La Palapa Restaurant began in the city of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico in 1971, using long-held family recipes. The unique design was based on fishing villages of southern Mexico, where fishermen lived in thatched grass huts called palapas. Take a look at our high interior ceiling, and you may notice how it emulates the feel and look of a Mexican palapa. La Palapa came to Austin in 1984, and evolved a lot from its humble origins. But be assured, we still use the tried and true family recipes.