La Reyna Mexican Restaurant

I came here recently. I live very close to south first and love to dine in the area. Had been to this place years ago, and the food was nothing to write home about. When I heard they were under new management I figured I would give it a second try.
It was a huge mistake.
I went for brunch on Saturday, I had the migas which I guess at La Reyna translates to egg nachos. The menu noted that their migas came topped with ranchero sauce, which I thought was weird, so I asked for that on the side… There were no jalapenos, no tomatoes, and very little onion. There were lots of chips and lots of cheese. It reminded me of nachos with egg. I didn’t eat very much… and ended up with feeling sick-​ish for the next 10 hours.
However I will say props to the new owners for cleaning the place up. Before it went under new management it looks like a total rat hole. The interior is much nicer now. Wish I could say that the food improved, but it got worse. :(

I’ve been going to La Reyna for about 5 years. There has never been any ambiance, but the food has always been terrific. I heard through the grapevine that the owner passed away and they were bought by someone else.
Went back ⁰⁵⁄₂₁ after not having been for a few months. They are undergoing renovations inside, and my friend and I were 1 of 3 parties during the dinner rush. I felt awkward, as I have always raved. We were happy to stick it out and see if at least the food was on point. YESSS, they’ve kept their cooks. The mole enchiladas were great, and so were the suizas. The salsa has never been anything to write home about, in my opinion.
Really hoping we don’t let this local restaurant slip away. Sometimes you want homestyle Mexican and don’t want to wait 45 mins plus for a table and interior Mexican at Polvos (don’t get me wrong — love some Polvos).

For the love of God, can I please get some decent Mexican food in this town. Seriously, what is the deal? This place in its current state would be burned down in San Antonio. I have been coming to La Reyna since 1997 when I moved into place 2 houses down on Mary Street. After I moved to another part of town I still ate here a few times a year, up until recently. I am sad to say I won’t be returning. The staff was super friendly and efficient, but the food. The food. Can someone please explain to me how I tasted fish in the beans? Yes, fish taste in the beans. Enchiliadas Suizas looked like cinnamon roll enchiladas, due to the super thick and cold «icing» of mayonaise-​ish sour cream substance slathered on top. The rice had no taste at all. I read in other reviews that new owners have taken over, and it’s pretty obvious that this place has gone downhill very quickly. So sad.

It’s a real shame that La Reyna switched owners/​management.
I used to go here a few times a month for margaritas and dinner… the food was always good, and the margaritas were strong. The service was exceptional as well, we were always greeted at the door by the manager who remembered our names.
NOW, the place has new owners and it has gone to hell. The food was TERRIBLE. The salsa is green and stale tasting, and the chips are crushed into tiny pieces. The Margaritas only come frozen, pre mixed in a machine. Way too sour.
The enchiladas were HORRIBLE. Might have been the worst mexican food I’ve ever had in Austin. Its a shame, I used to enjoy this place. Good riddance new owners… you aren’t going to last long.

Great huevos divorciado, which I’ve never heard or had before. It’s two eggs on opposite sides of the plate separated by beans, one rancheros style the other with a tomatilio sauce that was amazing. It’s some great dining and the menu is simply but still leaving you with options. They are a very popular spot at times so be prepared to wait if you go by during a busy time. They have a full bar so they’ve pretty much got everything thing you could need to the perfect hangover spot, good food and liquor. What else could you need?

Fairly decent «comfort» Mexican food (comfort as in old school americanized recipes, which are slightly greasy, warm and filling in the same way a pot roast or meatloaf might be).
All in all I would give 3 ½ stars as the service was quick the food was filling, cheap, tasty, there were ample delectable vegetarian options for a Mexican place etc etc. However the tres leches cake was all cake and no leches, and they no longer make homemade tortillas, which makes for a sad face and a deduction in stars.

To echo many other reviews, La Reyna is a reliable standby if you want standard Tex-​Mex and strong margaritas without the parking hassles and lines at a certain competitor one block due south. Granted, La Reyna lacks said competitor’s exotic menu offerings, but that’s not why you’re here.
The food is not exceptional, and the décor looks little-​changed since the ‘70s — and yes, it’s actually been open that long, since 1974, back before the ’04 ZIP code became hipsterville and the area residents were still predominantly Hispanic — but overall it’s the best full-​service standard Tex-​Mex place along S. 1^st. (Note that I had to include all those qualifiers if only due to the ridic variety of Tex-​Mex venues in South Austin.)

La Reyna has certainly been one of my favorite Mexican restaurants in Austin. Their lunch special is a killer deal. The tea is always fresh. You could blindly pick something off the menu and it’ll be good.
Top picks for me are the carne guisada, cheese enchiladas, enchiladas rancheras (potato and veggies with cheese), and the beef gorditas are astronomical. They make their own flour tortillas.
Happy hour specials are good and their frozen margaritas do the trick. They have a lot of Mexican beers and a full bar.
Breakfast is good, although here I go for the migas. Their tacos are good, but pricey compared to getting a migas plate. Yum! They have a wonderful warm hot sauce in the morning too.
You cannot go wrong here.

I’ve been going to La Reyna since high school, a good seven years now. By this point, I’ve experienced the good and I’ve experienced the bad – La Reyna and I have been through a lot together. And I’ve had all my experiences through the medium of one dish: enchiladas rancheras. I have never, ever ordered another dish. It’s *that* awesome in my book. They don’t have any sauce at all – instead, they’re cheese enchiladas topped with a delicious mound of potatoes and carrots with some onion and a few peppers mixed in. It comes with the usual beans and rice plus guacamole (!) and tortillas. Needless to say, I know to come hungry because this is one big-​ass plate of food that I’m not wasting.
Definitely don’t expect any frills here. The inside is plain and I’ve had iffy service here on numerous occasions but, to their credit, it’s gotten better. And all the waiters I’ve had recently are friendly and overall attentive.
If you can catch it, the best drink special they have are their «top-​shelf» margaritas which are just their normal margaritas with an extra shot of top shelf tequila for ridiculously cheap (I’ve been before when it’s only 25 cents extra though last time I went it was 75 cents). This deal is newer and seems to be revolving so I don’t know if there’s a regular time you can get this deal just yet…

To justify the above scoring up front, the given four as opposed to five stars is not at all a chastisement for any sub-​par experience, but rather a lack of deserved expertise on my part– room to grow, if I may.
You see, fair Unilocalers, despite that La Reyna Mexican Restaurant is aptly named, given my closed-​minded palate much akin to a Kindergartner’s (don’t dare let my foods touch, bucko), I’ve never actually eaten Mexican food there. One day, when I grow up, it’s on my bucket list to try their Barbacoa, which is renowned by those who pack the restaurant on weekend mornings just for the dish.
All that said, I do feel highly qualified to make the following sweeping statement:
La Reyna serves The BEST pancakes in Austin. Hands down.
I don’t really know why they offer pancakes– not so much traditional fare for this genre– but thanks to the breakfast Gods for this incongruous manna. They grill the most fluffy, moist, and flavorful pancakes I’ve ever tasted. Trust, I have tasted a LOT of pancakes in a plethora of venues and locales. I flippin’ l-​o-​v-​e me some pancakes.
You won’t find niceties here that are pretty standard in most restaurants to date. La Reyna’s plastic bouquets and loud holiday decorations, the furnishings that have obviously been well-​loved, and the debatable bathroom situation have grown on me.
You will find and can count on, as have I almost every Saturday for the past few years, soft-​spoken and polite servers who practically beg to please, a perpetually full and hot cup of coffee, and crazy-​good food for cheeeeeeap.
Make sure you engage your company in a rousing SUPERFUN game of «Which State Does This Tortilla Chip Look Like?» while enjoying the drool-​worthy salsa. I haven’t been permitted more than five minutes of game-​play since I invented it (LAME.), so please have at it.
Also be sure to count how many restroom signs are visible during your visit and loudly mock anyone who asks where the facilities are, oblivious to the six (at least) «Restrooms This Way» signs that live in the main dining room.
Cliffsnotes + Summation:
Sorry Kerbey, Magnolia, OPH, etc.- I love you still, but must hereby declare that in keeping true to Austin’s forever ‘weird’ form and spirit, a most unlikely underdog has taken the city’s flapjack crown.
If ya ask me and go along with my having the authority to anoint food royalty.
gracias :)

10 years ago this was like my secret spot where Id do work while drinking margaritas and chowed down on homestyle chicken mole. Something happened. Perhaps overshadowed by all the cool new shops and trailer eateries on South 1rst, La Reyna has lost her charm. Mainly, the atmosphere is bleak, the décor tattered, restrooms unclean and the patio has a cheesey uplift. I think it: s the same owners, the food tasted about the same, but with a splash of sadness and lack of enthusiasm. The hot sauce is still hot, but now seems like they start with Pace Picante and added peppers.
I made a beeline for this place when I arrived in Austin yesterday, but it was a sad reunion. And I regret not having eaten at one of the cool places at the south austin trailer park.

I like to consider myself and equal opportunity Mexican food eater. I mean, you pretty much know what to expect when you walk in. (Which is very comforting indeed!) Salsa is usually a good indicator of how the food is gonna be… Case in point, Salsa was good, I mean good like… eatable, but I do prefer a more chunky salsa… Eeehhh! I had the beef fajita gorditas. The beef was great and there was definitely plenty of food, but I’m sorry to say that the most redeeming quality of my entire plate were the re fried beans! Delicious!
The waitstaff was friendly and attentive without being overbearing… thank you!!!
I would go again, but It probably wouldn’t be my first choice. I will say though… that they take much pride in their decorating skills and I do love to see a Mexican restaurant celebrating St. Patrick’s Day! Way to get in the spirit!

So far, seems like I’ve found another solid yet average restaurant… which is starting to look like the defining theme of Austin eateries. I am filled with the ennui, fellow Unilocalers! Please save me from my own disillusionment! La Reyna is giving me an existential conundrum! Also please drop me a note if you know of any truly exceptional Mexican food around here. (Or Indian!)
So as you might already be guessing, this place is hit-​or-​miss. I can confirm a lot of what other reviewers are saying — both good and bad — based on a single visit to the place.
Maitre D. and I took our mothers here last night. Enchiladas are my yardstick for good Mexican, and I got to try two types, thanks to my mom. The super-​vinegary tomatillo sauce figured prominently into the chicken ones, which was a huge put-​off for me. The mushroom ones were OK, if a little soupy. My mother-​in-​law had the gorditas, which I can confirm as a bland, greasy mess. I felt bad that she battled through them with the polite insistence that they were good.
The fresh homemade tortillas and the chips-​n-​salsa, however, were well above average. The chips were light and crispy without being greasy, and the salsa had the right balance of smoky roasted flavor and garlicky kick. And the tortillas were to die for — so good in fact, that I lost interest in the rest of my meal. I’m inclined to give the place three stars until I think of them… but no. I must not let a single tortilla cloud my judgment, no matter how delicious!
I can also confirm that the service is quick and friendly, though not particularly attentive. This does seem like the type of place that strives to make good food for everyday patrons rather than trying to be the best anything. Success! But this place is not exceptional.

There are some eateries that I will frequent for a single dish– some gastronomic concoction that manages to hit all marks and entices the palate so seductively that you can’t help but think about it, even when consuming other things.
In the case of La Reyna, I’m talking about the caldo de res. The first time I came here, it was on the behest of my girlfriend, specifically for this dish. I decided to deviate, and instead ordered something else that was highly forgettable, especially after her caldo came out. Ever since, I’ve ordered nothing else.
The beef shanks are slow simmered to the point that it’s so tender that you can cut it with a fork. The vegetables are well cooked, but not overcooked. The broth is seasoned perfectly– it’s just salty and peppery enough. Each bowl has a marrow bone, and a couple pieces of corn on the cob that add something fun to eat.
Squeeze a little lime on top for some acid, eat it with or without the side of rice they give you, and dip your fresh made tortillas in it. Delicious.

Bow Chicky Chicky Bow Wow.
This is what I was thinking as I POURED their salsa over my eggs mexicana the other morning. I wanted to lick the bowl but I was with a fellow Unilocaler friend of mine when we went so I decided against licking the last remaining drops of salsa.
The place is very low-​key. There is no sense of urgency there because there is no need. We went on a typical Monday morning with my 2 year old monster in tow. The elderly female waitress not only wrangled up our food and kept our coffee filled but she also managed to entertain my son. Trust me. This is not expected. Nor will it be upon our next visit but it’s nice to know that a waitress isn’t afraid to be nice to a kid every now and then.
And for that, she got an extra dollar outta me as well as a returning customer.

I’ve never eaten meat at La Reyna, so I can really only speak to a few menu items here.
The Enchiladas Rancheras is amazing. 3 white cheese enchiladas, topped with potatoes, carrots, grilled onions, and serrano peppers. Ask for a little side sauce. The rice at La Reyna is good as well.
The homemade flour tortillas at La Reyna are to die for. They come out so soft and warm, chewy, and tasteful. The salsa is HOT and wonderful.
My only complaint is the recent addition of out-​of-​place servers. This probably isn’t PC, but I like my orders taken with an accent at La Reyna for the full effect.

It makes me sad to see so many bad reviews for this place but I have had off meals there so I see how it could happen.
BUT, overall my experiences have been great! I work right across the street and their Light Taco Dinner (there’s nothing light about it) is a regular on my rotation. I always get the shredded chicken taco that is moist with bits of onions and peas in their housemade corn tortillas. It comes with a small side of guac and a decent sized side of queso, chips and salsa. Altogether it’s a hearty little meal for I think around $ 5 or $ 6 bucks.
I do not recommend getting to go orders from them because out of the 5 or so times they have never gotten one right.
The Mexican martinis rival those at Polvo’s and are equally generous, and the prices here are good.
Tasty food, big portions, kid friendly with yummy cocktails I hope this Austin institution of 35 years is around for another 35!

I just choked down what was the saltiest, greasiest, most flavorless (save for the salt) beans, rice and gorditas I have ever eaten in my life.
And such small portions, too.

Very basic and nondescript in every way. Nothing on the menu looked like anything I couldn’t get at 100 other Mexican places in town.
But none of it was bad. In fact, it was quite tasty. And not expensive.
Free salsa and chips while you wait. The chips were great (fresh and warm), but the salsa tasted like bland, discount-​bin pasta sauce. Everything else, including the service, was fine.
Oh – and at 4 p.m. on a Tuesday afternoon, there was only one other table in the entire restaurant.

In a hurry for lunch, I whipped into La Reyna’s parking lot. The waitress greeted me immediately and took my order. Two egg and bacon breakfast tacos with guacamole on corn tortillas. I did not wait long before the small paper bag was handed over to me. My total cost: $ 4.01 + $ 1.00 tip. Cheap!
I am so glad I decided to open one up and take a bite while sitting at a stop light because the breakfast tacos were on WHEAT. GLUTEN FILLED WHEAT! Holy heck. So much for the bite. I turned around and went back. The waitress was very sweet and quickly made the switch.
The bacon was really crisp, which I like and the eggs were fine though it seemed that the yolk cooked separately from some of the white part of the egg. It goes without saying that most people like their eggs thoroughly scrambled together. Anyway, the guacamole was great and the salsa was some of the best I’ve had in a while with lots of kick.
Good for a simple basic meal. I did not see but one other «gringo» in the place so that has to say something about the food.