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It was my first time at this restaurant. I'd recommend making a reservation, but once you get there, parking is very easy. I enjoyed the chips they bring out with your choice of complimentary salsa. If you want to sample all the salsas they offer, you can do so for an additional fee. For my main dish, I ordered the Sirloin Tampiqueño with No Hater Taters (mashed potatoes) and Texas Creamed Corn. The steak was very well seasoned and flavorful. I loved it! The sides were great as well and complemented the steak nicely. I had the Watermelon Agua Fresca to drink. It was refreshing, but not my favorite watermelon drink I've had. Overall, I loved the steak and was impressed with the quality of the food! A couple of things could be improved, though. Some of the light fixtures hang way too low, so if you're tall, be careful! Also, the back-of-house area spilling into the restaurant space feels a little odd and takes away from the overall atmosphere.
This is a must visit when in Austin. Family owned and fantastic food. The wait on a Wednesday evening at 7 pm was 45 minutes. Since we had to wait, they serviced drinks and chips and their signature salsas. Everything on the menu sounded fantastic, but our waitress recommended the enchiladas jitomate, and she was absolutely right. The beans and rice were delightful as well. Cool interior too.
Eldorado Cafe continues to be a great Austin spot for flavorful, comforting Tex-Mex. We started with the small guacamole, salsa, and Eldorado Queso, which made for a great combination to share before the meal. For our entrées, we had Brian's Alambre Plate, the Chicken Mole, and the Line Cook's Snack Plate. Brian's Alambre Plate combines sirloin, pork pastor, house-made chorizo, and bacon with peppers, onions, and melted Jack cheese. It was good and certainly offers plenty of variety and flavor. For my personal taste, though, if I am primarily craving meat, I prefer Eldorado's Carne Guisada. There is nothing wrong with the Alambre, I just think the Carne Guisada is the stronger choice for me. The Chicken Mole is my wife's favorite, and unfortunately it is only offered as a special late on Thursdays. The house-made mole has a rich, distinctive flavor that works very well with the chicken, and it is easy to understand why she looks forward to it. The Line Cook's Snack Plate was also a great combination with two flautas, a choice of Chicken Caldo or Texas Red, Eldorado rice, and guacamole salad. It is a nice option when you want a little bit of several things rather than one large entrée. Overall, another very enjoyable meal at Eldorado Cafe. Good food, plenty of variety, and enough different flavors on the menu that everyone can find a favorite. We certainly have ours!
I'll keep it simple. The wait was an hour. The service and the atmosphere were on point! The warm chips and tasty salsa were great! Tacos and then Friday Special were great! Drinks great! I had read a review that said not to worry about how long you wait because it is so worth it and they were right!! Thanks Dante and Brady for our shirts, hat and shorts!
Overall decent Tex mex food. A bit on the more salty side. Service was good. Ambiance is Great for friends and family, kids friendly too.
I wanted to go to as many Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants as I could when Steve and I were on our trip to Austin. Where we were exploring we saw that Eldorado Cafe was close and it had a good, solid Yelp score average so we came here for supper one night. We got some chips and queso along with Mera Mera Salsa. It was pretty hot on the restaurant's salsa scale but what really sold us on it was that this dip had sesame seeds in it and it indeed made it uniquely tasting and wonderful! For the main course I got the Enchiladas Suizas. What these enchiladas had was your choice of beef, chicken, cheese or hongos. I went with cheese for my filling which I enjoyed. On top was salsa verde, avocado and jack cheese. Sides I had with it was a white rice and a potato hash. All very, very good!
There are some restaurants that need a review, and then there are restaurants like El Dorado, where the city has already rendered its verdict. At this point, El Dorado is an Austin favorite. People don't really debate whether it's good. They debate whether the wait is worth it, which is a very different conversation. So rather than adding another voice to the pile of praise, it seems more useful to talk about what people should actually expect when they go. First, yes, there may be a wait. This place is popular, and popular restaurants attract crowds. That's not a criticism; it's simply the reality. But it's also worth noting that many of the legendary wait times come from showing up exactly when everyone else does. If you can sneak in before or after the prime lunch and dinner rushes, the experience becomes much more manageable. Once you're seated, do yourself a favor and order the white queso. Better yet, if you're with family or friends, just get the sampler. It turns the beginning of the meal into an event rather than a formality. The white queso is every bit as good as people claim, but what surprised me even more was how seriously El Dorado takes its salsa. Most restaurants treat salsa as a free opening act before the main performance. Here, it feels like something carefully considered. Several varieties stood out, and more than one made me wonder why so many places settle for mediocre salsa when it can clearly be this good. As for the food itself, it's important to know what kind of restaurant you're walking into. If your idea of Austin Tex-Mex is fresh, light, bright, and vaguely health-conscious, you may need to adjust your expectations. El Dorado leans toward the heartier side of the spectrum. These are rich, deeply flavored dishes that feel rooted in tradition rather than trends. The portions are generous, the flavors are bold, and the meal has a certain gravitational pull to it. This is not food that politely taps you on the shoulder. It gives you a warm hug and then insists you have another bite. What impressed me most, oddly enough, were the beans and rice. Normally, they're supporting characters that exist simply because tradition demands they be present. At El Dorado, they seem to receive the same attention as everything else on the plate. It's a small detail, but great restaurants often reveal themselves through small details. The service deserves just as much praise as the food. During our visit, we interacted with several different staff members, and every one of them was friendly, attentive, and genuinely pleasant. There was none of the rushed indifference that sometimes sneaks into busy restaurants. Even better, management was actively moving through the dining room, checking on guests, talking with tables, and making sure people were enjoying themselves. It's the kind of thing that doesn't always get noticed when it's done well, but it absolutely contributes to why places like this develop loyal followings. The atmosphere itself is cheerful and comfortable. It's colorful without being flashy, lively without being chaotic. Nobody is going to leave talking about the interior design, but that's perfectly fine. The room accomplishes what it needs to accomplish: it feels welcoming and relaxed, allowing the food and the people to be the stars. As for negatives, there really aren't many. If you're looking for an elevated dining experience with dramatic plating, moody lighting, and a server who explains every ingredient as though introducing characters in a novel, this probably isn't your place. El Dorado seems far more interested in feeding people well than impressing them with presentation. And honestly, that's probably part of the reason Austin loves it so much. Go when you can avoid the biggest crowds. Order the queso. Explore the salsas. Don't overlook the beans and rice. Show up hungry. The food is hearty, the people are kind, and the restaurant knows exactly what it is. In a city where so many places are trying to become something, there's something refreshing about a place that already has.
Popped in here on a Tuesday night with a friend around 8 PM and I was kind of shocked how busy they were. There was about a 15 minute wait and we waited inside and thankfully the table was ready before the 15 minutes was up. Service was prompt and attentive, my friend got tacos, don't recall which ones, and I got the flautas. Next time is totally get queso or something alongside as they were a tad dry but very crispy and the chicken was cooked well. Had leftovers as well. Got the watermelon nojito mojito and man that was amazing, very refreshing and fresh!
We came on a Saturday and had about an hour and a half wait. We enjoyed a cocktail outside while we waited and they even brought us complimentary chips and salsa. The venue is cute, with open seating, colorful decor, and great art that gives it a fun vibe. The staff was friendly, and the food was great. Overall, it was a really pleasant experience!
Eldorado Cafe is an Austin institution. The place is on and popping...always! We arrived at 8 pm on a Tuesday evening and there was a 20 minute wait, which turned out to be a lot less. My friend ordered chicken flautas whereas, I ordered two corn tacos (one chicken and one pork). Both dishes were quite tasty. In addition, my friend ordered a watermelon mocktail, which she enjoyed. Our server, Adriana and her trainee, Roger were very attentive and accommodating. The restaurant was busy but not chaotic. Everyone seemed to be in their own little worlds. Sedate atmosphere... Great food, service and fellowship.
This isn't my first visit to Eldorado, trust I've been here many a time. This ain't my first rodeo! I am such a huge fan of this place and I am glad to say I've been coming since before their Bibs Gourmand recognition which is very deserved. First off, the spot has such a cute vibe and decor. The staff are also very kind and attentive and it's always popping any time I've come for dinner so it always has a lively energy. I always either get the chile relleno plate or one of the enchiladas. All their food is seasoned to perfection and has so much depth to every bite. I'm also a huge fan of their salsa flight and queso and their chips have a toasted tinge which I love. On top of all of this, their prices are very reasonable as they live up to that Michelin recommendation.
We arrived for a night out with some friends and put our name on the list. Then we headed out and got a table for waiting outside next to a heater. We ordered chips and green salsa with the watermelon nojito mojito drink and a margarita with tajin for my partner. They were perfectly made and the salsa was nice and spicy. We had about a 45 minute wait for a table and once inside we were seated and the server was quick to take drink and apps order. The restaurant spacious and tables make it kinda cozy. We had a party of 4 and together had two bowls that were excellent along with tacos. I had the beef fajitas with white rice and boy was it delicious. We all had another round of drinks and of course kept eating chips and salsa. Once dinner plates were removed we opted for the cinnamon and sugar mini donuts and an order or the chocolate mousse. Both were so dang delicious that I ate way too much. We split the bill and headed home. What a perfect Friday night at what I might call the best Mexican restaurant in North Austin. Of course we will be back!
Eldorado is one of our favorite local restaurants. There will be a wait, but it will be so worth it. Grab a drink from the bar and a seat at one of the outdoor tables while you wait! There are heaters to keep you warm. The margaritas are delicious as are the mocktails. Love the spicy salsa and the chips are always fresh. We ordered a variety of dishes, including one of the bowls, steak and enchiladas. All were amazing! For dessert we tried the chocolate mousse and the donuts. Both were so, so good! Our server was great and had good recommendations. We will definitely be back!
An hour and a half wait on a Friday night for a table for 2, but the bar is open seating. You can also grab a drink at the bar and wait on the patio. Service was very attentive once we were seated. A local lady at the bar told me this was a communal kitchen, which is a nice concept. Both head chef and owner (I believe) are allergic to fish so no pescatarian items on the menu. Really did not love their margarita with blackberry. Tasted very acidic. Food was good, had enough to take some home & was still good reheated. Although for the price and the wait, I'm not sure I'd go out of my way to come back. read more
This place was really busy! I'd recommend booking a reservation on Resy ahead of time if possible! The food was decent! You get a choice of one salsa to start. I chose the avocado salsa and honestly wouldn't really recommend that one. There are 6 to choose from, so hopefully the others are more flavorful. The mains we got were overly salty, so much so that my partner dunked strips of her sirloin in some water to wash away some of the salt. The sides were good though. Service was overall friendly but felt like we were getting rushed out the door (maybe because they were busy). We were halfway through our food (about 40 min from sitting down) when our server came asking if we wanted boxes. read more
9 months ago
An elite austin institution. I love the chilaquiles here, but just about everything is delicious. The value cannot be beat, and the service is very friendly as well! They have many types of salsa - my favorite is probably the Salsa X. read more
4 months ago
4 months ago
Just a legendary spot. Also so nice to feel like it's always locals that come here since it's in an obscure shopping complex. The salsas they serve here are just unique. They recently introduced a green tomatillo sauce w sesame seeds blended in, which is lights out good. I love the dairy free options they have here. No where can I find 6-8 items on a menu that give you big cashew cheese vibes. I got the Crunchwrap supreme recently, real Piccadillo meat with cashew queso and it was . read more
I had the mole chicken enchiladas with rice and black beans. I'm pretty picky about my mole sauce and my expectations were exceeded! The sauce had that nice cocoa/chocolate subtle taste that really hit the spot. The enchiladas had a good amount of chicken inside. This will be one of the few 'go to' places for my occasional mole sauced enchiladas! read more
Business owner information
Joanna F.
Thanks so much. Have a great day!
1 year ago
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10 months ago
The restaurant is very popular and a reservation should be made. It's located in a small plaza with plenty of parking. If you're there early, you can grab a drink and sit outside. The restaurant was clean and simply decorated. The salsa sampler was very cool and has a range of spiciness. The complementary chips came out warm. The Rene's Awesome Enchiladas was very delicious and perfectly portioned. The dish has really good flavors and you'd want to mix it all up for a flavourful bite. read more
2 years ago
First, when you walk in here it is nice but the decorations are a tad overwhelming. Lots of colors and random decor. Very weird, like Austin. The server we had was polite and got like 4 or 5 tables all in a very short period of time, so he was doing a lot of running. The main reason I came here was wanting to try the Big Papas taco, it did NOT disappoint! What an explosion of flavor in your mouth! We also got the La Bomba which, in my opinion, was too salty and not all that great. My husband also ordered Lucy's Short Rib Machado which he said was underwhelming. To drink we started with a Suadorado (horchata/cold brew) which I ended up requesting to replace with regular hot coffee as it tasted nothing like horchata and was very grainy. The coffee was VERY strong and also, not my favorite. My husband also ordered a pineapple agua Fresca which was the only drink besides the water we agreed on liking. I would definitely come back for the Big Papas taco but I think when we come back we will just stick to water and those tacos. read more
It's the best Mexican food in austin. I use to live 2 miles away and when I'm in austin I stop in every time. Their salsa sampler is a must! The owner is beyond kind and the staff makes your experience on top of the 5 star fresh made from scratch food read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
I have been here twice, and both times have been met with incredible food, service, and environment. The decor in the restaurant is absolutely stunning, but does not compare to the food! I recommend the vegan crunchwrap and the sopapilla cheesecake! read more
Met a friend for lunch who was visiting from out of town who wanted to eat some good Tex Mex! It's usually booked so we were fortunate to be able to get there early and get a walk in table. El Dorado is consistently good. Salsas are fresh. Lots of great food options. We had a nice time catching up over enchiladas and bowls. My friend doesn't like her food too spicy so we got the avocado mild salsa. read more
2 years ago
We ate here on a Saturday night about 6:00PM and the place was packed. I'm glad we made a reservation! The inside is fairly small but vibrant & active. We were seated right away and the server brought us chips, salsa, and took our drink order. The chips were fresh & crispy and the salsa was flavorful with the right amount of heat. For an appetizer, we ordered a small bowl of qeuso with beef and a few flour tortillas. The queso showed up without the beef; no big deal. The flour tortillas were fresh & warm. My wife ordered the Dart Bowl Enchiladas which were very flavorful especially with the egg broken and mixed in. I ordered the Dos Crispy Taco meal. The tacos were very light and crispy. The flavor was totally on point. The rice was very fluffy & tasty. The beans weren't bad but just normal refried beans. The only slight negative was our servers attitude. She took great care of us but her persona was totally flat. I don't know if she had a bad day and didn't want to be at work or what but it was definitely obvious. For 2 iced teas, cup of queso, our 2 entrees, a side of sour cream & 4 flour tortillas, our bill was $45.71 including tax. For the meal we had, I felt it was a good value. I would definitely go back if in the area. read more
2 years ago
Was on the hunt for best TexMex in Austin. After researching, it seemed like Eldorado was highly recommended. I do not regret picking here at all. The salsas were so fresh and tasty. Couldn't decide if I liked the green or the classic better. My margarita was freshly made and not from bottle mix like most. I will definitely be back if I ever find myself in Austin again! read more
2 years ago
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2 years ago
Don't know how I overlooked this place for so many years! Everything from the food down to the staff was great! I had the Jordan special. My wife had the chicken enchiladas. The drinks will definitely get you right! Shout out to our waitress and a special shout out to Jordan. He made sure we were taken care of. He's good people. Definitely have to come back to this place soon! read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
We've been on a summer food tour and today was a Major YES! We pull into the parking lot... Front row parking! YES! This must be a sign! When we walk in the restaurant, they are on a 25 minute wait... Boo...BUT Hold on just a second...2 seats just opened up at the bar?? YES!! Started with the Pinarita. Loved it!! We had the salsa sampler...it did not disappoint. Everything from mild to hot to hotter. We had the street tacos. Yummmmm. Tuesdays chalupa special. YES! Great as well! But you absolutely have to try the Clyde's fried Chicken taco! Crispy bacon- fried chicken tender-romaine lettuce and pickled onions. YASSSS My mouth is watering remembering this dish! Great food. Great vibe. Great owner! Hi Joel!! Love love love the swag! This place is a gem. So happy to have found you on my summer food tour. Will certainly be back! If you're considering it just say YES!! read more
This restaurant is set back from the road and just behind Mopac. Plenty of parking and seating inside even some seating outside. This was our first time here, but it appears this is a very popular place for the neighborhood locals. They do have a full bar, however, I was disappointed they do not have frozen margaritas and their craft beer selection is fairly limited. They have no beer on tap either....seriously!? They do start you off some complementary chips and they do have six salsas to choose from. However, I was not a fan of the overly salty thick style corn chips and the salsa fresca was basically flavorless. Sadly it was their only red salsa. You also only get 2 oz of salsa which goes fast, even the queso was a mere 4 oz for $5. This was starting out as a 2 star review, but then the high point of the meal was their beef enchiladas and my wife's vegan choices. Not your typical TexMex for sure. Black beans are the primary side, but you can substitute baracho beans for $1 more. If you want two homemade flour tortillas that'll set you back $1.50. Even though we were pleasantly filled, it occurred to us that no dessert menu was offered at the end. So you'll have to order your dessert with the meal, although you never know how full you're gonna be at the end. The service was fairly attentive, but for me, it was kind of a mixed bag, some things were good, but there were some things that underwhelmed. I give them credit for an extensive menu, including vegan options, even a kids menu. When it's time to settle up, they'll hand you their handheld device for your credit card. As a sidenote, they are big supporters of fostering and adopting dogs. Atmosphere ***, service ****, food ***1/2, drinks **1/2, Overall ***1/2. read more
3 years ago
Food: 5/5 Service: 4.5/5 Ambiance: 4.5/5 Order as shown in pictures: Eldorado Burrito with chicken Veg Enchiladas with cheese We have been here multiple times and it has become a go to spot for dinner. Servers are very suggestive and accommodating. A good portion size that will make you get a to go box in the end. Initially they serve chips and salsa. You get to choose from three types of salsa. Hot medium and mild. Will recommend Medium spicy as it hits the perfect spot. Last time I ordered chicken mole enchiladas. Chicken was smoky and tasty but mole sauce was too cinnamony... it tasted good but I'll recommend chicken burrito over mole enchilada any day. It is crispy from the outside and juicy in the middle with lots of chicken and veggies. All dishes that we ordered came with a side of beans and rice. Veggie enchiladas with cheese was good but I'll recommend it with veggies or chicken. Cheese on top of cheese becomes to cheesy in the end. All dishes that we ordered could be shared with another person as quantity is huge read more
2 years ago
Highly recommend Eldorado cafe for breakfast. This is the neighborhood spot. Quality and flavorful food. The breakfast tacos are well worth it. Huge portions and so delicious. I got the big papas, migas and Matt's everything taco. Had no issues with either all so flavorful! The salsas make the tacos even better. They have a variety of salsas that are great compliments to the tacos. The avocado cream and salsa Fresca were perfect pairings with the tacos I got. The staff and service are great. There will most likely be a wait but once you sit down you are well taken care of. read more
2 years ago
Found this place when searching for tacos . I've passed this place so many times but never noticed. Extremely busy when arriving around 6:30pm Wait was 1 hour for 1 person table. Thankfully was able to get a seat at the bar after 20 mins of waiting. Order chips, salsa, and 1 beef taco and 1 chicken taco, white rice black beans You can taste everything was made fresh. Was a little disappointed since I asked for no pico but it still was on the taco. Didn't eat the white rice as it had cilantro which taste like soap to me. The beans were good. The tacos were also good after I picked out the pico on top. Shell broke pretty easily so taco became nachos. Service was pretty good and attentive. Most likely will try the enchiladas when return. Has a variety of items on the menu. Place was pretty clean, didn't use restroom so can't speak about that. Everyone seemed to be happy and enjoying the food. Look forward to coming back to experience other options. read more
3 years ago
2 years ago
2 years ago
Wow.. what an amazing experience. The vibe, the margarita, the chips and salsa, the enchiladas.. its was all 100%!! Service was excellent as well! Got the salsa sampler. Great!! All flavors were very very tasty. House margarita. Best $10 margarita I ever had. Rene's awesome enchiladas.. a MUST try short ribs take on enchiladas. Absolutely fire! I can't wait to come back to this spot next time I'm in the Austin area! This Tex-Mex restaurant did NOT disappoint! read more
8 months ago
More info about Eldorado Cafe
3300 W Anderson Ln
Austin, TX 78757
Directions
(512) 420-2222
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http://www.eldoradocafeatx.com
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Ask the Community - Eldorado Cafe
Do they offer a happy hour?
I'm not sure. They have daily food specials on weekdays, but I don't know about bar/drink/happy hour specials.
Are the corn tortillas and chips gluten-free? Is there a gluten-free menu?
Hi Not sure if they are or not however it appears that there are dishes on the menu that would be naturally gluten-free. For more information text them at info@eldoradocafeatx.com
How late is the wait on Saturday. morning?
Very much depends on what time you get there. If it is really early no wait - if it's 9:30-10am prod 30-45 and can be very busy - it's very popular - call ahead to see what the wait is.
How long should we anticipate waiting to get a table for a weekday lunch?
At least 20 minutes has been my experience if you go early.
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