Matt's El Rancho

"The margaritas at the iconic South Lamar restaurant are always a good choice, especially the Cactus Pryor, a prickly pear frozen. This is a longtime Austin favorite hangout and beloved Tex-Mex joint, so stay awhile with some enchiladas to go with that marg. Are you even in Austin if you didn’t eat on the patio beneath the iconic red umbrellas?" - Kayleigh Hughes

"This is the full monty of kitschy Tex-Mex experiences. Even though the building seats 500 people and has a giant patio, there's almost always a wait for a table. Regulars know the servers by name, there's a dramatic outdoor fountain, and everyone drinks margaritas. Order one of those, plus the Bob Armstrong dip—a mix of queso, beef taco meat, and guacamole—then close your eyes and point anywhere on the menu. Rest assured, you’ll end up with some glorious mess of tortillas, meat, and melted cheese." - nicolai mccrary, matthew jacobs

"The long waits for a table on weekends suggest that for some, nostalgia, tradition, and Bob Armstrong dip outmaneuvers haute cuisine. The Tex-Mex icon has been an Austin classic since 1952 in the South Lamar neighborhood when Matt and Janie Martinez opened it — he was the face, she was the chef. Today, their daughters own the place. Folks come here for grilled quail stuffed with cheese, the many iterations of chile rellenos, mesquite-grilled steaks, and Mexican martinis." - Melanie Haupt

"Dip into Austin history at this classic South Lamar Tex-Mex restaurant, where the margaritas are plentiful and the iconic Bob Armstrong dip is the ideal queso. Here, you can find such big-plate fare as the “deluxe” dinner with chile con queso, a beef taco, pork tamale, smothered enchilada, rice, and refried beans, all served in a vintage-feeling dining room. Takeout orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services." - Nadia Chaudhury

"The appeal of this rambling South Lamar historic ranch house-turned-restaurant lies in its menu of Tex-Mex specialties. However, it’s large, rambling size inside and out make it a good spot for groups and family outings. Though the tostadas compuestas and the beef enchilada are stellar, everyone’s really there for the Bob Armstrong dip and a Mexican martini. Takeout orders can be placed online." - Erin Russell, Nadia Chaudhury