¡Enchiladas! - La Posada - 6800 Westgate Blvd. 4.4/5

For their twentieth installment of ¡Enchiladas! the boys met up with Austin music fixture, Nathan Olivarez, at his neighborhood go to, La Posada, for a round of enchiladas. Nathan isn’t particularly an enchilada guy but he played along fabulously. Nathan, or “Nasty Nathan” if you will, an early moniker which has stuck through his long career in Austin music, was right on time - 1:23pm. Nothing nasty, though, as he introduced Steve and Rusty to one of his favorites, La Posada. The boys were immediately impressed with the chips and salsa. The chips were thin, crispy, and fresh. The salsa was nicely textured and flavored with a lot of heat which made you reach for the next chip dipped in glorious salsa to cool the burn - starting a cycle of first cooling your tongue with the salsa then the burn creeping back in necessitating yet another chipload of salsa for yet another cool-down... All were in agreement that heat is a good thing in a salsa.

Nathan usually goes off the menu with his own magnificent creations too complex to describe here; and today, much like he does with his musical brainchild, Stupid Drama, he went his own direction. Nathan ordered the Super Combo which happened to include one cheese enchilada. Nathan had them add an extra cheese enchilada so that his order replicated an enchilada plate with bonus sides - chicken fajitas, a tamale, guacamole, and a taco. While Nathan may not have a favorite enchilada he believes that cheese enchiladas are a good measuring stick for a Mexican restaurant. He also found balance in getting something different from Steve or Rusty. Nathan was very happy with his cheese enchiladas. Nathan looks for GIRTH in his enchiladas and La Posada delivered the girth. Plenty of cheese on the inside as well as on top with a hearty enchilada sauce Nathan found to be quite delicious. Nathan really likes the way the cheese gels as it cools and delivers a nice firm texture. Nathan was not displeased by the beans and was complimentary of the rice, enjoying the vegetables as a nice added touch.

Super Combo

with two cheese enchiladas

Steve and Rusty reversed what they typically order with Rusty getting the beef enchiladas with chili con carne and Steve going for the chicken enchiladas with tomatillo sauce. Steve was very impressed by his selection, the plentiful chicken was juicy and tasty while the tangy tomatillo sauce was very flavorful and spicy. Plenty of Monterrey jack cheese was melted on top for a delicious combination of flavors. He thought the beans were good with a nice chunky texture and found the rice to be very flavorful in a savory way, not particularly spicy. Steve echoed Nathan’s sentiments that veggies in the rice are a good addition. Rusty was blown away by his beef enchiladas which came with a chili con carne sauce. They were stuffed with well flavored beef and covered with plenty of chunky chili con carne sauce. The sauce was very rich and savory - bursting with flavor. A generous topping of cheddar cheese tied it all together. Rusty, too, enjoyed the rice and beans. La Posada serves their enchiladas with tortillas on the side which is a nice touch.

Beef Enchiladas

with Chili Con Carne

Chicken Enchiladas

with tomatillo sauce

“This is real Mexican food!”, says Nathan Olivarez of La Posada. Steve and Rusty wouldn’t argue that, they were both pleasantly surprised by this charming little hole in the wall tucked innocently away in a shopping center in South Austin. The food and service were top notch. Nathan is a busy man with a strong work ethic who knows nothing will be handed to those who don’t keep their nose to the grindstone. He tries to keep a positive outlook despite the all too regular news of the passing of his friends and colleagues in the music world. You can keep up with Nathan Olivarez and his Stupid Drama here -¡!-

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¡Enchiladas! Hecho en Mexico - 6001 W. William Cannon 3.6/5

Enchiladas Diablas

with Chicken

 Rusty and Steve were in the mood for mackin' on some enchiladas, so they met up with Austin music legend Tommy Mack who suggested Hecho en Mexico. The place wasn't busy so the boys were quickly seated, ordered some iced teas, and started in on the chips and salsa. The chips were average - not bad, not great. The salsa was interesting. A pureed style with peppers, no cilantro. Very fresh tasting. Hecho en Mexico is known for using very fresh ingredients and serving up interior Mexican dishes. The salsa was indeed very fresh and less spicy than Steve was expecting with all the pepper seeds it had in it.

 Steve went with the lunch special with three beef enchiladas with salsa ranchera, while Tommy and Rusty went with the main menu. Tommy ordered the enchiladas diablas with habanero-macho-salsa and Rusty chose the beef suizas tradicionales with salsa verde and sour cream. Tommy ordered lettuce and tomato on his enchiladas, a personal trick of his to cool the temperature. Tommy spent his "school years" growing up in El Paso, Texas and remembers enchiladas being pretty popular, tacos - not so much. Tommy headed to Austin in the mid-eighties and fronted Texas thrash metal band Young Thunder.

 Tommy's enchiladas diablas were aptly named, with a strong heat that led him to wisely pace himself to avoid the overburn. The filling was huge chunks of tasty chicken that were tender and flavorful. There was a plethora of the spicy habanero-macho-salsa and Tommy thought the habanero flavor really stood out. Tommy appreciates the fresh ingredients and the resulting flavors.  Tommy started hard rock band The Lifters in the early nineties.

 Rusty liked his enchiladas suizas tradicionales with beef and salsa verde and sour cream. He liked the creaminess but could have used a little more spice. The salsa verde was nice and smooth with a savory richness although Rusty wouldn't have minded a little more of it. Rusty wasn't impressed by the beans or rice finding the rice a little bland. Tommy formed a little band with fellow Austin rock godfather Jason McMaster in 1991 called SSIK, a tribute to Kiss. SSIK was Austin's first and arguably best tribute band.

Enchiladas Suizas Tradicionales

with Beef

 Steve really enjoyed his beef enchiladas with salsa ranchera. While not particularly spicy there was a strong savoriness to the ranchera salsa. The tortillas seemed as if they had just been made and the beef filling was tasty. Steve would have preferred the white cheese on the enchiladas to be more melted but it was tasty all the same. Steve always loves a bean choice and he loved his charro beans, rich in flavor with chunks of bacon. Steve thought the rice had a nice delicate flavor with a brothy aspect to it.

 The service was attentive and friendly at Hecho en Mexico. The food was very fresh and tasty. At $8 Steve's lunch special was a great deal and $11 and $12 for the other plates were quite reasonable. Tommy Mack recommends Hecho en Mexico as a perfect place for a date. Tommy maintains a refreshingly positive outlook on the future of Austin and the music scene in particular. His talent and work ethic have made him an inspirational figure in the Austin music scene for thirty plus years. -¡!-

Beef Enchiladas

with salsa ranchera

A small sample of the music of Tommy Mack:

Taquerias Las Chivas Jalisco - 8624 North Lamar 3.25/5

 Rusty and Steve headed up to Taquerias Las Chivas Jalisco to catch up with Austin's much beloved radio personality, Loris Lowe, and eat some enchiladas! It was a beautiful Texas summer afternoon and the boys were hungry. After exchanging pleasantries, Loris and the boys got down to business and put in their order. The chips were unexciting but the three salsas weren't bad. The green salsa wasn't as spicy as some but still a bit much for Loris. The smoky chipotle was quite smoky and earthy. The red salsa was a pureed style, not particularly flavorful with a mild heat.

  Taquerias Las Chivas Jalisco is one of those places with a revolving lunch special menu which didn't involve any enchiladas on Monday so the regular menu it was. Loris is a big fan of all kinds of enchiladas but when pressed for a favorite may lean toward chicken with verde sauce, which she went with today. Steve decided on the beef enchiladas with red sauce, while Rusty opted for the beef with chili con queso sauce. Loris thoughtfully suggested sharing samples of all the enchiladas, which was fun. Steve and Rusty don't usually share their enchiladas with anyone but couldn't resist Loris' grace and good manners.

 The chicken verde enchiladas Loris ordered were the hit of the party. Three enchiladas overstuffed with tasty chicken and covered with a delicious green sauce Loris found to be tangy and spicy - "a pretty unique tomatillo sauce". Smothered in yummy cheese, no less. Steve and Rusty agreed they were quite good.

Chicken with Verde Sauce

 Rusty went off the beaten track with his chili con queso covered enchiladas. They were almost too cheesey, but Rusty liked the queso sauce and thought it had good flavor. He enjoyed the traditional picadillo filling with mixed vegetables.

Beef with Chili con Queso

Beef with Red Sauce

 Steve, too, liked the plentiful picadillo filling in his beef enchiladas with red sauce. The red sauce was sweeter than most, not particularly spicy but rich, thick and smooth. A good bit of melted cheddar fought hard for the cause.

 Loris agreed with the boys that the avocado topped salad was a nice touch. The rice and refried beans were passable but not standout. The rice was moist with a mild flavor, while the beans weren't particularly flavorful. The service was a bit terse. Steve's tea went empty for longer than necessary, though he hardly noticed due to the good company. The waitress never smiled once during their visit causing the boys to reflect and give pause, hoping she found the opportunity to smile before the day was over. If you need a reason to smile just tune in to Loris on your dial! Buen Provecho. -¡!-

Join Loris on KLBJ 93.7 FM Tuesday nights at 11:00PM for Local Licks Live.

Join Loris on KGSR 93.3 FM Sunday nights at 10:00PM for Lone Star State of Mind

Serranos - 9500 S IH 35 4.1/5

 Rusty and Steve were in South Austin and noticed Serranos so they decided to check it out. They were promptly seated and ordered drinks. Rusty is back on the sweet tea so he was glad they serve it already sweetened. The thin, yellow chips were passable but not too impressive, and were overly salted. The salsa, on the other hand, was quite tasty, thick and fresh with a nice medium heat to it. The lunch specials had cheese and chicken enchiladas available, but the boys went to the main menu. The Clasico Enchilada plates come with your choice of beef, chicken, or cheese topped with your choice of six different sauces making it easy to get exactly what you like. Serranos also gives you a choice of beans: black, charro, or refried.

 Rusty ordered his new fave - beef enchiladas with suiza sauce. From the moment Rusty laid eyes on his nicely presented plate of enchiladas, from the healthy sprinkling of cheese on the refried beans to the fresh Serrano pepper, he knew he was in for a treat. His enchiladas were deliciously creamy with an abundance of sauce and a generous topping of white cheese. They were stuffed full with a tasty beef filling that went well with the smooth and savory sauce. Rusty liked the little bits of onion in the beef filling and the smokiness of the creamy suiza sauce. The refried beans he opted for were one of Rusty's favorites so far, with a rich smoky flavor, while the rice was very flavorful and well cooked with a nice fluffy texture.

Beef Enchiladas

with Suiza Sauce

 Steve went with the Mixto Enchiladas, one cheese with smoky ranchero sauce, one chicken with fire roasted verde sauce, and one beef with chili con carne sauce. He opted for the charro beans which were nicely garnished with chopped tomato, cilantro and scallions. Steve was impressed by all three of his enchiladas. All three were stuffed full and paired with a delicious sauce. The beef enchilada had a chili con carne sauce that was topped with cheddar and white cheese and it was quite tasty. As was the chicken enchilada, with big chunks of chicken meat and a verde sauce that was packed with a rich, roasted flavor and topped off with white cheese. The cheese enchilada didn't disappoint either, with plenty of gooey cheddar inside and white cheese dripping all over the smoky ranchero sauce. Steve really enjoyed his charro beans which were in a wonderful gravy and could have made a meal. He, too, liked the rice which was not too greasy but loaded with good flavors.

Mixto Enchiladas

 The boys were pleasantly surprised with Serranos' enchiladas. It's a bit of a walk to the door due to the way the parking lot is situated, but totally worth the walk. The service was good and attentive. Serranos' doesn't have the cheapest enchiladas in town, but at $10 and $12 for non-lunch special pricing, Rusty and Steve thought their plates were well worth the cost. -¡!-

Angie's - 1307 E. 7th St. 3.6/5

 You have to look closely - Angie's sneaks up on you. The boys made a block and got a good parking spot right in the front. From the facade, Angie's looks like a pretty fancy place, however once stepping inside the ambiance is seat-yourself informal. The open dining room with its long tables almost had more the feel of a Texas BBQ joint. Not a bad thing! The chips and salsa came right out and Rusty noticed the chips were almost stale even if a little warm. They made a great vehicle, however, for the thick, smoky salsa. With a nice peppery flavor and heat the small bowl of salsa was finished quickly. Fortunately a backup was brought quickly. Rusty has been on a Sprite bender and appreciated the sodas being on tap, he is not a fan of the can but he is a fan of free refills.

 The enchilada choices at Angie's were basic: beef, chicken, or cheese. All purporting to come with "meat sauce". Steve and Rusty both chose the beef enchiladas and opted for onions, a rare option that was a big plus for Rusty. The "meat sauce" turned out to be Tex-Mex standard chili con carne and was very delicious. Topped off nicely with cheddar cheese and the onions. Rusty noted the enchiladas had a wonderful home cooked taste. The filling was ample and savory and plenty of the tasty chili con carne sauce was provided. The beans were nice and chunky with a smoky, meaty taste the boys both love. The rice was good, too, more flavorful than most and cooked nicely.

 The only weak spot in this visit was the service. Just a bit awkward. Steve and Rusty arrived at the tail end of the lunch rush and were helped by a very friendly woman who was busing tables and seemed annoyed at the waiter for not having helped them. The waiter seemed to think the friendly woman was helping them and never went to their table. The friendly buswoman did a great job helping them when she did but toward the end of the meal timely drink refills would have been appreciated. Angie's is one of those places you just pay at the register so don't sit there waiting for the check for ten minutes like the boys did.

 All in all Angie's serves up some delicious enchiladas. The enchilada plates come with three enchiladas so the $8.99 price tag is a pretty good deal. Not much parking so be prepared to park on the street. -¡!-

Casa Maria - 4327 S 1st St 3.9/5

 The boys met up with old bandmate John Cocke ( pronounced "coke", dangit) and everything lead to enchiladas. They went to Casa Maria, just around the corner from their secret headquarters. When preparing for a jam session proper nutrition is essential!

The Three Amigos! John, Steve, Rusty.

 The chips and salsa came out in good time and the boys reminisced about good old times. The chips weren't particularly stand out but the salsa was. Casa Maria graces you with two salsas, a fresh red salsa and a spicy, green avocado salsa. They are both mighty good with the avocado salsa serving up an extra punch in the spice department. Steve was especially enamored of the smooth and spicy avocado salsa. 

 John is a big fan of chicken verde enchiladas, his litmus test for a good enchilada. He likes the firm texture of the chicken as opposed to the picadillo or cheese enchiladas. So naturally, John ordered the chicken enchiladas with green sauce.  Rusty went with one of his favorites, suizas with beef enchiladas (an off menu recommendation!). Steve went with the enchiladas supremas, beef enchiladas and red sauce with a side of guacamole.

chicken with green sauce

John was very pleased with his enchiladas. While he wouldn't have minded a little more sauce (an ¡Enchiladas! peeve) he found the enchiladas to be quite tasty. He really liked the bacon flavor of the beans and the fluffiness of the rice, as well.

 "It was a clean place with a nice decor. The chips were average, as was the red salsa. Their green salsa however was very good with a creeping, lingering heat. The enchiladas verdes had good flavor and were sauced just enough to not be dry. The rice and beans were solid. Overall I enjoyed the meal and would happily go again." - John Cocke

 Steve made short work of his enchiladas supremas. Like John, he wouldn't have minded just a little more sauce, but the sauce was rich and flavorful. The fresh guacamole was a nice touch and the ample picadillo filling was spiced quite nicely. Steve really liked the chunky texture of the beans and the flavorful rice.

enchiladas supremas

enchiladas suizas

with beef

 Rusty was tipped off to the beef suizas once before by an astute waitress. While they are not on the menu there was no trouble ordering them. The flavors blended together very well and reminded Rusty of why he always comes back to the suizas. The sour cream was like an extra dose of sauce and really kicked up the whole plate. Rusty added some to the beans and to the rice with spectacular results, He was jealous of Steve's guacamole but didn't need it.

 Casa Maria serves up a good enchilada. The menu is ripe with enchilada options and they have proven to be tasty all around. The service was attentive and multiple salsas is always a plus. At $8.99 the suizas and supremas aren't a bad deal at all, and at $7.99 John's chicken enchiladas were a pretty good bargain. Whether they are around the corner from your secret headquarters or not, Casa Maria is a great choice for lunch. -¡!-

Little Mexico - 2304 South 1st St. 4.0/5

 Little Mexico is one of those places you can drive by for years and never really notice. It blends in with its surroundings and the parking lot isn't visible from the road. Turns out there is quite a bit of parking hidden behind the restaurant, and as well as a front door there is a back door for easy entry from the parking lot. Steve and Rusty finally found a door and took a table at the back.

 The chips and salsa were really good. The chips were light and crisp. The salsa was fresh and delicious. Nice and thick, sticking to the chips. A lot of jalapeno flavor with jalapeno seeds visible in the salsa giving it a great kick of heat.

 Little Mexico doesn't really do traditional lunch specials, instead seeming to offer one day only menu offerings in the same price range as their standard prices. Tuesday is the only day beef enchiladas are offered on the menu; as the special of the day. However, the boys asked if they could get the beef enchiladas even though it was Monday and were told that would be no problem. The enchilada sauce, or "meat gravy" as they call it, was unique. It had a peach color and in contrast to the salsa was mild yet quite flavorful. Very hearty and savory. The boys found them to be extremely delicious!

 The rice and beans were very good to boot. The rice tasted fried with a great texture. The beans were home-style with a good smoky, lard flavor. The only real criticism of the meal was the service. Friendly enough and the food came quickly, but not particularly attentive. A little more chips and salsa would have been nice. Tea sat empty a little longer than necessary (get some big tea glasses. they rule!). At $9.49 it's not a discount lunch but the food was good across the board. -¡!-

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Cilantro's - 1025 W. Stassney Lane 2.5/5

 Cilantro's is right around the corner from You Aren't Weird Headquarters so the boys popped in for a late lunch. The restaurant is a Mom and Pop operation and only open until 6pm. The boys were the only customers there and were greeted by a friendly "Mom" who got them drinks and brought out some chips and salsa.

 Steve had heard they served their salsa warm and even noticed a plaque on the wall from winning "Best Place to get Warm Salsa" from the Chronicle sometime in the past, but the salsa was served cool. It was runny and pretty bland with no discernible heat. Dripping all over the table and menu runny. The chips were a little stale but would have been passable otherwise.

 The boys really wanted to love these enchiladas as Cilantro's is so close by and things looked promising when they arrived at the table. Unfortunately the rice and beans were the most flavorful things on the plate and even they weren't particularly tasty. While the enchiladas weren't "bad" they had missed a stop in flavor town. While the dark red sauce gave the hope of a rich savory flavor it could have come from a can labeled "mild". Steve scraped his plate hoping to uncover some kind of flavor to describe but came up empty. Rusty had already given up his flavor quest. The tortillas they used were pretty decent but the cheese seemed processed and the beef filling was uninspiring.

 On the positive side the enchiladas were only $6.99 and included three enchiladas which is a dang good deal! The lettuce and tomato was a nice fresh touch and the tea glass was huge so no refill was needed (though it would have been nice to be asked). If you want a cheap, filling meal in a hurry there are much worse options out there. A perfect place to take a spice averse friend. The boys have heard the breakfast tacos are good here and hope to sample them soon. -¡!-

El Borrego De Oro - 3900 South Congress Ave. 3.6/5

 Steve used to come here when it was a Chinese restaurant and Leonard Nimoy's autograph was on display, but that was way back in the day. It has been El Borrego De Oro for quite some time now. The central location is convenient but parking is limited so be prepared to park on the street. It's seat yourself here so the boys picked a table in the corner.

 The chips and salsa arrived in due time. They don't serve sweet tea but Rusty is on a Sprite bender and Steve can't stand sweet tea so no harm done. The chips were pretty decent, not warm but fairly thin. Rusty noticed a lot of broken little chip pieces in the basket, one of his pet peeves. The salsa was standout. It was fresh, spicy, and flavorful with a good texture and a nice burn to it. The service can be a little less than proactive here sometimes. They have a man who refills chips and salsa and tea who is very friendly and a wave is all it takes to get accommodated. The boys both recognize this man from Evita's Botanitas, a long closed South First memory. He got a little distracted banging a pot with a spoon and singing a song for a birthday in the next room, but it was fun.

 Rusty ordered his favorite - chicken suizas enchiladas. They were delicious with an abundance of creamy sauce and cheesy goodness. The enchiladas were stuffed with a huge portion of tasty chicken. El Borrego De Oro does not skimp on the filling in their enchiladas!

Chicken Suizas Enchiladas

 Steve went with the beef enchiladas. Like the chicken enchiladas, they too were stuffed fat but with deliciously flavorful ground beef. The chili sauce was a big step above your typical greasy spoon chili con carne. It was a rich and savory chili gravy. There was a good amount of sauce to accompany the huge enchiladas. Cheddar cheese worked its magic and tied everything together like a well loved rug might tie a room together.

Beef Enchiladas

 The rice and beans at El Borrego De Oro may very well have saved those categories from the chopping block. After a spate of bland beans and unremarkable rice the streak ended here. The rice especially. It was flavorful and cooked well. The beans were a nice consistency and had a bit of smokiness.

 El Borrego De Oro makes some really delicious food. Service may seem slow sometimes but just wave! They don't bring you a check, you just go to the cashier and your ticket will be there. A little disconcerting at first but actually pretty nice if you are in a hurry. Rusty noticed the dining room was a little dirty but it was right after the lunch rush so the boys weren't too disturbed. The $8.95 lunch specials include ice tea so not only is the food great but it's a great value, too. -¡!-

¡ENCHILADAS! Maudie's Hacienda - 9911 Brodie Lane 3.6/5

 It was the last day of February and Steve and Rusty had a special guest for lunch. Austin guitarist Eric Tessmer. Eric and Rusty had to cancel a birthday lunch due to Rusty's illness and Steve joined in on the raincheck. They met up at Eric's favorite enchilada spot, Maudie's Hacienda. The chips were homemade, a little greasy maybe, but nothing wrong with a little grease in the right places. In Eric's words they were "passable". The salsa was fresh and peppery, not too chunky with a nice burn to it. Eric would prefer even more heat. If you've seen him play then you know he brings the heat. Mucho caliente! There were a couple bowls of salsa so refills weren't an issue.

 While Maudie's does offer basic cheese enchiladas as one of their lunch specials for a surprisingly low $6.75, the guys were tempted to try some of Maudie's other unique enchilada options. Steve ordered the Beef Lover's Enchiladas, Rusty went for the Josie's Enchiladas and Eric got the Strait Plate.

 Steve really enjoyed the Beef Lover's Enchiladas - beef enchiladas with chili con carne sauce, diced onions, and queso Amarillo. The beef filling had tender chunks of peppers and was spicy and spiced quite nicely. The abundant, Tex-Mex style chili con carne sauce was dark, rich and very tasty. The yellow cheese was American cheese. We had to look up "queso Amarillo" and, yep, a more romantic name for American cheese. Steve would much prefer a "real" cheese but he wasn't disappointed with the end results.

 Rusty was happy with his Josie's Enchiladas - cheese enchiladas with chili con carne, diced onions and chili con queso. The sauce was plentiful and delicious. Rusty is a chili con queso lover so the cheese was right up his alley. While Rusty would prefer his cheese enchiladas to have onions on the inside - one of his missions on this enchilada quest is to find a good traditional cheese enchilada made with onions on the inside - he found the onions on top to be a nice touch.

 As with his guitar playing, Eric Tessmer didn't mess around! He went for the Strait Plate - THREE beef enchiladas, chili con carne, diced onions and two fried eggs on top, over easy in this case. At Maudie's the rice and beans are optional and Eric opted out and focused on enchiladas. A busy musician gets their sustenance where and when they can and Eric made short work of one of his hometown favorites. He described his enchiladas as "made in heaven and cooked with angel meat". Eric admired the "loads of finesse" of the server who deftly refilled teas and coffee with one hand while balancing fully loaded trays on the other hand. Apt praise, we suppose, from someone who's fingers bring loads of finesse to the fretboards of his '59 Strat and his new Fender Custom Surf Green Strat.

Beef Lover's Enchiladas

Josie's Enchiladas

Strait Plate

 The rice and beans were just average. We might stop rating them as they seem to vary quite little. Maudie's has some interesting enchiladas on the menu. Fourteen varieties to be precise, so it might take a few weeks to try them all. Definitely worth the trip.-¡!-

Eric Tessmer and Nancy Wilson perform Heart's "Even It Up"

A day in Los Angeles spent in Alan Marino's studio...and then headed to the show at The Mint. Nancy Wilson from Heart and Eric Tessmer sing 'Even It Up' - by Heart Thank you to GigTown. Thank you to Flow NonFiction. Thank you to PlanetTen.

Don Dario's - 8801 S. IH 35 3.0/5

 Don Dario's is a little tricky to get to the first time, tucked in between the highway and Home Depot. Luckily Steve had been there before. Entering from the highway you have to turn in a lot sooner than you would think - even with a big "DON DARIO'S" sign it is easy to miss. The equally "tricky-to-find" restaurant entrance is formidable with large heavy doors and spacious foyer. The boys were greeted and seated in no time. Sweet tea is available here. A big plus for Rusty.

 The chips were warm but a little thick. The boys like 'em thin! The salsa was pureed. Not too tomatoey with a lot of flavor of peppers. It had a good heat that lingered nicely. Rusty was not fond of the thin texture of the salsa.

 The service at Don Dario's was friendly and efficient. They asked if tortillas were desired with the enchiladas which is a nice touch. The boys have learned that "red" sauce (as opposed to "rojo") means different things to different restaurants. Here at Don Dario's it was a sweet and savory pureed sauce which Rusty likened to BBQ sauce. It had a nice flavor that worked well with the mildly spiced beef filling. There was plenty of sauce on these enchiladas which is great, a lot of places seem to hold back on the sauce much to the boys distress.

 The rice and beans were typical - not too exciting but that's not why we are here, right? The rice was a little sticky but not too bad. The beans were on the thin side and not particularly flavorful.

 At $7.99 the lunch specials were a pretty good deal. Although the menu states there is a $.75 surcharge for meat in enchiladas the boys were charged $.95, no big deal. They also noticed they weren't charged for drinks but it was unclear if they came with the lunch special or if it was just an oversight. All in all, Don Dario's is a good lunch spot if you can find it. -¡!-

Curra's Grill - 614 E. Oltorf St. 3.0/5

 The boys were taking care of business in the area so they stopped into Curra's Grill for lunch. It's a small place and the seating is tight but it wasn't too busy and a table was found. The chips were outstanding - nice and thin and crispy. Very few little broken pieces as well. The salsa was a very thick, fresh salsa without much heat to it. It was tomatoey without a lot of spice.

Steve and Rusty both opted for the beef enchiladas with red sauce. Steve was expecting a darker, chili based rojo sauce, but the sauce turned out to be fresh and tomato based. The enchiladas were tasty, especially the filling which had potatoes in with the beef and was nicely flavored. The sauce was very fresh tasting and even though it was simple and not heavily spiced there was an ample amount of it, and it worked well with the filling and the generous portion of white cheese melted  and nicely browned on top.

 The rice was cooked well but pretty bland tasting. The beans were presented in a quite small bowl but the cheese sprinkled on top was a nice touch. The beans had a nice texture but unfortunately fell a little flat on flavor.

 At $9.99 these enchiladas were priced a little high and this is the first place where we have been charged for chips and salsa - $2.99. No sweet tea here, either. All of the food was fresh and minimally spiced which worked well for the enchiladas, not so much for the sides. -¡!-

Flores - 4625 W. William Cannon Dr. 3.65/5

 February found the boys headed over to Flores Mexican Restaurant. Rusty had been to Flores in Oak Hill, now closed, and he was itching to try the newer location on William Cannon. The chips were homemade and pretty tasty if maybe a little thick. The salsa was a cooked variety, not particularly remarkable with a tomatoey flavor. Not very hot but with a little linger. The salsa was served in a deep bowl which held enough salsa for the entire visit.

 Flores doesn't have lunch specials so Steve and Rusty ordered off the regular menu. At Flores you get three enchiladas with your choice of filling and sauce. Steve was glad they also gave you a choice of beans - refried, black, or charro. Steve ordered the beef enchiladas with ranchero sauce and charro beans while Rusty got the beef enchiladas with chili sauce and refried beans. They both noticed the enchiladas had plenty of sauce - something that has been an issue at some places.

 Steve greatly enjoyed his selection. The sauce was very rich and savory made with tomatoes and vegetables. Very flavorful. A generous topping of white cheese and a beef filling that was very nicely spiced and tasty brought it all together. The charro beans were cooked well and the taste was delicious with some meat morsels bringing some smokiness to the bowl.

 Rusty, too, was happy with his enchiladas. The sauce was thick and deep, dark red with a rich chili flavor that was well complemented by the white and cheddar cheeses melted on top. He was pleased that there was plenty of sauce for all three enchiladas. The refried beans were nice and lumpy and also had a nice smokey flavor.

 The rice was the weakest component of the meal. A little under cooked feeling in texture and not particularly flavorful. With no lunch specials the value is a little low however the third enchilada really bumped up the portion.

 Flores serves some very tasty enchiladas. If you are in the neighborhood or even if you have to drive a bit Flores is worth a visit. -¡!-

Beef

with Ranchero sauce

Beef

with Chili sauce

Habanero Mexican Cafe - 501 W. Oltorf St. 2.9/5

 The boys had a guest today, their good friend Katt. They all headed up to Habanero Mexican Cafe. This is a pretty small place and they were quickly seated. No sweet tea here to Rusty's dismay. The chips weren't bad and were served warm which is always nice. The salsa was the cooked variety with a nice smoky flavor. It had a nice heat to it that was a bit much for Katt.

Regular enchiladas

with beef

 The order arrived very quickly and the hungry trio got to work. Steve ordered the regular enchiladas with beef, which came with a red sauce and cheddar cheese. There wasn't much sauce on these which is a shame is it seemed pretty rich and savory, though there wasn't even enough to get a proper taste of the sauce alone. The beef filling wasn't heavily spiced but was tasty. The cheese was very good, too. The enchiladas here come with some pico de gallo and lettuce which is a nice touch.

Verde enchiladas

with chicken

 Rusty had the verde enchiladas with chicken, which came with a tomatillo sauce and white cheese. Katt went with the supremas enchiladas - chicken with a red sauce and white cheese. Katt and Rusty noticed the chicken in both of their enchiladas was the same, red in color and a bit dry. Rusty thought the flavor of the red spiced chicken conflicted with the verde sauce, which he really liked. Katt wasn't particularly impressed with her enchiladas.  The beans were very good with a rich, savory flavor and nice texture, while the rice was a bit mushy. 

Supremas enchiladas

with chicken

 This is a nice place to stop by if you are in the neighborhood. At the regular price of $7.95 the enchilada plates were a good deal. The salsa was never refilled and empty tea glasses were neglected but the meal was served very quickly. They only take cash here, also, while they do have an ATM it does require a generous tip of its own. -¡!-

El Mercado - 1302 South 1st Street 2.9/5

 It had been a while since the boys had stopped by El Mercado on South 1st Street. In the late '90s Steve lived a couple houses down from there and was a frequent visitor. It was the tail end of the lunching hour and it wasn't very crowded so the boys grabbed a table. They ordered up some enchiladas and got busy on the chips.

 The chips were muy excelente! A nice and thin chip, more white than yellow. The only improvement could have been if they were still hot but it was the end of lunch and they were quite fresh and tasty. The theme for today is texture and the thin chips have a great crispy texture that doesn't overpower the salsa. The salsa was a fairly chunky, fresh, chipotle salsa. Steve really liked it a lot while Rusty enjoyed it but could have done without the big cilantro leaves in it. It was pretty mild salsa with a bit of initial heat but no linger. Safe for your spice averse amigos. Unfortunately the smallish salsa bowl was never refilled so the boys were left with three-quarters of a bowl of chips with no salsa.

 Rusty ordered the chicken verde enchiladas while Steve stuck with the beef enchiladas. The refried beans were tasty with a nice coarse texture and a rich onion flavor. The rice was nice and fresh with a flavor Rusty really liked but a little on the bland side for Steve. Both of the guys felt like their enchiladas were skimpy on the sauce, especially Rusty's verde sauce. Rusty liked his chicken enchiladas but was disappointed they didn't have more sauce. The verde sauce had a good savory flavor and the sour cream sauce was rich and creamy. Steve's beef enchiladas had a good flavored chili con carne sauce but he, too, would have appreciated a more generous serving of the sauce. The beef filling had a nice, savory spiciness and a good texture save perhaps the cheese. Steve is not a fan of velveeta and prefers cheddar and/or real white cheeses. The cheese on his beef enchiladas had a bit of an off-putting processed cheese texture. This may be a Tex-Mex-ism, as Tex-Mex cuisine is typically heavy on cheeses.

 In the end a nice lesson on ratios. The chips-to-salsa ratio was way too high. Steve and Rusty could have gone through two more bowls of salsa with the chips left in the basket. The sauce-to-enchilada ratio was way too low as the boys were left with half of their enchiladas left with none of the tasty sauce to "complete" them. At $7.75 for the lunch special and $2.25 for a tea it's a pretty good deal if you are in the neighborhood. This also happens to likely be the only Mexican food restaurant in Austin where you will see a live Journey tribute band playing.-¡!-

Matt's El Rancho - 2613 S. Lamar Blvd 3.0/5

Matt's El Rancho is an Austin icon with a rich history so the boys had high expectations. It's a big place but they finally arrived at their table and ordered up a couple of Matt's Footlong Enchiladas. Instead of two smaller enchiladas Matt's divvies out one long enchilada.

 Steve and Rusty dove into the chips and salsa while they waited for the enchiladas. Matt's makes their own chips in house which is a plus; however, they use tortillas which are quite thick. The result is a chip which, while quite tasty, is really a bit too thick and crispy - be careful if you've got dental work! The salsa was very nice. A peppery, more orange salsa not quite as tomato-y as most. A nice texture and heavy enough on the burn, showcasing the pepper flavors.

 The enchiladas arrived in quick enough time and the boys dug right in. The chili con carne was good tasting in the Tex-Mex style, although these enchiladas could have used more of it. The meat filling was spiced well and there was an adequate amount. The one enchilada did seem a little shorter than a foot long maybe even a little shorter than two more traditional enchiladas. The rice and beans were a tad on the short side as well, though tasty. The rice was Spanish style and very flavorful. The refried beans had a nice lard element that really kicked up the flavor. They had a great texture, thick and a little chunky. I don't think these beans had ever seen a can.

The service was just fine. As with most places this busy they had multiple service staff with dedicated roles - tea filler, chip and salsa guy etc. The value at Matt's is in the eye of the beholder. At $9.95 the lunch special is no good deal. Especially when coupled with $2.79 for a glass of iced tea! And no sweet tea either. You're paying for the location and the decor and ambiance here. Great for impressing an out-of-towner maybe, but you will pay. -¡!-

 

Casa Garcia's - 1901 W. William Cannon Dr 2.9/5

 Steve and Rusty went into Casa Garcia's with great expectations. After all, Casa Garcia's has been on their short list of "go-to's" for quite some time now. The chips were just as they remembered - nice, thin, and crisp. The salsa wasn't bad but not too exciting. A little burn but not too much, a creeper burn that came on several minutes after eating. As always the Garcias team worked together with the "chip guy" bringing more salsa and chips just before they were needed, a big plus.

 The first warning sign was when the plates came out and Rusty noticed the chicken enchiladas he ordered were a little smallish and not generous with the tomatillo sauce. Steve's beef enchiladas looked okay if not a little light on the chili con carne sauce. On the positive side, for the first time while doing an ¡Enchiladas! visit, when the plates were served the server asked if the boys wanted some tortillas. They opted for corn tortillas. Casa Garcia's makes their tortillas fresh in the restaurant and they are quite delicious! Rusty liked the flavor of his enchiladas but was disappointed by the portion. Small enchiladas without much chicken inside and skimpy on the sauce. Steve thought his enchiladas were a little firmer than most when he noticed they were double wrapped - two tortillas and a little light on the barely spiced ground beef. The sauce was a nicely flavored chili con carne. Casa Garcia's only charges 6.99 for the beef enchiladas lunch special, and 7.29 for the chicken enchiladas with tomatillo sauce. Steve and Rusty agreed they would rather pay a little more for heftier enchiladas.

 The refried beans at Casa Garcia's were the big standout. Very flavorful! There was pork involved with these beans and that is a good thing. The rice was very fresh and hot. Rusty wanted a little more spice to the rice, while Steve appreciated the freshness of it.

 All in all, the enchiladas were good. Maybe not so much as the boys had remembered. Casa Garcia's is a busy restaurant and they are quite adept at feeding a lot of people. Their staff works together very well to provide good service and they keep people coming back. -¡!-

Beef Enchiladas

Chicken Enchiladas

with tomatillo sauce

Texican Cafe - 11940 Manchaca Rd 3.8/5

 It was the day after Christmas and all through the house it was time for enchiladas! The boys headed to the Texican Cafe with visions of lunch specials dancing in their heads. While the service was a bit spotty it was friendly nonetheless. They were doing a brisk business and probably on skeleton crew, being the holiday season. Rusty was disappointed they only served unsweetened iced tea. Hard to keep the sweetness level right when the glass gets regularly topped off with unsweetened tea. That wasn't a big problem today as the teas were only refilled once and both were empty before the meal was finished. 

 No problems with the food, though. The chips were the yellow corn variety, not the boys' favorite, but not overly thick as some of the worst offenders. The chips were warm when served and the salsa was tasty with a nice heat to it. Salsas tend to go in one of two general directions. Chunkier versions with a prominent pico de gallo element and a "fresher" taste albeit usually heavier on cilantro flavor. Then there is the the more pureed, less chunky style which tends to have a richer flavor with less of a cilantro element. The Texican's salsa is more the latter style and not a bad salsa. Steve leans toward the fresher, chunkier salsas while Rusty tends toward the smoother, richer salsas. Steve found the Texican's salsa to be a bit heavy on the salt while Rusty thought it had the perfect burn to it.

El Paso Enchiladas

with beef

Sour Cream Enchiladas

with chicken

 Steve ordered the beef El Paso Enchiladas, a classic enchilada with a smoky red chili sauce that was deep red, rich, and deliciously savory! The filling was a tasty, spiced ground beef and nicely melted cheddar cheese topped it all off. The flavors all worked well together and Steve made short work of his plate. Rusty ordered his favorite sour cream enchiladas with shredded chicken. These enchiladas were an especially large portion stuffed with tasty chicken and covered with a more than generous amount of the creamy, rich sour cream sauce and white cheese. The sour cream enchiladas are the house specialty, claims the Texican menu, and it would be hard to argue that point. So smooth and creamy and bursting with chicken. They were decadently delectable! The rice was very tasty with a nice spicy flare. Quite fluffy and flavorful. The refried beans were especially boring compared to the overall deliciousness of their plated companions. When given a choice Steve prefers to steer away from refried beans, while Rusty prefers them when they are done well. Steve and Rusty both liked the small tortilla bowl of fresh pico de gallo that came with each dinner. The pico de gallo added a nice touch especially to the El Paso enchiladas.

 At $7.99 the lunch specials were a good deal and guacamole could be added to any lunch special for $1.99. Unfortunately the drink is not included and at $2.25 it is priced higher than many other places. A bit steep especially with no sweet tea available. All in all the scrumptious enchiladas got Texican Cafe in the "worth another visit" and "good enough to recommend" categories and puts them a good step above your typical strip mall fare. -¡!-

¡Muy bien!

---

La Vallarta - 6628 S. Congress Ave.2.75/5

 La Vallarta wasn't very busy when the boys showed up for lunch. They were served up a basket of the thick yellow chips probably from a bag. The guys are really partial to thin chips made right there in the restaurant. The salsa was pretty good with some nice heat to it.

 Beef enchiladas were ordered and came out in good time. The enchiladas were decent with a beef filling that was well spiced and flavorful. They were not overly spicy but had a mellower flavor that was subtle. The sauce was more yellow than the traditional red but the flavor was good. These enchiladas were on the smallish size and could have used some more filling. The rice was fairly bland but had a similar subtle flavor to the enchiladas. The refried beans were disappointing with Rusty finding them downright bad.

The service was friendly and quick. At $6.99 drink not included it is a nice cheap lunch; located in a strip mall where there is adequate parking. -¡!-

Jalapeño's - 1940 W. William Cannon 2.5/5

 Steve and Rusty decided to start this blog with Jalapeño's on William Cannon. They were always impressed anyone would open a Mexican food restaurant right across from Casa Garcias, one of their "go-to's".

  The service at Jalapeño's was great. The food was decent but not spectacular. At $6.99 the lunch special is a great deal even if it doesn't include the drink. (cont.)

 Steve loved the salsa while it was a bit spicy and heavy on the cilantro for Rusty. The chips weren't stale but were not standout. Steve and Rusty have a similar leaning toward a thin, white chip cooked fresh on site. These chips were the thicker yellow variety and not apparent if made on site.

The guys both went with the obligatory beef enchiladas - one of them will always order beef enchiladas - and they agreed that while they weren't bad they wouldn't be surprised if there was a gringo in the kitchen. The beef didn't seem to be spiced and the sauce had a flavor reminiscent of your everyday canned variety. Not horrible but a bit pedestrian. The cheese was a plentiful combination of cheddar and a white cheese that that helped save these enchiladas from total boredom. The beans were refried and mostly resembled a bean paste. While their flavor was adequate they weren't far from a fast food variety. The rice tried to look promising with some veggies added but really fell flat with a lack of any discernible spice.

 If you are in the neighborhood, Jalapeño's is a nice budget lunch with fast, friendly service. It gives the feel of a place that is geared a little more to the cantina side of things. -¡!-