Marimbas Guatemalan Bakery & Restaurant — Restaurant in Austin

Newly opened hidden gem that everyone in Austin should at least pay a visit to try their food! First of all, the vibe was great because they had a good amount of food and bakery items on display, including the clay pots that were used to create the food. Second, the staff was very friendly and courteous and one could easily tell that this is a small family owned business. Finally, food was bomb and cheap. All around amazing experience.

I came here to meet a friend who I met online and we were meeting in person for the very first time, and she was a foodie and ethnically Salvadorian, so I trusted her judgment, and she praised everything that we had. To me, the chuchitos was my favorite, as it contained a good amount of chicken and the tomato sauce provided it with an additional type of flavor. The tostadas were amazing well because all the fresh ingredients they had, ranging from fresh cheese to guacamole to tomato sauce to refried beans, really gave the tostadas layers of flavor to enjoy. Both items were under $10 and that was just amazing to see. I enjoyed the tamales as well, although the masa tasted a bit different from what I usually had. It was denser and less likely to separate. Finally, the churrasquitos was pretty good as well, although the beef was pretty hard to chew. The combination was hard to go wrong with, so it was a solid dish, but I would stick to the à la carte items I have ordered instead in the future. Oh, and the tortillas reminded me of pupusas.

Overall, just very economical, good authentic food, and one could buy some bakery items to take home to enjoy as well. I sincerely wish this establishment thrives as...

Appetizer: The trio of tostadas were fresh and flavorful: The tomato sauce tasted bright and homemade. The guacamol as well as the beans (pureed) likewise were fresh and not salty. Drinks: They have a selection of packaged sodas and waters, several aguas frescas including tamarind, which was just the right balance of sweet and tart. Also have a dispenser of water for customers. Main course: I had the "small" serving of pepian, a stewed chicken and vegetable dish with a thick and richly seasoned sauce and served with rice that you can add in, and a basket of tortillas to dip in the sauce. The tortillas are tender and home made in the Guatemalan style. I had plenty of leftovers to take home, so a large portion probably could feed two. They have a variety of condiments available, and you should ask for the chiltepe. A little goes a long way. Bakery: They have plate-sized champurradas, a sesame-studded crisp cookie that tastes best dipped into coffee just like biscotti. They also sell lenguas longer than my fore-arm. The bakery also has other pan dulce, sweet buns and crescents with an alluring golden wash. No excessive frosting here. Some typical handiworks like wallets are also for sale. Sorry about no photos, we munched through lunch quickly! The space is airy and clean with lots of seating. Decorations are bright and personal, from photographs on the wall, to textiles, to large kites on the ceiling. Quetzales, the national bird of Guatemala, grace the logo and the kites. Most importantly, the staff is friendly and happy to host you. I will be back to try more of the typical dishes on the menu, especially the shucos, hilachas, and...

Finally a place I can take my Guatemalan girlfriend to satisfy her cravings for Guatemalan food without having to drive to Houston or Dallas. While there's some Guatemalan food trucks in Austin, their hours have been hit and miss, having a brick and mortar restaurant to go to is amazing.

We had the Caldo de Gallina, a simple homemade soup that packs a lot of flavor and would be perfect to warm you up on a cool day. I have to have the Tostada's trio when I visit a Guatemalan restaurant, it's a hold over from my less adventurous days unsure if I would enjoy the food, now I use it as a way to gauge the tomato sauce and black beans against each restaurant we go to. I had a hard time not eating my girlfriends order of Dobladas, they were so damned good. I'm pretty sure I'll have a bruise on my hand from trying to sneak a bite. While Guatemalan tamales aren't my cup of tea she loves them, she got the pork and I have to say it has some of the best filling I've personally had.

The Pina jugo was a stand out for me, I originally didn't want it since I didn't want anything too sweet, but the flavor was perfect and not overly sweet. The Jamica con Jengibre also really hit the spot, the Ginger isn't over powering and with the sweetness it almost tastes like cinnamon leaving a nice refreshing flavor to cool you down in a hot day.

We will definitely be bringing her dad here to get a taste of home when...