El Taquito
1713 East Riverside Drive, Austin, TX
Price Range: From $1.40 (for a single
specialty taco – $7.50 (for specialty plates)
Family-friendly atmosphere with friendly customer service
[Jo:] Since moving to Austin we have definitely changed our eating habits. We often give in the urge for a particular type of food without regard for the time of day or night. That is both good and bad. It’s good because you can eat what you want when you want it. It’s bad because, you can eat what you want when you want it. One night, we had a “hankerin’” for some authentic Mexican food. After a quick search for a place that stayed open after 10pm, we ventured to the east side of the Austin to El Taquito.
[Mo:] When we entered, I knew that we were in for some good food for two reasons. First, the place was packed with wall to wall patrons after 10pm! I knew that the wait would be close to 20 minutes for an order “to go” but that meant that the food was made fresh per order. Second, Spanish was the primary language for every person in the restaurant, except us. We were so excited that this was no tourist spot but a local favorite.
[Jo:] I was glad that we had started our Spanish refresher course. I remember how excited we were to have the opportunity to practice our Spanish. “Yo hablo pequito espanol- I speak a little Spanish.”
[Mo:] Thankfully, our waitress was very friendly AND patient.
[Jo:] There was so much to choose from on the menu that my head was spinning! Picture us. Mesmerized by the large picture menu mounted above our heads. Swooning. Ooh-ing and aah-hing. Other patrons having to go before us as we were fixated in a trance of what to order.
[Waitress:] ¿Puedo ayudarle? (May I help you?)
[Jo:] Here was my big chance to use my Spanish. “Yo quiero Bistek Ranchero por favor-I want the Steak Ranchero please.” This dish was 6 flat mini corn tortillas topped with strips of tender spicy steak, roasted chiles, onion, cilantro, avocado and lime. I wish I had ordered two servings! Mo ordered the Al Pastor which was marinated pork which was cooked in a signature “Al Pastor” style.
[Mo:] “Al Pastor” or Shepherd-style cooking is a dish that originated in Northern Mexico. As Jo said, the pork is marinated in dried chiles and slowly cooked over a flame with onions and pineapple on a vertical rotisserie. After cooked, the meat is sliced and served in mini tortillas with onions, cilantro and pineapple. This dish became an immediate favorite!
[Jo:] The food was excellent! My taste buds sang, as if they were accompanied by the melodious sounds of trumpets and guitars from a mariachi band. The flavors were layered with robust flavors from the chiles, onions and cilantro. Each bite was concluded with the fresh taste of salsas and guacamole.
[Mo:] Dude! Did you know that they stay open until 3:00am??
[Jo:] Yo no quiero Taco Bell! Yo quiero El Taquito, por favor.
Send restaurant recommendations and queries to mojosreviews@yahoo.com
