Suerte

"Sometimes we like brunch at Suerte even better than dinner at Suerte. And while you can still get the iconic suadero tacos any time, there’s a good amount of memorable brunch-only dishes, like smoked salmon tostadas, chilaquiles, steak and eggs with a mole chichilo, or a smoked lengua hash. You should just order all of the fun and imaginative pan dulce like pistachio conchas or kolaches with huitalcoche and manchego—they rotate all the time. Drinks-wise, brunch means a suerte maria with a chile morita-infused tequila and a cascabel rim, or, for when you really need to hydrate, a comically large michelada bigger than your head." - nicolai mccrary, raphael brion, matthew jacobs

"If you’re over the age of 12, you’ve probably had Klondike’s discontinued Choco Taco (and if you’re younger than that, get back to class). But you probably haven’t had a Choco Taco quite like this one, complete with a house-made chocolate masa shell, peanut caramel, cinnamon semifreddo, and roasted peanuts. It hits every nostalgia nerve at once. The best part: It never comes out smooshed." - nicolai mccrary

"The Mexican restaurant from Eater Award-winning chef Fermín Núñez is still one of the biggest hits of Austin, where its masa-loving menu features tacos, quesadillas, and tamals. The bar program is also strong, with interesting agave offerings and a signature Don Dario cocktail with tequila, tamarind, lime, and sarsaparilla bitters. Definitely stop in for the brunch sometime, and don’t miss ever-rotating pastries. Reservations for the lively interior or outdoor patio are recommended, though there’s a bar for last-minute walk-ins." - Erin Russell

"There are few dishes in Austin that elicit the same level of joy as Suerte’s suadero tacos, which is what makes every order feel like you’re getting a present, birthday or not. Show up with a small group to enjoy something more intimate, or invite 23 of your closest friends and book the semi-private dining room, complete with an omakase-style dinner with beverage pairings. Either way, you’ll want to swap out that Randall’s birthday cake you were planning on in favor of a round of chocotacos, complete with a house-made chocolate-masa shell, peanut caramel, cinnamon semifreddo, and roasted peanuts." - nicolai mccrary, raphael brion

"The suadero tacos at Suerte have developed a cult-like following, due in equal parts to the tender confit brisket, the house-made nixtamalized corn tortillas, and something called black magic oil. What’s black magic oil, you might ask? It’s a secret, which basically just means that they probably don’t even know. What we do know is that it’s garlicky, funky, a little spicy, and we’d put it on everything if we could. Come here for the suadero tacos, but stay for the excellent cocktails and lively dining space that manages to stay packed all hours of the day. " - nicolai mccrary, adele hazan, raphael brion