6 Best Restaurants in East Austin, Austin

The not-so-secret weapon of this classic east Austin breakfast spot is its owner and namesake, local legend Juan Meza, who has run his modest eatery since 1981 and still greets every diner with a bone-crushing handshake and a smile. Juan's strong community spirit is infectious, but the simple, filling, and reliably good fare will start your day off right on its own. The Don Juan taco (a massive mound of eggs, potato, bacon, and cheese) is the true east Austin breakfast of champions; the migas and huevos rancheros are also above average. A variety of inexpensive Tex-Mex and Mexican specialties is served at lunch.

Veracruz wears a taco tiara in the Austin food scene and for good reason. Their migas taco lives up to the local lore, and this always-hopping original location has a convivial patio seating area for enjoying tasty quesadillas, barbacoa, vegetarian and fish tacos on homemade tortillas, and fresh aguas frescas alfresco.

The interior of this family-owned east-side bakery and restaurant might be shabby, with worn linoleum floors and various Texas-themed memorabilia and fading newspaper articles hanging on the walls, but the hole-in-the-wall's classic Mexican fare still attracts a loyal breakfast, lunch, and dinner crowd seven days a week. They are drawn by straightforward trademarks like their famed huevos rancheros, which aren’t accompanied by the typical Austin price tag. Diners are offered the choice of flour or corn tortillas or a side of homemade biscuits that can be dressed with drawn butter or honey, both found in squeeze bottles on the tables.

A popular anchor at the east side's Arbor Food Park, this cheery yellow truck has become Austin's go-to for Mexico City–style street tacos. A helpful diagram at the walk-up window showing the actual size of the pequeño tacos (100% nixtamal) is as straightforward as the service and menu here. It's hard to go wrong choosing from the modest selection, but the suadero (flank steak) and cachete (beef cheeks) tacos are excellent. Weekly specials also pop up, and everything can be enjoyed alfresco at the park's picnic tables.

Not every taqueria has a James Beard pedigree, but this eastside hot spot created by award-winning chef and owner Edgar Rico delivers a distinctly different experience for discerning foodies. Sure, there’s no-frills counter service and traditional street tacos, but there’s also a succulent duck confit on the menu as well as homemade masa and heirloom corn tortillas, not to mention a stellar wine list. No reservations accepted, except for the masa omakase service, featuring a set multi-course menu of chef specialties, offered every Thursday through Saturday.

This contemporary take on Mexican fare makes for a fun dining experience right on East Sixth Street. Interiors are spacious and bright (if a bit impersonal and loud during peak hours), and the food, like goat-rib barbacoa and confit Wagyu brisket tacos, are extremely satisfying. Make plans for their popular brunch service on weekends or stop by during their daily happy hour.