South Lamar, Austin · restaurant
Family-owned since 2010, El Mesón makes everything from scratch, from corn tortillas and salsas to chiles en nogada. The al pastor tacos come with properly grilled pineapple, and the chile ancho relleno—stuffed with three cheeses, dried cherries, and pine nuts—is the kind of dish that makes other Mexican restaurants feel half-hearted. A back bar stocked with 200-plus tequilas anchors it all, with a sprawling Sunday brunch that runs deep enough to be a destination on its own.
Happy hour runs Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun, 2:30 PM to 7:00 PM.