Why You Need to Experience the Bone Marrow Tacos at Comedor

Comedor, a Modern Mexican restaurant in Downtown Austin, is well-known for one dish in particular – the bone marrow tacos. I won’t bury the lead – you should try it because it’s unlike any other dish in Austin and definitely one of the fattiest.

If you want to hear more about Comedor and what else to order, keep reading!

Memorable Restaurant Space in Downtown Austin

The black exterior sets the mood. You may have driven past and wondered, I wonder what that building is. Not much gives a clue on the outside but the long wall of glass tiles and the high skylight windows. Comedor’s exterior is both inviting and enticing, and intimidating, making you wonder if you’re cool enough. Right by the entrance, you’ll see the name of the restaurant, though it might take a second to recognize.

The exterior and the host stand area might make you feel cool, but the rest of the restaurant will give you awe. The natural light-filled space, high ceilings, commanding light fixtures, intimate and welcoming courtyard, and the perfect furnishings come together for a beautifully designed restaurant by Architect Tom Kundig and the Olson Kundig firm. I love the connection of interior and exterior in Downtown Austin, like an urban sanctuary.

In today’s world where photos and videos are where we live our lives, the design of space can set your restaurant apart and Comedor’s was a great first impression on the dining experience.

Comedor’s Modern Mexican Cuisine

But you didn’t come here for me to drone on about how beautiful the space is, right? Let’s talk about the restaurant.

Comedor opened in April 2019 by well-known chefs, including Owner and Chef Philip Speer, who if you’ve been in Austin for a while now has a long resume with accolades that include “Best Pastry Chef.” After opening, Comedor went on to win many awards, including several “Best New Restaurant” awards.

What is “Modern Mexican” cuisine? It’s when chefs honor the tradition and flavors of Mexican cuisine but also put their spin on it. The basics are there, like tacos and tostada, but the accompanying elements are different. It’s the same way I think of the broad “New American” category; it has lots of room for interpretation and evolved with complexity and creativity, but there is familiarity in the category.

What to Order from the Comedor Menu

Here’s what you really wanted to know – what to order! For two people, ordering three to four dishes are recommended and the entree dishes are fairly large.

Below are some of my favorite dishes from my meals at Comedor. In short, the bone marrow tacos are the star, a tostada is a great way to start, and you can’t go wrong with aguachile.

Avacado Tostada, Eggplant, Shishito Salpicon ($12) – A great, hearty starter. The tostada is thick and the flavors are sparkling.

Tuna Aguachile, Watermelon, Costeno Rojo, Kelp Chicharron ($24) – The aguachile is a mainstay on the menu and for good reason. (Pictured is a previous iteration.)

Masa Fried Fish Collar, Chile Morita, Citrus Pico, Tortillas ($18) – This dish delivers a wow all around. First, it’s the biggest fish collar I have ever seen. The plate is about 10 inches wide and it’s a barrel fish. Love the crispy masa and there is so much meat! I ate the fish by itself with some pico but it comes with tortillas for tacos.

Quesadilla, Rancho Gordo Frijol, Grilled Smallhold Mushrooms, Quesillo ($19) – A popular dish with very unique taste. I wouldn’t mind having this again but it wouldn’t be my first choice because of lots of other yummy dishes.

Bone Marrow Tacos, Quelites, Smoked Butter, Pecan Gremolata ($48) – The dish guests come to try! These bones are huge with lots of marrow – probably enough for 2 tacos per bone if you’re loading your tacos generously. The kale underneath is perfect with the taco. The act of scraping the fatty bone marrow onto your tortilla is incredibly satisfying. Almost as satisfying as every bite of taco.

Orange Chifflan, Fresh Orange, Marmalad, Curd ($12) – After a heavy and fatty meal, this dessert was light and refreshing. As you can see, orange in multiple ways!