Flores Mexican Restaurant

 
Flores is a family-owned group of Mexican restaurants in the Austin area.

We’re here today at the colorful and accommodating Dripping Springs location on Highway 290. Run now by the 2nd generation, the fare here comes from a long tradition of Mexican home cooking and family recipes.

The appetizers may be fairly familiar to fans of Tex Mex but they are nonetheless quite tasty. The Queso Completo adds ground beef, pico de gallo and guacamole to this standard and it rounds out quite well. There’s a nice mellow taste to this one. Likewise the Queso Flameado is a treat as well. This is melted Monterrey Jack cheese with chorizo, mushrooms, bell peppers and onions and it arrives steaming hot to your table. Don’t linger too long over this dish as the cheese tends to thicken and harden, but those first bites are tasty as hell. I’m also a big fan of the Sopa de Tortilla. This a wonderful “caldo” with lovely and engaging flavors. It’s essentially a chicken and vegetable soup with avocadoes and corn and of over fresh tostadas.

There are a number of Platos Mexicanos that are certainly worth trying as well. The Chile Relleno is a battered and fried Poblano pepper with a ranchero sauce. I recommend the spicy chicken as a stuffing. The Chicken Flautas or Flautas de Pollo also offer up a very palatable version of this Tex Mex staple. They’re served with sour cream, guacamole, pico de gallo and rice and chicken is very tender, a must with this dish. I also like their version of Carne Guisada. The beef tips, served in a spicy gravy are tender and delectable. Of course rice and beans are mandatory with this dish.

The Fish Tacos in a creamy chipotle sauce are also a great choice. I like mine grilled served in a crisp corn tortilla. And Joe’s Camarones is a great dish for those watching their carbs (like me) who also require serious flavor. These are jumbo prawns grilled with sautéed onions, tomatoes, bell peppers, ranchero sauce and Monterrey Jack cheese. Hold the rice if you’re low carbing it and still have great taste.

The Platos Especiales offer up another level of flavor rewards at Flores. These family recipes crackle with authenticity. If it’s a little heat that you’re craving, the Pollo Caliente will provide that along with good flavors. The marinated chicken breast topped with Poblano peppers and grilled onions is a little fiery and a lot tasty. The Spinach Enchiladas are stuffed with onions, tomatoes and spinach. They are covered with Monterrey Jack cheese and a rich cream sauce which completes the flavor profile. And Flores does great Fajitas! I’m partial to the Shrimp Fajitas which, or course, arrive sizzling at the table with a perfect selection of veggies to accompany. Add a fresh homemade corn tortilla, some sour cream and pico de gallo, and you have yourself a veritable feast. Enjoy!

There are three other Flores in addition to Dripping Springs: Oak Hill, Lakeway, and Four Points at 620 and 2222. And this is a good thing.