Mercado Sin Nombre Serves East Austin’s Best Coffee and Masa Dishes | Eater Austin

"From coffee roaster to Farmer’s Market staple to Eater Austin’s Best Cafe in 2024, this East Side gem runs a small menu that’s all hits and no misses, specializing in good coffee, masa-driven dishes, and creative twists on foods and drinks you’ve known all your life. I order the masa “twinkie” riff for its added depth and earthiness, and the bean and cheese and chile colorado burritos are simple but executed perfectly—quietly the best burritos in the city. The coffee is light on astringency and heavy on complex flavors; alongside standards like drip and espresso, there are exciting creations like the Nada Coke Float with a cola syrup, cold brew, lime juice, and black lime. For the caffeine-averse, seasonal drinks rotate, like a summer tomato agua fresca with heirloom tomato tepache, coriander syrup, and a splash of soda water. There’s even an alleyway patio. Pro tip: get there early because items sell out quickly; on a visit when most food was gone, they offered me the biscuit sandwich with masa pancakes instead of biscuits—and it was even better than the original." - H. Drew Blackburn