I was looking for a Chipotle close to me, and then I stumbled across "El Queso" so I thought I would give it a try. Walking into the restaurant I was surprised by the amount of young people that were there, but I later found out that they offer student discount so it made sense. While ordering, everything was fine - the choices seemed to be similar to Chipotles, and I got quite a bit added on my burrito without any hesitations from the workers. While eating the food, everything tasted delicious and homemade/natural. The only bad part was that my burrito was falling apart, and in the end, the price ended up being a bit more expensive than Chipotle. Saying all of that - I would eat here again! read more

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Amazing yummy bowl! Bowl: White Rice Black Beans Grilled chicken (I get steak but they were closing) Corn or mango Salsa Pico De Gallo Cheese Sour Cream Guacamole Queso Side of chips and queso Yum!!! Service was amazing, always same two guys when we go in, clean and well kept. I've been going since high school so great to still stop in read more

El Queso-Fresh Mexican Grill - Tex-Mex Near Me - Plano, Texas

This is a laid back place to pick up some Tex-mex. Think ordering Chipotle/Freebirds style but at a Mom & Pop place. It's fast and easy going through the line and the food is pretty tasty and cheap. I got 3 super loaded steak tacos for $12. They also give discounts to high school students if they bring in ID. read more

El Queso-Fresh Mexican Grill - Grilled steak on corn tortillas - Tex-Mex Near Me - Plano, Texas

Best place ever! I've been going here over the past 12 years!!! Better than chipotle in every way. Best hidden gem. Staff is great as well. Enough seating if you are eating there instead of to go! read more

I went to El Queso and got a bowl with barbacoa and a bunch of other toppings. Overall the food was really good and on par with chipotle. My only problems were the lack of flavor in the rice. Outside of that everything was week done. I highly recommend the barbacoa as the spice and tenderness of the meat is exceptional. Furthermore the salsas pack a nice flavor profile which compliments the bowl and the addition of raw onions goes a long way. Overall I very much enjoyed the food and the service and will be returning! read more

El Queso-Fresh Mexican Grill - Chips and Queso - Tex-Mex Near Me - Plano, Texas

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The food was amazing. I had a burrito with everything on it and wow was it miles better than chipotle or any other Mexican cuisine I've had. The service was quick and respectful, the workers were kind and acted like they were serving you rather than just doing the work. The restaurant is cozy and clean, the seats are comfortable, the store is not like some exotic restaurant but it's basic and clean and that's what's important. Definitely a great meal for not too much read more

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GREAT food, clean establishment, very reasonable pricing, no complaints!! Definitely will be back

Awesome place! Came here on a whim after shopping at Kroger because I was hungry for some tacos. Great staff, great food, and excellent prices!! I will be back for sure. read more

Went on Wednesday for lunch, gave me and my coworkers god awful food poisoning for days. Sick Wednesday night, Thursday and Friday.

Quick service. Food was great. Good quality. Good price for product. Similar to Chipotle. The guy that took my order was polite and prompt to help me. If I'm ever back in the area I'll be sure to return. read more

El Queso-Fresh Mexican Grill - Menu - Tex-Mex Near Me - Plano, Texas

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I love El Queso. Better than chipotle This place is like home. Friendly staff outstanding food. Go here if you want to go home fat and happy! read more

For what El Queso is, it's just cheaper version of Chipotle & Freebirds with lot of cheap & different options to eat. Price was decent, service was good, but the inside definitely needs to improve to grab some more people. Otherwise it was decent experience! read more

Photos may be misleading ( I was in a hurry to eat ) but this place really is a BETTER chipotle . Less emphasis on health, more emphasis on delicious . You can choose from a bowl, salad , giant burrito , or nachos , and top it with whatever you want. My nachos had queso, pico, mango salsa ( omgggg yum) , cheese, steak and chicken , and some sauce on the side . This was incredibly filling , and incredibly delicious , all for about 8.50!!! Highly recommend ! read more

El Queso-Fresh Mexican Grill - Tex-Mex Near Me - Plano, Texas

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I have been coming here for at least 8 years now. Love it, it's authentic and way better than free birds or chipotle or qdoba. Their ingredients are fresh, and their queso is unbeatable. It's also the only burrito style restaurant I know of that you can get large shrimp on your burrito. It's fantastic. Ask for the southwest sauce! read more

This is my go to spot for a weekday lunch. It's a similar concept to Chipotle or Qdoba but with a better selection of ingredients and more food options (taco salads, soups, fish tacos). They absolutely pack the burritos. So much so I can't usually finish it without having trouble breathing afterwards. Love the habanero salsa too. It's freaking hottt! The thing I love most about this place though and why I prefer it over the others is, all the ingredients are always so fresh no matter what time of day I go. I've never once had dried up chicken here or shriveled up fajita veggies or undercooked rice. Everything is always fresh. Always. I don't even know how they manage that. read more

Best burrito I ever had,soooo tasty and huge! I will have the whole other half for dinner lol ..my new favorite Mexican restaurant Highly recommended My husband had salmon mango salad and he loved it as well Can't wait for my next time! read more

El Queso-Fresh Mexican Grill - a plate of food - Tex-Mex Near Me - Plano, Texas

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been going here for years! I enjoy the chicken quesadilla and mango taco salad the most. the quesadilla comes with chips and their sauce - the portion is pretty decent. service is fast and the staff are friendly! the prices are reasonable, the inside looks simple and is practical, but could be prettier. during school, high schoolers come here frequently for lunch time. I love going here for their food and will come back soon! read more

El Queso-Fresh Mexican Grill - Taco Salad - Tex-Mex Near Me - Plano, Texas

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Disappointing quick food restaurant. Very tired looking interior with very tired looking staff. Food was hot but not flavorful. Seemed the dish was carelessly thrown together. I had hopes that local competition would have this small lunch place up to speed but they are clearly not keeping up. Sad to see. read more

Never again! Overpriced and poor service! I see why this place stays empty!!! Nearly $16 for a burrito bowl. Chipotle doesn't even charge that much!!! The steak was so tough it was like chewing gum! The put my side of chips in a pizza box! So much for presentation!! This was the absolute worst food I have ever tasted! If I didn't live so far away I would go back for a refund! Disgusting! read more

El Queso-Fresh Mexican Grill - Disgusting Burrito Bowl - Tex-Mex Near Me - Plano, Texas

This place is a great local restaurant that I would come to frequently throughout high school. In addition, they have a student special during lunch on some days. This place is comparable to chain restaurants like chipotle but I like this place more for aspects such as their quesadillas. I have only ever ordered the quesadillas and they do not disappoint. I always order take-out of the chicken quesadilla and it comes with chips and their special house sauce. The sauce is incredibly good so I would recommend asking for an extra one if you go there again and liked the sauce the first time. Their quesadillas are cut into sections and filled with what you want to add. I typically add sour cream, lettuce, medium sauce, pico de gallo, and queso. It's a good filling meal if you are craving Mexican food and want to grab casual take-out. read more

El Queso-Fresh Mexican Grill - Chicken Quesadilla with extra El Queso sauce on the side - Tex-Mex Near Me - Plano, Texas

Very good food! The service there is good as well. Just a better, more clean, and authentic version of Chipotle. My favorite Mexican quesadilla place so far! read more

The food is ok but not good enough to spend almost a whole 20$ bill for lunch...save your money on this over priced chipotle style restaurant, I got a burrito that was $14. I didn't even ask for a drink. The food is edible, but I was pretty disappointed, gonna take a fat dump later for sure tho. If you get a burrrito from here just ask for a plate and some silverware you can't eat it with your hands very easy... read more

10/10 I'll die for this place. Better taste, quality, and proportions than chipotle. Thank you for existing el queso

I don't like to leave negative reviews. And, maybe today was an off day for them but: 1. The woman taking our order seemed almost perturbed at us for trying to figure out what we wanted and not just knowing when we walked in. Friendly she was not! 2. The "large variety" menu really only offers all the same ingredients put together as a soup, a salad, a quesadilla, tacos, nachos, burritos etc. (and soupy cheese nachos are just ICK!) 3. The grilled chicken in our quesadilla tasted of fish. It was NOT fish, but there was definitely a fish taste about it. It was GROSS! 4. If you wanted lemon or lime for your drink, you had to pick it out of the vat with your fingers. Covid is still a thing people! NASTY is still a thing too. 5. The 2nd star was awarded for my ground beef taco salad. It was the best thing on the table and it was just OK... Would I recommend this place to a friend? No Would I recommend it to an enemy? hhmmm, Nah! Will I return? HARD PASS! Did I mention the decor and the Christmas Decorations? It's June! The decor was not ratty, but it also wasn't natty! It was more just tatty... Oh well. Adios! read more

Absolute 5 stars. I've been looking for a better version of chipotle my whole life and I found it!! You have to give it a try and don't forget to get southwest chipotle sauce on the burrito read more

My wife and I went here for dinner last night. My first impression is that the concept is similar to Chipotle, but does not come off as polished. It wasn't bad but neither was it great. The atmosphere was rather stark and more typical of a generic fast food restaurant than a Mexican place. The music was not Mexican or even necessarily pleasant. It was loud. Before I go on I need to point out that I'm not a big fan of the current rage for buritos the size of your head that are mostly filled with rice and beans. Therefore my review will not include that particular item. My wife ordered shrimp tacos. She thought the shrimp were really done well and were very tasty. I ordered the three taco entree. They had several meats to choose from at different prices. I noticed the brisket and the steak were the same price, so I asked if one of them could be the brisket. At first he said no. I pointed out that they were the same price. He looked confused and had to go ask his supervisor. The supervisor said yes but that it would cost more. Again I had to point out they they were the same price, he looked confused, then agreed. Three tacos by themselves don't strike me as a meal, just an entree so I also ordered an order of nachos to share. My tacos were good but not great. The nachos just seemed to be missing something. The chips were ok, the ground beef was good, the Queso was actually very good, but either sour cream or guacamole would have elevated the dish. read more

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This place caught our eye from the freeway (husband has an eagle eye for anything that mentions queso). We were both hungry and decided to stop in. It doesn't look like much from the outside, and that rings true for the inside too. Old Christmas decorations were still hanging on the walls (another reviewer mentioned the same thing 7 months ago so it seems like they stay up year-round), the paint on the walls was chipping, the ceiling tiles were stained brown, and overall it was a dim setting. We ordered two burritos - one with ground beef and the other with chicken (dark meat). The chicken was less than desirable and the ground beef was dry. The selection of veggies was mediocre. I got fresh jalapeños and onions on mine, and we both got queso on our burritos as well which tasted bland. The service was mediocre as well. Our server answered a phone call in the middle of taking our order. Overall, I can't recommend it and probably wouldn't come back. I would rather eat at Nom Noms up in McKinney, or a Qdoba down the road. read more

If you're in the mood for a massive burrito, this is your place. They don't cheap you out of anything, but it is definitely more expensive than most other mainstream burrito joints. I've seen this place for years and finally have it a try. It definitely was better than expected but flavor wise, nothing compared with Chipotle. The concept is the same as Chipotle, you walk through a line to choose toppings, meats, etc. except they have an option to load your burrito up with warm queso, which sounded good but I passed on it. They have more options than chipotle when it comes to veggies and meat, but did not seem as fresh. If you're in the area, it might be worth it to try some of the different options. They have a much wider variety of food than most other places. The staff is very friendly and they move very fast. read more

El Queso-Fresh Mexican Grill - HUGE burrito! - Tex-Mex Near Me - Plano, Texas

Fantastic food really good I'm coming back here especially great for keto. Can't wait

I honestly love this place and the food here. The meat is always fresh and the sauce is spicy. I spend about $100 a week at this place. I have been going here for years. I have met the owner multiple times and the staff knows my order as I get the same thing every time. I arrived today and was trying to get my usual. The gentleman who has served me multiple times refused to provide the plastic bowl from the request. And just to restate I have gotten this order multiple times just last week. The new bowls they have always fall apart as I eat my food, therefore I have been requesting a separate bowl. Now I am not allowed to get a bowl that does not fall apart in my hands... Loyalty and service is not something that this establishment values. As stated before the food is good, but I will not be spending any more money here and I recommend avoiding this place as well. Looks like I'll be looking for a new go to place. read more

Wow!!! Was not sure about this place at first but it was excellent!! The ingredients were so fresh. The staff was very friendly and helpful. The restaurant was clean and comfortable. Delicious homemade pico, guacamole, queso and so much more. Yum, yum, yum! read more

Love this place. I find it much more appealing than the comparable fast-mex joints. No flair, but more proteins on their menu than just chicken and steak. I have no problems with the service. The staff are adults and less likely to pose for a Tik Tok picture with your burrito than Chipotle, Freebirds or Moes. They have a killer shredded beef option for those who don't like the fatty pieces in their steak. They have Cholula hot sauce available and also have some type of nifty Remoulade they give you with their chips. Chipotle snobs and can keep that crap, and their free Salmonella. read more

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This restaurant was an accident find, but it was pretty decent. It reminded me of a Chipotle restaurant where you can order a bowl any way you want. They have choices of grilled chicken, shredded beef, fajita beef or ground beef. I ordered grilled chicken tacos on corn, and the chicken was great. I wasn't a fan of the ground beef. The bowls look good though. Their queso is white queso, and it's pretty good. Other than that, it was quick, easy and good customer service. read more

El Queso-Fresh Mexican Grill - 2 chicken and one ground beef on corn - Tex-Mex Near Me - Plano, Texas

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I got the chicken burrito bowl which was really good. We also got the queso and chips.. the queso tasted really weird.

I ate at El Queso so many times when I attended Plano West - it was a staple for anyone at the school. I went back with a friend today because I was in the area, and I got the quesadilla while my friend got the burrito bowl. (Hint: these two are the best items on the menu imho!) I always love the meal every time I come here -- the food is so flavorful and the chicken is delicious. There are so many options and extra items to add, and the one thing that makes El Queso, El Queso is its southwest sauce. You CANNOT come here without trying the southwest sauce on your meal or with your (free!) chips! Tip: You have to ask for it if you want it on your bowl/quesadilla, and if you run out you can ask for an extra container of sauce at no extra cost! One caveat, though, is that the food is pretty unhealthy - you could get a smaller portion size by buying the kid's bowl or kid's quesadilla. Overall, I would recommend this place to anyone over Qdoba or Chipotle. It may not be the classiest restaurant, but it fulfills its purpose 100%. read more

El Queso-Fresh Mexican Grill - Tex-Mex Near Me - Plano, Texas

This place has great Mexican food! Smells fresh and tastes delicious!!! Order quickly and enjoy!

Love the tacos here. This place is a kind of a Chipotle knock off and it is delicious! It's set up the same way, where you wait in line and tell them what you want as they make it in front of you. One burrito is pretty big and will fill you up. I had the taco plate with a mix of beef and chicken and they were amazing! The place is a little tight and it gets crowded during lunch, but don't let that keep you away. The people were very nice and I will come back when I am in the area. read more

El Queso-Fresh Mexican Grill - The tacos come 3 to a plate. Yummy! - Tex-Mex Near Me - Plano, Texas

Passed it a million times and should have stopped in sooner. They have a veggie taco basket with 3 tacos for like $7.50. Personalize your meal like you would at chipotle. Ingredients all very fresh. Good value. Loved it... more importantly my daughter loved it. She loved it so much she wanted to go back for dinner. She had two tacos, I had one which was enough to satisfy my hunger. We'll be back. read more

Love this place! I went all the time in high school and still enjoy it now. This place is way better than chain versions of the same concept (Chipotle, Freebirds, Qdoba) in my opinion. The meat is delicious and I have dreams about their queso and southwest sauce. Their chips are are crisp and I love the ingredient variety.. Perfect place to grab a bite and not break the bank. read more

Really delicious chicken quesadilla and steak bowl! The quesadilla comes with chips and chipotle ranch sauce. Very tasty! More authentic than chipotle. read more