read more

I love the Barton Springs location and was excited to learn that El Alma now has a south location with ample parking! Although a little sad to see Hyde Park Grill gone, I was excited to give El Alma's happy hour a try and the food was okay. As I stated, we went during happy hour on a Thursday. We got the Queso Blanco Y Rojo (3/5), Nachitos (4/5), Flautas de barbacoa (5/5), and Ceviche Clasico (3/5). For the most part the food was just okay, with the exception of the flautas, which were so flavorful and delicious. Drinkwise, we got the avocadorita (5/5), mezcal margarita (4/5), and 4521 Ranch (1/5). I definitely did not like the cucumber puree in the 4521 Ranch Water. The taste was very overwhelming to me and did not feel refreshing. Service-wise the experience was also okay. We didn't have the most attentive server and did have to look around for her and flag her down. At times, we could not find our main server and luckily she was training someone and her trainee was eager to help. The ambiance has definitely been updated from the Hyde Park days. There is ample seating and overall we had a great experience. The space had a lot of natural light flooding in from the windows and new light fixtures throughout the restaurant. I think I would definitely be back to try the lunch, brunch, and/or dinner menu. read more

See all

We were in the area with our dogs and wanted a yummy breakfast. After looking up their menu it looked great so we decided to order to go. They don't have outdoor sitting which is a bummer. We were able to order on their site and took about 20-25 min for the food to get ready. Unless they were missing items i would say it's not all that great at least not for to go. We ordered breakfast enchilada which it came with just a little bit of beans and the breakfast torta. The enchilada sauce was flavorful but a little salsa or something on the side would have been nice or rice. The torta was very basic, bread, bean egg and avocado. Again a side of salsa or something would have make it bit more flavorful. Overall, we were a bit disappointed but will probably try it next time to get seated and maybe dine in experience will be bit different. read more

Visited with friends two days ago and had a wonderful time. The service was amazing and both Darby and Wes were great hosts. The salmon tacos are hands down one of the best I had. We had the mango habanero margaritas and I highly recommend it. The atmosphere is still super friendly and the owner Alma is hands. read more

This place is a go to on my family's list for when we need a place that's really good and reliable. The pumpkin seed chile relleno is to die for - so delicious and so flavorful especially for vegetarians. My seven-year-old always find something delicious to eat here as well. We love sitting inside and on the great patio they have and the service has always been exceptional. They have really great drinks and great specials on food apps, and cocktails at certain times. we love taking our out of town guests here. I really enjoy the veggie tacos as well. read more

Solid Mexican Great tacos - loved the Pato, Chicken Tinga and some kind of steak Their free chips and salsa are some of the best in Austin Always have had great wait staff read more