Don Dario's Cantina — Restaurant in Austin

Chips and salsa served free, but chips weren’t good. Tasted a tad stale / burnt taste-like at the end. Salsa was 2/10 I ordered what I wanted to spend plus so I can tip well🤦🏻‍♀️. I ordered One carne guisada. One beef fajita. Side of rice and beans. On the menu tacos priced at $3.99 side of rice $1.99 side of beans $1.99. I don’t mind spending x amount of money. 😁 I just didn’t like how I was charged differently from what the menu said. I would have budgeted differently 😌 (I just noticed too they have a credit card fee and beverage fee 😬🫠fyi) I told the waiter, he spoke to manager, and manager said it’s because I ordered from the “breakfast tacos” (unfortunately you can’t fully see the left part side of the picture where it labels actual “breakfast tacos” and the picture I took is labeled “tacos”) he explained it’s “altogether” and that the lunch fajita taco came with lettuce tomatoes cheese(that’s why it’s a dollar more), and I’m thinking, well the waiter told me it came with that and asked if it was ok, and I said ok! (WTH 😆) so that didn’t make sense AT ALL 😅🤦🏻‍♀️ and then said he’d fix the rice and beans part but only took off a dollar. Oh well 🤷🏻‍♀️ The drink I had was abs delicious though. Long Island Tea. So did not care too too much about it all.. 🥴 Food had no flavoring.. Tortillas weren’t home made.. rice and beans were the best part of the meal.. Food wasn’t good enough to come back to.. ...

We’ve only lived in this area of South Austin for 3 years. But it’s safe to say Don Dario’s has been at the center of our experience. It’s more about a home base community spot for us than anything. Shoot, we went to the bar to drink margaritas and celebrate that we were going to start trying for our first child here, and even told Dario Jr., who was behind the bar that night, that’s why we were there. To say it holds a special spot in our hearts is an understatement.

The truly special part about Don Dario’s is Don Dario himself. He’s a tireless, hard working owner / operator who has been there 9/10 times I’ve ever been (I go at least once a week) The other 1/10 of the times the margaritas don’t taste the same. He himself is the magic ingredient for them.

In all honesty, the food is alright. It’s not mind blowing. But prices are right on point and it’s such a comfortable atmosphere. The enchiladas will never disappoint, and the chicken fajitas are fantastic. Tortillas come fresh off the press too. The horchata is really good, maybe too good, because mid dinner they run out sometimes!

Sure there might be better Tex Mex, but that’s not the point of Don Dario’s. For me, Don Dario’s feeds my soul equally, if not better than my stomach.

I’m dying for Thursday mariachi night to come back. That’s when it’s the best! If you tip enough they’ll...

Well, I like everything about Don Darios! It is a little hard to get to in afternoon work traffic, but well worth the trouble!

First, I adore Mr. Dario, the founder. He is the kindest and most humble successful restauranteur one shall ever meet. Moreover, he taught his son, Don Dario, Jr. how to best treat customers and how to make the best Mexican Martini you will ever have in your life - the El Presidento Mexican Marini, that goes beyond the Dario's Mexican Martini with Tequila, Cointreau, real, fresh Lime Juice, and a splash of olive juice. You should ask for it!

Second, I love all the authentic Mexican dishes including one of my all-time favorite Mexican dishes, the battered, fire-roasted stuffed Chile Relleno (your choice of beef picadillo, chicken or potatoes), always with jack cheese and topped with salsa ranchero, just delectable - que rico!!!! Moreover, for the adventurist, tried and true by me, a long-time Mexican foodie, check out the Don's Keep Austin Weird Chilie Relleno.

Last and difficult to choose from the many authentic, Mexican food delicacies, my most favorite, never- before knew-existed and hard-to-find Shrimp Nachos, so beautiful, delicious, and ever so hearty appetizer that, if dining alone, you must get...