El Chile Cafe y Cantina Reviews

A couple in our party ate here two nights in a row. I thought it was good but I would not have done that. They do have great home made tortillas. Better than most I have had. Was a bit slow service for not being a busy night.

I love El Chile. One of my go to spots for happy hour or not. I love their BIG A$$ MIMOSAS - get a raspberry one. OH MY GAWD they go down quickly and delicious. Very small venue as it's an old home converted into a restaurant. Our service is always great (the servers know who we are when we come in). I love their fish tacos and always looking out for their specials, especially anything with fish. The queso flameado with chorizo and homemade tortillas are to die for! Stop in - maybe make reservations on open table before you go!

but i have heard it has gone downhill, is this true??

good fajitas but i think they are way over priced. my husband ordered the large ceviche and got mostly onions and very little fish.

My idea of chips and their idea of chips are miles apart. The fish tacos were decent but nothing to write home about. The place was over priced for what you get.

Dropped in by chance because it was near UT. Had a pleasant lunch experience. Enjoyed the original sweet and spicy sauces with complimentary chips. Really liked my chicken and beef puffy tacos. Servers were friendly and efficient.

If you want a full plate of food, be prepared to pay for it! Ordering a sampling of their $5 tacos is your best bet. Before you guffaw at the cantaloupe margarita, give it a chance—it just might surprise you!

The puffy tacos that I had were amazing! The chicken was in a great sauce, and served over two “puffy tacos" served with guac and fresh vegetables! The chorizo quesadillas were super cheesy and good! I would totally recommend this place- however if you don't like spice I would use caution as the Chi's and salsa served beforehand was served with two good, but really spicy sauces. Service was very good, and staff was friendly as well!

Coming back from event at University of Texas and walked by this place. Decided to stop in based on reviews. The salsa they brought out was creamy salsa, very Austinesque. Not my fav, but not bad. Started off with a watermelon & Jalepeno margarita. Just the right amount of "kick" to it. Could have used more tequila but a good taste. I went for the beef fajita nachos. Decent size and was good, although not too spicy (I enjoy my food flaming spicy hot.) Service was polite albeit a little slow (which I didn't mind as I wasn't wanting to drive in Austin rush hour anyway.) Good place to relax and waste some time with decent food, albeit, a little expensive. Only wish they had more traditional salsa to go with the other kinds.

I was in Austin this week for a family gathering and a cousin made arrangements for us to eat at El Chile. Had I just been driving around, looking for a place to eat, I'm not sure I would have given it a second look. It's not that it looks bad from the outside, it just doesn't look like much. However, it is definitely worth stopping for. We were greeted as we walked in the door and directed to the areas they had set aside for us. We couldn't all sit together as there were a bunch of us, but they had us in the general vicinity of each other so we could "table hop" and still visit. Our waiter was Brian and he was awesome...friendly and knowledgeable. Service was incredibly fast. I think all of those around me had either the Charlie Special or the Puffy Tacos, which is what I chose. Yummy! It's two tacos (I had chicken but you can also get beef or veggie) topped with queso fresco, lettuce, tomatoes and guacamole. The Charlie Special looked pretty good too and those who ordered that seemed to enjoy it. The chips and salsa were fresh and plentiful and delicious; the chips being the light, crispy type I prefer and the salsa being a unique blend of roasted jalapeños and tomatoes I understand that it was voted one of Austin's bests. Too bad I realized too late that I could have bought a jar to take home with me. Oh well, I'll have an excuse to go there next time I'm in Austin, I guess!

10/10 on the authentic real Texas Mexican food. Chili relleno, queso flameado, and nachos were all so delicious. The two salsas were also great. I will return and recommend. They were able to seat us right away on a Saturday night at 8pm.

We have long put up with sub-par service at El Chile on the eastside to enjoy Chilango margaritas, but we tried the new Far West location yesterday and will not be going back to EITHER location. The owner, Carlos Rivera, and his waitstaff were downright rude to us. What started out as an enjoyable margarita on a pretty Saturday afternoon, spiralled downhill with each order having some sort of addl. charge (which we wouldn't have cared about), but were told we were cut off after 1 drink because we weren't ordering dinner for each person (starting with multiple appetizers instead, one of which never arrived) because the restaurant didn't have it's liquor license yet, thus couldn't charge us for the drinks. We gladly would have left money for the drinks they couldn't charge us for, and had planned on ordering dinner, but after rude, disrespectful service from our waiter and the owner, we threw down what we thought we owed and left. Poor customer service is always shocking, but especially when it comes from a restaurant owner. Please patronize businesses that value their customers. We then went to El Arroyo on Far West and had a completely opposite experience (with a $200 tab.) Go enjoy their larger patio, great food and friendly service. Ask for Alex, the waiter who redeemed our evening. : )

Came here for lunch on a Friday afternoon. Not packed but a steady stream of locals & a few tourists (us). The frozen margaritas are amazing! A perfect blend of liquor & ice, great flavor. The Guacamole is fresh & very tasty. I ordered the Enfrijoladas at our waitresses recommendation. It was fabulous. My wife thoroughly enjoyed her fish tacos (Tacos de Pescado) & the cheese enchilada was nothing special but perfect for my daughter. Couldn't leave without trying the tres leches. Amazing! Check with 2 drinks, $68. Loss of a 1/2 star due to the average chips, great salsa though.

El Chile Cafe y Cantina has great Mexican food and great drinks too. I went here for a party and the next day I was craving more of their delicious queso so I had to go back! I ordered the empanadas (three corn handmade tortillas, filled with melted jack, potatoes and mushrooms. lettuce, crema, pico and guac) and of course a margarita. If you need a place to go in East Austin, hit up El Chile Cafe y Cantina!!

Both inside and outside seating (under verandah). Upscale Mexican food, but not really Tex-Mex. We shared enchiladas and they were excellent, but again,not typical Tex-Mex. The enchiladas had a kind of mole sauce which we really enjoyed. Excellent friendly service. We didn’t have any alcohol, but the ‘ritas did look good! We’ll be back, for sure. Casual and moderately and fairly priced.

Honestly we happened upon this restaurant when leaving the LBJ Library and looking for somewhere to grab a bite. If I lived in Austin I'd frequent this place and I'm terribly envious we don't have one back home. The drinks were great - the waitstaff was friendly and helpful since we were newbies. We had one vegetarian along who had no trouble finding loads of fantastic options. It wasn't dirt-cheap Mexican or Tex-Mex food - but that wasn't what we were looking for. It WAS completely reasonable and worth every penny! No issues parking as folks have referenced here. However - if I did have a challenge, I'd persist in order to eat here again!

Wonderful cantaloupe margarita and puffy tacos! Had both chicken and beef so I could try each. Wonderful!

We came during their happy hour which is not just half priced drinks, but the appetizers too! Had the sangria & the ceviche. It was really good! Our daughter was recommended their virgin margarita which was like a lemonade with fresh limes. It was SO good! The chicken enchiladas were excellent and the chicken wasn't dry like most places you go.

Wow! What a disappointment!! So the Manor Road location closes, and moves to S. First Street. And you’d think that the move of only a few miles wouldn’t compromise the food quality or the wait service, but I’m here to tell you it got mishandled somewhere along the way. So when the Manor Road location re-opens, thought, I was hoping to be an El Chile believer again. NOT!! Our restaurant experience started with a very chilly atmosphere (did they take the heater to the S. First location!) and a less than so-so margarita for me and my girlfriend. At $8 each – ouch!! And it got worse when my order of the Downtown Charlie’s Special arrived. My order was supposed to be a mix of beef and shrimp fajitas, but the meat was rather chewy, and the three (yes, only 3!) small shrimp had a bland taste. For $16, I expected a better quality meal. And then, unfortunately, it got worse when my fajitas came with just barely enough guacamole to fill a small tortilla chip. The serving of charro beans barely filled half of the small serving bowl. And I got two tortillas that were as hard as Frisbees. My girlfriend did modestly better with a bland plate of chicken nachos, which looked like someone had haphazardly thrown the chicken, cheese and beans onto a plate. This was not the El Chile I remember, and certainly the place I’ll never return to. There are so many places that serve up better food at a more modest price here in Austin. Recommendations: Mijos on E. 6th Street; Vivo on Manor Road, a stone’s throw from El Chile; and Matt’s El Rancho.

Get the Chilango!

I used to live in the neighborhood and this was always one of my favorite places. It still is. Great casual dining atmosphere, excellent slightly upscale Tex-Mex, attentive but not annoying service. Dining outside on the porch is lovely on a warm night. Watch out for the strength of those margaritas!

I went here with a group of 8 for brunch last weekend. The brunch cocktails are some of the best I've had in Austin. DELICIOUS! My boyfriend can't stop talking about the Chi'lango margarita with the chile rim. The food was just okay. I would like to go back for happy hour and try some of their apps with their awesome cocktails!

This is one of our favorite places to eat and when we have guests from out of town they always demand to eat at El Chile. Salsa is amazing, Migas are fantastic and the fajitas are the best in town. The freshly made tortillas are to die for.

Delicious authentic Mexican food. Savored every bite of my El Chile Del Mar relleno. Helpful waiter. Sat on the porch and enjoyed a steady breeze on a warm night.

This is a nice small cafe with good food that is reasonably priced. I like the decor as well.

Fabulous margs and mole

The experience here is mixed -- I've had good food, I've had bad food. Happy hour on the patio is fun, and the salsa rocks!

Are you kidding me? Chips that came with salsa were all broken and tiny shards. Very thin light chips that held promise but tasted like nothing. The two sauces that came with chips were watery and boring. Then came our ‘perfect’ and ‘top shelf’ margaritas. Absolutely awful. Watery, super sour, and maybe had some awful juice in it. Yuck. We left.

Went there for a lunch. 1. Ordered Chicken and Shrimp fajitas. The portions were so small that we had to order Tacos. 2. The food was awesome! the best Taco I've ever had hands down. Again the amount charged for a single Taco has to be justified by the taste I guess! 3. They have patio seating and indoor seating too, we chose to sit in the open air. The service was mediocre and we had to call the waiters several times if we needed something. The overall setup is not so classy, but I'd rate them only for such great taste of food even though overly priced!

Hip Mexican Eastside!

Food is served fresh and hot. Good presentation. Do not like salsa. It looks burnt and not appetizing. Salsa is a big part of Mexican food dining so will not be back.

Andrew just brought me another sangria... this place is great. Especially happy hour! Located in groovy South Austin. Lots of windows, nice open dining space.

The food at El Chile is good, but the service leaves A LOT to be desired. In my particular case today, the server did not write my order down which led to some miscommunication in the kitchen. Since the order was wrong I asked for it to be changed. The owner of the restaurant brought my order, but he literally threw the plate on the table and didn't even apologize. Needless to say, this ruined my meal and I will not be returning to this restaurant. Again, the food is good and tasty, but those manning the restaurant should not take out their frustrations or blame their mistakes on their patrons.

A solid choice. Nice staff, good food, refreshing drinks. I ordered the vegetarian Tamal and I liked it quite a bit.

I go here at least once a month. Next to Polvo's, they have my favorite salsa in town. It's definitely a bit more refined than your typical TexMex place. They really focus on developing sauces. I switch between getting the special (fried oyster tacos last time), the mole chicken, a chile rellano and brunch. GREAT brunch spot.

I love this place! Manor Road has a whole array of eating choices all within a couple blocks of each other. El Chile's happy hour margaritas are the best deal around (especially since the passing of Red House Pizza, R.I.P.). El Chile has some delicious margarita flavors such as mango and hibiscus and cantaloupe, but honestly you just can't go wrong in choosing a frozen lime with salt. (Also that's the blended beauty that is only $4 during happy hour.) I tried the Chicken Nachos Especiales and Ceviche De La Casa - which was a fresh chunky salsa made of tilapia, tomato, lime, onion, and cilantro served with tostada chips - you have to try it! Both dishes were ridiculously fresh and fulfilling snacks. If you go during the happy hour specials, many appetizers are half off, making a large dish cost you only about $4-$5. Can you tell I dig happy hour? Go! It's a friendly atmosphere for college kids, families, and children ages 2-102. There is pleasant outdoor deck seating area and also climate-controlled indoor seating. Do yourself a favor and just eat it.

wasn't as good as it could have been..

Delicious and good prices.

food is good, not great...nice smoky salsa...powerful margs...

I'm a fan of this place. I almost changed my mind last night when I ordered tortillas and I was told tortillas were .70 each. I am Mexican, I don't like to pay for extra tortillas. Needles to say I was annoyed and I complained to our waiter, Victor. He was sooo nice about it that he gave me all the tortillas I wanted with no charge. This is what I call service. I will be back as many times as I can to savor their "chilango"margarita. And yes, I will ask for Victor. He was very attentive with everybody at our table and made sure we had everything we needed. Thank you Victor!

We found no difficulty in parking here; contrary to what a previous reviewer noted. We had dinner on the porch on Easter. What a huge, good time. Service was superb, & very attentive. Quality & quantity (per serving) of drinks served, excellent. All four of our entrees were prepared to perfection. Amazing quantity of food served for a very reasonable price; so much so, that no one had room for dessert. Hey, it's not fancy or upscale, but a great place to go for a laid-back place to go with family/friends.

A great time. The "perfect" magarita was! Not inexpensive, but not outrageous either - the ceviche was also esp good

Good food..

Nice locale. Interesting menu. Nice mix of clientele. In up-and-coming area.

I ate here for a work lunch the other day. We wanted to sit outside, but there was a 45 minute wait? So,we opted to eat inside. The cafe is decorated so nicely and has a trendy vibe to the eatery. The food was very good. The waitress mentioned that the tortillas were homemade. You could taste the difference. They brought out chips and dip while waiting on your meal. The dips were very unique and different, but so good you couldn't not try them either. I ate off the lunch menu and got enchiladas. You can't go wrong there!The lunch took about an hour from start to finish, so I would plan for an hour and a half if i was taking off work.I enjoyed this place and would eat here again.t

great lunch specials

I love this restaurant, esp the original location on Manor. Great salsa, great food, love the patio and GREAT HH prices!

Great Food, but the ambiance is not as good as their sister restaurant, Vivo's....much more casual mexican cafe. Outside area is small, but the food will overwhelm your pallet. The stuffed Chile Rellano that this place creates will knock your socks off.

The offerings are tasty and freshly made. The Manor Road location is convenient to The University of Texas area. I love the hot sauces. They are very tasty. Everything I have tried has been delicious.

Excellent food. Staff are friendly and attentive. Casual atmosphere. Best barbacoa tacos! Close to UT and LBJ Library.

We were looking for a quick lunch before a play at Bass Concert Hall and Happened on El Chile. We were very pleased. Everyone ordered something different, but everyone left full and happy. Oldest daughter really liked her brunch French toast/bread pudding dish and the hubby recommends the mimosa.

I was somewhat disappointed when I went to El Chile. This place was packed, so maybe it's just me... the margaritas were good, but the food was mediocre compared to other places around town, especially for the price.

We were on a wild goose chase for BBQ in south Austin. After we hit two spots that had two hour long lines, we decided we would take the caravan to El Chile and what a GREAT decision that was! We were able to snag a table on the patio as it was not scorching hot outside. We also lucked into brunch drink prices, which made for a fun Sunday lunch. The patio is super cute with Mexican blankets draped over every chair. We had a clan with three kids and family in tow. The staff was awesome with us and we even got free queso for checking in on Facebook. I ordered the Tamal Oaxaqueno--which is this amazing vegetarian tamale wrapped in a banana leaf and filled with ingredients from heaven. I loved the dish! Others ordered Carne Asada, chicken enchiladas, and the kids all ordered nachos. Fun time for all and DELICIOUS hot sauce that we found out was habaneros mixed with carrots! Delicious! Get here if you want tasty Mexican food in Austin.

This small intimate Mexican style restaurant offers plenty of vegetarian choices, suitable for celiacs. The spicy Orange Margarita is strong and tasty. try out their smoky taste salsa and tequila.

First, let me say this is not Tex Mex!! They serve a wide variety of Latin American dishes. Their mole' is delicious. Their enchiladas and stuffed poblano peppers are also great. I am particularly fond of their brunch that is served weekends and holidays from 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM, a special menu with specially priced "morning" beverages. This is a small renovated house, pleasantly decorated, with a nice patio. The servers are always knowledgable, polite, quirky, and cute. The bartenders are also very good. Located right around the corner from the UT baseball field, EL Chile is a real AUSTIN restaurant, complete with an "Austin weird" & collegiate clientele. I really love this place!"

Worth a trip or two to Manor Road. The sauces are interesting good! Next time we will sit outside so we sat in back. We were not forgotten. All was very good.

Again can't beat idea

Great drinks, awesome salsa, yummy food!

Great selection of Mexican breakfast entrees. Very authentic, flavorful and high quality. Very good waitstaff. Good Mexican cafe ambiance.

This was my first Texas Taco place. The server was very good at explaining the menu and his suggestions were amazing. Dining solo, I did not really like where I was seated, but the outside patio was great overall.

El Chile is now located in the hip East Side of Austin. While it was good in the former location, it is now outstanding and beautiful, in its own understated fashion, typical of many of the establishments in this refurbished section of a Great Town! I recommend El Chile for breakfast, lunch, brunch, afternoon stop-over while perusing all the fine shops in this area. It is a popular spot, nicely priced, but difficult to get to eat out-of-doors. No matter, the inside was terrific too.

This is a very good Mexican place, with a good range of dishes. Good drinks menu, with a great range of Mexican bears. The food was very good, and it is clearly a very good neighbourhood restaurant. I'm not sure I'd recommend a trip out to it, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

El Chile has great drinks, especially margaritas, chilangos and sangria, at outstanding happy hour prices. Some of their appetizers are also half price. We tried the shrimp nachos and rajas con queso which were both very,very tasty. We give it the thumbs up " y puro yummmm" place for a delicious food and drinks. This could be our favorite happy hour place!

enjoy the ceviche or campechana cocktail. sitting on the patio. great place to visit with friends. neat area

I think I go to one of their locations at least once a week.

Have visited this restaurant 3 times over the past 8 years. First the drinks. The El chilango margarita is outstanding. A blood orange looking drink with a solid amount of tequila and a spicy pepper rim. Made to perfection each time with no swing in quality. A must have if you come here. The Chile Relleno was just the right amount of spicy. Easily could distinguish the complex taste that resulted from the combination of the pepper, the ranchero sauce and the achiote pork. Delicious! The enchiladas verdes were also very good. Good crunch on the enchilada, deliciously rich verde sauce and solid rice and beans. Cool patio, near downtown and good consistent food.

YUM! Best salsa, and the tamal azteca (sort of a veggie casserole) is AWESOME.

Omg. You have died and gone to heaven. While a casual and reasonably priced restaurant, we had a GREAT meal. I personally had the el Nogado relleno. I used to have them all the time in Lis Cabos, MX believe when I say this was as good Our server was great as well. Aw. Just go!

We have been going here since they opened and used to go to the one on Greystone weekly until they closed. My wife loves their chicken flautas which she tends to order almost everywhere and grades the restaurant solely based on the quality of those.....Hey, it took years to get her to venture out from the taco salad or sweet and sour pork at Chinese restaurants! I prefer sitting indoors unless it is a maximum temperature of 82 outside but it is very noisy, which of course means everybody is having fun and enjoying the many varieties of margaritas they serve. Their frozen bar pour margaritas are not bad. They serve two varieties of salsa with chips, an ancho-based sauce and a carrot/habanero (I think) based sauce, both of which are different than the standards and pretty tasty. The queso flameada is very good as is the fresh made guacamole. I've had several varieties of enchiladas, the pork chile relleno, the mole, and several other entrees (mostly interior Mexico); but from the git go, on the recommendation of a waitstaff probably 15-20 years ago, the large house salad with a fillet of tortilla crusted talapia, or my personal preference, red snapper, is pretty damn hard to beat. In fact I think it is my favorite salad in Austin. It is topped with a Mexican corn relish and delicious chipotle Caesar dresing.....Hard to beat.

We tried El Chile Cafe for the first time with some out of town friends. The dining area was clean and fresh. The waitstaff were pleasant and very efficient. Family friendly. The food was really excellent! I had the shrimp enchiladas which had a really beautiful presentation and a great smoky spiced sauce. Probably the best I've had ever. Others had green enchiladas and raved. You have to try the guacamole appetizer. It was perfect! Highly recommended!

Watch out, the margaritas are dangerous.

expensive tacos are blasphemous enough but not that great and terrible salsa

Nice spot for early dinner and drinks. Interesting sauces, especially the mole. All dishes have good seasoning. I liked the beef picadillo chile relleno. The "top shelf" margarita is a good choice.

Met a friend here for a late dinner. The outdoor seating area was totally full, but inside was pleasant (and quieter), and we were seated immediately. Service was good. Fish tacos were good. Lots of parking.

This was the perfect spot to enjoy delicious food and drinks on the patio! There were some families, groups of friends, and probably some official date night dining while we were there. The jalapeño margarita had the perfect amount of sweet heat with Tajin on the rim. The shrimp fajitas were the best I have ever had. The shrimp tasted fresh, not overcooked and seasoned perfectly. The corn tortillas were home made, and so good that it brought tears my friend’s eyes. She said they were like the handmade tortillas her grandma used to make and cannot be replicated or mass produced. The portions were big and the flavors were 🔥. This is a charming, must eat place!

This place's food is what I wish all TexMex tasted like. It's amazing! Really cool environment. We sat on the patio on a gorgeous night. The menu was great. I had shrimp enchiladas (I think) and it was like nothing I've ever had before. It seemed so fresh and flavorful without being doused in cheese and sauce. My sangria was great. Everyone else at the table loved their food as well. I wish I could go back!

The salsas were the most interesting things here -- a creamy one made with carrots, and another one that looked like a mole but was in fact charred tomatoes, chiles, etc. The agua fresca drinks were also very good. The main dishes were good, but not as distinctive as I was hoping for after the salsas.

Best salsa in town! Word to the wise... don't eat the see food, but everything else is on top.

The ceviche is so good I ordered a second serving. The margaritas were fantastic. I had the chicken mole and it was outstanding. The mole in particular, with pumpkin, was divine. Worth traveling back to Austin for. Highly recommended for lunch or brunch (although I'm not sure if they have a special brunch menu). Service was attentive and thorough.

a good veggie taco and killer margaritas.

Delicious Fresh meal with Austin Vibe. Visit before a show at the Moody Center. Appetizer was pineapple salmon ceviche, it was tasty & refreshing served with fresh tortilla chips. Margarita was also very good. Entree was chicken and beef fajitas tender with grilled veggies on bottom, well made with great flavor. The best part was the fresh salsas. There were flies on the patio when the meat came out but we ate quickly.

This is not a fancy restaurant, but if you are looking for excellent food, this is your place. The prices are just as appealing as the food. It is a must try if you are in the area!

Best Tamal Oaxaqueno I've ever had. This is a low key place on the East side that privileges quality over fancy. I went with my sister for a chill Tuesday evening out. We had a great table for two on the covered terrace, with Mexican blankets to field off the evening chill. Micheladas and Margaritas were both top notch. The veggie Tamal was exquisite. Beware the delicious chips and dip... save room for dinner.

Overall dont get me wrong it was great food, but really the drinks were the over priced part. The mexican food with a little flair, all the plates i tasted were great including the queso! I would recommend it, but maybe stick to a regular marg

This is where we go almost weekly for tex-mex - a decent selection for meat eaters and vegetarians alike, their mole is terrific and my personal favorite is the shrimp enchilada. Ask for their daily cocktail special - if it's fresh watermelon mojitos, definitely make sure you order one or two!

We recently ate dinner here, and we were pleasantly surprised at the upscale quality of the food - at reasonable prices. We went on a Friday evening at 6:30 PM, and got the last table - and the place is fairly large. It is a boisterous crowd, but the noise was not enough to inhibit our conversation. Daniel, our excellent server, brought us very crispy chips with 2 sauces, one chipotle and one habanero. Both were great, and the habanero had a nice kick to it. Daniel suggested that day's appetizer special, six fried oysters on small round tortilla chips, topped with a chile salsa and a cucumber and jicama pico. They were outstanding. We could have ordered a dozen more! For dinner, we had the Downtown Charlie's special, with grilled steak and shrimp, and the standard sides for fajitas. The steak was flavorful and the shrimp were tender and perfectly cooked. We also ordered a chile de mar, which was a chile relleno generously stuffed with shrimp and crab meat. I always order the relleno on my first visit to a Latin or Mexican restaurant, and this was one of the top three I have ever eaten. Everything is made in house, and it shows. HINT #1: This is not Tex-Mex, but rather Latin-American. HINT #2: Make reservations, as it fills up quickly. The food was great, and Daniel's service was excellent. We will definitely be back!

the barbacoa brunch is AH MAY ZING!! they give you flour and corn tortillas, which the corn i think are perfect for this dish. the barbacoa is so juicy and delicious! with 2 eggs over easy is a perfect combination! when the weather is nice, be sure to sit out on their deck. it's a nice relaxed atmosphere. their salsa is sooo good! smoky and spicy! the bloody mary i had left a lot to be desired though. BUT each time i have been to El Chile, the food and service have been fantastic!

Fun, vibrant indoor/outdoor casual dining. Reasonably priced and excellent food. Recommend the guacamole, shrimp tacos and prickly pear margaritas. Fast, attentive staff. Really fun evening!

Great place. Make reservations if you have a large party. Margaritas are fantastic, also they had a special Sangria which was great.

Great restaurant....absolutely amazing presentation/plating of the food (almost too pretty to eat) Watch out for the margarita as it is HUGE and will sneak up on you. The sauces and guacamole are outstanding. The food is not greasy and is plentiful. Definitely a 'go back.'

Everyone's fave. The best salsa in town.

I had lunch here during a business trip in late February. We were able to sit on the porch and enjoy the weather. The staff was very friendly and the food was quite good. We started with guacamole (excellent), and a french fry a cheese dish that we got for checking in on Facebook (it was okay, the fries would have been better if they were crispier). I had a chicken rojas dish that was very tasty. It came with some rice and a guacamole. Overall, we were very satisfied with both the food and service.

absolutely my favorite Austin restaurant! for brunch, try the chilango margarita and a bandera burrito. for dinner, go with the enchilada de mole rojo and 2 chilango margaritas.

They have some great daily specials and solid regular menu items. It's a great neighborhood spot, always full of locals.

Excellent food and wonderful drinks!

As locals, we've been to El Chile on multiple occasions for drinks and dinner, but had never tried their weekend brunch. Because we love all things brunch, we had to try it and see if it made the cut. The verdict? Pretty much. One major downside of our experience was the heat. It seemed like either the window units were not working or their central A/C was nonexistent because it was downright hot and muggy inside the restaurant. We almost would have been better off sitting outside. However, the service was pretty good and the food tasty. I had the omelette and my bf had the migas, plus brunch drinks. The food was good, although the omelette was a tad on the oily side (I find this to be a common problem). Overall, apart from the heat, it was worth the money and offers a nice alternative to normal brunch spots around Austin!

One of the docents at the LBJ Library told us about this local Mexican restaurant, which turned out to be a great tip. Close to the library, free parking across the street, indoor and outdoor seating, good food, good service, reasonable prices. All the boxes checked.

My favorite Mexican food in town. Try the Ceviche and the Mole enchiladas!

Best Mole Sauce in Austin.

This is a great choice for a casual Tex-Mex meal before heading out for an evening in East Austin- made better due to its proximity to some fantastic Austin theaters! Mole is top notch and their salsa is unique in Austin. Margaritas are delicious. Service is average but certainly not bad. Everything on the menu is very good. Heated enclosed patio in winter is nice- the patio is great in the summer! If you are looking for a scene and higher prices then walk down the street to Vivo- if you are looking for a great local place with the emphasis placed on great drinks, food, and value then head to El Chile.

After reading a review on Chowhound, we headed to El Chile for some reputible Tex-Mex on my first visit to Austin. We were sat immediately but were never visited by a waiter. After more than five minutes we had to put our drink order in with the hostess whom we had flagged down. Someone, who turned out to be our waiter, came by an nearly slammed water down on the table and left without so much as a hello. Another five minutes later he came to take our order. No greeting, no specials, no pleasantries, just a simple "you ready to order?" The mole and marg were the only redeeming parts of an otherwise medocre meal. And the expcerience was bad enough for me to post a review here and back on Chowhound. Too bad too, the space and vibe were pretty decent.

Food is prepared fresh and served immediately. Ingredients are locally made in house. Drinks are huge and good value. The daily specials are always different and great. My favorite is puffed chicken tacos which they do but are not on the menu

We are here on a Monday night just after going to the Trail of Lights. Time had gotten away from us and we forgot that they close at 9:00 on Mondays. We arrived at 8:45 but they welcomed us and we were treated well and not rushed. The food here is really top quality Mexican, not Tex-Mex. You are given two sauces and chips when you sit down, a carrot habanero and a roasted green sauce. Both are very tasty and the chips are paper thin. Ceviche ($13) is a wonderful appetizer and served with thicker, sturdier chips. Chili relleno ($16) is a large serving stuffed with shreadded pork - very tasty. Charlie's Dinner Special ($18) is a delicious mix of shrimp and meats. This remains one of the very best Mexican restaurants in Austin.

Ordered cheese enchiladas and they were bland. Too much chile in the sauce, it was sweet and didn't have a good flavor. The menu says fresh tortillas, but they are not so that's misleading. Pricey for quality.

We dropped in for a quick snack and drinks after UT graduation. We were a little alarmed because there were a lot of big tables and very little staff. Well the staff did an amazing job of taking care of all the tables quickly and efficiently. We arrived after 3 pm which meant that it was Happy Hour time...YAY! We ordered a delicious Queso, guacamole, chips and salsa and nachos plus some drinks. The food and drinks came quickly and it was all inexpensive and very tasty. The staff could have tanked with the influx of people coming in but they just put it into another gear and powered on!

El Chile, hands down, has the best salsa in Austin. It is not a typically tomatoey chunky salsa. It is ultra roasted, almost as dark as mole, and smooth. It is so delicious. They also have a carrot habanero salsa which others at my table said was really tasty. Also what was delicious was the sauce on the enchilada on the Charlie plate and the thick hand rolled taquitos. The ceviche I have had in the past has also been great.

We went with a group of five and everyone was able to find something to their liking. The appetizers and entrees were varied and cooked well. The drinks were pretty good as well. I’d say 4.5 stars. I’d certainly go back

Really good salsa, do very interesting things with their sauces.

Had lunch here with colleagues. I ordered the fish tacos. They were very tasty. One of my colleagues ordered the limonada drink. She thought it was very tasty. I was not a big fan of the tortilla chips or the sauces. I think.it is because they may have been corn tortillas and I'm used to flour. I'm also used to salsas that have tomatoes in them. These did not.

This was by far the yummiest margarita I have had in a long time. The chips and salsa were super delicious, so light and not greasy. The food was unusual and sooo delicious. We did spend a pretty penny on lunch and only had two alcoholic drinks so bring $$$.

The food was good. My problem, and I have been twice, is the arrogance of the waitstaff. I had different waiters each time, but they were alike in their arrogance and inattentiveness. The one last night didn't even bother to stop by to see if our food was right, although he sauntered by occasionally, as if to be looking for a mirror in which to admire his own reflection. Our "frozen" margaritas were only marginally frozen because they obviously sat at the well while he was doing I don't know what. He only had three tables--he wasn't in the weeds!! I won't be going back, and not because of the food, because it is excellent.

We were looking to get some food and kill some time after the Texas/WVU game and this was close enough we could walk. Had a short wait since it was after the game, but honestly we were able to get a table fairly quickly. The food was very good and the service was great as well.

Ok, so on a whim we ate at the restaurant - service is better than average, food very good, although pricey for lunch. You cannot park in any of the parking area surrounding the restaurant because that is UT parking. Signs are posted at the entrance of the lots. Never thought in a thousand years I would have to be concerned about UT parking when I am blocks east of I-35. Urban sprawl--how about UT sprawl! Parking is available in the dirt area across the street. Sorry El Chile - I cannot be bothered with parking woes - blame UT.

on the plus side - we had a very attentive waiter and anything we asked for or needed was immediately brought to us. drinks were good too. i personally didn't care for the food. chips were fine, salsa was horrible. queso was good. ordered cheese enchiladas because they are usually pretty safe and i don't like fancy. these weren't good - don't know what was on top of them but yuck. asked for refried beans instead of black - they were decent. asked for white rice (really?) instead of some kind of icky sounding red rice - it had carrots in it - yuck again - and no flavor. most of the others in the group liked their entre's. i won't go back.

My wife and I had brunch here last Sunday and it was great. Our waiter was good and the service was quick. They have fantastic brunch drink deals. The melon margarita was insane! Also, they have this sweet potato salsa or something like that and it is so good. The food was classic tex-mex brunch and was delicious. Over all the prices were great for the amount of food we got. We will be back again soon!

Three of us went there and all of us had great meals. After eating there I made note to myself that I need to remember to come here more frequently. My wife had the enchiladas that had almost a mole on them. She gave me a taste so next time I’m having the enchiladas. And the margaritas were very good!

Went to this charming restaurant with my two adult sons, one who lives in Austin and loves to showcase great restaurants when we come to visit. This place is fabulous! The food was the best Tex Mex I have ever had. They give you chips and two types of salsa; a mole' and more tradional salsa. The margharitas were good and the michelada (spicy beer) was excellent. I had a sampler entree with shrimp, chicken and steak and my sons had quesedillas and chile relleno, and both were very pleased. The waiter was very helpful with selecting our food choices and attentive to our needs during the meal. We got to sit on the outside porch on a sunny day and it was very relaxing. A definite place to visit if you are near the U of T football stadium (it is about 6 blocks away).

We visited for a late lunch. The restaurant was clean and had a large closed in patio attached to the smaller dining room. The waiters were very prompt and polite and attentive. They don't have a kids menu but were very willing to serve typical menu items for and adjusted kid price. The flavor of their sauces was infused with a sweeter type of taste. I liked it but my husband felt it was too different for him. If you want to experiment with a little twist on your tex-mex, I think this is a good place to try.

Freshest, tastiest Mexican food I have had in a long time. The queso was especially thrilling. The neighborhood parking scene is awful, but it is SO worth it, even if you have to walk a few blocks. Seriously thinking about moving closer to Manor Rd.

We were recently in Austin for one week, and I ate at El Chile on Manor Road twice--both times during their happy hour, which runs from 3-6 daily. House margaritas were only $5, and they actually had alcohol in them :). Some of the appetizers are half price during happy hour; each time we ordered several appetizers to share--each one was delicious. Service is fast and friendly. Prices are great. We will go back the next time we are in Austin.

I ate here for dinner one night while in Austin on business, under the recommendation of a colleague. The food was awesome. Had the queso with chorizo as an appetizer, which was fantastic, and had the chicken quesadillas for dinner. Service was great, food was outstanding. Glad I took the recommendation.

The margaritas are delicious and amply sized, the service is fast and attentive, and the enchiladas with red mole are excellent. Will come back again!

Our group ordered mostly tacos and fajitas. We also ordered a few drinks which were pricey ($10+) but good. The food was okay, nothing spectacular when comparing to taco joints in town. The service was good and he kept replenishing the free chips and two sauces. The restaurant was able to accommodate our large group late on a Saturday night, which we appreciate.

The food was fresh and deliciously prepared. I would definately recommend. The margaritas were creative and delicious! Prickly Pear margarita was a wonderful treat!

El Chile has move to the South Lamar area and seemed to have uped their game on the way. Their prices are on the high side for mexican food but the quality warrants it. Now that they are closer the supreme nachos and sangria have become my goto quick diner out meal. They are neatly made, not just a bunch of ingredients piled on a plate. The tortillas stay crispy for the entire meal. The sangria is house made and delicious. The service is fast and pleasant. Inside is a little noisy but you can sit outside if you like. My wife usually orders some type of enchilada and always enjoys them.

The bar service was slow, but there was a 20top sat right after U.S. And only 1 bartender. Mezcal is a great smokey alternative to tequila. I asked for an orange (because I read that is how it is taken in Mexico), and it came worth a lime. "Sorry, forgot to tell you we were out of oranges." It would have been nice to know for a $10 drink. The queso is $9 and only the size of a cup. I loved their salsa's. The habanero with purred carrots was my favorite. Nachos are not gluten free- but there are other options. We split the chicken enchiladas verde. They were good, but not to die for.- especially at $15. Overall ambiance is great! However, I think it is too pricey for the flavors.

Had dinner here with family. Our server was very friendly. I ordered the Chicken Fajitas but got the Beef Fajitas. I said that was ok and that I would eat the beef. The first bite of the beef was very tough and I couldn't chew it. I ate all the vegetables, which were caramelized, the way I like them in my Fajitas. I ate one tiny bit of beef which was ok. The rest I gave to my husband who said it was 50/50 tender and tough. The fresh flour tortillas were very good. Watch out for the really spicy dip which they bring with the tortilla chips... good stuff!

This has become one of my favorite restaurants. Atmosphere is great, staff fantastic. I've never had an issue, they are very accommodating. The location is very convenient to Central Austin (near UT campus on the other side of IH-35). I am in love with the Rajas con Queso, an appetizer that is roasted poblanos and caramelized onions with melted cheeses. Although I’m not a beer drinker, many friends praise the micheladas, a spicy beer and lime juice cocktail. Other specialty drinks include margaritas, Mexican Martinis, and Gilberto’s Sangria Especial. An entrée I adore is the Tamal Azteca. The restaurant serves brunch, lunch and dinner and I've seen folks of all ages and places. Although I’ve not gone to the brunch, I’ve heard good things about it. Happy Hour is from 4pm to 7pm. If you’ve had a rough day, El Chile will definitely lift your spirits. Prices are very reasonable, this is a great place for small or medium size parties.

We ate here before at UT Baseball game and throughly enjoyed ourselves. We got there early for the ball game so we had one of those rare opportunities to take our time and enjoy the atmosphere and the meal. All of the food was last and the service was friendly to the max. We ad the Queso Flameado messy but great, and the Charlie's Special dinner-as I said all perfect. As we were leaving our waiter - Juan- brought us waters to go (without us asking ) since he knew we were headed to the game. Just a little touch that goes a long way.

We had a wonderful experience dining at El Chile. Only 20 minute wait for an outdoor table on Saturday night. Enjoyed some margaritas while we waited. Our server, Manuel, was fantastic. Very attentive and helpful in deciphering the menu. The special was a brisket enchilada with mole sauce, which was outstanding. Also enjoyed the Arrachera, grilled steak topped with melted Chihuahua cheese, poblano rajas, and grilled onions. And the guac was creamy and delicious.