Cruzteca Mexican Kitchen — Restaurant in Sunset Valley

If you’re white… you’ll love this place.

I say this because any real Latino would know to stay away just by the photos, but unfortunately I was left with no other option so I decided to come and try this place. The area it’s in is really nice- you can go shopping after eating. The restaurant itself is also very cute and whoever has AUX knows what they’re doing. The vibes were immaculate to say the least! The service was great! Our servers were nice, attentive, and fast! Now for the food… At first glance it looks great! They give you a really hefty serving and you can tell they want it to look presentable. However, I just wasn’t amused with the taste- it’s basic… a little below basic. It’s not tasteless but it doesn’t have the signature taste that Mexican dishes typically have, and that’s fine- I expected that to be honest. The eggs kind of freaked me out; I’m not a big fan of eggs but these just looked a little raw? Gooey? I know it’s fine and safe to eat but the look of them just makes me feel uneasy- I just simply wish they were cooked a little bit longer. The good parts were the beans and the salsa- the beans were the most flavorful part of my tacos and the salsa had so much flavor- very yummy! They weren’t spicy… like at all, but yes. They did have good flavor. Overall, it’s not your most authentic Mexican restaurant- but I think everyone and anyone knows that. If you want good service, good serving sizes, and good vibes- come here! But if you want flavor and a place to think about later in the middle of the night- don’t come here....

Wanted to give this place three stars but I just could not bring myself to do it, it's a shame too, they're being penny wise and pound foolish and are willing to risk their business and reputation on salsa. Yes, salsa.

What's driving such a low review are:

1. You charge $3.50 for chips and salsa?!? WTF. I understand neither are free to you, they cost your business money, there's a value to the business in having loss leaders. Even if you could convince me that you needed/wanted to charge me for chips and salsa I think $3.50 is exorbitant.
2. You don't provide salsa with a $6.95 chips and queso !?! Really, I just paid $7 for a basket of chips and a soup cup of queso and you want o charge me $2 more for salsa? Get the F out of here.
3. You would not provide salsa with my make after spending $46 dollars on breakfast, I had to spend another $2 to get a side of salsa!?! You think at some dollar threshold you might consider just giving me a damn ramekin of salsa.

Other than that, the people working there were nice. The tacos were, by far, the best deal in the place. The chilaquiles were quite tasteless. The enchiladas mole, good, not great and not worth the price. If you want a really nice plate of mixed Mole enchiladas, go to Hecho en Mexico on William Cannon, better quality,, lower price....and free...

This was our first adventure to Cruzteca and it will be the first of many. I’ve lived in Austin for almost 20 years and San Antonio before that and this is one of the best Mexican restaurants I’ve ever enjoyed. Their salsa is spicy, but full of flavor and I could have enjoyed an entire bowl. The best kept secret queso is really just that. Totally fantastic and the best queso in the city for this style of queso. The Nutella Mole enchiladas are a unique touch. The Mole is slightly sweeter than a traditional Mole, but with all the complexity of one. The pickled onions ad a touch of acid to balance the sweetness and make it a perfect dish. The Ajillo Shrimp and Poblano Grits are the best shrimp and grits I’ve eaten in nearly a decade. The shrimp was perfectly cooked. The grits cheesy and creamy. The peppers roasted beautifully. But the sauce. I could drink the sauce in a cup. I soaked it up with flour Tortillas and could not get enough.

I highly recommend taking the time to enjoy Thai restaurant. To top it all off the place is family owned by a family that has been part of Austin since 1910. The proprietors are warm and welcoming and I loved getting...