The atmosphere at this place is just as amazing as the food. Had the red snapped, enough for two people to share. Great hang out spot, as it's an old house converted to a restaurant, make sure to check out the back patio! read more

Wow! I hate waiting and this place is totally worth the wait. Best Mexican food I've had outside Mexico City. Don't forget to try the ceviche and the snapper. Both are out of this world! read more

I loved this place! It was a half hour wait at 8 PM on a Tuesday, but I ordered a recommended Cantarito from the bar and enjoyed it outside in their patio area. The wait time went by quickly to say the least! Once seated, we ordered their guac and ceviche - MUST ORDER BOTH!! My mouth is watering thinking about it the morning after. Our server Louis was wonderful and his recommendation for the Al Pastor was delicious. This is a must see place in Austin and will definitely want to come back one day. read more

Review based only on Happy Hour! Best happy hour in town. $5 paloma with an amazing $5 blue corn hibiscus quesadilla and $5 bowl of esquites!! I was happy dancing during my whole meal! Service was perfect and the ambiance was fun. read more

We had a dinner for 25 people here in September. We had guests coming from all over the U.S. for a weekend reunion. Our first night we dined at Lichas, and the food was just fabulous! The weather was awful, so we all sat inside, but the staff was able to get us all inside and at two large tables. So thankful for their willingness to help us out. Service was also very good, and no one had to wait on their food (which can sometimes be an issue with large groups). I would highly recommend this restaurant for both it's food and service. Will definitely be back! read more

The food here was good. That being said, the service here on a Saturday night was terrible. I had made a reservation for 10 people the Thursday prior. Before arriving to the restaurant, I had called to confirm that I was arriving with a group of 10 for a reservation at 9pm and they assured me to come on over. Once we arrived, the hostess tells me (without an apology) that she does not see a reservation under my name. There happened to be another party under the same name (but at a different time) and I guess they must of confused us. I understand that mistakes happen, but a sincere apology (or an apology at all) would of been appreciated. She told us there would be about a 25 minute wait until they had a table ready for us. Over an hour later (without anyone notifying us), we had still not been seated and at this point, it was past 10:30pm. It would have been nice if they were just honest and said they would not be able to seat us and we could of just gone elsewhere to eat instead of standing around for more than 90 mins. Once we were seated, the server was very pleasant. The food was also good, but not my favorite. I ordered the huitlacoche quesadillas but they had way too much cheese (& that is coming from someone who loves cheese) and barely any actual filling. I did however really like the salsa/sauce they provided with the chips. It was spicy and jam packed with flavor and ended up complementing the quesadilla. They did offer a good variety of vegetarian options and were also accommodating for my vegan/dairy-free friends. read more

Lichas great place to come visit during this epidemic all tables are spaced out. Everyone at the restaurant tested for COVID 19 yesterday. Emanuel was a great person that helped us out didn't our visit. Thank you. read more

Best happy hour ever... but don't tell anyone! I love their hh quesadillas and sopes. The house Rita is great. The paloma is great. The watermelon and jalapeno margarita was my favorite! I haven't been for anything other than happy hour, so I can't review the rest of the menu, but I plan on going back read more

Licha's has incredible food, great drinks and friendly service. Many traditional dishes done with spice and flavor to perfection. Great outdoor seating as well! read more

Heard about this place from a friend and we were pleasantly surprised on how amazing the food was. From the time we were greeted at the door to leaving, the experience was incredible. We all got tacos of various kinds and could not say a bad thing about it. Very authentic with a twist and it was so good! The staff was very accommodating! read more

Legit tex-mex on East 6th. Good service. Tall cold Tecate. No complaints.

One of my new favorite restaurants in Austin. Licha's offers Mexico City fair in a relaxed environment, and the food is really quite good. I've tried half the menu and was happy with everything, especially the taco plates which are enough to make 4 tacos. The shrimp mole and mushroom dishes were also outstanding, as was the bacalao. Everything is made from scratch, and they have music and happy hour specials regularly. The restaurant is about 1/2 indoor, 1/2 outdoor so take your pick. Very happy to have this gem on the east side! Highly recommend. read more

Great music and ambiance. Waiters were friendly. Food was a nice change from the "typical" Mexican fare. Interesting flavor combos and decent drinks. read more

Let me start off by saying the food here rocks. The flavors are amazing and the atmosphere *should* be awesome. That is, if the waiter didn't come over mid-meal and take away the sun umbrella I had just moved myself (from the other side of our table) to give us some shade, leaving us baking in the sun. I asked WTF and he said "this other table is more exposed in the sun than you guys are". Seriously? So move their table if they have a problem. Don't interrupt our fantastic meal by making us bake in the sun when we've been here for nearly an hour and are mid-meal. We asked for an umbrella back and were told they were out. Every single other table has an umbrella besides ours now. Wow, really disappointed the waiter ruined our entire experience at a place that should be 4+ stars based on food and (normal) ambiance. read more

I love this place. I'm bringing everyone I can here and it never disappoints. I couldn't believe it when the owner told us it had only been open 5 weeks! The sweet potato and the mushroom dishes are divine. The waitstaff are so professional and well trained. The setting is calming and somehow intimate. The margaritas are $4. I could come here every week from now on and that would be just fine with me. Get the tacos al pastor. Do it. read more

Rude bartenders. Ordered 2 cocktails, extremely slow service and poor attentiveness. It was so bad I made a point of not tipping (as a point of reference my standard is still 20% for below average service). Another bartender (manager?) comes over and asks me if everything was all right, and I said no. But before I could even say what happened he berated me that they were very busy and that everyone has to wait. Since I didn't get a chance to explain then, let me do so now: 1. Bartender took our drink order, then proceeded to consult with another staff member and makes 4 other drinks for 5+ minutes. Maybe it's me, but when I'm asked for my order I assume it's my turn. 2. Bartender comes back, asks for our order again. He finishes our cocktails but leaves the completed drinks on the bar for over 2 minutes while he gets waters for another group. It would have taken less than 5 seconds to pass them over to us. 3. No "thank you" or other acknowledgement when handing over cash, just took the money. I understand slow service when bars are busy - I live in NYC and experience this often. But the above is unacceptable. read more

I came here for a birthday brunch over the weekend and was pretty disappointed with the service. They do not seem to care much about their customers. I had called before we arrived to see if they took reservations, and was told they do not. Because we had 9 people, we arrived right as they opened at 11am to get seated quickly. We were the first people into the restaurant. We asked if we could sit inside (as it was hot outside), and they told us that there was no room for 9 people inside. I understand it is a small place, but we were literally the only people in the restaurant at that point. They informed us they only had 2 large tables outside to accommodate 9 people, and to pick one. Both were pretty exposed to the sun, and once again, it was a hot day. We chose one, and within 15 minutes everyone was sweating and half the table was in the direct sun. If you're going to demand that larger parties sit outside, at least have adequate shade at each table. On top of that, the service was very slow. It took us 15 minutes to get our waters out, and over 10 minutes each time to just get a mimosa (which were extremely weak, by the way). The servers would also come back to the table and take drink orders and other requests from some people, but completely neglect other. The waiters showed no sense of urgency and were unfriendly. The food itself was pretty good, but unfortunately due to the service and bad accommodations with the seating, everyone was ready to go. It really put a damper on the birthday event. I don't have a desire to return anytime soon. read more

This Mexican food was so good that it felt like I finally met my real dad.

Food was really good. Solid 4 stars on food. Service was slow and no offer from the waiter to split the check. On a $300 check on a Wednesday that's a poor enough experience that this will be a one and done for me. read more

yuppie babes for days. every single man in the joint looked like he had held his job for at least 3 years and could clearly grow a beard. you just can't find that kind of stability these days. I could legit see them all owning a golden retriever and getting ur daughter to ballet class on time in 10 years. 10/10 would recommend to the ladies. plus the chick I was with said she knew for a fact the bartender climbed rocks and did parkour for fun based on his "long dirty blonde hair!" LADIESSSS only bad thing was she nearly chocked on the steak fat but for me the sweet pork onion and pineapple taco was amazing! tortillas are too small I recommend low key bringing your own full sized tortillas pre heated in tin foil. read more

Pretty terrible chips were the first red flag. This place is decent, but pricey with bad service.

Wish I could give 6 stars, the BEST mexican food i've ever tasted and amazing service. Salsa was 10/10 as well.

Great authentic Mexican food! Staff was really friendly and very accommodating for a large group of friends including those arriving late

I'm hesitant to write this review because I am giving up my favorite quiet Saturday brunch spot! Licha's gets packed during the evenings but I don't think many people realize they open at noon on weekends. Nonetheless, with or without a wait, Licha's is worth it. At this point, I think I have tried almost everything on their menu and it has all been consistently incredible. If you grew up eating Mexican food in Texas like I did, this is Mexican food like you've never had before. While the dishes are filling and savory, they don't leave you feeling miserable and greasy afterwards. There are lots of things on the menu I had never tried previously such a corn smut and beef tongue. Since Licha's has never failed me, I took the plunge and tried both. All I can say is wow. So. Damn. Good. There aren't many places I can honestly recommend anything and everything on the menu but Licha's is an outlier. Go for happy hour (such a great deal!) and share a few dishes with a friend! read more

Amazing cocktails... great atmosphere and perfect location!!! The food isnt that impressive but if you go for happy hour is ok!!! Try the drink from the regular menu you wont be disappointed!!! read more

Go out on a Saturday night. Wake up a little earlier than your body wants to on Sunday morning. Get to Licha's around 11:30. Sip on La Mula or a house margarita. Order chilaquiles with steak and let this place save your life. In all seriousness, great service and vibe. And excellent food. If you're in from out of town, everything Licha's is something you probably can't find back home. read more

The margarita at Licha's was so perfect that it made me forget about ordering food. But don't panic! It all turned out okay. Our exceptionally witty, friendly, and gracious server, Lauren, stopped by the table to nudge us along toward a meal that was memorable for all the right reasons. Circle the block to find parking if you have to. Walk on over if you live close by. Request a table on the back patio after dark and get some guacamole involved. This is the place to settle in for the kind of dinner that doesn't happen every day. read more

Ok this is the cutest coolest restaurant. I would give it a five star rating but unfortunately the wait took forever and I didn't really like my food.. Ordered the quesidilla. However the rest of my friends who ordered the tacos absolutely loved them. Service is very friendly and drinks are delicious. read more

So yeah, another painful hipster "impression" of a legit Mexican experience. Pretentious, combative staff, poor service and average food - oh and lots and lots of flies everywhere. Nice work kids - back to the drawing board. read more

I absolutely adore everything about Licha's. The food is made with love and care. As someone who knows first hand what real Mexican food tastes like, everything here is authentic and amazing. The cocktails are strong and delicious, and the staff that serves all this goodness to you, are some of the greatest servers and bartenders in Austin. Be in the know. Be cool. Go here. read more

As the city gets bigger and you lose your favorite folks leaving your favorite haunts, you realize the city isn't as big as you first thought. Walking into Licha's brought back that reminder to me. I realized when we walked in, this was Dan's place. Our first encounter with Dan was a Vespaio. He was incredibly well versed in Wine and a very affable gent. Before he left Vespaio he mentioned he was doing something new and hoped we would see him again. Low and behold, here he was, smiling give us a hug and welcoming us. There were 6 of us and originally were sat outside however that didn't bode well since the sun was brutal. The hostess arranged a quick move to a table inside. When the waitress came over with Dan in tow, I asked if he would mind just bringing out food to us, his choice. Like a chef's table, albeit one small request, no shellfish since Ms. Suz is allergic. Holy Crap, what an excellent idea that was. I just wish I could remember the dishes which were shared. The largest main was a dish of pork, bone in, which was in an awesome savory tomato based stock. Perfect spice and texture. We had a quinoa stuffed relleno, fresh tortillas, salsa's and rita's. All in all great stuff. To top it off when we finished stuffing ourselves, we left and again got to meet Dan's mom and grandmum whom the restaurant was named after. Dan's a whiz in the kitchen and it is obvious his front of the house skills shine with the service which we received was excellent. We look forward to seeing Dan again real soon. read more

We walked by on our way to somewhere else, but decided to circle back. My fiance and I are very glad we did! Brunch on the patio was lovely, and the food was delicious. The mimosas were great - perfect mix of champagne and juice (not too much juice!). read more

Licha's Cantina - View from a table on the patio - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

This is easily one of the best authentic Mexican restaurants I've been to. Their margaritas were made with fresh ingredients and they definitely didn't skimp on the alcohol. I had the aguacate sopesitos and my boyfriend had the cochinita pibil pambazo. They were both delicious! The service and atmosphere were great. We had an hour wait and it was for sure worth it. Definitely would recommend this to anyone looking for great Mexican food! read more

Great queso dip... not sure what they call it but it was fantastic. Thought after that the food was going to be good. I got the most expensive steak on the menu.... it was horrible. They are trying too hard with the sauce they put on it and it was gross. Couldn't even eat it. So I traded my friend who got some kind of skillet. His was overcooked. Had high hopes for it but it was very disappointing. read more

Two words to describe this place.........F*cking Delicious. Daniel.......keep doing what you're doing. Now every time I see a Saint Candle.....my mouth starts to water. read more

Not good Mexican fare by any stretch of the imagination. If you want to feed your face with a cheep, quick meal during their happy hour, knock yourself out. Otherwise, don't bother. read more

Food is ok. Drinks are ok. Nice little spot and comfortable atmosphere. Not sure I will be returning but I'm glad I went at least once.

Part of the reason I like this restaurant so much is that I worked so hard to find it. I was visiting Austin for the first time with six other people and was looking at the NY Times article about what to do in Austin over 36 hours. The article was a little old...okay a couple years old, but I had high hopes. There was a Mexican restaurant on the list called Papi Tino's. So, after telling everyone how great this place was supposed to be I dragged everyone from Brazos to the other side of the highway on East 6th, and we walked and walked, looked and looked. Papi Tino's was nowhere to be found. The area felt a little sketchy, and a man on a bicycle yelled at us. (However, the area is now up and coming). We found where the restaurant was supposed to be on GoogleMaps and it was called Licha's. We walked around to the back and there was a little opening, where we poked our heads in. There, we saw a raked sand backyard with industrial spools and painted metal chairs and tables. We explained our confusion and inquired about the status of the restaurant; the chef informed us that Licha's was the new restaurant there, serving Mexican street food. That sounded delicious to us, but it wasn't going to open for another couple of hours. So, we walked back towards where we came from, and a couple blocks towards the highway was a food truck called Pueblo Viejo. IT WAS SO GOOD! I had chicken fajitas and my friend had beef fajitas. The beef fajitas were the best. The limeade was also delicious. Oh, back to Licha's. We went back there a couple weeks later and it was very good! It is fun to sit outside in the backyard. I had a "cazuelita" which is a hot clay pot with food inside. My cazuelita was carne deshebrada con chile cascabel, which is shredded brisket, onion, guacamole, and crema de escabeche. For dessert I had a Mexican chocolate mousse. I also wanted an after dinner drink, something with kahlua, so asked what they could make. The waitress suggested kahlua with mezcal and a cocoa-chili pepper rimmed glass. Sounded good...but it was way too strong! I could only take a couple sips, but the margaritas on the rocks were good and much tamer. I went another time with my parents and we sat at the same table in the backyard. Although pleasant, BEWARE of the fire ants! They bit my dad (which left his legs itching for weeks) and subsequently he didn't want to go back the next time he was in town. I went twice during SXSW. They had a special menu to accommodate the large numbers of people passing through, so you could order either tortas or quesadillas. I ordered the carne deshebrada quesadillas, basically brisket and cheese. They were delicious and my new favorite! I got them both times and will try to order them the next time I go even though it might not be on the menu. There was also a special drink menu, and I tried the "lemonacha" which was lemonade, hibiscus tea, and vodka. It was awesome, and Knox also liked it. read more

I have been here quite a few times for happy hour and every time I love everything I get. The food is delicious and the drinks are great too. HH prices are awesome with a whole menu of food and drinks for $5!! Can't beat that! Service is always friendly and helpful too. Couldn't ask for a better place to hang out with friends and enjoy a beautiful Austin day. read more

Love their patio. Went during happy hour which is daily 4-7 pm and got cochinita pibil, a Maria flatbread and the corn. All were $5 and delicious. Definitely want to come back. read more