El Chato, Austin

El Chato means "the plain one", but there is absolutely nothing simple about the restaurant El Chato. The eatery is house in a 1958 Greyhound bus that has been converted into a bustaurant. Colorful Mexican murals grace the exterior of the vehicle, while inside a compact stainless steel kitchen cooks up platters of authentic interior Mexican cuisine. And El Chato's chefs are certain to let patrons know that these particular interior Mexican entrees are nothing like their Americanized counterparts oozing with Velveeta cheese and ground meat. The chefs instead boil and shred the meat they pack into their tacos, empanadas, and tamales; use only white cheese including asadero; and handcraft enchiladas by dipping them in chili sauce before frying them in oil.

The restaurant's hefty entrees are served up for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and can be enjoyed amid the interior's cozy booths or on the outdoor patio illuminated by string lights and the moon, which they lasso in each night. Designed to be family-friendly, they also feature an outdoor playground set for children.