Samuel C.
Yelp
Casa Moreno's draws a crowd.
I went there in the pouring rain on a frigid day - the kind of day that makes most Austinites stay home.
Casa Moreno's was packed - and this was at 11 o'clock in the morning.
I expect the place was going to be even more packed for lunch.
This is the only restaurant I have ever been to in far Southeast Austin that draws major major crowds.
The crowds know what's good and Casa Moreno's is good.
* * *
Because of the pandemic, Casa Moreno's is working on a limited menu.
They are known for their lunchtime buffet.
The lunchtime buffet looked like it would have been fantabulous but that is temporarily shut down.
What is left is pretty good though.
* * *
Key point:
Usually we judge restaurants by the primary main dishes.
You probably have Mexican restaurants here in town whose main dishes you like better.
Casa Moreno's is all about the side dishes.
On the side dishes, they are world beaters.
Casa Moreno's makes the best flour tortilla in town.
There are a lot of fine fine homemade tortillas in Austin.
Nearly all of them are corn tortillas.
Flour tortillas are usually Tex-Mex cuisines answer to white bread.
Tortillas made with masa harina have power, have soul, have character.
Flour tortillas taste like nothing. You save those for serving to wimps.
Casa Moreno will change your mind about flour tortillas.
Their flour tortilla is about twice the size of a normal tortilla.
It is thick and puffy.
One Casa Moreno flour tortilla is like eating a hot loaf of freshly baked bread.
It is not technically buttery - but it might just as well be.
It is utterly comforting and utterly filling.
If you have had a Casa Moreno flour tortilla, Mommy has just made you lunch.
The world is a good place.
The other majorly good side dish is refried beans and rice.
You didn't hear me say two dishes refried beans and also rice.
They mix the two together.
Most Mexican restaurant rice is awful.
Most Mexican restaurant refried beans are ho hum.
Their rice by itself is okay. The beans by themselves are mildly superior.
The combo is the perfect side dish.
They don't give you very much - but you don't need very much.
The combo is good and even small amounts of it leave you happy and satisfied.
My main dish was chicken enchiladas in a suiza sauce.
The main dishes are pleasant but just okay.
That was the case here.
BUT .... and this matters ...
Take the jalapeno that comes with the enchiladas seriously.
Seriously like a treat, not seriously like a threat.
The dish only works when you eat it with the enchilada.
The garnish is not optional. It is mandatory.
Because of this they give you a great big muddafugga slice of jalapeno.
And if you look carefully off in the corner they give you another great big muddafugga slice of jalapeno.
The enchiladas may be bland by themselves but with the jalapeno the world gets interesting again.
That's why they give you two great big slices.
They want you to have enough to get through your entire entree.
* * *
Overall, this is a first rate establishment.
It might not be the one Mexican restaurant I would take an out of town guest to.
But if I am anywhere near Far Southeast Austin, I would go out of my way to eat here.
These guys have a lot of interesting ideas about how to serve food.
And remember,
If you don't like your main dish.
You can always fill up on your tortilla.
