9 Spots Locals Go for the Best Queso in Austin

Austin may well be the queso capital of the world, and it’s not a role we take lightly. All that creamy cheese, fresh pico de gallo, savory meat (or mushrooms — we feel you, vegetarians), perhaps with a bit of spice to make you sweat … is it any wonder those “body by queso” shirts are so popular?

Seriously, there’s something for everyone in Austin’s queso world … that is, unless you’re lactose intolerant. Read on for our top nine picks.

Tacodeli

If you’re a queso purist, head to Tacodeli (right) for light, creamy cheese with no add-ins. This rapidly growing local chain upgraded their chips a few months back and now use sturdy, crisp organic corn chips. We recommend mixing in a bit of the Salsa Doña, Tacodeli’s signature jalapeño garlic salsa, for an even more crave-worthy depth of flavor.

Trudy’s Tex-Mex

If you want to make a whole meal out of your queso, try Trudy’s Tex-Mex’s queso especial, complete with ground beef, lots of peppers, guacamole and pico de gallo. Nothing goes better with a Mexican martini than this fantastic, hearty dish.

Takoba

For a more sophisticated palate, try Takoba’s Queso Fundido. This interior Mexican restaurant changes things up a bit from the Tex-Mex version of queso by combining flavorful Oaxaca and Monterey jack cheese with peppers and chorizo. Sitting out on Takoba’s outdoor patio on a nice day with a side of Queso Fundido can’t be beat. [pagebreak]

Matt’s El Rancho

The Bob Armstrong Dip at Matt’s El Ranch is one of the best-selling items on the menu, and with good reason. Named after the former Texas politician and environmental activist, Bob Armstrong Dip contains queso, taco meat, guacamole and sour cream — a combination that was groundbreaking when it first appeared and tastes just as good today. Order a Large Bob or a Small Bob.

Guero’s Taco Bar

The Queso Flameado at Guero’s is made of broiled jack cheese served with hot, fresh-made tortillas. It’s great on its own, but the real draw here is the add-ins — bacon, steak and chicken al carbon, to name a few. Or keep it vegetarian with onions, bell peppers, jalapeños, mushrooms or tomatoes. Come Wednesday through Sunday for live music in the adjoining Oak Garden.

Torchy’s

Torchy’s has, as their slogan goes, “damn good tacos,” but the queso sure isn’t bad either. Though it’s sometimes runny and sometimes thick, it has consistently good flavor and is creamy, not plasticky, with a little guacamole, a sprinkle of queso fresco, and some fresh cilantro and Diablo sauce on top. [pagebreak]

Magnolia Café

Austin’s original 24-hour diner offers round-the-clock queso packed with avocado and pico de gallo. But why stick to the basics when you can upgrade to the Mag Mud, which adds black beans to the mix. There’s something about this combination that just feels right, and multiple generations of Austinites will agree.

Kerbey Lane Café

Magnolia Café’s long-time rival Kerbey Lane offers Cowboy Queso (left), a similar take on the appetizer that also includes black beans, avocado and pico de gallo. But our favorite way to eat Kerbey’s version is as a sauce — the Eggs Francisco is an English muffin topped with eggs, avocado, bacon and tomato, then covered with queso. Good morning to us all!

Sazón

Queso and chorizo go together like … well, like cheese and meat. Check out this interior Mexican restaurant’s Choriqueso, made of sautéed chorizo, pico de gallo, and multiple layered, melty white cheeses. It’s served with a side of fresh tortillas, so we wouldn’t blame you if you considered it tacos and called it dinner.