

Owners, James Beard Award-Winning Chef Rico and Sara Mardanbigi, are bringing tacos, tostadas, paletas, low-intervention wine y más to the E. 12th and Austin community. We’re using heirloom corn, sourced from Oaxaca, Mexico, to make some imaginative tacos on the daily. Open for dine-in and take-out. MICHELIN Bib Gourmand recipient.
Bright, straightforward counter-serve spot offering traditional Mexican food, plus beer & wine.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 2512 E 12th St, Austin, TX 78702
Phone: (737) 338-3595
Website: https://nixtataqueria.com/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: opentable.com
Photo Gallery
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Nixta Taqueria – Austin – a MICHELIN Guide Restaurant
Reviews
The staff and service were exceptional, attentive without being intrusive, and clearly passionate about what they do. The vibe of the place was warm, modern, and energetic, creating the perfect atmosphere for a relaxed evening with friends. We also tried a few drinks, and they complemented the food perfectly — refreshing and well-balanced.
The only small challenge was finding parking, but once seated, everything else made up for it completely. It’s one of those places that makes you appreciate the artistry behind good food.
If you’re in Austin and want to experience elevated Mexican cuisine with a creative twist, Nixta Taqueria should definitely be on your list.
Must-try: Beetroot Taco & Tuna Tostada
Duck Carnitas Taco. Everything was flavorful and delicious. My favorite was the Bean and Cheese Taco with Chorizo. The pictures don’t do this place justice.
We got the chips n dips, duck carnitas taco, and a quesadilla with chorizo. To drink we got horchata and the seasonal (cantalope) agua fresca. The chips and dips were good, the salsa morita has a nice smoked flavor with a good kick and the duck fat refried beans are the perfect pairing to help cool it down. The quesadilla was smaller than I thought but still good and the chorizo had a nice kick.
The dining space is covered and there are a variety of tables and beautiful colors throughout.
We came on a Saturday about 10 minutes before opening (5 PM) and were the first ones there. People began lining up behind us shortly after. At 5:01 PM, someone came out to start setting up, which took about 5 minutes, and our order took roughly 17 minutes to prepare. Nixta looks like a ghost kitchen since all seating is outside. They recommended we wait in their outdoor patio so they could find us when our takeout order was ready.
Nixta makes their own tortillas and masas using heirloom corn from Mexico, and what makes them especially unique is that their tortillas are half blue and half yellow which makes them beautiful to look at.
Duck Carnitas Taco ($10): The duck confit was extremely greasy. The flavors were okay, but the texture wasn’t pleasant. I was the most excited for this one but wouldn’t order it again.
Tuna Tostada ($15): Huge slices of yellowfin tuna that were fresh enough with good flavors. This was my friend’s favorite.
Beet “Tartare” Tostada ($9): I misread this and thought it was beef, but it ended up being a pleasant surprise. It was the best-looking item, with lovely piping of avocado crema. They gave a generous portion of beet and seasoned it very well. This was my favorite of the four items we tried.
Wagyu Tlayuda ($32): This was a waste of money. I looked up what a tlayuda was and it’s supposed to be like a Mexican pizza, but this came out more like a quesadilla. It was barely filled, with lots of empty spaces, especially around the edges. There was far more cheese than meat, and the wagyu didn’t shine at all. It was one of the most underwhelming things we ate; even Taco Bell’s ground beef has a more prominent flavor. The best thing about this entree was actually the sauce.
Nixta is great to try once, but there’s nothing that makes me want to come back. While they have unique tacos and tostadas, they’re overpriced for what you get.
We also chose the non alcoholic beverage pairing and it was fantastic. The PAIS DE MAIZ was especially memorable.
The atmosphere felt intimate and the staff were friendly and knowledgeable. It’s a perfect spot for a date night.
The food was phenomenal, with the bean and cheese taco and suadero taco as standouts. And I’m still thinking about the beet “tartare” — such an inventive, flavorful take that somehow tastes like the real thing. The chips and salsa trio was also a must-order (I’d skip the avocado crema, the salsas shine on their own).
Nixta is the perfect mix of heart, craft, and creativity. Easily one of the most unique yet quintessentially Austin dining experiences. We can’t wait to return to try their taco omakase!
We decided to try 5 dishes.
Chips n dips- Good starter. We were there for happy hour (Tues-Sat 5PM-6PM) so it was $5 instead of $10. All it’s worth.
Bean & cheese taco with chorizo, Chipotle mayo, and avacado- One of the more basic tacos, but we enjoyed it.
Duck carnitas taco- Would not order again. I was really looking forward to trying this one. The texture and flavor wasn’t for us.
Tuna tostada- A good serving of tuna, had a lot of flavor.
Bulgigi mulita- This was the special of the night. By far the best item we ordered. However they charged $18 for this one taco.
Nixta Taqueria was on our list of restaurants we wanted to try for a while. It was $70 total for 5 dishes and a coke (no alcohol). Was really hoping to love this spot, food was just too okay for the price. Glad we experienced Nixta, but will not return.