Fodor's Expert Review Matt's El Rancho

This south Austin landmark has been slinging classic Tex-Mex cuisine since 1952, and while the latest Austin food trends have overlooked the establishment as a bland flyover, you'll hear few complaints from the steady crowd of happy diners. Combination dinners are many and varied, with all the usual standbys: tamales, crispy tacos, and more. Diehards swear by the chiles rellenos, enchiladas, and Bob Armstrong dip (queso with taco meat, guacamole, and sour cream). House margaritas, like the prickly pear, are pleasant palate cleansers. The expansive dining room can get noisy at peak hours, but the large outdoor patio is lovely in good weather.