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Avila's Mexican Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Mexican Mexican [Edit]
4714 Maple AveDallas, TX 75219
Neighborhood: Oak Lawn
(214) 520-2700
Announcement
Voted one of "Dallas' Five Best Tex-Mex Restaurants" by Dallas Observer in December 2011
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 9 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 10 pm
Sun 11 am - 8 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
85 reviews for Avila's Mexican Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"I had the yummy brisket tacos, husband had the triple d." In 15 reviews -
"And this Chile Relleno was muy bien." In 10 reviews -
"I've had their tacos, chicken mole, chile rellenos." In 8 reviews
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85 reviews in English
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Review from Kirk P.
Dallas, TX
4/30/2012
Avila's is an old school place that serves strait ahead Tex-Mex comfort food and does so very well. Avila's is in a small building in a nondescript (I'm being kind) part of town not too far from all coolness of Oak Lawn. There is nothing fancy here and other than some traditionally mole dishes nothing that speaks to regional Mexican tastes. I was there for lunch and order a lunch special (7.95) that included a chess enchiladas with chili con carne and a crunch beef taco. They were delicious and served up fairly quickly in spite of a good sized lunch crowd. A simple taco and a cheese enchilada are good items to judge a place like this and they were excellent. The salsa was served in a plastic container that you pour into your bowl when a refill needed. The tortilla chips were classically good and the salsa was likely the spiciest of its time I have had in a long time. That's a good thing but they only serve one type of salsa and it is hot so look out if you have wimpy taste buds.
The parking here is not good and you can easily miss the turn in from Maple. Two auto shops surround the place and as they likely close at night I bet parking is easier at night than during the day. The prices are good but not great. The service was reasonably good but did not blow me me away. I was a little disappointed when the chip guy forgot me and I had to stair at my salsa. He apologized though and it just seemed like a slight over site. Avila's is simple and good. -
Review from Carlos W.
Dallas, TX
2/27/2012
Food is on the verge of mediocre (bland as hell). Nothing is either fully authentic Mexican or flat-out nacho-cheese-d. On the overpriced side (you can only charge so much for rice and beans). VERY SMALL VENUE, to the point it made me feel claustrophobic, and I was forced to hear people basically chewing on my ear.
I'm sure if you've loud friends and they're mildly drunk, it'd be a much more enjoyable experience, otherwise, skip it and try either real Mexican or real Tex-Mex, not this failed amalgamation. -
Review from Joseph L.
Carrollton, TX
2/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
Found this place on the Diners, Drive ins, and dives. It was great. Service was very fast, food was excellent, and value was good. I will be back!!
Con,
Very limited parking -
Review from Jforty D.
Dallas, TX
5/9/2012
Some people are a little edgy about the neighborhood over here. I'd argue that it's on the verge of becoming the next trendy part Dallas. New restaurants, apartments, Kroger, etc are coming on all the time. So there's no excuse for people outside of the neighborhood not come here.
You have to know exactly where the location is or you'll drive right past the nondescript stand alone building. Parking is a bit tight in the back especially if you have a big vehicle. We parked right next to the dumpster, which had rotting seafood in it. It was awful ripe, not exactly what you want your patrons to smell when coming to dine with you.
The interior is cozy, but still enough space. There's a small bar with a few tables on one half separated by a wall and more tables on the other side. Nice clean decor.
The salsa is great if you like some heat. We all dug it. It'll clean your sinuses. I ordered the build your own enchladas. One chicken with mole and one brisket with tomatillo. Quite tasty mole on the chicken. I liked it better than the brisket. The beans and rice on the side are nothing special, just typical. My buddy had the chile relleno and it looked good. My other buddy had the brisket tacos, which I'm sure aren't as good as Mia's.
For lunch, it's a little pricier than other Tex Mex places by a couple bucks. My buddy got a beer and a bowl of pazole to go w/ the brisket tacos and ended up almost paying $30 for lunch w/ tax and tip, which is quite a lot for Tex Mex. -
Review from Alaina L.
Dallas, TX
3/28/2012
I read great reviews about this place, so I decided to check it out one very hungover Sunday afternoon. After driving through the ghetto of Dallas for what seemed like forever, we finally arrived at this small, run down house. The service was decent, but the woman in charge had a her daughter with her behind the bar, which I found awkward & a little unprofessional. We weren't sure who our server was since the woman who greeted us kept checking on us, but a man that didnt speak English kept bringing our food out & refilling our drinks. We ordered the chile relleno and the brisket tacos....both were super bland and my brisket was dry & tasteless. Sorry Avila's, I love that you're family owned, but I will not return.
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Review from Andrew L.
Skokie, IL
3/27/2012
Visiting from Chicago and found this wonderful Mexican Restaurant. I had the pazole soup and the mole chicken and it was perfect. Thank you for a great meal!. The service was surprisingly exceptional and it seemed like the other patrons were enjoying themselves.
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Review from Reena D.
So I am married to a foodie and he found this location. We decided to give it a try with some friends of ours. This is a cute little place. It appears to be a house. We ordered the Queso here. It is really good. The salsa here is very spicy but we love the spice! Our margaritas were really good here as well. The sweet and sour mix WAS NOT sour like other places. I ordered the taco salad. When it came out I was looking for the taco shell. The taco shell was a flat shell that was covered with the salad. It is not your usual taco shell but that didn't matter, my salad was yummy. I've also ordered chicken fajita nachos before. I"ve never seen nachos filled with good pieces of Chicken until I came here. They don't skimp on their meat. The nachos were perfect. It was not a big soggy mess. Although, I could of used more cheese the nachos were still good. Their side of roasted potatoes are yummy. It has a nice flavor to it and it is one of my hubby's favorites here. The owner of the restaurant is a very friendly down to earth gentleman. Can't wait to go back and try more items off the menu.
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Review from Jeff L.
New River, AZ
3/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
Guy did not let me down on.
Just like the Triple-D episode.
I had the Triple D combo.
Most everything was good.
I am not a fan of the Pazole, but if you are a Pazole fan, you would probably like it.
Ordered a nacho plate (the name escapes me) that had a variety of different nachos. They were all good, but I preferred the spicy chicken one.
Finished off with the bread pudding. It was excellent.
I would recommend it to anyone.
Parked behind the building as I was not sure of the lot to the north. It was a tight fit. -
Review from Jason C.
Arlington, TX
12/26/2011
I'm not a Mexican food expert but My girlfriend knows the owner personally. I was expecting perfection from all the comment from many others but I didn't get that....sadly
The service was good but too rushed, the interior design is great compared to the exterior. The food tasted authentic but did not blow my mind in any level.
Apparently there is some ownership problem between the owner and his family . So apparently things been changing. I will be back when the storm have died down to do a proper review.
According to my girlfriend who is a long time customer, the food was lack luster that particular night. -
Review from Steve L.
Oakland, CA
11/13/2011
Holy Moses! I was totally blown away by this little place. Went here with my family to celebrate an uncle's birthday on a Saturday night. granted we got there a bit early around 7:15, but the place wasn't crowded at all.
I had the brisket tacos and a cheese enchilada with carne sauce. my mouth is still watering thinking about those tacos. Tender...smoked...juicy...yum! My grandmother had the chile relleno plate which was huge and delicious! Others had enchiladas, and brisket tacos, too with equally rave reviews.
I'm from San Antonio and used to getting some great Mexican food at a cheap price...this place is great (better than some Mexican food in San Antonio which is saying something), but it is not cheap...after tip, it was almost $90 with no alcohol...but WELL worth the price in my opinion.
one word...GO!!, -
Review from Terry R.
Updated - 1/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
I just don't get it. This is my second time at Avila's and I really hoped it would be just outstanding and I would understand what all the 5 star fuss is about. But it was a little better than my last 2 star visit. The biggest improvement over my previous experience was the the chips and salsa. It had more kick than any restaurant salsa I've had. Fresh ingredients, good texture and the chips were good as well. Very much improved over last time. The margarita's are still too sweet and very weak and a complete waste of calories. I had the fish tacos which were on deal $7.95 and they were OK. I'm used to them being served with cabbage and a spicy cream sauce tho, not the lettuce and tomatoes that came with these. The fish was pretty good, generously portioned but a little dry. It was entirely edible though. My companion had the brisket tacos $10.95 and the brisket was moist and tender but this time almost too salty to eat. The beans (refried and black) were also very salty. The rice was pedestrian Mexican rice.
I dunno. Lotsa people rave over this place. It's a 25 year old family owned place with a lot of customer loyalty apparently. Because the food is just mediocre and the margaritas plain suck.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/14/2009
I was born and raised in the area, but had somehow never been to Avila's. And it was so… Read more »
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Review from Ryan M.
Like others I was drawn here by the fame of being on TV, so figured it was worth a shot.
The neighborhood is a little sketch, and the outside looks like a total dive, but inside was actually pretty nice.
Never been to Texas before, so wasn't used to "brisket" on the menu, so had to order that in a Chile relleno.
Quick Chile relleno tutorial for newbs:
-ask how it's cooked
--if response includes "fried", find something else on the menu
--otherwise, order it
--if in Texas, order it with brisket and tomatillo sauce
And this Chile Relleno was muy bien!
Their chips were wheat, which was pretty unique and good. Add in some great Latin American beers -
Review from Candice D.
Mansfield, TX
1/29/2012
Really good enchiladas!! My husband and I went here last night after reading reviews on Yelp. We loved it! Their salsa is way spicy so be ready for that but it has good flavor, if you can take the heat. We got some guac and it was delish and fresh tasting. I had the cheese echiladas w/ranchero sauce and it was so good! The ranchero has a sweetness to it that mixes really well w/the cheeses. Also, the pork tamales are very good. Husband had beef and brisket enchiladas w/poblano sour cream sauce. He LOVED the beef enchilada and poblano sauce but decided brisket is best in a taco, rather than enchilada so he wouldn't order that again. Beans and rice aren't super flavorful but mix really well w/the enchilada sauce, if you're like us and kind of mix your place all together. It's a pretty small place w/a great atmosphere, small-family vibe & super nice servers! I can't wait to go back again.
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Review from Jennifer C.
Long Beach, CA
4/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Whoa Nelly...
I checked the Yelp reviews before coming and was hesitant to try, but being that a friend of mine sent me a list of Triple D's spots in TX, I ignored the Yelps and had to try, am I happy I did!
Honestly, I was a little skeptical when we walked in and the resteraunt was filled with gringos, but these gringos know their Mexican food, high five to the white folks!
I don't know what some of the previous reviewers are talking about, the service was fantastic! I can't even count how many times my iced tea was re-filled, or how many times they brought us more chips and salsa, or how many times they checked in on us to ask if everything was good.
So I had the Triple D special, it could also be renamed "little bits of heaven"! It was a cup of pozole, a gordita, and a tamale, with rice and beans. The pozole was amazing, just like mama used to make (or at least that's how I imagine, if she actually made it!), delish. The gordita needed a tiny bit of salt, but that cured everything! Yummy yummy in my tummy! Tamale was mouth watering, moist, creamy, and smooth. Trust me not everyone can pull off a tamale but Avila's can. My husband had the steak picado which he said was good, and since I had so much food on my plate, I just had to take his word for it.
So to make a long story short, we're planning our next trip to the lone star state so we can go back to Avila's! -
Review from Jennifer R.
Dallas, TX
6/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is a little gem which is slightly hidden on Maple. The food is always great and simple, but delicious. There house margaritas are great - they are good and decently priced. What I love about this place is you can get an appetizer, 2 entrees and several (ooops) margaritas without breaking the bank. The owners and wait staff and friendly and attentive. I really recommend checking it out if you haven't already.
I love the Queso (who doesn't, really), the Brisket Tacos and my favorite, the Taquitos Don Tavo. -
Review from Gina H.
Wichita, KS
4/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
After finding out this restaurant was on Diners, drive-ins and dives and watching the video of them making tamales and brisket I had to give it a try.
Hubs and I went on a Saturday night around 6:30. Wasn't too busy. I ordered the cup size chicken Posole and it came out with a plate of onions, chopped jalapeños, some spice that I am guessing is coriander. It was very yummy!!
I ordered the brisket plate which came with rice and beans. Hubs ordered chicken mole with corn tortillas. Our food came out very quickly. Everything was delicious! The brisket was seasoned to perfection. Our water glasses and salsa bowls were never empty. What an awesome restaurant! This is a must visit if you're looking for delicious and authentic Mexican food! -
Review from Gray S.
Dallas, TX
4/8/2011
The service was very efficient, they got you everything you could need or want but left you alone to eat, perfect. They have a stealth like Ninja busboy who appears out of nowhere with water, salsa, and chip re-fills before you even have a chance to realize your supplies are running low.
I really liked the food, and so did the hubster. I had the fish tacos and he had fried tacos. Both dished were good. You could tell the re-fried beans were handmade and were so much better than the canned crap you get a chains which I avoid at all costs.
I liked that avocado (not guac) came on the tacos. The ranch sour cream was tasty. And we both loved the salsa, it was nice and smooth, not chunky and had some heat. I like to drench everything in hot sauce, so nothing ever tastes bland to me.
I usually don't believe hype, so my expectations were low,but I was pleasantly surprised. -
Review from Adrian E.
2/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
At night, you might wonder if your car will be on blocks when you are done eating, but inside you'll find a nice little Mexican spot with traditional offerings. We came by on a Tuesday and it didn't seem too busy, but since "someone in the kitchen didn't show", service was a little delayed. Our waitress was friendly and apologetic for their delays. She provided us with a free bowl of queso to make up for it. The chips were crispy and the salsa had a kick to it.
For my entree I had the chili relleno stuffed with brisket. I think it must have been baked and not the traditional fried batter method. I was just OK with the pepper itself, but the brisket was delicious and plentiful. It was really stuffed. In addition to my entree, I ordered one pork tamale a la carte. Unfortunately they forgot to bring it. I did eventually get it and they let me have it for free because of the mistake. I have to say Avila's really knows how to take care of their customers when mistakes happen. It's a small restaurant, so it's understandable how staffing can impact it's success.
This place was featured on Diners, Drive Ins and Dives back in 2009. I don't think that it represents the best Mexican food Dallas has to offer, but does offer a good option.Listed in: As Seen on TV
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Review from Bonnie E.
North Richland Hills, TX
6/10/2011
After reading good reviews from fellow yelpers... We decided to go here. And I think Avila's is over-priced, tasteless and nothing outstanding. Pozole was alright, nothing to be rave about. Brisket gordita and tamale were dry and tasteless. Queso was too thin and not worth it $4.95. You can get queso like that for free at El Chico. Apparently the server didn't listen when I requested her to cancel one of the pozole and switched it to queso. They brought and charged both. I don't understand why Guy Fieri went to this place. Nothing great about it. No wonder all these years I worked around the area, I never bother to stop by, not until today. I won't step my foot back in this place. I can easily spend $60 for lunch at other fancier and tastier places.
NOT RECOMMENDED. -
Review from Matt T.
Updated - 11/15/2010 1 Check-in Here
I tried Avilas again this weekend. I haven't been there in quite a while and wasn't overly impressed before but figured we would give it another shot. The positives are that it is a fun little "house" type feel and doesn't feel at all like a chain restaurant and feels like the type of place that you are glad that someone let you in on the secret to seek it out. Also, a positive is that on Friday night at 8pm we were able to get a table without a problem which was nice. We had also thought about going to Glorias on Lemmon and there was a 30-40 minute wait.
Now, for the not so great things. One, it was freezing inside. Every girl in the place was bundled and cuddled up because it was very chilly. Not sure if the servers couldn't tell because they were running around or maybe it was just our room that was cold. Regardless, I am basically never cold and even I was cold there. Secondly, I asked for chicken enchiladas and they brought me beef which wasn't a big deal because I had truthfully been trying to decide between the two. Actually before that I tried to order the gorditas and they were out which I don't hold it against restaurants to be out of things because I think that often means fresher ingredients. The last negative was that the food wasn't all that great. Between the chips, salsa, and enchiladas, none were bad but none made me crave to go back any time soon.
In summary, even though I do like the atmosphere (less the chilliness), the rest of the experience was underwhelming. I would go back and give it another shot if someone wanted to go, but I probably wouldn't suggest it.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/18/2009
Expectations ae tough. I think had a stumbled upon Avila's, I might have been a little more lenient… Read more »
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Review from Joe L.
Brentwood, TN
11/7/2011
Found this due to their appearance on Diners Drive Ins an Dives. A co-worker and I went on our first might in Dallas. We loved it so much we brought our entire team back the next night. To a person they all thought I was amazing. The fish tacos are wonderful...the grilled fish is crunchy, moist and plentiful. This is what I will go back for when I am in Dallas next. That an the bread pudding! I don't typically think of Mexican restaurants and bread pudding but this is unreal! A huge hunk of it is served piping hot on a bed of white chocolate sauce. Mouth is watering now just thinking about it! Go... You will NOT be disappointed!
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Review from Brad S.
6/17/2010
Living in Texas, it's hard to judge a traditional Mexican restaurant. The Mexican cuisine from just south of the border is mostly a simple type of cooking, and while I can respect anyone that wants to share their cooking with the world, Mexican cooking in a state that bleeds salsa means that in order to compare one place to another, you have to look at some minutia.
I like the kitsch of the restaurant being located in an old house, though I wasn't exactly sure where to park. Any judgement you may have had from looking at the exterior is whisked away once you step inside - I didn't visit before the remodeling, but you definitely know you're in a restaurant.
The menu contains a lot of what you might see at your local neighborhood Mexican place, but I saw a lot of references to the guisado and mole - two things which take a lot of time to make, and is a sign that the restaurant has the chops. I ordered the mole enchiladas, allowing myself a chance to try the ground beef and chicken at the same time.
In a combination of a non-busy weeknight dinner and the food that consisted of my order, this was possibly the fastest I have ever gone through a sit-down restaurant, with single-digit minutes elapsing before I had my order. It makes sense, though - the mole had to be made far in advance, as is the meat and rice, and the beans can't take too long. The mole was very respectable, offering some good depth of flavor that ensured I took tortilla chips to the plate in order to sop up every bit.
I can't believe how many places I've visited that do absolutely nothing to the ground beef, but this stuff was great, being both flavorful and even containing some diced chiles which I enjoyed. The chicken was a happy medium between juicy and dry, which I can understand - you don't want the juices gumming up your tortillas.
The rice and beans were also amongst the best I've had, which shouldn't be surprising, given that everything is made from scratch. But even if it is the best I've ever had, it's only a small incremental improvement over the others I've had. It's a disservice to Avila's, but it's unavoidable when you are in such a competitive market. For us, we can enjoy Avila's for the obviously better stuff - the mole, the (I assume) guisado, and the brisket - and the other things which are only slightly better, those are just icing on the cake. While eating, I was thinking that the food I was eating was somewhere in the four-star range, but after contemplating longer, I could not think of anything that could have been done better (the salsa was a little tomato-heavy, but I'll give it a pass), so I guess Avila's really is as good as it gets.Listed in: Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives…
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Review from Gwan C.
12/26/2008 ROTD 3/21/2009
First of all, go to the restroom. Ask the waiter where it is because it's in the kitchen. I would recommend going with a friend and letting your friend go first because then you'll get to see them prepare the food and the smell is orgasmic. Kinda.
After you've washed your hands, check out the specials on the chalkboard. We failed to notice it before we ordered our food :/ I ordered the chicken/beef fajitas on corn tortilla instead of flour. It was deeelish. We also asked for guacamole for our chips and they didn't charge us. yay
It's a nice family business. Very friendly and caring. Food is fresh and yummy.
-1 star because:
It was humid today and they didn't turn on the ac.
This is personal but Mexican food isn't on the top of my list of favorite cuisines so this was a once in a three months deal. no offense! -
Review from Jenn J.
Plano, TX
10/17/2011
Good, but not what it used to be.
First, the good:
It's not a chain restaurant. (I had to laugh at another review making comparisons to El Chico. Apples and oranges, people!)
The food is consistently good.
Prices are reasonable.
Servers are nice and helpful.
Improved parking.
And now the not-so-good.....
I always ask for just rice, no beans, please. Each and every time they bring beans. Not at all a huge deal in my book, but seems like a simple enough request. This last time, our server did notice after bringing it to the table. But still, they are strangely 0% at getting that one right after many visits over the years.
This used to be our favorite after-gallery night spot for good food. On our last visit, however, the crowd was entirely different. The acoustics in there can be bad for conversation. It gets loud very easily. We were completely unable to carry on a conversation at all because of a large table of college kids singing "Happy Birthday" and rambling loudly on about iPhones and Facebook. (The very reason we always avoid Matito's!).
I suppose they are no longer a "hidden gem" now that the college kids are holding birthday parties there. Good for them, I suppose, but for us, we probably won't be back as much as before.
Oh, and apparently they don't have Dr Pepper anymore. Boo. :( -
Review from Marilyn M.
Dallas, TX
1/31/2009
I was so expectant of a great experience based on Yelpers as well as Bill Addison, Dallas News Restaurant Critic reviews of this restaurant . On his last day in Dallas before relocating to Atlanta, Bill stated he had to go to this restaurant one more time. WHY ? Okay, pros and cons in the right order: I preface this review by acknowledging that a review of any restaurant is merely and definitely subjective, based on ones palate preference.
Pros:
House Marg not bad, pretty good, but not "Top Shelf Quality". Thought I would give the "house marg" a try, and not too bad. But definitely not
"Top" quality @ $7.00" Rate it a "7". (NOTE - I am truly a "TOP SHELF MARG kinda girl, with Grand Marnier floater)
"Anna Maria" combo not bad. good cheese on the soft cheese taco,actually pretty good, decent crispy beef taco, moist rice and refried beans. Rice not dry, beans very tasty.
Service - decent, efficient with the food service, but found it amazing how long it took to get a house marg". Still okay. Friendly and accommodating server.
Prices - much in line with a lot of other Tex-Mex favs. @ $7.95 per entree.
Cons:
Guacamole - not great. Tasted like it had been through a food processer...very "pureed", not chunky, very bland, no flavor. No cilantro, no onions, no tomato....blah...note... my measure of a good Mexican Restaurant is guac and chips and salsa..
Chips & Salsa - chips thin, but dry and not salty. Salsa like a tomato paste, not chunky, no onions, no tomatoes, etc. ehhh
Parking is a real hassle, not much room. Small parking area in the back or across the street at the Furniture Store ????
This place has received so many great reviews, so I can only say, taste is so subjective. All depends on one's personal palate. I would not make a special trip down here from North Dallas, but if accidently in the area, might stop again. NOT one I would ever rate over a "3". on a very good day. But, the staff is welcoming and so thankful you stopped by. So sorry my review cannot be better.......
Okay, on a side note, we left Avilas and went across the street to Ojeda's and had one, only one, of their "top shelf margs".....YUM, the best in town. Go Ojeda's !!!!!!Listed in: Sadly, Places I will avoid.
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Review from Daniel W.
7/23/2009
Let me just say, this one is really tough for me to rate. I am seriously torn on this one and I am seriously sitting right between a solid 3 and a shaky 4. My heart longs to give out that one extra itty bitty wittle star. I mean, one click on that harmless little 4th star icon, and it will all be over. But, alas, I must be true to myself and to the rest of mankind!
If you do go, know this: OUTSTANDING CHILE RELLENO! This is really a fine piece of work. I mean, this thing could be painted on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel! Surprisingly, it's not coated in batter and fried as I expected, but it was packed with wonderful flavors and textures. Silky smooth, melted white cheese, perfectly seasoned ground beef, spicy poblano, and a rich, creamy tomato sauce with a side of fresh tomato, lettuce and jalepeno salad. This is a beautiful creation, and the reason I would recommend trying this place for yourself. (PS- I'm pretty sure this place will be on the Food Network soon and after that I'm sure it will be unbelievably packed. You may want to go soon if you have been considering this place.)
The enchiladas are pretty standard Tex-Mex. Good, but nothing spectacular. The brisket tacos pale in comparison to the almighty Mia's. The salsa has a perfect consistency and a really nice habenero (?) kick to it. But the chips are pretty dreadful. They reminded me of those cardboard baked Doritos or something. The beans are not blended at all, as all good refried beans should be, but were more like microwaved whole pinto beans. I was not a fan. The rice had a nice texture but was bland.
For this reason, I don't feel right about going above a 3. Rice, beans, and chips/salsa are the 3 great equalizers in the Mexican food world, and if you can't do these right, I gotta move on. I'm sorry, I really wanted to love this place. But I would seriously take this place over Ojeda's any day. -
Review from B F.
East Providence, RI
6/22/2010
Excellent service. The man busing tables/running food was like Houdini...and the waitress was very friendly and attentive.
I couldn't eat enough of the salsa, beans & rice, and flour nachos! Chile relleno was great. Hubby had the brisket tacos, he said they were really good, but he couldn't tell they were brisket. Try the Avila's Margarita it has an organic sweetener and tasted so much better than a margarita made with sour mix! -
Review from Warren S.
Dallas, TX
Updated - 2/16/2009
Ok, my review was in desperate need of updating.
First of all, the whole margarita mess has been solved by a nice new liquor license. So, now Avila's is kickin' it full-bar style.
Once a restaurant (especially a mom -n- pop joint) has been around awhile, it begins to ebb and flow. Avila's is ebbing right now. Has the food gotten terrible all of the sudden, no. It's just ebbing. They're finding themselves. It was still great.
Except the guac... holy HAAS, they've got to be using pre-made guac! They scooped ours out using an ice cream scoop. The perfectly round lump of greeny mush looked nothing like chunky, fresh guacamole. If someone was to just happen by our table it would have seemed as if there was a spotlight on that one little side plate. Everything else is so fresh and so slap yo' mama good. It was quite disappointing.
The chile relleno was still out of sight. ;-)
Remember, parking is a hassle. If you get there during a dinner rush, you're most likely parking at the furniture store across the street.Listed in: Top Restaurants
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/26/2008
It's not a 5-star restaurant, just a 5-star mexican food experience.
Once you get over the… Read more »
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Review from Caroline N.
Washington, DC
7/23/2008
just seeing the name avila's is enough to make me start weeping right here in my cubicle. I never thought that living in new york would be taxing on my taste buds but let me tell you, this lack of mexican food thing is posing a serious serious problem. to quote cinderella (not something I'm quick to do, so take it as a sign that this is a dire situation): you don't know what you've got 'till it's gone.
I think I'm pretty well versed in the world of mexican food. I've been to a lot of them, and often. but very few hold the place in my heart that avila's does. yes, it's a "dive" in a certain sense. it's tucked away on maple with a lot of other mexican joints (like the acceptable but vastly inferior ojeda's), but the interior is surprisingly cosy and charming. the decor is actually pretty classy - I especially like the local art that they feature. the size is also a nice change from the ginormous, almost warehouse-style mexican spots.
but the food, oh my god, the food. they have all of the expected tex-mex items but also a fair assortment of more traditional dishes. generally, it has a more gourmet touch than your average mexican restaurant. and all of the ingredients are so, so fresh.
I've had their tacos, chicken mole, chile rellenos...I've never been dissapointed. but once I tried the avila's special (three different enchiladas with three different sauces) it became impossible for me to order anything else. I'm not even an enchilada kind of girl (joe t's being the other exception), usually I think they're either kind of bland and uninteresting or too greasy...but these enchiladas are absolutely...unearthly. take my word for it. -
Review from prashant j.
Dallas, TX
2/8/2009
3.4 stars.
I had heard about Avila's from Guidelive's Bill Addison and their reader poll that picked it as a top choice for Tex-Mex. I had to twist arms to convince my wife we should drive this far for some Mexican food. But after I threatened to drive us down to Harry Hines for some Korean food I won out. And I was serious - I've been wanting to try some Korean food there.
We went on a Sat. night with the family and my parents and got in before it got too busy. Easy to drive on by and not realize there is a restaurant here due to fact it is astonishingly small. Non-descript is an accurate moniker. Parked in back and walked around to what looked like a tiny 1940s brick home and entered.
Very dark, but warm rustic interior. We were seated immediately and ordered drinks. I had a Dos XX lager and my folks had a margarita. They are from San Antonio and weren't too impressed. I didn't try it. I've read other reviewers say Avila's has no liquor license. If that is true then we were robbed..........especially at $7 a pop for those small glasses of limeade. I might have to sic Amex on them tomorrow.
Chips/salsa were pretty good as the salsa did have right amount of bite. I had the brisket tacos and they were quite good. I wonder why more places don't serve this? Brisket was tender yet not fatty adn they were encompassed in a flour tortilla that was then pan toasted. I love that. It comes with a tbsp. of guac, salsa and rice/beans. The salsa was mostly onion and little tomato which looked odd but actually tasted OK, meaning I didn't have that horrific, "no sexy time for you" kind of breath .
We had ordered a "large" guacamole and what came back was 2 small scoops of mostly mashed up avocado. Say what you will about the trendier places who proudly make their tableside guacamole but at least their product delivers the goods. This was not worthwhile for $7.
Rice was a glowing orange color and on par to an Adolphus packet you'd make at home. I'd say if this was the type of Mexican restaurant that latinos would be seen eating at the rice would be more the color of well......rice. And we might see some veggies interspersed. Refried beans were pasty smooth and very eatable.
My wife said the spinach enchiladas were OK, but I noticed she had engulfed them pretty quickly and I usually qualify to get a bite of what she orders but not tonight. My Mom's chicken mole was quite good but they served no corn tortillas with them and our waiter was completely MIA after he brought our food. Kid's had the chicken flautas and the bite I sampled was light, crunchy and had a tasty filling.
Restroom that was located in kitchen was kind of neat and my son thought so too. I think it's brave of a restaurant to allow this. But like I said this place is small. They have no choice here I think.
Overall I'm dinging this place for it's service and not delivering on the value equation which if you read my reviews is important to ME. Based only on the non-guacamole food though it really is pretty good. But I'll be spending my Tex-Mex $$ at Los Cucos from here on. That reminds me I need to do a writeup on that one. Adios! -
Review from Dennis M.
San Antonio, TX
10/17/2009
Saw them on Triple D and have passed them on the way to Ojeda's. This is a great joint. The chips and salsa were great. Chips were crisp and the salsa was fresh and had some heat. Best I've had in Dallas so far.
Went there for lunch on a Saturday afternoon and the house was full. Started off with a cup of Posole and it was goooood. The GF wanted to eat another cup when we were done! Shared the Guisado de Puerco. Tasty. We wanted to lick the sauce off the plate. Also shared a pork tamale. The masa was just OK, but the pork was flavorful.
To top it off, the service was outstanding. They were on top of everything, with great big smiles. Definitely a plus plus. This is a place I will bring guests to. -
Review from Thadd J.
10/12/2009
I'll start out by saying I'm rating this based on items on the lunch menu. I love watching Triple D and coming here was mainly because it faired well on the show. But I didn't have the Chicken Mole or Chili relleno. Nor a margarita this time, had to go back to work.
I went with friends from work, he had chicken enchiladas with verde sauce, beef tacos, and guisado de puerca. And I should add, Mexican is always a player for us during lunch. Another reason for coming here today.
The common thought from table was that the food overall was very bland. The chicken in the enchiladas was not seasoned well, if at all. The Guisado de puerca was pork diced and served in a sauce instead of being stewed together, not bad, not spicy, more of a tomato sauce. Ok, but nothing special. The beef tacos was actually pretty good, but I'm sure the salsa made them much better than without the salsa.
By all accounts the salsa was the star of lunch. Spicy and very good. The chips were crispy and never an empty bowl.
Fortunately there are lots of great little Mexican restaurants all over Dallas, but this isn't one of them. Outside of the salsa Avila's is pretty forgettable, average at best.Listed in: Triple D Joints
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Review from Tanya R.
Dallas, TX
4/9/2008
Have been there several times and like the food. Their chips aren't my favorite because they are a bit thicker than I normally like. Tacos and enchiladas are good. It's a smal place that tends to get pretty busy at lunchtime. I like that it's a hole-in-the-wall type joint.
One warning-stay away from the fountain soda- everytime I go it just doesn't taste right so I stick to the iced tea now. -
Review from Diego S.
7/24/2008
I decided to check out Avila's after reading some of these reviews and realizing it is around the corner from me.
I had never even noticed it before as the building is very non-descrip. 3 parking spots in front but there are a few more in the back. You can always park across the street at the furniture store.
I was expecting plastic chairs, harsh lighting, a tejano playing jukebox, and a true hole in the wall vibe. I was very surprised that the inside does not match up at all to the outside. Well decorated with simple but classic furniture.
The place filled up fast and service was S-L-O-W as there was just one guy waiting tables. That guy was running ragged, even though, there were two people standing behind the counter doing nothing but talking. Finally, the girl decided to work and began to seat people entering. The other guy was I assume the owner/manager? If he was, he needs to do more to engage/help when there is a need. Otherwise, you are left with customers who are sitting there waiting for refills/food/their ticket. Annoying. Even more annoying: when you are in plain sight of your waiting customers doing nothing.
The above paragraph is really what mildly ruined the experience for me hence the rating. When it came to the food, it was a 4* rating. The complimentary chips were hot and hard to tell if out of a bag or not. I need to know where Avila's buys these if they are pre-made. The salsa was great. Not watery and with just the right kick.
I ordered the brisket tacos and the dish was very yummy. Brisket can tend to be prepared really greasy with said grease impacting the flavor. These tacos were well made and not greasy at all. The fatass in me wanted 3 tacos instead of 2 that came with the plate (hell, ten bucks for the plate, I think one more taco won't bankrupt you, Avila's). Rice and beans were obviously an afterthought as there was just a spoonful of each to go with the (2) tacos.
There is a lot of competition for Mex-food in the Maple area. I have a feeling latinos know there are better places than Avila's. The entire time I was at Avila's, there was not a fellow latino patron. At the risk of being judge-y, sometimes that can be a red flag.
In the case of Avila's, I am overlooking this as the food held up its end of the deal. -
Review from Melissa J.
Dallas, TX
2/2/2010
I was really craving a margarita today and was sorely disappointed when I walked in and saw on their special board that a Margarita was $10. SERIOUSLY? In a small hole in the wall Mexican restaurant? Seriously? Did I say that already?
I cannot believe this. But my need for tequila won out and I had a $10 drink that they promised would be worth it. So you're asking was it worth it? Nah not really. It was good but not $10 good. To offset the expensive drink I had some weird bowl of soup that had chicken, cabbage, radishes, jalapenos and some herb crap. It was ok. I would give it maybe 2 stars. My coworker had crispy tacos. You can't mess those up. After all was said and done we said we should of just went to fuel city and I could of got a beer to go with my tacos.
Oh well, live and learn. I would not return for sure!Listed in: Tex-Mex Options
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Review from Michael H.
Dallas, TX
1/14/2009
This place definitely has an identity crisis. On the outside it looks like a ethnic neighborhood restaurant. On the inside, let's just say, it was about as diverse as the republican national convention. (not a political stance, i'm just sayin')
Regardless of the schizophrenia, here's my nutshell experience...Parking was bad. Chips and salsa were decent. Food was good. Margaritas were bad. Service was terrible one time and decent another.
I gave it a second shot but not so sure it will be getting a third. -
Review from Al L.
Dallas, TX
5/6/2011
Our new favorite Hole in the wall, bread pudding and brisket tacos were awesome. Good service.
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Review from Cannon F.
Dallas, TX
6/14/2007
Excellent food (A+), Service (B-), Atmosphere (C)
Excellent mexican food. Service could use some improvement, slow. Atmosphere is simple, but restaurant is extremely loud.Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Nestor P.
Seattle, WA
5/29/2008
Located in a industrial area (no fancy at all) and with a small parking lot this restaurant is a good option in dallas. The menu offers a mix between tex-mex and some traditional mexican plates.
The sauce for the chips is awesome as well as the melted chesse. The tacos are very good becuase are served with a delicious sides (rice & salad). If you can try the "Taquitos don Tabo" which are the best in town.
Be aware that the area is not the best for late dinner. -
Review from Cimi W.
Dallas, TX
1/13/2010
This review is for lunch: I had the #1 (2 cheese enchiladas rice/beans). What I had, was "ok". The borracho beans were "ok". I must say though, that the margarita I had was pretty darn-TooTn' good!! My friend had the brisket tacos, which I tasted, and they were really good! I guess I ordered the wrong thing. Their salsa, is TOO D HOT!! I asked for "normal" salsa, but was unable to attain any (they should offer hot, and mild salsa). Our server was quite friendly, but my friend had to ask for a "coke/soda" refill.
Be aware, that their parking is pretty tight. Their additional parking in the rear, means 5 additional parking spaces in the back. All this place really needs, is NORMAL salsa, better parking, and a patio to meet my standards. All in all, we enjoyed lunch.
