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Abuelos
Category: Restaurants Mexican Mexican [Edit]
16092 N Arrowhd Fntns Ctr DrPeoria, AZ 85382
(623) 878-8282
- 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:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
53 reviews for Abuelos
Review Highlights
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"And you must try the Papas con Chile." In 4 reviews -
"Also their happy hour is awesome." In 4 reviews -
"The salsa chips are very addicting." In 17 reviews
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53 reviews in English
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Review from Aura C.
3/12/2012
My husband and I decided to go to Abuelos for lunch last week since were in that part of town. The hostess was very nice and seated us immediately. All seemed well until our server came to out table. You could just tell he didn't want to be there. He asked us what we wanted to drink, then tossed out napkins to us. My napkin slid to the other end of the table. Then he just walked away. My husband and I just looked at each other wondering if maybe we were reading something more than it really was into it. But then he came back and asked if we were ready to order. We told him we needed a minute and he just turned his back and walked away without saying anything. I was ready to go.
My husband suggested we sit at the bar because the bartender was really cool. We walked over to the hostess and she could tell something was wrong and asked if there was something was wrong. When we told her she seemed genuinely concerned; she apologized and told us she would get the manager. We sat at one of the table by the bar and the bartender came over immediately and greeted us. He is a spirited guy! We felt right at home. We ordered drinks and our entrees.
The manager came over to out table to talk to us. He also apologized for our experience and thanked us for staying. He gave us the Abuelos dip sampler. I had never had that before. It was delicious. The chili and cheese was my favorite and my husband's was the avocado cream. I had the steak fajitas and my husband had the fajitas tacos. They were both really good.
So although we got terrible service from our initial server who shouldn't be a server if he doesn't like being around people, the rest of our experience made up for it. I always appreciate when the management team shows that they are willing to earn our business back! -
Review from Jessica M.
Phoenix, AZ
5/7/2012
I recently went to Abuelos because it was in the middle of where I live and where the people we were meeting live. I was not particularly impressed. The food was bland and was not very good. The salad was awful - it was basically lettuce smothered in cheese and beans and had a weird taste to it. The tortilla chowder also had a strange taste and I could only eat a few bites. The others at my table said their food was just ok - they ordered burritos and fajitas.
The only redeeming thing about going there was the delicious margaritas! I got the Island - with coconut - it was delightful. Otherwise, I would pass. -
Review from Jennifer H.
Peoria, AZ
5/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
I would like to give this place 3 1/2 stars, but that option isn't really available now is it?
I really do love the ambiance in spite of being a chain restaurant. The sky overhead with the statue in the middle of the restaurant is a really nice touch and the columns as well. It definitely feels a little different than other chain Mexican restaurants and for the better.
It probably wasn't the brightest idea to go there yesterday afternoon on Cinco de Mayo, and we had to wait close to an hour for a table around 6pm, but we pretty much expected that.
The food portions seem huge. My sister-in-law got the "Nogales" plate and I ordered the "Juarez" plate with a "Mexican flag" margarita. Yeah, I am not making that up. They actually called it the Mexican flag margarita...unless I was somehow mistaken, but I swear that's what the waiter said twice. I thought, "Sure... let's try that one." It was pretty good. It tasted like a strawberry daquiri with hints of a margarita on the top. Perhaps, I should've mixed it more? It was awfully sweet though. I'm not sure if the salt on the rim really complimented the sweetness of the drink. Definitely not a drink for a guy though since it was frozen and sweet.
Back to the Juarez plate. It had a crunchy beef taco with a red sauce, a cheese enchilada, a beef tamale, and chicken enchilada with beans and rice. This plate was off the "Traditional Mexican" section. It was pretty good for what it was. I couldn't tell you specific details about the flavor, because nothing really stood out. It was just good. I remember trying the chicken medallions plate at another visit, and that seemed to be more memorable. The fajitas in the past had been extra good too.
Our waiter was really nice. He was covering so many tables though, and things were chaotic, so he only visited our table about 3-4 times tops the entire time. This meant empty waters and not asking me if I wanted another margarita.
In summary, food and ambiance 3 1/2 stars. Service... 2-3 stars. I'm basing this solely on Cinco de Mayo afternoon. I'm almost positve service is better on other days (or at least I'm hoping so)! -
Review from Jen R.
Peoria, AZ
5/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
I think Abuelos is very good for a chain Mexican food restaurant. They are pretty consistent with nice servers and decent food. I remember a time when there were huge lines out the door and hour long waits, but maybe that was in spring training season because the last time I visited, we got right in with a party of 6. I will go there again with out of town guests because they seem to love it but i prefer to frequent local establishments if I can.
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Review from Carmelo R.
Glendale, AZ
5/22/2012
Food was great and affordable, service was great, food came out quick.
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Review from Megan J.
3/26/2012
I was quite surprised when I walked into the restaurant...it's huge! Love the ambiance and the clouds painted on the ceiling. Got seated pretty quickly on a Friday night. Loved our server. He was very nice and got our drinks and food fast. I had a Raspberry Mojito and LOVED it...for some odd reason, a lot of bartenders don't know how to make a good mojito aka Lucille's BBQ but Abuelos does. The food was decent but I heard Arizona has subpar mexican food. And that's what this was. Pretty pricey and kind of an upscale feeling too so we probably won't be back. Located in the Arrowhead Entertainment Center and there is plenty of other restaurants in the area to try.
**NOTE: Getting into the parking lot sucks!! No lights so you just have to pretty much cut people off getting into it. Good luck!!Listed in: Best of Phoenix Area
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Review from Stephanie B.
Gilbert, AZ
5/3/2012 1 photo
The fajitas are amazing, but the salsa tastes like bandaids. They claim to make it fresh every day, so I don't know where that taste comes from, but it's consistently bad.
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Review from Gina H.
Cave Creek, AZ
4/14/2012
Our trip to Abuelos Arrowhead was a VERY pleasant surprise. We live in Cave Creek, and were disappointed when the Mayo location closed. So, we trekked out to Arrowhead. The service upon arrival was fast, smooth, excellent. Our server very personable and helpful! George, the manager, went above and beyond the call of duty for our gluten-free daughter. And, he was very personable and professional! What a great lunch experience! Thank you, George!! We'll be back!
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Review from Beth S.
7/12/2011
Frankly, one star is even too generous for our visit recently to Abuelos at Arrowhead. What used to be a fun and delicious place to eat has dwindled down to being just an absolute dump.
The restaurant was filthy. Someone had actually dropped one of their flossers on the floor in the lobby and the hostesses just walked by it over and over again. There was trash in the faux planters and there were actually still Christmas decorations in a couple of random spots in the faux plants surrounding the dining area. There were dirty tables that just sat dirty all around the dining area. Sorry but that's unacceptable.
The server was friendly...sort-of. He sold us on an appetizer and then didn't bother to put it in! I think he was put out that our party of 3 decided to share the fajita trio rather than ordering 3 seperate dishes. The fajita trio is HUGE and it easily feeds our family. Our drinks were never refilled...our chip bowl sat empty so long it started to get cobwebs on it.
Overall, this was a grossly disappointing visit to a restaurant that once was respectable, clean, and had pride. There is clearly no pride left in this Abuelos. I think I'll just stick to the dives here in El Mirage....at least they care about their customers and their reputations. -
Review from C P.
Atlanta, GA
2/20/2012
Excellent Mexican restaurant! My parents live in AZ, and took my sister and I here over the holidays for the happy hour. The specials are awesome. Each couple can order (lunch, I assume) entrees and an appetizer for $18 or something. The sangria swirl was perfect--and not too pricey! Cannot wait to get back to AZ just to go to this place. : )
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Review from joshu s.
Phoenix, AZ
7/17/2011
This is a very nice upscale place to sit down with friends and enjoy a real good Mexican food with great service. Our waiter was very knowledgeable about the menu and provided great service.
For starters I had the Mexican Shrimp Cocktail and then ordered enchilada dish that consisted of three enchiladas, two beef, and one chicken along with sides. Overall, a very good experience and would visit them again real soon
Great menu and service. -
Review from Taric W.
Phoenix, AZ
4/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
Typical suburbanite "Mexican" food with no fresh ingredients. If you're looking for something like Macayo's, but less tasty, this is your spot. It was very crowded today, which was a good sign. I saw tons of seniors here (that makes sense, given the name), and it's because they have a huge senior menu for them. They come from a time where food was not nearly this fake, so I refuse to believe they actually think this is good stuff.
Let's get the good stuff out of the way--the bar. $3 margaritas made with 1800 tequila? Perfectly blended in a 12 oz.. cup? Yes, please! It's awesome seeing a happy hour on Sunday afternoon, so this was a pleasant surprise. They also had the "cerveza rita", served in a goblet with a coronita (7 oz. corona bottle) stuck in it. Outside of the blended drinks, it looked like nothing special. You're out of your mind if you think I'm paying $17 for a bottle of Sutter Homes. Most of their wine list is the swill I'd use for wine pong, but that's another story.
The chips and salsa were decent. The hot stuff is one of the better salsas I've had in the valley, perhaps it was made with smoked poblano? I want to buy a bottle for myself. The seven layer dip was tolerable since I was so hungry. refried beans, ground beef, sliced green chili, sour cream, guac, and of course, cheese sauce. Perhaps the seventh layer was the suspicious film on the dip when it was brought to our table. Questionable.
My entree arrived, and I was disappointed just by looking at it. Why did the beans already look dry? Perhaps they were overcooked? It was as if they were sitting under a heat lamp for quite some time. The rice was decent, but also dry. My fajita chicken chimi looked a bit...narrow, and the tortilla didn't look properly fried. I freaking love chimichungas, so I had to dig in post haste!
Most disappointing chimi I've ever had. Once during finals week, I was so busy that I bought some fajita chicken in a bag, complete with the fake grill marks. I recognized the taste right away, and proceeded to dissect my meal. There were cubes and 'strips' of chicken...and eureka! The fake grill marks. At home, this is tolerable in a pinch. For $11 at arrowhead? This is a piece of shit!
If you EVER see me check in here, it's for the tapas and margaritas during happy hour. I'll be sitting at the swank bar, flirting with some octogenarian's daughter who came here against her will. Outside of that, Abuelo's ain't up to snuff
Bar-3.5
Food-1 -
Review from Tony S.
El Mirage, AZ
7/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
One star is a bit harsh.
So was the service.
So was the food.
So was the environment and atmosphere.
Look, here is the deal, this place used to be great but time has clearly taken a quick toll on Abuelos. What my family experienced the evening we stopped in was unforgivable. We arrived later than usual for dinner so I know they were still recovering from their first large seating, but bottom line, the restaurant was a disaster. Dirty tables, messy floors, and enough crying kids to make it really feel like a Dennys on Swap-Meet day.
Wait, that is not fair to Dennys.
Anyways, the server forgot the appetizer order. Completely.
The food for the main dish came out lukewarm at best. I thought Fajitas came out sizzling and snapping? Nope, not this evening.
Drinks were not refilled EVER.
This whole deal was a miss. The manager never came around to even ask how the meal was...lucky for him or her.
Anyways, this was crappy enough that we even thought of writing a letter, but after this disaster who would want to even go back. NEVER AGAIN. -
Review from Roger F.
Federal Way, WA
1/11/2012
Very good if not outstanding mexican style restaurant.
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Review from Eric C.
Sun City, AZ
1/3/2011
I'll just list a few bullet points for you to consider.
-Seated quickly
-Ignored by server
-Forgot Mom's margarita
-Server called my son "big man"...all night.
-Cheeze whiz on my burrito
-Tacos that tasted like vomit
-Every table seated in our server's section was in and out before us
-Wrong bill delivered
-Manager never stopped by to find out why we sent items back and asked to be removed from bill.
The chips and salsa were "ok"
Even though I've been in the past and enjoyed the experience, I most likely will not return. -
Review from Andy M.
Phoenix, AZ
5/6/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I wouldn't call it 'authentic'. My favorite for that is Los Dos Molinos, but Abuelo's is my favorite of the chain Mexican restaurants. My favorite is the Nogales which is basically two burros, one chicken and one shredded beef, with different sauces on each.
You should order: Papas con Chile as your side dish. YUM. Also, you can have two fried eggs added on top of your enchiladas, burros, whatever. I love that and not many places offer it. -
Review from Wendy H.
Peoria, AZ
5/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
My sons brought me here for Mother's Day. It was busy, but we didn't have to wait as long as we thought. We were seated in about 20 minutes and our waiter was prompt and courteous. I ordered the agave margarita which was very bland. I had a shredded beef enchilada and a chicken enchilada served with refried beans and papas con chile (yummy). The shredded beef was very flavorful, but there wasn't much chicken in the chicken enchilada. It was a prefect amount of food for me - not too much. My boys and husband enjoyed their meals as well.
Atmosphere is pretty loud with all the customers. Lots of kids being Mother's Day. We will have to try it again on a non-holiday. -
Review from Nikolas H.
Peoria, AZ
2/10/2011
Decided to try this place tonight with my girl and her best friend and son. Margarita pitcher to start with and usual chips and salsa. Wish the margarita was a little stronger but it was good. I ordered the chicken enchiladas with green chile sauce. It was yummy but not outstanding.
My girl and her friend ordered some big dishes and they liked it. her best friend said the Tamale was yucky tho.
Her son ordered the quesadilla with fries and he did not touch the quesadilla. his mom tried it and knew why, it was nasty so we told the server and she refunded it.
Overall very nice, but I wanna try my mex appetite somewhere else next time. -
Review from Bill C.
Sun City West, AZ
10/22/2011
9 of us, with reservations arrived and waited maybe 5 minutes. The ambiance was great - some noise letting you know others were there enjoying themselves, but not overpowering.
Lots of good things on the menu with reasonable pricing. Great chips, margaritas and sangria. Wait staff smiling. pleasant and knowledgeable.
The food was Mexican, but with sort of a continental flair without a hot Mexican spicing and cheeses. All who LOVE Mexican food were happy and people like me - well I had the angel hair pasta, shrimp, peppers etc.
We all would and will go back.
Thank you Abuelos for a good time. -
Review from Thomas H.
2/12/2011
The food is good... but semi-authentic?
All Mexican food is semi-authentic unless it is dry, gritty, stale and tasteless. I doubt that authentic Mexican food was ever served with grated cheddar cheese back in the Sonora Desert, yet many Arizona restaurants claim to be "authentic."
I enjoy the fact that there are so many restaurants in Arizona claiming to be authentic Mexican food, when they are not.
Abuelos staff have always been fast and friendly. I believe the wait to be seated every time I have been here is a testament to the establishment.
I do not consider the salsa to be pungent but the place at least recognizes the fact that Chile Con Queso exists and it is awesome. Many south 6th Tucson, Arizona restaurants could take a lesson and come off their high horses. -
Review from Will K.
Union City, CA
3/27/2008
Living in Arizona for the past 8 + years, i have pretty much tried most Mexican food from the cheapest to the most expensive.
However, on my last night in Arizona, my best friend suggested that we shall go to Abuelos. He told me that it was an upper end Mexican restaurant.
We went to the restaurant close to 10:00pm. and they were closing at 11:00. It was a Friday night. When we enter the restaurant, you will be greeted by a fabulous architecture, and interior design. The most eye catching design was the sky blue ceiling. It was a similar design you will find in Vegas.
We sat and was greeted by our waitress. The menu has plenty of choices and everything sounds and looks really good. Then they serve chips and salsa. The chips was warm, thin and crispy, while the salsa is not any typical restaurant salsa. It has a decent amount of spice, heat and a flavorful taste of salsa made from fresh ingredient. Not like those in bottle.
For those of you who visit Arizona once a year for Spring Training.. I HIGHLY suggest that you should go to visit the restaurant. It's located across from the Peoria Sports Complex. Nothing is better than some cold beer and great food after a day of baseball.
If i return to Arizona.. i will surely visit the restaurant and recommend it to other friends and family -
Review from Jennifer F.
Glendale, AZ
11/6/2011
I haven't had an issue with cleanliness yet like the other comments I was reading but I have dealt with rude staff. Luckily as soon as my friends became waiters and waitress I got better service. But it's not cool that they are rude to customers.
The other thing that I am not liking is fajita's they changed their recipe for it. It has some type of squash I just want the bell peppers and onion classic fajita's.
The only reason I still keep it at the 4 star is because of the flan. It is amazing and I love it. That is the one reason I keep going back.
I just need to fine a menu item that I like and hopefully they will not change it again. -
Review from Matt H.
Surprise, AZ
1/14/2009
Last night I met up with my Wife and my In-Law's at Abuelo's to celebrate my Father in Law's birthday, I arrived late to dinner after working late, but My Wife was nice enough to set aside some appetizer nacho's for me. Let me start with the decor, this place is a blend somwhere between a nightclub with large glass doors and ambient light, and a Central Mexico villa, complete with faux sky fresco on the ceiling of the central dining room, all centered around an odd statue of a man in a poncho and a child in dining room. Confused decor aside let's talk about the food.
the Nacho's I had we're actually very good, they appeared to be hard taco sized tortilla's broken in half with a bit of melted cheese taco meat, lettuce and sour cream on them. My Wife told me about this greenish hot sauce the waiter put on the table that he said was really hot, and no one else at the table was daring enough to try. Generally liking spicy food, I gave it a shot, it had a little kick, but nothing like some hot sauces I've tasted, nontheless I doused my nachos with it.
For dinner I ordered the Alambre De Camarones, which was essentially 6 large shrimp wrapped in bacon, stuffed with peppers, served with a queso sauce for dipping. The dish was also served with rice and broccoli (which I found odd)
The shrimp was very good, dipping bacon wrapped shrimp in cheese may sound a bit decadent, but you might want to try it. The rice is nothing you can't get anywhere else, but still not bad. The thing that kept this from being a four star review was the choice of Broccoli as a side. I know broccoli isn't unheard of in mexican cooking, I recognize the difference between Tex-Mex and what would be called Mexico City food.
Maybe I'm just being a picky little kid that doesn't want to eat his vegetables (which I did, the cheese helps). It just seemed like an odd pairing to me.
My wife had a an enchilada combo plate with beef and chicken which she let me taste and it was really good, any both her and my Father in Law's meals were served with these tasty papas with cheese and poblano peppers in them. Which I secretly wish I had instead of the broccoli.
All in all the meal was pretty filling, tasty and our server was attentive, so I can't really complain. and would return to Abuelos -
Review from Sabrina K.
Glendale, AZ
12/13/2010
I know it's a chain, it's only semi-authentic, but I don't care!! Let me tell you why I love Abuelo's... CHIPS and SALSA-- ask for their two hotter salsas if you like it spicy. I love the one they serve warm, I think they call is "salsa brava." The chips are so thin and crisp, yum.
I also love their hand-shaken margarita, it's made with premium tequila and lime juice, not mix!!
I also always order the Monterrey platter, it's huge so you can share or take some home. Get the papas!! I don't care so much for their rice and beans.
Uhh I don't know why so many people have been disappointed. I love it!! However, I always order the same thing. -
Review from Chrys O.
Surprise, AZ
6/23/2011
The service was ok, but I was hoping for Mexican food. I had the steak chimi, which is supposed to come covered with cheese. It was more like velveeta. The meat was not actual steak, more like a processed steak-like food. The server asked me if I wanted rice or pappas, and looked at me like I was stupid when I asked what pappas were. The chips and salsa were ok, the chips were the really thin tortilla chips like you get at chili's. Not a bad place for yuppy-style Mexican food, but if you're looking for authentic Mexican food look elsewhere.
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Review from Ameerah A.
Glendale, AZ
5/29/2009
Ah yes, the notorious happy hour with every drink under $4. I've only actually sampled the cuisine once at this place, and it was really good, filling and flavorful, but every time since I've just been going to the bar.
However, today was the first day I actually got to enjoy happy hour. As my head still is swimming in a good way, I'm pretty sure the bartenders here know how to make their drinks and make them well. I had one of the Sangria Swirl's, which was a combination of a frozen Sangria and a frozen Margarita. Not too sweet, but just right, and the Fruit Margaritas were to die for. I got at least 2 of the strawberry flavor. Chips and salsa are always complimentary I believe, and they're not too bad. 7 drinks only came out to about $21 w/tax for two people, so not bad at all in my book. Obviously beer is much cheaper, but I'm not much of a beer drinker, but they have an ok selection on tap from what I have seen. Well drinks are ok as well. I can't wait to return on a Monday to try out their $3 mojitos and maybe on a Thursday for the $3 pina coladas. Yum yum!! -
Review from Heather S.
Los Angeles, CA
8/24/2010
The bar is high in Arizona for Mexican cuisine, and Abuelos, you may or may not have a shot in Alaska.
This is a corporate chain, which makes it difficult to execute the details and freshness that makes Mexican my favorite. Always on the search for a good chicken fajita (or lobster, but that's another Yelp entirely) should not be a tall order. Give me limes and guacamole and I'm a happy camper. The chicken here is consistently dry whenever I visit Abuelos and bland. A friend we came with ordered a grilled chicken dish that came out fried, though the menu specified grilled. No bueno, mis amigos.
Check out Los Olivos. It's a few miles away, but the food and the donkey are well worth the journey. -
Review from Jeff M.
Peoria, AZ
3/23/2009
Mostly submitting a review just to throw my vote in. Previous reviews give a good picture of the atmosphere, which is something I enjoy there. My father wanted a steak and the nearby Texas Roadhouse had an hour wait so we went to Abuelo's. He was able to get a steak, I was able to get mexican food. My wife and kids all had something they enjoyed and everyone wins.
The spicy salsa (they had two salsa's) is very spicy and even tho I enjoyed the flavor and the burn the spicy salsa brought. I believe it to be the cause of some heartburn I had later. Small price to pay. -
Review from Candice S.
San Francisco, CA
6/15/2008
I absolutely LOVE Abuelos! Upon walking in, the actual restaurant is unique and beautiful. The classic Mexican "old-world" architecture makes you feel like you're in a new world!
The menu contains so many different delicious options! From traditional, classic dishes like Tacos and Enchiladas to an assortment of creative seafood options, you will have the hardest time deciding what to order. I always get the same thing when I come to Abuelos. It is truly extraordinary! It's called the Chile Manzanillo. It's a decent sized poblano chile stuffed with fresh crab and smothered in a lobster, scallop cheese sauce! They pair it with fresh steamed broccoli and savory Mexican rice. It's very rich but seriously truly AMAZING!
You may have a tough time finishing your meal after going through about ten baskets of their great chips and salsa! haha! -
Review from Crystal N.
Peoria, AZ
9/22/2010
I absolutely love the ambiance and decor at Abuelo's! Being Hispanic, it truly reminds me of childhood memories and it feels wonderful to be in such a place. I know some people have been disappointed but each time I've been there, the food has been great and the service is also good!
I'm not giving them 5 stars because while the food is good it's not absolutely authentic and mouth-watering. If you are looking for a nice place to take the family or your date, I would definitely recommend Abuelos! **Also their happy hour is awesome! $5 fajitas! $2 Coronas! $3 layered dip! Can't be beat!** -
Review from Heather B.
Peoria, AZ
6/22/2011 1 photo
If you're looking for Authentic Mexican, this is not your place. But if you're looking for great Mexican-inspired food, this is you're place. Although, a chain, I would consider Abuelos one step up from On The Border, Chevy's, Macayo's or any other Tex Mex chain. The atmosphere and interior alone are more sophisicated. The salsa chips are very addicting. The salsa has a smooth smoky flavor. Also, the enchaladas and steak combo makes a great meal. I always ask for no seasoning or light seasoning on the steak because it's a little spicy. The enchaladas are flawless. And you must try the Papas con Chile! These are mash potatoes kicked up with cheese and peppers.
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Review from Velika L.
Phoenix, AZ
4/19/2010
I really like this place! It's great for a Saturday or Sunday afternoon lunch with friends. They have great lunch specials. I usually order 2 avocado enchiladas topped with cream sauce and a side of papas con chile (spicy mashed potatoes).
Their chips and salsa are pretty good.
Reasonable prices too!
If you're vegetarian, avoid the beans. They are made with bacon! -
Review from Hillary C.
Peoria, AZ
5/6/2011
Yesterday, I went in with my mum for lunch after having been here a couple times when I was younger.
Our waiter was prompt and took our drink orders. Mum got the Sangria Swirl, which she normally gets when we go in and is never disappointed, and I got a virgin Margarita (I'm not a fan of alcohol). Our waiter brought us our drinks and our chips and salsa. Truthfully, I do not understand why he warned me about the small little bowl he brought out that was "so spicy". Maybe it's just because I have murdered my taste buds with spicy food, but it was nice, with a peppery kick that was pleasant, but not spicy.
We both got the lunch chimi's (chicken of course). My mum is a big fan of their papas, which is sort of a mashed potato dish with peppers and cheese and I got the rice.
Our chimis came out fast with a queso sauce and some red sauce on top. I was disappointed with the lack of sour cream or guacamole. I mean, I have never gotten a chimi that didn't have a side of at least one. I wasn't a fan of the filling, it wasn't awful, but it wasn't the best chimi I have ever had - it was too... soupy? I don't know, I like my chimis stuffed with chicken, not an overkill of sauce. It was nicely busy for Cinco De Mayo, and our waiter was prompt and friendly. -
Review from Louise O.
San Francisco, CA
8/25/2006
More than decent "upscale" Mexican restaurant in Peoria. Definitely the best of the lot in the neighborhood--compared to Cheesecake Factory and PF Changs.
Miss C just got back in town so we were doing a girls catch up +1.
Decor: Open indoor courtyard makes you feel like you're in someone's hacienda. Didn't feel like Peoria at all.
Food: We all really liked that we multiple baskets of chips and salsa for the table. The chips were warm, light, and crisp. The salsa was fresh and not too chunky or saucy. I had the fajita beef salad, Miss C had the chile con queso, E had another salad, P had the shrimp fajitas, and L had some kind of grilled beef. Everyone enjoyed their meals, I thought the honey lime dressing for the salad was particularly yummy especially during the summer. P thought his shrimp were overseasoned.
Service: !Que terrible! I actually regret tipping that waiter. First of all, he was not attentive and although we were waiting for another person to show up, did not ask us if we wanted to go ahead an order or suggest any type of appetizer. In addition, L can only eat gluten-free foods so we asked him if there were any menu times that came gluten-free. He said that she would have to choose a protein based dish and pick out the food with glutens!! He was very insensitive and unresponsive to this very specific and very important request. Little did we know that L had called Abuelo's directly and spoke to the manager about her diet. The mgr replied that the restaurant has a gluten-free menu! We asked the waiter to bring the mgr over so she could give him her order. The waiter was such an ASS. -
Review from Leticia R.
Peoria, AZ
6/22/2011
My husband and I enjoyed our meal (El Grande) We recommend the tres leches cake. Yum! The flavor of the food all had a simmilarity and I think it was cominos or cumin powder. Even the beans were seasoned with it....hmmm. Otherwise, a flavorful experience!
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Review from Michael D.
Holly, MI
8/16/2009
I had high hopes from this place, I really did. Sadly, my new favorite mexican place is not going to be this one.
We arrived a little after the dinner rush on Sunday and the place was packed. We were seated almost immediately, which was kind of a surprise, considering how full it looked. The waiter eventually ventured over and asked for our drinks. Now, to be honest, we weren't really prepared to order yet, but after dropping off some water, we didn't see the waiter again for at least another 7-10 minutes. Come on, we weren't ready then, but it doesn't take THAT long to figure out a drink order. On top of that, the drinks didn't show up until the food was coming out.
Anyway, after that lovely wait for anything beyond a single glass of water, I was pretty thirsty for my drink (their take on a long island, which turned out just to be....a long island [and not a good one, at that]). My companions food, chicken quesadillas came out looking very pretty. My chorizo stuffed chicken medallions; far less so. To start, my plate had other food debris on it. Apparently wiping off the plates as you hand them out isn't a priority. Then again, neither is quick turn around because my beans and mashed potato sides had that lovely "I've been in the window too long and got cooked" film on them. Yuck. The chicken itself was overcooked and dry, relying too much on the breading and the oily chorizo stuffing to cover for a terminal lack of taste in the chicken.
Anyway, based on the rave reviews, I'd consider going back if someone had their heart set on it, but I don't think this is a place I'll suggest again. -
Review from Mark M.
Oceanside, CA
6/26/2011
Average Mexican food served in a Vegas style setting.
We have been eating here for years during baseball Spring Training and other sporting trips. The food is REALLY average and pricey. The place is usually filled with seniors since it is quiet unlike some of the more rowdy margarita bar places (Camarone's, El Torito, etc...). The ambiance is pleasant enough with a Cesar's Palace fake sky ceiling, but at best is a "safe" place to eat with no real endearing qualities for food or service. If you're not inclined to be adventurous, it is safe, but that's about it. -
Review from Jim H.
11/10/2010
The food and atmosphere are fantastic; service is good but not great. It's a tough location, but they seem to survive on destination-traffic and movie-goers (shares the north parking lot with Harkins Arrowhead). There's no patio, which is disappointing for a location this large... but it's a nice spot, overall!
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Review from Dave N.
Siren, WI
7/13/2009
The best Mexican restaurant round, service has always been prompt and pleasant. For Jeff's edification the statue is of Grandfather and grandchild hence the Name Abuelos (Grand father).
One of our favorite restaurants, and great Location, right next to the Ballpark -
Review from Laura R.
4/6/2008
"I am a way picky Mex eater partially because I had the luxury of growing up with real authentic mex food thanks to my grandparent's. My mother in law has to go here every time she visits AZ which I always am ehhh about Abuelos nothing special about the food just the atmosphere really =-o The chips and salsa are very good thin crispy not greasy, perfect really.So this last time we went was THE last time I go there PERIOD. My MIL even said she remembered the food being better, while it was never a big deal for me.
It was my daughter's b-day. The service was awful! The server was Russian she couldnt understand much of anything. We had 2 toddlers with us and ordered 1 kid's plate for them to share well she brought 2 anyway and when we explained once again only 1 was ordered she was going to take plate #2 back and throw it in the bin, we then told her nevermind we'd keep the plate instead of wasting food for her mistake. We had the seared tuna starter pretty good and unexpected and something you dont see too often at mexican. I had the tortilla soup it was not good I have had 100x better from Red Robin, it didnt have any tortilla in it I asked what the deal was. She said it comes with a side of crunchy tort strips she had forgotten to bring out. I had the Green Chile con Chicken quesadilla - the chicken to be safe. I had a Mojito it was under their signature cocktails, it was the worst I have ever had anywhere" I sent it back wanting more cool mint taste she took forever but there was no change in my drink I left it untouched. We were a party of 6 no one was too happy with their dinner the kid's loved their chicken nuggets but they are kid's and love mcd's. We got the bill and were still charged for the horrible mojito and 2nd kids plate that was not ordered but would have gone in the bin. They did however concauct some desert for my daughter which she loved and was free maybe because her bday!?!?! Who know's but I won't be going back!Listed in: Delicous and not so delicous…
