Recommend great Mexican restaurants with mesmerizing queso? (Austin, Spring: find a job, live)

[Currency Pair Crocodile]

Bad boy was in Austin over the weekend. My second trip. And I'm in love with the city already I wish I could find a job in there, but given my niche skill set, the chances of that are too scarce.

Me and the girlfriend went to a lot of Tex Mex restaurants for I have a thing for queso. Well, she just led me and I followed. I know nothing of Austin.

We went to the Iron Cactus (my kinda place, fancy looking and great ambiance). Serrano's is sort of cheap and down to earth, but their queso rocks, much better than Iron Cactus. Then we went to one Texican Cafe, and it wasn't too bad, but didn't fare as high up as Serrano's or cactus in terms of queso.

So I'm looking for recommendations from the Austinites (is that even a word??) We'll be in Austin scouting for queso for the July 4 holiday weekend. I'd be happy to try new and great Mexican restaurants with mesmerizing queso. Thanks

Well, I also added a new word to my vocab. Tex-mex. What's up with that? Is it gonnabe Texico very soon? Hopefully not.

[Jennibc]

I REALLY like Trudy's Queso and it is really reasonably priced. Plus during happy hour, margaritas are only $3.95

[Currency Pair Crocodile]

Originally Posted by Jennibc

I REALLY like Trudy's Queso and it is really reasonably priced. Plus during happy hour, margaritas are only $3.95

Pulls out his post-it notes. Jots it down. I'll send it to my manager for final approval.

Thanks

[bgrn198]

Matt's El Rancho is good


Welcome to Matt's Famous El Rancho

[jobert]

Bad Boy: Only because you referred to yourself in third person, and as a proper noun, I'll answer.. Torchy's has good queso blanco, and it's out of a trailer. Don't laugh, but the trailer eateries in this city rock.

[atxcio]

Here is the good news: the places you visited are on the low-end of the Tex-Mex spectrum here. Also, some were *gasp* out of town chain restaurants! You don't do that in Austin. There are much, MUCH better places for you to try. I'd suggest:

*Guero's on S. Congress (food not that great, but better than Serrano's or Texican by far.. Margaritas are good and live music on their outdoor stage)

*Polvo's on S. First street. Hipster Tex-Mex central. Pretty good food and Margaritas

*Z-Tejas. Not really Tex-Mex but southwestern, excellent margaritas, more of an upscale atmosphere like Iron Cactus. Arboretum location has a patio with nice hill country view.

*Maudies. Cheap, but Tex-Mex all the way. If you want upscale, go to the one in Davenport Ranch off 360. Upscale location but the food is still cheap. If you want downscale/funky, go to the one off S. Lamar near the Alamo Drafthouse and Highball (bowling alley/nightclub).

*Baby Acapulco. Not particularly good food, but they do have a specialty queso with mushrooms. It used to be a favorite of many friends of mine. Also ridiculous highly alcoholic margaritas, I think they limit you to 2. I only would recommend the Barton Springs location.

*Hula Hut. This is the same company that owns Chuy's (which is OK for atmosphere but I wouldn't recommend otherwise). Hula Hut is cool because it's right on the water, usually hopping with people, good margaritas (and an outdoor bar to drink them), food is a little better than Chuy's.

*El Arroyo on 5th. Edge of west downtown, usually hopping, very good Tex-Mex.

[jobert]

I would add Curra's on Oltorf. It's a good scene, and I will concur with Atxcio that Maudie's is good: any location of theirs is good. I also like El Mercado as a cheap/easy lunchtime vice. There is also Maudite's Milagro on 360, which is outstanding.

[Jennibc]

Originally Posted by atxcio

*Hula Hut. This is the same company that owns Chuy's (which is OK for atmosphere but I wouldn't recommend otherwise). Hula Hut is cool because it's right on the water, usually hopping with people, good margaritas (and an outdoor bar to drink them), food is a little better than Chuy's.

FYI, Chuy's no longer owns the Hula Hut and as a result it no longer has the same happy hour prices, we sadly learned this past December. It's food quality also has seemingly gone down since they sold it.

[atxcio]

Originally Posted by Jennibc

FYI, Chuy's no longer owns the Hula Hut and as a result it no longer has the same happy hour prices, we sadly learned this past December. It's food quality also has seemingly gone down since they sold it.

Oh no! Well, this day just keeps getting more and more disappointing.

[Currency Pair Crocodile]

Originally Posted by jobert

Bad Boy: Only because you referred to yourself in third person, and as a proper noun, I'll answer.. Torchy's has good queso blanco, and it's out of a trailer. Don't laugh, but the trailer eateries in this city rock.

Trust me, I have a huge history of hiding behind trailer eateries and gulping bhel, pani and masala poori for almost an entire decade. It wasn't an acceptable practice in my home, but you never get that taste anywhere. Sanitation has been a problem as always, but my immune system has been good thus far.