Many Latin American countries take pride in their culinary traditions and make their food with love and pride. For Hispanic Heritage Month, The Daily Texan curated a list of Latin American restaurants and food trucks around Austin, all within a 10 minute drive of campus.
Buenos Aires Cafe: 1201 E. 6th St.
Buenos Aires Cafe offers six savory empanadas to choose from, as well as traditionally Argentine pizzas, sandwiches and beef entrees. A family-owned business hailing from Argentina, the birthplace of empanadas in Latin America, the cafe brings homemade cuisine to Austin plates.
Ceviche7 : Unit HP, 502 W. 30th St.
This Peruvian truck makes for an affordable option located just north of West Campus. Their menu consists of beef, chicken and vegetable stir fry dishes, along with a traditional Peruvian ceviche.
El Coqui: 2701 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Boasting roasted pork, mofongo, pastelillos, tostones and maduros, this food truck offers a sample of authentic Puerto Rican food and is located just east of Interstate 35.
Casa Colombia: 2409 E. 7th St.
This scratch-only South American kitchen specializes in traditional Colombian food. They offer an extensive menu which allows customers to try Colombian foods, such as arepas, empanadas, picada and tamales. Be sure to grab their buñuelos or flan de coco for dessert.
The Doughminican: 2505 Webberville Road
This food truck marks the first Dominican empanadas food truck in Austin. Open only Fridays, Saturday and Sundays, their limited but affordable menu serves traditional agua frescas (drinks made from fruit) and habichuelas con dulce (red bean pudding).
Licha’s Cantina: 1306 E. 6th St.
With a traditional cantina aesthetic, Mexican soul food restaurant Licha’s Cantina serves street foods such as al pastor and lengua tacos, gorditas and mole con pollo.
Lima Criolla: 6406 N. I-35 Frontage Road Suite 1550
This family-run Peruvian eatery offers an assortment of authentic Peruvian dishes, such as ceviche limeño, tacu-tacu de mariscos (Afro-Peruvian rice and bean pancake) and arroz chaufa limeño. Their extensive dessert list also allows patrons to try Peruvian arroz con leche, alfajores and picarones.
Mi Madre’s: 2201 Manor Road
Voted best breakfast tacos in Austin by the Austin Chronicle, Mi Madre’s, along with great tacos, offers family meal packs, chicken mole enchiladas (which can be made vegetarian) and a variety of drinks (limonada, horchata, jamaica), as well as the cafechata fusion drink (horchata and coffee).
Este: 2113 Manor Road
For those looking for a luxury experience, the New York Times placed Este’s in its top 50 of “America’s Best Restaurants of 2023.” This Mexican seafood restaurant would be perfect for an up-scale night out with friends or date-night.
