Junus A.
Yelp
The first time I ate ALLI was a pivotal experience for me, and that's not praise I endow on just any restaurant. It was a moment of elation, a tummy euphoria, peppered with a bittersweet sadness. The joy, because of the caliber of the food. And the sadness? Regret for the countless Mexican meals, years and years of which I'd recklessly squandered by not dining at ALLI.
ALLI is a family owned Mexican restaurant located in a nondescript (& a bit disheveled) strip off Payton Gin. Do not let the exterior scare you off, like it did me for several years. You'll regret it.
The first time I had real Mexican food, it was prepared by my roommate's abuela in the valley. It opened my eyes. I must have eaten 3 whole plates of carne guisada, rice & beans that night. I'm sure some of you gringos have had a similar experience. Most of the taquerias around Austin can't replicate that homemade vibe; they supply a cheap imitation, at best. ALLI is different. A lucky someone's grandma is making that food, and it tastes exactly like you'd expect.
The gorditas, with their fresh made-to-order pockets of masa house their spiced & braised deshebrada, without that overpowering masa flavor. The crisp exterior supplies the perfect amount of structure for your fat deshebrada bites, all the while mopping up the yummy juices. The end result is a beautiful, glistening gordita pocket that's soft and supple without falling apart in your hands. Enormous and at $6 a pop you can't go wrong. I believe it's one of their standout menu items, and the proprietors themselves describe it as one of the most authentic items on the menu. You must get one as an accompaniment with your meal.
They also have the best chicharron en salsa that I've had the pleasure of having in the Austin area. In Austin, I'm accustomed to a slimy mess coated in an ambiguous watery mixture, which I choke down due to my gluttonous masochism. At ALLI, you'll enjoy large, silken chunks of chicharron with some actual texture in each bite. It's bathed in a rich, oily & chile-infused salsa that fully permeates each delightful morsel.
Unfortunately I moved away shortly after discovering ALLI and I have not been able to extensively explore the menu, but everything I've tried (bistec ranchero, molcajete, mole, chile relleno) has been stellar. It just blows all of the other small chain taquerias around here out of the water. Life is too short to eat crappy tortillas and poorly seasoned meat. Next time you're craving a traditional Mexican meal, come to ALLI. They'll serve you as if you're a guest in their home, and it'll taste like it too.