El Naranjo Reviews

Average ticket for 2 80.00 New location... Opened 4 months ago... Most pictures on here are old Its in an apartment building it was hard to find Food was good but lacked spice

Go here! We ended up eating here a couple times while in Austin because it was so good! My favorite meal was the huevos benedictos, which they allowed me to modify so it was vegetarian (thanks again to El Naranjo for that!). Might be the best style benedict I've ever had. Loved the friendly environment, delightful cocktails, and stunning food. Makes me want to head to Oaxaca!

My wife and I dined here recently and enjoyed it very much. We started with an amazing Ahi Tuna & Pineapple Ceviche and a shrimp in black bean sauce served with black corn tortillas both were excellent. For our entrees I chose the traditional mole served with a Berkshire pork chop, the depth of flavor was incredible! My wife chose the lighter mole and shrimp which was equally as good as my meal. Desert was a coconut flan with an orange sauce. While Artie our server was very friendly and overall attentive, he missed the mark on two occasions 1. Never offering a second beverage (good margarita, would have ordered a second if asked). 2. With the coconut flan, I specifically asked if it was coconut flavored or if it had real coconut in it (my wife cannot process real coconut). He stated that there was no coconut in it but was incorrect. All in all a great meal, even if you are on a low carb diet, do not skip the bread course, the orange butter was AMAZING.

The food was just awesome. Simple yet delicious. The chef knows her stuff. Must try the secret sauce. To die for. Will be back next time I’m in town. Waiters are also pretty great.

We had a party of eight for dinner. Ordered the empanadas, shrimps, ceviche, octopus, queso fundido & cochinita pibil to start. For main, the party ordered the enchiladas, duck breast, chicken, pork shank, lamb chops and short ribs. Too many choices to give individual comments. Broadly, a really mixed tasting experience. The starters tend to be tasty - except for the shrimps and the empanadas. Super small portion given the price point. The main were mostly below average - except for the lamb chops - perfectly grilled to medium rare. Given the price point, you would expect much more consistent taste and quality

Excellent food and service. House margarita and mole negro are highly recommended. Staff had some great recommendations for additional nightlife stops to make while in Austin.

We went for Sunday brunch and everything was perfect! The bread was so warm, fluffy and fresh. The Cafe De Olla was AMAZING! Our service was great, and everyone enjoyed what they ordered.

We were walk in's on a Saturday night but were seated quickly on the pretty outside terrace. The menu is a lovely mix of great Mexican food and we eventually selected the queso to start and 2 different moles for our mains. Our server was super helpful guiding us through the menu and drinks choices and also advising on gluten free options. The queso was exceptional and served with a chorizo topping that was lovely, Unfortunately and with nothing at all to do with the food I was not very well and our server kindly changed our mains order to a 'to go' option which was well insulated and packed up with all of the extras we would need and then she sour ed us a taxi to get me back to the hotel. When we did eat the mains they were also very good and flavoursome. I'm conclusion I'd go back again for the food which was very very good but the kind treatment I received alongside great service generally made this a no brainier to return to if I am ever in the area again

was out with my mom and sister - we enjoyed fundido and guacamole also had small plates amazing options - for vegetarian quality tasty meal. 3 of us w wine $90

Chef Iliana has done an amazing job with this jewel of a restaurant. Delicious dishes straight from the heart of Oaxaca right to my heart. The Chile Relleno Nogada stole the "Favorite dish of the night" award. Escape the Rainey Street crowd and enjoy.

The food was out of this world. The service was even better. Our waiter helped our group of seven get though the menu, as it was many dishes you will not find in most Mexican restaurants. We all would go back anytime we are in Austin. Don't look at the prices, it worth every penny.

Wow! This place is awesome. I went back two nights in a row. It's a beautiful, open space restaurant with friendly service and outstanding food. The ceviche was incredibly good, as were the tacos. It's fresh, tasty, light, amazing Mexican food. They make a fantastic spicy margarita too. I can't wait to go again.

We decided to check out the trucks on Rainey and it was a little warm so we wanted somewhere indoors to eat. We'd seen the good reviews for El Naranjo and decided to give it a go. What a great choice. We ate too much, and loved it all. We started with guacamole and the ceviche special (yellowfin, mango, onion, cilantro). Both were excellent (esp. the ceviche). The little rolls were a nice surprise, accompanied by the 7-chile salsa macha, butter with chile de arbol, and marinated carrot and onion. The salsa macha was very spicy to my taste, but not in a way that obscured the flavor. I ordered the mole negro de Oaxaca and my wife the sea bass. I love mole, and this was truly delicious, with complex flavors and accompanied by excellent housemade tortillas. The sea bass was very good as well. We finished with tres leches and the chocolate torte. Both excellent. We were very pleased by the lightness of the torte and the excellent flavor of the tres leches. The preparation of the latter was such that all of the cream was trapped in the cake. The service was excellent. Great recommendations from Alex and very attentive treatment from the whole staff. I hope to return.

This is the second time I am to this restaurant, and I am still amazed! The food is spectacular. This is truly one of the best breakfasts I've had in the world. Not kidding. The ingredients are fresh, the flavors are extremely well balanced and combination, and the food ultimately is superb! Highly recommend it!

An Under rated gem Truly authentic Mexican cuisine From the phenomenal drinks to the cleansing tres Leche and the sensational mole in between Nestled in the heart of Rainey Street. The mixologists are truly artists and will take your palate on journeys to strange and exotic places Very highly recommend

I love mexican food and the food was ok but not great. The most annoying part was the waiter constantly pushing the most expensive items on the menu. ESPECIALLY THE ORGANIC MARGARITAS. if an individual is going to be drinking margs they sure do not need to pay a 50 percent markup for your Organic margaritas. OTHER than that the guacamole was excellent but I would not return in this crowded arena there are many other choices

Recommended by friends in town, we had the Pork burritos (great flavors!) and tenderloin taco from the light plate menu. Very tender and very good!

The food was pretty good. I asked for chips because I hadn’t eaten in 9 hours and was told they didn’t have them. Then later the served chips to the woman at the next table. I have written this review while waiting for my bill after asking for it. Eh, don’t need to come back here.

We had visited the previous location on Rainy Street and were looking forward to eating at their new location on South Lamar. The new location is quite attractive and has excellent parking. The food was even better than we remembered. We will definitely be back.

I ate at El Naranjo with a group of business professionals. We had a private room and the U shape of the tables make it easy for everyone to talk to. We ordered a variety of appetizers and the kitchen cut them down to smaller size for easy sharing. I ordered the Duck Mole which was tasty. I'm a huge fan of Mole, and it wasn't my mother's mole. It was almost as good, though. We also ordered a variety of desserts and shared those around the table. The coconut flan was deslih.

I was visiting from the UK and stay opposite this restaurant. I was so glad I went in and ordered a drink as it gave me the perfect opportunity to have a snack. And I wasn’t disappointed as I had the tuna poke it was worth the $14.00, all homemade. The establishment was clean, airy, and very unique. All the staff were very friendly and that made it for me. Another bonus is that it’s LGBT friendly Will I visit again when in Austin....Most definitely It’s a hidden gem

10/10 Every dish was artistry in taste! Amazing flavors and presentation! Loved the mole and enchiladas. This is not a Tex-Mex restaurant, but it has all the unique flavors of authentic Mexico.

I sat outside and enjoyed a Mexican IPA, some mezcal, and the best mole negro I've had in a long, long time. Try it!

This is another favorite one for us. We love going to have our chiles en nogada. We have been going for two years in a row, to enjoy this special food, and it has never disappointed us. The owner is always on top of everything and wants to make sure we all liked our plates. We also went ones for the Sunday brunch and loved her pan dulce.

Everything we ate was delicious!! The waiter was very attentive and great atmosphere! I got the tacos and my friend got the Chile rellenos, both were amazing !

I took my daughters out for dinner at this restaurant about a month ago. I periodically do this as a means of us socializing at decent restaurants and this was a huge letdown. We liked the location right in the Rainey Street neighborhood. The waiter was quite pleasant and informative. My daughters had tacos. They love tacos and this was the first time I could remember when they did not even finish half of their meals. I ordered a mole based dish. The mole was absolutely the worst I've ever had. It tasted like charcoal and bitter. I usually ask myself if I'd go back or recommend a restaurant after patronizing the establishment. This one earns a resounding no from me.

The food is great and the service is even better. The only reason is did not give this place 5 stars is because their space is soooo small. Still I would definitely come back for some of their fabulous food!

I came in on a Saturday evening with no particular plan and stumbled upon this Mexican restaurant - a renovated home. I have to confess, I was not very hungry so I didn't get to sample as much of the menu as I would like. I did have a Margarita, guacamole with chips and a chicken soup of sorts...sorry I can't remember the name of it. Anyway, the food and drink was spectacular. The service was very friendly as I sat out on the back patio. The inside was charming. I'm anxious to go again to enjoy more variety.

The moles are the specialty of this authentic Mexican restaurant. The mole Negro had a dark, strong, dominating smoky flavor, while the other mole choice was lighter, almost bland by comparison. Meats were tender and well prepared. Presentation and portion size average. The head chef came by to check whether we were enjoying our meal. El Naranjo was a memorable dining occasion.

My wife found this place in her research she booked it two weeks ahead. We show up greated with friendly staff and the wait staff highly knowledgeable and guided us through the specials. I ordered a mescal cocktail and my wife order a Margarita both were amazing and I should say that I have had mescal before not a huge fan but this drink made a concert out of me. The main reason we went was because I wanted to taste an authentic conchinita pipil. We watch a lot of food shows and one of the chefs was cooking that dish. Anyways everything was amazing extremely complex and you can taste the love and care that is put into each dish. We also ordered the duck mole which was equally as good. Overall great experience it isn’t a stuff place but the chef doesn’t mess around in the kitchen. We both left extremely satisfied and we both said we were more than happy to pay more for that meal based off of the cooking skills. I’d highly recommend this place it is really good and well worth the price.

I've had the pleasure of eating at El Naranjo on several previous visits to Austin and returned on my latest trip. It has never disappointed. On my most recent trip I had the mole negro with pork. It was a taste explosion. I began by dinner with a mezcal and hibiscus cocktail that the server indicated was new to the menu. El Naranjo is a very special restaurant and worth a visit if you are in the area.

OK, probably shouldn't title the review of such an excellent restaurant with a statement about their desert, because this place offers so much more...but darn, that cake sure is good! I've tried a lot of tres leches cakes, and always order it when here. We've started making this our go-to-place to celebrate our anniversary because we love the food. Would recommend the empanadas de hongos as an appetizer. Every entree we've had we've really enjoyed. And if you like Mole Negro, you won't find any better this side of the border, and maybe on the other side, either (yeah, we've sampled Mole Negro in Mexico, including Oaxaca). At El Naranjo it is dreamily dark, smoky, and complex. And, btw, we've always had excellent service and good advice from our servers re drinks and food. If you like traditional Mexican food, excellently prepared, eat here!

El Naranjo is a great restaurant. It serves outstanding, authentic, primarily Oaxacan, Mexican food with the freshest, organic ingredients. The flavors will entice you back again and again.

We took some out-of-towners here during SXSW, when we couldn't get reservations at Suerte. I'm glad it worked out that way! We discovered a great restaurant. Mexican but genuine and finely done.Excellent moles and unique dishes. It was quiet despite the Rainey Street craziness going on outside. This chef knows what she's doing. I would love to go on one of her trips to Mexico (she leads foodie tours).

I'm a long-term fan of El Naranjo. On a trip to Austin, I recently visited the new location and was as pleased as always. El Naranjo offers a rich menu of Oaxacan dishes and always at least two moles. On my recent visit, I had the black mole with duck. It was phenomenal. We began with several of the appetizers including a huitlacoche empanada. Everything was great. When you are in Austin, El Naranjo is a must visit! We also took home several bottles of the Salsa Macha.

Had the ceviche with yellowtail, queso with chorizo, crab tostadas, al pastor, and mole negro. Each was flavorful with homemade tortillas with corn from Oaxaca. Finished with churros and ice cream. A definite go to place in Austin. Also gives you a chance to explore Rainey street which I would call an upscale sixth street.

Went here for an early dinner. The empanadas filling and dough tasted really good. We also had the ceviche for appetizer. My husband cannot eat grains or dairy and he got the octopus for appetizer and a fish dish. He really enjoyed his food. I had the fish with white mole. The mole was nutty, fluffy, and complemented the fish flavor very well. We will be coming back to this restaurant while in Austin.

First time to visit. New location is very nice though noisy. The waitperson was very friendly & knowledgeable. The guacamole was a large serving & excellent flavor. I had the duck breast w mole - excellent & they didn’t skimp on the mole sauce (wanted to lick the plate) - came w a dollop of white rice - a dollop of veggies would have been nice. The 3 others in my party all had the redfish cooked in banana leaves. All agreed the texture was tough - not flaky as redfish normally is - questioning if it really was redfish - disappointing. The recommended flourless chocolate cake was not very dense, was dry like normal cake & the “quince” ice cream flavor was very weak. I’d go again for the mole!!

Looking for a good place for dinner, on our first night at Austin, while staying near historic Rainey Street historic district. El Naranjo was it! Great food, wine, service. If you are looking for a nice, cozy restaurant with authentic mexican food: this is the place. Enhorabuena!

Went to the new location on S. Lamar. Best Mexican food anywhere. Interesting drinks. Had best Carne Asada! Wife had duck with mole and rice. Cheesecake on a different level. Dustin is the best waiter! Can't wait to go back!

Food was great.. had the queso, ceviche, guacamole, cocktails and WATCHED THE PEOPLE.......so much fun. A drinking club ran by (dressed crazy). Lotsa dogs 🐕. Still forgot it was a birthday celebration. That’s TWICE... So odd.....

What a little gem! Fun little location on Rainey St, service was wonderful, some of the best guacamole I have ever had, and amazing Chile Relleno!!! try it!

This was an excellent recommendation from a friend! I’ve been to Austin many times and this will be a new fav! It irritates me the people who review, there were no enchiladas, refried beans and queso! This is not a TEXMEX. While I love me some good TEXMEX and I’m a native Texan, this is authentic Mexican food! The mole was to die for. They brought our three tastes so we could choose which one we liked better before we ordered. They also Offer a complimentary bread and chili oil. Very delicious. We had the spicy shrimp, excellent! The empanadas, excellent! A mole dish with pork and a chicken dish. Very lovely quaint spot on this hip street.

We come here a few times per year went visiting Austin. This time we were disappointed at the taste of the food. I had the special which was a wedding dish with rice and stewed meat. The rice was overcooked and the meat was average taste. Definitely not worth the price. Our daughter had a vegetable entree that was overly spiced, triple hot.

My girlfriend and I went to this place because of the good reviews. The interior is a little cold but of high standard, and we definitely felt welcome by the hostess and the waiter. The menu was hard to choose from as all the dishes are presented as an EXTREME mix of ingredients and components (>15 ingredients for each dish).Therefore, I asked the waiter for help, and he recommended their special Mole. Based on his explanation I expected tastes of chocolate, smokey hickory, and interesting spices, but the dish that I got was far from what was promised, as well as far from the other reviews posted on Tripadvisor for this dish. My plate was composed of a small ball of rice, slices of duck, and the rest was ONLY sauce. I have never seen such a boring combination of food on a plate before, my breakfast burrito looked more interesting than this. My taste experience of their main mole was even more disappointing, and it can most easily be described as extremely ashy, dark, and plain. There were no hints of anything intriguing, or of the chocolate. Our waiter was attentive, and very quickly asked if everything was alright (bonus points to him). I let him know that I really did not like the taste of the dish, and he responded in a very nice way. We sent back the dish and went for the other Mole that he recommended, that was supposed to be less heavy in the overall taste. This time the chef had added some vegetable and green beans. But sadly, again the overall taste of this dish was not intriguing or tasty, only murky and joyless, and the beans and vegetables were raw. I had a small discussion with the waiter, and I felt that he cared about what we felt (again bonus points). He gave us a small discount, from $30 to $22.5. Clearly, the big problem was not the waiter, but simply that their chef does not know how to make food that is tasty or interesting enough for their price tag. The same goes for my girlfriend, who still enjoyed their tastes more than I did. But for $30 she got 8 pieces of asparagus, a half of some hard vegetable, raw beans, and a plate FULL of sauce. The kitchen needs an upgrade for this place to be good. We left, wishing that we would have gone to an ordinary Texmex or American diner.

I decided to visit on a recent trip to Austin. It was about 9:30pm, and the place was fairly empty. Not too surprising since it was somewhat late, although the other restaurants around were bustling. I went up to the desk, and asked for a table for one. The hostess offered a seat at the rather dingy bar. I declined, and asked for a table. With an audible sigh, she said, "I guess". As I don't like spending money where I'm obviously not wanted, I smiled and said, "never mind" and left. I have no idea about the food or drinks - perhaps they're fantastic. But honestly, who cares with a reception like that? If you're dining alone, go to Moonshine or Bangers or pretty much any where but this place.

Just finished a dinner for six. Great waiters, slow, slower service. House margarita with little to no alcohol in it and way too much lemon-lime juice, hardly even a hint of sweetness. No alcohol to speak of. Really? Second peach margarita was better, I could taste a bit of tequila. Menu somewhat limited in scope, and heavily reliant on saucing. We ordered appetizers for 6 which was barely enough for a taste for each person. The best things were the guacamole and the little tasting plates which they brought in order to assuage our hunger when, after over and hour, our entrees had not arrived. Interesting flavors, not much substance. My companion's fish was seriously under-cooked, with a pudding-like texture. Bland sauce. Another's steak was quite good but medium-small in size. Some are happy paying more for less, I realize. Shrimp was good. We were all underwhelmed, however due to 1) the wait time and 2) the price! Dinner for six, only 6 drinks total, leave with nothing memorable, and the bill with tip was $400. Now, that much for an epic meal on a Tuesday is one thing. But that much for a "meh" on most scores meal...I give it 3 stars. Won't be going back.

This is gourmet food !!! The quality of the food is superb, we had EMPANADAS DE HUITLACOCHE, TOSTADA DE JAIBA AND CAMARONES Y HONGOS A LA SALSA MACHA. Everything was delicious. I am Mexican and I can definitely say that this is the best Mexican restaurant in town.

This is not your average restaurant. The food was very good. The prices appropriate for a select menu.

I've been going to this restaurant since it opened in the heart of the hipster Rainey Street several years ago (I just live a few blocks away). When it first opened the food and service were great, and it was only one of two places in Austin that had good mole (the other one is Fonda s. Miguel). Over time, the restaurant's business has really picked up and the place is usually packed. As is usually the case, this has taken its toll on the dining experience. For one thing, it is really loud: not so bad that one can't have a conversation without shouting, but it is getting close to that level. I was there for dinner with some friends from out of town earlier this week, and I had the mole with shrimp. It was OK but just OK: a sea of mole sauce with a large island of white rice in the middle and 6 medium-large shrimp basking on the edge of the plate. Uninspired. The wait person was attentive, but truly obnoxious. He seemed determined to convince us that he could roll his R's (well, it is a Mexican restaurant) and correctly pronounce the ingredients in the dishes. I would say he considered himself part of the show, rather than someone who was supposed to bring food to the table. Anyway, it's a shame that things at El Naranjo have started to go south but such is often the cost of success. I probably won't go back again until Rainey St. gets a bit less crowded and then maybe the restaurant will be able to focus on quality again rather than just flipping tables. Now, if you have a hankerin' for Oaxacan food and don't want to fight the traffic, crowds, and lack of parking on Rainey St., just head over to Fonda s. Miguel. They've been around for 40 or so years and have been consistently excellent throughout this period.

I've been wanting to eat at El Naranjo since the owner moved from Oaxaca and eventually opened a restaurant in Austin. I had eaten at El Naranjo in Oaxaca twice when it was there. The food here is the "real thing." The brunch menu had a lot of good choices. My favorite thing was the queso fundido with huitlacoche, a Mexican specialty hard to find in the US. The enchiladas verdes were good, but I would have liked more sauce and cream on them. Only disappointment was the Mexican chocolate (to drink). I thought it was very watered down. The waitstaff was very good and the owner is charming. Unfortunately, there are no moles on the brunch menu. The moles I had at the Oaxaca location were amazing! So I must go back here for dinner!

We has margaritas and queso fundido as a great appitizer followed by mole negro with grilled pork which was ok but the meat was tough. Mole is best served with a juicy piece of gallina chicken not available in Texas. El Naranjo’s problem is crowded tables in small rooms.

Title says it all. Just be sure to book ahead as it gets busy, and sitting outside is marginal in comfort. But the food and service make up for that!

Myself and 5 friends had dinner here tonight. Everything was fantastic!! Started with excellent margaritas and excellent starters. The entrees were all amazing - we all felt it was the best Mexican food we had ever had. And to top it off our waiter Alejandro was terrific. Took great care of us all night. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!!!

Brunch is a challenge as a celiac. Generally, it involves pretending to be happy with fruit and bacon while your friends eat amazing towers of french toast, waffles, and pancakes, and you try--hard--not to secretly hate them. Not here. Most of the dishes are already gluten-free, as they are corn and potato-based. I ordered the Huevos Benidictos (Eggs Benedict, Mexican-style), and nothing had to be adjusted! I received what everyone else received! And it was delicious, SO flavorful, and filling. Fantastic food, delicious cocktails, and I didn't feel like a second-class citizen. I will be back.

This restaurant put together a fantastic menu for a party of 20 people. They accommodated vegetarian and gluten free dietary restrictions gracefully. The food was DELICIOUS and we had wonderful, attentive service. I highly recommend this restaurant followed by a fun time walking around the neighborhood on Rainey Street. Location couldn't be better!

You're entering a whole new world of Mexican cuisine here. This branch of a restaurant in Oaxaca offers unique dishes of the region, including some outstanding moles. Our large group was able to sample much of the menu, starting with Margaritas! guacamole, queso fundido, ceviche, and caldo tialpeno soup. All excellent, as were the little rolls with flavored butter, and homemade corn tortillas which accompanied them. The stars of the show here are the luscious mole sauces, the rich, chocolatey negro, yellow Amarillo, and red Coloradito. We had all of them, paired with duck, pork, and shrimp. Perfection! The children enjoyed the pulled pork burritos, and another guest raved about the tostada de Jaiba with crab. The only off note was the chili relleno, tasty, but flattened, not shaped and plump, as usual. Desserts were fantastic, churro with ice cream, and an out of this world tres leches, served in a Mason jar. Service was wonderful, lively atmosphere too. This is a cute and hip area of Austin. Beware though, bring your own straws if you must, as the restaurant is a "straw free zone," according to our waiter. Yes, he was serious!!!

El Naranjo is on Raine Street, several blocks of houses converted to restaurants. They seated us beside a long table of happy celebrants, so in the small room, which had bad acoustics anyway, we found was impossible to converse. Then, when the plates arrived, I asked if they served hot sauce. " No." My guest ordered scrambled eggs, which plated, looked like a small mound of something under a soup of three different sauces. " Can I have a tortilla?" "That dish doesn't come with tortillas". I watched with unbridled envy as other tables got tortillas. No chips. No hot sauce. Not friendly. VERY upscale and not at all the warm atmosphere of even the biggest or smallest Mexican restaurants. And no, there was nothing we ordered that couldn't be found in a Tex-Mex restaurant. I don't know what Zagat was thinking when they rated this place so highly, unless it was the decor which is clean and sterile.

Excellent reasonably priced Margaritas, great Ceviche and outstanding mole. Consider duck with the mole. Service could not have been better. Nice venue. Not cheap but well worth it.

We were in this corner of Austin just long enough to sleep, take a stroll up and down Rainey, and really enjoy brunch here. The elevated outdoor seating area drew us in long before we were entertained and tasted the delicious offerings! The server had great recommendations and was delightful to deal with and we loved our orders. Would love to return.

Note that this restaurant has moved to 2717 South Lamar Blvd. This was a recent move. The chef uses recipes from Oaxaca which is our favorite region of Mexico. The margarita clasica was delicious, flavorful and not weak. I ordered the 2 tacos de pescado and were delicious. The beer batter on the fish did not overpower with the seasoned mayo adding the right amount of heat. My husband ordered the Tlayuda Oaxaquena with chorizo for $20. He felt it was too mild so with the additional salsa with habanero, he could definitely feel heat.Anissa, our server, was so sweet and knowledgeable about the menu. She was very attentive as well. A bit expensive but it was worth it!

Lovely space with vibrant vibe. Service was good. Thursday night wasn’t busy. Our table of 4 foodies were thrilled with the two starters- empanadas and serviche. Tasty chips were a plus. Crisp and not oily. One guest said if the rest of the meal is this good, we’re in for a treat. Entree 1 was duck mole. Duck was gristly and dry. Presentation was blah. Entree 2 was halibut. Pretty good and tasted ok. Plantains we’re undercooked. Fish was overcooked and dry. Entree 3 was shrimp with green mole. Pretty plate and tasty. Entree 4 was pork shank. 4 stars. We were celebrating two birthdays. We received a complimentary ice cream with sprinkles and candle 🕯️. We ordered the flan and it was dry and overcooked with little caramel. L

Stumbled upon this by accident. Headed to Bangers and they do not have breakfast-brunch on Saturday. This place is 2 doors down. Great atmosphere and amazing food and service. We had the Benedict and Chiliqueles. Super yummy! Highly recommend for couple and friends. Also had several large party's. We will be back!

We enjoyed a good ceviche, fish tacos, and potatoes with chili strips here, as well as a couple of good mezcal-based drinks.

We first tried El Naranjo several years ago for lunch not long after they opened. We were not impressed and did not return until last week, again for lunch. Mathew Odam had just touted it as his number 19 Austin restaurant. He obviously didn't eat there with us. We ordered some fried plantains as a first course to share. I have eaten fried plantains in Venezuela, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and in the USA. I have Puerto Rican friends who made them for me. I have never had such a oily, soggy mess served to me before. It was painfully clear that they were not actually fried, but poached in oil that was not hot enough actually fry the food. If you pressed on one of the squishy, gummy plantain slices, oil flowed forth as if from a sponge. We complained and the waitress took them back to the kitchen. We intended just to have them removed from our bill, but a few minutes later she returned with the plate of the same plantains as before, having just received another oil bath. It was just gross. When I complained that they were just as greasy as before, she got defensive, testy and started arguing with me explaining that it was not grease, it was corn oil and that when you cook the plantains, you actually submerge them in the oil, that's how it is done. I was so dumbfounded with such a stupid and inane description of frying that I decided just to let it go. I have been making deep fried things since before she was born. My wife's shrimp and mushrooms was pretty good. But it was made with their own pre-made, jarred sauce that they sell. My duck enchiladas in mole sauce was OK, but certainly not on a par with the same dish at El Alma or Licha's. I got three generous enchiladas in mole sauce and nothing else on the plate. I would have preferred two with something else, like grilled vegetables or rice. The mole sauce was somewhat one dimensional and lacked the sophistication of well made and more complex moles. As a side note, it is really too expensive to serve that uninspired fare. This is another place that we will not bother to return.

I have been meaning to post this review. El Naranjo has to be the biggest sleeper of all time--the best Mexican food, ever. Period. Creative, authentic and completely different dishes than we had ever experienced, and phenomenal service.

Jay was our guide for the evening and he did a wonderful job teaching us about tequila, moles, and other menu options. Our group of eight split 5-6 appetizers and four entrees; with drinks and a couple of desserts, this was enough for us. All of the food was delicious but standouts were ceviche, short ribs, and cabrito. The restaurant was only about half full when we arrived at 6:30pm but it fill up by 7:30. We had a bit of a food / service lull as they got busy but Jay kept us informed.

Wow! What a wonderful happenstance! Looking for someplace close, someplace Mexican. What we found was truly authentic Mexican food. The Mole Negro was incredible! We shared everything, two different moles, a fantastic fish ceviche, a great tacos. We were lucky and came early, but the place was packed, with people waiting outside, when we left...so make reservations!

Interior Mexican food, NOT the run of the mill tex mex. A splurge, but worth every penny! We started with the empanada which was perfection. My husband had a great margarita, but the paloma I had was even better. The server brought us mini-ciabata with orange butter and chile sauce instead of the typical chips & salsa, still salivating over it! My husband had the chocolate mole with duck that was off the hook. I had the amarillo mole with shrimp that was just as amazing. It was my birthday, so the server brought us a berry gelato that was an awesome ending. The only criticism we came away with was the Rainey St. parking... this place is worth valleting the car!

Great choice of Mexican dishes-not Texmex. Upscale surroundings with good drink menu. Need reservations at most times.

Had a very nice brunch here. The staff and service were excellent. Overall, the food was very good and you can tell the owners and chef care about what they are doing. This place is also located in a cool area so you can check out some other places on Rainey Street after.

After all the rave reviews I thought this would be a fantastic meal. However it was just average Mexican. Portion sizes OK, service was not great and prices were high for what it was. We expected so much more.

I always visit El Naranjo when I am in Austin. It offers exceptional Oaxacan food in a great setting. The moles are always fresh and tasty. If you have the chance, go!

This restaurant was recommended to us by a stranger in Austin and we decided to give it a go. The cuisine is modern Mexican, with some stereotypical dishes (queso fundido) and other more surprising ones (pastel azteca). Everything was delicious and the service was impeccable. Nice spot.

This was one of the stops on the Rainey street pub crawl. the staff were attentive and knowledgeable on the menu. The food is really tasty, we shared 2 appetizers and they are large portions and definitely fill you up. the outdoor seating at the front with the view of Rainey street gives a nice ambiance. i would recommend thus place if you are looking for good value tasty Mexican food

REALLY REALLY great food at this place. Our wait person was amazing. She was very knowledgeable of the menu and was able to ensure each person got a delicious meal that suited their tastes because certain moles are not for everyone. The ceviche was to die for and my mole enchiladas were excellent. I think each person at our table with 11 people loved what they got. The margarita was just perfect. Not too sweet, but packed a real punch!!! All in all, it was an excellent meal.

To start off I absolutely love mole, but I had never in my life tried mold with duck! I was a bit nervous about not liking it, but it was simply amazing. Dinner overall was a wonderful experience, a bit pricey but it's worth every penny. Only thing that could probably be improved would have to be the coconut flan, you couldn't find the smallest taste of coconut in there. Other than that this place is great.

we went for lunch, the place was packed, nice ambiance . The food was extremely saucy . Most of our meals were extra loaded with sauce . Just order sauce on the side .

My wife and I had dinner at El Naranjo after an absence of over six months. There is a revamped menu with amazingly excellent choices of authentic interior Mexican dishes. The food is tops! Service is professional, friendly, and the servers work as a team. We also learned that lunch service begins again (beginning of April). This is clearly the top interior restaurant in Austin. And as we used to live in Mexico City for 3.5 years, we will say it is the best Mexican food outside of Mexico City.

Great service and overall experience - even accommodated my gluten free requirement and two young children in tow (though wouldn't necessarily say this is a kid-friendly restaurant)

Win! Had brunch here. Everything was excellent...This is the real deal and very good - homemade feeling . Very attractive on the inside - dont worry about the exterior. Has excellent bar as well. Enjoy!

Great little Mexican spot on Rainey Street. Went for brunch with a group of 10 during a bachelor party weekend. This was easily the best meal we had the entire weekend. Im assuming the chips and guac was made fresh and was excellent. I had the eggs benedict that that had a little mexican twist and it was superb. Bonus of hanging out on Rainey Street for the rest of the day.

I was excited trying this restaurant out given all the rave reviews and am super disappointed. Had the la fresa margarita without ice (boiled water advisory sucks) so this is not the fault of the restaurant because it tasted good despite the lack of ice. The bread and spice/butter was delish but the negro mole was a HUGE disappointment - the duck was super fatty and the sauce was not tasty. Then had the tres leches and it was very very average at best and this is supposedly their best dessert?! Meh

In the heart of Austin and in the middle of nightlife, there sits a house turned restaurant. Staff service is excellent and the menu has a number of appetizing items. We ordered their version of Chiles rellenos, meat tacos & mole negro (de Oaxaca). We also ordered a guacamole to start and that may have been the best item. After getting the first round of “hot sauce”, we ordered whatever their “hottest” sauce was and we were served an excellent chipotle sauce. Of all the items, the tacos were best and the chile rellenos were second best. Mole is very tough to make, and all it takes is one or two missing ingredients or incorrect blending and the flavor isn’t the same as the “real” thing. Again, the Staff was quick, very responsive and very professional. We would go back.

Limited menu and while it may have been authentic regional cuisine we felt our server was condescending when we had a lot of questions on the menu.

Had a fabulous meal - probably the best Mexican meal we've eaten Knowledgeable & passionate staff, great food, great service &, to my mind, great value. Go

Food quality: excellent. Complex mole, interesting combinations, fresh-tasting salads. One of the best meals of our trip. Server was friendly and eager to please. However, the operation as a whole needs more attention to pacing of the meal and professionalism. This is not a cheap meal. I am happy to pay for quality, but the service should be more professional in communicating with the kitchen how to pace the meal (i.e., our food came right on the heels of the course before, and it should not have).

Had reservations and were promptly seated. Attractive aesthetically with several James Beard awards posted. Definitely earned it! Nice, crunchy empanada appetizer, tasty verde chicken enchiladas, and good, small rolls. Highly recommend.

Excellent ceviche, cocktails, mole, and service. Just wish they weren’t in this neighborhood. Beautiful interior and tastefully decorated. Chile relleno was very salty and needed a bit of color on the plate.

We came here after a few drinks on Rainey. The waiter was absolutely lovely, was patient and took the time to talk us through things on the menu we were unsure of. I started off with corn chips and guacamole, this guac was off the hook. I pretty much destroyed the huge portion of guac with about 4 chips due to the insane overloading. We ended up going for the Pastel Azteca, a meat free dish, it was filled with goats cheese, spinach, almonds, raisins and layered in tortillas...This was delicious, possibly one of the favourite dishes i enjoyed in Texas. The other half had the burritos de chilorio, he said these guys were tasty too, the empty plate proved it. We finished off with some smoky mezcal, and again this stuff was delicious. Great restaurant in a pretty street. Stay awesome El Naranjo and thank you for the excellent dining experience.

We were there with a large group....food was delicious....service was great! Ordered the omelet and Carne Guisada....both very good! Pan Dulce was great,

My husband and I had dinner and Sunday brunch at El Naranjo during a recent trip to Austin. We went there because it was recommmeded by several online searches. We were not disappointed! The atmosphere is intimate and inviting. The staff are engaging and friendly. The food we had was excellent. The tuna ceviche with pineapple was one of our favorites. Oh, and the margaritas are a must. We made reservations for dinner but managed to slip in for brunch in the front room. The neighborhood is also fun to visit in the evening, a lot of activity. I highly recommend El Naranjo and we will definitely go back if in Austin again.

Service was really great. Cannot complain about anything with that. We started with the queso fundido which was a good starting dish. Did not like the tortillas, yes they were homemade. Also had a few entrees, like the mole with duck. Truly great.

My hair stylist, who's from Mexico, recommended this place, and my husband and I were glad he did. I started with a Sangre Oaxaquena cocktail, made with smoky mezcal, hibiscus tea, lime juice and more and it was DELICIOUS--not too sweet. Husband said his margarita on the rocks was up to snuff. He got enchiladas verdes and said they were tasty. I got the dark mole on grilled veggies and it was great. The mole was complex but not spicy--I would have liked it to be a litle "picante." The coffee flan for dessert was first rate. We did make a note to go during Austin spring and fall when we can eat outside because the inside was way too noisy for old folks like us. Service was good! Price is on the higher end of mid-range.

We were after a very light snack after a big BBQ lunch! We turned up just before happy hour finished so sneaked an order of 2 strawberry margaritas and the guacamole. All very nice so we stayed on for a mojito. We sat out the front to watch the life of Rainey Street pass us by. Just what we had been after.

I had heard mixed review of El Naranjo, with many people complaining about high prices, but after visiting I really don't understand that complaint. The dining experience was excellent, with great service and wonderful food. If you go, you MUST get the hot chile oil. It is amazing with butter and bread or tortillas and you can even buy it to bring home! That might have been my favorite thing we had that night, thought the ceviche was incredible as well. And I got to have a style of chile relleno I haven't had for years. My husband liked his duck dish, but wasn't wowed. But all in all we found this to be really good dining experience and will return.

My daughter and I came to Rainey Street looking for some good food and we found it. We sat in the back patio as the inside was full. Thought we might be too hot but it was just right with the fans. Had a charming waiter who took the time to explain the menu to us. I don't like spicy food and he helped me find the perfect dish. There is no way I way could pronounce it, let alone spell it - but it was flank steak with mole' and guacamole. Very good. My daughter loved her tacos. We had a very pleasant evening.

The food was wonderful. The staff was exceptionally nice, especially the Chef who came out to talk to us and make some recommendations. I loved it all and will return. But with only 2 people, the table was so small, we had to keep shifting food around. I asked for a larger table as we were seated (we went at 5:45) but they said they were reserved.. I understand but 4 more inches to the table would make a difference. Also it was my daughter 's birthday, and no one acknowledged it, at all. I have never been to a restaurant that did not do something..

I had heard of this restaurant through other friends who love Mexican food and decided to visit it. Loved the tortillas made with holotillo corn. The salsa of 7 dry CHILES is amazing. The restaurant calls it salsa macha. They happened to have CHILES en Nogada and nopal salad. These dishes are very authentic from my hometown Puebla although the chef is from Oaxaca. She prepares them with great execution. The seabass with tamal of spinach is also amazing. They had a great well balanced Tres Lechea and cafe de olla

This is an oasis in a very crowded, bustling part of the city. The setting inside is as nearly perfect as I can imagine - not meant to impress or overwhelm, not fashionable, but comfortable and inviting. Service is very friendly and helpful; we were treated like welcomed family. The food was excellent, matching the atmosphere and service. We were visited by one of the owners during our meal, which made a wonderful experience even more special. Prices are high, as they are in any good restaurant, but the value here is exceptional.

If you want the oaxacan experience, try this one. No its not texmex,it interior cuisine in austin. Outstanding service and delicious food

Food was just ok and expensive..not like a traditional mexican restaurant..no nachos or burritos and stuff like that

...in south-main Austin, tucked away on a short, yet very cool, street lives "El Naranjo!" We stopped in for late-night dinner and a couple of margy's to top things off; we were happily satiated! Fresh guac.; fine empañada; couple little tacos; refined margaritas (of varying flavours too) - all excellent.

Very cool area of Austin - Rainey Street. Had guacamole appetizer delicious and fresh. Sat outside on patio. I had crab tostadas and friend had pork street tacos. All the food tasted amazing and fresh. Also very yummy strawberry margarita.

I loved the restaurant itself. Quaint and cozy. Servers are friendly, but unfortunately there was a mix up between the two guys serving us and they completely forgot our Ceviche. They brought it right away after we reminded them since we had already reviewed their entrée. I am from the Midwest and I haven't found a restaurant like this in our area. We have good Mexican food, but not like this. The food is excellent. I highly recommend the duck breast and one of their moles. The duck is perfectly cooked and the mole has a depth of flavor that is hard to find. Even the simple rice is excellent and adds a little something to the dish.

We split a brunch omelette. It was served with black beans, rice and avocado and was very good. The mimosa was great, the Bloody Mary a little spicy. Overall this was a great spot in the Rainey District. Would go again!

Bursting with flavor, made with love! I've passed by this Austin hidden gem many times on my way to the "Infamous" Matt's El Rancho one block north of El Naranjo on South Lamar. From the outside El Naranjo appears to be another casual Mexican food wanna-be restaurant. Honestly, I never had a personal interest or serious desire to dine there since Bob's Queso and Matt's Skinny Margarita were on my regular list and something I craved. It wasn't until recently when my mom told me she read about the owner and Chef Iliana de la Vega winning the illustrious 2022 James Beard Texas Best Chef Award, did it catch my eye. Together, along with my family we poured over the online menu and reviews, gasped over the beautiful Instagram photography and read about Chef de la Vega's personal story did we race to make a reservation. It was every bit what we had expected and more! The service was exceptional, knowledgeable, prompt and attentive. The appetizers and cocktails were fresh and creative; the main course was the highlight and anticipation of the night, bursting with amazing flavors and high-quality ingredients, did we think we had died and gone to heaven. What you need to know is these are decades old recipes refined for the most discerning palates. For people eating here to get a quick Mexican meal, or to pay cheap prices, this is not the restaurant for you. This is fine dining Mexican cuisine. This local restaurant is for the foodie, the enthusiast who is ready and willing to appreciate the love, hard work, hand-selected ingredients it takes to make this place one-of-a-kind. During our meal, Chef de la Vega came to our table personally and spoke to us with pride and the joy radiating from her heart; did it make the food taste that much more special and refined. This isn't like anywhere else so don't expect it and please don't criticize or review based on the price or simple, non-pretentious atmosphere. These are folks giving it their all to bring Interior Mexican cuisine to Austin. Count yourself the lucky ones to enjoy this place, We will be back again and again and again. #femaleownedbusiness #oneofakind #madewithlove JO's PRO TIPS: Make reservation before you arrive. Early reservations ensure premium seating, open and available parking and fresh out of the kitchen meals. The mole will not disappoint. The Dolce Flan is mouthwatering. Salud!

El Naranjo is by far the only high-light in the diminished Austin foodie scene. Freshest ingredients, tasteful spicing, perfectly cooked and excellent presentation with appealing color arrangements in all starters and entrees. There is no miss on the menu. The portion are (thanks god) not over sized. Only caveat: The old location was more charming, but the food stayed perfect.

Considering that we just walked in without a reservation, we were treated kindly and were served delicious food. The service by friendly staff was above and beyond. We will definitely return and try other authentic dishes. Everything we tried was delicious.

I was born in Mexico and know gourmet Mexican food. I never expected to find it north of the border. However, Iliana de la Vega, owner and chef of El Naranjo, has taken so much care, sourcing the finest ingredients and making everything on the menu using traditional methods, that the result is a delight to all the senses. The restaurant is ideally located on the main street for foodies and nightlife in Austin, Rainey Street. The décor is elegant. The food is exceptional. The tortillas alone merit a visit, handcrafted from organic blue corn. I could have eaten warm tortillas rolled tight with some salt all night. There were three in our party, so I tasted one shared starter of mixed quesadillas, three main courses and one dessert. The guacamole was flawless. Iliana even sources the right type of avocado. The bread itself, also made there, was worth writing a review about because of its distinctive flavor and inviting texture. The mole amarillo was as good as any I have ever had in Oaxaca, if not better, as was the mole negro. The duck that I ordered with my mole was cooked to perfection. Finally, the pastel tres leches, the delicious cake that I had for dessert, was so original and yet completely recognizable as the feat of bakery that it is. The prices are more than fair given the top quality. Service was friendly and they were able to answer all our questions, which were many. A fantastic evening was had by all. I plan to return every time I visit Austin. I can’t wait!

As Austin begins to reopen after the pandemic, El Naranjo was our first choice as an eat-in restaurant. We eagerly booked a reservation and could hardly wait to step back inside. We have been regulars for many years (love their new location on South Lamar) and were dying for our favorite El Naranjo Martini. This evening with our martini we shared the Ceviche and a Guacamole. And then shared a Pastel Ateca with Chorizo. Absolutely marvelous.

A jewel on Rainey street. Very authentic Mexican food and great service. The back patio was nice and quiet (until some drunks decided to have dinner too), but overall the experience was very nice. Tasty food. Highly recommended.

We went for brunch this beautiful March morning - the patio was nearly full, so we sat indoors and enjoyed the tasteful ambience and relaxed pace. An adult Mezcal and O.J. beverage was a great way to wake up the palate, and the warm concha was unbelievable. I have never had this sweet bread hot from the oven, and the experience was sheer delight - warm, sweet, slightly flaky and moist . . . For starters, we had Queso Fundido with all the fixings, chips & guacamole, and a delightful Ceviche - a full spectrum of flavors, all beyond compare. Our group ordered several breakfast and lunch items. Every plate was returned clean. Service was efficient, pleasant, balanced and seamless - we felt neither rushed nor slighted. I was taken with the photos on the dining room walls and could have spent more time ruminating on the art. I also noticed how clean everything was . . . Attention to detail from greeting to goodbye. We left sated and smiling. And we will return. Parking at ether end of the block - we lucked out and got a street spot! Kismet :-)

This isn't your typical Mexican restaurant, despite the setting in the rowdy Rainey St precinct. El Naranjo focusses on Oaxacan cuisine and offers a modern and elegant take on some familiar dishes as well as others that may be less well-known. The Oaxacan moles are a specialty - you can have them as sauces with "proteins" entrees - as well as in some of the antojitos or small plates. These latter may be the more interesting way to approach the menu, to try different sauces and dishes.

Not quite what the glowing reviews claim. It's loud, very loud. Nice menu. Tried the mole. Sorry but it had a burned taste. Never a god ting for a mole. While its mostly authentic Mexican, it drops the ball in many flavor profiles. Service though, is exceptional.

Place was upscale Mexican food, I felt the food tasted more like middle eastern food than any Mexican I've had. I got the mole and it was ok, overall the waitstaff made us feel unwanted, we were the youngest people in the place at early thirties so maybe we didn't fit the demographic they are use to.

If you're looking for good quality Mexican food from Oaxaca this is an excellent choice. Offers lots of variety and some standard menu items like mole with sauces that are just memorable.

Such a great restaurant in the Rainey Dist.Very nice staff and delicious food.Neat little house style restaurant but contemporary in vibe.Ceviche wonderful.Inceredible mole..all our food was top notch.

Mixed meal. I'm a mole freak and was so excited to try the two moles - negro and coloradito. Got them with vegetables to maximize the number who could enjoy them. Not sure if mole just works a lot better with meat, but there was too little of the sauce for the amount of veg, so the flavor just wasn't that strong. Most of our party really loved the ceviche and really liked the enchiladas suizas. An appetizer of goat cheese balls rolled in seeds and nuts was not very flavorful, apart from the goat cheese itself. Good cocktails, really interesting and informative mezcal flight. Excellent tortillas and guacamole. Not up to my expectations, nor worth the extra cost compared to other excellent Austin Mexican restaurants.

We went for brunch. Everyone masked, tables apart and scrubbed. The food was tops, the best Mexican food outside of Mexico City and Oaxca. Every dish fresh. Guacamole is super, as are all the main dishes. And the flan is first rate. Worth a detour!

We fondly remember dining at El Naranjo in Oaxaca City many years ago plus taking a cooking class and personal tour of the local farmers market with Iliana. So when we heard that El Naranjo was now in Austin, we HAD to sample this wonderful cuisine at her restaurant once again. Our Sunday brunch was wonderful but next time we'll arrive in the evening to take advantage of those famous mole dishes with Iliana as our host and chef. (She was out of town visiting family) Another excuse to return!

Although only rating this restaurant as average I would give it another go and the low rating is mainly due to the choice of main course - Mole Negro de Oaxaca the taste of which was interesting, but just not to my taste. However, the Ceviche starter was fantastic and they served a great Margarita. Staff are very friendly and there is s small outdoor patio area. Don't be put off, but think about your main course!

They offer upscale Mexican themed food including tacos. Of course, you will pay for the upscale feeling and taste. I was alittle disappointed with the cocktail offerings which were not as distinctive as I expected. Staff were pleasant but I was not enthralled with my particular dish for the price, but it may have been a function of what I ordered.

This was our first visit to El Naranjo and it definitely won’t be our last! The house margaritas were delicious and the chili around the rims was a nice change from salt. To start we shared the guacamole, ceviche and queso and all were delicious. Next came a special of various dips and a butter which when eaten all together was incredible. Entrees included the braised pork burritos which had a fabulous flavor, the tostadas with shrimp which were very light and flavorful. The special was a filet with potatoes which melted in your mouth. Their wine selection is a great compliment to the cuisine. The staff could not have been nicer. I would definitely recommend reservations since the restaurant seems small. We will be back and hopefully soon.

Four of us and a toddler had dinner here, and we were impressed with our experience. It was a wonderful evening from beginning to the end. We started with three appetizers — very spicy shrimp, guacamole and queso fundido with chorizo. It was very tasty. The waitress warned us that the shrimp appetizer was the spiciest dish on the menu. Indeed, it was but we enjoyed it. For our main dishes, we had two mole dishes with pork and other dishes with shrimp and beef ribs. We were impressed with the preparation of all our dishes. We shared two desserts: a flourless chocolate cake served with two scoops of ice-cream and churros also served with ice cream. Our waitress was pleasant and attentive. We are just visiting in Austin. We will definitely return on another trip here.

We love this place! Great food and amazing customer service. Shout-out to Dustin, the manager, for always making us feel welcome. Alejandro, our favorite bartender, always serves us the best cocktails in town (El Pichon, Tamarindo, Pepinissimo, and Mezcaliña are some of my favs). And of course, Chef Iliana, whose culinary expertise rises above all the rest. It is always a treat to dine at El Naranjo and enjoy our favorites: ceviche, queso fundido (get the mushrooms and chorizo!), duck mole, and basque cheesecake among so many other amazing dishes. Love love this restaurant! ♥️

I had dinner here recently with some friends visiting Austin from out of town. My friends were in for a conference at the Convention Center, so we walked over to Rainey St and were excited to get a table at El Naranjo as it gets very crowded on the weekends. The space is great, they've done a great job with the location and the atmosphere is fun but not too loud. The wait staff was good, it was a bit crowded but they were attentive and not intrusive. I liked the food, but I wasn't blown away. I thought the mole sauce was less complex than at some of the other interior Mexican restaurants I regularly frequent. The margaritas were good but again not great. One of my friends had the steak tacos, and they were very tasty. We ordered the guacamole as our starter, and that too was average at best, lacking salt and also being "under-tomatoed". I've heard great things about El Naranjo from many of my foodie friends, I'm hoping we just caught them on a slightly-off evening. Everything we ordered was OK, but nothing stood out as extraordinary. That being said, El Naranjo is still a very good option for starting off an evening on Rainey St.

I had been wanting to go to this restaurant since a long time ago. I thought I would have another option to get authentic, real Mexican food (Fonda San Miguel is delicious and el meson has the best authentic Mexican brunch in Austin). Finally my boyfriend and I were there, I was so excited and had already scanned the menu before so I had an idea about the menu items. After about 15 minutes of waiting for the waiter to show up, I asked for some water (which didn't arrive until after my cocktail). I tried the fresa cocktail which was decent, and a very interesting ceviche. My boyfriend asked for a beer which was on the menu, but we were informed by our waiter that they hadn't had that, and other beers of the menu for about a month. Finally I get my cocktail and the waiter immediately asks if we are ready to order. I was still thirsty, so I asked him if we could get the water, just to be told "do you want me to get the water first, or do you want to order?". We ordered. I ordered a yellow mole with chicken and a bistec al chintextle. The chintextle looked and tasted like American food, the mashed potatoes were decent... the green beans lacked taste. The mole was far from being a mole. I lived in Puebla and Veracruz, I love cooking, I am Mexican...the texture and flavor was not the one of a mole. The chicken was unseasoned, The idea, perhaps was so that the protein absorbs the mole flavors. I grab a tortilla which i thought it was hard and leathery because it was cold, just to be told by the waiter that the tortillas had that consistency because they make their own tortillas from a special mix of grains. I ate some of the rice and couldn't eat the rest. I felt ripped off my money. Honestly, I could have excused the awful service because maybe the waiter was busy, but I can't find an excuse for food.

My husband and I went here for dinner and found a charming house divided into several dining rooms -- each comfortable, intimate and simply but beautifully decorated. The chef is from Oaxaca, Mexico and her food is created and cooked with that region in mind. I ordered the pork chop in Mole Amarillo de Oaxaca served with rice and the freshest green beans I've had in a restaurant in a while. The whole meal was divine! My mole was made with 13 different kinds of peppers and while spicy, was light,subtle, smooth and sumptuous on the palate. My husband had the Pescado Tikin-Xic, sea bass in a light tomato sauce that was outstanding and flavorful. We shared dessert -- a pistachio flan that was delectable and like nothing I've ever had before. It was almost cake-like, but lighter and full of flavor. We enjoyed out dinner so much that we went back to the restaurant the next day for Sunday brunch. It did not disappoint! I highly recommend you try this exceptional restaurant if you want to taste real Mexican cuisine. I did not get our waitress's name,(she had red hair) however was excellent in her knowledge of the food and how it was prepared. She provided top-notch service both times we were there.

This is an rather small restaurant in an up and coming area of Austin. The restaurant is in an old house which gives it a nice feel with diners spaced nicely in the renovated space. We tried several options and they were all good. It was recommended by the locals. Give it a try.

I wish I could give more stars! El Naranjo is one of my favorite restaurants in Austin. I’ve had mole, lamb, steak, and shrimp as entrees there and all were fantastic. The bread with salsa they give is amazing.

The restaurant is divided into several smaller rooms which lets you feel more cozy. The room is bright with colorful decor. Our server was very friendly and comfortable with the menu, answering our questions easily. We started, as our tradition in new restaurants, with the classic guacamole which had good flavors, a hint of heat and fresh tortillas. We were also treated to a triple salsa sampler also with tortillas to expand our knowledge of oaxacan flavors. These were a mix of spice to sweet and hard to pick a favorite. Definitely a good item to try. My husband's "small plate" was a generous burrito with juicy pulled pork, very filling. I had the stuffed pasilla pepper in a creamy tomato based sauce. It was lightly battered. Good taste, but arrived a bit cooled down, and also filling. Would definitely make this a stop while in Austin and try to arrive hungry!

I was very surprised to enter this restaurant, which on the outside didn't look like much, and find a very modern and clean environment. Service was excellent and food was outstanding. Loved the hot sauce served with the bread so much that we bought a few jars to take home.

This was my first visit to El Naranjo. I ordered two beef tenderloin tacos and one pulled pork burrito. The tacos were delicious but small. The burrito was very good but about the size of a taquito. The complimentary bread was unique but good. The guacamole was very good and the tortilla chips were authentic homemade. The atmosphere was more formal and quiet but relaxing,. The service was excellent. The prices were very expensive. You can eat at other taco places in town with food just as good at a 1/3 of the price compared to here.

This place looks rather unassuming from the street, and I walked by it a couple of different days on my last trip to Austin. The reviews (here) were good, so I decided to try it and boy am I glad I did! This isn't your typical Tex-Mex place. This is fine dining with a Mexican accent. The dishes aren't familiar ones - mostly - but they are authentic to various regions in Mexico, and they are VERY well prepared. Portions are moderate (not small, but not HUMONGOUS as other Texas places often provide), but the quality makes them. The flavors are intense but not overpowering, and they are blended to perfection. Of particular note is (are?) the mole, which is rich but not excessive and FULL of flavor. I liked the place well enough to come back the next day, something that I basically never do. This is certainly the best Mexican restaurant I've visited in my relatively extensive travels, excepting only one in Mexico City. The prices are a bit higher than average for the locale, but they're not ridiculous and they certainly represent good value considering the quality of the ingredients, preparation and service. I don't recommend this for a working dinner, or if you're in a hurry. In neither of those cases would you be able to take the time to really enjoy dinner (or, I suppose, lunch, although I didn't attempt that). Save this one for when you can relax and get the real value. I go to Austin every year or so, and you can b absolutely certain that El Naranjo is #1 on my list for the next trip!

El Naranjo moved to a new brighter and more spacious location on South Lamar. Very nice setting. The same can’t be said for the food. The empanadas filled with mushrooms and cheese and Pastel Vasco were very good. The tostados with tuna was ok but the redfish wrapped with leaf and duck breast were awful! The fish was served cold and was rubbery in consistency and I have never been served grey duck before.breast. We didn’t finish the dishes.

I was roaming the area solo, and decided to stop here for dinner--it was an excellent choice! Tom, the bartender, was friendly and helpful. Beef tenderloin tacos and margarita were both fantastic.

Diego was a friendly and helpful waiter. The food was really good. The drinks were even better! The mancha sauce was so good we bought a jar to take home. Thankfully we don’t live anywhere near Austin or we’d go broke going here. It’s pricey, but worth it.

Came here for dinner--8:30PM on a Wed. There was not a soul in the restaurant and I wondered why, but I read a review that listed them as a Top 5 authentic restaurant and so I ignored my knowledge and better judgement about empty restaurants and was seated. Pros: Wine & cocktail list is very good. Server was extremely friendly and prompt with drinks. Outdoor area is lovely. Cons: My meal took an hour to come out. An actual, full hour. I ordered fish tacos -- and here's the weird thing, the tuna was seared, it was barely cooked at all! In fact, it was so rare and bloody, I could barely eat it (that's a preference thing though, not faulting them for that.) I am faulting them for taking an hour to prepare three small slices of fish that spend all of 1 minute in the pan per side. Literally - that's 2 minutes. Why was there another hour to put it on a corn tortilla, and sprinkle some cilantro pesto and pineapple on top? it was crazytown. And it's not like the kitchen was slammed. Very nice people, but overall both food and service were disappointing. Pretty surprised it got high marks, but the guac was very good and the menu was very appealing, so we'll call it an average experience.

El Naranjo, for years under daily management of Illiana de la Vega, was the top interior Mexican restaurant in Austin. Several years ago she was named top chef in Texas by the James Beard Foundation. She has turned over management to her daughter. Service is fine, but the menu is small, and the quality of food is much lower. And while the place used to be packed, ithere were many empty tables. Customers know what's excellent. We won't go again unless Illiana returns.

We decided to explore Rainey Street on a hot August night and while it was a ton of fun we were hot, like sweating through my clothes hot and wanted to eat inside in the AC to cool off. We couldn't find another restaurant that served food inside. All other food came from food trucks that had outdoor seating. Finding El Naranjo was a lovely surprise! Once inside we were seated right away. The service wasn't great but it was ok. I felt the same way about the margaritas. I would describe the food as high end Mexican food. It was all very good. While I would eat here again it wouldn't be on my "must do in Austin" list. However, if you're hot and hungry on Rainey street, this is your dream come true!

Ended up stopping in because bangers was a 2 hour wait and I'm glad I did. We got lucky with a seat at the bar immediately. Service was quick and the food was amazing. Comfortable atmosphere and reasonable prices as well. The enchiladas were fantastic.

Just arrived from a flight from NY. On our way to our Airbnb we wanted to lunch at El Naranjo. Based on the recommendation of our kids, we called to make reservations for a 1/2 hour from our call. The woman that answered the phone told us the restaurant was full & no reservations available for several hours but there was plenty of seating outside. When we arrived the restaurant was only half full & never filled up inside or outside entirely during our stay. I ask myself, how many people opted to dine elsewhere if they were told that afternoon that no inside tables were available??? That aside, our meals were delicious & our server was perfect. I have some food allergies & our server was extremely knowledgeable about the ingredients in all the menu options. My husband chose the enchiladas with chicken & I chose the item listed below the enchiladas on the menu with the chorizo-I don’t want to butcher the spelling of the entree. When we are in Austin again we will definitely come back! There is plenty of parking in the lot at the end of the street. The LSU & Long Horns were playing at the stadium that afternoon so Rainey Street was full of fans from both teams.

Went with my family and friends (we live out of Austin), referred by some friends , and we had a great experience. Their ceviche is awesome, so is the queso fundido and the mole. Good dinner and the staff was very nice and helpful recommending dishes, because we are not from Mexico and made our visit very unique. Thanks for your attention and service. Definitely we will be back!!

Yesterday our group went to this restaurant that has only been opened a month or so. We were not disappointed in the food. The margaritas were wonderful and the best dish that was loved by everyone was. Enchilada and added terrazzo.

Rainey street is packed at peak times, but we managed to get in to El Naranjo with a little wait, and it was worth it. The food is Mexican in style, creatively presented. My eggs benedict were terrific: little gorditas instead of an English muffin, and thin pancetta instead of Canadian bacon, with a light Hollandaise that included chipotle and was terrific. The interior is clean with high ceilings, and the staff is very attentive. I would definitely go back - again and again. Also, the pan dulce was the best I've ever had. Normally, pan dulce is a major disappointment, but this was somewhere between a Kings' Hawaiian roll and a croissant, and it was melt-in-your-mouth delicious.

Was travelling on a business trip to Austin and four of us came here for dinner. This is a relatively small place in an old house, but we were able to be seated on a Th evening. Both the food and service were excellent. Started with guacamole appetizer that was fresh with chunks of avocado. Then had mini Oaxacan/Italian bread with same nice sauces - that when you combined the sweet/buttery and spicy made a nice combination. I had the Mole negro which was rich, complex, and very delicious. My dining partners were all equally pleased with their selections. I would definitely recommend this place. Also if you haven't been to Rainey Street - check it out. Lots of choices for food and beverages, plus food trucks. It's happening there!

Wow! If you love food and you are visiting Austin then you must visit this Traditional Mexican Restaurant! We were blown away by the flavors of each and every dish from appetizers to dessert we tasted! We will be back!

This is a much more upscale version of Mexican restaurant, with good range of appetizers, moles and main courses. We were a party of four and ordered guacamole and queso fundido as starters (both very good), then we tried 2 moles (good but not exceptional) the beef tacos (my favorite) and the filet mignon, juicy and tender. Very good also the dessert, I would recommend the flan. The bill was on par with our expectation and the service deserved a good tip. I will go back!

El Naranjo doesn't do it's kitchen any favors by being stuck down in the middle of Rainey Street's drinking hordes. It's much better than just a Mexican place to get some tacos to soak up the booze. We had some of the best moles we've had anywhere in the world -- including some of Mexico City's most renowned restaurants. I had the green pipian mole on duck breast which was fantastic. Our friend had a superb Oaxacan dark mole on chicken. And my wife had a no-kidding-around chile relleno in an unbelievable red pepper mole. One seating tip. Sit Inside. Out front your surrounded by the drinking ditzies, and the back space is just not very nice. We almost always choose to sit outside, but here it's not a good idea.

Ok, the food at El Naranjo, to my knowledge, probably doesn't cure disease. But...for 2 hours of blissful dining I completely forgot about my aching back (bad enough for major surgery soon). Yeah, I didn't think about it at all for 2 hours! Food doesn't usually help with pain relief...I get by with a little (legal) help from my friends. (Sorry if this is TMI...) So, back to the blissful food (and drinks). We try something different each time we eat here. Drinks: I normally just drink beer/wine, but this time I ordered the Mezcaliña cocktail. Refreshing! Appetizer: Tostadas De Jaiba y Aguacate -- Mexican heirloom corn tortilla, avocado, and crab. Delicious! Dinner: Tacos de Gaonera -- Beef tenderloin tacos. VERY tender! Tampiqueña -- Flank steak with sides, including a delicious mole negro enmolada (tortilla rolled in mole sauce). Flank steak just like we've had in Mexico, only better! And, of course, tres leches cake de postre! El Naranjo...my new favorite drug of choice!

We went here with 4 other friends. Drinks are good. Lindsey, our waitress, did her best to bring me more corn tortillas. Apparently corn tortillas are super expensive to produce in Austin, and they can only bring three tortillas with the guacamole. Anyway, the owner was very nice.She came and say hi even though was a super busy evening. Would I come back? Probably not in the near future.

We really do enjoy the Rainey Street gentrification process--it keeps getting better and better. Our group determined that we had to have a meal here because there have been so many good reports on the restaurant and the service. One of our members lives in the area and considers it his "go to" restaurant because they make a wonderful margarita. All good enough for us! This is a fine dining experience where Mexican cuisine is brought to a whole new level. The mole is outstanding. The fish is incredible--as is the beef. Good fresh product really does make a difference. Presentation is excellent. The service is very good and attentive/friendly. As are most of the buildings in the area, this is a converted home. The outside is attractive, but not great. The interior decor is nice, but not 5 star. On the plus side, it is nothing like any Mexican restaurant you have ever been to--very modern and sleek. Parking is a royal pain and very expensive. We like to take a Uber or Lyft into/out of the area.

Charming and delicious. Can't go wrong, especially if you have the good fortune to sit outside on a mild Texas day! Waitstaff was extremely attentive and even though this is a bit pricier than I would have typically gone for on the office's dime, it was worth every penny. Loved the ceviche and had my tres leches cake stolen by a colleague. Yum!

Everything was great! We loved the food, the atmosphere and the service. Our server Alex was great about answering our questions and giving suggestions. We started out with cocktails and an appetizer while looking at the menu. We decided to try two different moles and they were both exceptional. I recommend the Mole negro...it is one of the best moles I have eaten. The tres leche cake in a canning jar was just the right way to end the meal! We would definitely eat here again. If it is Tex-mex you are looking for this is not the place for you.

We sat on the back patio and could hear the live music next door perfectly. It was a great vibe and we loved everything that was ordered. They have both vegetarian and gluten free options.

We were here on a relatively warm Friday evening without a reservation. The only table available was on the patio. A bit of a negative to see crouched over deck tables, but offset by great music from neighboring restaurants. Friendly service. Good food. Some dishes were part of youth share (buy one and they donate one to a youth in need). Cocktails were good. The queso (regular) was as expected. The CAMARONES AL MOJO DE AJO was served with tamale which was OK. The mole (negro Oaxaca) had excellent flavours. Good thing they didn't have churros so we couldn't be tempted - way too full anyways. Overall a very enjoyable meal.

I was very disappointed in my visit here. I had been very excited to taste the food of a James Beard winner and especially to try the award winning mole. We started with 2 exquisite appetizers. The octopus was exquisite and the queso with chorizo was yummy. The mains of stewed beef and a duck mole were, however, a complete let down. The stewed beef looked like dog food and tasted odd. The duck was cooked well but the mole that I had so looked forward to was tasteless as were the accompanying plantains. We returned the beef dish and ordered a Caesar salad. There was a very odd smell to the salad and so we also left that. I am sorry to write such an unenthusiastic review. Maybe a junior chef was on. Service was adequate although their server was much less attentive after we returned the beef dish.

A group of us attending a conference in Austin had an excellent dinner at this place. They serve high quality Mexican food that is very different from the usual Tex Mex. Their mole sauce is really extraordinary, and they have lots of unusual things, like a salad made from cactus paddles. Everything was delicious.

We had early reservations and arrived just as they open. We were seated in one of the first rooms. A large party came in and the noise level went up as well as people were standing around talking instead of coming in and sitting down. The room was small and not a private room. The hostess did come in and asked a few people to take their seat. We started with the ceviche and warm/fresh tortilla chips. It was very delicious. For entrees, we ordered the shrimp and duck breast with the mole negro. The duck breast was cooked perfectly but I wasn't wowed by the mole sauce. Also I ordered vegetables that were forgotten. Our waiter did come by and recognize I didn't have the vegetables and said he could get to the table pretty quickly. I declined as I was getting full already. A dessert was served to say sorry for the few conveniences and we appreciated the gesture.

I went to El Naranjo for a business lunch with a large group. We had a bit of everything on the menu both apps and entrees, and all was good. I was particularly impressed with the duck enchiladas and would order them again in a heartbeat. The restaurant is in a quaint old house with many rooms so the noise is manageable. Service was excellent.

We are doing a quick getaway in Austin. We enjoyed our dinner at El Naranjo. Nice space with a couple of little rooms. Interesting photographs on the wall. Great cocktails and delicious food. We also did not realize that Rainey street was a hopping place. Glad we picked this place

I stayed at the Hotel Van Zandt. It is a quick walk around the corner to the El Naranjo. The food was good. The desserts were amazing. My group shared the pistachio flan and the tres leches cake. Both were excellent! Our waitress was also great! The only negatives were that it was a little cramped in the dining area and a little pricey.

Walking down Rainey street after a long day and stumbled upon this place. Great Mexican place with great food and even better service. The mole was delicious but the homemade tortillas were just as good!

Although it didn't look open, we walked into this place on a Saturday morning and realized they had an awesome brunch menu! the Benedict was great, and we also had a home-made Mexican Sweet Bread that was to die for. Service was great too. Doesn't seem like it's too 'happening' but we were happy we wandered in.