Austin's Best Carne Guisada

If you have ever wondered where to go for Austin's finest carne guisada, then finally, there's help! I have been to dozens of restaurants, cafes, diners and cafeterias. I have excluded the personal kitchens of private individual for obvious reasons.

Carne Guisada can be best described as a kind of Mexican beef stew that varies both in ingredients and in cooking methods, often depending upon the region. I personally like the Tex Mex version. However, any version should use slow oven roasting to produce a fall-apart-tender result. Specially selected steak cuts should be used, then cubed and slowly simmered in a Mexican style spicy gravy creating a carne guisada that is a zesty, tantalizing dish. It should have a reddish brown color and be spicy but not too spicy. It should be served with Spanish rice, refried beans, a side of lettuce and tomato with a lime splash and a big stack of warm hand made tortillas. Wash it down with an ice cold beer. Doesn't THAT sound good?

On this website you will see where to go for the best carne guisada and I will even have an area where you can find out who has the best tortillas.

Here we'll look at flavor, price, portion and service. This site is in it's earliest stages so what you are about to see is an unfinished product. Some restaurants didn't make the cut and other I haven't even been to yet, hence the short list. Besides, it's really hard to make kick-ass, knock you socks off, lick your plate clean carne guisada.

Eventually you will be able to offer feedback and even be able to recommend some places not mentioned on this site. Okay! Let's get started!

Okay, here is the ranking as of Cinco de Mayo, 2005.

1. Al Pastor

The CG is awesome. And cheap. This CG is made the way it's supposed to be made. And the tortillas are hand made on the premises by someone I have never met, but I would venture to guess she is someone's sweet grandmother. The service is good and the portion is more than adequate.

1911-A E. Riverside

Austin, TX 78741

Phone: (512) 442-8402

Hours

Tues-Sun: 7am-10pm

2. Matt's Famous El Rancho

Top notch. Quite tasty, but a little spendy for what you get, but the portion is sizable and very tasty.

2613 South Lamar Boulevard

Austin, Texas 778704

Mon, Wed, Thur, & Sun: 11am-10pm

Fri & Sat: 11am-11pm

*Closed Tuesdays

Office: (512) 462 - 9333

Fax: (512) 462 - 9028

3. Juan In a Million

It was very difficult not putting this Austin landmark at number two. It has everything going for it. A friendly owner and very reasonable prices. And, oh, yes, the CG! Like home made. Mm-mmm. I have only had it as a side with the Don Juan so I can't tell you about the portion that comes with dinner. But if it's anything like the rest of the menu, then PURA VIDA!

2300 E Cesar Chavez St

Austin, TX 78702

Phone: (512) 472-3872

Hours

Call

4. The cafeteria at the Texas Workforce Commission.

I know what you're thinking. A cafeteria in a state agency downtown? Are you serious, Vic? I am. I put at number for three for a couple of reasons. It's good, made fresh in the mornings and it's only $1.50 for a burrito. And the cook is friendly. The only down side is that it's only for breakfast and never served for lunch. And it's only served intermittently. Otherwise, it's a nice find.

Texas Workforce Commission Building

101 E 15TH ST

Austin, TX 78701-1442

Mon-Fri: 7am-1:30pm


				Austin's Best Carne Guisada



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