Best Tortilla Soup in Austin?

[ChristineR]

I'm searching but haven't found it yet. Help me out!

[tim irvine]

If you like the clearer broth, lighter approach (I do) that is the ONLY thing I have had at Guerro's that I liked.

[ftf]

Zax

[Rosedale_foodie]

I've not done a lot of shopping around on tortilla soup, but the original Kerbey Lane has a really tasty version -- plenty spicy. It's one of my favorite dishes at KL.

[cherilyntx]

Try El Caribe on North Lamar, north of the Triangle (5610 N. Lamar). Excellent chicken soup, not exactly tortilla soup but well-simmered with carrots, onions, and celery. Tastes very homemade, with good quality ingredients. You can get it as one of the sides on their lunch special-- well worth it.

[ieathereforeiam]

curra's always has a good one

[Dave Westerberg]

I'm glad you asked this. I'm always so disappointed when that is the only soup on the menu. I just don't get the appeal, so far.

I went to Elsie's last week hoping for beef soup, and they only had Tortilla soup, and I left. I'd like to find places that make tortilla soup well, if only so I know what the good versions taste like.

[texangurl]

I like central Market (westgate) and chuys tortilla soups.

[dinaofdoom]

sounds like i need to give caldo a test run sometime soon.
and since i have yet to find the perfect-to-me tortilla soup, i should try some of these recs.

[reinadetostones]

What IS tortilla soup, exactly?

[agoodbite]

According to Mary Louise Parker's character's brother on Weeds, it's bullsh!it in a bowl. That's an apt description in my mind. The only decent version I've ever bothered to try was at Las Manitias - a red chile broth with strips of fried corn tortilla, avocado and cotija cheese. It wasn't a vessel for leftovers, stale chips and gloppy cheese. There's plenty of good soup out there, but it ain't tortilla soup.

Taqueria Arandas on Burnet does a decent version of caldo de res (not nearly as good as my husband's) and Elsi's green pozole (served on the weekend) is very nice. This is what's near me that's decent. I don't go too far from home these days.

[singlemalt]

I always liked Manitas tortilla soup as well, and their clado de res. It sitll aggravates me a lot when I read in today's paper that they are proposing a botique hotel on Congress and their is still a vacant lot where Manitas was. Arrgh!

[Dave Westerberg]

I didn't read your note before I posted below. AFTER I left Elsie's looking for beef soup, I crossed the street because I like Anrandas's beef soup too. They were out, so I went up to Pho Van for Pho (number 8).

D

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Pho Van
8557 Research Blvd, Austin, TX 78758

[jactar]

My favorite is the one at EZ's, BION. It's my favorite -- besides my own.

[achtungpv]

Azul Tequila's version is really good also.

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Azul Tequila
4211 S Lamar Blvd Ste A2, Austin, TX 78704

[mouthXmouthwest]

Azul offers a good bowl, a hybrid of tortilla and chicken caldo, with a clear, flavorful chicken broth plus tortilla strips, good avocado slice and some white cheese + diced carrots and celery, onions, that ever present chunk of frozen corn on the cob, pieces of white chicken breasts I associate more with caldo. For a darker broth with more chile flavor, Manuels and El Chile's versions are surprisingly interesting.

I'll expand the query to chicken caldo, Where do you find a really good bowl? Most places I go -small cafes off Riverside, Oltorf, east side - offer this soup in versions that taste almost the same, with little variety in the vegetables or spices. My go to version is at Taco Village because i like the cabbage, tomato, potato and often green beans plus those very delicious thick homemade corn tortillas. A small portion, plus rice plus corn tortillas is under $6, and perfect for lunch. Angie's offers close to the same, but much prefer the more interesting crowd off 51st and the friendly wait staff.

And what's with the mushy corn on the cob?

[sweet100s]

I love the Chicken Tortilla Soup at Roaring Fork at Stonelake.

- The broth is delicious
- The avocado ALWAYS tastes fresh
- The chicken chunks taste like they came from real chicken vs processed cubes of some generic meat.
- Plating is pretty

[amysuehere]

My husband's been on a real tortilla soup kick as of late. His favorite is at Jorge's on Hancock with extra green chile and tortilla strips on the side. He also likes Chuy's the same way. He thinks Maudie's is just "meh".

[sighmesigh]

I like the tortilla soup at Vivo

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Vivo
2015 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78722

[PappyAustin]

I really like the Central Market Cafe version.

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Central Market
4477 S Lamar Blvd Ste 100, Austin, TX 78745

[Helind]

I second the Central Market Cafe version; though I've only had it at the Central Market at Westgate. I prefer mine with a tomatoey broth. I've tried some others, but they're always served with the clear chicken broth.

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Central Market
4477 S Lamar Blvd Ste 100, Austin, TX 78745