Reviews El Naranjo

Fantastic meal and drinks at El Naranjo! The best mole I’ve had, great depth of flavor and matches so well with the chicken! The meats are so tender and fantastic, the tortillas were fantastic as well!!! If anyone wants some good mole, this is the place!

The food is good if you’re not used to having good Mexican food. Tortillas taste authentic and housemade. Drinks are delicious. Skip the mole negro, it was average tasting. we had an early dinner and they were out of coconut flan. Service was good.

This place is absolutely delicious! The ambiance, the vibe, the atmosphere, all amazing. The staff is phenomenal! Appetizers: Ceviche de la Semana - 4/5 Tostaditas de Atun al Chintextle - 5/5 Queso Oaxaca Fundido - 5/5 Entrees: Camarones y Hongos a la Macha - 4/5 Chuletas de Cordero - 5/5 Desserts: Chocolate Cake - 4/5 Cheesecake - 5/5 Our waiter was amazing! Every single recommendation he had, phenomenal. The queso Oaxaca fundido and tostaditas are must orders. So flavorful and delicious. The chuletas (lamb) was cooked perfect, nice and juicy. The sauce and potatoes that accompanied it were sooo tasty. Definitely order the cheesecake. It's a burnt cheesecake style but is served chilled. The center is creamy and slightly chilled. It's out of this world, paired with the sweetness of the fresh strawberries and sauce...mouthwatering. Love this place, can't wait to come back and try even more! The restaurant itself is sooo cute. Really love the decor.

Everything is made from scratch at this restaurant, and it shows! Our cocktails were fresh and delicious. My husband thought his Margarita was the best he's ever had. The ceviche was fresh and flavorful. The mole was delicious, as was the beef short rib. We shared a tree leches cake for dessert; it was heavenly. Even the decaf coffee was wonderful - served hot and fresh. Our server was very helpful going over the menu and made great recommendations.

This place is tucked away and could be easily missed. Definitely make a reservation because the seating is limited. Our server, Julie, was so sweet and took the time to make recommendations. They have complimentary bread and special butter and sauces to match. The food was rich and the serving sizes were perfect. We got the Cochinita Pibil and Costillas de Res. The dessert was incredible. We would go back just for that!

Fantastic experience. Our waiter, Alejandro, was very attentive and provided great recommendations. The margarita’s are some of the best in Austin. The original and the tamarindo are a must! We tried a little of everything, guacamole, queso fundido con chorizo, beef rib, pork shank and the chicken verde enchiladas. The place was packed and the staff was working hard. I can’t wait to go back.

The food here is unlike anything else you can get in Austin. The only reason I have to give this restaurant four stars is that it’s impossible to hear each other. For me, the entire point of a meal is to enjoy great food and great company. El Naranjo certainly delivered on the great food, but the restaurant is so packed and echoey, that it was hard to have a conversation. That complaint out of the way, the flavors were authentic and interesting, clearly created by people who enjoy eating food. We had empanadas with mushroom and cheese that were much more interesting and packed with flavor than the fried cheese you get from a lot of spots in Texas. We also got there Chamorro, a 24 hour slow braised pork whose bone literally fell out of the meat like it was butter. The texture and flavors were a Mexican take on barbecue combined with fantastic preparation which in my mind is the reason you go out to eat. Our other dish was the pescado el seré, a striped bass in a Mexican take on curry. It was light, flaky and flavorful in a way that left me feeling both satisfied and uplifted. To finish our meal we had the flan. While it wasn’t the best I’ve ever had, the dulce de leche sauce on top may have been one of my favorites to date. Overall, I do recommend trying this place if you’re someone who enjoys eating. It’s a rare restaurant where they experiment with tastes while at the same time focusing on giving people indulgent, satisfying dishes. Going on a weeknight may be the answer to the noise here as well.

We had a decent meal here: the cocktails were tasty and the menu had many of the authentic Mexican fare. My favorites were the empanadas and the crustless basque cheese cake. I will echo what many other reviewers have said, which is that the food was a bit pricey.