Here's the Cheese: Chile Con Queso Options

Matt's El Rancho

by John Anderson

• Culinary Bucket List

  The real deal: veteran foodies dish on where to eat in Austin

  BY VIRGINIA B. WOOD

• Down Home and Chicken-Fried ... Steak, That Is

  BY RACHEL FEIT

• Welcome to Austin! Now, Drink Some Beer.

  BY IVY LE

• Celebrity-Spotting and People-Watching

  BY MELANIE HAUPT

• For Those Late-Night, All-Night Cravings

  BY JESSI CAPE

• Places That Still Take Reservations in Casual-Town, Texas

  BY WES MARSHALL

• Kickin' It Old School: Historic Dining in the ATX

  BY MM PACK

• > Here's the Cheese: Chile Con Queso Options

• Off the Beaten Path

  BY KATE THORNBERRY

• Sweet Tooth Satisfaction

  BY VIRGINIA B. WOOD

Chuy's (1728 Barton Springs Rd.) Definitive Tex-Mex chile con queso here: smooth with green chiles, Ranchero sauce, and endless warm chips.

Matt's El Rancho (2613 S. Lamar) Just say "Gimme a Large Bob" for Matt's famous Bob Armstrong Dip, which claims to have been the first to add pico de gallo, guacamole, and ground beef to the cheese.

Maudie's, Too (1212 S. Lamar) Maudie's keeps it simple with mellow chiles, but consider the Diablo Sol Food with spicy beef, onions and pico.

Fonda San Miguel (2330 W. North Loop) Quesos Asados is the way to go here: a melty blend of white cheeses served with handmade tortillas. Add rajas (strips of roasted poblano peppers) and housemade pork chorizo for a decadent start.

Black Sheep Lodge (2108 S. Lamar) While it's best known for its burgers and beer selection, do give the Green Chili Queso a shot. Be sure to get the salsa, and, to take it all the way, add a scoop of housemade chili.

El Patio (2938 Guadalupe) Serving up classic Tex-Mex for nearly 60 years, this chile con que­so is a tribute to un-fussiness – classic, drippy goodness in a bowl.