Addie on the Road - Guest post by Relish Austin's Addie Broyles

Nuestra amiga & food blogger extraordinaire, Addie Broyles from Austin American-Statesman/Austin360 is on a road trip in the west coast. On her travels, she stopped by Rubio's Fresh Mexican Grill in San Diego to check out their fish tacos. She sent us a taco update and we'd like to share with you!

Andale Addie!

Jalapeno Joe's

Jalapeno Joe's is just down the street from the legendary Tamale House on Airport Blvd. On my way to the t-house recently, I decided I ought to do my journalistic duty and try the place I haven't eaten at one million times before. I was pleased to see a sign advertising three ingredient breakfast tacos for $.99 on weekday mornings. That's almost as cheap as the Tamale House!

I decided to try a trio of breakfast classics: bacon egg and cheese, potato bean and cheese and potato egg and cheese. Jalapeno Joe's features a walk-up window and covered patio seating, so I placed my order at the window and waited in the shade for my order.


5 minutes later, I had my food and I was not impressed. Things started out positive as I noted that the tortillas had been properly grilled, and had a nice texture to them. This was immediately negated by the overcooked eggs, the utterly run of the mill beans and the generally non-tasty nature of all of the tacos. The salsa was decent, but they only gave me two little cups for three tacos, so that was a negative as well.

These tacos were not horrible or inedible, but they were distinctly, almost aggressively mediocre. The price was nice, but I think the better value lies just down the block at Tamale House.

Jalapeno Joes - 2 stars - Cornbiter Deluxe
4905 Airport Blvd.
451-3326

San Juanita's

San Juanita's

If you are not aware of San Juanita's on the Southeast corner of Stassney & S. Congress, let me be the first to introduce you to some of the best breakfast tacos in Austin. Located next to a used tire shop, San Juanita's always reminds me of one of my favorite hole-in-the-wall breakfast taco dealers, the Tamale House. They are a family-owned and run business that take their taco making seriously. Breakfast and lunch are served 7 days a week (they just started serving on Sundays!) from 6am - 2pm. Unlike Tamale House, and you wouldn't know if from the outside,they have plenty of indoor seating available and they take credit cards for orders over $5. Now, on to the tacos...

Machacado & Egg / Papas Rancheras

Unlike some Taquerias and Taco Trucks in Austin, San Jaunita's offers a lot of meat in their breakfast taco offerings, e.g. Carne Guisada & Egg, Machacado & Egg, and Fajita & Egg. I enjoy most of the options, the chorizo is outstanding, the machacado is a little intense/fatty for me, but the fajita is a real standout with grilled onions, peppers and jalapeños. They use store bought flour tortillas, but all of their ingredients taste really fresh. Even with all the delicious meat options these two tacos are what keep me coming back:

1. Papas Rancheras - OMG! This has got to be the best potato-based taco in Austin. Filled with chunky potatoes, jalapeños, melted cheese and a freakin' delicious ranchero sauce. It is by far my favorite breakfast taco in South Austin.

2. The Beans - OMFG! These are right up there with the best beans I have ever eaten. Smoky, bacon-y, tasty goodness. Do your self a kindness and get a bean and cheese taco at San Juanita's stat!

San Juanita's - 4 stars - jarod

5607 S Congress Ave

Austin, TX 78745

(512) 443-9308

Rio Grande

Rio Grande - 3rd & San Jacinto

I would not say I'm a fan of the recent expensive taco explosion that is currently gripping our fair city. I think there are WAY too many wonderful, reasonably priced tacos in Austin to ever have to dine at one of these establishments, but when fate (a co-worker's birthday lunch) intervenes, dine we shall! Rio Grande sits on the corner of 3rd and San Jancinto in the location of the old 'Real World' house. We went in with low expectations so we were not disappointed!

Really Expensive/Small Taco Plate

The lunch menu was pretty basic, they offered up quesadillas, burritos, tacos, tostadas and fajita plates. All the entrees ranged from $8 - $15 and the plates where a decent size. The chips weren't stale but the salsa was most likely of the bottled variety. It had a certain Pace Picante feel to it, with a nice metallic aftertaste. Per our waiter's suggestion, I got the tenderloin tacos plate ($12.95). It consisted of three small tacos on store bought corn tortillas, topped with grilled onions, beef tenderloin strips, mozzarella cheese, and sliced avocado. It was fine, not great, just fine. I mean what the hell do you expect, they are serving freakin' filet mignon on tacos, they better be edible! So, for approximately $4 per taco (I'll say the rice & beans are worth $.95) you get to eat a really mediocre lunch and they let you leave the restaurant with a lot less cash in your pocket. Double win!

If you find yourself stranded in downtown Austin with a shitload of cash in your pocket and a need for bland tex-mex, Rio Grande should be at the top of your list.

Rio Grande - 1.5 stars - jarod

301 San Jacinto Blvd

Austin, TX 78701

(512) 476-8300

Mi Casita

Mi Casita is a very unfancy restaurant that lives on a run down stretch of Airport Blvd. just south of 7th street. Jarod has noticed large crowds around the place on his way to work, so today we tried it out for lunch.

I had heard literally nothing about this joint, so I was excited to explore some virgin territory. It's location and modest appearance were both things that could bode well, so I was initially very disappointed to run into stale chips and some so-so salsa. I ordered a trio of tacos and hoped for the best.

I was very pleasantly surprised. My al pastor taco came on a light and flavorful homemade corn tortilla. The pastor had a great texture and was very well spiced. The hotter of the two table salsas was much better on the food than on the stale chips and along with the excellent meat and homemade corn tortilla made for a winning taco experience.

The fajita taco was even better. The store bought flour tortilla was carefully grilled, which is always a good way (short of making your own) to get the party started. The fajitas were fantastically tender and flavorful. Lots of grilled onions added a lovely extra hit of taste to an already excellent taco. This is one of the best fajita tacos I've had in town. It's right up there with the fajita tacos at Habanero.

My carne guisada was a disappointment. There was very little gravy involved, and more fatty chunks of meat than I like (and I'm far from picky in this regard).

Jarod and Mando were similarly stoked on their al pastor and fajita, but underwhelmed with the carne molida and barbacoa tacos they tried. We all shared a side order of rice and beans which were solid, but unremarkable.

Mi Casita does not get high marks across the board, but I think the fajita and al pastor tacos (at $1.75 each) are really something special. I recommend that you stop in and get one of each the next time you're nearby.

Mi Casita - 3 stars - Cornbiter Deluxe
817 Airport Blvd
Austin, TX 78702
(512) 389-2227

Taco Talk: What's your favorite breakfast taco? (TJ on KGSR Thursday morning show with TastyTouring)

Jodi, foodie extraordinaire & blogger at TastyTouring invited us to join her weekly KGSR food segment this Thursday and of course, we gladly accepted. We'll be discussing breakfast tacos - the good, the bad and the ugly! Check out her post, listen to the KGSR Late Show with Bryan Beck & Andy Langer on Thursday morning and tell us about your favorite breakfast tacos!

What: Taco Talk (breakfast tacos)
When: Thursday, July 2nd, 8:30am
Where: Your Radio: 107.1 KGSR FM
Who: Bryan Beck & Andy Langer from KGSR, Jodi from TastyTouring & El Mundo de Mando
Why: Cuz breakfast tacos are good!

TJ on KEYE TV's We Are Austin

We've been working the taco circuit! Check out my visit with Jeremy & the guys from We Area Austin and Roberto, owner of TacoDeli. Enjoy!