Veracruz All Natural — Restaurant in Austin

I just had the worst customer service experience that I can recall. Don't get me wrong, the food there is VERY good. The cashier ( the dark complected individual with the Oakly prescription glasses) decided to intentionally, dishonestly, and discreetly add tip/gratuity to my bill and then when confronted, denied it. I ordered a quesadilla and a Topo Chico, the bill total was approx. $20, which I was mindful of. I thought to myself, that is a lot for one guy to have a snack. The reason this is relevant, I am sharing with you that I was and am very clear with my spending. The cashier does a quick tap so I cannot notice the tip screen go by, and then the screen changes to a total of approx $24, which admittedly caught off-guard by the behavior I did tap my card, but looked at him and said, "you just added a tip for yourself." The screen in small characters shows the subotal and then the tip as separate entries. There was no denying that a tip was added which I DID NOT do, I was not even given the opportunity, SIDENOTE: The irony is I would have added a gratuity. The cashier chose to deny it, and then said he would call security as a way to move me along. I asked for management which he did not respond about, it my opinion he did not want this to escalate, he even pointed me to the QR code. The other worker, a female, after I insisted gets the manager. The manager comes out I let him know that his cashier has basically stolen funds from me by choosing to tip himself thinking I would not notice. The manager says he will review the camera, which I so hope he does. He chooses to refund my tip. I wait for my food, when it is done, I give it back to the manager, ask for a refund for it, and also return the drink I had purchased, as I do not want Vera Cruz to have my business if they choose to employ staff members with such dishonesty. My transaction was on June 1st, 2025 at the Line Hotel location, and the timestamp on my CC is at 11:07AM and if the management is reading this it was order #161. I urge management to review the camera footage, people need to be better. I can only imagine this individual has been doing this for some time to the audience of tourists that come through that location. What a horrible way to treat visitors to Austin. Management: Review your footage, take action, and contact me - you have my...

Veracruz All Natural has some of the best tacos in town. Good portion sizes and great people. Well documented allergens list for those with food sensitivities or specific diets. Overall, this place has my full recommendation.

For me, the standout was the shrimp taco, which featured perfectly cooked shrimp with a pleasing char. The balance of textures and flavors was spot on, with the succulent shrimp complementing the smoky char perfectly. It was a delight to savor in every bite.

The tortillas are another aspect that deserves high praise. They were beautifully constructed with an excellent texture and consistency, serving as a great base for the sumptuous fillings. The roasted red and jalapeno green salsas that accompanied the dish were unique as well. Really well flavored and both had a creamier texture than most salsas.

The al pastor particularly caught my attention due to its unique sweet pineapple flavor and two different meat textures. It was quite an innovative take on the traditional recipe which I appreciated greatly.

However, it wasn’t all sunshine and cacti. The guacamole and chips came at a separate cost which seemed unnecessary considering their status as standard accompaniments for tacos. Moreover, the guacamole itself could have been improved with more salt and lime to enhance its flavor profile.

Despite this minor hiccup, the fish tacos were thoroughly enjoyed by everyone in my party. They were flavorful, well-cooked, and served as a testament to Veracruz All Natural's ability to deliver on taste.

If you're around any of their various locations in Austin, definitely stop in a grab a bite. Depending on when you go, just be aware there may be a long line of other hungry taco lovers.

PS: Pro tip... Ask for a watermelon+cucumber aguas frescas mix. It's the best. Tell em...

Okay, I HAVE to be honest with you. I’ve been to Veracruz before, but their south location. This time I decided to hit the one up near Town Lake (Lady Bird Lake for everyone who moved to Austin after 2007). For anyone confused, like I was, the location is inside the Line Hotel.

Second, you can’t just park. You have to valet. Which is annoying if you’re just trying to grab two sub $13 tacos. There was a long line out the door. The positive side is the line moved fast, and I will say my food came out quicker than expected.

So why the three stars?

Because they got my order wrong, and because of the parking. Had I known this was a valet only situation, I wouldn’t have come here. It’s giving LA. You don’t know who’s standing in line waiting for their car and who’s just chilling. The guests of the hotel are rude and don’t move, so you have to guess.

The hotel staff are very nice though, and while I’m not a cheap person, it feels like having to pay a surcharge for tacos just because they’re valeting your car. The positive is that valet is free for the first hour if you’re eating at the restaurant.

Second reason I gave a 3: they got my order wrong. I ordered a breakfast taco and a shrimp taco. They told me they ran out of rice for the shrimp taco but would give me extra shrimp instead. Sounded like a fair trade, but instead they gave me two breakfast tacos.

I didn’t give them a two star review because the breakfast tacos were good. But I REALLY wanted the shrimp taco.

Overall, outside of staying at this hotel connected to Veracruz, I wouldn’t go back to this location. You have to valet, the line is long, and they got my order wrong. I’ll stick with visiting their other...