Diez on Sixth

Popular Austin street taco joint signs first lease in 6th Street project

Taquería De Diez will remodel a space on East Sixth Street and close its existing downtown spot.

Photo courtesy of Taqueria De Diez

An increasingly popular Austin taquería is moving into a notable new location. Taquería De Diez (D/10) has signed on to rent a space at 500 E. Sixth St., making it the first tenant for a portion of Sixth Street that is undergoing a major revitalization. It will close its current downtown location in the move, with the new location expected to open "in the first half of 2027."

The team redeveloping the area, which is dubbed Old 6th, is Stream Realty Partners. They'll tackle 34 parcels along the famous street, which tourists mostly know for bars, although it also includes restaurants and other businesses.

The space that Taquería De Diez is taking over sits across from Coyote Ugly Saloon and adjacent to Lone Star Souvenir & Food Mart. It is in a portion of Sixth Street where people are starting to converge, but it is less busy than the next block west, making it a reasonably good location to stand and eat tacos, and an accessible pit stop from the mellower, venue-filled Red River Street.

This means the taquería will have a dramatic increase in visibility, which may affect the tone of the business. The current downtown space is tucked into an alley off Trinity Street, where foot traffic is reduced because of the presence of the now-closed Austin Convention Center. Guests have enjoyed the speakeasy-like experience of following the low-profile "tacos" sign inside to a bustling kitchen where line cooks wear retro white caps and shave meat off trompos.

It's not all aesthetics, though. Fans of Taquería de Diez love the flavorful tacos and the authenticity of the street-style cuisine. According to a press release, that experience was the goal for brothers Raul and Luis Esquer and their co-founder Roy Servan when they opened the restaurant in 2023. They bring experience and style from Northwestern Mexico — Tijuana and Sonora — plus Baja, California.

The restaurant's second location, on South Lamar Boulevard, is a bit more visible, and online reviewers seem to hold it in the same esteem.

“We’ve been incredibly grateful for the support Austin has shown us since day one,” said Raul Esquer in the release. “We’re excited to bring our authentic taqueria experience to 6th Street and look forward to welcoming locals and visitors to share in our flavors.”

“Taqueria De Diez is exactly the kind of award‑winning, community‑rooted concept we’re proud to welcome to Old 6th,” said Stream senior vice president Paul Bodenman, referring to accolades from Austin Monthly, the Austin American-Statesman, and Yelp. “Their rapid rise and the acclaim they’ve earned in just a few short years speak to the quality of their food and the passion behind the brand. We couldn’t be more excited to bring their energy, creativity, and culinary excellence to the historic street.”

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AUSTIN ORIGINAL

South Austin fixture Little Mexico says goodbye after nearly 40 years

Photo via Little Mexico Restaurant/Facebook

The exterior of Little Mexico on South First Street near Oltorf.

After nearly four decades as a South Austin fixture, Little Mexico Restaurant is preparing to say goodbye on February 28.

The longtime restaurant on South First Street announced on Facebook that it will close as owner Rosa Elia Martinez steps into retirement, bringing to an end a business described as her life’s work. What began nearly 40 years ago as a small, family-run restaurant grew into a familiar South Austin presence for a weekend breakfast or a holiday tamale order.

As a fixture on South First Street, Little Mexico remained steady even as the area around it transformed. While condos went up and businesses moved out, the restaurant stayed largely the same — a familiar presence as the surrounding street evolved.

The original Little Mexico, also on South First Street, south of Oltorf Street. Photo via Little Mexico Restaurant/Facebook

That evolution has included both new arrivals and notable departures. Over the years, South First Street added restaurants such as Lenoir, Elizabeth Street Cafe, Bouldin Creek Cafe, and Fresa’s South First, reflecting the corridor’s steady shift toward newer concepts. At the same time, longtime businesses continued to disappear. El Mercado, another decades-old Tex-Mex restaurant on the corridor, closed in late 2025, underscoring how rare it has become for old-school Austin restaurants to thrive.

In a farewell message, Little Mexico credited its longevity to Martinez’s dedication and to the longtime staff who became the heart of the operation. In a comment on the post, family member Maria Mondragon, a niece, described the restaurant as her aunt’s life’s work, paying tribute to Martinez as a single mother of six who built the business from the ground up through decades of hard work, sacrifice, and care. She recalled Little Mexico as the site of countless family celebrations, post-run meetups, and shared meals.

The menu remained unfussy and familiar, centered on classic Tex-Mex dishes people came back for, including migas, breakfast plates, tacos, house-made tamales, and endless bowls of salsa. The food was reliable and consistent.

Little Mexico Food A classic Tex-Mex appetizer platter at Little Mexico on South First Street.Photo via Little Mexico Restaurant/Instagram

On Friday nights, Little Mexico often had strolling mariachis in its dining room. In later years, the restaurant publicized regular performances by bands such as Los Funky Monkeys, hosted live sets by Los Marceles, and scheduled Tejano DJ nights led by DJ Rich, typically with a $15 cover charge.

As it enters its final weeks, Little Mexico has reduced its hours, operating Monday through Thursday from 7 am to 3 pm, Fridays from 7 am to 7 pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 7 am to 5 pm, according to another post from the restaurant.

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