Austin's beloved Mexican restaurant Polvos opens at Barton Creek Mall

Matthew Odam, Austin American-Statesman
·1 min read
Polvos regulars will recognize dishes like the guajillo fajitas.
Polvos regulars will recognize dishes like the guajillo fajitas.

Your trip to the mall potentially just got a little tastier. Polvos, one of Austin's favorite Mexican restaurants, opened a location at the Barton Creek Mall in April.

The restaurant at 2901 S. Loop 360 (Capital of Texas Highway) isn't actually in the mall (Austin hasn't gotten that weird just yet). It occupies the large building long inhabited by the Abuelo's Mexican Restaurant chain.

The high-ceilinged space features a large full bar with multiple televisions, and several dining spaces dotted with wicker basket lighting. The menu, with dishes like chile rellenos, enchiladas and the restaurant's signature guajillo fajitas is the same as the original Polvos. Morelia, Mexico, native Oscar “Polvo” Linares opened the original in 1997 on a stretch of South First Street that was lined with Mexican restaurants well before commercial real estate brokers starting salivating over the corridor’s possibilities.

The third Polvos location is situated in the southwestern part of the Barton Creek Mall parking lot.
The third Polvos location is situated in the southwestern part of the Barton Creek Mall parking lot.

Polvos, which also operated off Wells Branch Parkway for a period, opened a downtown location in 2018 in a space that had been home to Prelog's and Garrido's.

The new Polvos, which features plenty of parking, as one would expect with its location, is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and Sunday, and until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

The dining room in the Polvos at Baton Creek Mall features a full bar and high ceilings.
The dining room in the Polvos at Baton Creek Mall features a full bar and high ceilings.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Polvos Mexican restaurant opens a second location at Barton Creek Mall