Pics by Josh Kerr, words by Maggie
La Condesa is quickly becoming my favorite Mexican go-to spot in Austin. As I first wrote about here, La Condesa is an upscale interior Mexican restaurant taking traditional street-food and fearlessly changing it up, crickets and whole suckling pigs included. The restaurant’s name is taken from La Condesa in Mexico City, a gentrifying hipster neighborhood similar to Austin’s 2nd Street District. As you can expect from any Michael Hsu designed building, it’s trendy, modern, and a beautiful mix of blues and wood. The food is refreshingly different from anything else offered around town and if the expertly prepared drinks put you in the mood to party, head upstairs to Malverde for some after dinner drinks and DJ spinning. Be prepared, it aint cheap. But delicious and worth it? Yes.
Cangrejo Huaraches
To see pictures of La Condesa:
“Would you like to eat inside or outside” the hostess asks us.
Too hot in 90 degree weather, inside it is then!
Since watermelon and cheese are my favorite ingredients, I will absolutely order this salad every time. So refreshing in summer weather.
Sandia Y Cotija Ensalada
On the lunch menu they offer sandwiches that are made with the freshest bread I have ever tasted. I’ll eat anything with avocados (my 3rd favorite ingredient) and I loved this sandwich. Although, it is so soft, you could be an elderly diner with no teeth and be fine. A crunchy aspect would be welcoming.
Avocado Sandwich, only on lunch menu, there is a Mexican name for it but I can’t remember
Waiters recommend the below as diner’s favorite dish. Their pork is out of this world.
Cochinita Pibil Taquitos
Flan De Hoja Santa
Tarta De Coco, they switched out the caramel filling from my last visit for coconut and it was not an improvement. Bring back the old version por favor.
Storefront on 2nd St.
La Condesa 400A W. 2nd St. Austin, TX 78701 www.lacondesaaustin.com 512-499-0300
College Slacker
Yes, yes, yes, lunch prices are in my budget! And trust me, I need a meal like this every once in awhile. Have you ever had all your meals at a frat house? It's all frozen food that's been fried! Pants...too...tight....
Spoiled Brat
My life has been so complicated recently. Where to go? La Condesa, Lambert's, Max's Wine Dive, or Perla's? I'm lying, life is good! I forget I miss Dallas!
May 12th, 2009 at 8:32 am
I had some ceviche for here the other day that was AWESOME! So fresh and a great combo of flavors. In fact, everything I tried was amazing. The sangria could have had a little more zip but their martinis and margaritas were delicious. I will say our server was a tab bit unattentive – we sat for a good 15 minutes before flagging a waiter down to order a drink and we had to stop him several more times to order. Other than that, a great place to go with friends for a night out.
May 12th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
great pork ribs, too!