El Nuevo Mexico Gets Crunchy; Best Craft Brews Of 2012

Here's where Austin food bloggers and Rob Balon ate this week.

TACO JOURNALISM — Taco expert Mando Rayo gets crunchy at El Nuevo Mexico in Crestview, giving the little Tex-Mex joint 3.5 stars. He likes their hand-made tortillas and tasty beef fajita gordita, (the "meat was crunchy on the outside yet tender on thee inside") but couldn't get behind the al pastor: "Once I took a bite, I was like whaaaa happen to the trompo???"

KVUE — Hollerin' Rob Balon and his incredible Cosby sweater visit the Jack Allen's Kitchen Round Rock location, which opened in October: "WHAT A CHRISTMAS PRESENT FOR THE BELEAGUERED RESIDENTS OF THIS TECH-CENTRIC CITY!" And so on.

STAY HOPPY AUSTIN — Here's a review-listicle of "the best damn craft beers of 2012" according to Stay Hoppy. Included: the Austin Beerworks Sputnik ("this one was a home run"), Pinthouse Pizza's Bearded Seal ("the new kid on the block knocked it out of the park") and Namaste Brewing's Brahmale IPA.

· For Crunchy Fajitas, Go Here: El Nuevo Mexico [Taco Journalism]
· Dining Out: Jack Allen's Kitchen [KVUE]
· Best Austin-Area Craft Beers Of 2012 [Stay Hoppy Austin]
· All Week In Reviews Coverage on Eater Austin [-EATX-]

El Nuevo Mexico. [Photo: Marcus M./Yelp]