It was a warm evening, we were sitting under the grand patio tree, ordering our usual — crab nachos, gorditas with corn, spinach salad (made the old way), pollo en mole con queso , and two margaritas. We had just watched a matinee at the Arbor Theater. She looked at me and said, “things can’t […]

Our son was born in 1985 and Manuel’s was the first restaurant he ever went to. We would strap him into his “Kanga-rockeeroo”, bring him to the restaurant, and put him in the booth or on the table! He never fussed there and began his lifelong love of Mexican food. We don’t live in Austin

It was Austin Summer Carnival weekend, and my friends had flown in from Indianapolis for the festivities. By Sunday morning, we were feeling the full effects of a two-day bender—I don’t think any of us could survive those kinds of hangovers anymore! My friends had one major request for their Austin trip: some authentic Mexican

We came to celebrate 🎉 my Birthday 🎂

In 1975 I graduated from Law School at UT. I always wanted to get back to Austin for good but work took me everywhere else. Finally in 2001 I jumped at the chance to run a business here. One of the first places I went was Manuel’s downtown. The food was so unique and delicious

I moved to Austin in 2008 and the first time I went to experience downtown was an evening of live music and across the street from where I was at was Manuels on Congress. Their food smelled amazing along Congress and I knew I had to go. I walked in and ordered the enchiladas and

My husband & I (married 32 years) used to go to the Manuel’s on Congress for our anniversary every year (chile relleno de elote every time!!!). It was one of the posher restaurants in Austin back then. We did not have much money, but my hubby knew to save up for that day. Eventually, we

The look on our granddaughters face when she saw her first enormous chocolate parfait. WOW!! We have been weekly guests since. Thanks

Our memory is from the first day that Manuel’s opened during COVID. My husband and I found out the restaurant was going to be open so we said let’s go. When we got to Manuel’s there was a news station’ doing a story about businesses trying to reopen and stay afloat amid the pandemic. We

After years of living in Austin, I moved just outside Fort Worth, and I want to cry because there is not one Mexican food restaurant that comes close to Manuel’s. It’s the gold standard. Here’s my Manuel’s story – As a young former UT student, I worked in the old Frost Bank building on Congress