Chicken, biscuits, and sides.
The barbacoa is top notch, while the picadillo is mind-numbingly good, made from minced – not ground – beef. What sucked us in originally was the promise of chivo (goat barbacoa), which melts in your mouth with intensely good flavor and isn't too gamey. The carne guisada is tender and smothered in a rich, beefy, comino-kissed sauce, while the pork carnitas are tender and unctuous. When it all settles out, La Fruta has vaulted into rarified territory as one of the best taquerias in town.
This restaurant is known for its giant breakfast tacos and excellent Mexican food in a homey diner atmosphere. Start with queso at an outdoor table before digging in.
Tom Micklethwait's vintage 1960 Comet food trailer has a smoker on the back that produces terrific brisket, as well as moist chicken, baby back ribs, and pork loin. We want the sweet-spicy-garlicky sauce by the gallon, and while we're at it, we'll take as much mayo-mustard potato salad and sweet and sour slaw as we can fit in the car. Did we mention the housemade sausage?
This locally-owned artisan purveyor of empanadas focuses on fresh ingredients and unexpected flavor combinations. Baked fresh and made from scratch with the highest quality unbleached American flour.
A subtle kick from the red beans and rice, combined with the perfect breading on the fried shrimp and oyster po-boys, makes everyone a crazy Cajun.
Mueller denizens can make it a dog-walk to this purveyor of breakfast tacos.
Named for the Buenos Aires suburb of La Boca, this pizzeria serves gourmet calzones, pizzas, pastas, gnocchi, and homemade sausages.
Go during the day for a full serving of your daily veggies in the Bloody Mary, which is really a salad in a glass. It’s a mild-mannered, daytime coffee shop that evolves into a comfortable bar after dark, offering fabulous drinks in a room filled with furniture worthy of any good thrift store score.
Pick up some tasty sandwiches on fresh bagels here.
Stays open until 3am on Fridays and Saturdays, so if you hurry over you can still make it after the clubs close. Some say they have the best chicken in town.
This institution has been around since the Armadillo days, when hungry cosmic cowboys restored themselves at its booths. Find breakfast selections galore.
Terry knows how to batter up and fry right. Ample dinner boxes of shrimp, fish, and chicken can be yours if you get there before it closes absurdly early.
Watch the heat rise with this selection of hot Elgin sausage and fine Texas meat. The brisket is available raw or cooked, as are the ribs, mutton, and, yes, summer sausage.
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