A dash of local flavor aired to a national audience recently as Austin's Polvos Tex-Mex Restaurant was featured on the popular TV game show 'Jeopardy!' In the episode that aired on Friday, June 21, a $2,000 clue highlighted the eatery's tacos and chili con queso. According to MySanAntonio.com, the host Ken Jennings presented this: "The Tacos and chili (misspelled chile) con queso at Polvos on South First street make it a staple of this city's 'Mexican Mile." The piece of trivia, tagged as part of Austin's "Mexican mile," was correctly guessed by a contestant, spotlighting not just Polvos but the city's rich culinary tapestry.
Despite the nod on 'Jeopardy!', locals have expressed some confusion over the term "Mexican Mile," which is attributed to a stretch of South First Street laden with Mexican cuisine options, the historical term according to community buzz hasn't been widely recognized in recent years, "I’ve lived in Austin almost my entire life and never heard of S 1st as 'Mexican mile'," a Reddit user shared candidly, echoing the sentiments of others in the community. Polvos, which began pleasing palates in 1997 has expanded its presence beyond the original Bouldin Creek spot, with locations downtown and most recently at Barton Creek Square Mall in 2023, illustrating the chain's growth and the city's evolving gastronomic scene.
As Austin's dining landscape morphs, new players step onto the scene. Taco Palenque, a South Texas chain, has solidified its spot in Austin proper with the opening of its first city location on June 24, as reported by Eater Austin. This builds upon their existing footprint in the metro area, including Round Rock and Cedar Park. Meanwhile, closures like Taco-Mex, have made way for new ventures such as Pepperazzy, diversifying the culinary offerings with a menu ranging from tacos to fried seafood.
The reference to Polvos on 'Jeopardy!' stirred more than just a craving for Tex-Mex; it surfaced nostalgia and a sense of pride among Austinites, even as some scratched their heads over the "Mexican Mile" designation. Regardless, of familiarity with the term or not, Jeopardy! once again served up a reminder of the cultural significance of local haunts, bringing a piece of Austin to living rooms across the country.
