Suerte

"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

"2021 F&W Best New Chef Fermín Núñez of Suerte in Austin has been working on the mole negro that he'll make in memory of his grandmother, María Eugenia Chávez de Núñez, for years. He has a few rules for making it. First, if he’s in a bad mood, he won’t make it at all. When it’s mole day, he plays the Mexican rock band Maná’s album Sueños Líquidos, both to set the vibe and to let everyone at the restaurant know that he cannot be disturbed. It’s the first album his family let him play on road trips; he knows where he should be in the process based on the track that’s playing. “This mole is an expression of who I am and what I’ve gone through to get to this version,” he says. “I hope that my grandmother can see that and the trajectory that I took to get here.”" - Sam Gutierrez

"Suerte makes a statement from the moment you heave open the enormous wooden door—a dramatic welcome that would feel gratuitous if this Mexican restaurant had lost its shine since becoming one of Austin’s most famous spots in 2018. It hasn’t. On the other side is a dining room full of earth tones that are comforting in a “hip adult dinner” kind of way, made all the better when you order a housemade Chocotaco (one of Austin's best desserts). Before reaching that nostalgic send-off, Suerte’s savory highlights include barbacoa, ceviche, and suadero tacos with confited wagyu brisket and something called “black magic oil." They pair nicely with anything off the tequila- and mezcal-heavy cocktail menu. Bring out-of-towners, bring a date, bring your goldfish—Seurte’s still got it. " - nicolai mccrary, matthew jacobs, raphael brion