Takoba

The address at 1411 E 7th St has changed hands more than once, and what operated as Takoba — an East Austin Mexican spot with Mayan culinary influences that set it apart from the Tex-Mex standard across Texas — closed indefinitely in January 2018. The space has since been converted into Barzón, a bar running Tuesday through Saturday from 5pm to 2am.

When Takoba was operating, the kitchen leaned toward traditional Mexican cooking with Mayan roots: birria made with lamb rather than the more common beef, fresh molcajete salsa, and tacos that drew consistent praise from regulars. The bistec was a recurring highlight in guest accounts. Prices were accessible, and the covered outdoor patio suited the East Austin neighbourhood's informal, outdoor-oriented character.

The current iteration of the space, Barzón, runs a bar food menu developed by a Venezuelan chef who is also slated to revamp Takoba's menu if and when the original concept reopens. The bar operates a happy hour from 5pm to 7pm with half-price food (seafood excluded), and a reverse happy hour from 11pm to 2am offering the same food discount alongside $1.50 bottle beers and reduced cocktails. Whether Takoba returns in its original form remains unconfirmed as of mid-2026.