That rush hour traffic in Austin is lethal. If it starts raining too, oh buddy, what a nightmare…read more Eventually you'll make it to your destination and if it's half as good as El Alma, it'll be a sigh of relief. I've driven by El Alma many times being in the Austin area, but I never went until last Thursday, and after surviving a brief monsoon, I was glad to get a few drinks and eat some good TexMex with my large party just before a wedding. The best way to describe El Alma is that it is TexMex that is Austinified. Everything feels a little more unique and special than your classic TexMex options. I started off with a Mezcal Margarita that put a little hair on my chest and got me going. My group ordered two of their Nachitos, which were these nice nachos. For my main entrée, I got 3 Al Pastor tacos on corn with a side of their rice and beans. Their pastor was served with pineapples, onions, and cilantro with limes on the side. They were great and I immediately crushed them all. I thought their rice and beans were pretty good as well and a step above the typical TexMex rice and beans. The server was pretty attentive throughout our whole visit, and I honestly have no complaints about what they had to offer. Pricing on the meal and drinks was pretty standard for Austin, and I didn't think anything really took me out of the experience. On top of that, for being in Barton Springs, there is quite a bit of parking. I would love to come back at some point in the future and hang out on their rooftop bar because that seems like a lot of fun. Shoutout to El Alma for being a TexMex oasis saving me from the MoPac traffic. RIYL: TexMex, but better than your average

Who designed this menu?!? How can anyone read this? This 4-point-font requires a magnifying glass…read moreand surgical lighting to read. I'm 43. I have 20/20 vision. I'm not old. Yet. However, this is illegible. The pink on pink color scheme actively works against any sensible comprehension of what's to order. There is so much empty real estate on the back of the menu - QR code, etc. That wasted space could easily be used for a bigger font. Please redesign this IMMEDIATELY.

I have lived in Texas for over 24 years now, and this is the best taco place in state!…read more I got the pastor burrito with cheese and guac. They grill the cheese onto the tortilla and it's amazinggg. The rice and beans amazing. The salsa amazing (has a good kick). Seating can be tricky but worth it!!

So good that we ate here twice on our trip!…read more Made me a believer of cactus. I thought it was their way of catering to vegetarians. I was wrong.... Amazing!

This is such a fun casual spot to get the night started. The bartenders here have the best vibe and…read morewe loved the back patio!

Solid taco spot / bar!!!…read more Was visiting Austin Downtown with some coworkers and we were craving Mexican food, but also wanted to get a drink. This place had the best of both worlds!! I had the guava margarita - refreshing and yum - as well as the quesadilla (brisket) and chicken taco. Both were devoured. delicious. no notes. I would say the only thing that is keeping my rating in the 4.5 range is the smaller menu, some things were sold out, and got a little bad vibe from one of the workers when picking up my food. Other than that, food was solid. Outdoor area was nice. Would come back again!

had the Agua chiles , the quesadilla, the sweet potato's and there tacos !! Highly recommend…read moregetting a couple of plates ! The food was great and the service was as well. I would highly recommended a visit! The fish was fresh , the drinks were good and the desert was amazing !

For my money, the best restaurant in Austin…read more I know this may sound cliché, but every dish is absolutely fantastic - from something as 'simple' as the guacamole to the mouthwatering suadero tacos (get them and thank me later). They even have kitchen staff whose sole job is to make tortillas so they're always fresh, which shows their attention to detail. The service is always delightful - with thoughtful, charming, and considerate front of the house staff and, I'm certain, hardworking, proficient back of the house. The place is beautiful and the ambiance is perfect for anything from happy hour drinks to a special occasion. I brought my mom here for Mother's Day and we had a terrific time. I will absolutely continue celebrating every special occasion here.

Great queso, steak tacos, and margs. Love the happy hour. Isabella was a great bar tender!read more

Manuel was really nice and served us very graciously. He checked in on us through out our dining…read moreexperience.

This isn't my first visit to Eldorado, trust I've been here many a time. This ain't my first rodeo!…read moreI 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.

Popped in here on a Tuesday night with a friend around 8 PM and I was kind of shocked how busy they…read morewere. 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!

Came here for lunch on a weekday. So the place was very quiet. Only a few other tables were…read moreoccupied. Arriba Abajo as you walked in just gave me all the vibes of a happening place when you want to hang out with friends and have a great time. We ordered the braised ribs rolled tacos for appetizers. It was so fresh and kicking' with all kinds of flavors. I wish I had ordered another one. The avocado sauce layered on the bottom was just enough to keep wanting more. For lunch I ordered the Carneasada Fajitas with chimichurri and my husband ordered the Carneasada Taqueria. With my fajitas came a side of frijoles, green rice & flour tortillas. Corn flour was the other option. Both meals came in pipin' hot & the smell coming from both was very aromatic, zesty & spice. Amazing taste, flavors, just the right amount of marinade on the Carneasada with a hint of lime. It was so delicious while enjoying the ambiance. Our server was a delight and took very good care of us. We didn't order any of their alcoholic beverages since we were both working, but definitely we will be back to enjoy more food and try out their beverages.

This Mexican themed bar and grill in the Thompson Hotel (Tommie) in Downtown Austin is a great…read moreescape from the hustle of the city. It's up on the 4th floor next to the roof deck (which means you can place an order to take outside and lounge under a giant umbrella or sneak into the pool (you can reach your arm over the gate). The fish taco and carne asada are both excellent and they have a fantastic drink menu (which is expensive though). Service is mediocre depending on who you get. I've had amazing experience and other times just felt really neglected or ignored...but in general they're good. I really want to go back and try the $150 Mezcal Omakase Japanese experience one day when I get afford it. It's 6 courses with drinks. Let me know if you've tried it.

Another fun place in Austin! Great Mexican food, great and…read morefast service and the mood here was so cozy and inviting- we really enjoyed our food here. So we were thinking of tacos or Mexican food and my daughter suggested this spot as she had come here with some friends and really enjoyed their sopecitos. I had never had a sopecito! What is that! So we had to try... We were lucky to arrive at the right time (9 pm!) where we got their last table!! Make reservations or something because this is another one of those places that fills up! So- we were taken care of immediately: chips and some very hot salsas were set on the table while we chose. They menu is in QR code format, but we asked and got paper menus as well. Well I got the chicken sopecitos , my daughter got the pork ones and my partner got the meat tacos. Everything was delicious, the food arrived promptly, the portion size was perfect and bountiful and everything was super enjoyable. I really enjoyed trying some New Mexican favorites. Next time I will try some other delicacies since I always get tacos tacos burritos or quesadillas: time for some new items on the menu! Enjoy!

Could have been much better. Many of their dishes are very…read moresweet, instead of savory. Salsa was the best thing. Music was so loud in the back room areas that you could not even have a conversation with others at your table. When I asked to have the music turned down, I was ignored. Dishes were on the pricer side. We won't be back.

We celebrated our anniversary at ATX Cocina and had an incredible night. The entire restaurant is…read moregluten-free, which is a huge plus, and the food absolutely delivers -- don't sleep on the Hamachi Crudo. Our server Alexa went above and beyond all evening -- he arranged a champagne toast and a beautiful dessert for us, and at the end of the night the staff surprised us with a personalized anniversary card signed by so many of the team. It was a genuinely sweet touch that we weren't expecting. The food was outstanding across the board, but seriously -- order the Hamachi Crudo. You won't regret it. If you're looking for a spot that nails the food AND makes you feel taken care of, ATX Cocina is it. We'll definitely be back.

It's actually kind of insane that this place has a 4.2 at the time of writing this review. I…read moreliterally just ate at a Michelin star restaurant in ATX two days ago. This place is better. Flat out. The food is unreal. The hamachi crudo is the best raw seafood dish I've had in any kind of short-term or long-term memory. The carne asada has a masterful balance of just enough smoky flavor and spice. As someone who's been cooking Mexican cuisine for decades, it's very difficult to properly assess how balanced those chiles will turn out. The pork chop was also unreal. We ate every bit off the bone. We live in NYC and eat nothing but great meals. This place is a standout for us in ATX. Can't wait to come back here when we are back in Austin.

Fonda San Miguel never disappoints! We visited on Cinco de Mayo with another couple, and as…read moreexpected, the place was packed--but we were pleasantly surprised to find a table fairly quickly on a first-come, first-served basis. We started with their famous house Margaritas with Tajín, and they were absolutely delicious--and definitely strong in the best way. My boyfriend and I shared the Ceviche Las Brisas, which was incredibly fresh with generous, perfectly cut pieces of fresh white fish from the Gulf of Mexico. For our main dish, we split the vegetable Enchiladas de Mole Poblano, served with rice and black refried beans. I wish the enchiladas had more vegetables. Everything on the plate was outstanding, and I truly think they have the best mole in town--rich, complex, and unforgettable. We were also celebrating a friend's birthday, and the staff made it extra special by surprising her with a complimentary Tres Leches cake, which was just as amazing as everything else we had. Great food, lively atmosphere, and wonderful service--Fonda San Miguel continues to be one of our favorite spots. We can't wait to go back!

Thank god for valet, cuz that location is wretched…read more They run a tight ship - speedy and attentive - though some of the prices are whack. The bar staff seems a bit of a mixed bag but it's all good if you're just getting shots and beers. Margs seemed fine. Ambiance is the real winner here, but I clocked some table locations that seemed like real losers in that regard.