Mole and Chili’s East of I-35

by | Food and Drink

A group of us decided we wanted to go out for brunch.  Fonda San Miguel’s was closed so we looked at the Fearless Critic book and El Chile on Manor Road (Follow 26th just East of 35) popped up.  We met there at 11:00 a.m. on a hot August day…well the breeze was blowing and it didn’t feel insanely hot so we sat outside–by 1:00 it was toasty!

I love chili’s–the only food that I’ve had that is sometimes too hot for me is Thai–so I started with a Chilango Margarita which is a "spicy orange infused margarita."  Yep cayenne pepper in a margarita…it added a nice bite.  One of my favorite dishes at San Miguel (in McKinney, Texas) is Pollo con Mole Rojo and they had it on the menu.  Well grilled chicken doused in a good smoky mole sauce with hints of cinammon.  The beans and rice were nothing to write home about but the mole was great. 

One of the complaints I’ve read about El Chile is that the service level drops as it gets crowded.  We were lucky and it wasn’t very crowded and the service was excellent.  With reasonable prices, a decent menu with unique items, and so close to downtown it’s worth a try.

El Chile Cafe Y Cantina
www.elchilecafe.com
2209 Manor Rd
Austin, TX 78722
(512) 457-9900