If you crave a meal from south of the border, the Texas Hill Country has some of the best in the state. Your choices range from authentic, interior Mexican cuisine to a quick taco, chips and queso, and cold drink.
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10 Great Mexican Restaurants in the Hill Country
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1. Fonda San Miguel – Austin
Photo: fondasanmiguel.com
Fonda San Miguel opened in 1975 and continues on with the same head chef and owner at the helm. Their vision was to create truly authentic interior Mexican cuisine. Three decades later, it continues to impress. Try the chile relleno made with ancho peppers instead of poblano or the pork loin with pinapple and chayote. Try them both!
The dining room showcases art by Mexican masters, and the lush greenery of the covered patio invite guests to order one more margarita and hang out for a while.
2. Curra’s Grill – Austin
Photo: Curra’s Grill’s Facebook
Ask any local for their go-to Tex Mex restaurant, and chances are he or she will recommend Curra’s. It offers the standard fare with a few hits and misses. The chicken mole enchiladas and enchiladas con chille colorado made with tender pork tips are definitely the favorites. Try the popular avocado margaritas and finish your meal with the awesomely sweet tres leches cake.
Curra’s has a super casual atmosphere with colorful art, wooden chairs and tiled tables. It gets packed during lunch, so skip the wait and opt for an early dinner.
3. Cascabel Mexican Patio – San Antonio
Photo: sacurrent.com
Cascabel differentiates itself from other Mexican food restaurants in San Antonio, because it features specialties from interior Mexico. You won’t find refried beans or flour tortillas here. Almost every dish is served with homemade corn tortillas and refried black beans. Try the Birria, which is a rustic goat stew, or a fresh nopalito salad made from cooked cactus and topped with chopped tomato, onion, and queso fresco. It’s open for breakfast too, serving up guava empanadas, Mexican hot chocolate and Café de Olla.
4. El Siete Mares – San Antonio
Photo: elsietemaressa.com/
The name translates to The Seven Seas, and it specializes in fresh seafood dishes. For two decades, this family-run restaurant has served traditional Mexican seafood made with the freshest ingredients. Try the Ceviche Siete Mares, made with lime-cured tilapia in an olive oil marinade with sliced olives. One of the most impressive dishes on the menu does not come from the sea. The cabrito, or baby goat, is braised then finished on the grill, so it is tender but crisp on the edges.
This casual eatery has the feel of a seaside diner – with the occasional live band playing conjunto music.
5. Milagro’s Hill Country Tex Mex – Wimberley
Photo: Milagro’s Hill Country Tex Mex’s Yelp-page
Milagro’s touts itself as Tex Mex with a Hill Country twist. Their standard Tex Mex fare includes cheesy enchiladas, chips and sala, guacamole, and tacos. Try the avocado fries or stuffed avocado if you’re in the mood for something different. The strawberry basil margarita adds its own twist on a Mexican standard. It’s different, but delicious and refreshing.
6. Jardin Del Rey Mexican Restaurant – Leander
Photo: Jardin Del Rey Mexican Restaurant’s Facebook
Jardin Del Rey might be a little difficult to find, because it sits off the highway a bit, but once you get there, you won’t be disappointed. The amiable staff serves warm chips and salsa as soon as the guests are seated. The menu offers a variety of inexpensive, standard Mexican fare, including stuffed poblano peppers, rice, frijoles churros, and guacamole.
Jardin Del Rey is open all day and offers lunch specials and happy hour items.
7. Hilda’s Tortillas – Fredericksburg
Photo: Hilda’s Tortillas’ Yelp-page
Hilda’s evolved from a little taco shack with picnic tables to a full-service restaurant and tortilla factory. The staff makes approximately 1500-2000 flour tortillas from scratch every day and produce more than 300 pounds of corn tortillas twice a week. The extensive menu features Tex Mex staples like carne guisada and fajitas, as well as a spicy shrimp diablo and a wide variety of burritos and gorditas. They have a great selection of beer and a full bar.
8. Los Gallos Taco House – New Braunfels
Photo: losgallostacohouse.com
Los Gallos is a hole in the wall with a friendly staff and casual atmosphere. It’s a favorite among locals, especially for breakfast. It’s only open from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., so don’t plan on happy hour or dinner. The large breakfast menu includes migas, machacado, and barbacoa tacos, and you can order from it from open to close. The lunch menu offers the go-to Mexican dishes, along with a hefty pork chop plate, pork tamales, and a tripa plate. Their homemade corn tortillas are larger than normal, so don’t expect any tiny street tacos here. Even though they close early, you can still order a cold beer with your meal.
9. Casa Maria – San Marcos
Photo: Casa Maria’s Yelp-page
Casa Maria opened in 1997 and serves traditional Mexican fare from northern Mexico. They also have a bakery serving fresh hot pan dulce, or sweet bread. Casa Maria’s large menu includes standard fare like fajitas, nachos, and chile relleno. Their house specialties include mole, pork chops, and carne asada. If you’re in the mood for seafood, try their coctel de camaron or pescado a la plancha.
Casa Maria serves generous portions and has a casual atmosphere. Their full bar boasts a variety of margaritas, including a refreshing cucumber margarita and a spicy jalapeno margarita.
10. Rosita’s Mexican Food Restaurant – Llano
Photo: Rosita’s Mexican Food Restaurant’s Facebook
Rosita’s is a family owned an operated restaurant serving regional Mexican fare. Their menu includes the standard chips, salsa, enchiladas, nachos and tacos. It’s a great place to stop in for a quick, inexpensive meal. Keep in mind that this is the only restaurant open in Llano on Mondays, so it’s always packed, and you might have to wait a bit to be seated.
