El Patio

El Patio

There aren’t too many restaurants in the Austin that can say they’ve been open for 58 years. El Patio at Guadalue and 30th is one such place, and deservedly so..This is vintage tex-mex owned and operated, interestingly, by a Lebanese family, The Josephs.

My connection to El Patio goes back years. When I came to Austin to interview for a faculty position in the RTF department at UT, El Patio was where they took me to lunch. It was my first taste of tex-mex and it sealed the deal. And I’ve been coming here ever since.

The appetizers at El Patio are simple and absolutely what you’d expect. The Bean and Cheese Nachos are just about perfect. Add a little onion and jalapeno and you have the essential nacho. The Chile con Queso has flavors that resonate long after dinner is over. The recipe is a family secret and rightfully so: the flavors are wonderful. And they serve these gigantic home-made masa chips to dip in the queso. I never leave El Patio without having this dish. The Guacamole salad is another tex-mex slam dunk. Absolutely delicious. Nothing here deviates from the basic rules: keep it fresh and keep it coming.

The Tacos are another sure-fire recommendation at El Patio. I love the taco supreme with beef, lettuce, tomatoes and onions. Man does this have flavor. You also have to love Jerry’s special. This is a taco shell topped with beef and queso and guacamole. And you have to try the Chalupa supreme with beans, cheese, lettuce, and guacamole. This has the El Patio touch and you know what that means: superior texture along with that awesome crunchy vibe that is essentially addictive.

The enchiladas are nothing short of sensational at El Patio. The key is the flavor. The Cheese Enchiladas are about the best around. Smooth, full of subtle tastes, and wonderfully moist. I can make a plate of these disappear in a nano second. And the Chicken Enchiladas are equally killer. They have a taste profile that is off the charts. They are so good that I often order the chicken and cheese enchiladas together. It makes for a wonderful combination.

There’s no chile relleno or carnitas at El Patio. No what? Don’t need them. You can make everything work by ordering the El Patio #1 plate which features guacamole salad, beef tacos, chile con queso, cheese enchiladas and a wonderful refried beans and rice. There’s no cochinita pibil or cabrito either at El Patio. And once again, don’t need ’em. This is simple tex-mex at its enduring best! Cinquenta y ocho y muchas mas anos!