El Patio
Mexican restaurant · Briar Meadow ·
Festive Tex-Mex with potent blue margaritas & lively bar
Festive Tex-Mex with potent blue margaritas & lively bar
"The Deal: $4-$6 appetizers/small entrees, discounted margaritas and pitchers, $2.75 beer of the day El Patio in the Galleria neighborhood is no stranger to a good time, so it’s fitting that this classic Tex-Mex spot has happy hour specials every day. Swing by with a few of your work besties and have discounted margaritas by the pitcher, or come solo and grab their $4.25 beer of the day and devour $6 nachos, $5 tamales, or $4 flautitas." - chelsea thomas, gianni greene
"The folks at El Patio make an incredibly efficient margarita. While the frozen blue and white marg come in glasses that seem like a junior size, after a few sips, it’s clear that size doesn’t matter when it comes to potency. The only thing that makes this drink better is having it inside El Patio’s adults-only club, where you can sip this pint-sized drink while a man with a portable amp does an upbeat cover of “Hotel California.”" - chelsea thomas, gianni greene
"El Patio has been a Houston institution for over 50 years, featuring Tex-Mex staples and strong-as-heck margaritas. Club No Minors is the bar-club in the back, where the margaritas are so potent that the website highly recommends designating a driver or booking a rideshare service. Between the excellent sips and the safety guidance, an experience at El Patio is worth carving out time for." - Marcy de Luna
"This local Tex-Mex spot has earned a loyal following for its potent blue margaritas, tacos al pastor, and Felix queso. This melty, nostalgic favorite traces back to a beloved former Houston restaurant. Enjoy it on the side with chips or smothered over dinner platters of enchiladas and tacos. On at least three nights a week, the sounds of live mariachi music spill out from the restaurant’s reservations-only Club No Minors, adding to the festive vibe." - Brianna Griff
"El Patio is one of Austin’s oldest operating Tex-Mex restaurants, open since 1954. It closed in the summer of 2019 but luckily came back under new ownership later that fall. It is old school in here, with neon signs all over, those straight-backed wooden chairs that used to be so popular in restaurants, and sombreros (the restaurant’s unofficial logo) and ceiling fans all over. It is known for its nachos and cheese enchiladas — keep your order simple, and you won’t be disappointed. Order takeout online." - Melanie Haupt