Matt's El Rancho

My favorite restaurant in Austin!! Been going here since I was in a highchair. Seating is remarkably fast for how packed this place always is. Food is incredibly consistent, and it happens that you have any problems with your order they'll make it again for you fast, and with no questions asked. Beautiful atmosphere, history all over the walls, team members & customers always smiling. Drinks are strong, and you will never leave hungry. Same-day-made complementary chips and spicy table salsa. Try not to fill up on chips if you can help it, because entree and appetizers are both all a LOT of food. I usually leave with leftovers that turn into a beautiful breakfast the next day. Personal favorite appetizer: Bob Armstrong Queso Dip. They just recently won a Best-In-Austin award for their queso dips, which is saying something. Personal favorite signature cocktail: Matt's Knockout Martini. As the name suggests, referencing the founder's professional boxing career, this is a POWERFUL drink. They don't let you have more than two of them. A one-two punch of these can really get to you, but it's tough to stop drinking it because it's so delicious. Be careful! Personal favorite entree: Janie's Combination Salad. A gorgeous dinner salad topped with your choice of protein and dressing, but I always go with the Beef Fajita and only-found-here Cilantro Vinaigrette. This one is a terrific decision for those of us trying to avoid carbs, too. You can get a drink and a dinner for $30 here, which is very refreshing in the big city that Austin has become. I always take my friends & family here that come from out of town. They also have vegetarian and gluten-free options, which is great. Remarkable service. Employees all seem happy to be here, which is very refreshing as well in the current economic climate. Managers seem to know all of their customers by name, which is a cool thing to watch in a restaurant that's been around for 70+ years. Five stars. Come to Matt's if you've never checked it out.

Best tamales I've ever had. Highly recommend Matt's El Rancho. My only complaint is, for a mexican restaurant, they did not have many marked gluten-free options.