When out-of-towners hear about Tex-Mex food in Austin, their minds usually go to a place with lively music, tiled floors, and papel picado banners hanging from the walls. Where margaritas flow freely and the air holds traces of smoke from the last three sizzling fajita platters to pass through the room. This is any given night at La Mancha. 

photo credit: Nicolai McCrary

La Mancha leans fully into the playful, almost kitschy image of what it means to be a Tex-Mex restaurant, and for that reason it’s one of our favorites. Don’t expect to leave with a new outlook on life after eating their enchiladas (and if that’s ever happened to you anywhere, please let us know where it was). Instead, expect a large menu of solid food that serves equal parts as a tasty dinner and a means for soaking up one too many strong margaritas. 

If you’re a Tex-Mex regular, you probably already have a go-to order, but if you’re not sure where to start, we’re big fans of the Rio Grande Plate. It comes with a small piece of grilled skirt steak and a truck stop enchilada that comes covered in queso, ranchero sauce, and ground beef. It’s a great middle ground when you can’t decide between fajitas and enchiladas.

This is where we bring out-of-towners who want a real Austin Tex-Mex experience, but it’s just as much fun on a random Tuesday night when you’re in the mood for cheap margaritas, great enchiladas, and a festive atmosphere that makes any day feel like the weekend. 

photo credit: Nicolai McCrary