The weekly Chronicle feature “Second Helpings” offers readers the opportunity to sample tasty, bite-sized restaurant listings compiled from new and previous reviews, guides, and poll results. This week’s entries were updated by Chronicle writer Greg Beets. When you need quick, reliable information about Austin eateries, check here.
Chumikal’s
3223 E. Seventh, 385-8898
Monday, 6am-5pm; Tuesday-Saturday, 6am-8pm
In addition to great, cheap hamburger baskets, Chumikal’s serves a Salvadoran menu on Fridays from 5-9pm and Saturdays from 2-9pm. A sampler platter allows you to try almost everything on the menu. Pasteles are salty, deep-fried corn tortillas with shredded chicken and mild, savory stuffing much like a decadent empanada. Pupusas are masa pancakes filled with shredded pork or green chile and cheese, like Mexican sopes turned inside out. The sizable Salvadoran tamal is a beautiful thing: pork shredded with chopped green beans, olives, and potatoes, mixed with masa and steamed in a banana leaf. Fried yucca with hot sauce and plantains fried with dried pork deliciously round out the meal. You can order holiday tamales now for $6 per dozen.
Elsi’s
4708 Burnet, 454-0747
Monday-Saturday, 7am-4pm; Sunday, 8am-4pm
Though it advertises itself as a Salvadoran/ Mexican restaurant, most menu items at Elsi’s are traditional Mexican dishes prepared with Salvadoran flair. Accordingly, items like enchiladas with chipotle sauce are more tangy than spicy, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing for mild-mannered palates. Salvadoran dishes such as pupusas and cortida, the Salvadoran national dish of masa gorditas filled with spiced pork or cheese alongside spicy cabbage slaw, often appear as lunch specials. Elsi’s is also a popular neighborhood hangout for breakfast. Big Salvadoran style tamales wrapped in banana leaves are available for the holidays at $15.25 per dozen in beef, pork, and vegetarian poblano varieties.
Miguel’s La Bodega
415 Colorado, 472-2369
Wednesday, 5pm-12:30am; Thursday-Saturday, 5pm-2am
Though primarily a Mexican restaurant, Miguel’s La Bodega features several South American dishes, such as the Parilla a la Chimichurri (grilled fish or chicken with an Argentinean marinade of cilantro, garlic, herbs, and citrus). In addition, the restaurant occasionally hosts dinners where a specific Latin American cuisine is featured (call for details). You can make an evening of it by taking salsa, merengue, cumbia, or cha-cha lessons and trying out your new steps on Miguel’s popular dance floor.
El Zunzal
642 Calles, 474-7749
Monday-Thursday, 8am-9pm; Friday-Sunday, 9am-10pm
Taking its name from the popular surfing beach on El Salvador’s Pacific coast, this cheery spot appears to be the social center for the growing local Salvadoran population. It’s a cozy, comfortable place serving Mexican and Salvadoran specialties. We recommend the arroz con albondigas, the mariscadas, and the pupusas. There are burgers, burritos, and soup for the less adventurous. They’re cooking seven days a week, early ’til late.
Julio’s
4230 Duval, 452-1040
Monday-Thursday, 8am-10pm; Friday, 8am-10pm; Saturday, 9am-10pm
The signature item at this Hyde Park cafe is meltingly tender rotisserie chicken. Julio’s marinates and seasons their birds before roasting, creating an inimitable taste sensation that’s not too spicy and far from bland. Vegetarian tacos with perfectly grilled zucchini and summer squash are another favorite. Other menu options include enchiladas, chalupas, fajitas, and migas for breakfast. Even the pinto beans and rice are prepared with flair.
Doña Emilia’s
1411 E. Seventh, 478-2520
Tuesday-Friday, 11am-3pm, 5pm-9pm; Saturday, 11am-9pm; Sunday, 11am-6pm
Located across the street from the recently refurbished Texas State Cemetery, Doña Emilia’s specializes in the hearty cuisine of Colombia. Menu highlights include Ajiaco, a cream of potato and chicken soup served with rice and avocado, and Sobrebarriga a la Criolla, a stewed beef brisket in sauce. For an appetizer, try the Pandebono, a Colombian-style cheese bread. Doña Emilia’s also serves Sunday brunch and several $5.25 weekday lunch specials.
Empanada Parlour
707 E. Sixth, 480-8902
Monday-Friday, 11am-2am; Saturday, noon-2am; Sunday, noon-4pm
This eclectic restaurant is a fine spot for an inexpensive downtown lunch. Entrée empanadas include Argentinean chicken, turkey with curry, picadillo, and spinach with feta cheese and chipotle sauce. Sweet empanadas include pear with vanilla and pumpkin with pecans and cajeta. Soup, salads, and sandwiches are also served. The more expensive dinner menu includes items such as roasted Cornish hen and grilled salmon. As the night goes on, the Empanada Parlour’s cool basement bar becomes more active with happy hour drink specials and an eclectic live music menu.
This article appears in November 30 • 2001.