Camino Real Restaurant #1

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Camino Real Restaurant #1
8650 Spicewood Springs Rd
Austin, TX 78759
(512) 335-5517

Tucked away in the strip mall on the corner of 183 and Spicewood Springs Road, Camino Real is a real find. Inexpensive and good!

Nothing fancy, just a good family style restaurant with no table clothes, paper napkin wrapped silverware, and neon beer signs shaped like cactus on the wall.

Well drained and loaded with cheese and lettuce, the tacos couldn't get much better. The only complaint is the meat could have had a bit more flavor.

Wait for your drink before you try the salsa....hot stuff and tasty! Try the queso; they put guaq and meat in it. Makes for a nice change from just peppers.

Service was good. Our wait person was always there and the food came out quickly and hot.

My son and his wife were my lunch companions (he eats lunch there all the time). He ordered his usual chalupas and she ordered THREE crispy beef tacos (gotta love that girl!!).

A place I will go to again!

Taqueria La Tapatia

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Taqueria La Tapatia #3
1101 Whitestone (183 & 1431)
Cedar Park, TX 78613
(512) 260-0800

What once was likely a Dairy Queen, now has a new life as a taqueria. Not an outstanding taqueria, but not bad and being labeled as #3, there must be two more around.

The best thing about the tacos was the shell, thick and crisp. No drips or spills with the meat, but again not bad. The salsa was the best thing ablut the meal, good consistancy and a bit of heat.

My dining companion's meal was disapointing. Her baraquoa was 'off' and her Coke tasted more like Pepsi (Which I don't understand, but you Coke drinkers will).

The service was very good and the beer cold. Sometimes that's all you need.

Los Reyes Mexican Grill and Seafood Restaurant

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Los Reyes Mexican Grill and Seafood Restaurant
13776 N US 183 (Lake Creek & 183)
Austin, TX 78750

The corner of this small shopping strip (in the HEB parking lot) has sporatically had one Mexican restaurant or another in it for years. It's been empty for quite some time, so it was nice to see it occupied again, especially with the economy not where it should be. Los Reyes is owned by the same folks who own Los Reyes in Cedar Park, where I haven't eaten...yet.

Los Reyes is bright, open and very inviting. The night I went they had a good crowd. It took a while to get my tacos (still working out the kinks) but the chips and salsa kept coming. The chips are thin and crispy, and are served with two sauces. One very smooth red sauce with an unremarkable favor, the other not as smooth, with a bit of cilantro, and a nice little bite to it.

Our wait person was prompt with any requests (more napkins please) and friendly. Didn't have a beer for some reason, but their selection is the typical mix...the American beers, Corona, Negro Modelo, etc. A nice touch was my water came with a lime slice and I didn't even have to ask.

My tacos came on two plates (??) and piled with thickly grated cheese and lettuce. Priced right for their size, the cook could have done a bit better job draining the meat, but my shells didn't get too soggy to hold. The meat had a bit too much cumin for my taste, but over all was very good.

Likely a place to visit again.

Looks like it's been months since I had a taco....not really, just lots of repeats of my favorite places.

On a recent trip to San Antonio, I couldn't pass up the chance for some tacos from the heart of Tex-Mex. I wanted to go to a dive in a strip center with a bright pink and green hand painted sign, but my friends wanted something "cleaner" looking (as if clean looks has anything to do with good food).

Fortunately, I was out voted and had a great experience at On The Border (See review below).

On The Border

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On The Border
NE San Antonio
13846 IH 35 North
Live Oak, TX 78233
210-590-4010

I don't normally find outstanding food in chain restaurants, but "On The Border" is one exception. My two tacos were great....and huge. The shells were thick and crisp. The meat had a mild spicy flavor to it....and withstood the drip test amazingly well. I held the taco at an angle to see how much grease and water would drip out; barely a drop!

Just one negative: You'd think salsa in San Antonio would be spicy, this was not. Likely because it is a chain and everything must be palatable even to their customers in New York.

The service was just as good as the food. The wait-staff (Tanya?) was attentive and friendly.

The price was a bit steep, but the wait person told us the tacos were only a dollar at the bar after 5:00....that's a deal!

I would definitely go back....too bad there's not one in Austin!

Sago Modern Mexican Restaurant

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Sago Modern Mexican Restaurant
North Guadalupe and Lamar @ The Triangle
Austin, TX 78751

I hate having two poor reviews in a row, but it's what I'm eating. Sago is one of many brand new restaurants at the Triangle, an upscale mixed use complex in North Central Austin. Being new, I can forgive any quality issues. but I guess I'm not used to 'Modern Mexican'. NO crispy tacos...just soft (corn or flour), which is to me and most folks from West Texas, is a burrito. No ground beef...brisket, chicken, fish, and shrimp! And I couldn't order just tacos, it had to be the meal, but the wait person was willing to go check with the chef.

As it was, not bad, but as I said they are new and literally just open their doors. A little brisket, slices of avacado and some tomato, white looking rice, and a bowl of very good charro beans.

The salsa must have been modern mexican too. One was made with tomatillos and not bad, the other was a chili tasing sauce...neither were what one would call 'hot' or that good.

For lunch, very pricey, and considering all the competition, I imagine their prices will come down or they will have lunch specials. I'll try them again later.