El Gallo
2910 S. Congress, 444-2205Tuesday-Thursday, 11am-10pm; Friday-Saturday, 11am-11pm; Sunday, 11am-9pm
Having fed three generations of Austinites, this Tex-Mex restaurant continues to thrive from its south-side location. The dining room is appropriately bedecked in pinks and blues. Their Norteño-influenced Tex-Mex menu lists increasingly hard-to-find dishes such as cabrito (roasted goat), puntas de res, and carnitas. The usual suspects are also present — tamales, enchiladas, and fajitas. Weight watchers will love their healthy low(er) fat lunches.
El Flaco Mexican Cafe
3632 S. Congress, 444-2767Monday-Saturday, 6:30am-2:30pm;
Sunday, 7:30am-2:30pm
The skinny on this place is that they serve Mexican food just like your abuelita used to make. However, there’s nothing skinny about their portions, which consistently attract hearty eaters hungry for the El Grande size. Some of their more popular menu items include migas, chicharones, machacado, barbacoa de cabeza, menudo, and carne guisada. Their refried beans are a particular favorite among regulars. Everything at El Flaco is made from scratch, and they serve breakfast all day long.
El Patio
2938 Guadalupe, 476-5955Monday-Saturday, 11am-9:45pm
In the same location since 1954, El Patio has changed neither its recipes nor its décor since it opened. Loyal diners keep coming back for the same old-school Tex-Mex favorites and friendly service they’ve been enjoying for more than four decades. El Patio only recently began serving tortilla chips instead of saltines (though the latter are still available by request). Enchiladas, chalupas, and fried egg sandwiches star at this well-known UT area eatery, and every meal ends with the traditional choice of sherbet or candy.
Inocente’s Cafe
2337 E. Cesar Chavez, 479-0218Sunday-Thursday, 7am-8pm;
Friday-Saturday, 7am-10pm
For better than 16 years, the Ramirezes have been preparing good Tex-Mex cuisine from this red brick cafe in East Austin. With Inocente Jr. and Sr. both working the floor and Aunt Estella in the kitchen, Inocente’s Cafe cultivates a decidedly family atmosphere. Try their menudo for a guaranteed hangover cure. Other featured dishes include enchiladas, carne guisada, and a family-style parillada for $32.95. Inocente’s is a great place to sip an icy agua de horchata and soak up the flavor of the neighborhood.
Angie’s
900 E. Seventh, 476-5413Monday, Wednesday-Thursday, 7:30am-4pm; Friday, 7:30am-9pm; Saturday-Sunday, 7:30am-4pm
Brightly painted interior and funky icons make this restaurant seem like something out of a Pedro Almodóvar film. Featuring a small menu of well-prepared Tex-Mex dishes, Angie’s consistently pleases a well-established crowd of regulars for breakfast and lunch. Try their huevos rancheros, served with crispy home fried potatoes and meaty refried beans. At lunch, go for their carnitas.
This article appears in February 15 • 2002.