https://www.austinchronicle.com/food/1998-03-13/522992/

Mexican Breakfasts

March 13, 1998, Food

Hernandez
photograph by John Anderson

Mexican breakfasts can save your body from late night schmoozing or even just boozing during SXSW. Here's a glossary to aid the uninitiated in - M.P.

Breakfast taco: your choice of fillings in a soft, usually flour tortilla. Choose from bacon, chorizo, egg, potato, refried beans, migas, or machacado.

Migas: Eggs scrambled together with cheese and still-crisp tortilla chips, topped by ranchero sauce (hot, tomato-based salsa).

Pozole: Chicken and hominy soup in a pork broth. Garnish it yourself with tiny side trays of oregano, chili de arbol, onion, and lime. An absolute must.

Huevos Rancheros: Eggs topped with ranchero sauce, served with tortillas.

Huevos à la Mexicana: Eggs scrambled with onions, tomatoes, and jalapeños or bell peppers.

Chorizo: Traditional Mexican pork sausage. Highly seasoned, but not hot like Italian or Polish sausage. Reddish brown color, crumbly texture.

Menudo: Tripe stew - a traditional Mexican hangover cure that separates the squeamish from the brave (Mexicans who grew up eating it).

Chilaquiles: Crispy tortilla chips softening in a chili sauce, topped with lots of jack cheese, garnished with sour cream.

Machacado: Mexican-style dried beef, usually scrambled with eggs.

Papas Fritas: Fried potatoes, superior to home fries.

Knowing the terminology is important, but so is where to go. Start the day off right at one of the following breakfast hot spots - in some cases, menu recommendations are included.

Botanitas

6400 S. First St., 441-2424

Scores of Austin musicians can't be wrong about the huevos benedictos.

Cisco's Restaurant Bakery & Bar

1511 E. Sixth St., 478-2420

Legendary breakfast spot, especially for the political crowd. Migas, huevos rancheros.

Curra's Grill

614 E. Oltorf, 444-0012

Huevos Motulenos - two fried eggs swimming in black beans, garnished with fried bananas and topped with a chipotle (dried jalapeño) sauce.

El Sol y la Luna

1224 S. Congress Ave., 444-7770

Posole - you won't be sorry.

Enchiladas y Mas

2804 N. I-35, 478-9222

Chorizo Migas - with enough spice and heat to give your upper lip the serious sweats.

Guero's Taco Bar

1412 S. Congress, 447-7688

Homemade tortillas and celebrity-watching with every breakfast served.

Hernandez Cafe

1201 E. Sixth St., 472-0323

Juan in a Million

2300 East Cesar Chavez St., 472-3872

Don Juan taco - chunks of bacon, eggs, and a pile of cheese make this taco way too big for the one tortilla; make sure you order an extra.

La Reyna

1816 S. First, 447-1280

Las Manitas (Avenue Cafe)

211 Congress, 472-9357

Migas Especiales con Hongos - good migas made better with mushrooms and garlic.

Mexico Tipico

1707 E. Sixth St., 472-3222

Migas With Cheese - some of the cheesiest - and most comforting to the tummy - in town.

Mi Madre's

2201 Manor Rd., 322-9721

Migas, tacos.

Polvo's

2004 S. First St.,

Machacado con Huevos - all breakfasts here are under $4. Try the remarkable salsas.