The Best Mexican Food In Austin | 10 Must-Try Mexican Restaurants In Austin

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When it comes to comfort food in Austin, it’s usually Tex-Mex. Nothing else will do once that particular craving hits. It’s impossible to beat the taste of sizzling fajitas or chopping into a cheesy enchilada when it’s hot and spicy.

Combining Mexican fare with Texas tradition has brought Austin to the promised land of flavors—full of bowls of Aztec soup, Carne guisada, and of course tacos!

Mexican food in Austin ranges from food trucks to fine dining, from ceviche and mole to broiled fish and goat soup. You’ll also find an array of specialty dishes you probably haven’t tried yet, such as duck enmoladas and goat soup. 

Instead of wasting time searching for the best Mexican restaurants in Austin, I have compiled this list for you. Enjoy!

Visiting other destinations in Texas? Check out our other delicious guides:

The 10 Must-Try Mexican Restaurants In Austin, Texas

1800 E 6th St, Austin // +15129530092

There has long been talk about this East Austin institution as the premier purveyor of authentic Mexican food, and it does not disappoint. 

Their delicious tortillas arrive stuffed with an array of flavor-packed seasonal offerings and are made with local heirloom corn from Central Texas.

With seasonal ingredients such as local heirloom corn and goat rib barbecue, chef Fermin Nunez prepares dishes like tetela al carbon. 

They have a wide selection of mezcal and tequila, and you’ll find both on the cocktail menu. The Nada Paloma’s refreshing drink is made with mezcal, white tequila and grapefruit soda.

2038 S Lamar Blvd, Austin // +15124424441

The neighborhood favorite El Meson Tequileria recently returned indoors after over a decade of popular outdoor dining. The wood-fired grills have been fired up and are cooking up top-notch tacos. 

A variety of regional specialties are available on the menu, including ceviche acapulqueno, chile en nogada, and guajillo pork prepared in the Northern style. 

You should try their bistec tacos with delicate, yet powerfully seasoned skirt steak. Additionally, it serves an incredibly delicious Enchiladas Norteñas with cotija cheese that slowly chips to reveal the sweet corn beneath. 

Creating everything from scratch and sourcing locally whenever possible is another reason to hop on board. So head right here if you want to satisfy your taco cravings!

1306 E 6th St, Austin // +15124805960

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This cozy, inviting Mexican restaurant was inspired by the spirit of Mexico City and sought to recreate its authentic street food tradition among the beautiful design and airy ambiance of East Austin. One of the best Mexican restaurants in Austin and here’s why!

The menu features house-made salsa, slow-roasted meats, and sauces redolent with spices. Plus they have salads, too! 

Picture-perfect plates to snap with your phone that include cochinita pibil and tinga de pollo, which sit beautifully alongside homemade tortillas, guac, salsa, escabeche, pico, beans, and chips. Amazing! Right?

1816 S Lamar Blvd, Austin // +15123264395

With the return of Sazón, indoor and outdoor service is once again available. You will find regional dishes from Puebla, Yucatán, Veracruz, Oaxaca, and Mexico City throughout the restaurant’s menu. 

They are known for their pipian Verde con Pollo (toasted pumpkin seed sauce, poached chicken) and their wires of red (grilled beef tenderloin with vegetables). 

1319 Rosewood Ave, Austin // +15129457577

Anyone familiar with the term “discada” may already be familiar with one of the tacos on the menu at this small but mighty East Austin trailer, but even those out of the loop will be impressed with the two dishes available. 

The discada refers to a seven-layered Mexican culinary method known as cowboy-wok cooking, and the unassuming trailer certainly lives up to its rustic moniker.

The unassuming spot only serves two dishes: Mexican chef Juanita’s signature Disco Taco, which is a tortilla topped with meat and pineapple, along with the Elote en Vaso, a cup of bright yellow corn dressed with tajin, mayo and queso fresco.

This talented group sells out almost every day, so call ahead or follow their social media for reservations.

111 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin // +15126652713

With Reyna and Maritza Vazquez at the helm of Veracruz All Natural, the sisters have mastered both the Mexican restaurant and taco trailer business model.

They’re known for their Migas and al pastor tacos, and their trailers (on Cesar Chavez and at Radio Coffee) set themselves apart from the rest of Austin’s taco trucks by using fresh ingredients and adding little additions like housemade chips and juices. 

I tried their Dona Reyna Taco along with some homemade chips with guacamole. It was amazing!

They also have brick-and-mortar stores in North Austin, Round Rock, and downtown Austin that maintain their loyal following.

948 Payton Gin Rd, Austin // +15126084166

You can’t find better Tex-Mex than at Alli Mexican Cuisine. Consistently voted “One of the Best Mexican Restaurants in Austin” for the last five years, this popular spot serves up classic soups, tacos and sopes in a cozy atmosphere. 

Order the crispy duck variety with green tomatillo sauce and black beans for a unique take on enchiladas.

For true Tex-Mex aficionados, a steaming bowl of caldo is always a necessity when the cold sets in. This soup is subtly spiced and contains meat or chicken, cabbage, carrots, squash, and green beans. 

8610 N Lamar Blvd #114, Austin // +15124906622

Riverside is filled with the best Mexican restaurants in Austin, but El Taquito is the most charming by far, despite Taco More’s salsa bar and goat soup. 

Taquitos have dominated the late-night menu since 1995 at this restaurant—founded by immigrants from Tamaulipas. 

Since it closes at 1 am on weekends, it’s an excellent alternative to the strip’s fast-food chains, plus it serves an undeniably great al pastor taco. 

With a diverse menu that includes queso fusions and enchiladas, it’s more than just a taco joint, and the market-style option of buying meat by the pound can transform a kitchen into an actual taco stand (just don’t forget the onions and cilantro).

400 W 2nd St A, Austin // +15124990300

Inside one of the city’s most dazzling spaces, La Condesa serves a hip take on traditional Mexican food. It’s framed by a colorful, oversized mural where trendy Austinites dig (and dig into) the restaurant’s three-day-long mole recipe. 

This rooftop patio overlooking Guadalupe Street is perhaps one of the city’s few and most urban-feeling happy hour spots—stop in for drinks and appetizers such as Chapulines (Oaxacan grasshoppers with roasted garlic, guacamole and salsa tomatillo).

The Mexico City district it’s named after is just as buzzing and stylish as La Condesa, with a large dining area and patio space for you and your crew to relax in a socially-distanced style. 

You can enjoy half-priced cocktails from 11 am to 3 pm on Sundays after brunch to enhance the amazing ceviche or share a huge party package with plenty of meats, tortillas, beans, and more to feed you and five friends.

2201 Manor Rd, Austin // +15123229721

Located on Manor Road, Mi Madre’s serves delicious breakfast tacos that taste like a loving parent made them. 

Mi Madre’s is no doubt, one of the best Mexican restaurants in Austin. Known for exceptional breakfast and lunch—and now dinner!—the food is fresh, authentic, and always served with a smile. 

Enjoy their mole wings or an al pastor fry-up before trying their famous mole sauce on a roasted goat pasilla. They also have the fabulous chicken chile relleno.

Summary About The Best Mexican Restaurants In Austin

So, we learned that If there’s one culinary tradition Austin truly excels at, it’s Mexican. And If you love Mexican food as much as I do, I’m sure you’re always on the lookout for what’s new and noteworthy. 

You can learn all about the city and its culture through its restaurants, regardless of if you’re a long-term Austin resident or just visiting for a few days.

Austin’s vibrant Mexican food scene covers a far wider range of styles and flavors than basic Tex-Mex. 

So, whether it’s tacos, tortas, tamales or more, these are the best Mexican restaurants in Austin that are serving up some seriously delicious home cooking worthy of a long drive. Trust me!