La Familia Mexican Restaurant — Restaurant in Austin

Came here once because it is pretty close and seemed to be rated pretty well on Google. I’m not sure exactly why though, sadly. It may have been literally the worst Mexican food I’ve eaten. At the very least the most disappointing. Potentially one of the most disappointing food experiences…ever, in general. Paid for the mushroom enchiladas (topped with cheese and tomatillo salsa) and…no joke, there was a small line of single mushrooms inside the enchiladas, nothing else inside- no cheese. On top there was barely any cheese. A couple months later I was doordashing and got a pickup from there. When I was inside, a fellow was really mad about the same thing I experienced. Barely anything in his food. The employee was telling him off and making him feel like he was crazy. I will never come here again. I really wanted a good meal. $17 for nothing. The beans were so-so. Not sure who can put together an enchilada, look at it, and think that that is a good meal to serve someone. I’ve worked in kitchens half of my life and would never send something that looked like that out. I’d feel too bad about it. I ate it all because I at least wanted to get SOMETHING out of it. And didn’t say anything to the waitress because I didn’t want to have to go through all that. Still tipped normally and left. I decided to take a photo near the end. Not the best photo but… this is how the entire enchilada was on the inside. One skinny row of small, flat mushrooms only. Folded in a corn tortilla. I left hungry, less money, disappointed and baffled at how they could serve...

For lunch I ordered a beef chimichanga with a scoop of sour cream and guacamole, borracho beans, and a coke. My total when I arrived was 19 and some change. I was super baffled as why lunch for one person was 20 dollar's but I just paid and did not argue. I was a little bit irked and when I opened my bag I was surprised to see I did not get any chips and salsa. Most mexican restaurants in the area give you at least a small side and if I had sat down and ate at the restaurant I no doubt would have received it. Putting that frustration aside as well I was very scared when I noticed cheese spilling from the sides of the take out box. When I opened it what greeted me inside was a nightmarish mess. The chimichanga was not fried it was basically a giant soggy tortilla that was burnt on the bottom and wrapped overly seasoned beef and a bit of tomatoes and jalapeños with a gross cheese sauce drowning it. It was visually and textural unappealing. The taste was not any better. The rice was edible and the beans were medioc at best. The guacamole taste off and the sour cream looked gross and had some weird food chunks in it like it was scooped off of someone else's plate. Worst experience for a first time at a restaurant, would love to give benefit of doubt but prices too steep to gamble with anything else...

We have been here so many times and it has consistently been a treasured jewel in our go-to places for authentic, handmade TexMex. I always say going to family run restaurants is like going to a friends mother's kitchen. It may not taste exactly like the chain restaurants, but it's that difference that makes the difference. Margaritas are delicious and strong without the chemical flavoring of some places. Their beef fajita nachos are the best in town (you can fight me on that. lol). Shrimp chipotle enchiladas are perfect every time (the shrimp has never ever been overcooked). Also, the chicken chipotle enchiladas are exceptional. My sister told me last time to never let her order anything else but the chili relleno anytime we take her there. She loved it so much. Fajitas are sizzling and flavorful and they give you a lot! Salsa is fresh and hot and good. I think the queso is very good, but that's the only thing that I think is too expensive, (lol, go figure) so we don't order it that often. That being said, they don't "nickel and dime" you to death if you want a little extra sauce, or some extra jelapeno's etc., they just bring it. If you like extra spicy salsa, ask them for the green sauce. It's really good. If you want fresh from a family run restaurant, you can't lose with this place....