Cruising on a street and decided to make a u-turn and parked. Came outta the car and saw this spot and decided to try this out for lunch! Glad we came in!! The hostess greeted us and sat us down and introduced us to Justin, our waiter, and this guy is AWESOME!! We got served chips & salsa but I had questions about the menu and Justin had answers. I ordered the Quesabirria Tacos and instead of rice/beans, I got it subbed for the Side Street Corn. The food was brought to us fairly quick and the tacos, my my my - it was soft, had flavor and had a light crunch to it. I thought it was different from other quesabirria tacos I've had in the past, but this was different and perfect. I will get this again for sure when we come back again and again and again Hahahaa!! =D The staff was wonderful and the overall experience was phenomenal. And with Justin, give him a PHAT BONUS!! He's a great asset to this establishment for sure!!! read more

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Beautiful ambience perfect for a date night Service is nice and fast My fav was the carne asada Even the complementary chips and salsa were good Biria tacos were also juicy read more

Very much enjoyed the DF inspired ambiance, cuisine. A top notch establishment, much like the ones we visited in Palanco, etc. Meal was amazing and a surprise to find there in South ATX. Would be amazing if they could replicate in H-Town. Service was a little slower than I would have liked (mid-afternoon, lightly staffed) and exposed ceiling not to my taste read more

Beautiful restaurant and excellent service (thank you Juan). Very innovative cocktails. Good chips and salsa. The breakfast burrito was really delicious. Good refried beans, too. I ordered the brunch cachetada and wasn't thrilled. The suiza chicken and runny eggs diluted the flavor and made the cheese crust on the tortilla soggy. I had to add a lot of hot sauce. It needed more texture and flavor. Overall a boring dish. I would definitely return and order something else, however. read more

La Popular Austin - Breakfast burrito - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Parking - plenty; large shared lot with other retail and restaurants Reservations - yes via open table and recommended Patio? - yes, and enclosed with palms for a relaxing semi jungle vibe We had Pedro and he was attentive, gave fantastic recommendations, and friendly, Recommend- carne asada; fried plantain side (caramelized and So yum); grilled mahi taco. Drinks - recommend the tequila flight and the monthly margarita (each month it's new, fresh flavors and doesn't taste like artificial bottled stuff - refreshing) Interior modern and fun upbeat vibe read more

La Popular Austin - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

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We were staying at the AC Hotel Austin Hill Country just around the corner from La Popular and decided to have dinner there on our first night in town. We were not disappointed. We shared a delicious chicken mole dish and each had Mexican street corn, my wife in a salad and I as a side dish. Everything... the food, the service, the decor... was great. HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS RESTAURANT. read more

I wouldn't recommend this restaurant especially if you desire more authentic Mexican food. Food: not the best, I felt like it was lacking flavor, there's just so many places around Austin that you can get great tacos/enchiladas/quesa birria for cheaper and better and bigger quantities. The price of the food is expensive for the quality in my opinion. Service: Even with a reservation the wait time to be seated was about 25 mins Ambiance: a beautiful restaurant with a large bar, TVs, plenty of seating and nice lighting. read more

La Popular Austin - Pick 3: Enchiladas and taco plate (enchiladas about the size of your finger) - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

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La Popular is a very popular (yes, I did that on purpose) restaurant right off Southwest Parkway. It has a beautiful décor that I did not experience as I was picking up lunch. There is a large bar fully stocked with all your favorites. I can see myself returning for a HH bar visit. I ordered online and checked the ASAP pickup option. Kudos to them I arrived 20 minutes later, and my order was ready. Both of our orders were large portions. The short rib enchiladas come with Colorado sauce, asadero-jack cheese, crema, cilantro, guacamole, and red onion. We were a tad disappointed that it was not a tad spicier considering the ingredients, but it was good. My burrito with birria, refried beans, Mexican rice, and pico de gallo was very good, but again it could have been a tad spicier. Not sure why they are skimping on the seasoning, but all-in-all a good lunch experience. read more

The restaurant is very cute. The space is well Designed and in a great location for me. The food was ok. We got the salsa combo stater and enjoyed most of them - each of us had a different favorite so that worked for us. I got the tortilla soup and did not expect a thick tomato sauce - I couldn't not eat it. I was so hoping for a regular tortilla soup with a nice thin broth that is soupy and not like spaghetti sauce thick. My husband said his tacos were good and my daughter said hers were mid. read more

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We came here because of the high reviews on yelp but was pretty much disappointed with my whole experience and service here. High expectations because as soon as you walk in it's a beautiful ambiance. Very instagram worthy, cuter for a small gathering or date. read more

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This was our first time visiting La Popular, we went for a birthday. The vibes were great and the drinks delicious! It was a tad chilly inside so sitting outside would have been a preferred option but it seems all those that for there before us had the same idea. Our server was very friendly and had plenty of recommendations for us. The food all came out quickly and was delicious! Definitely recommend the ceviche and shrimp tacos! read more

La Popular Austin - Baja shrimp tacos w/corn tortillas + a side of fried plantains + el mercado margarita - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

I don't think I've ever given a bad review. I try to only give good reviews, but I feel it's my duty to warn other people.. Met some friends for dinner at La Popular last night for the third and last time because I'm pretty sure I got food poisoning. I had the chicken Suisa enchilada, the Baja shrimp enchilada, and the corn taco. The chicken looked and smelled like cat food. I could barely eat it and the Baja shrimp enchilada smelled equally as bad. The only thing that was palatable was the corn taco. The margarita tasted like lemonade. We got the smallest bowl of chips and had to ask for a refill. The wait staff gave us a dirty look when my husband asked for chopped onions. All around it was a terrible experience and I will be calling management to elaborate, but save your money and your tummy read more

A laid back yet L.A. like vibe tucked away west hills of Austin with traditional Mexican food - a little on the pricey side and yet worth every penny! The highlight for me were the fajitas and the queso fundito - must get - and loved the salsa flights. If you're looking for amazing atmosphere with the freshest quality this is it read more

Sat outdoors for birthday and it was great weather and enjoyable with privacy. There was a lounge setting but probably best for just drinks. Inside is well low lit for nice vibe for party. Chips tray was delicious with different spice levels Tacos were a la carte and ribeye and shrimp were delicious vs trio. Carne asada was my favorite though and would get that again. Nice enough to get free churro for my birthday. Will be back with family. read more

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I can't believe SWP is blowing up like this. Well, I guess it's not that out of place as I worked on million dollar homes off the same road forever ago. Well, it seems there's more than one hotspot to cater to the rich and nearly famous. First place I tried was Carve; burnt lunch for $30. La Popular was more refreshing starting with the Tuna Tostadas. Crisp, fresh, crunchy all in this dish. Of course this wasn't tried by the GF who doesn't do much raw fish. I'm now wishing I tried this place a year ago. She had the ribeye tacos while I indulged in a create your own combo plate. Somehow my choices got supersized versus the menu description of select an enchilada and a taco. I had a Mole Enchilada with chicken, Fish taco, and a Shrimp Enchilada. Every bite was on point including the rice and beans. Her Ribeye Tacos with melted cheese on the tortillas won her approval as well. Definitely putting La Popular on our regular rotation. read more

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Pro-tip: aim for Happy Hour, especially on Taco & Tequila Tuesdays. Tacos $2 off and margarita specials. Truly a lovely experience, even on a quieter rainy Sunday evening. Server Hazel shared some favorites, and we were not disappointed. The Tuna Toastados eased us into our meal, instead of the typical chips and salsa. The crunchy leeks were a great touch to the cold tuna with a nice little spread of spicy aioli and a slice of avocado. Pairs well with a round of spicy pineapple mango margaritas. While so many meals caught our eyes, we went with the birris short rib tacos, followed by the cochinita pibil. Both, rather quick to serve, but certainly appetizing. Such great choices! While I had expected to to go with the churros, Hazel suggested the butter cake and we took her advice. Not to be mistaken - as churros and flan are the beloved choices of Mexican cuisine, we were not disappointed by the passion fruit custard paired with a warm butter cake. read more

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Pretty solid place, nice looking interior, and very nice staff. The pan fried queso was good, though it might have been a better idea to add the chorizo to it. The tostadas that came with it had a really nice taste to it. They did only give 3 tostadas so it was a lot more cheese than chips. The only way to make it work is to over load the tostada with cheese. Adding the ceviche was also good to mix in with the cheese and chips. We also ordered the tempura fish tacos. The use of mahi mahi fish seemed too dense of a choice for tacos as opposed to softer fish like tilapia. The breading on it was light, though I prefer a thicker heavier crunch for fish tacos. And the rice and beans included were good. This dish was $19 which was not too bad for what's included. The beer selection was a bit basic and limited. But overall a good spot to check out. read more

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Nice environment. Very casual service. I had top shelf Margarita and L had draft Modelo. L ordered the Chicken Mole Enchiladas and I ordered the Short Rib Enchiladas. Plate presentation was nicely done. The Mole was very dark--L said more like licorice than chocolate. Neither of us cared for the rice. The refried beans were cooked in lard--no charros beans available. Had the dishes tasted like their presentation, they would have been great. Sadly, they did not. Everything we had was significantly overpriced. The Margarita was served in an old fashioned glass for $20. Each of the entrees was $26.50. There are many Mexican restaurants with better food and significantly lower prices in the Austin area. We've removed this one from our list of places to return to. read more

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La Popular is a super vibey restaurant, and I can see this being a nice spot to celebrate a birthday or go on a date at! The workers are super friendly, but due to a mix of my waiter being a bit soft spoken, and the music being kind of loud, there were a lot of times I couldn't hear he what he was saying. So it was a lot of me either going off of context clues, or just having to ask him to repeat himself. The food is pretty good! But also a bit on the expensive side, especially for how small the portions are. You start with some chips and salsa, which was really good. The chips came out warm, and had the perfect amount of salt. And the salsa had the perfect amount of heat in it. The queso fundido was really good too! It was so cheesy, and the crispy bits on the top and side added a really fun texture. I would definitely recommend adding chorizo or some type of protein to it. Otherwise you're just eating a lot of cheese in a tortilla. (also nothing wrong with that, it just gets a little overwhelming) I also got the ahi tuna tostadas which were pretty good! However, I do wish the fish was a little colder. And for the price, I wish each piece had more than one avocado slice. But the flavors were really good. read more

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Came in today after a hike and got to try a few different items. I had the Agua Fresca flight- the watermelon option and Horchata were good, horchata was in the west side, The pineapple one tasted just like pineapple juice. However, the Chamoy dressing on the cup for the pineapple agua Fresca was great. We had grilled shrimp and grilled mahi tacos. That were also great flavor, served on small street size corn tortillas which appear to be store bought - the Tortillas overall could be better but nothing to really complain about just a sidenote. Beans have lard- not vegatarian friendly. (Waitress actually stated they were vegetarian friendly when asked but when I pushed to clarify about lard she checked w the kitchen and confirmed they use lard. To end it we tried the new butter cake that they had- topped with icream and strawberries.It was good however I wouldn't order it again. I wish I would've stuck to my initial thoughts and ordered the flan. Large array of vegetarian options along with drink menu would love to come back another time and try some different options. However, this is far south and I'm in the Round Rock area - hoping they do well and get to expand up north. Our waitress was great. We were one of the first table sat, so we didn't wait long for our items and the waitress had great suggestions. read more

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This place was incredible! Everything, we tried was super tasty. I loved the cochinitas and my friends the steak tacos. We came with a group of 10 friends and had an amazing time! Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious, from the food to the drinks. Pedro was our server and he was fantastic super attentive, friendly and gave us great recommendations. We all left full and super happy. The whole place has a great vibe, good music. Will definitely be coming back! read more

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Creamy Chipotle shrimp tacos are great! Shrimp is flavorful and the tacos have both rice and beans with extra on the side. Some of the rice was a bit hard and possibly undercooked. I've been here before and you basically can't go wrong ordering anything here if you love Mexican food. The interior is also nicely renovated. You could come here for a date, but I think it's also a nice spot for something more casual like for a family dinner. Service wasn't the best. Our server wasn't attentive and didn't clear our dishes. We waited a while before we could order an entree too but eventually the manager got us. read more

La Popular Austin - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

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The food was bland. Absolutely no taste on the beef fajitas . I was in dire need of at least salt. We asked for a cold glass for our beers, but it never came. The skirt steak was not cut across the grain and it was chewy and hard to bite. Always cut it across the grain, they should know that. The service was ok and friendly. I expected more from this place , but it was very expensive and underwhelming. read more

Enjoyed our time at La Popular. The service was amazing. We had such a great waitress. The wait time for food and drinks was minimal. The ambiance was fantastic. There's options for indoor and outdoor seating as well. The food was good. We enjoyed the Baja shrimp taco, Baja mahi mahi taco, street corn taco, and Suizas enchiladas the most. A nice experience overall! read more

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This was my first time here. Joined some of my fellow Yelpies. The interior has a rather rustic nouveau flair. Tad obscured, yet I felt it added to the ambiance. I was surprised that, despite us being one of the few patrons in there, it took longer than expected to get our order taken. We all partook in the Queso Fundido, yet were not aware that adding chorizo was going to cost extra. Needless to say, the Queso was tasty, and the chorizo did add a little kick to it. I did feel the portion was a tad small for the listed price point. I have been to other establishments, and the portions have been larger. Petty I knoe however, I felt that fot what you are paying plus an extra amount for adding chorizo, you would think more Queso would have been had. I will say though that my drink was very well crafted and the bartender was kind enough to swap the tequila for mezcal. Overall, waiting for service as long as we did at despite the place being nearly empty, was surprising. However, that did not take away from our server and the bartender who did a fine job of taking our order. read more

We had an amazing experience at La Popular! Pedro was our server and truly made the night memorable. From the moment we sat down, he was incredibly attentive, warm, and welcoming. His energy was great--constant smiles, positive vibes, and he checked on us just the right amount without ever being overbearing. You can tell he genuinely cares about providing excellent service, and that made the whole experience even better. We felt well taken care of the entire time. Definitely coming back, and if you're lucky enough to get Pedro as your server, you're in great hands! Food Order: Ceviche, ribeye, tacos, and short rib enchiladas. All so delicious chefs kiss read more

La Popular Austin - Mexican Near Me - Austin, Texas

The La Popular chain is part of a large Mexico City-based restaurant group, with just one La Popular restaurant in Bosque de las Lomas in Mexico City. I give it a "B+" for decor and ambience, an "A" for service and a "C+" for food. This was my second time here and in both instances, the food was only so-so. This is undoubtedly Interior Mexican cuisine (usually a big draw for me) but corners have been cut... seasoning is wanting. The limes were so dry that squeezing a drop or two out of a section was a job. The guacamole needed a wee bit of acid... perhaps some lemon or lime juice. The margarita arrived with a wall of salt on the side of the glass. It's like someone else's vision is not being realized. There's a generous happy hour, a very relaxing outdoor seating area, and a full bar. The potential for good or even greatness is enormous. read more

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THE BIG: Located near Sunset Valley and near the Austin AMD campus. The shopping center has a bunch of cool dining spots like Tancho and Ling Wu. The interior is VERY DARK, and is definitely that CDMX modern rustic vibes. Plenty of parking in the lot. THE BLACK AND WHITE: We came here after a day in Fredericksburg drinking wine. I've seen La Popular on instagram and it's been on my short list to try and I was super excited to try the food. We got the baja tacos, ahi tostadas, ceviche, and 3 taco combo plate. The best were the ahi tostadas. Man I felt like i could eat twenty of them. The worst was the ceviche. The fish was cooked so long in the citrus acid that the meat was very hard to chew. How does that even happen? Service was great and fast. THE FINAL BAMBOO: For everything we got, we spent around $80. The flavors reminded me so much of Mexico City that I thought the price tag was going to be worth it. Some flavors hit, some didn't. I'd say try this place at least once to make your opinion. read more

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I have been wanting to try La Popular for a while, since I had taken a trip to Mexico City a few years ago. It was easy to make a reservation online, and they have inside/outside seating. Very spacious throughout. I love that there is a daily happy hour available. My friends and I came on a Saturday just in time to enjoy the happy hour pineapple mango chile margaritas, guac, and churros! The fresh chicharrones on top of the guac were delicious. La Popular has an exciting drink menu, we all said we would have to come back to try more. Everyone enjoyed everything we ordered. Quesabirria tacos, torta, I got the combo plate so I could try the short rib enchilada, carnitas taco as well as the shrimp taco. So much food for $24. Service was a little lacking at times even though it wasn't that crowded. The churro bites were a great ending for only $6. read more

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The food is good and Tuesday is all day happy hour with taco specials. The service was attentive. The dining room has tables and half booths. They have music too. I didn't take any pictures. read more

Had a really great experience having an impromptu date night at La Popular. The interior (as well as outdoor patio) has a modern, more refined vibe. The service was very attentive and I appreciated how the general manager also checked in on us at one point. Our server's recommendations definitely hit the mark, and I'm happy to report I enjoyed all courses! But Il give a particular shout out to the Cochinita Pork as well as the Butter Cake for dessert. Really great portions and flavors for both! Although it may be a little out there for those used to downtown Austin restaurant hopping, this place is worth the visit. My suggestion, pair with a trip to the movies at Moviehouse for the complete dinner and a movie experience. read more

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We really enjoyed our lunch at La Popular. The staff were friendly, the restaurant was gorgeous, and the food was delicious! My only complaint was that there was a very spicy green sauce on the fish tacos that wasn't listed in the menu description. Along with the chipotle aioli, the sauce made it difficult for me to eat the tacos. Which was a shame since the homemade corn tortillas were delicious, and the fish was cooked perfectly. Thankfully my son gave me his side of guacamole to tone down the spice. He enjoyed his enchiladas and tacos as well. read more

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This place was amazinggggg. Ambiance was 10/10. The manager was soooo sweet & everybody checked on me multiple times making sure everything was good! This place is my new fav discovered GEM. Also Ask for Pedro he is awesomeeeee!!! The food is super authentic you can tell they cook everything with love. Everything is made in house so it's super fresh, the flavors are thereee!! &&& they gave me a free ice cream! So sweet. I can't wait to visit for HH or lunch! read more

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NOT Gluten friendly even their chips are cross contaminated. Most items even soup is contaminated.

The food was fresh tasting and delicious. Dani was attentive and a great waitress and it was quiet at Happy Hour, to visit with others!

Walking in I wasn't expecting the gorgeous decor, low lighting even for noon, comfortable seating which is important. Service was fast and efficient, making sure we everything was going well often. The queso fundido came in a hot caste iron dish nice and hot. I opted to add the chorizo which was not as greasy as I typically see and well seasoned. For entree, I ordered the grilled mahi-mahi taco plate which was nice thick cuts of white fish, shredded cabbage, pico and a chipotle aioli sauce on corn tortillas. Everything was really fresh and I can tell the authenticity of the menu is executed well. Lastly we split the butter cake with the passion fruit custard, strawberries and vanilla ice cream on top at the suggestion of our server and it did not disappoint! I will definitely be returning, probably for taco Tuesday! read more

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This place is a gem! When I visit family in Austin, I enjoy going out to eat at all my favorite spots; however, this was a new place for me! Immediately I liked our server so much! She was great - fast, knowledgeable of all the dishes, made great suggestions for us to try and made sure we had everything we needed at all times even though she was clearly busy as it was dinner time and the place was full! They had great music going, the drinks were great, and the food was very good! Variety of salsas which I loved, and the portions were definitely Texas sized! I am looking forward to visiting this place again! read more

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La Popular is such a beautiful restaurant, and I had the opportunity to visit for an event! The manager and bartender were really friendly, and I tried the queso fundido, chicken enchiladas, and salsa mix. The queso fundido was pretty good although heavy, but their tacos are delicious. I thought the chicken enchiladas were solid, and the chicken was SO moist. Usually, my gripe is that the chicken is dry so it impacts the overall dish. Their guacamole was super good as well. I did have a lot of burnt rice pieces in my rice, and the beans were really flavorless. However, that didn't take away from the overall dish for me because I don't typically eat most of the rice and beans anyways. I do think it's a bit overpriced but for this area, their prices make sense. read more

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As a proud Yelp Elite, I was excited to check out La Popular -- and while the atmosphere and cocktails definitely delivered, the food left me wanting a bit more. Let's start with the wins: The mango margarita was absolutely the star of the show. Sweet, tangy, with a chili-lime rim that added the perfect punch. It's one of those drinks you think about long after the glass is empty. The guacamole was super fresh, creamy, and well-balanced -- though a touch more spice would've made it next-level. The vibe is gorgeous. Sleek, modern Mexican with that perfect "let's stay for one more drink" energy. A+ for ambiance. Now the queso... Looked amazing. Golden, bubbly, and promising. But the flavor just didn't quite hit. It felt a little flat and lacked the bold, cheesy depth I crave. Still decent, but not the queso dreams are made of. As for the tacos: The happy hour steak tacos were... adequate. Nothing bad, just forgettable. The street corn taco was flavorful, but tiny -- two bites and done. Not worth the price. The tortilla chips? I wish they'd go back to authentic, homemade chips -- the kind that are warm, freshly fried, and have that extra something. The current ones just didn't stand out. Overall? Come for the drinks (especially that mango marg), enjoy the vibe, and hang out with friends. But if you're looking for bold, authentic flavors and satisfying portions, this might not fully hit the mark. That said, I was very grateful to be part of the Yelp Elite experience -- getting to explore new spots, meet fellow food lovers, and support local businesses is always a privilege. I truly hope La Popular returns to the high standards it had when it first opened -- because the potential is great. Brilliant Dining read more

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Had an excellent time in this restaurant. The food was absolutely fantastic. The rib eye taco is in competition with one of the best tacos I've ever tried in Austin so far! The melted cheese was a highlight as well. The best part of the night was Pedro who did an outstanding job of making sure our large table was taken care of and always with our plates and drinks served. Pedro was amazing! I will be back! read more

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