Casa Colombia

"From the outside, Casa Colombia looks like a pretty nondescript East Austin restaurant. It could have been a bank in a previous life, complete with limestone brick walls and a dedicated parking lot. But inside, there’s a spacious dining room that’s always packed full of people waiting for some of the best Colombian and South American food in town.  Don’t be too surprised if you enter the waiting area and have to make your way through families and middle school soccer teams waiting for a table. Everyone’s here for the same reason—this rare combination of affordable plates and consistent quality. And the portions are hearty enough to feed growing athletes and small families alike. Start with an order of aborrajado and enjoy the best combination of fried plantains and mozzarella we’ve encountered in the city. Then, order the bandeja paisa tipica—basically a Greatest Hits platter of Colombian favorites—and pair it with a massive 32-ounce goblet of tart, creamy passion fruit juice with milk. You’ll probably leave with a takeout box bigger than what you were able to finish, and an overwhelming desire to come back again soon. " - Nicolai McCrary

"This family-friendly east side restaurant focuses on traditional meat dishes like churrasco, bistec criollo (steak cooked in sauce), and bandeja paisa, which is a beef sirloin dish served with white rice, red beans, sweet plantains, avocado, and topped with a fried egg. Plentiful fish and vegetable options are also available." - Sommer Brugal