Taquería Chapala

I have had the fajitas 2x but both times we specified beef only. Next time we try the combo. Last night as we got back into town from a weekend road trip we decided to try their fajitas.
eh.
they were kinda on the small side which i did not mind at all. but they were dry. I found a few pieces of bone that I had to spit out into my napkin (since it was chicken enchiladas, i think bone just made its way through the shredding process… yuck) but it happens. it’s a risk I took, a risk I considered and it came to fruition.
I ordered chicken enchiladas with red sauce — no pica. but lots of cheese.
husband ordered the beef (hamburger) enchiladas with green sauce. eh. not much flavor to be honest. I will return of course but i think i will expand my ordering horizons and probably save enchiladas for trips to Las Cazuelas.

Excellent food. great prices. great drinks.. Authentic to the max ! What more could you want from a restaurant. one of the best perks is that they have their own parking!
The best comparison I could think of was Ruchi’s in Houston. Will add a pic of their door so the hours will always be available for all to see !

I’m not really into cheap greasey food diners, but my local resident friend chose this spot as being one of his normal haunts.
The run down peeled robins egg blue cinder block building screamed authentic which also mirrored the offerings — inexpensive and mid to low quality.
We both went with huevos rancheros, I was disappointed and surprised that mole wasn’t on the menu, especially with the predominant Mexican clientele. Breakfast specials, with eggs, refried beans and potatoes are $ 4.99 before 11am, and a dollar extra after. I added carne asada to my plato for $ 5 extra.
The food overall was bland and unexciting, with the carne asada, a thin pounded out piece of beef, a little more flavourful but tough and uncomfortably hard to chew.
The laid back local neighbourhood of old east Austin Spanish speaking ambiance was charmingly untrendy, but at a cost. The food was forgettable and I’m sorry to say regrettable with all the rich culinary offerings in hyper desirable East Austin alone.
My friends wist for true old Austin didn’t hold up in this situation, but if you’re on a budget and want to get full for less than $ 10, this could be an option, but I dare say it’s easy to beat within a 500 yard radius.
Food — 1 – 2 stars
Ambiance — 3 stars
The best part might have been the fresh corn tortillas, which I might find suitable for home use.

Excellent local value and tasty food. Nothing glamorous but very authentic, local, fast and tasty. Service staff are friendly and coffee was surprisingly good.
My hubby and I got the three breakfast tacos and the chilaquiles plate — so much food that even though it was brunch time we couldn’t quite eat it all. And I think our bill is like $ 14 … You can’t go wrong if you want casual Mexican.
Also, it’s clean and adorable inside — not modern but just cozy.

One of the last frontiers for my homeys! I go there just to get away from los gringos. But damn! The food is shit.

Taqueria Chapala is one of our favorite neighborhood gems! My boyfriend and I frequent the authentic restaurant frequently for delicious food, efficient and friendly staff and affordable prices. I’ve never been disappointed! Combination plate is on point!

This is my favorite spot to sneak away for some light Mexican food at the kind of place my grandmother would have felt at home in.
I love the crispy chalupa — a flat crunchy shell on bottom topped with refried beans, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, and some thickly shredded white cheese that I especially like for its salty slightly tangy flavor. I order mine without meat but meat eaters are welcome here, too.
I add a single, simple cheese enchilada with green sauce and wash it all down with a Topo Chico. I feel satisfied I had a fresh tasty meal that was relatively healthy while feeling simultaneously indulgent.
I like looking at the bill and seeing a very reasonable price as this spot has not been recently renovated — and there is no need for it. It’s clean and has its own character. This little gem doesn’t feel anonymous like so many newer places on the East side do.
Sometimes I wish they were open later than 11pm but mostly I respect them not making the staff work super late hours.
Eat here!

My boyfriend took me here after a stop at the Austin Animal Center (please adopt! :) He knows all the good Mexican eateries around East Austin, and most of them are still around from when he grew up in the area.
It’s a hole in the wall, nothing fancy, but the food is good and the service is really fast… Especially considering it was a Sunday morning!
I had horchata and a bean and cheese burrito. Nothing too exciting haha but I definitely recommend this place!

Amazing flavor and very authentic. The servers were friendly and we received our food quickly. Great place for a quick lunch.

I work down the street, so this is a go-​to spot that’s consistent and totally affordable. It’s simple food that’s comforting and quick. Here’s why I love this place.
–whether I’m with a party of 2 or 10, service is always awesome. And when they’re super busy, water, drinks, food all still come fast with a smile
–prices are low and portions are substantial. It’s easy to get filled up even if you’re on a budget.
–they’re super cool with kids, so when I have them in tow I never worry that their needs to stand up or reorder a spilled drink will be frowned up.
–they have their own parking!
–Every time I’ve been here the majority of other patrons are Spanish speakers, which tells me something about this place’s authenticity and relationship to the community. That’s the kind of place I want to support as a customer.
–Nopales! I love the way they cook their cactus!
I’d give this place five stars if the bathroom felt just slightly cleaner. It’s not gross. It probably meets minimum code requirements. It just feels highly trafficked and could use more frequent attention.

This place is the real deal for an authentic Mexican breakfast. Order the juevos rancheros; you will not regret it. This place isn’t interested in the slightest in catering to Eastside hipsters. So please avoid if you’re going to critique the ambiance. Entre menos burros, más olotes. And don’t try to order decaf coffee. Trust me.

Everything you would expect from an authentic Mexican restaurant. Brush up on your Spanish for the soap operas playing in the background. Inexpensive, great for a quick bite as you’re wandering through Austin.

Food is authentic and you get a ton for your $. They have locations in a few different places and the food is always consistent. Take home a jug of the spicy green sauce. Put it on everything. You’ll thank me.

The service was pretty good and the food came out very fast. I got the Pancho Villa plate which comes with two enchiladas and a crispy taco. My boyfriend got the regular Enchilada Plate. The food was very good and flavorful. The picadillo in the crispy taco was tasty and I’m usually really picky when it comes to Picadillo. The prices are very reasonable as well. My only gripe would be that neither the flour or corn tortillas are made in house. For that reason I gave them 3 stars and not 4. All in all, it’s a good cheap place to dine. Will be back.

This has always been my go-​to Mexican restaurant on the east site. Food is always delicious, the waitstaff is friendly as can be and the environment is relaxing/​family style. 5 starts!

I order three breakfast tacos for $ 3.79. The salsa is hot and the Horchita is good. My fiancé order the migas plate and it was excellent. Dine before 11am and the plates are a dollar off.

I’m giving this place 5 stars. For two reasons. The first is their Ranchero sauce. Which is to die for. Just delicious bright tomato slightly spicy slightly less smoky taste. The best in Austin.
Second is their incredibly sweet and efficient service staff. Charmers all.
Sincerely
Alex melis

Came for lunch on a Saturday. Chips were lukewarm but no big deal. The salsa was spicy due to the seeds left in, which I kind of liked. Pretty good thickness.
I had the huevos rancheros plate, which came with potato and beans. It was cooked to my request and was a good portion
My husband had the migas plate, which he described as «average». He didn’t like that the tortilla chips were not as crunchy in the plate as he would’ve liked.
The service was good enough. The gal didn’t talk too much, but made sure our drinks were refilled.
Plates were a little less than 5 bucks, so talk about a freakin bargain overall!

Let’s take it from the top: chips– good; salsa– better than average, good spice level; chili con queso– yummy; guacamole– average, hearty but a little too cold for my tastes. I got a chicken burrito with rice and beans, the burrito was really good, very flavorful for being chicken based. The beans were also delicious. All of the flavors in everything seemed pretty authentic to me (although it has been a few years since I’ve been to Mexico). Next time I would try the enchiladas, my friends got them and said they were very good.
Bonus points for the service– our waitress checked up on us frequently, refilled our chips/​salsa/​etc. I especially liked that she immediately spoke to us in Spanish, otherwise I would probably have been to shy to initiate a Spanish interaction with my rusty skills. Of course they are English friendly too, but it was nice to be able to practice the old espanyol. (Sorry don’t know how to do an enya).

They don’t have tamales on the menu anymore and that has made me the saddest of sad pandas.
Salsa? Still delicious. Food? Still good.
But now I must find a new place to get tamales. Le sad.