Papalote Taco House

The Best South Lamar Restaurants and Bars in Austin

"Solid tacos can be found over at this South Lamar location of the Mexican restaurant, where breakfast and lunchtime ingredients range from al pastor to lengua to cactus. If diners need something more substantial than a taco or two, the restaurant also slings tortas (go for the stacked torta Cubana with ham, bacon, head cheese, a fried egg, and queso fresco), tostadas, tlacoyos, sopes, and huaraches. Takeout and delivery orders can be placed online or in person; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas." - Nadia Chaudhury

29 Must-Eat Tacos in Austin

"All three locations of of this Mexican restaurant, including this one in the South Lamar neighborhood, serve up a nice array of tacos for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Highlight offerings include pollo a la parilla, turkey mole, and vegetable-stacked rajas y hongas with bonus zucchini and cabbage to customizable egg tacos for the morning. Takeout orders can be placed online or over the phone; there are dine-in areas." - Nadia Chaudhury

"The stellar taco spot is far enough south from SXSWness that few will venture down that far. It has great tacos and a liquor license. For those staying north of the river, there is a second location, too. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas." - Erin Russell, Nadia Chaudhury

16 Essential Austin Breakfast Tacos

"The mini-Austin-chain — this location in South Lamar and the other up near Jollyville — has tacos with an interior Mexican bent. The breakfast tacos can be made with chicharrones and nopales. Takeout orders can be placed in person or over the phone; there are indoor dine-in areas." - Nadia Chaudhury

Pratik J

Google

Visited after seeing all the good reviews but had a pretty disappointing experience. Almost all of the menu has meat with no option of substitution. All menu items are either take it as is or leave it. Didn’t see any vegetarian options at all after scouring the menu for 15 mins and you can’t make changes to any dishes. Server was visibly annoyed when we asked if substitutions can be done. Prices are decent. Atmosphere is nothing worth mentioning, taco food trucks have more crowd on weekends than this place. Parking can be tricky and gets full pretty quickly. Additional shared parking available in the back.

Michael Hodson

Google

Hadn't been here in a while and wanted to check out out again. Two ingredient (plus egg included) breakfast tacos here at Papalote Taco House for about $3 per. Good size. Good price. I did chorizo and pablano plus egg and sausage and potato plus egg on flour. Flour tortillas are OK. They need to be crisped up a bit more before serving. Good flavor. A bit thick. I love pablano, but I can't advise eating here. It isn't cooked enough and the waxy skin still it on. They need to char them, remove the skins, then put longer (softer) strips inside. Chorizo was fine, but the bad pablano semi ruined that one for me. The sausage and potato was a surprise winner. Nice chunks of sausage. Eggs are well cooked. Winner. Salsa Roja has a nice kick. Salsa Verde is mild, but fine. Pretty good spot. Will try again. EDIT. knocking it down a star. The flour tortillas were just not acceptable. Sloggy, lack of flavor, really need to be crisped up a bit before serving.

Abdual l

Google

I think they’re was pretty good tacos. Don’t remember the details on this one …

Cristina Garcia

Google

First time there. Service was so friendly. Nice and clean eating area. There are not a lot of tables, but we went for lunch and still were able to sit. The lunch special is a great price because it includes 2 tacos, tea and rice and beans. They also have daily evenings specials and will definitely try that out another time.

Dhanashree Chaudhari

Google

Amazing Tacos!! The salsas that they give with the tacos are so good! Quick service. The server was very nice and helped me decide my order. I always get confused if there are too many options. We would definitely visit again! They might have vegan options too but I only tried vegetarian when we went.

Eric Bliss

Google

Wow! Clean, nice and tasty. My wife got some kind of ham and cheese taco while I had a Cubano torta breakfast thing. Delicious. Tacos are a norm in Austin, but looking at the menu here you quickly see they stand apart from the rest--we have to come back just to test out more unique items. Can't wait!

Dan Gilkison

Google

Tasty breakfast tacos with fresh ingredients, good salsas, and reasonable prices. Service is always good and the place is clean. The only downside, in my opinion, is their flour tortillas are always served cold and seemingly right out of the store-bought bag. I wish they'd toss them on the grill for a few to toast them up to turn on the flavor and improve the experience.

Ashley Haughton

Google

This place has delicious tacos but I wouldn’t say they are traditional Mexican tacos. I am from CA and these tacos were very different but delicious. Their salsa is very good too. I wish I could buy a bottle of their green salsa. I got chicken and a breakfast taco and I preferred the breakfast taco. It was fabulous!! I would eat here again if I was in town.

Axncos A.

Yelp

Service was nice, food came out fairly fast and it was really tasty! Very cute spot for a small place! Pricing was a bit high but overall the food was tasty! We got the Alambre plate and 2 carnita tacos along with 2 Horchata aguas :) sorry for not including pics we finished food before we even got a chance to review

Nancy M.

Yelp

This is my favorite location!! This is one of my favorite tacos, it reminds me of my grandmas cooking with the tortitas de coliflor I've tried and like the huaraches, tlacoyos, most of their tacos and desserts and aguas frescas are pretty good too! Place is clean, chill and staff is friendly and efficient. Nice neighborhood spot

Amjad A.

Yelp

Ambiance: Clean. Modern. One other person was eating. So don't expect a busy bustling type of place. Service: good Food: disappointing. Nothing interesting going one here. If a place has average food with average ingredients they should at least be a good value and I should leave hungry. Thats exactly what I did after eating to small street tacos and some rice and beans.... For $13. It's actually a 3.5 star restaurant. I'm just unhappy...and hungry.

Joe B.

Yelp

This is the real deal in South Austin. A bunch of Mexican mamas run this place and know exactly what to do and what they're doing. It's absolutely delicious! I love the turkey mole one, but it's all good. A+++++

Hannah K.

Yelp

Hindsight is 20/20 but I deeply regret all the time I've spent driving down South Lamar and not stopping at Papalote. It has all the elements of a fantastic everyday kinda meal: Affordable, unpretentious, quick, homey, satisfying, and healthyish (if you want). Vegan options are slim but solid. Best of all, staff are very knowledgeable about the menu and can help when in doubt. You can't go wrong with the hongos y espazote tacos because seriously, mushrooms topped with avocado in tender corn tortillas? Say no more. The fried avocado taco (minus cheese) though, that's a real prize. Crispy on the outside and buttery inside, they're perfectly cooked and properly seasoned. In a town of many tacos, these are worthy contenders. Don't make my same mistake; stop in early and often.

Brenda G.

Yelp

We ordered bfast tacos here via Yelp/grub hub at around 10 am on a Saturday. The wait was short. We got a migas taco and two Al pastor tacos plus an horchata. The horchata was huge! Well worth the price. The tacos were not as big as I was expecting. I am a light eater and felt as I needed two. The Yelp/grub hub status said it would take around 30-45 minutes, but it was much faster than that so I would disregard the time in the status.

Michael H.

Yelp

Stephanie K.

Yelp

I stopped eating tacos because of the carbs then realized it was because of the pastries and now it's December so ALL BETS ARE OFF. Hey Papalote, new favorite horchata, it's vanilla and cinnamon that could maybe cut out a cookie or 2 this season. Alambres - seared steak and bacon with poblano peppers and provolone cheese - think Mexican Philly cheesesteak with an avocado on top (now it's *healthy*). The salsa roja is a nice spicy kick to tie the flavors together. Next visit, I'll return to my OG fave, the pescado in chipotle on their perfect corn tortillas. Always more to love.

Jodi H.

Yelp

Mm mm mm! Papalote is just as good as I remember! But what?! Did they get a facelift? I miss the old Papalote. I visited Papalote after 3 years, and it was in the same spot, but the store itself has gotten more spacious and they actually have walls and an interior. With 2 bathrooms! Gasp. I kind of miss the old Papalote with their crazy small kitchen, long line out the door, and tiny eating space. It just felt more home-y and like you were eating directly in an abuelita's kitchen! I'm glad they still have their trademark orange and green sauces (GREEN IS STILL MY FAVE) in the fridge, so don't forget to dress up your tacos. I got their Turkey torta (the Thursday daily special) and my favorite torta de coliflor AKA cauliflower taco. Their cauliflower taco still hits! Corn tortilla all day baybee. The torta was not my favorite, the bread was too dry and the mole was flavorful...but the bread threw me off. I thought I was eating part of a paper wrapping part way through. The name of the Papalote game is definitely their tacos. I do love that their daily specials come with an agua fresca, and I enjoyed the tamarindo flavor. The hibiscus also looked really good, but the gal at the service desk said their tamarind was the most popular one. The interior is truly really beautiful. There are so many tables for various group sizes, and they have clean bathrooms. Score! Lots of parking too. Will definitely be back to Papalote, but I'll be reminiscing of the good ole times.

Alvina T.

Yelp

I didn't get a chance to take any pictures because everyone was starving and scarfed everything down! The inside is very plain but in a good way. When we walked in to pick up our takeout order they were actively cleaning the floors and you can tell they try to keep things very clean inside which is a major plus for me. The portions are great for the price! I tried a fish taco and it was delicious! A lot of people ordered the queso and chips and they do not skimp!! Definitely order to share if you get the queso, they'll give you a big bag of chips and a large container of queso. The salsas are good here two. The only thing that didn't seem to be a hit was the horchata. I didn't try it but my friend who ordered it barely drank it.

Mike G.

Yelp

This is my favorite breakfast taco place in Austin! Chicharrones on breakfast tacos are delicious! The restaurant always has seating and there is never a line in the mornings.

Bekah H.

Yelp

Literally the most amazing tacos! The carne asada was some of the best I've had. My husband LOVED the pastor taco. YOU MUST GO HERE !!! service was speedy. staff was fun and kind. restaurant itself had amazing vibes!

Caroline J.

Yelp

We've stayed at Bell South Lamar for a few weeks as I'm relocating from NV to Kyle. Papalote is next to the apartments, and I am so thankful they are. Tired one night? $8.99 meal special. 4 street tacos and a drink. We have now gotten the braised beef tacos and beef cheek tacos. We love simple food. Simple. Straight to the point. Doesn't need 100 ingredients to hide low quality ingredients. Papalote is EVERYTHING and then some. Frozen Marg? All day. Nothing extraordinary here, folks, but it is a solid and enjoyable marg for sure. The tacos. Oh the tacos! Neither dinner special was greasy or poorly done. Tacos get so great so fast, but these ones? Perfect. Meat. Onions. Cilantro. PERFECTION. I don't want to just live in this world: I want to eat my way through it too!

Shailey K.

Yelp

Ordered the vegetarian sope and vegetarian taco! It was delicious. Their salsas are also made in restaurant with dare of when it is made and when it expires. So fresh, absolutely loved it I'll be back!

Meredith H.

Yelp

My favorite potato egg and cheese tacos in the city. Always fast and accurate. All the food here is delish

Tate N.

Yelp

It was....ok. I had the guajolote en mole but I didn't find the mole that impressive compared to the many other places around town. I had a lunch special which added beans and rice and while the beans were good the rice actually came colder than room temp which was a bit off putting. I'm not sure if I picked poorly on the menu or if this is the norm but it wasn't BAD but it wasn't GOOD.

Eric G.

Yelp

Stopped by on a weekend for takeout the other day, and so glad we did! We've passed it maaaany times and finally decided we should try it. After ordering the food was ready in about ten minutes. Torta Cubano: soooo good and soooo filling! Honestly could probably feed two. Mole taco (forgot the exact name): would absolutely get again. Breakfast taco: perfection! Basically couldn't ask for much more.. generous portion sizes of well cooked, well seasoned, delicious tacos and tortas!

Crystal L.

Yelp

It's a lucky found. Delicious food and simple decor. We stopped by for a quick bite and the Tinga de res beef taco is surprisingly flavorful.

Andrew B.

Yelp

Service was good. Tacos tasted very chemically and fake. Could have been a lot better . Salsa was great

Cameron V.

Yelp

I ordered this to feed a group of 15 and it was a hit with everyone. They loved the alambres tacos and queso so much. The staff were super friendly and helpful with recommendations. We will definitely be back next time we are in town.

Amairany M.

Yelp

If you're expecting to get an all around taco, this is ALMOST it. I should have known what to expect as it is in South Lamar. Everything but the tortillas were good. The tortillas were cold and obviously store bought. It was a great lunch... but unfortunately the tortillas killed it for me.

Karma R.

Yelp

Best tacos in Austin, specifically this location too! They have breakfast tacos all day at an affordable price. I have been coming here for yearssss. Rafaela is always there and is always so sweet and professional. Even when I do a large order for my office, they always get it right :)

Osvaldo S.

Yelp

Papalote is a no frills taco joint! Very authentic with the tex mex twist. Cheap prices and great quantities.

Anvaya N.

Yelp

Papalote has several locations across Austin. We went to the one in North Lamar. They are as authentic as you would find in Mexico City. They make fresh tortillas and salsa. I started with an order of the Al Pastor and the Churizo Classic. I think I messed up during ordering cause I asked for corn and they gave me flour. Never the less the tacos were bomb. The best Al Pastor I have had in a while. The salsa was lip smackingly spicy ,just the way I like it. I also tried tostada De Rajas which was great vegetarian option. We also tried their Plantain dessert(Plantain Con Crema) which was brilliant as well. They do have great vegan and vegetarian options. The staff is kind and very friendly. It's a local business that needs your support. Make sure to give them a try when you are in Town!!

Rob P.

Yelp

Needed a quick and cheap lunch and never been to Papalote in my 4 years in Austin. Not bad, not bad. Not gonna drive across town for it, but I enjoyed it yesterday. Got a breakfast taco and another one (was too spicy for me) and a horchata all for around $10.

Aude L.

Yelp

Went here after a long, hot day climbing at the greenbelt. It was very satisfying! I got 2 tacos - one alambres and one pastor which were quite filling. My friends all got the torta cubana and it was gigantic! Restaurant only had a few other people in it, and food was ready within a couple minutes.

Derek M.

Yelp

No frills but good tacos, really the perfect balance that I'm looking for to become a regular. I recently moved to the area and having this place be walkable is really an appreciated amenity. They're knowledgeable on gluten-free offerings, and cover a lot of staples even while accommodating dietary restrictions. They also have a good lunch special, letting you get out for around ~$10 which is all the harder to find nowadays. Definitely plan to make this place a weekly stop

Eric B.

Yelp

Mike E.

Yelp

Food: 3/5 Ordered the Bacon, Potato, Egg, and Cheese breakfast taco. The overall flavor was lacking at Papalote, and that all began with the bland tortillas and lack of spices. However, the eggs, potatoes, and bacon were all cooked to perfection. For the price point, you really can't complain. Service: 3/5 The service appeared very disorganized and the food runners were unsure where to bring the food. Environment: 3/5 While the restaurant was clean, it really lacked seating and was honestly an awkward setup for a dining room.

Slavizza G.

Yelp

Salsas are good here, sopes too, but the meat was served cold from carnitas , pastor tacos were ok and service was ok too, the place is not great looking on the inside either

Robert H.

Yelp

I often think about the difference between the kind of Mexican food we have now and that which we had some 20, even 30, years ago. Because, you see, it was merely a utility back then. It was the fuel of the blue collar worker. My dad's lunch that my mom, an excellent cook and a Mexican immigrant from Zacatecas, would make him wasn't meant to impress anyone, it was meant to get him through the day. The same applied to all those taco trucks in East LA, El Paso, San Antonio and even South Austin, back in day. Then something happened. As other cultures started noticing, appreciating and even touting the food, the taqueros and restauranteurs became a more diverse bunch. Their training, their backgrounds and their ambitions differ so much that I feel, in humble opinion, you do have to separate between the utilitarian Mexican food and the artisans. But sometimes there's a place that straddles the line a little and you have to know where to categorize it to set expectations. Enter Papalote, the perfect food for the working man and woman. It's not going to win awards and Instagram influencers aren't going to push it but its perfect for what it's meant to do. I've been eating here for the better part of the last ten years. Over the years, some of their flavors have evolved, some for the better and some for obvious efforts at optimizing their workflows. The barbacoa (cachete) is good, not great, but good. The pastor is in the same league but it's consistent every time. The puerco en pipián ranges from excellent to good but it's always a go-to. The alambres is a great space filler but not top of the list. The banderillas are excellent, every time, and have become a staple for the kiddo. All in all, solid every time.

Richard P.

Yelp

I would say that the tacos are over-priced for what you get but the problem really is that the tacos just aren't very good. A simple bean and cheese taco, which cost me a little over three dollars, couldn't have cost more than $.25 to make. Seriously. A grocery store tortilla with a wipe of mundane refried beans and sprinkle of shredded cheese. In a restaurant that's new to me, a simple bean and cheese taco can say so much. They just weren't trying. The front door is locked. I have to enter the restaurant through the back door.

Judy D.

Yelp

The staff is always friendly and the atmosphere is no frills comfort.. The S Lamar location has Cantinflas poster which are charming. The tacos are varied with meats and vegetables. My favorite is the guajalote en mole with its spicy sweetness. Breakfast tacos are great. I recommend you check them out. You can't go wrong.

Makenzie O.

Yelp

We live nearby and have had just some plain jane breakfast tacos over the years which have been great but today we had the Torta Cubana and oh my goodnessssssss what have we been missing!!! This will be on our rotation of go to's! Also love the agua frescas - Orchata is the best

Sue S.

Yelp

Wow!! The salsa and dishes are super authentic. I am so glad I found this place!! Delicious and the service was out fast.

Jerry E.

Yelp

I really don't understand what all the hype is about this place. Tacos are Mediocre at best... they lacked flavor from lack of seasoning. The breakfast tacos are almost entirely eggs, which seems to be a common trend with other locations. Unless there's a Different Category of Taco now...under a Flavorless Taco Category, then I would say these guys are Winners. Service was great. Everyone we spoke to was very friendly. But unfortunately, their tacos weren't as awesome. To those reviewers who gave more Stars...i really hope Someday you get to taste a 5 star taco. I just don't see the lustre is in giving a score that high to this joint.

Victoria Y.

Yelp

My brother had previously gone to Austin and raves about this taco place so of course I had to make it my first stop as soon as we arrived in Austin. We each ordered 3 tacos -- keep in mind that we are used to California tacos which are pretty small but Texas tacos are 6 inches so it was a pretty huge portion. The have a pretty extensive taco menu and my favorite was the adobada. The chorizo breakfast taco was pretty good too. You also get a choice between corn or flour tortillas.

David C.

Yelp

If you're gonna lay out $4.50 for a taco because Austin is just like that now, you could do worse. Papalote may be priced for the area, but doesn't pull nonsense like treating avocados as if they were a luxury good when they're $3/6ct at HEB. Less gringo than Torchy's. Swift counter service. Solid Tacos. And dine-in has bottles of their house taco salsas in the fridge and date-marked: a verde and a roja.

Ashley L.

Yelp

Decent taco spot, but there are better options in Austin. Not a lot of meat filling, and fairly expensive for the size. Tried the Al pastor and cecina. Neither really stood out. The ceviche tostada was super salty. Tacos were ready quickly.

Frida O.

Yelp

I expected Austin to be expensive so no big surprise here, and while I think SA will always be the best place to get tacos in TX, I do admit this place gives it a run for its money. Food is pretty good tastes fresh, salsas are solid price is a little high but nothing unexpected.

Johnny H.

Yelp

Excellent street tacos with chips and queso! And the price is just right, so I recommend Papalote taco house!

Steven F.

Yelp

Excellent, inexpensive, authentic Mexican tacos. Nice staff. We recommend asking them as you order what tacos they recommend for that day.

A L.

Yelp

Every time we visit Austin, Papalote is a must visit. We live in Houston and get plenty of tacos, but none as authentic and tasty as Papalote. It's quick and cheap but hits the spot for taco craving. Alambres and Tostada de Ceviche were my favorite this time around.

Kaitlin W.

Yelp

The food is so good, the service is SO fast, and the staff is very friendly!! Definitely recommend giving it a try. The banderillas tacos are my go-to.

Larry L.

Yelp

Great tacos, made to order. Nice, clean and open space. Well recommended. Give it a try.

Melody T.

Yelp

Love the turkey mole taco! It's quick and great. The people are always kind and I always come here when I need a quick fix.

Katie B.

Yelp

Unassuming but delicious AF. The carnitas were spot on. The cauliflower was a fried patty that turns to mush, as cauliflower tends to do and not necessarily a bad thing when in between a soft taco shell, doused in this delicious red, spicy sauce...when you combine those extra juices from the cauliflower taco with the plain Jane guacamole, it definitely makes the guacamole worth the $5.99 price tag (super fresh and basically just avocado and jalapeño, but skip it if you're wavering between that and queso or another taco). Some indoor and covered patio seating, along with a couple bottled beers, but definitely not a place you go for ambiance...just tacos. And, be sure to get some of their verde and rojo sauces in the fridge either to enjoy on-site or get some containers to go! I want to return again and again until I've tried all the tacos on the menu.

Laura C.

Yelp

I tried papalote for the first time yesterday, and did not like it at all. :( I had a pork mole taco, a grilled chicken taco, and a veggie cauliflower taco. The chicken was my favorite of the 3- it had nice seasoning but was very mild and a bit bland. The pork was extremely greasy. Bleck!! I love pulled pork but I could not stomach this taco. The cauliflower was DOUSED in sauce and dripping everywhere. It tasted very tomato-y to me, almost like an Italian dish. The flavor profile did not strike me as Mexican at all. Very strange. I definitely will not be back.

Chris F.

Yelp

Meal was good and relatively quick. I would probably look up the menu before going because it's just up on the wall and you have to order at the counter. There weren't really very many flexible options - for example, the only chicken offered came cooked in a mixture with specific seasoning and peppers.

Serena M.

Yelp

I got the alambres taco theres so much going on in this taco & the flavor is unique.. I would say an acquired taste I'm not sure. I don't really want to finish the taco so that's why it's 2 stars. It looks appetizing but the flavors just aren't there for me!! Sucks but it is what it is innit!! Soup peddler next door for the W Salsa isn't bussin for me either btw

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