De Nada is known to Austinites as one of the best taco spots and best bars in Austin, known for its…read moreblue corn tacos and frozen drinks. I had never tried it. It was either too busy or just out of the way for me. At my girlfriend's request, she wanted De Nada. We got De Nada.
With no reservations and no plans on a mid-Saturday, we were understandably banished to the outdoor tables. It was a hot day, but with the fan blowing and the cold drinks flowing, I thought we'd be alright.
We scanned their QR code menu and got our drinks ordered. Me with a Modelo Negra, and my girlfriend with their Beso De Sandia frozen, with Mezcal, Chamoy, watermelon, and lime.
We also ordered chips with Queso Blanco and Salsa Verde with our drinks. The queso was brought to us within the minute we ordered. No joke. It was efficient. Capital F fast.
With our drinks eventually brought out, we were honestly chilling. My girlfriend previously had a vegan enchilada she really liked that they didn't have this time, so she went for a Camote taco. I went for their Pollo and their Barbacoa. While we waited, we were putting in active work on that queso, which we knew we would feel later.
The tacos came out very quickly too. On my Pollo was confit chicken, poblano peppers, cheese, cilantro, and onions. I was hungry at this point of the day, so it wasn't long before I destroyed it. The Barbacoa had beef, habanero salsa, cilantro, and pickled onions. It was also an excellent pick. On both, the blue corn tortillas were thick, added a touch of sweetness, and just made the experience a little more fun.
In seeing the pink menus, the overall aesthetic of De Nada, hearing the talk of the town, and just knowing the run around here, I didn't expect De Nada to have cheap tacos. $5.50 for the chicken taco is a little hard to justify, and $7.75 for barbacoa is intense, but everything hit the spot, and we rolled out spending about $50 plus tip between the two of us, so it wasn't anything too out of the ordinary for a lunch. I just do think going in with the expectation that it's those Austin prices, you'll be less shocked down the stretch, and if you're less shocked, you can actually enjoy the great food they throw down here.
RIYL: Blue tacos and pink cups