One of Austin's oldest Mexican restaurants is closing after almost 40 years

One of Austin's oldest Mexican restaurants is closing after almost 40 years

Matthew Odam

Tue, February 3, 2026 at 8:49 PM UTC

2 min read

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Little Mexico on South First Street is closing after operating at a few locations in Austin for almost 40 years. (AMERICAN-STATESMAN FILE)

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Little Mexico, a long-standing Tex-Mex and interior Mexican cuisine restaurant in Austin, is closing its South First Street location after 34 years.
The restaurant, known for its culinary comforts and as a music and community hub, has been a stalwart in preserving the old South Austin spirit amidst massive development in the area.
Owner Rosa Martinez, who opened the original Little Mexico in North Austin in 1986, is retiring from the restaurant business but will not be selling the land, which has been rented to a new tenant.

The road once known as Austin’s Mexican Mile is losing another one of its long-time residents. Little Mexico is closing at the end of February after 34 years at that location.

Rosa Martinez opened the homey restaurant that serves Tex-Mex and interior Mexican cuisine at 2304 S. First St. in 1994. She opened the original in North Austin in 1986 and moved it just south of Oltorf Road on South First Street for five years before settling the restaurant on the land she purchased in 1992.

“I’m happy and kind of sad,” Monterrey, Mexico native Martinez said Tuesday, fighting back tears between visits with a couple tables of regulars. “These people are like family.”

The restaurant has been one of the stalwarts that has kept the old South Austin spirit alive on a street that has undergone massive development over the last decade. The road was once home to Jovita’s, La Mexicana Bakery, which closed in 2022, and El Mercado, which closed in 2025.

Little Mexico is closing on South First Street after more than 30 years at that location. (MATTHEW ODAM/AMERICAN-STATESMAN)

In addition to serving tacos, migas, pork adobo and more culinary comforts to diners for decades, Little Mexico has been a music and community hub, hosting meetings of the Tejano Music Coalition and live performances from bands like Susan Torres y Conjunto Clemencia and Conjunto Los Pinky’s over the years.

Martinez is retiring from the restaurant business but not selling the land (assessed at about $3 million by the Travis County Appraisal District). She has rented the property to a new tenant that has not yet been named.

Little Mexico’s last day of business will be Feb. 28.

Martinez’s family posted a message on Facebook thanking their longtime customers and the restaurant's matriarch for her dedication over decades, “As Rosa enters this next chapter, we do so with deep gratitude to our loyal customers and to every team member who helped make Little Mexico what it was. Your hard work, care and pride will always be remembered.”

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