Little Mexico

2304 S. First, 462-2188

Daily, 7am-9:30pm

There’s something about Little Mexico that sets it apart from most South First Street Tex-Mex eateries. Maybe it’s the atmosphere, which unlike many Tex-Mex restaurants, seems comfortably domestic. Maybe it’s that, in addition to well-known Tex-Mex favorites, they offer some very good interior Mexican dishes. Or perhaps it’s the eclectic live music that is featured every Thursday night. Whatever it is, a meal at Little Mexico is always easy and generally satisfying. Owned and operated by Rosa Elia Sosa, her Little Mexico kitchen reproduces the classic home cooking that Sosa grew up with. The pork in adobo is a pleasant diversion — rich and flavorful, this spicy stew-like dish makes a yummy filling for corn tortillas. The stewy pork with squash offers an offbeat quality that standard Tex-Mex never really delivers. In addition to these homey interior Mexican dishes, the kitchen at Little Mexico prepares the expected enchiladas, chalupas, and fajitas. Not-too-cheesy chiles relleno topped with tangy, seasoned red sauce keep us coming back. Meaty refried beans and fluffy Spanish rice garnish each plate with flavorful renditions of generally ubiquitous side dishes. Sit outside on their patio under the soothing shade of their giant pecan trees. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Little Mexico takes you one stop closer to that glittering endpoint on the road to Tex-Mex contentment.

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Rachel Feit is an archaeologist by trade who worked her way through college in kitchens in Chicago and Austin before discovering that dishing up words was more satisfying that dishing up meals. She has been writing about food and restaurants for The Austin Chronicle for more than a decade, but still loves to cook.