For Mexican food that comes from a family owned establishment and is as authentic as it is delicious, Habanero Mexican Café, which has been operating for twenty years in Austin, is the place to go. With plenty of dishes that wow the palate and the touch of a good home cooked meal, there’s nothing disappointing about this Texas Mexican restaurant.

Begin with Botanas

Botanas is the Spanish word for snacks, and is used to describe starters or appetizers at Habanero Mexican Café. Favorite beginnings include the Quesadillas Habanero, which are filled with beef or chicken fajitas, white cheese, and served with sour cream and guacamole. Another great starter if you feel like really going all out are the papas con queso, or French fries smothered in cheese. Yum yum.

Small on Seating, Big on Flavor

The restaurant is pretty tiny, so if you have a big group, it’s best to call in advance to give the staff a heads up so they can put together some tables for you. In addition to limited seating, there’s also not a lot of parking available, so you may have to walk a bit. However, the fact that this is a hole-in-the-wall type of establishment only lends to its authentic credibility, and adds to the experience of genuine Mexican food.

Go Big with a House Plate

If you’re the type of person who goes to a Mexican restaurant fully intending to eat just about everything you can get your hands on, planning to stuff yourself to the point of discomfort, then we highly recommend ordering one of platos de casa, or house plates. Served with rice, beans, guacamole, and pico de gallo, these plates are heaping with food and oh-so-good. The catfish ranchero plate is a great option for someone who likes to be adventurous with food, and the two-burrito plate is perfect for someone who loves the originals. If you’re feeling extra starved, go for one of the combo plates, where you’ll get to sample a few of your favorite dishes.

Breakfast All Day, Served Your Way

The breakfast plates are all served all day, and because they’re made fresh, feel free to add or subtract ingredients as you’d like. Favorite breakfast plates include the huevos gringos, or two eggs over easy topped with spicy queso and a side of carne guisada, and the migas plate, which is a crunchy corn tortilla that’s been broken into pieces and sautéed with onions, tomatoes, jalapenos, eggs, and cheese. Breakfast is served every day starting at 7 AM. Can you say “good morning?”

Nice for Ninos, too

If your kids like Mexican food and you want to bring them along, feel free at Habanero. The kids’ menu has items such as crispy beef taco, enchilada, chicken strip, and burrito that your little ones will love.

Finally, know that this restaurant isn’t anything fancy, and you’ll pay at the cash register on your way out rather than having your bill brought to the table. Another bummer is that there’s no tequila served here—it’s beer and wine only. If you can eat Mexican without a margarita, though, this place it totally worth it!