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Abuelo's Mexican Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Mexican Mexican [Edit]
Barton Square Creek Mall2901 S Capitol of Texas Hwy
Austin, TX 78746
(512) 306-0857
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
83 reviews for Abuelo's Mexican Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"...favorites are the Enchiladas de Cozumel and the Chili..." In 5 reviews -
"I've got three words for you: Papas con Chile." In 5 reviews -
"Oh shit, can't forget happy hour, they got a good one." In 7 reviews
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83 reviews in English
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Review from Gregg D.
San Diego, CA
4/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
EXCELLENT Mexican Food. As a born and bred Californian, it amazes me how difficult it is to find really good (Cali- style) Mexican restaurants in Texas. Sure, Tex-Mex joints are available on every other corner; but true California style Mexican is completely different. Abuelos got it right! Don't get me wrong, this still isn't authentic "Mexican" Mexican food, but it IS Cali-style! I cannot recommend this place enough.
From the beginning with the warm chips and salsa to the end with the deep-fried ice cream or flan, this place is AWESOME.
Great drinks and great service too. Who knew?! -
Review from Hannah P.
Pflugerville, TX
Salad was good. Who can mess up salad though,.... .. My husband ordered the chimichanga and was full from eating a half. We took the other half home. My friend ordered the burrito and finished it. That's her usual order everytime she goes. Sadly my husband and friend received their food before I was even able to order. Our server wasn't that great and pretty boring. We told him if they did anything for birthdays and he said yes. So we were expecting a big group
Singing and just something special. Nope! We were wrong. The server just brought a flan out to her. Without giving her eye contact, he said in a very quiet voice, happy birthday. He slipped the flan on the table and immediately walked off. I think that was quite rude but oh well. I guess at
least she got a flan, right? I don't think I will be back. Wasn't quite a fan with the food and service. I've had better... -
Review from Stephanie R.
Austin, TX
1/18/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Lemme splain my A-OK review....
We headed over to ABULOS (as my father-in-law says) for dinner....right after I gave a mini Spanish lesson to say Abuelo's correctly. *Grin*
The service is great, decor is awesome, and the busboy was like Speedy Gonzales. The food? That's where I have an issue.
We started the meal with a queso that came in a large flat bowl...kindof hard to "dip" our chips. For chips and queso the chip bowl was tiny...and not filled. Weird.
I ordered the fajitas for one and wasn't too impressed. There were more veggies on the grill plate than meat. My in-laws split the Chile Relleno plate and like it.
The 3 of us split a Tres Leches for dessert an it was very good.
Overall...a very Gringo place for Mexican food. I can say this without prejudice because I myself AM half Gringo and half Hispanic. So there! :o)
Next time we go back (and I'm sure we will) I'm ordering some drinks...will update that section next time.
Until then....adios amigos. -
Review from Anna D.
Austin, TX
4/29/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Fabulous, I'm giving 5 stars because the food is always delicious and consistently prepared every time I go. Good food and tasty.
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Review from Alyssa D.
Austin, TX
5/2/2012
Great happy hour! A whole list of appetizers ranging from $2-$5 including tacos, nachos, seared tuna, dips, carnitas, and shrimp. Big goblet-style XX and XX amber for only $3.50, big Rita's for $4.50. We sat in a table in the bar area, and Allison was awesome! Very attentive and knowledgable. Will definitely be back for happy hour, or their reverse happy hour with $5 fajitas!
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Review from Kelsey K.
4/2/2012
I stopped in here to grab a quick bite while I was waiting to meet someone and, aside from the awesome outdoor seating, I can't say that there's any reason why I would enjoy this place. The food was very unexciting and not very good.
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Review from Mimi G.
11/20/2011
I really enjoy going to Abuelos. I've been here numerious times and it has not yet disappointed me.
The service has been on point every time. Even the hostesses have had a smile on their face everytime and have done their best to give me a small conversation in the 30 seconds of contact. The servers have gone beyond and above to make my dining exp fanastic.
The resturant itself has always been clean and tidy. Its not very cluttered with decor and tables. You can walk past each table and not hit your hips on anything. Its never been to crowded when I have gone.
I really really really like the food here. The food is made to order and its hot when it gets to your table. It taste fresh and does not have that "the plate has been sitting under a hot lamp for hours" taste. Salsa and guacomole/avacado are very fresh. I enjoy their enchilades and Fajita Chimichange the most. Not over cooked! If I had a con it would be their Queso. Its a bit to watery for my taste and taste like any other resturant queso.
The prices are reasonable for the quality of the food and how much you get. It does not break my bank if I go there twice a week. -
Review from John M.
11/18/2011 4 photos
At the current time WE are running way behind on our reviews so dates may vary...Thanks..
Atmosphere and Cleanliness: Clean, Inviting , not over cluttered with Décor.
Service: Very attentive, personable and staffed for business..
Food: Abuelo's Dip Sampler...good variety for a picky group, guac was AWESOME...Chips and Salsa Fresh and Cruchy..Great presentation on Both.
Fajita Chimichanga...a little mislead on the Anaheim pepper...was a whole pepper..still was good.. had to pick around it...too much crunch for the wifes pallet. Nogales....All around great flavor...Shredded beef was spicy in a good way...Refried beans were the Bomb.. They are cooked in bacon...would be great with BBQ....Rice was "Mexican Style Rice"....and was good.
Worth the Adventure: YES...and we would adventure there again, but the adventure continues. -
Review from Dawn C.
4/22/2011
Dinner at Abuelos means good food, great service, priced appropriately and fun art on the walls!
This is not your typical Mexican food which is why I like it. They do not offer up the typical Tex Mex most people in Austin are use too eating. What they do offer is Mexican food with a touch of Texas, New Mexico and California all rolled up into one location.
They have a wonderful sampler for an appetizer which I highly recommend (queso, guacamole w/sour cream surrounding a serving of standard guacamole in the center and a chili con queso) served with their chips and two types of salsa. One of their salsa has a heavy, smokey flavor reminiscent of Hatch Chiles and the other is your standard Austin salsa. Their fajita salads are super tasty and their spinach casserole is simply amazing.
The drinks are good, really good, the kind you make at home so have a DD and enjoy!Listed in: Tex-Mex & Mexican
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Review from Mary M.
Austin, TX
9/27/2011
The restaurant is nicely decorated, kind of dark and swanky, and the chips are good. That's as far as it goes. Come here for drinks, perhaps, and chips and salsa, but do not order food. It's abysmal.
My mother and I both had the enchilada meals-I had one spinach enchilada and one avocado--and she had one chicken and one spinach. The spinach was a casserole mixture that was the exact same thing as the side on my plate (chopped frozen spinach, soup mix, canned mushrooms). The avocado enchilada was actually made with guacamole. The sauces were definitely soup-mix based. Nothing tasted fresh. Unlike many restaurants in Austin, their kitchen isn't open, and I can guarantee they aren't chopping up vegetables back there. They're opening cans and microwaving.
The vegetarian options are few and the clientele is made up of mall shoppers (no offense, mall shoppers). -
Review from Farzad S.
Austin, TX
10/23/2011
This is our favorite Mexican food spot. Love the lunch deals... usually order the Durango Burrito - YUMMMMY!!! And, I don't think you can find better value for HH food anywhere. I particularly LOVE the jumbo shrimp wrapped in bacon and stuffed with cheese on their HH menu... for chip change... Are you kidding me???? And the service is awesome... Bartenders are friendly and accommodating. All in all, great food, reasonable prices, awesome HH deals, excellent service... Hard to beat... We also tried the original location in Lubbock a couple of months ago... Same experience; good food, great service, but that location didn't have HH.
Listed in: Best Happy Hour
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Review from Vanessa D.
Pflugerville, TX
3/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
A large group of us dined at Abuelo's Saturday night...l think there were around 13 or 14 of us altogether. First off, I sincerely would not want to serve that large of a group personally. The sheer number would freak me out. However, that wasn't a problem for our server, Santi. He was very efficient and attentive...and easy on the eyes.
I had a Reynosa Salad which was basically a fancy taco salad. It was very good though. Because it has queso on it, I didn't request dressing but I would probably reconsider if I ever order this again. My oldest had Shrimp Mojo de Ajo and loved it. He is a huge seafood fan so the shrimp really hit the spot for him. But he also loved the angel hair pasta and the garlic sauce that crowned the dish. My youngest had a cheese quesadilla off of the children's menu. He ate the whole thing without having to be told and that says something...or maybe it was just my threat to take away the wii for Spring Break if he didn't exhibit his best behavior that day.
My friends that were sitting next to us had, I believe, The Grande. They are both big eaters and it was almost more than they could handle. They both enjoyed it immensely though. The main comment I heard was on the papas con chiles...mashed potatoes with chile peppers. That sounded so good I almost ordered a side of it myself and will probably do so on my next visit.
My only complaint....I had to ask for a children's menu. If you see a 6-year-old child...assume they need a children's menu because they do...with very, very, very rare exception. -
Review from H M.
Austin, TX
2/22/2012
We went to Abuelo for my wife B-day. everything was ok intil we got our Meal. My wife and i shared the fajita plate for two. When we got it they gave alot alot of veggies with meat can fill only one and half taco each. I told the manager about he was like we go by pounds. I Told him well then You want to make the rest of my tacos full of veggies with no meat for $30.00? HELL NO!!!!!! I told my i should have took my family to Pappasitos at lease you get what you pay for there. The manager got all upset then i told never mind it is what it is. My mom and son meal was great they where very happy. My wife and I didnt even get to eat because we where NOT paying for that Junk. I did not want to change my order because i didnt want the chef and all the staff to spit or do any esle to my meal afterwords. We even had a free dessert coupon that i did not want to use. I just wanted to leave. They ask us if we like a togo box for the meal we didnt even touch. we said no thankyou. At the end we only paid for my mom and son meal. BUT WONT EVER GO THERE AGAIN!! Worst Restaurant i been to in Austin. Even Chilli's fajitas look and smell better then the guys..
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Review from Brian M.
Austin, TX
2/20/2012
We ordered Queso Flameado - the waitress set it on fire but when it was bigger than she anticipated started blowing it out and blowing all over our food! We ordered a half order of sopapias, she brought a whole order. I ordered the small order of tilapia she charged us for a large order. Not to mention, she was snobby when the mistakes were mentioned. Nice decor but the food was very subpar and the service was just awful.
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Review from Ann K.
Austin, TX
2/20/2011
This "Mexican Embassy" is out of touch with the homeland. Abuelo's brings "the flavor of mexico" via your choice of meat, rolled in a tortilla, smothered in watery sauces of red, Exorcist green, or bile, and doused in cheese. The fact this American chain won "America's best Mexican Restaurant" is an insult to a rich and colorful cuisine.
Are you lactose intolerant? Good luck, because everything comes with dairy. Sure, you can order your food without, but you'll lose the only thing that has flavor.
The margaritas were decent, but I think I need another. -
Review from mary t.
Austin, TX
9/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
How have I never written a review for this place? Call me cheesy, but I love Abuelo's. It may be a "chain" but my tummy sure does love it. Everyone has their own favorites when it comes to tex-mex, and this is my favorite. Let's start with the queso. I'll try not to drool. Let's just say the first time I ever went here (random trip after shopping) I ate 5-6 bowls of chips between 2 people. I love the chips (super thin), the salsa (it's very liquidy, don't expect chunks of tomatoes or anything), and the queso (again very runny, but in a good kind of way?). I also love their chicken tortilla soup (very brothy, not creamy). For entrees I love all of their salads and fajitas. I really like the shrimp fajitas though the shrimp can sometimes be overcooked/dry but they put a bbq baste on it and its yummy! Lastly, for dessert, they have delicious flan. I really miss this place!
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Review from Nick R.
Austin, TX
11/24/2010
Mediocre Mexican food. Lots of MSG.
Though they don't put it on their menu most of their food has MSG after talking to the manager.
Sitting at home with a pounding headache. I won't be back. -
Review from Michelle C.
Austin, TX
1/2/2009
Perhaps my general lack of enthusiasm for Tex Mex is influencing my feelings about Abuelo's, or perhaps I just ordered the wrong dish, but my first visit here was singularly unmemorable.
I had a shrimp fajita salad, which cost around $10. The base of the salad was a highly uninspiring bed of cheap lettuce. The shrimp were puny and too covered in barbecue sauce. The dressing was bland. I didn't know it was even possible to have bland salad dressing! Even the chips and salsa nearly bored me to tears - the chips weren't salty enough and the salsa was just a barrel of meh.
The atmosphere is rather festive and there's a lot of space to accommodate a large party, but that's about all Abuelo's had going for it on my first outing. Personally, I'd rather eat at the food court in the mall - I think the salads at Frullati are better than the one I had here, if that tells you anything. -
Review from Kevin N.
1/1/2008 1 photo
If you're anything like me, you know how alluring it can be to wish each of our dining experiences were like scenes in movies you never forget: sweeping, cinematic, full of the deepest reds and coolest blues, the type of stuff that would make you weep in mere remembrance.
That's not Abuelo's, but it's still pretty good.
I've long held a soft spot for this place based at least a little on the fact that I've spent heavy time at other locations during my college stretch, and the schooners full of beer served here always make me smile. Nothing like a giant goblet of icy goodness to clear what ails you. That said, one thing that I've oft noted is the fact that the menu seems to get regularly updated. I found out tonight, for instance, that there are a variety of Mexican soup options here. All told, pricing is fair enough, the staples they make here usually hit the spot just fine by me.
And if that means that I come out on the other end with a tasty but not singularly remarkable experience, I'm cool with it. There's enough here to love. And it'll take more than one stop to confirm it.Listed in: Austin Mexican Y TexMex
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Review from Marla C.
7/15/2008
I've got three words for you: Papas con Chile. They're so good, these bad boys are TRADEMARKED, people!
Here's how they describe the P con C: "A wonderful taste combination of whipped red potatoes, four cheeses, red and green peppers, sour cream and the perfect touch of garlic and jalapeño." Holy mother of GOD, my friends, these things are tasty. And the other side I adore? The espinica casserole. Que bueno!!
I don't even care that this place is a chain. Screw it. They had me at the Papas.
Oh yeah, the rest of the food is good too, and I've always had very good service. -
Review from Larry V.
Austin, TX
1/10/2008 2 Check-ins Here
Abuelo's Mexican Food Embassy (http://www.abuelos.com) is a privately held conglomeration of 38 companies from Wisconsin to Arizona and Florida operated by Food Concepts International LP of Lubbock TX. They specialize in a variety of ethnic food items, including a range of starters, such as a dip sampler, chile con queso, nachos and green chile chicken quesadillas. The restaurants specialty includes sauted chicken zucchini, white wine lemon chicken and rib eye steaks. It also serves seafood items, including wood-grilled salmon filets, stuffed crabs and fresh shrimp, and offers special menus for children and senior citizens. The queso stands out from the normal blend of American and Jack cheeses, offering great flavor with just a hint of heat.
I had experienced an Abuelo's restaurant in Indianapolis, and found the building near the Barton Square Creek Mall to be a pretty close copy, right down to the sky painted on the ceiling, the black uniforms of the wait staff, and the delicious thin chips and salsa. Abuelo's is a very good concept. No greasy Tex-Mex foods are offered. Good quality Mexican and American dishes are! The menu consists of really tasty dishes attractively plated at reasonable prices. Many are under $10. The food is fresh, the atmosphere pleasant, and the service that we received was excellent. One of the things you'll notice here is that their wait staff seems like professionals when compared to the service at "mom & pop" restaurants. The facilities were well maintained, clean and bright, the floors sanitized, and the ambience was casual, intimate, and subdued lighting. A good setting for a good meal.
Lea and I arrived early for dinner, well before the rest of our party, as we were coming from the south, and everyone else was tied up in inbound traffic. Regardless, we were promptly taken to a table and seated, and an endless flow of chips and salsa began, accompanied by Steiner Bock and iced tea. Lea and I like Abuelos' chips more than most chips, and tend to compare all others to these. They are light and crispy, flash fried so they aren't greasy, and are just sturdy enough to use for dipping the salsa.
Our party arrived and orders were turned in, we oohed and aahed as each beautifully plated entre was placed on the table: White Wine Lemon Chicken, Salmon San Carlos, Tilapia Veracruz, Juarez with Papas con chili, and the other entrees. All of which were delicious! One word about their soups; they have Tortilla Soup every day, and then rotate the other soups daily. For example, their delicious Cilantro Lime is available only on Mondays. (This soup is so delicious, we have attempted to duplicate it at home, and have come pretty close). Whether selecting meat or poultry, everyone in our party was very pleased, indeed, with the quality of the food and the wonderful service.
The cost of a dinner here is about $25-30, including tip, which is quite reasonable for this level of quality. Plan to be generous when tipping your waiter/waitress. They are right on top of things, and we never had to ask for a single refill all evening. Good service, good atmosphere, good food! That's Abuelo's. -
Review from Dober J.
Austin, TX
3/9/2011
I tried Abuelos once after a movie at Barton creek and took the food to go. The enchiladas we ordered were so salty they were inedible but they were very nice about crediting back our order.
I decided to give them a second chance and ordered the queso flambeado app which was really good.
However, we all ordered bowls of tortilla soup and could not eat them - again was crazy salty.
The food must really be made by abuelos there. They need to take it easy on the salt. -
Review from Tara M.
9/16/2007
I agree with Donna R. "better than Fonda San Miguel and cheaper". The food here is amazing, not your average Tex Mex, it is more upscale interior Mexican. Just to name a few menu items you will not see on the average Tex Mex menu - Pork Loin Fajitas and Avocado Enchiladas... My favorite so far is the Enchiladas DE Cozumel (filled w/ guacamole and covered in wine sauce w/ shrimp, scallops, mushroom, spinach and roasted peppers).
I usually prefer small family run Mexican food; but, Abuelo's has stolen my heart with their Enchiladas DE Cozumel. The food here is so good I usually forget my "required" margarita with my Mex food..... -
Review from Camron R.
4/2/2008
I had to check my boot heel after biting into my steak. I got these kabob thingies with steak and shrimp. The shrimp was good. The steak was tough. None of the other guest with me were too excited about their meals either until we had dessert. One said her soup looked like they just poured a bowl of Campbell's. My tres leches cake was really good.
Our waiter was kinda slow and our waters stayed empty most of the time.
All in all, I'd say this place is about average. -
Review from Lorena O.
6/10/2008
When my mom suggested we go to Abuelo's for lunch I was kinda shocked. She can make herself great Mexican food at home anytime, so I figured if she was willing to go out and spend money on it, it must be pretty good. And since I wasn't paying, I figured, what the heck.
The place is huge. I liked the Diego Rivera replica on the back wall; it gave the joint some cultural class. But, I didn't come here to rate decor or talk art history. Sadly, what I did come here for was not bueno. What was my madre thinking???
The food was sub subpar. My salad looked liked it'd been wilting away in misery in some hidden corner of the cooler shocked by seeing the light of day. My Tortilla soup that the menu assured me would have chunks of avocado had one tiny little piece floating around in its tasteless broth as if by accident. And it arrived lukewarm. Our waitress, unfortunately, was more interested in gabbing with her coworkers than tending to her two tables. My mother ordered Mi Abuelo's Manjar; that was decent. She did have to tweak it a bit, though, and ask for Chile Colorado instead of the regular chile con carne sauce most gringos are used to (we browns won't touch the stuff).
And the bathroom's, fuggedaboutit! I choose not to relive that nightmare. All I can say is I'm glad the restaurant's namesake wasn't my personal Abuelo. If I had been given the option of dining at his restaurant my whole life or starving, I probably would have chosen starving to death.Listed in: Dead to Me
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Review from Jens B.
12/7/2008
Just a clarification, we just dropped in to have a drink at the bar. And now the sad part.. they were dead on a thursday night at dinner time. Our bartender, Dave, was great. I got a top-shelf rita, Susie Q a kettle one and soda.. some chips and salsa arrived. The restaurant itself was interesting in design. The bar area was very bright, and the dining area surrounded the bar was dimily lit. We settled in to our second cocktail and remarked on the hot-sauce. Their habanero salsa rocked, we got some to go. It is ashame to see a place like this so dead, the bar keep mentioned that it has been that way for 6 months now, he had been there for 4 yrs and was a little concerned about business. Seems to coincide with the current economic conditions.
We had a bite of flan, and headed out. Flan very traditional and good. When the tab arrived, I was surprised to see that a top shelf margarita was 10 bucks a piece! Actually the whole menu was a little pricey.. may be why they are seeing a lack business. We headed over to Maudies and had dinner, had a frozen rita..$4.75...ahh.. Maudies.. -
Review from Robin S.
Austin, TX
12/27/2009
Its interesting to see the REALLY wide span of star ratings for Abuelo's.
Lets get the bad out of the way first. Its a chain. The lighting is dim and the table spacing is barely adequate. The bar area feels like vegas with its uplit, faux-sky ceiling. The ritas are not very good at all. They are poured short and made with a terrible mix. The salads here are really barely "ok". The servers are cookie cutter: nice and stepford-creepy. On our last visit our 20 year old server flirted heavily with my 66 year old father, and that took a hefty bite outta the buzz I'd paid extra to have.
No...Abuelo's is imperfect in many ways. But...when this place does something right, watch out. And what they do right is their seafood. Their seafood knocked my socks off. Seriously. Don't believe me? Try the Pescado De Guerreo (thanks Mark D!). Their Tex Mex is also very solid and well priced. The combo plates are HUGE and my husband and I often end up split one and can still easily take another 1/3 of it home. I have not tried their interior mexican but I look forward to trying it someday.
On the tex mex...pretty standard...better than some places in Austin, worse than others. On the combo plates...one thing to be aware of, they put queso on the relleno, which is gross. Just ask for an alternate sauce and they are happy to accommodate.
To those that complain about the tex mex being "gringo" tex mex...is there really any other kind? Its freaking tex mex. I personally liked their queso and to those that complain its made from velveeta...hate to tell ya but I think pretty much all quesos are mostly velveeta.
I also love their chips, I think they are El Milagro or another local similar brand. They are very light so they are fun to eat and not fill up on.
Abuelo's is not unique, and it has little character, but in my opinion you can count on them for an excellent seafood dish or a solid tex mex dish. -
Review from Edison C.
4/14/2008
Abuelo's is like a more intimate, less busy busy busy PF Chang's. Indeed, it's a chain but has less of that chain feel. They have many mexican-style foods and some that are not exactly mexicany. Along with the less-chain-y feel, though, comes the less-chain-y pricing. I think that some of their foods, while pretty good, are overpriced.
I did not have any alcoholic beverages at Abeulo's so cannot comment on the ability of their frozen margaritas to hammer me at this time.
But overall, good stuff.
I am still wondering what is up with the trend of restaurants deciding to take over seemingly unused mall parking lot space and converting it into dining space. Not that there's anything wrong with that, it just puts the restaurants in such scenic locations. -
Review from Nadia A.
Austin, TX
10/3/2011
I've been here twice now only because my husband is in love with their Tilapia Veracruz. Both times I've been here I have been underwhelmed with the food.
The chile con queso was not nearly as high quality as I was expecting for paying that much for a dip. It tasted like cheese dip from a jar and had no spice whatsoever. The chile relleno I ordered was soggy and soft, and came at just a little warmer than room temperature. The shrimp fajitas were okay, though a bit sweeter than I like and was expecting. I asked for vegetarian beans but for some reason my bowl came with bacon. By that point I was so disappointed in my food that I didn't bother asking them to correct it.
There are better restaurants in Austin that offer similar genres of food. This place is really good for large groups, but I don't plan on coming back. -
Review from Olivia G.
Austin, TX
5/21/2008
After reading the other review, I wonder if we dined at a different restaurant? Checked with the hub and yep, it was definitely Awful Abuelo's (our pet name for this place) at Barton Creek Mall. Maybe it was because our visit was for lunch on a Saturday, but there was most certainly nothing upscale about this place - it was simply, average.
Mediocre Mexican food. Check.
Watered down drinks of the chain variety. Check.
Plates of mostly unfinished meals due to the "ick" factor. Check.
Loads of suburbinites with their suburbibrats running wild crushing tortilla chips into the floors. Check.
With so many non-chain restaurant options that actually have decent if not great Mexican food in Austin, I wouldn't waste my time at Awful Abuelos! -
Review from James F.
5/21/2008
My first trip to Abuelo's was many years ago in Abilene, Texas. I was on my way to Colorado and that lunch with an old friend from high school introduced me to a more refined look at traditional Mexican fare. The Lubbock based chain has locations now in 15 states.
I was excited when Abuelo's opened their first Austin location near Barton Creek Mall. The interior is definitely upscale chic with soft lighting and amazing murals. The food is equally impressive starting with the layered dip. This massive bowl of queso, beans, taco meat, guacamole, sour cream, and pico is big enough for 4 people in my opinion. The dish itself does not convey refined; but it's worth the meager $5.99. That's $2 cheaper than another local favorite (Kerby Queso). The seared tuna is another winner especially when paired with the restaurants many salad options.
I've had multiple entrees over many visits and the stand out is the Pescado Guerrero. Delicate Mahi with amazing mesquite flavors topped with a robust seafood sauce with shrimp and scallops. My advice is to get the sauce on the side as sometimes the fish can be floating on top. The Stuffed Chicken Medallions are somewhat of a mixed bag and can be either delicious or dry. Another amazing part of the menu is the sides. Fear not you Tex-Mex purists they have your basic beans and rice. Yelpers, broaden your dining experience with the Papas con Chile (Mexican mashed potatoes) or the Espinaca (spinach casserole).
The drinks are good as I have been known to kick back with a margarita or mojito. I find the dining experience relaxed and refined with above average service. The dress on the average evening borders on the trendy fashion nuances of the area as it sits 400 yards away from Barton Creek Mall and neighboring Westlake. The tragically hip Emo style of Austin intermingles with the Ralph Lauren and Louis Vuitton crowd without any culture clash. Abuelo's food and dining experience is a cut above and a people watchers dreamListed in: Sob...Wish you were here..
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Review from Michael B.
Austin, TX
10/2/2009
Came out of the Barton Creek AMC and decided to grab a quick bite here out of convenience and uh . . . suddenly realizing I had to pee like a racehorse. I've actually been to Abuelo's quite a few times in Plano, but mostly just for drinks and chips and maybe an appetizer.
Food tasted fine. No complaints there. We ordered the fajita lunch specials. I can't get over what a rip off they were though. Six strips of fajita meat for me and 6 strips of chicken for her. Each plate was 9.99. I have a nagging hunch that it would have been a better deal to order the regular fajitas at 13.99 and split them between us! Makes me feel like a chump.
Ordered a Chocolate Explosion for desert and split it. Satisfied the sweet tooth but tasted too obviously like a standardized chocolatey chain restaurant desert.
Service was fast and friendly. No complaints there either. -
Review from Sara L.
Austin, TX
5/8/2009
If you haven't had their happy hour - you must! It's weekdays from 12pm to 7pm. Yes, you read that right! And when they give you a $2 glass of Texan wine, it's Texas sized. The margaritas are always strong, and the Longhorn Margarita (named something like that) is delicious! Also, half priced appetizers during happy hour! I also believe they just started a weekend happy hour, too.
Their food is great, my favorites are the Chili Relleno and Quesadillas. The service isn't super, but it's not bad either. The bartenders are great, but the waiters are sometimes gone just a beat too long.
You MUST go to happy hour here! You will be glad you did :-) -
Review from Jessica S.
Austin, TX
12/2/2007
I try not to go to chain restaurants. Abuelo's works, though because it's a good place for happy hour and closer to home than other options that co-workers might pick.
The salsa was good. Not fabulous, but good. We ordered the trio sampler dip thing. The meat/cheese dip was not great, but the queso and the avocado dip was good. Those two were licked clean.
The drinks were great. My friend knows one of the bartenders, and although we didn't get to sit in the bar area, we still got bar prices. We were a table of 6 and the rest of the restaurant was relatively empty.
Two pairs of friends each shared some nachos. They seemed happy with what they ordered. Full from chips and dips, I only ordered a small cup of salt. ... Wait, I mean a small cup of the terribly salty Tortilla Soup. It didn't have much flavor to it, anyway. But it was way, way salty.
The service was great, the dips were pretty good, the drinks were great, the tortilla soup was awful. Awful and awfully salty.Listed in: It's 5:00 somewhere
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Review from Mica M.
1/16/2010
Okay, so it's a chain restaurant. There, I said it. And I'm not ashamed to admit that I eat here with my mom. Further, I eat here EVERY SUNDAY with my mom. Wanna fight about it? Cuz I'll cut you.
Decent vegetarian options, good drinks, and an awesome patio all right next to that monolith of inevitable consumerism, Barton Creek Square Mall. If you're going to the mall anyway, you might as well check out Abuelo's. They at least have some cool floor-to-ceiling folklorico artwork.Listed in: PILFs- Patios I Like To…
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Review from mind s.
Austin, TX
1/14/2008
I went here once, while lost trying to find Barton Creek Mall for the first time. Some of the best stories start out that way, don't they? Well....
Not so much with Abuelo's (not that it's a BAD story) - now I do love the name, their chain status can be forgiven and the interior is a lovely "feel like you're somewhere else" arrangement, but the food was....well, maybe I ordered the wrong thing. I ordered some huge super combination plate, mostly to get at a chile relleno and an enchilada on the same plate and see what else I liked here. The chile relleno was a poblano chile, yes, but covered - not stuffed, not fried- with queso. Huh. Guess that just wasn't one of their specialties.
However, I had the loveliest margarita I must say - such a different and subtle sweetness that I meant to ask if it were powdered sugar. And it was far from weak. That and the very nice servers will get me back in, and I'm sure I'll find something else to go with the margarita(s) just fine! -
Review from Greg D.
College Station, TX
7/23/2009
Abuelo's in College Station was one of our favorite top scale Tex Mex places and for a long time we thought it was a unique place.
Finding out it was nothing more than a chain was like a poison arrow right into the heart. That really ruins the fun.
While trying this one, it wasn't special. We will continue to seek out privately owned unique places. Next thing you know, you will see an Abuelo's Too in the LA or Chicago airports.... Sigh..... -
Review from Cris G.
7/26/2010 19 Check-ins Here
If I was stranded on a desert island and given a choice of eating Abuelo's or foraging for whatever can be found in the woods, I'd try my luck with the woods. If you must go there, the entire menu is a permutation of shredded meat or chicken served with tortillas, rice, and a choice of beans or their mashed potatoes.
We are cursed to work so close to Abuelo's that sometimes going there simply cannot be avoided.Listed in: The Black List
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Review from Carol G.
San Marcos, TX
8/26/2011
Abuelo's somehow tries to combine Mexican, Californian, New Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisines with disastrous consequences. The food is tasteless and boring. Pretty paintings and decor do not equal fine dining. Someone needs to remind the corporate drones, which own Abuelo's, that it's the food stupid! Do yourself a favor and head over to La Fonda San Miguel or Las Palomas.
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Review from Donna R.
Seattle, WA
8/25/2007
I'm not a big fan of chains, but I'll eat at one from time to time. This one is a good chain - it tends to retain a non-chain like atmosphere as well as have great food. I've never been disappointed here, to be completely honest, i found them better than Fonda San Miguel. Same food as Fonda, but way cheaper and less "pretension".
I almost always have to get the flan. It's some of the best I've ever had.
