We arrived just after they opened and were seated in a booth and given menus. The place was nearly empty but seemed clean; nothing fancy but nice. Our waitress greeted us shortly after, took our drink orders and returned with our drinks shortly after. She checked in regularly despite an influx of customers. We all enjoyed our food. I had the carne asada, which was delicious. My mom remarked that the coffe was delicious so our waitress went out of her way to find what brand of coffee they use (Farmers Brothers). Overall a great dining experience. I would come here often if I lived in the area. I rarely give 5 star reviews because that represents perfection. I wish Yelp allowed half stars because they deserve 4.5 STARS! read more

Classic Tex-Mex restaurant and local institution. Decor is kitschy in the best way, and the mariachi playlist is pure nostalgia! We were greeted with friendly waitstaff, delicious chips, and a tasty (though very mild) salsa. I also asked for a spicier salsa and loved the salsa verde provided. The chips are really amazing! I could have eaten 4 baskets, but I had to save room for my combination plate! The menu has standard Tex-Mex offerings. The beef puffy taco was great -- crispy shell and nicely seasoned beef-- rounding out my combination with the beef enchilada and rice and beans, I was in Tex-Mex heaven! Our food came out super fast and was freshly made. We finished with sopapillas for dessert and left with full bellies and happy hearts! read more

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Terrible service. Short stocky build Host with an attitude refused to check on my order when it was 10 minutes late, when she did she made sure to make me get up to get it from the counter. Food was equal to gas station food. read more

I was here to celebrate mother's day with a friend, and got the fajita plate with chicken. The server remembered everyone's order without writing anything down and even delivered the correct plates to everyone. The fajita plate came with a good amount of chicken served on some grilled veggies, with a large side of beans and rice, cheese, guac, sour cream, and pico. I appreciated the option for corn or flour tortillas. There was plenty left for leftovers. I always pass here on my way to work and was happy to have a nice meal that wasn't overpriced. read more

El Fenix - The chicken fajita plate. Comes with sides and tortillas - Mexican Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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Food was excellent the waitress Diana was excellent as well very friendly and attentive kept my tea filled and asked if I needed anything else she's an asset to El Fi nix will definitely eat there again read more

Ordered some soups for pick up. I noticed something that looked burnt. Took it out and determined it was a dark blue, rolled up plastic adhesive that I guess El Fenix decided to use as an ingredient today. read more

El Fenix - rolled up plastic adhesive in my soup - Mexican Near Me - Dallas, Texas

Stopped in for a quick lunch with colleagues, the service was quick and friendly. Jazmin was excellent! The menu has plenty of options but nothing really stood out. The portions were fairly large, not one person finished their food at the table but we all left full. I mostly pushed my food around my plate as I didn't care for it but I wasn't terribly hungry to begin with. The chicken enchiladas were bland, the price was reasonable and they did serve coke products. I was pleasantly surprised she brought us to go cups for our drinks, I don't get that often in Colorado. If I came back it might be for a margarita but I doubt this spot would be my first choice. El Fenix is a well-known Mexican restaurant chain located in Dallas, Texas. The original restaurant was founded in 1918 by Miguel Martinez and is said to be the birthplace of Tex-Mex cuisine, the decor felt authentic and lively. read more

El Fenix - Enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Dallas, Texas

Stopped by for lunch the food was good service was horrible I asked for more chips and never received any so I left read more

El Fenix - Mexican Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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Delicious Tex Mex at a reasonable price!!! The fish tacos were extremely tasty and the Tilapia was also amazing!! The service was also fast and efficient and made the whole meal even better!! Highly recommend their margaritas as well! read more

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been going here for years. decades. but now every time i order take out you forget something! act like you care and do better!

Bring back the original chips! Food was okay but wait staff are not cordial or welcoming. Had to ask for more salsa and drinks.

Just got to go, cuz last experience was awful. Drinks weren't rt and took 20 minutes. No salsa w the chips. Never did bring tortillas, as requested. Waiter got pulled to another spot, and we were left w no order gotten put in. So 70 minutes into our sitting there, the manager comes and takes our order AGAIN!! What was happening!? I've been there for 60 years, and know the Cuellars, who started this downtown. They would be so upset at our service. Everything was wrong! He took a lot of the bill, but it became a joke. The bartender, young and ignorant, apparently. Needs training. He forgot my 92 year old mom's Swirl. And sent something supposed to be a Martini. We were sitting at the table by the bar. We watched every thing going on! So, the other night, I got an El Effe platter, and ate on it for 3 days. Was delicious and the Chips were back to original recipe. I'm just going to pretend that other night, was straight out of Twilight Zone, and I'm glad to be back on earth. read more

This is the worst experience I've had in a long time with a restaurant. I've ordered from here multiple times via their online platform - one time I went in person to pickup and my order was wrong, quickly fixed and I left. The last three times ordering online have been for delivery. The first two times were okay, however, with this third time I never received my order. They utilize DoorDash for delivery attempts. I truly feel the dasher may have picked up my order and kept it - all I know is I received text messages stating an arrival time to receiving a message saying my order was canceled. I called DoorDash who directed me to call El Fenix for a refund. El Fenix was very rude and told me DoorDash had to issue the refund. I shared that I placed the order directly with them, on their website, not with DoorDash. They were useless and not helpful, so I called DoorDash back. They confirmed my refund would come from El Fenix and called on my behalf. Supposedly spoke to the general manager who said they would process a refund, however, when DoorDash went to transfer the call, they hung up and then would NOT answer again when DoorDash attempted to call with me on the line. Crooks and scammers! Finally we got the general manager on the phone,Gabrielle, who stated he would process my refund in 20 minutes. This took an hour + out of my afternoon to get this resolved and at the end of the day, I still don't have dinner. Big shoutout to the DoorDash representative who stayed on the phone with me and called on my behalf because El Fenix was not being helpful! read more

Visiting from LA and so happy to have found this historic spot! Bug volleyball tournament made it busy which is understandable and our waitress was attentive. Honestly got full eating chips before the real food came. Recommend for visitors ! read more

I don't live in Dallas any longer, but I lived there for the first 18 years of my life. During that time, I ate at this particular El Fenix quite a bit - probably at least once a month or more. I have a lot of nostalgia for this place. Last month I traveled to Dallas and decided to eat there again. It had probably been close to fifteen years since I had eaten there. Other than a slight change at the cashier's stand, nothing had changed about the décor of the restaurant, as far as I could tell. It brought back good memories from all the times I had eaten there with family and friends. I ordered my old favorite - the cheese enchiladas with chili con carne and refried beans with rice - what they used to call an "Enchilada Dinner". To my surprise - the food was as good as it ever was! I was prepared to be disappointed, as restaurants like this are rarely able to maintain consistent quality over the years, especially through a change in ownership and management. read more

This Tex Mex restaurant is near the Dallas Arboretum, so my friend and I stopped by for lunch before exploring the botanical garden. The interior is airy and spacious, fancy in a casual way, and quite busy. We were seated immediately in booth seating, and served complimentary chips and salsa. These were absolutely delicious and very addicting. The chips were thin, crunchy, just the right amount of saltiness and the salsa had a nice tang to it. I was having a hard time deciding which meal to order. I was tempted by the Fajitas, but finally selected an entrée from the Martinez Family Favorites section of the menu. I initially went for the El Fenix Dinner, but right after, I noticed a photo of the newest edition: El Jefe, and thankfully was able to change my order in time. El Jefe included cheese enchilada with chili con carne, chicken, and cheese, as well as a tamale, along with Mexican rice and beef hard taco. The Mexican rice was cooked well, and was pretty tasty, but the taco was pretty basic. The beef was just okay, but not that flavorful. I enjoyed the enchiladas with meat inside. The chicken filling was well seasoned and tender, while the chili con carne was flavorful and juicy. I also enjoyed the tamale, which was the perfect soft, yet firm consistency and the sauce was really yummy with it. The cheese-based enchilada was not very good though. The cheese tasted way too fake to me. Service was mediocre. When done eating, we had to wait awhile for the waitress to come back so we could ask for the check. Then, I asked for change and it seemed like the waitress didn't understand me well. She let me know that I had to pay in front. The prices were reasonable and portion sizes were generous. I would consider coming back, but wouldn't go out of my way to do so. read more

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Basic text mex. Since they were sold, the menu has been reduced, and the quality has suffered. They do try to add seasonal menu specials, but they are not what I remember over the last 50 plus years of dining, here. The atmosphere is always welcoming and family friendly. Service can be hit or miss, depending on how busy or empty they are. read more

We stopped by here for lunch on a Saturday after the Arboretum. We haven't been to El Fenix in years so I was really hoping it was still as good as back then. We were not disappointed! The food and service were excellent and the restaurant was very clean. I know we will be back for another visit soon. read more

El Fenix - Chicken Fajita Chicken Enchilada Plate - Mexican Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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Food here was decent! They provide complimentary salsa which can't be beat. Just went for cheese enchiladas and they were nothing mind blowing but hit the spot. read more

A Kiwi, an Aggie and 2 Texans walked into a bar...Well, actually it was a landmark popular Dallas TexMex restaurant with a bar! Sunday at lunch and the place was happening! Plenty of parking and the magical staff had us a table quickly! Their signature chips and salsa were on the table as fast as our drinks! Frozen Margaritas and iced teas. This Aggie was a double fisted drinker having one of each! Our orders were placed and as we chuckled and devoured chips and dips, and soon the crew arrived with lots of hot plates covered in classic Dallas TexMex that 2 of us grew up eating. The other 2 adapted to it quickly! There were shrimp fajitas, chimichanga, chili relleno and a Santa Fe Salad (yes, I'm trying to be healthy-ish). All was totally great! Even my salad. Service was super great and drinks were kept filled, less the Margaritas... On the way out, had to grab the traditional pecan pralines! read more

El Fenix - Mexican Near Me - Dallas, Texas

I'm not making it to El Fenix like I used to because of Covid and other factors. But, on the spur of the moment, I decided to stop by with a friend. Boy am I glad I did. Service and atmosphere were up to El Fenix's usual standards. Our waitress was helpful guiding us through the menu. Chips and salsa was abundant. Tea glasses filled,etc. My friend had the fish taco which were delicious. Three tacos filled with fried white fish on a bed of Cole slaw with a nice light mayo based sauce that didn't overwhelm the fish. I had the fajita nachos with chicken. Chips spread with fried beans and covered with abundant amounts of cheese. The chicken was delicious and cheesy. My only complaint is that the fajita meat, though plentiful, was a bit dry. All in all a good meal shared with good company. read more

Yummy spot! Tasty enchiladas and drinks. Staff are efficient and the atmosphere is good.

We always get greeted quickly. The food is good and the portions are large. We usually get Marta as our server and she's wonderful. The restaurant is clean and the tables are a good size. The family pictures on the walls are a nice touch. Love their salsa and the sopapillas are addictive. read more

Friend from Greece in for Month long visit in July. 1st. food she wanted was Mexican, more so that TEX-Mex. Great lunch. service was busy, but got what we needed. custom made couple orders. packed, but was seated because 3 instead of 4 or 6. read more

Is this place supposed to be good? It feels like someone's old closet. Food was meh. Drinks were overpriced. Margaritas $13 each. Beers and whisky $9 each. Would prefer a regular old hole in the wall place vs this. Do not recommend. read more

Tasty food , fast service , ordered a complicated order but service was on point , and was a nice environment

The food is always consistent, the service has always been acceptable, the ambiance is very cultural.

Really nice curbside takeout services available even with the limited seating restrictions that are in place currently. This is one of our favorite restaurants and locations. read more

El Fenix - Thank y'all for the most convenient curbside ordering and takeout selections! - Mexican Near Me - Dallas, Texas

I wanted some good tacos. I paid over $13 for two crispy beef tacos, and when they were served, they had no tomatoes, and very very little cheese. The beef was bland and tasteless. So, basically, I paid $13 for two taco shells filled with meat and lettuce. Hugely disappointed. This place isn't nearly as good since Mike Karns bought it. I've had better tacos (for a lot less money) from Taco Bueno! read more

Our mesero Roque M. was absolutely fantastic. His service was some of the best that we've seen in a long time. He was attentive, offered us a margarita right away, and kept checking on us and gave us time to order when we appeared undecided. The beer my boyfriend ordered was ice cold (he thought it was delicious!), and the food was great. We'll definitely be coming back next time we're in Dallas! read more

Still the best Tex-Mex in Dallas. Frank and Juan always make us fell is special just being there. The food was great. Very fresh. Service was excellent. Our group just took an out-of-town guest to el Fenix, absolutely loved the dinner. Thank you for having the best food in town, thank you for having an excellent white staff and thank you for putting up with a bunch of wild and wacky women. I think our waiter may have noticed our pens that we wear so he will know who we were. read more

El Fenix - We are hot a d hungry!!!!! - Mexican Near Me - Dallas, Texas

Best sweet tea ever, good chips, good service, I know my body's going to reject other foods

This is by far some of best Mexican food in Dallas. It is always consistent, and the staff is ALWAYS super attentive and friendly! Thank you for heating up my salsa Luna! Thank you El Fenix! read more

El Fenix - Swirl margaritas chips and salsa at El Fenix at Casa Linda. - Mexican Near Me - Dallas, Texas

Super disappointed. Their recipes have changed and the food now tastes assembly food from a can. The Martinez family would be so disappointed! I know I am. My family has been eating here since the 1960's. We used to eat here religiously twice per week at least. Now we don't go. Yuck! read more

Safe and reliable Mexican food. The chips and salsa are outstanding. Prices are reasonable and the menu has tons of options. There are several restaurants in the DFW area and I've visited many. Always a good experience. Enjoy. read more

El Fenix - Mexican Near Me - Dallas, Texas

La comida fue más o menos. Yo pedío tacos de pollo y papas fritas y queso. El pollo esta no sabor. Papas fritas y queso es muy bien y mucho calor. El mesero fue amable y rapido. El restaurante esta grande y bonito. Fui a comer El Fenix de nuevo. Pediré un plato diferente con más sabor. read more

Update. After writing my review, their corporate rep wrote me to reach out to them for more information and to make it right; unfortunately it was a lack luster response. I wrote the same thing on their personal feedback site, got a call from their rep, returned the call 5X and never heard a word from them again. Yes I'm disappointed and a bit surprised, with such a big chain all over DFW I thought El Fenix would come through but alas it didn't happen. I think my review is now fully a fair rating with poor follow-up to add to the list. read more

Today we had the most amazing waitress Cynthia and she handled everything great , fantastic services and we had such a great experience at this El Fenix in Mesquite ~ Thank you so much Cynthia ~ we enjoyed you!!! read more

I love the fluffy tacos they made and juicy food. The cheese enchiladas were also delicious. I go a couple times a month because I crave the food read more

The best chips and queso in Dallas. The catering menu has helped me so much for parties!! El Fenix is FANTASTIC!! If you have a chance to experience a Wednesday special you won't ever want to miss one. read more