TacoTown is starting a new weekly taco lunch excursion – Taco Turrsdays! make sure you are our fan on facebook then be on the lookout for invites to meet us around town for some Thursday taco tastings..

for the inaugural run, we hit up the trailer scene on south congress near stassney.. site of the recent taco trailer murder..

First up was Chilango’s.. we had been here before and this visit was on par with last time .. the al pastor taco ($1.75) was good – flavorful and meaty, and the carne guisada was decent – the flavor was a little bland but he meat was tender – no dryness.. stay away from the fajita beef!.. no bueno. Chappy had a $1 cup of mexican coffee that was surprisingly good with a nice cinnamon flavor.

Next up was Tacos Linda, which was only 50ft. away and the site of the aforementioned murder.. the trailer was the same (it still had the ” La Surena” sign written on the side), but it was under new ownership. When asked, the owner said they weren’t really bothered by what had happened .. fair enough.. besides, it all makes sense to me now – their tacos really are to die for.. (too soon? sorry  :-/ )

Tacos Linda served up $1.75 tacos on handmade tortillas.. they were the highlight of our Turrstay.. as was the al pastor that edged out Chilango’s on flavor..
the owner and cook were friendly and attentive.. they even made us some free tacos before we left.. some tacos Campechanos – bistek and chorizo mixed and served on a freshly-made corn tortilla.. they were awesome! .. they serve their salsas wrapped in little sandwich baggies.. funny. We heard that the weekends are the best time to go to Tacos Linda because they have special goat barbacoa and fresh tamales.. The assortment of tortas on the menu also looked promising.. We will definitely have to return for a followup..

Lastly, we decided to swing by Antojito’s Mexicanos on south first near Clifford Dr. ..  Cabeza went for the Chicharron taco.. total fail.. I tried the al pastor.. moderate fail.. shoulda quit while we were ahead.
til next Tursday!!

Murder Scene: La Sureña Taco Trailer (credit AAS)

Austin Police are still searching for the gunman who shot and killed a 43 year-old employee Sunday afternoon at the La Sureña Taco Trailer (translation: “The Southern”) on South Congress near Stassney. {google street view}.

Hispanic male in his mid-20s to early 30s, about 5 feet 8 inches tall, with a thin build, wearing a yellow shirt under a dark jacket and dark baseball cap, walked up to the taco stand about 3 p.m. and shot the man working inside, police said. The employee was pronounced dead at the scene. statesman article >

TacoTown has never tried La Sureña, but it’s about 100 feet away from Chilango’s, which is easily one of the best taco trailers in Austin.  We assume its a newer operation, cuz it seems to be in the same spot that used to be Taqueria “Angel”…

The suspect is still “on the runs“, and motive for the shooting is still unclear, though we highly suspect the chorizo.

WELL……on 2nd thought:  While TacoTown has never claimed to be a “classy” outfit, we DO apologize for the light-hearted comments on this subject.  Our hearts REALLY DO go out to the family of the victim and to all other mobile vendors in Austin.  Stay safe you guys.

-cabeza

Austin’s most popular gringo taco trailer & mobile food pioneers TORCHY’S TACOS turns 3 years old this week. To celebrate, they’re throwing a Birthday Party this Thursday evening at their non-mobile location on the corner of South 1st & El Paso.  FREE KEG BEER will be served from 7-10pm along with fiddle music from teenage prodigy Ruby Jane Smith.

Don’t forget about movie nights up the road at Torchy’s South Austin Trailer Park (1311 s. First). Tonight’s feature film is GroundHog Day

-cabeza

Al Pastor taco $0.99

I found this GREAT little taco stand just a couple minutes South-East of Austin, off Hwy 183 and DG Collins Rd.  I was the only gringo there, and the girl inside spoke ZERO engles…which is always a good sign in my book.

Chorizo/egg taco (.99) was and great, especially with the chunky, vinagery house salsa piled on top..reminded me of Maria’s w/ the chimichurri (though not quite THAT good).

Bomb Taco Alert: the Al Pastor Taco (.99), was more like a BBQ pulled pork smothered in red sauce – but it was AMAZING…highly recommended.

Las Flores – try to remember that name – and go there next time you head out near the airport or traveling towards Lockhart – its right off 183 about 5 min south of hwy 71…It may be a little off the beaten path, but there’s also a Pollo Regio stand across the street- if you feel like u wanna double up.

will post more pics later.

-cabeza

We’ve been to the downtown Serranos location plenty of times, with pretty good results, but their south location – next to Best Buy and other “big box” stores down near Mopac and Ben White has been passed by 100’s of times.. I think the fact that its flanked by an Applebee’s just kills my appetite every time I see it.. But these days, Cabeza and I have basically run out of new places to try, so its time to start digging in the dirt..

My interest was piqued when i spotted the vinyl banner  hanging from the side of the building as we drove up.. “Tuesday Lunch Special $12.99 Fajitas for Two” Okay, i can work with that… Probably cheaper than my backup lunch choice – Spec’s deli.

Not surprisingly, the 2pm lunch rush was nonexistent.. we got chips and salsa and our iced teas quickly.. The salsa was a minced pico variety..  a little dry.. it couldnt even be stirred.. just a lump of pico.. but tasty enough.. I spotted a lady in the kitchen making fresh tortillas and my spirits were once again lifted..

The mixed chicken and beef fajitas came to our table in a matter of minutes and we got to making our own personal fajita tacos for which to scarf..  Accompanying our skillet of meat and onions, we each got a plate of mexican rice, charro beans (with shredded queso blanco on top), and shredded yellow cheese.   All ingredients were tasty.. The meat was cooked right.. the beans were flavorful.. the rice was a nice filler.. but the star was the fresh made tortillas that made every bite shine… A great lunch at a great price..

ps: Tuesday is the Fajita special, but Monday is buy 1 get 1 free enchilada plates..

Behind the Shell at Ben White & Packsaddle Pass

Taqueria Charly just came fresh out the box this moanin – new trailer player (map) on the taco block – mom and son servin up them goodies fer just $1.25 each…

The awning had “best tacos in town” skrawled across it in puff paint…whoa there hombre!  U gotta pay your dues before you go slanging that kinda bravado around…besides, we’ll be the judge of that,  holmes.

GET: Chorizo/egg topped with habanero salsa

GET: potato/egg (diner style hashbrowns up in eer)

AVOID: bacon/egg (looked like fuggiin BAco’s – FAIL)

more pics after the jump >

-cabeza

I pass this trailer most days coming home from work…its located in a convenience store parking lot off the southbound feeder of i-35, just past the Whip-In.

Trompo Taco (1.50), which is just another name for the Al Pastor taco, also referenced by the flaming trompo painting on the trailer itself.  It was a hearty taco, with big chunks of pork and pineapple smothered in mystery red Pastor sauce, in a fresh flour tortilla and topped with the ubiquitous green jalapeno paste salsa (which u gringo’s may recognize as TacoDeli’s Doña sauce)

…twas definitely above average al pastor, if a bit salty and i chomped a few bubblegum fatty pieces. but not baaad.  seemed like quality offering – but it could’ve been an off day for the trompo.

The real star here was the bacon/egg taco (1.50), topped with melted white cheese. The bacon was chopped up and cooked together with the eggs so the grease flavors just melded into pure breakfast bliss.  It may be a simple combo – but when done correctly, bacon & eggs is just the tits.

Verdict: I will return for sure after having the legit bacon/egg – and I might try the pastor or the Pollo Asado taco – since that seems to be their specialty…i do love me some pollo asado. -Cabeza

bacon/egg taco

Trompo Taco

Taco Town contributors peso & tacolibre document their 1st visit to one of our favorite taco spots in Austin – Cabo Bob’s…enjoy!

The Lazy Salsa Susan!

originally posted on october 4th, 2007
Down on South First.. in a little strip center, next to the sushi karaoke joint, just south of Stassney.. its called Evita’s Botanitas.. I have no idea what a botanita is and I never met Evita either.. nonetheless, and moreover, this place is not messing around. On my two visits, the food was way above average.. spectacular in a down-home kinda way..the decor inside is gaudy, full of momentos and various nick nacks from over the years.. it reminds me of my cuban grandma’s house. theres a wall full of plaques and awards, letting you know they’ve been to the proving grounds and they brought back gold a few times..

the salsa’s are creative and unique.. they bring out 6 varieties on a nifty little 2-tiered platter..I zeroed in on the black bean salsa and mixed it with the salsa verde.. plenty of combinations for your expirimenting pleasure (6*5*4*3*2*1 = 720, isnt that how you do that?).

Chicken Verde Enchiladas

the menu is well-rounded… plenty of seafood, and entree-type dishes. you get to choose between different types of rice and beans.. the cilantro-lime rice is outstanding.. the chicken verde enchiladas’ are best-in-town contenders.. the chimichangas are heavenly..Chappy will be back for more research soon.

the staff was very friendly and accomodating on my 2 visits… and being its such a small restaurant.. you just feel… grandma’s house.. grandma’s.

the prices seem a little steep when you’re first browsing the menu, but dont worry…this place isnt over-priced.. you will know why when you taste the food.. everything I tasted seemed to be fresher and more flavorful than most mexican food in Austin.. we get used to these restaurants selling us shitty produce, cheapo meats.. it doesnt have to be that way.. there are still places out there that cook food with love and use quality ingredients.. places that give a shit.. Evita’s Botanitas is one of them.

Evita’s Botanitas [map]
6400 S 1st St Ste B
Austin, TX 78745
(512) 441-2424
http://evitasbotanitas.com/

The Score:
Atmosphere: 8
Food Quality: 9
Salsa: 8
Price: 7
Service: 8
Total: 80%
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

originally posted 10/31/06.. this review is in issue 61 of the Austin Daze! Check it out..
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
South 1st street in the ATX: Taco Row, The Isle of Mex, whatever you wanna call it, you could slip on an enchilada and fall into basket of tacos one step off the sidewalk. This is where the taco obsession started for me, my taco homeland. I used to work in an office at Monroe and South 1st.. come lunch time every day, we would choose the next restaurant in line.. El Mercado, Jovita’s, Little Mexico, La Reyna, La Mexicana Bakery, Aranada’s #5, and of course, Polvo’s…

Polvo’s is about a “South Austin” as you can get.. Its not overly-trendy by any means.. it is real. The decor is funky and colorful.. the patio is always crowded and the wait staff is laid back and helpful. Its where the real Austinites go to eat. Its a great place to have some drinks, you’ll probably run in to an old friend and see a semi-famous Austinite or two there as well. The food is not tex-mex, rather, it is mostly authentic central mexican dishes, they are known for their fish tacos.

The salsa bar is there right when you walk inside, a round ice trough with 4 or 5 fresh salsas there for the tasting. Grab a bowl and see how many varieties you can carry back to your table without having an accident. My favorite is the dark red roaste ancho salsa.. its the perfect amount of tangy-spicy-ness. don’t forget to try the free escebeche… pickled carrots and jalapenos…tasty.

On this particular day, I was in the mood to sample some new stuff. I decided to order 3 different tacos..one beef fajita, a chicken mole, and a pastor taco with rice and beans to complete the meal. My runnin pardner, Cabeza, ordered the fish encholadas with the cartuja pipien sauce, which is a rich almond creme sauce that I have sampled in the past.. Its an amazing sauce that you have to try to understand.

Food came. My tacos looked beautiful, large, and steaming hot. The homemade corn tortillas were everything they should be, dense and strong enough to survive a large amount of fillings without cracking or getting too soggy. they are damn near perfect in that they dont distract you from the taco fillings. I went for the chicken mole taco. It was tasty, with shredded chicken and a generous amount of mole sauce drizzled on top. I keep trying mole in this town and I am always led back to Curra’s.. if you dig mole – its my hands down favorite. Polvo’s mole was respectable, but not worthy of much praise from Chappy.

The highlight of my taco triage was most certainly the beef fajita.. it was amazing.. the beef was marinated and cooked to perfection.. tender and exploding with flavor.. the grilled pablano peppers mixed in were a pleasant counterpart to the beef. I was having a taste bud oragasm eating this taco. I was not expecting this at all.. most the time the beef fajita meat is a standard afterthought, but here, and in the late afternoon no less, the beef fajita was the shining light of taco beauty that made Chappy want to die and ascend into the the heavens while eating on the last bite. I’m not kidding.

Cabeza’s fish enchiladas where a very respectable runner up to the beef fajita taco. FYI – a past highlight of the menu has been the exotic tacos – where you can get the aforementioned Almond Creme Sauce on an open face tortilla with your choice of meat.. its cheap and huge – 1 taco is enough for a meal.
All in all, a great Polvo’s experience. Another reason why I love this town. There are endless opportunities for fearless taco explorers to roam the streets in search of mexi-perfection. On this day, I succeeded.

Polvo’s Mexican Restaurant
2004 S 1st St (Cross Street: W Johanna Street)
Austin, TX 78704 View Map
(512) 441-5446

The Score:
Food: 9 (quality across the board)
Salsa: 8 (great salsas – good variety)
Tortillas: 8(perfect corn, standard flour)
Price: 8 (cheap meal)
Service: 7 (sometimes slow, but always friendly)

total: 80%
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Changos is offering a damn good deal on lunch these days.   I got a 2 taco plate with rice and beans (refried per request) and Horchata- my favorite drink in the world- for $6.95.

As I’m writing this I can’t stop thinking of how fucking good that Horchata is . Its self-serve too.  I love to mix the horchata either the watermelon or cantaloupe agua frescas.  Oh man, I might go there again today just to get that drink.

The 2 tacos were Chicken Tinga tacos served on corn tortillas with shredded lettuce and diced tomatoes – VERY TASTY.

I usually never order corn tortillas but i dont think i had a choice this time. I could be wrong about that. But either way, even with 2 corn tortillas supporting all that lovely stuffing, the bottoms were still soggy enough to fall out and thus force me to eat them with a fork and knife. Bernie hates this. I also cant stand when someone makes me a sandwhich that has so much shit on it that it just falls apart. That is not a fkg sammy, that is a plate of fail. However, in this case it was ok because the Tinga sauce was excellent and the chicken melted in my mouth.

Tinga Taco Lunch $6.95

Rice and beans are really tough to talk about because its so tough to tell any difference really. I mean, with the rice, all im looking for is that its flavored correctly, is fluffy, and doesnt have any crunchies in it that indicates someone burnt some of it. And for the beans, especially refried, im just looking to make sure there are no toenails or band-aids in it. That said, both rice and beans were WIN.

When i was leaving i asked the very friendly chiquita that was jockin the register what was in the Tinga sauce and she just simply replied that it was “a chipotle-based sauce with onions and other spices.”  Good enough for me.

I will definitely go back and have this same lunch special again…if not just for that crack juice they call Horchata.

-bernie

CHANGOS Taqueria
3005 S Lamar Blvd
Austin, TX 78704
menu here >

editors note: For those of you that don’t know Joby: he’s the mastermind behind Joby’s Hot Sauce Contest and a long time taco lover. His first job was at a Mexican restaurant.  He’s tasted tacos from Ohio to Amsterdam.  In short – Taco Town has mucho confidence in Joby’s ability to tell good Mexican food from bad…enjoy. – Cabeza

The corner of William Cannon and Manchaca is home to over ten restaurants, all battling it out for your hard earned peso-  Chinese, Church’s Chicken, pizza, barbecue and burgers-  but for hardcore taco lovers, there is only one place that can satisfy- the way you want, the way you need, the way YOU DESERVE. That’s Casa Garcia’s.

9 different kinds of MIGAS!

One of the best aspects about Garcia’s is the sports bar.  The right side of the restaurant is dedicated to sports fans and alcoholics, with four televisions tuned into all the big games and super strong Bloody Mary’s available at before noon. Its a great way to separate the after church crowd from the after party crowd.  This morning there are a mix of college kids, thirty-somethings and couples in the bar, with the older peeps and families safe in the dining area.

I feel breakfast is the strong point of Garcia’s and anyone who has had their migas would agree. With nine different options for migas alone, everyone should be happy.

But today I will have the plate that bears Casa G’s name. The Casa G’s Deluxe (no relation to Grego).  You won’t find a more packed plate of food for $8. Two eggs topped with ranchero sauce, carne guisada, chorizo and eggs, potatoes and refried beans.. Served with flour or corn tortillas, made by authentic Mexican women- I checked em’ myself.

Casa G's Deluxe

Now this plate is not for the faint of heart.  It’s designed for fat Americans who eat five servings of food for breakfast- People like me. If you are counting calories, this plate is not for you.

Today I got the eggs sunny side up and found myself in gooey goodness while making my tacos with a little of everything in them.. Although I can’t finish it most days, I felt obligated today because of Taco Town- I wanted to make the boys proud.

The service is always friendly and quick.  There’s even one person designated to hand out chips & salsa all day. Now that’s good service !!!!! Are you listening Polvo’s ?!?!?  And let me tell you something, this guy is always busy refilling the salsa cups and chip baskets.  The chips are hot and crispy and the salsa had a spicy kick that reminds me of my home town Mexican restaurant back in Goliad, TX.

Overall, I give the place very high marks for great food, great service, and their fair prices. The fact that I can watch basketball and drink a tequila sunrise at the same time only adds to the overall quality.

-Joby

Casa Garcia
http://casagarcias.net/
1901 W. William Cannon
Austin, TX 78748.

La Posada, or loosely translated, “the portopotty”, started out with a salsa that, while definitely spicy enough with jalepeno or serrano peppers, had way to much black pepper in it that was noticeable as soon as it hit the tongue.

We all got variations of tacos except for Taco-Tara, who rolled with their “Famous Enchiladas”. I think they were made famous in a Wal Mart parking lot trailor stand in Nebraska in the early 90’s when they actually cared about their food. Taco-Tara didnt complain too much about them but we’re pretty sure she was just being nice.

I had the 2 taco lunch special #1 which consisted of a shitty crispy beef bag of fail and a soggy pink chickened bag of fail. These atrocities were accompanied by the worst refried beans ive had since the Bears won their last Superbowl. They had obviously burnt the shit out of the giant metal bucket they cooked these things in because they tasted like burnt ass. I would have rather ate a flaming bag of poop as it would have tasted exactly the same and wouldve made for a better story.

We finished up with the FLAAAAAAAAAN. Im pretty sure that it was congealed giraffe semen accompanied by a sauce of pure sugar and vanillla. Fail. This was the worst Mexican i’ve had in Austin in since i can remember. Cabeza made the correct comment “This was the kind of place that we should’ve sent one person in to test the waters so that all 4 of us didnt have to have our lunch ruined at the same time.”

Nuff said.

Cabeza adds this:  it was the worst tortilla soup i’ve EVER had. tasted like a chicken taco drenched in bongwater. Never again.

pics after the break >

the benny compound

this is a great place to eat if you need a haircut.. Benny runs Barber Bennys Beauty, the unassuming barber shop that located next to his taco trailer on South Congress..  We were a bit miffed that Benny was out of Al Pastor, but we managed.. and got Beef Fajita, Carne Guisada, and Picadillo tacos.. the beef fajita was cooked right there in front of us and it turned out to be the highlight of our otherwise lackluster snack..

hot spot

now this is where its at!  classic taco trailer with all the usual items.. the al pastor was bold and flavorful, with plenty of pineapple.. Cabeza got the barbacoa and it was equally authentic and delicious.. the prices were reasonable and the service friendly.. this is a good stop for anyone wanting to try true mexican taco trailer food.. no sign of gringo compromises..

We arrived in San Marcos with our bellies empty and not much time to sit down and grub.  The venue we were playing at happened to be right next to this place called Cancun Rob’s.  Personally, it looked right up my alley.. what with all the fishnet, christmas lights, and caribbean decor.  I was sold but Chappy, TacoBlob, and Beako De Gallo were definitely not.  So Beako de Gallo went to hit up some advice from the gas station right next door.  Because you know, the people at gas stations are always so adept at restaurant suggestions.  Well, right away the lady in there told Beako that this Cancun Rob’s place was simply bombastic;  “best fajitas and tacos in town”, she says.

Upon entering Rob’s we notice that we are only 4 of a total of 6 people in the restaurant.  Not usually a good sign but we were in and ready to go to town.  The waitress took our drink order and was headed to get us some chips and salsa when Taco Blob started blasting out Glute pics and Chappy broke out his damn “i(would rather play with this thing than talk to my friends)phone”.

The chips and salsa blew ass!  The chips were the thick kind which i hate and the salsa was basically tomato sauce with not even a hint of spice or any outstanding flavors such as cilantro or onions.  Blandbot central.  On the menu they really only offered fajitas and tacos.  They had burgers and kids shit but none of us were interested in that tonight.  TacoBlob and i split the Spicy Chicken Fajitas for Two and Chappy and Beako split the regular Chicken and Beef Fajitas for Two.  When they arrived they were a sizzlin fury and were accompanied with a lot of good stuff:  cheese, sour cream, guac, pico de gallo, etc.  However, TacoBlob and i ordered the SPICY fajitas and just like the salsa, they werent even close.  We had to request a side of japs just to make this worthwhile of a good ole fashioned ulcer sprayfest.

On the non-spicy side of the fajitas, Beako de Gallo said that the meat looked and tasted like those frozen packets of already cooked fajita meat that you can get at HEB for like 3 bucks.  I sort of agreed but still ate as much as i could.  The plates were reasonably priced at about $14 a piece and being that they were made for two people, spending $7 on these things felt just about right.

Overall i dont think i would go back here.  The food and the salsa’s lack of boldness, flavor, vigor and spice did not leave me yearning for mas.  However, the Pacificos were amazing as usual… so i got that going for me, which is nice.

Cancun Rob’s Fajita Hut
311 E Hopkins St
San Marcos, TX 78666
(512) 392-5171
[MAP]

Put that anywhere.

A mainstay on Barton Springs Road, The Green Mesquite has always been perfect for a cold beer and some tasty BBQ.  Show up on weekends and there’s bound to be some good bluegrass music outside on the cozy, shady patio.  The meat is always smoked tender, never over-cooked and you gotta love the iced tea with sonic ice.

» This jerkstore liked it so much – he took it upon himself to greenlight construction of a new drive-thru window.  Seemed like a good idea.  That is, until management discovered the crash had knocked a napkin dispenser into the beer tap – causing an entire keg of Blue Moon pour out on the floor…He is now awaiting execution on Texas Death Row.

Did we mention Green mesquite has TACO’S ?

Chop beef Bubba taco

Cheese Steak Taco Basket (7.99) 2 Big tortillas STUFFED full of juicy flank steak, topped with fresh lettuce, tomato, jalapenos and an above average BBQ sauce.  Delicious. Comes with 2 sides – Cabeza reccommends the pinto beans & a side salad.

Bubba Taco Basket (7.99) 2 tacos and 2 sides.  Choose between Turkey, Chop beef, Brisket, Chicken, or Pulled Pork.  Cabeza tried the Turkey – very generous cuts of moist and flavorful white meat; and the chop beef- high quality chop and full of flavor.

Turkey Bubba Taco

Be sure to drizzle on the house-made Picante Salsa – it took home First Place in the Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Fest way back in 1993. Not bad.

All in all – a great place for lunch and a perfect place to take your out-of-town friends- The menu is big, prices are reasonable (all you can eat BBQ for $11), the atmosphere is warm (they’ve got all kinds of old posters on the wall from extinct concert venues like the Armadillo) and the service is great too.  But no drive-thru, sorry.

Cabeza says GO THERE!
Rating: 7 out of 10 stars 75%

More info & pics after the break »
THE GREEN MESQUITE
1400 Barton Springs Rd.
Austin, Texas 78704

Map | Full Menu

Cheese Steak taco

Patio (clankyrobot)

brisket plate (clanky robot)

Tio Rolfo is a fiarly new stand that has shown up on along our morning work commute.. Its in the parking lot of the Shell station at South Congress and Crocket st (north of Oltorf).. Lucky for us, its actually a great stop for morning tacos.. $1.50 for 3 ingredients.. of which we have tried Chorizo, Egg, and Cheese.. and Bean, Bacon, Egg.. The salsa’s are outstanding.. especially the tomatillo verde, with a hefty jalapeno kick.. This place is definitely worth a try.

We visited the newest Torchy’s location today and I have to say the new digs have a lot of potential.. You can find the new spot just south of the original location on S. 1st St and also houses a new burger trailer called Shuggies.  

Formerly an auto shop and used car lot.. they’ve managed to repurpose the shop into a covered eating patio that overlooks bouldin creek, quite nice.  Other renovations were still in progress.. 

Even though the Torchy’s was beckoning us for another taste, we had to try out Shuggies.. I got the Catfish PoBoy with fries… it was pretty solid – with a nice pineapple coleslaw.. the fries were top-notch – beer battered and crispy. 

Cabeza got the cheesebuger and onion rings ($7).. he seemed to enjoy its fairly large and juicy stature, specifically noting the kaiser/onion bun as a nice touch..

UPDATE: We made a return visit today.  the tortillas are amazing…worth the price of admission alone.  Also, get the mango/cucumber pico at all costs…really refreshing and tasty.  I recommend the pork and fajita beef tacos.  Would NOT recommend the fish- low quality me thinks. And the Dublin sodas seal the deal – Cabo Bob’s is a winner.   –Cabeza

Cabo Bob’s just opened in Austin.. its locally owned and this is the first location.. Its laid out kinda like a Chipotle or a Freebirds! where you build your own tacos,burritos, or bowls as you are sent through a cafeteria line.

The kicker that sets Cabo Bob’s apart from its competition is that they make their own tortillas right before your eyes.. there are four varieties- flour buttermilk, ancho chile, cheddar, and cilatro/tomatillo – and they are all tasty.. You can choose from 4 different meats – shredded pork, chicken , fajita beef, cripsy fried fish.. also mixed grilled veggies..

The fountain drink station also features old school Dublin Dr. Pepper and some other interesting soft drink varieties with real cane sugar (if you’re into that). Overall, it was a nice experience and I will return for sure..info after the jump

heres a forum post about it on chowhound

Cabo Bob’s Burritos
500 E Ben White Blvd
Austin, TX 78704

Check out this riveting video! You’ll be on the edge of your seat as i wait in line to order food..

The first casualties of low blood sugar- Decision making and creative thinking/ you ever wait too long to take that lunch break and you end up pacing south congress like a zombie in search of any meat-based meal that’ll quench the pangs? yeah, maybe we should bring snacks to work or somethin…tacosnax…

Well, said pangs led me reluctantly to that mediocre stripmallueria they called Garibaldi’s on South Congress (just south of Ben white). BUT I was overjoyed to see that Baldi’s had been replaced by a shiny new Taqueria Chapala- IMO the best of all ATX Jalisco-style restaurants.

Chapala is sure to challenge the Tapatia family’s stranglehold on Ben White- much more class and quality (though to be fair- Tapatia has bigger portions than anyone).

At Chapala the decor is bright and simple, the service is lightning fast, the prices are dirt cheap, and the food is outstanding.

I ordered the old faithful – Combination Plate with all Beef Fajita (which i recommend to all virgin jalisco diners). I also took a chance on the barbacoa Adobado Taco – a grilled taco stuffed with juicy, spiced up bbq beef cheek meat…the best barbacoa I’ve tried in some time. (pictured at right: the Barbacoa Adobado Dinner)

Not to be outdone- Chapala’s fresh red table salsa is SO GOOD…whips Arandas ass…

Chappy got the Torta Sandwich with Beef Fajita. no complaints.

We also tried the Beef Crispy Taco (pictured below) Very fresh, hot, crispy, and tasty- if a bit greezy.

ATTENTION/ 78704-ites: I strongly suggest you temper that “Torchy’s & highlife” fad-diet with some good ol’ jalisco-style at least once a week…its good for your helf.

Taqueria Chapala
4201 S Congress Ave # 106 • Austin, TX 78745 [map] • Order TO GO 512.326.9090

Score:
Atmosphere: 6 (small, but bright and clean)
Price: 8 (hard to beat for the price)
Salsa: 7.5 (simple and tasy- the Chips suck though)
Food: 9 (first rate jalisco)
Service: 8 (all spanish/ but Fast & with a smile)
total: 77% Rating: 3.8 out of 5 stars

~Cabeza De Taco