Cinco De Mayo: Best Traditional Mexican Restaurants In Austin

As my Cindo de Mayo gift to you, I shall bestow upon you the rarest thing I know...a list of GOOD Mexican food restaurants in Austin. Keep in mind, this is just traditional fare, not your Tex-Mex joints.

Santa Catarina

Via santacatarinarestaurant.com

Tucked away in Lakeway of all places, this place is interior Mexican at its finest - also it's pretty affordable. This is the real deal.

Dinner Menu

La Cocina de Consuelo

Via consueloskitchen.com

This is a tiny (and I do mean tiny) homey place that reminded me of visiting my abuelita's house as a kid. Complete with Abuelita in the kitchen making magic.

Dinner Menu

El Chile

Via elchilecafe.com

Approachable, affordable goodness. Their barbacoa is awesome, and they have some spicy signature dishes that are fantastico!

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Fonda San Miguel

Via fondasanmiguel.com

Fancy fancy fancy. But where else are you going to get duck enchiladas in mole sauce? Nowhere, that's where. Worth the price.

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Manuel's

Via manuels.com

A little on the high side, but they do wonders with interior Mexican, the best example being their venison dishes and seafood nachos.

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Garrido's

Via garridosaustin.com

More South American with a global flare, including Mexican dishes mixed with wonderful influences from France, Argentina, and Cuba. Coined as "New World Latino" and it's definitely not bad.

Dinner Menu

Takoba

Via takobarestaurant.com

A good mix of Mexican with local influence. Customization is easy here, with choices of sauces like molcajete, and good rellenos and pozole

Menus

El Naranjo

Via elnaranjo-restaurant.com

Rainey...what more is there to say?

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Azul Tequila

Coined as Aztec food, serving up traditional fare in a clean friendly location.

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Tortuga Flats

Via tortugaflats.com

From the pedigree of Driskill and El Chile. North, but still good.

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Tacos

If you're in the mood for cheap and easy.

La Fruta Feliz

Don't let the location and lack of English scare you; they have the best Chivo (goat) tacos, and Lengua de Res, bar none. Just point and order if you have to, it's worth it.

Check out the reviews

Torchy's Tacos

If you haven't been to this local chain, shame on you! It's the go-to fast-food taco staple.

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Paco's Tacos

Custom taco Heaven.

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