Cool spot with both indoor seating downstairs and a patio up top with nice view of downtown Austin. Food is delicious and service good too. Menu has some things you would expect and some that you wouldn’t. Tasty though.

+3

The green salsa is very good and spicy! Roasted duck tacos are delicious and so was the pastor tacos. They have a nicely decorative patio with a good ambiance. Highly recommend!

The hour hour is great! I definitely recommend their margaritas and nachos. Also, make a reservation since it can get really busy.

We ate on rooftop and loved the vibe. Different from typical tex-mex and more authentic Mexico City type food.

+1

Sat upstairs and had a great meal and our waitress Hanna was wonderful. From there we where able to walk to the Long Center.

The BEST frozen margaritas you will find in Austin! Gorgeous rooftop, delicious & authentic food. I spent 2 weeks in Austin and this was the only place I went back to more than once (4 times actually). Can get a bit crowded on the weekend so make a res in advance if you can! A MUST TRY!!

Long waiting time on a sunday afternoon, we waited 30 mins to get our seats and another 30 mins for the meals to be served. The food was great but small portions, slightly on the expensive side.

Surprised my smell and sight with the enchiladas. The tomatillo sauce threw me of because the added chipotle made it a different color which added a hint of smoky flavor as well. The margarita with watermelon was refreshing and I enjoyed it because the taste had a hint of rind as if to enjoy a watermelon slice alone.

If you want authentic Mexican food, this is the place!!! It has great food and great drinks. This place has a TON of margaritas/cocktails - if you’re a marg lover like me, GO HERE. The food is also really delicious. I ordered 3 different types of tacos (cactus, pork, and duck(?) — and they were super tasty). The other people from my party were pleased with what they ordered too. And someone mentioned that their lamb chops were great! Highly recommend.

Stopped in for dinner last night, and was reminded of what a gem El Alma truly is. First off, very friendly service from everyone - the hostess to the runners & busers. Julianna our server was fantastic. Great cocktails, I had the Flaquita Margarita which was a little tart but refreshing, and my husband had the Mexican Old Fashioned (divine!) to start. We both switched to the Margarita Clasica, on the rocks, which were delicious. If you haven’t already, definitely try the Avocadorita - a personal fav! We started with the Ceviche Classico, which was such a generous portion and stacked with fresh seafood and tons of flavor. For the mains, my husband had the Enchilada Plate with Tinga de Pollo and Pasilla Mole. I had the Adobe Grilled Shrimp over stacked enchiladas. Both were delicious, and so so filling. We also split a Pastor Taco which had incredible seasoning and flavors. Overall some of the best Mexican food I’ve had in Austin, especially impressed with the mole variations and authentic flavors which are hard to come by.

+1

Greatest Mexican food in the states period. Bring your appetite because everything here is amazing and you have to try at least one soup, entree, taco and dessert. All of the tacos are amazing and layered with the most amazing and complex flavors. The pablano soup is to die for. The mole is out of control and the tres leches is the best I’ve ever had. Come here try everything then walk one block down the street and get some terry blacks bbq to go.

Great food and service by Seth, Mindy, and Shelby and ALL the staff. Plenty of designated parking on the street west of the restaurant. Great bar and patio upstairs. Awesome duck taco and lamb barbacoa taco. Sublime mezcal and blood orange margarita.

+6

During our trip to Austin we went for Brunch and Margaritas to El Alma. Strawberry and “Mangorita” frozen Margaritas were so tasty, “La diabla” frozen Margarita was amazing! mango-habanero infused, tequila and Chile rim, the “chicken smokey tomatillo enchiladas” had a different flavor than what I’m used to but they were so good!! The patio was really nice on the roof, great atmosphere and close to downtown, easy parking out front.

+5

Everything was so good! Queso, the chips and salsa, chicken quesadillos and shrimp tacos! The flavors were so unique and plate presentation was impressive! Margaritas were frozen mango and an avocado margaritas. So good!

+2

Lovely stylish restaurant in the heart of Austin. This place is worth the wait. The view from the rooftop was also nice. Great service. Nice quality chips and guac. The arranchera was just okay. Missing a flavor unfortunately but it was cooked well. The fish was nice.

I had a wonderful experience. Food is excellent and I got my food really quick. The staff also made some excellent suggestions. There is a backyard you can sit at with a great view of the city. Inside there is a rustic vibe. There is a parking lot where I was able to get a spot. Highly recommend.

+6

Cute tex-mex spot! The wait time can get a bit long since it's a small place. There's an inside and an upstairs that is outside (with misting fans). The flautas were good! And mango margaritas. 🥭 Lots of people were just having drinks and chatting. I can see that this place probably gets super busy on the weekends! The bartenders and staff were friendly as well. There were only 2 single stall bathrooms, so I had to wait in line.

Second time here and food is still delicious! First time I had the chicken relleno (shrimp and crab) and hubby had the steak and eggs and we loved it! We got arrachera and torta de pastor (pictured) this time around and both were extremely well cooked and yummy! The mangorita does not fail to give us both a nice buzz!!

Love this place whenever we're downtown. Great food and drinks! Parking can be a pain but worth going. Great spot before going to the ballet at the long center.

We stopped in for happy hour. We were full from Terry Black's a few hours prior. Enjoyed our margaritas, salsa & chips. Our server was so sweet,friendly, great service. We would definitely come for lunch & dinner ,next time in Austin. The menu looked very interesting.

Oh my gosh, where do I begin?! Upon entering the restaurant you immediately feel transported to a different location. The decor is super cute and quaint. This place has a roodtop patio that is gorgeous! The food was pretty phenomenal! And of gosh the jalapeño cornbread is perfection! Highly recommend for any occasion!

This place is great, the tacos are fabulous, specifically the shrimp one, and the place looks great. Our server seemed new and clearly had too many tables though. Not his fault I'm sure, maybe someone called out or quit. The Mangorita was tasty too.

I had a very pleasant experience here and I am so glad their menu accommodates for the vegetarian and vegan diets. I ordered the veggie tacos with no onions. The tacos were DELICIOUS! My boyfriend even gave me more of his avocado to add to the avocado DELICIOUSNESS! 😍 You are paying for not only the food, but all the view and aesthetics. Overall, I would definitely recommend.

An amazing restaurant with explosions of flavor delivered with every bite!! Zach took care of us and was wonderful from beginning to end. The rest of the staff was great also with every encounter. We began with chips and queso topped with onions, peppers, and mushrooms(oh my delicious). The chips appeared to be made in house and accompanied the queso quite well, also delicious. I ordered the red fish with the jalapeño cauliflower, with a cornbread pudding muffin. AMAZING!! All of the flavors complimented each other in perfect harmony. My husband has a soft spot for duck; he ordered the duck enchiladas. STUPENDOUS!!! WOW!! His only (lovingly) suggestion, is that every meal gets one of those cornbread pudding muffins. I did split mine- love makes you do those kind of things.♡♡♡ A wonderful experience(Thank You). I most definitely would recommend, and I cannot wait to return!!♡♡♡ ☆☆They do have an amazing rooftop patio. We did not sit there, but Zach suggested I take a peek. The ambiance had a cozy, chill vibe and would totally wait to sit up there on a beautiful day or evening.

+5

We enjoyed a delicious meal here without a reservation on a Saturday during a busy music festival. Terrific food, service and atmosphere. Seemed like they have a very pretty rooftop patio though we did not make out way up there.

Wow!!!! Do not judge a book by its cover!!! We almost did, but sooooo thankful we did not. The food is absolutely incredible, from the salsa, appetizers and entrees!!! To top it off we set at the bar and had the pleasure of being served by Julz!!!! Drinks spot on as was service!!! Will be back many times over!!!! Do not be discouraged if there is long wait, it’s totally worth it. We got lucky and set at the bar top.

Loved all the apps I had and the service. They had a special that was the mango habanero wings which was pretty amazing. The right levels of spice and sweetness!

Food was excellent. Nice portions without being over the top. I was with 2 others who ordered bloody marys. They were spicier than expected and the staff swapped their drinks with zero question. We sat by the window and there's a ton of natural light. Lovely atmosphere. Great place to hang with friends. Walkable from lots of stuff.

The patio upstairs is terrific, with views of downtown! My wife and I go on days like today (70 degrees) and love it in the afternoon and evening. The duck relleno is amazing!

I've ordered several tacos thru UberEats. I liked that they offer not only traditional tacos but also creative ones. I got the pollo asado (chicken), shrimp and Chicken Tinga tacos. All the ones I ordered were tasty, some are more messier than others but they are all packed with flavors. I also tried both types of taco bread- corn and flour- and they were both great.

such tasty tacos and great vegetarian options! i got a cactus taco and the vegetable tacos. i liked the veggie tacos better, the mushrooms were done so well. the drinks were also good and the restaurant looked super cute, but there was an hour wait when we went so we got everything to-go and ate in the park. staff was super nice but the food did take a while to come.

+1

Such a beautiful outdoor elevated seating area! We came in for brunch, and even though it was really hot outside, the place has fans that keep you cool and comfortable. We ordered a couple tacos and enchiladas, as well as sangria and an avocado cocktail. I definitely liked the avocado cocktail, the sangria not so much. The tacos were amazing! I would recommend the tuna taco! Great place to sit outside and chat.

Definitely recommend this place! We stopped in for brunch on New Years Day, just before they filled up with patrons. Service was impeccable, we had to sit on the patio. Because we had a group of 10 people, they did everything necessary to help us stay warm and checked on us often, thank you Samual! Everyone was very impressed with their food, and RAVED about the Jalapeno Crab Queso!! This is the BEST QUESO, rich and creamy with a slight kick if you eat the cooked peppers. Our group ordered breakfast tacos, enchiladas and queso. The chips with 2 salsas were very good too!

+2

Amazing spot. Both indoor and outdoor seating. The patio is really great and I recommend sitting there. It can get very busy so reservations are best, but we went on a Saturday around 5 (happy hour!) and got an outside table immediately. They have fans and misters to keep everyone cool on the patio.

+6

Best dinner we had during our week in Austin. We got to sit on the rooftop patio, up the rustic stone stairs. (Glad I was wearing flat shoes.) Hubs had enchiladas with the mole sauce and still talks about how good it was. Similarly, I am still craving more of the tacos I had (1 carnitas and 1 asada). So good. Amazing food + great service + an elegant view of downtown = an unforgettable meal.

I love El Alma. Their happy hour was fantastic years ago and it continues to be so! The margaritas are probably my favorite in Austin. Yeah, I think that's a correct statement. I tried their mango margarita for the first time recently and I couldn't believe how much I liked it. The avocado margarita is also unique and fun. They have a great variety of appetisers to try for their HH. The tostatitas are cute and yummy and I love that they're served with pico de gallo and some pickled veggies. The guacamole is nice and creamy, the queso fundito is decadent (get it with the extra poblanos onions and mushrooms) and the callejera de chamoy is such an epic salty tangy sweet combo that you have to try. I finally sat on their upstairs patio and it was lovely. They have a good amount of fans and umbrellas, so even in the summer it’s nice.

+2

Great food all all around, deserts are great and often easier to get a table than other Austin brunch spots. Nice atmosphere.

Great authentic Mexican cuisine with great beverage selection. Really cool outdoor dining area upstairs that is just for large group gatherings. Service is generally good, but parking can be a tad challenging.

+1

Visiting in from Houston, we initially decided to get BBQ next door however it was so packed we decided to try El Alma instead and glad we did. Victor was friendly and attentive. Our drinks were perfect and the food was great. The ambient outside the patio was nice as well. Will definitely come back when we are visiting Austin!

Very chill atmosphere. The food and service were great! I ordered huevos franceses with crab added...omg it was soooooo good, dude. It's one of the best variations of egg benedicts I've had. There was also a large selection of drinks available and happy hour starts at 3! They have complimentary chips and salsa, which were super tasty too. I went around 2 PM on a Sunday and the wait was less than 10 minutes. Overall a great experience and I'll definitely be returning.

While my friends eat barbecue next door, I went for a walk to find something vegetarian friendly. I didn't expect to find something so delicious! The sweet potato rellenos was out of this world! My drink, La Diabla, was also quite enjoyable. Everyone in the building was cleaning their plates. Don't hesitate to eat here. Incredible!

El Alma Restaurant transports you straight to the heart of Mexico City with its authentic Mexican cuisine. This isn't your typical TexMex joint; every dish is crafted from scratch, exuding flavors that are rare gems in this part of Texas. A standout for me was their corn breads, fashioned from sweet corn bread, they taste delightfully akin to cupcakes or muffins. Don't miss out on their guacamole and totopos (chips) – an absolute treat for the taste buds! I've indulged in both their lunch and brunch menus, and each time, the dishes were so enticing that fellow diners couldn't help but inquire about my selections. Adding to the upscale dining experience, El Alma uses fine china and silverware, elevating the meal even further. Despite the hustle and bustle of the South West by Southwest festival, the service remained impeccable. For those in search of genuine, upscale Mexican cuisine, El Alma Restaurant is the place to be. Highly recommended!

+6

Found it on Eater and decided to give it a go and glad we did. The food was so fresh and flavorful without feeling like it was hiding behind cheese and fat. The queso came with the homemade chips but ironically it tasted just as good with the regular chips, but definitely get the grilled veggies with it. I had to order the duck enchiladas with the green mole sauce and had zero regrets, so much flavor and just a bit of kick to it. The shrimp taco was our favorite when compared to chicken and carne asada (which were both still good), the biggest reason being that the slaw was a stand out and if you don't get it with the taco then at least do yourself a favor and get it as a side.

We loved El Alma. Our server Tyler was very attentive and provided great recommendations: food and things to do in Austin as well. All the food was phenomenal and the prices were very reasonable. Highly recommend this spot!

Jake Hewitt

I kept hearing about El Alma and how I needed to go so I finally did and wish I had sooner! El Alma is a great Austin spot right on Barton Springs. Lunchtime was pretty busy when we were there. Great food and drinks. I ordered the 2 taco lunch plate with the duck and salmon tacos. You have to save room for dessert as well! It is all so good!!

+2

Stephen Barrios

El Alma absolutely delivered! My wife and I stopped in after a long day on the road—not super hungry, but wanted something light. We ordered the ceviche clásico and it was incredible. Fresh, flavorful, and beautifully balanced. The margaritas were top notch—easily some of the best we’ve had in Austin. We sat upstairs and, yeah, it was a little warm, but the view and the vibe totally made up for it. Great atmosphere, great service, and an overall fantastic experience. Can’t wait to come back when we’re hungrier!

Dakota Duncan

We go here every year for my Wife's birthday and we love it. Great food and drinks. The quesos are amazing, the margs and cocktails are great too. El Alma is a great blend of high quality Mexican food and drinks with an accessible atmosphere for even the most casual of diners.

Peggy B

For a very unique TexMex adventure try El Alma's next to Terry Blacks. (Heck, they have easier parking!) In our quest for REAL Austin TexMex, we should have come here long ago. Their Saturday - Sunday Brunch options are intriguing and inspired. The main menu is also full of unique items (duck rellenos?, heck yeah) As a starter recommend the guac which comes decorated with sunflower seeds, chipotle aoli, and tomatoes on a bed of lettuce. You can get a taco or a extremely gourmet meal featuring duck, quail, shrimp, crab Side note: They do have 2 locations in Austin. So, on to the food. Hubby's first response to his Pollo enchiladas "Wow" and OMG! My shrimp and crab relleno was a multiple flavor explosion. Shrimp,sauce,spinach,crab. Amazing! The owner, orgunally from Mexico, attended Le Cordon Bleu Paris to give you an idea of the menu uniqueness and gourmet level. In the cooler months ask to sit upstairs for a very special grotto treat. Service was fast and friendly. And the dishes all dressed to the "9's". Quite a fun foodie delight.

Michael Law

Recommended by our Airbnb host. Our first meal in Austin didn’t disappoint. Great vibes inside and friendly staff. Food was fantastic.

Rara Brew

1st time here and rusty was our server, provided excellent service. Food was amazing and the avacadorita is a first. Definitely stop here. They have a small rooftop.

Penelope Bryant

I’d heard so much about El Alma, and I finally made it—wish I had gone sooner! 🌮 Ordered the 2-taco lunch plate with duck and salmon tacos—both were incredible! 🍹 Great drinks and a lively atmosphere, even during a busy lunch rush. 🍰 Save room for dessert! You won’t regret it. A fantastic Austin spot—highly recommend!

+3

El Alma is simply a perfect choice for sharing the austin vibe with out-of-town guests or a friendly happy hour with locals. The staff are super informed about the dishes and are ready with recommendations. Bella was delightful and obviously a veteran server. The outdoor patio has a great view and is ready for hot or cold weather so is pleasant all the time, definitely ask for patio whenever available. And the food! Each dish is delicious but always listen to the current special as that’s always a solid choice. My most recent visit was large shrimp with a fruit salsa and chips. So delicious. The sauces make all the difference and take you right to Mexico.

Anastasia

Fantastic experience. Fun atmosphere. Friendly and efficient service. And the menu was outstanding! We started out with guac and queso which were both great. For tacos I ordered the al pastor and chicken tinga and they were delicious. And I can’t forget the cocktails— my favorite was the como la flor!

SethBM

Amazing food and experience! We had zero wait at lunchtime on a Saturday. I got the shrimp enchiladas with the tomato chipotle sauce and they were amazing. Their chips are also some of the best I have ever had. Highly recommend!

Came here for a quick lunch on a warm, sunny Saturday in February. We sat on the patio, which was a nice change from where we normally sit (inside). We both got different versions of enchiladas - I got the mole with the shrimp and cheese and it was excellent. Their frozen margs are always good, too! Overall this is a good place with a different type of menu from other similar places (they love their duck here)!

Wow! El Alma was great in Julianne rocks! The area is packed with people for the Austin marathon and yet we walked straight in and got a seat outside. Julianne was excellent. She even fixed a drink order that was messed up with a smile. Food was great service was great and stuff was great. We highly recommend El Alma.

WOW! I normally order pickup for El Alma, but stopped in for a visit tonight and I do not regret it! Dalia was amazing. So attentive and friendly. Coming from a former waitress, she did an amazing job and I felt the need to shout her out in this review! Loved the pork chop and Don Quixote martini! Must try both.

John T

Delicious and innovative flavors, fun atmosphere, and great service! My friends and I found this place for dinner while visiting Austin. We lucked out last minute because a reservation canceled, so we got seating on the rooftop - that was a fun experience. We ordered the queso blanco y rojo (great!), the ceviche (great!), the ahi tuna ceviche tostada (I was so happy with this - lots of flavor!!), the sweet potato relleno (yum!), and the enchiladas (great!). We really enjoyed this meal - I love flavor combos, and they delivered! The ambiance inside and out is fun. I highly recommend, and I’ll be back for the sho tuna ceviche tostadas!!!

+6

Queso dip was soooo good. I got the redfish with cauliflower which I enjoyed-especially the cauliflower. Was only moderately crowded-we got right in and food was out quickly! Would recommend.

Queso dip was soooo good. I got the redfish with cauliflower which I enjoyed-especially the cauliflower. Was only moderately crowded-we got right in and food was out quickly! Would recommend.

Most awesome atmosphere with a patio outside overlooking Downtown Austin....food was spectacular and the service was great as well!

Most awesome atmosphere with a patio outside overlooking Downtown Austin....food was spectacular and the service was great as well!

My son introduced me to this restaurant today. The food was delicious. We had chicken enchiladas with a soft taco that was probably the best I have had in a long time.\nI highly recommend El Alma.

The Food is good, we had super fast and friendly service, bur we went for late lunch. Prices are decent.

The Food is good, we had super fast and friendly service, bur we went for late lunch. prices are decent.

The food was amazing, the atmosphere inviting and the service was outstanding I had the salmon taco which was prepared to perfection. The location is convenient and parking is plentiful.

The food was amazing, the atmosphere inviting and the service was outstanding I had the salmon taco which was prepared to perfection. The location is convenient and parking is plentiful.

For a unique TexMex adventure try El Alma's next to Terry Blacks. (Heck, they have easier parking!) In our quest for REAL Austin TexMex, we should have come here long ago. Their Saturday - Sunday B…

Had great drinks and food at Elma. Our waiter Ryder L. was extremely personable (showed us a yo-yo trick) and made our dinner special. We appreciate the experience and attribute our service to our …

What an incredible experience. My five friends and I came to eat an early dinner on the outside patio. We found a parking spot right in front. Hostess Emma and Server Ashley were both so helpful an…

This is the best tasting, healthiest mexican food I’ve had in Austin Texas. Today we had the grilled chicken Padilla with grilled cheese sticks and the chicken tinga enchiladas in chipotl…

The Margaritas were the best I have had in Austin and I had Chicken Tinga tacos and al pastor tacos Gotta say I am in love. Anthony and Carmela were great.

We really enjoyed eating on the rooftop, kept cool with the misting fans, and enjoyed the large portions and great service. Loved the duck dishes. Really appreciate the hostess Shannon, who chased…

Excellent food. Great prices. Fun vibe. Friendly staff. No wonder this place is a favorite with locals. Make a reservation or you might be waiting a while.

Fun, high-energy atmosphere, cheerful servers helping each other out. Delicious flavorful food.Will definitely return here.

My husband and I really enjoyed the Mexican food here. The frozen margarita was delicious. Guacamole and chips were very fresh. The duck enchiladas and the crab enchiladas were scrumptious. Would …

Exceeded our expectations, delicious food and friendly service. And the terrace is a plus with low music in the background.

Avocado margarita a true gem!!!! I rarely like margaritas in restaurants unless only fresh lime juice this exceeds all expectations.

Super cute restaurant, amazing service (always a plus) the ambiance is pleasant. Waited 20 min to be seated. Menu was good, we had seviche, tostadas and tacos. The tacos were dry, corn tortillas thick and also dry. Margaritas on point! I will definitely come back and try some of their specials!

Updating review to 4 stars as service quality has gone down and portions were smaller this time i went. Still really good but less worth it now then it was a couple years ago. 2021 Review: (5 stars) Wow. I can’t believe I didn’t come here sooner. Puts basically everything else in Austin to shame. Reading some of the negative reviews on here are hilarious, ignore those people. What a flipping fantastic place! Great servers, atmosphere, and food! I ordered too much and ate too much but heck did I enjoy every bit of it!

I was looking for a swanky spot and came across El Alma. It's an authentic Mexican food restaurant with a fun vibe and ambiance and green plants alongside rocks as an interior decor with a rooftop. We happened to get a parking spot right in front of the restaurant. Upon entry my wife and I were greeted and seated immediately. This was Mother's Day around evening time. We choose to sit inside to avoid a 30 minutes wait for the rooftop seating. Our server quickly introduced himself and got us started with a couple of cocktails. I had the Cara Tropical, Cara Tropical (carabuena blanco, passionfruit, ginger liqueur, lime, agave, sugar rim ) on the rocks. My wife had the Flaquita (watermelon-serrano infused El Jimador tequila, watermelon, lime, agave, chile rim) on the rocks. Both of these drink were very good. We ordered the Jalapeño crab queso dip (Ancho butter, crab, grilled jalapeños, cilantro, white queso). This was very tasty, the has a pleasant taste and the crab isn't overpowering. The chips were very good too. I ordered the Pastor (Adobo pork, pineapple, raw onions, cilantro, lime) and the Pato (Roasted duck, almonds, pepitas and escabeche onions). The Pastor, I had on corn and it was a quality pastor taco. if you're a pastor afficianando definitely give this taco a try. It's very flavorful and moist. The Pato was good too and the ingredients blended well. The duck was moist, this is definitely a uniquely flavored taco. Definitely try both of these. I had a bite of the two tacos my wife ordered. She ordered the Shrimp al pastor (Adobo shrimp, pineapple, slaw, avocado, lime) and the Lamb barbacoa (Habanero pickled carrots and onions, cilantro). The shrimp was good but the taco had too much slaw which pulled away the flavors from the shrimp. It was better when I removed some and took another bite. The lamb barbacoa was a little dry, but if it has great potential to taste awesome if it wasn't on the dry side. For dessert we ate the habernero empanadas served with a side of vanilla ice cream. Unfortunately we didn't like it. The crust was very doughy and had a spice which I thought was nutmeg that was very overpowering. The ice cream was good but as whole dessert this wasn't for me and perhaps not for you either, however i would recommend everything else I mentioned in this review!

+4

Drink and vibe are on point. Food is 4/5 as some things are good or some things are bad. The ceviche are amazing and so is the enchiladas. Green salsa was the best. The steak was not good.

+1

The service was great the atmosphere is ok. It’s not upscale but it does feel a bit pretentious. The parking is not too good. I ordered several drinks they were hit and miss. I recommend the El Dorado and the Chilanga. Pass on the Mangorita and the Flaquita. They have several vegetarian options. The tostaditas are very good. The black beans are incredibly delicious and flavorful. They are just so tiny it’s kinda funny. I ordered the Rice & Cheese Poblano Relleno and I loved it!!!this is a side dish but it really should be a main dish. The rice is cooked to perfection and the cheese and crema complement it wonderfully. My only improvement on it is maybe it should be charred a bit. I also ordered the Elote Placero. This is another side. I found it interesting that the sauce on the elote was sweet. I didn’t like that as much but it wasn’t bad. I don’t think I will get that again though. I was able to taste the crispy papitas and they are not that crispy and they are sweet. The sauce they come with is interesting flavor I really can’t place it I think it’s mayo based. For dessert I got the Espresso Tres Leches Cake. It was ok nothing special. The whipped cream was not very sweet which was weird because a lot of the other food was sweet when it should not have been. Overall I’m not sure if I will return. Some stuff was great other stuff was ok.

+6

Pretty good! Cucumber Ranch margaritas and Como la Flor were tasty. The ahi tuna tostadas and jalapeno crab dip were both also good!

We walked in on Monday early afternoon (the day after ACL ended at that) and we're seated immediately. The food was solid - queso rocked, the free chips and salsa were amazing...and the torta I had was one of the best tortas I've ever had! The 2 margaritas we had were...so so, but everyone there was amazingly kind & the food rocked, so 4 stars from me 🤗

Nice spot for lunch or happy hour on Barton springs near Lamar. Walking distance from several places around Zilker. Our waiter was nice and efficient. Our drinks, one margarita and a mocktail were cold and flavorful. My taco plate was tasty but the enchiladas stole the show.

+1

Loved the Cactus Salad , chicken mole and two other dishes ordered were ok. Could have included a some tortillas with main entre. Rice was lovely but very small portion. $100 for 3 persons including 20% tips ( no drinks ordered).

The dining experience at this establishment was undeniably delicious and satisfying! I rated it 4 out of 5 stars solely due to the somewhat limited vegetarian choices. The mole verde enchiladas truly stood out as a remarkable culinary delight, followed closely by the scrumptious taco. In addition to the delectable food, the staff's friendliness added to the overall positive experience, and the interior decor was visually pleasing. Despite the limited vegetarian options, I wholeheartedly enjoyed my visit here.

+6

Really great food, but by far my least favorite restaurant fork…. Autistics be warned if big heavy forks mess with you like they do for me. That being said I’d go again for the pollo asado tacos. Really delicious and they are very generous with the chicken and cheese, which I appreciate.

Very interesting restaurant, right across from the park. I went in and it was very nice & interesting place. You can choose to dine indoors or go upstairs and eat outside. Beautiful view and much better than inside. I ordered a chicken avocado torta . It's not your typical Mexican restaurant, the food is not too spicy but you can add to it with sauces that they offer, served with black beans and potatoes sides. Delicious menu and the drinks were alttle strong so be careful going down the stairs.

+6

Everything was decent, nothing spectacular, except for the chips and salsa which were really good. The michelada had too much Tabasco and the ceviche too much tomato. I got the grilled chicken and it was a bit bland. Thank goodness for the extra salsa I ordered to give it some kick and flavor. Service was good, parking can be tricky and upstairs patio doesn’t have heaters for cool days or nights. My wife enjoyed the pastor tacos, both the regular ones and the shrimp pastor.

+3

Atmosphere was absolutely fabulous. Downstairs versus upstairs gives a total different vibe and different from the outside of the restaurant as well. It all mixes into a good mash. Food was pretty good, prices were okay. Service could have been a tad quicker. That said we enjoyed ourselves.

Prince Clarise Perimbie

A little gem great for a cozy ambiance and relaxing day, amazing service little nice back rooftop. Nice inside view. Little but overall impressive.

+6

Lexie Nicole

Recommend… they have a great happy hour! The only reason I’m not giving 5 stars is because the table my party was sat at was dirty when we were seated and it wasn’t busy at all so it was just a little gross but after it was cleaned off the rest of the experience was great!

Marc Kleinmaier

Great Mexican food, drinks, and ambiance. A little pricey for what you get, but the experience makes it worthwhile. A beautiful winding rock stairwell takes you up to their rooftop deck where you can watch the birds, listen to the Cicadas, and enjoy the Austin weather near the river, while sipping on a Clásica Margarita or a delicious frozen Mangorita with a Chile rim (I had both, just to be safe). Food and service get docked one star because there was silver skin on the steak, which shouldn't happen at this price, and our appetizer (Ahi Tostadas, which were great), didn't come out until the rest of the food had arrived. Otherwise, it was yummy and the staff were very friendly. We'd definitely go back!

Had dinner on the upstairs patio at this spot and would recommend waiting for a table there. The Margarita could've used more kick, felt like it was just for show. But, the crab queso is a must-try - it's legit good. The chicken enchiladas and tacos? Absolutely killer. They know what they're doing in the kitchen. Service was on point too, super friendly without being over the top. Cool atmosphere, kind of a unique vibe that works. Had a short wait around 30 minutes to get seated on a Saturday night, so not bad but recommend grabbing a drink from the patio bar upstairs while you wait for a table. Overall, solid place for a casual night out.

+6

Kate Rimolo

Cute Mexican food spot. I went with a large group of about 20 people. They sat us at two large tables. We got the queso and guac as appetizers. I ended up getting a mocktail and the mail quail dish with mole sauce. The service was absolutely fantastic. Sometimes with groups of our size service is slow and the food takes forever, but they seemed to be well-staffed, as the food did not take long to come out and the waitstaff made regular rounds to check on drinks, take orders, etc.

+4

Kelly Taliaferro

Great taco spot. We were playing at the park and lucky to score a table here. Only con was not having a heater near us. Otherwise, we loved our tacos and our waiter! There are some unique taco options, including lamb barbacoa and red fish. There’s a free parking lot which is helpful considering the parking options are limited in the area.

+6

I stumbled upon El Alma by complete chance. My friends wanted to go to Terry Black's for BBQ, but I am vegan, and I didn't want to go to a BBQ place. El Alma is two doors down, and it was literally p…

I stumbled upon El Alma by complete chance. My friends wanted to go to Terry Black's for bbq, but I am vegan, and I didn't want to go to a bbq place. El Alma is two doors down, and it was literal…

Waaay overpriced for food quality, service, etc. Service was inattentive, and the restaurant was not busy at the time. Margaritas were expensive, the taste was nothing special, and they took foreve…

Waaay overpriced for food quality, service, etc. service was inattentive, and the restaurant was not busy at the time. Margaritas were expensive, the taste was nothing special, and they took fore…

Waaay overpriced for food quality, service, etc. Service was inattentive, and the restaurant was not busy at the time. Margaritas were expensive, the taste was nothing special, and they took fore…

Great taco spot. We were playing at the park and lucky to score a table here. Only con was not having a heater near us. Otherwise, we loved our tacos and our waiter! There are some unique taco …

If you're looking for good Mexican food with flavor... sorry but this ain't it. Tacos lacked flavor big time. The drinks and atmosphere is what is saving this review. The mangorita was fresh and ra…

If you're looking for good Mexican food with flavor... sorry but this ain't it. Tacos lacked flavor big time. The drinks and atmosphere is what is saving this review. The mangorita was fresh and ra…

Happy Hour. Service was on point. Creat margaritas at good HH prices. Get the ceviche - it's awesome. \n\nAlthough the food and service are comparable to the original on Barton Springs, this locati…

Slow service despite only two tables to attend to, had to ask for drinks, server did not introduce himself (not a big deal, but also not the norm). \n\nVery overpriced for bland food. I guess it is…

Creative menu, simple yet unique vibe at this Mexican style restaurant. Certainly isn’t the standard Mexican food as we had Shrimp & Crab Relleno, duck enchiladas, white Queso and a bowl of Guacamole…

Creative menu, simple yet unique vibe at this Mexican style restaurant. Certainly isn’t the standard mexican food as we had shrimp & crab Relleno, duck enchiladas, white Queso and a bowl of G…

If you can get a seat outside on the roof, do so. We enjoyed our drinks on the roof. Food was good too. Nice place on a good day.

If you can get a seat outside on the roof, do so. We enjoyed our drinks on the roof. food was good too. Nice place on a good day.

If you can get a seat outside on the roof, do so. We enjoyed our drinks on the roof. Food was good too. Nice place on a good day.

We went there for a late light lunch after our half day tour. We didn't want a heavy meal at their next door neighbor " Terry Black's Barbecue". The view on the deck was really nice. Service was go…

A good upscale spin on TexMex food, with a good atmosphere. Slightly noisy inside, but tolerable, and a creative use of outdoor space for dining. We had adobo grilled shrimp and chicken enchiladas…

A good upscale spin on TexMex food, with a good atmosphere. Slightly noisy inside, but tolerable, and a creative use of outdoor space for dining. We had adobo grilled shrimp and chicken enchiladas…

The restaurant looks small from the outside. Don’t let that fool you. The ambiance is low key where you can chat, unwind and relax. The food was delicious! Most of the tables were reserved, but we …

Went for dinner and sat outside. The outside seating area could be so much better, but it served its purpose. Drinks were ok. Appetizers were ok. Veggie enchiladas were ok. Server was very busy, but again ok. A little left to be desired.

The menu and food was fine, but our food took a long time because they lost our ticket, so we weren’t very hungry by the time it arrived. However, the server was excellent and took great care of us. The open doors on a cold January night made the atmosphere uncomfortable.

Hits and misses here. The queso fundido was insanely good. We all agreed that was the biggest hit of the evening. In fact, it was so good I did not get a photo before it was gone and it is served with warm fresh tortillas. Do not miss that. Excellent bar service and cocktails. The menu really needs to be done in my opinion. Lacks information needed and leaves the consumer to be the chef in some instances which is hit or miss. It's organized all over the place, and where normally the dish is in dark bold, it's the lightest, it offers few descriptions as well. For example, under tacos you may or may not guess it's just one taco and comes with one side. But the worst part is with the lack of descriptions, you are made to guess putting your meal together. I decided on the shrimp enchiladas but have to pick my own sauce, rather than have suggestions of what pairs best. Because the sauces lack very little description I chose "chipotle + crema" picturing this to be the creamiest sauce on the menu which would go well with the shrimp enchiladas. But there was very little description under any of the sauces so it was a crapshoot. I chose wrong. It was strong chipotle, not creamy at all, and had a crema DRIZZLE over the top but everything was drowned out by the chipotle flavor and it simply was not good. My tablemate had it with the chicken but had the same reaction. That said, her enchilada was still better than the shrimp one. The tortilla chips served with the salsas were stale. Salsas were good though. We loved the atmosphere. Very pretty and unique stone wall. The service started out fabulous but then we were ignored and couldn't get our bill to save our life but we knew who the manager was because we had already watched him and noted he was a really good one. He was an impeccably dressed black man who was really on top of things and we felt that impressive...he moved about the entire restaurant, even checking the air vents and temperature, and front of the restaurant for cleanliness. As soon as we told him we could not get our bill, he was ON it and we had it in seconds. So I do not fault him for this in any way. He had no way to know that. And he was very helpful. We pulled him aside to get it because it was quite obvious he was the manager. I would go back for cocktails and the queso alone. I would probably try something other than figure-out-your-own enchilada dishes and even with them being a miss, the refried beans and rice were perfect. The tacos served to my other tablemate were kind of sad. Just two small tacos on a plate, no sides.

+3

Who designed this menu?!? How can anyone read this? This 4-point-font requires a magnifying glass and surgical lighting to read. \n\nI'm 43. I have 20/20 vision. I'm not old. Yet. However, this is il…

Cute plate decorated with stairs leading to the rooftop. Ate downstairs as it was cold that night. \nThe meats in our tacos were well prepared but on the bland side. Would have liked some salsa to …

Good, but nothing special. I have no complaints, but in an area rich with Mexican restaurants it doesn't stand out either.

I was here for brunch and it wasn’t packed. I felt like I had to keep asking for things that I needed. Things that the waitress should’ve been on top of - salt, a drink, water refill, chips for the table, my check, etc. Honestly she even stopped checking in on us and totally ignored us which is why I had to ask for my own check. The tacos also needed more flavor, drinks were good but the restaurant needs to work on their service plan asap. They were picking and choosing who to pay attention too and that was a red flag.

Service - terrible. Inattentive. Bad! Margaritas - supposed to have most famous margaritas in Austin. What a joke. Maybe mid at best. 3 out of 5. Salsas. Bad! Weak. What’s a Mexican place with average margaritas and terrible salsas. A place that charges you $1.50 every time you ask for that tiny tiny thing of salsa. Al pastor - decent. Enchiladas and tacos - flavor profile is weak. Bland. Dry steak in the tacos. Dry eggs in the huevos rancheros. I don’t get some of these places. Bad service. Weak salsas. Average margaritas. Highly avoidable.

LL

Interesting choice to hire two hostesses for the front desk when both of them are on their phones basically the whole time. On the positive side, the chips and queso starter was tasty, and our server was nice and diligent enough, especially for a busy holiday. But the food was overall mediocre—the prickly pear margarita was undrinkably sweet. As for the enchiladas, the tortillas were weirdly raw underneath the sauce (which was fairly bland). The cheese enchiladas were just a chunk of cheese that quickly cooled and concealed - unappetizing. The vegetable enchiladas that my friend got had NO cheese. And the white rice that comes as a side also has peas and corn interspersed throughout… be forewarned. She said her white sangria was a little too tart. Drinks were not good, food was disappointing, service was just okay. Most of all, the atmosphere was a strange crowd of young millennials drunk on margs and going outside to take vape breaks. Just not the ideal dining atmosphere. I can’t say I’d recommend this spot. Oh, and the table was sticky. Maybe spend your money elsewhere.

Christopher Hinojosa

Terrible service. Had to ask things at least two times to get them delivered to our table and worst of all, my friend got sick after eating her only meal of the day. Would not come back.

Mike SaVa

Very disappointed experience to say the list! Atmosphere is nice Cool place BUT food… please owner read what people say! Ordered lunch taco plate See photo Taco on the right is Lamb and on the left is duck. Duck was just OK But land was inedible It had so much seasoning that you have no idea what you eat. By the way salsa Sucks! Thank you for your attention to this matter! Adios

The meal started off good with great salsa and white queso. I ordered the shrimp and crab rellano Which unexpectedly was not battered and fried like normal. The filling did seem to have any flavor. The black beans were not seasoned at all. My wife ordered carne adada taco and adobo shrimp taco, The be.\nEf was a little dry and the shrimp was cold. The rice lacked flavor and had a fishy taste. I expected for the price.The meal would be amazing. I get better food at my local hole in the wall. I would not really recommend the place.

Wrangler Wells

Took my gf on a date night last week and I’d heard of this place so decided to try it out. We didn’t set a reservation because it didn’t seem like we needed one with the amount of available reservations, well when we got there we had a 20 minute wait. The restaurant isn’t very big, so I guess it could fill up quickly. The flautas and enchiladas were good, tacos I would steer clear of especially the carne asada-was definitely overcooked chewy meat, the taco wasn’t even eaten. The main thing about our visit is the frequent visit of ROACHES 🪳, shortly after being seated there were a pair of roaches connected that was scurrying around, our waiter squished it literally a foot from my gf. He then apologized and said “that never happens”. Then our service was pretty bad, I’d assume he was embarrassed which is understandable. Then after we finally decided to stay and order food, there was another roach scurry by the gable behind us, I know because another customer was trying to squish it-needless to say it kept scurrying. After all of our roach encounters at the end I expected another apology from the waiter and/or possibly a visit from a manager to apologize. It never came. Definitely disappointed, I’d honestly steer clear of this place. To me it will always be the roach restaurant with bad service.

+1

Party of six, sat outside, 65 degrees, no cover. Not very busy. Hoping to have the nice outside heater turned on, but the staff informed us that they do not turn them on until January lol. What a joke. Why have the heaters out, with no propane and not turn them on? Do they get too hot? We had 80 year olds asking for the heaters to be turned on, but instead we got every excuse in the book, from multiple employees. Sad. First they were out of propane. Then we were told “it wasn’t cold enough to turn on the heaters.” I work in the industry. I know how much of a pain the heaters are, but the owners must have bought them for a reason. We sat outside with no cover. They never even bothered to wipe the water off the tables and chairs. We were told a manager would be asked about the heaters. Manager never came by. I looked around for a manager, but no employee resembled a manager. A friend recommended this place because they used to work here in the ‘90s. Things have changed? Rooftop is not much of a rooftop.

Samantha Haro

If you go to El Alma, be very careful with their stairs, because literally your life is at risk there, and it hurts all the way to your soul. They need to repair the stairs; they are really in very bad condition. I suffered a second-degree ankle sprain on Sunday, January 11, due to a fall on their stairs. I have been in pain for five days now, and this injury has prevented me from being able to work during these days. Thank you.