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Get Your Cactus On: Where to Find Nopal & Prickly Pear Dishes in Austin

Embrace the savory and sweet delights of the prickly pear cactus in everything from sorbet to tacos.

by Nadia Chaudhury Oct 6, 2014, 3:40pm CDT

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Contigo

by Nadia Chaudhury Oct 6, 2014, 3:40pm CDT

Cactus is as local as it gets in locavore-crazy Austin. The drought-resistant vegetable’s many parts go by different names on menus, including prickly pear, nopales, nopalitos, and more. Here are the best cactus dishes Austin has to offer, from Licha’s nopal salad, Veracruz’s nopal tacos, to boozy drink of Odd Duck’s margarita. If your favorite cactus-based dish is missing from the list, let us know on the tipline or in the comments.

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Licha's Cantina

Eater reader lagorda opts for either the ensalada de nopal or the tlacoyo de nopal here.

1306 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702

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El Alma Cafe y Cantina

The Nopalito Salad at El Ama, is just plain “amaze,” according to Eater reader happymercado, which comes with cactus, pico, queso panela, and hemp seeds.

1025 Barton Springs Rd., Austin, TX 78704

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El Naranjo

The nopales clasicos is served a la Mexicana, which means it’s in a delicious mess of tomatoes, serrano and chile peppers, white onions, and cilantro.

85 Rainey St., Austin, TX 78701

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Dai Due Butcher Shop & Supper Club

Luck out and catch the delicious prickly pear sorbet on Dai Due’s ever-changing menu.

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Papalote Taco House

The adobada comes with pork (marinated in huajillo sauce), topped with queso fresco, avocado, and of course, a mess of cactus. [Photo: Patrick O./Yelp]

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2803 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

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Contigo Austin

For a real cactus brunch, get the nopales at Contigo, a plateful of sourdough bread, refried white beans, fermented jalapenos, and a sunny side-up egg.

2027 Anchor Ln., Austin, TX 78723

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Twisted X Brewing Co.

Head down to Twisted X’s tasting room for a sip of their Siesta Prickly Pear Lager, made with prickly pears and red corn for a slightly pink brew.

23455 W RR 150, Dripping Springs, TX 78620

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Maria's Taco Xpress

The very Austin vibe of Maria’s is the perfect place to devour a nopal taco.

2529 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

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Odd Duck

New to Odd Duck’s cocktail menu, the bright pink prickly pear margarita will make it easier to down all of those nopales tacos.

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1201 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

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La Flor

Fresh-made tortillas makes the La Flor’s tacos just that much better for nopalitos and whatever else you’d want to add. [Photo: Jay J./Yelp]

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Austin, TX 78745

Amy's Ice Creams

Another sweet dessert made with prickly pear can be found at Amy’s Ice Cream, where sweet cream is mixed with vegetable and corn syrup.

3100 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

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La Fruta Feliz

Bump up your breakfast taco game with la Fruta Feliz’s nopalitos tacos.

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3124 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78723

Takoba

Cactus goes well with everything, so order a side of nopales to go with whatever entree you get.

1411 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702

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Veracruz All Natural

Another great bet for breakfast tacos with nopales can be found at the Veracruz Taco Truck. Add both salsas, you won’t regret it. [Photo: Emily C./Yelp]

1704 East Cesar Chavez, Austin, TX 78702

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El Azteca

The nopalito enchiladas come covered in ranchero sauce and jack cheese for a vegetarian-friendly meal. [Photo: Rebekah L./Yelp]

2600 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702

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Chuy's

For a go-to prickly pear margarita, Chuy’s has your drink.

1728 Barton Springs Rd., Austin, TX 78704

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Licha's Cantina

1306 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702

Eater reader lagorda opts for either the ensalada de nopal or the tlacoyo de nopal here.

1306 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702

Visit Website

El Alma Cafe y Cantina

1025 Barton Springs Rd., Austin, TX 78704

The Nopalito Salad at El Ama, is just plain “amaze,” according to Eater reader happymercado, which comes with cactus, pico, queso panela, and hemp seeds.

1025 Barton Springs Rd., Austin, TX 78704

Visit Website

El Naranjo

85 Rainey St., Austin, TX 78701

The nopales clasicos is served a la Mexicana, which means it’s in a delicious mess of tomatoes, serrano and chile peppers, white onions, and cilantro.

85 Rainey St., Austin, TX 78701

Visit Website

Dai Due Butcher Shop & Supper Club

Luck out and catch the delicious prickly pear sorbet on Dai Due’s ever-changing menu.

Visit Website

Papalote Taco House

2803 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

The adobada comes with pork (marinated in huajillo sauce), topped with queso fresco, avocado, and of course, a mess of cactus. [Photo: Patrick O./Yelp]

Open in Google Maps

2803 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

Visit Website

Contigo Austin

2027 Anchor Ln., Austin, TX 78723

For a real cactus brunch, get the nopales at Contigo, a plateful of sourdough bread, refried white beans, fermented jalapenos, and a sunny side-up egg.

2027 Anchor Ln., Austin, TX 78723

Visit Website

Twisted X Brewing Co.

23455 W RR 150, Dripping Springs, TX 78620

Head down to Twisted X’s tasting room for a sip of their Siesta Prickly Pear Lager, made with prickly pears and red corn for a slightly pink brew.

23455 W RR 150, Dripping Springs, TX 78620

Visit Website

Maria's Taco Xpress

2529 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

The very Austin vibe of Maria’s is the perfect place to devour a nopal taco.

2529 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

Visit Website

Odd Duck

1201 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

New to Odd Duck’s cocktail menu, the bright pink prickly pear margarita will make it easier to down all of those nopales tacos.

Open in Google Maps

1201 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

Visit Website

La Flor

Austin, TX 78745

Fresh-made tortillas makes the La Flor’s tacos just that much better for nopalitos and whatever else you’d want to add. [Photo: Jay J./Yelp]

Open in Google Maps

Austin, TX 78745

Amy's Ice Creams

3100 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

Another sweet dessert made with prickly pear can be found at Amy’s Ice Cream, where sweet cream is mixed with vegetable and corn syrup.

3100 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

Visit Website

La Fruta Feliz

3124 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78723

Bump up your breakfast taco game with la Fruta Feliz’s nopalitos tacos.

Open in Google Maps

3124 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78723

Takoba

1411 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702

Cactus goes well with everything, so order a side of nopales to go with whatever entree you get.

1411 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702

Visit Website

Veracruz All Natural

1704 East Cesar Chavez, Austin, TX 78702

Another great bet for breakfast tacos with nopales can be found at the Veracruz Taco Truck. Add both salsas, you won’t regret it. [Photo: Emily C./Yelp]

1704 East Cesar Chavez, Austin, TX 78702

Visit Website

El Azteca

2600 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702

The nopalito enchiladas come covered in ranchero sauce and jack cheese for a vegetarian-friendly meal. [Photo: Rebekah L./Yelp]

2600 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702

Visit Website

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Chuy's

1728 Barton Springs Rd., Austin, TX 78704

For a go-to prickly pear margarita, Chuy’s has your drink.

1728 Barton Springs Rd., Austin, TX 78704

Visit Website

Related Maps