Dining Guide 2004: Where to eat, from A to V

Good food comes in all forms in Central Texas. Here are more than 200 listings by category, from American to Mexican to Vietnamese.

LATIN AMERICAN

Doña Emilia's. Colombian fare goes upscale and uptown. 101 San Jacinto Blvd., 478-2520.

Habana. Ropa vieja, a large mound of shredded beef cooked in tomato sauce with Spanish spices, stars in the Cuban and Caribbean lineup. The restaurant was hit by a fire and will reopen in early 2005. 2728 S. Congress Ave., 443-4252.

MEXICAN

Abuelo's Mexican Food Embassy. Provides a choice of upscale, interior Mexican food or more basic Tex-Mex fare. 2901 S. Capital of Texas Highway, 306-0857.

Angie's. Winning lunch combo: taco of ground beef in a thick, homemade corn tortilla, two chicken enchiladas in spicy sauce, rice and beans. 900 E. Seventh St., 476-5413.

Antonio's Mexican Restaurant. More than three decades of experience behind this local Tex-Mex chain, including this spot in Round Rock. 16912 N. Interstate 35, 238-8969.

AusTexMex Cafe. Jorge Arredondo and family turning out Jorge's longtime Tex-Mex fare. 2804 Interstate 35 N., 479-0288.

Baby Acapulco. Local Tex-Mex chain well-known for its tortilla soup. 1705-A S. Lakeshore Blvd., 447-1339.

Berryhill Baja Grill. Good spin on Mexican, with fish tacos and tempura fried chimichanga. 3600 N. Capital of Texas Highway, 327-9033.

Chuy's. See classic Austin spots.

Curra's Grill. The northern location of the longtime South Austin institution offers the same tasty dishes such as cochinita pibil, a pork item from the Yucatán. 6801 Burnet Road, 451-2560.

El Arroyo. Good Tex-Mex in a laid-back setting. 1624 W. Fifth St., 474-1222.

El Azteca. Family-owned for more than 40 years, with spicy Tex-Mex, including a beef chile relleno topped with zesty ranchero sauce. 2600 E. Seventh St., 477-4701.

El Chile Cafe y Cantina. Good Mexican fare. Loud setting. 1809 Manor Road, 457-9900.

El Meson. Remarkable little breakfast-and-lunch spot with items such as squash blossom quesadillas. 5808 Burleson Road, 416-0749.

El Sol y La Luna. Funky little Mexican restaurant whose simple fare is consistently reliable. 1224 S. Congress Ave., 444-7770.

Evita's Botanitas. Interior Mexican fare includes chicken breast stuffed with chorizo, mushrooms and cheese and jalapeño-stuffed shrimp. 6400 S. First St., 441-2424.

Fonda San Miguel. Longtime, upscale, four-star interior Mexican cuisine. 2330 W. North Loop, 459-4121.

Garibaldi's. A mix of interior and border food includes a fiery fish soup, cochinita pibil and delicious chile relleno. 4201 S. Congress Ave., 326-9788.

Guadalajara. Colorful spot with an appetizer platter big enough to be a meal for two. 2303 RM 620 S., Suite 190, Lakeway, 263-8888.

Habanero Mexican Cafe. Marinades and a mesquite grill produce delicious beef and chicken. 501 W. Oltorf St., 416-0443.

La Casita. Small eatery with good Tex-Mex fare. 1614 E. Seventh St., 469-0105.

Las Palmas. Top-notch enchiladas, including avocado-chicken and spinach from the Cantu family. 1209 E. Seventh St., 457-4944.

Las Palomas. Try the broiled fish with chipotle sauce served by the Corona family for two decades at their West Lake Hills spot. 3201 Bee Cave Road, 327-9889.

Manuel's. Strong flavors penetrate virtually every bite, with an emphasis on interior fare. 10201 Jollyville Road, 345-1042.

Matt's El Rancho. See Austin classics.

Maudie's Hacienda. Newest location in longtime Austin chain. 9911 Brodie Lane, Suite 900, 280-8700.

Salado Mansion. Menu reflects the regional heritage of both sides of the border. 128 S. Main St., Salado, (254) 947-5157.

Taco X-Press. Some of the best tacos in town at Maria Corbalan's popular South Austin joint. 2529 S. Lamar Blvd., 444-0261. See also: breakfast.

Tres Amigos. Austin chain produces several Tex-Mex dishes, such as chicken flautas, mild enough to serve spice-avoiding visitors. 1801 S. Capital of Texas Highway, 327-1776.

Trudy's South Star. Food so good, including the mushroom enchiladas, that it often produces a long wait. 4141 S. Capital of Texas Highway, 326-9899. See also: classic Austin spots.

Vivo Cocina Mexicana. Packing a lot of flavor, plus a wonderful patio for dining. 2015 Manor Road, 482-0300.

MIDEASTERN

Alborz. The food of Iran, with a daily lunch buffet and dinner menu. Buffet includes saffron rice with chicken and ground beef kabobs. 3300 W. Anderson Lane, No. 303, 420-2222.

Ararat. The fare of Turkey and Persia are emphasized at this restaurant. Reservations are required nearly every night. 111 E. North Loop Blvd., 419-1692.

Daddy's Grille. Mediterranean cuisine, including a Lebanese kafta, outside Bastrop. 766 Texas 95 N., Bastrop, (512) 332-2299.