Feb 3, 2026 | 9:08 am
After nearly four decades as a South Austin fixture, Little Mexico Restaurant is preparing to say goodbye on February 28.
The longtime restaurant on South First Street announced on Facebook that it will close as owner Rosa Elia Martinez steps into retirement, bringing to an end a business described as her life’s work. What began nearly 40 years ago as a small, family-run restaurant grew into a familiar South Austin presence for a weekend breakfast or a holiday tamale order.
As a fixture on South First Street, Little Mexico remained steady even as the area around it transformed. While condos went up and businesses moved out, the restaurant stayed largely the same — a familiar presence as the surrounding street evolved…