Eldorado Cafe
Mexican restaurant · North Shoal Creek
3300 W Anderson Ln. #303, Austin, TX 78757
Highlights
Colorful cantina with creative cocktails & Tex-Mex
Colorful cantina with creative cocktails & Tex-Mex
"The casual and family-owned restaurant Eldorado Cafe self-styles itself as “Mexican comfort food,” but it occasionally veers wholeheartedly into Tex-Mex territory. The broad menu includes queso, burritos, crispy tacos, carne guisada, and enchiladas (even Dart Bowl-inspired enchiladas, RIP). It’s extremely popular for its bold flavors and big portions—and there’s almost always a wait during peak dinner hours. There are heavy Old Austin vibes, with a colorful, low-key, and kid-friendly space. The service is big-hearted, and with that there’s a passionate community of regulars." - nicolai mccrary, raphael brion
"Lots of Tex-Mex and Mexican restaurants offer complimentary chips and salsa with a meal. But only Eldorado Cafe lets you pick from six different salsas, ranging from mild to “Hot! Hot! Hot!” Chips and any one salsa are free, but you can add more for $1.50 each—or just get the full sampler for around $8. While you’re there, order their great enchiladas and margaritas, too. The Deal: Free chips and choice of salsa with a meal (additional salsas available for a small fee)" - nicolai mccrary
"This North Shoal Tex-Mex restaurant is full of old-school tastes and vibes thanks to owner Joel Fried, who happens to be a former Tacodeli chef, and the team. There are cheesy enchiladas, piquant short ribs, and a spicy, flavorful array of salsas. The dining room features multi-colored walls, Home Depot tile floors, and a colorful stained glass feature over the open kitchen. When the weather is nice, the restaurant sets up a few outdoor tables too, or get it to go online." - Nadia Chaudhury
"One of many exciting things about Eldorado Cafe is the fact that you can order a salsa sampler with six varieties—each increasing in spice—and rig together your own little Hot Ones challenge, all with a margarita in hand. You can also get classic Mexican and Tex-Mex staples at this Central Austin strip-mall restaurant that will inevitably be packed full of locals here for burritos, enchiladas, crispy tacos, and every other combination of tortillas, meat, and cheese imaginable. We suggest the Dart Bowl enchiladas, a nod to the fallen bowling alley that delighted Austin for over six decades. Eldorado might not be the oldest Tex-Mex spot in town, but it’s doing a good job of keeping the vintage Austin spirit alive. " - nicolai mccrary, matthew jacobs
"Of course, the North Shoal Creek Mexican comfort food restaurant has queso. There’s the regular queso with optional beef picadillo, and the amped-up Supa queso, full of black beans, pico de gallo, and guacamole. And then there’s a vegan iteration. Takeout orders can be placed online or over the phone; there are DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Favor deliveries; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services." - Nadia Chaudhury
