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Posted (edited)
35 minutes ago, TPCJ007 said:

Anyone been to Mama Betty's? I hear they're opening a location on Burnet Rd soon.

Yes - on Parmer at Lakeline/Neenah.

House Ritas are decent, as are the crispy tacos. 

Santa Catarina in Cedar Park has some really good beef enchiladas and a great $8 happy hour shrimp cocktail that Mrs. Brat can’t finish. There are a couple more chopped up shrimp in the sauce.

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Edited by Armybrat
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Posted
1 hour ago, TPCJ007 said:

Anyone been to Mama Betty's? I hear they're opening a location on Burnet Rd soon.

Love the one on Parmer.  If you like mesquite flavor, their beef is legit.  Also, if you liked Ninfas in Houston you will like Mama Betty's 

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Posted
On 4/18/2025 at 2:28 PM, TPCJ007 said:

Anyone been to Mama Betty's? I hear they're opening a location on Burnet Rd soon.

It’s decent, vibe reminds me of Chuy’s before it went corporate and “slightly corny” passed over to superficial and fake.  They appear to do a good job managing families.  

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Posted
On 4/18/2025 at 1:18 PM, ftf82 said:

Guess I'd like to know what your alls places for Tex Mex are in Austin. El Mercado, Santa Rita, Maudies, Polvos, Matt's, are all pretty much the same to me. Decent food for decent prices (other than Polvos which is overpriced for what it is) . Madres probably tops them all for tacos and El Dorado for everything else. Austin's Tex Mex doesn't compare to SATX or Houston though. 

Casa Chapala was good when I went a few weeks ago.

Posted
On 4/19/2025 at 3:48 PM, LCHorn said:

It’s decent, vibe reminds me of Chuy’s before it went corporate and “slightly corny” passed over to superficial and fake.  They appear to do a good job managing families.  

Went to Chuys last week. Only refried beans? Can't get borracho? Wtf?

 

Posted
On 4/21/2025 at 3:55 PM, 4th&Five said:

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This place is awful, automatic decline if one of the kids gets a party invite here.  It's the Circus Circus of the kids games and pizza places. 

23 minutes ago, MagicSoccerSpray said:

Went to Chuys last week. Only refried beans? Can't get borracho? Wtf?

At least they brought back chili rellenos, finally. 

Posted
3 hours ago, MagicSoccerSpray said:

Went to Chuys last week. Only refried beans? Can't get borracho? Wtf?

 

Chuy's went to a skeletal menu during covid and a lot of it never came back.  My wife always got a sopapilla and charro/borracho beans.  We don't go there any more.

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Posted

Found a Gatti’s buffet somewhere in FW area for lunch earlier this month. I’m not particularly a fan but we always have to hit up a Gatti’s for the wife every visit. 

  • 1 month later...
Posted

Excellent tacos & enchiladas for midafternoon dinner at Mamma Betty’s this afternoon.
The margaritas were great and pretty strong, but apparently too much for the drowned fly I fished out of mine…
 

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  • 2 months later...
Posted

If any of you miscreants are in South Austin, I’m meeting some friends after church and about to plow through a Mexican martini and 2 carne guisada burritos at Maudie’s Hacienda.  I’m wearing a Whataburger baseball hat and some queso on my shirt.

Posted
23 hours ago, Judge Roybeanbag said:

If any of you miscreants are in South Austin, I’m meeting some friends after church and about to plow through a Mexican martini and 2 carne guisada burritos at Maudie’s Hacienda.  I’m wearing a Whataburger baseball hat and some queso on my shirt.

The new salsa verde at Maudie's is pretty damn good.  But it pisses me off that they're charging for salsa.

Oh well--I'll fucking pay for it.

Posted
14 minutes ago, Ghost of LL said:

The new salsa verde at Maudie's is pretty damn good.  But it pisses me off that they're charging for salsa.

Oh well--I'll fucking pay for it.

I get why they charge for it, we had a party of 4 and bought a good amount of food and drink, but I saw a few tables of people just eating chips and salsa for like an hour or more.  

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted
On 4/18/2025 at 2:28 PM, TPCJ007 said:

Anyone been to Mama Betty's? I hear they're opening a location on Burnet Rd soon.

Its really good but priced at a premium IMO.  Definitely give it a shot but don't be surprised when the bill comes.

Posted
45 minutes ago, Nonbryan said:

Its really good but priced at a premium IMO.  Definitely give it a shot but don't be surprised when the bill comes.

We just go for the 1/2 price HH dishes most of the time.

  • 1 month later...
Posted

rare occasion that i went out for breakfast on saturday. the n. lamar maudies sausage migas plate slammed and went hard. have eaten there a bunch but never for breakfast. 

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  • 4 weeks later...
Posted

I'm hosting some friends from out of state (all originally from Houston), and they requested Tex Mex one night.  My sister in law recommended El Dorado Cafe, which looks good.  But we're planning to go on the Thursday night when everyone gets in, and the last arrival is at 5:20 p.m.  I see they take reservations.  So I guess we could shoot for 8:15 or 8:30.  But I hate feeling rushed, particularly with Tex Mex. 

So for a combination of good food and decent evening vibe, would Enchiladas Y Mas or Mamma Betty's be a better choice?  Other suggestions.  We're in an Air B&B just east of 35 and north of campus.  Closer could be better, but it doesn't really matter.

 

What says the Surly Tex Mex Brain trust?

Posted
2 hours ago, dcbc said:

I'm hosting some friends from out of state (all originally from Houston), and they requested Tex Mex one night.  My sister in law recommended El Dorado Cafe, which looks good.  But we're planning to go on the Thursday night when everyone gets in, and the last arrival is at 5:20 p.m.  I see they take reservations.  So I guess we could shoot for 8:15 or 8:30.  But I hate feeling rushed, particularly with Tex Mex. 

So for a combination of good food and decent evening vibe, would Enchiladas Y Mas or Mamma Betty's be a better choice?  Other suggestions.  We're in an Air B&B just east of 35 and north of campus.  Closer could be better, but it doesn't really matter.

 

What says the Surly Tex Mex Brain trust?

Dos Salsas on Burnet Road.  They do a great job with big groups.

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Posted
3 minutes ago, DalTxHornFan said:

Dos Salsas on Burnet Road.  They do a great job with big groups.

Thanks.  I'll check it out.  There's just four of us though.

Posted

I don't know what the surly consensus is about El Chile, but it's right in that area (1900 Manor Rd).  You could probably walk.  We eat there every once in awhile, and generally like it.  Not our fave but it's close to our kids.

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Posted

I’m headed to El Patio this week to eat with a friend I haven’t eaten there with since 1983. Now that’s nostalgia. He just moved back to the US and that was his first TexMex request. Haha. 

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Posted
9 minutes ago, South Austin said:

Shit, I haven't been to El Patio in over 15 years, I bet.  Better than Matt's.

I still hit about every six months, primarily for nostalgia reasons.

Posted
12 hours ago, dcbc said:

I'm hosting some friends from out of state (all originally from Houston), and they requested Tex Mex one night.  My sister in law recommended El Dorado Cafe, which looks good.  But we're planning to go on the Thursday night when everyone gets in, and the last arrival is at 5:20 p.m.  I see they take reservations.  So I guess we could shoot for 8:15 or 8:30.  But I hate feeling rushed, particularly with Tex Mex. 

So for a combination of good food and decent evening vibe, would Enchiladas Y Mas or Mamma Betty's be a better choice?  Other suggestions.  We're in an Air B&B just east of 35 and north of campus.  Closer could be better, but it doesn't really matter.

 

What says the Surly Tex Mex Brain trust?

El Dorado if they have tables available

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Posted
9 hours ago, jimmyjazz said:

I don't know what the surly consensus is about El Chile, but it's right in that area (1900 Manor Rd).  You could probably walk.  We eat there every once in awhile, and generally like it.  Not our fave but it's close to our kids.

So what's your favorite?  LIke I said, it doesn't have to be super close.

 

I'll mention Curra as well.  I haven't had good interior in a minute.

 

Of the 3 I mentioned, what's the consensus.  Is El Dorado worth the trouble?  Does Y Mas have a decent evening vibe or is it just straight-up delicious?  Mama Betty's?  Just okay?  I've been to most of the standard fare during the years I lived in Austin and those that follow.  These guys are from Texas, so I'm not taking them to Matt's or the like.

Posted
5 minutes ago, dcbc said:

So what's your favorite? 

My favorite?  Enchiladas Y Mas by a good margin.  Maudie's works in a pinch.  It's been a while since I've eaten at El Dorado, but Joel knows what he's doing.

Oh, and I haven't been to Mama Betty's, but wife gave it a solid C.  She wasn't super impressed.

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Posted

Probably not the best place for dinner if you're looking for good vibe, but Mi Madres for breakfast or lunch would be a suggestion given the location of your Airbnb. Another close by option is Amaya's Taco Village.

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Posted
2 hours ago, jimmyjazz said:

It's been a while since I've eaten at El Dorado, but Joel knows what he's doing.

I've always had a great meal at El Dorado, though haven't been in the restaurant in a while.  But we've recently put it the rotation for ordering in, and even when delivered it's really damn good.

It's just going to be a different experience than Y Mas, which is more rustic Tex-Mex.  El Dorado is more interior Mexican, a little fancier, and you're more likely to see a decent contingent of Northwest Hills MILFs.

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Posted

none of these tex mex places are going to have an "evening vibe". go to fonda san miguel if you're looking for that. considering where you're located, mi madre's would be my choice. y mas and nuevo mexico are also good options. there is a curra's in hyde park that might have a vibe. 

Posted (edited)
6 minutes ago, stc said:

none of these tex mex places are going to have an "evening vibe". go to fonda san miguel if you're looking for that. considering where you're located, mi madre's would be my choice. y mas and nuevo mexico are also good options. there is a curra's in hyde park that might have a vibe. 

Vibe is a moving target for a group of married dudes in their early 50s.  Decent beer selections, solid margs, and no visible water stains on the ceiling is the floor.

 

Thanks for the suggestions so far.  Y mas closes at 9.  So that might push it out of the running depending on what time the last of our group arrives, unpacks, and pregames. 

Edited by dcbc
Posted

Eldorado does not have what I'd call a decent beer selection, but you can get a Jellyfish or Negro Modelo. I went with by class of 94 dude friends earlier this year (most were from out of town) and everyone was very happy

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Posted (edited)

Our group has agreed that Curra's will be an excellent choice for all the things mentioned above.  Thanks, all!

Edited by dcbc
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Posted
9 minutes ago, nolongerU2horn said:

Eldorado does not have what I'd call a decent beer selection, but you can get a Jellyfish or Negro Modelo. I went with by class of 94 dude friends earlier this year (most were from out of town) and everyone was very happy

Honestly, at a Mexican restaurant, I really just want my draught Modelo to be nice and cold and refilled frequently.  And can go beer geekish later/elsewhere.

Posted
2 hours ago, dcbc said:

solid margs,

Enchiladas Y Mas.

Damn, they kick. Limit two. I had two the last time and couldn't remember if I had paid when I left. 

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Posted
20 minutes ago, Deej said:

Enchiladas Y Mas.

Damn, they kick. Limit two. I had two the last time and couldn't remember if I had paid when I left. 

That probably would have been the choice all along if I thought we could get there with enough time to not feel rushed.  Another time.

Posted
17 minutes ago, stc said:

curra's does pitchers of frozen margs, always good with a group. 

The Curra's avocado frozen margaritas slam hard in the paint.  I usually like a very minimalist rocks marg with fresh lime juice and little else.  But @dcbc, get you an avocado frozen.  

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