Best Mole dishes in Austin?

[brattpowered]

I will be having a friend in town from Connecticut in a few months who has recently discovered mole at one of the only Mexican restaurants in his hometown. Are there any recommendations for good mole dishes in town? I would assume he had either the red kind or the kind with chocolate, and this is what he would like to try.

[mlin1]

El naranjo on Rainey street has the best mole in town. The owner chef has taught at the CIA in San Antonio and had an oaxacan restaurant before moving to Austin to open a trailer, now a brick and mortar restaurant. Several mole options including piping as well as a special mole of the week. Really delicious

[jaywheezy72]

The only Mole I've ever eaten in Austin is Jovita's...Really chocolatey and nice. And for someone that's not the biggest Mole fan, this was awesome!

[chauvina]

Just had the chicken mole gordita at Tortilleria Rio Grande #2. Fabulous.

[popvulture]

Las Cazuelas on E. Cesar has great mole... I've only had it on their chicken enchiladas, so I can't speak for other options, but it was super good and cheap.

[DetourTravel]

I started a Meetup group: The Mobile Mole Olympics of Austin. We'll be visiting restaurants every other Wednesday in a quest to find the best mole in town! Thanks for all the suggestions on where to try, and feel free to join us if you're interested -- Matt

http://www.meetup.com/The-Mobile-Mole...

[jactar]

I see that it's been a long time since this thread was added to. We're planning on introducing a friend to mole in the next week or so, and I'd like some updated recommendations, preferably in northwest Austin, Round Rock, or Cedar Park. If it's worth traveling for, tell us about others, too.

Thanks.

[ieathereforeiam]

el chile and fonda san miguel both have good mole in that end of town.

[stephanieh]

Second El Chile. Theirs is dark and rich and well-developed. Although, I only like it in the cooler months.

[furmeister]

Hey, does anyone remember El Azteca? They have been first on my list for some time, as well as their neighbor, Los Comales. East 7th, never disappointing.

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Los Comales Restaurant
2136 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702

El Azteca Restaurant
2600 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702

[trubbaman]

El Azteca is great, and they have a really tasty chicken mole.

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El Azteca Restaurant
2600 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702

[ieathereforeiam]

I had the red mole at el chile the other day and it was surprisingly good. I've also been enjoying the pork mole at tacodeli

[JackWood]

The Habanero Cafe serves an excellent chicken mole on friday as a lunch special. Great flavor and value.

[mwreese]

I like the chicken mole taco at TacoDeli. I think the default is flour tortillas - so I request mine on corn. It's fast and not terribly expensive but not the best mole in town. It's a good place to go with kids and thd dog (if the weathers nice, it's well behaved (the dog, not the kid).

[amysuehere]

My favorite is Manuel's. I've even been known to ask for a side of it to go with my queso and tortillas.

[DrkBgrk]

El Chile on manor rd. does some pretty good mole.

[Ashforth]

I'll second the El Chile recommendation. Their pork mole enchiladas are delicious.

[auspr]

Try the pork mole enchiladas at Curra's on Oltorf.

[ieathereforeiam]

Much has been written about the consistency at Curra's, but over the last 10 years the mole has remained a standout. It is the best in town as far as I am concerned. I regularly order a side of it with whatever else I am eating.

Fonda San Miguel has a great mole as well.

I like El Chile's fine, but I often wonder if it isn't just a jarred paste. I make it like that at home and it tastes the same as theirs.

[taliesin15]

I entirely agree with the endorsements of Curra's (Oltorf loc.) and Fonda San Miguel. One time at the latter I had a Green Mole served on Roast Duck. Sublime, every bit as good as any fine French dish I've tried. One place that had good Mole for a while was Sazon on S. Lamar, but the last couple of times I've been there it was only above average.

As an aside, I find it a miracle if any restaurant serves a Mole that tastes like the real thing, i.e. like a real authentic homemade version, using a recipe from someone's grandma. I know how to make the real thing (ok, only one version, the recipe from someone else's grandma)--its fairly involved, but distinct tasting when done right. And absolutely incredible when you find something approaching or exceeding it. I would guess most restaurants use a premade version (same way most use some kind of premade stock, instead of doing it the way Escoffier recommends), and only a few bother with say the steps of roasting & grinding the spices, dried chilies & nuts fresh

[rudeboy]

Escoffier made mole? That's a surprise.....

[achtungpv]

Oaxacan Tamaleo is the best I've had in town. It was served over dark turkey meat when I had it.

That place with the chip tower on S. 1st (why is the name escaping me?) has a very good, complex mole also.

[knb1055]

I think you're referring to Evita' Botanitas.

[achtungpv]

That's it. Thanks!

[TroyTempest]

Oaxacan Tamaleo sells their sauce at as well. (They recommend that you add an equal amount of chicken broth to the mole) I'm planning on buying some for my leftover turkey.
I also like the mole at Sazon. To me, it is close to OT (haven't dined in the new location yet)

[sanmiguel]

The only decent mole poblano of which I am aware is served at Las Palomas on Bee Caves Rd.