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I went with my brother who has been a TX resident for the past 12 years - this was the must-visit place for dinner. You know you're in the right place when you're greeted by a huge statue of The King. We got to sit outside - it was a great night for it!
I heard the blue corn enchiladas were the thing to try - and I'm glad I did. The green chili sauce was deeeelicious. The enchiladas were good, but I didn't feel like they were anything to write home about. I almost gave it another star just for the green chili sauce, though...
Huge plates of food and yummmmmmo chips. I had my first ever DOT here - never heard of it! - and I can't complain! The margaritas were definitely tasty.
I'd defeinitely go back - the decor and atmosphere was great and the food was really reasonable and good. I could see myself visiting often, actually...
I swear, I could give this place 5 stars just for their salsa! I wanted to inhale it, but as I was out with the Execs for lunch, I couldn't exactly get as excited about it as I wanted. I'm ready to go back with a group of friends that I don't mind finishing off a bowl or two in front of. :)
But Chuy's deserves these 5 stars for more than that... their menu is awesome. I had the Chuy's Special and it was sooo god. Everyone else's food looked equally fantastic, but of course, no sampling on a business lunch so I couldn't tell you if it was. Anyway, I highly enjoyed the food and can't wait to go back. Oh and the prices are cheeeaap compared to similar places in the area.
Somehow, for some reason, not quit as good as the Chuy's on Barton Springs Rd. in Austin, were this place originated.
But the food mostly tastes the same. I've actually had some bad experiences at this location, but recently, less so.
Always cute waitstaff.
Ask for a side of the jalapeno ranch to dip your chips into.
I've been here a few times and honestly, I do not understand the hype. It gets really busy and the wait is ridiculous at times. For what? IMO the food is average. I certainly have never had anything that I would consider exceptional. Nothing really stands out to me. It's not all that different from On the Border which is just up the street. Don't get me wrong, it's not bad, just not the 5 star Tex-Mex that some people say it is.
I have always loved Chuy's since living down the street from the original one on Barton Springs in Austin and was thrilled to find they had built one in Uptown when I lived there. I am not usually a fan of Tex Mex Restaurants, since most are uncreative and bland. However, Chuy's discovered and based it's menu around the green chili and I love it. Usually have the Steak Burrito with Hatch Green Chili Sauce or the Green Chili Stew. I can't wait each year for the green chili season to see what new creations they come up with. At the time I lived in the areas of these two locations, I would visit weekly and was never disappointed with the food or service. Be prepared to wait for a table because they stay busy and deserve to be.
If you aren't a green chile fan, you may not understand why Chuy's is so good. Some folks are talking about some jalapeno ranch thing, but I say get the Hatch chile sauce as a salsa for your chips!
I also love the Texas martinis. The enchiladas are all good. Burritos too. Just make sure you try something with green chile sauce on it. Especially during late August to early September when they roast their fresh Hatch chilies!
My husband & I love to visit Chuy's in Dallas. The food is pretty good 99% of the time. Sometimes the meat arrives to me a little greasier than the time before, but the chips & salsa are amazing! UH-mazing! I love the outdoor patio seating on a cool night and the atmosphere is extremely laid back. If you're not a sports fan, do NOT go to Chuy's when there is a game on because it's overly crowded with people standing up creaming & yelling at the T.V. Which is completely barbaric, in my opinion.
The wait staff is normally pretty friendly and it's located in a nice area.
I've been to Chuy's about a dozen or so times and everytime I leave feeling like I just won something. Their food is so f-in good......the queso and the salsa (not a fan of the chucky stuff though) will make you wanna slap your mama its so good. The tortillas are something to behold. I've still never eaten anywhere where the tortillas tasted as fresh as they do there. I completely agree with some of you about the atmosphere. You'd kind of expect a different collection of people given its location but it can't really be helped. The only thing that bothers me is the way they have people standing around waiting for a table. there isn't any sort of organization involved in it. you're left to stand wherever, backing up into the bar in the garage or inside. I've never been to the one in Austin and just over a month ago I went to the one in Plano. That one is a tight squeeze!
I've gone back and forth with this place. WhenI first moved to Dallas 5 years ago, I was brought here...and thought I had died and gon to tex-mex heaven. Over the years, after experiencing more and more Dallas Tex-Mex....I realize it isnt really the food that brings people back, its the food combined with the cool atmosphere and tasty alcoholic beverages :)
The decor is my favorite...every room is different, booths are big and roomie, and you have the buzz od uptown all around you. The Food is above average.....their burritos as big-as-yo-face are awesome, chips and salsa definitly hold you over....and their chicken dishes are great for people not wanting to bust their diet.
Drinks....get to the drinks,right? Well..I'm fo sho a fan of their margaritas....they never fail to make any troubles I might have fly right out the window. And if you go for brunch, they dont dissappoint with their mimosas. All in all....especially if you are inthat area, you wont go wrong with stopping in and getting your tex-mex on. It just might not be the place you rave about and take out-of-towners.
Pass the guac...
Um. What?! You don't like Chuy's food????
I am a Mexican food FREAK and native Texan. This place has NEVER disappointed. Everything I have ever ordered was delicious- I am a huge fan of the Enchiladas, Stuffed Pablanos, Quesadillas, Guacamole, and MARGARITAS! On my last visit I had the fajita salad with the (to die for) creamy jalepeno ranch and it was salad heaven. The Mango Margarita was like dessert it was so darn good. I do not know what sort of Tex-Mex these low scoring reviewers are fans of but I disagree wholeheartedly. This place is Fantastico!!! My service personally has always been satisfactory as well. It can get super crowded at times so maybe you might get some issues with service then... I have not had that problem myself though. Yummy, fun, well priced- it's all good!!!
I have been going to this place for 10 years and what can I say? This place is fun, yummy, and they… Read more »
I want so badly to be like everyone else and like this place! I really do!
But I don't...
Here's the good:
- chips! Not a lot of 'em, and don't expect a refill, but they taste good.
- salsa! Yuuummm! Use it sparingly, cuz you aren't gonna get more.
- jalapeno ranch dip? good stuff!
Here's the not-so-good:
- our waiter started off pretty strong, but some how lost his way. He refilled my tea with water, then WAY overfilled my guy's water to overflowing. Then he disappeared for 10-15 minutes after taking our plates away and before giving us our ticket.
- I got the steak fajitas al carbon. I think I have eaten air with more flavor! Even the pico was lackluster. The beef was dry, and boooorin---zzzzzz... oh, sorry! I fell asleep thinking about them.
- The rice was also flavorless and dry.
We sat in the patio-ish room. It was a nice day for it, if you don't mind being stalked by fat pigeons.
Maybe the ritas would have made it better. Oh, well...
I'm not a 'rita person so I can't really speak to that, but I am a Tex-Mex person so that's where I come in!
I really like the chips- they're the uber-thin version so people either love them or hate them. They miss the mark on the salsas, though- the mild is similar to a watered down ketchup, while the hot is akin to a watery pico de gallo. The jalapeno ranch is really where it's at! I'm pretty sure that shit wasn't made for dippin chips in but it shoulda been! And the tortillas are homemade and fluffy delicious if only they were served hotter.
The main reason I come here is for the following menu items:
Mexi-Cobb Salad with beef fajita meat and cilantro lime vinaigrette-
I don't normally like salad if this tells you anything.
Chicken Tortilla Soup- yummy
Chili Relleno with ground beef and red sauce- I love the crunchiness, just wish they would put more sauce.
Deluxe Chicken Enchiladas- i love this deluxe tomatillo sauce they put on them (still wish there was more and I wish the chicken was seasoned better)
also- what the hell is up with people not putting cheese on the refried beans? I don't get this!
Overall- I will come to Chuy's if I'm craving one of the above items... otherwise I'm eating Tex-Mex somewhere else!
While I enjoy eating here, I much prefer to go for happy hour. I haven't met a drink here that I didn't enjoy. Of course, I have to recommend the margaritas, but you also get free queso and snacks during happy hour time. The drinks are blended well and a great value for the price.
If you're dining in, try the Baha Tacos (comes with your choice of fish or shrimp). They have a creamy jalapeno sauce that compliments the seafood very well. The nachos are tasty, but massive, so be prepared for the mountain of chips & cheese that will arrive at your table if you dare. The Chuychanga is also a good choice if you're a fan of normal chimichangas. Some chimichangas seem to be all fried tortilla, but not this one - it is stuffed with plenty of meat and cheese. If you're feeling adventurous, try the Chuy's Special for a fresh take on regular enchiladas.
Service is generally good and there always seem to be people around even during the slow times. Parking is a little tricky given its location, so you may have to make a few trips around the block before finding a spot.
Sadly, I have to admit I agree with Tricia C. and Ann S. I use to live in Houston and Chuy's was a staple for any reason to get a group of people together for good food and drink. Even with the lack of parking and the hellacious wait. Now, after introducing my husband to the place here in Dallas, it's just not the same.
The entrées are always plentiful, but just not as tasty as they use to be. Chips and salsa are still great and the rita's are sweet and tasty after a day of shopping. But all in all there are much better place to get really good Mexican food.
Haven't experienced the Elvis B-day party, but I'll continue to look for my favorite Mexican food joint in Dallas.
The best thing about a Mexican restaurant is knowing that before you even get your drink you are going to have a basket of delicious, crunchy, salty tortilla chips in front of you. Hopefully you'll also get some spicy salsa along with it. And before your meal is even ordered you are already full from the yummy chips.
Um, not at Chuy's.
WTF is up with these chips? They are thin, they are not even remotely salty enough, some of them were so drowned in grease they weren't even crunchy but kind of transparent and limp. YUCK! When we didn't even finish one basket of chips I said out loud "Yeah, I'm thinking Chuy's was not a good call for lunch." It wasn't.
To get over my hangover I ordered a Texas Martini and upgraded the tequila to Patron. What actually came out? A tepid, watered down margarita with some rotgut well tequila. Where is my top shelf martini damn it? Who knows, I just drank it and said whatever. For food I had chicken enchiladas with the Hatch green chile sauce. I like the spice of the sauce and I liked the chicken but it was seriously underwhelming. I didn't finish it and I wasn't interested in even trying. That almost never happens at any Mexican restaurant when I'm there so you know I wasn't feeling it. Meh, I have DEFINITELY experienced better.
On the bright side, I do like their patio because it is covered and kind of closed in but with the windows open you can get the breeze. And I love Elvis so I like the shrine in the middle of the room and also the massive disco ball above his head. Rock on Elvis, Rock on, but DON'T bother eating at Chuy's because it is not worthy of a King like you!
I liked the strawberry margarita. But I mainly keep going back for the flour tortillas. They are the most authentic to real flour tortillas. I usually just go here for an appetizer and a drink. It gets way busy at night (of course) and it can take a while to find a table. The decor is pretty cool, the walls are colorful and the lighting is pretty cool.
I really like the location of this place, if you don't like Chuy's just walk around and you'll find another great place to eat.
Okay...so I went to this place for happy hour. Eh...it was okay. I mean I am a hardcore Mexican food fanatic and honestly, Dallas, I've had SO much better...other than the great drinks, the food isn't the greatest.
Tips for going:
1) If you arent's afraid of birds (i.e. pigeons) and don't mind them flying around for you to feed them tortilla chips, then by all means sit on the patio.
2) Happy hour begins at four and includes free queso.
3) They queso is good...the meat not so good.
4) Margaritas are made well and are tasty!
5) This is a pretty big place and its very colorful. Reminds of a place I'd find in Miami.
Chuy's is that one place that everyone raves about, so when you get something bad there you think you just didn't order the 'right' thing. Or that maybe you're just crazy.
I am here to say: you are not alone. I have given this place so many opportunities to redeem itself, and it never happens. The first time I went, I got my standard dish -- beef fajitas. Those are kind of hard to mess up, you know? But I was so, so wrong. They came with dry, overseasoned meat, and the tortillas were akin to what you would go buy at Kroger.
Months go by, and I think I must have been suffering from battered person syndrome, because I decided maybe it would be better next time and that Chuy's deserved a second chance. Redemption was not to be found, however; our waitress appeared to be exasperated just by the mere act of taking our orders, and my enchiladas came covered in what tasted like grease and velveeta. No sir.
On the bright side? The margaritas are decent. But I wouldn't go to a chain restaurant full of annoying people and inferior waitstaff just to drink.
Sorry, but I've been to Chuy's more times than I can count, and each time I keep thinking that surely I'll figure out the secret item on the menu that everyone MUST be ordering to be raving about this place so much. Nope.
The food is blah. I've tried many dishes here and never been impressed. On my latest visit, I had the chicken soft tacos. The chicken was cold (cold!!) and didn't have any seasoning. It looked like it had been dumped out of a Sysco value-pak, pre-cut with fake grill marks. (I managed a commercial kitchen once, so call that an educated guess.) At Chuy's, they wrap it up with some boring iceberg lettuce and call it a day. Uninspired.
This time, I was here with a friend from Austin, and I asked her to compare it to the original Chuy's in Austin. She was excited about ordering their dinner salad, which she said is amazing in Austin. Well, here in Dallas, it's a sad, bland imitation. She was pretty disappointed.
They have a queso bar during happy hour, but we were kinda grossed out watching them dump refried beans from a plastic container into the open car hood that serves as the buffet table. The queso, by the way, is nothing to write home about.
Parking is terrible on weekends, and after you spend 30 minutes looking for a spot (or blow $11 on valet), you can spend another two hours waiting for a table. I never have (I aim for non-peak times if I ever have to go at all), but it blows my mind that so many people do. You'll find them lined up all around the halls and spilling out the door, like little sheep waiting to jump. Baaaa...
It's fine, but I really don't understand the mania over Chuy's. The line on a weekend is… Read more »
A little piece of Austin in Dallas. I actually never ate at Chuy's much during my 4-year stint, mostly Trudy's. The "Mexican Martinis" aren't as good as Trudy's but above average. The chips and salsa are always good (same as Hula Hut) and food is above average. If anything, I'll just come back every time I miss Austin.
Came here to lunch with the work group and was an experience I definitely enjoyed. We got there early because it gets crowded quickly, and they weren't joking!
The bad part was that they couldn't seat us until everyone in our party arrived. Bummer. That set us back a good 15 minutes since a few groups went before us. Might have also accounted for the somewhat slow service, but hey, the boss was there and he wasn't rushing us out the door. So, cannot complain.
The chips were great, light and crispy. And the salsa had a good flavor with a little kick, while not being overpowering. I had the Chuy's Special - chicken enchiladas with blue corn tortillas and tomatillo sauce. It was pretty darn good, but I needed more of the sauce! Took me a while to get my extra order of sauce, but I guess it was worth the wait.
Lots of different decorated rooms. One had a bunch of hubcaps. Another with a bunch of random portraits of random people. Lots of brightly decorated walls. This place reminded me a bit of Chevy's we have back in CA (and other parts of the country, I'm sure).
BTW, not trying to be mean but while we were waiting for a table, there's a wall of shirts that the restaurant sells. One of them said "Hot Mamacita" with a small logo. And on top of that was a handmade sign that said "OUT OF XXL". Yikes. Out of XXL? Yikes.
I'm most definitely a bigger fan of the margaritas than the food, but then again that's true for most tex-mex places I go to ( I love my rrrrritas!) But the food is still good and I love their sauces. Especially the verdes. But if your a first-timer try the Chuy's Enchilada Special. Gives you a nice palate to get the feel for the place.
Big portions too. Please don't go if you're planning on taking a date that barely eats.
And it gets crowded at lunch and dinner, so don't be discouraged if you have to wait a while for a table. It's normal. Just go to the bar and grab some 'ritas in the meantime.
Chuy's always makes me happy. It always sounds good and always *is* good. Their nachos are delicious, but I almost always get the roasted chicken burrito. It just has chicken breast, beans, and cheese and is all rolled up in a flour tortilla and served with rice. Oh yeah, and they top it with your choice of sauce. I always get their yummy queso. They'll do a half size burrito, which is really more than any human needs to eat, especially with a cartload of chips and salsa beforehand. It's really reasonably priced, too.
The parking can be a pain in the ass. However, once you've got chips and salsa in front of you, it's forgotten.
The Veggie Enchiladas (without cheese) are to die for. I also appreciate Chuy's for having a variety of seating options (inside, outside, garage, hubcap spaceroom).
Plus, and I cannot praise them enough, the margaritas are unbeatable. They are cheap and get you tipsy quick. I didn't realize how strong they were the first time I went and drank two while eating my dinner. I went straight home and fell asleep.... So, just keep that in mind. Mmmm, I could go for some Chuy's right now.
I haven't had much at Chuy's that makes me want to go back. Chuy's is good for the atmosphere, the drinks, and the Elvis birthday celebration (which earns the 3 stars all on its own).
I have had or tried the following menu items: big as yo face burritos, chuychangas, chili rellenos, enchiladas, and flautas. The burritos were huge, yes, but didn't really have enough flavor to make you want to eat the whole thing. Same deal with the chuychanga, but it's fried. Enchiladas are mediocre, flautas don't have enough meat in them and are drizzled with sauces that make them soggy. The chili relleno I had was very stringy.
The best thing I've had there were stuffed jalapenos--I don't think they're on the menu but they were complimentary on the salsa cart one time and were some of the best I've tried.
But like I said, I give this place 3 stars because I never miss the celebration on January 8 for Elvis' birthday. If you're an Elvis fan or just want to be entertained, this is the day to go. They have an Elvis impersonator who puts on a great show in the front room, and they pass out loads of goodies like elvis masks, buttons, even free Twinkies at the end of your meal! Always a blast, but get there early for good seats!
Again, I'm spoiled by Austin. I'm thrilled to have a Chuy's within 3 hours of my house here in the DFW area, but something is lost in the translation between the two areas.
Service was fine, food was ok, but it was just OK- not a "slap your mama" good experience.
That being said- when I need a damn good bowl of chicken tortilla soup- this is my place.
This place has excellent tex-mex. I always get enchiladas and my husband gets the baja fish tacos. Their margaritas are so good and they have a great happy hour. $3.50 margaritas and a free queso bar with really good queso, chips and salsa. If you have room they have really good tres leches cake. The portions are huge!
A native austin-ite, this has to be simply the best tex-mex you can spend your hard-earned money on! from the fresca salsa served when you sit down, to the deluxe tomatillo sauce you literally can smother your dish in, its perfect! we know this chain and frequent it in austin (as well as the hula hut, another chuy's chain) and have NEVER been dissapointed. you get a ton for your money and the quality is consistant. I would say, though, that the wait staff in plano, texas has a lot of work to do, as opposed to the staff at the location down in dallas, near SMU. regardless, get there early, take the wait (you can serve yourself the fresca and chips for as long as you wait) and you will NOT be dissapointed.
give it a try and you will love it !
mmm Chuy's...grew up with this place.
Love the margarita's and fajitas! The salsa is also good!
Love the decor...all about Elvis! The shirts are fun too! Get one everytime!
Nestled in a "no-one-is-ever-going-to-let-me-over-I-just-want-t o-turn-left-park-my-damn-car-and-eat-some-damn-tor tillas part of Dallas, sits festive Chuy's. This place is great for a large group. It's an easy restaurant to bring your friends for a reunion lunch or dinner. Sit outside and enjoy the breeze (if you have one), or opt for one of the many tables inside. There are two bars, but I wouldn't recommend eating at them. It's too crowded and you'd probably end up spilling the queso everywhere...
So the food is not too die for, but it's good and everyone will find something they like. Don't order the veggie quesadillas, but do order the tortillas and a frozen margarita. The tortillas are flaky and warm, and the margaritas are really sweet with just enough alcohol.
You can't go wrong here really. If you're in the area with a gang of your friends, don't want to spend a fortune, and need some Tex Mex, check it out. Beware the screaming babies that come out for the after church rush.
I was recommended this place from friends that went to UT. I was in Dallas on business from the SF Bay Area. I wasn't sure what to expect as our Mexican food is quite good. I placed a take out order for a combo #1. I'd rather eat in my room with a tv than sit solo.
It was a delicious meal that filled me up. They gave me a huge bag full of chips and salsa. I will definitely come back. Thank you to my friends that recommended this place.
Btw... this ain't no hole in the wall... I'm not sure what ppl meant by that in reviews of this place.
Some places garner such a reputation that you jump at the chance when someone suggest eating there. I felt that type of eagerness when Chuy's was floated out as a dinner destination. I turned out being quite surprised in both good and bad ways.
First off, for being such a hip joint (allegedly) I was a bit disappointed by the atmosphere. Don't get me wrong, I loved the paper -mache Elvis and some of the funky art but the rooms themselves had little ambiance and whatever might have been generated was ruined by customers waiting on tables throughout the joint. Secondly, what was with all the kiddies? I was hoping for a cool bar with good margarita not McDonald's playland.
Despite these shortcomings, I thought the food was fair to excellent. I ordered the Elvis Memorial Combo with varying degrees of enchilada (a cheese with ranchero trumped the beef or chicken w/blue corn tortilla), plated with a decent beef taco and below average rice and beans. A decent amount of food for $9.75 for sure. In facts , all meals at my table were deemed very good, although sadly no one had the nerve to try the Elvis fried chicken which beckoned with its combo of traditional comfort food with a green chile twist.
The wait seemed longer than necessary, however, and the service was lackluster, albeit cordial. Our waited warned us that the food would be slow coming out of the kitchen. which seemed like a bit of a cop out on his part. However, the food was timely, where as his attention was not.
All in all, I certainly would consider another visit, perhaps during the week when kiddies were doing there homework. Of course, when you hire a Zac Efron look-a-like to be a host, I guess you can't expect to escape the pre-teen set on any day. At least they didn't break out into song this time. That would have caused High School Musical 4 - Enchilada's Revenge
Some Pros on Chuy's:
---------------------------------------
+ Super strong and delicioso margaritas
+ Amazing salsa and fresh chips; they also bring out a signature 'creamy jalapeno' dip that sports an amazing kick with a refreshing finish
+ The place is jumping with the local younger set, great people watching and mingling at the bar
+ HUGE outdoor patio if you can brave the heat, because a sunset with my queso is quite preferable
+ Tasty combos, fantastic tacos, crunchy satisfying tostadas, yummy rice and beans
Some Cons on Chuy's
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- I got salmonella poisoning here
(do you really need any more than that??)
I love me some Tex-Mex, but when it comes with a side of sick, sick, dizzy, awful, sick I've gotta say not so much.
I have a love/hate relationship with Chuy's. On a good day, they have great food and competent service. On a bad day, the food can be so-so and the service can be very lacking. They can be very crowded most days of the week and waits can grow to an hour or more. The worst part by far is the parking situation. They have a couple small lots and are adjacent to numerous other lots for other stores or restaurants that have big angry signs forbidding you from parking there. My frustration with this particular problem grew to the point that I looked at the Google Maps satellite view of the area and estimated they had maybe 70 parking spots, yet the occupancy certificate behind the bar sets their occupancy at close to 700 people.
That aside, they have a variety of mexican dishes that are usually pretty good and are priced reasonably. Their queso is particularly good. The environment has a lot fo character with various things painted on the walls and different sections decorated with christmas lights sculptures, there is an elvis themed section, etc.
I will continue to go, but I really wish they would address the parking situation. I hate having to find a spot when it's busy.
I detest Chuy's with a fiery passion. I've tried this place multiple times, as my sister loves this restaurant. I've given it many chances, but it never lives up to the hype.
I do not understand why this place is so popular. It's gimicky, the food is horrible. That is not Tex-Mex. Fast food Tex-Mex tastes better than this utter crap. The refried beans taste like puke. Seriously.
And they sell T-shirts. I don't want to shop at a restaurant. I want to eat.
Maybe Chuy's gets these plastic SMU girls so drunk they don't care what it tastes like. But this does NOT taste good.
Save your money.
I would totally give this 0 stars if I could.
The food here is alright, for the price I won't complain.
But to be quite frank, from all I have heard about the place, I was not impressed.
The food was good, everyone else seamed to enjoy their meals as well. I could see it tasting better after kicking back a margarita or two.
The chips and creamy salsa served before the meal was quite good. The salsa packed more of a kick than I was anticipating, but most restaurants just joke around about their sauces.
It's a good place for families to go, but unfortunately that also means that there are tons of screaming children and I often find it harder to enjoy a meal when I can't even hear my own thoughts about it in my head. At 2 o'clock there was a swarm of families with children and there was a minimum wait.
Our waiter was a bit short, he disappeared instantly, we had to wait for silverware after our meals were delivered. At least our glasses were never empty, but that may be because we did not drink much.
Without a doubt, my favorite restaurant in the world. Maybe it's because I don't live in Texas any more, but their food has always been the best Tex Mex in my opinion. I would give it 6 stars if I could. Their salsas are good, and their roasted chicken burritos are awesome.
They also sell tshirts but I think they could do better with those, design-wise. Parking is kind of crazy, you might as well just take advantage of the valet, unless you come at an odd hour and can find something on McKinney or in the back lot.
When I first came back to Dallas after going to college in Boston, I moved into the uptown area and have been here ever since. I felt like I've grown a lot since those first days in my early twenties. My wild ways have calmed and turned to those of responsibility, my interest in women has matured to the point where I've asked my girlfriend to get married, and I've outgrown restaurants for babies.
And no, I'm not talking about Chuckie Cheese.
I'm talking about Chuy's.
Chuy's is beginner Mexican food. It's heavy handed on the sauces and dips, but light on the quality and presentation. It's a fun place to go and have an assortment of dips and queso while you enjoy a margarita, but I always feel like I sold myself short if I go for the full dinner.
If Uncle Julio's is my strict, noble uncle who cooks with divine talent, and Gloria's is my cheap, whorish mistress who gets me drunk, then I guess Chuy's is my... frat boy cousin who likes to party but has no class?
I don't know. Chuy's doesn't really fit into my comparison because these days it's either Uncle Julio's for food or Gloria's for drinks.
The chicken and beef are always dry and shriveled in comparison to Julio's, the refried beans taste more like reHEATED beans, and the overall quality has just slipped as I've aged.
Or is it me who has become more enlightened?
The only times I end up at Chuy's are when someone else insists on going there -- or when an out-of-town friend visits that I haven't seen in a while.
FRIEND: "Hey dude, what was that AWESOME Tex-Mex place you took me to last time?"
ME: "Hmmm... let's see here -- you came five years ago? *wincing* It wasn't Chuy's was it?"
FRIEND: "Yeah -- Chuy's! That place was AWESOME!"
(my friends have limited vocabularies)
That same friend was in a band with me in college, and we started -- but never finished -- a progressive rock opera about an ambitious tortilla maker working at a Chuy's restaurant... 100 years in the future. I'd like to share some of it with you.
MEN'S CHORUS: Rosalita make those tortillas!
ROSALITA: But my hands are bleeding!
WOMEN'S CHORUS: They're bleeding!
MEN'S CHORUS: She has a space station to feed!
WOMEN'S CHORUS: We have a space station to feed!
(key change and solo spotlight on Rosa)
ROSALITA:
One day when I've put in my time
I'm going to make this restaurant mine!
MEN'S CHORUS: Back to work!
ROSALITA:
I'll show this galaxy a thing or two
When they taste my famous tortilla stew!
But, alas, my mind is dreaming...
WOMEN'S CHORUS: She's dreaming!
(key-tar solo and robot dancer kick line)
Yeah... I've got lots of time on my hands.
BOTTOM LINE:
Here's a cheap date. Ask to have a sampling of all of Chuy's different sauces (this infuriates the waitstaff because they are free and there are quite a few of them). Then grab a swirl margarita or two while you snack down. Leave immediately after. This will also be an ONLY date for you, big spender.
THREE STARS
Chuy's is OK. The food is OK. The service is OK. The drinks are good though, but come on, all Mexican food places have to have good drinks because that's part of their attraction.
I think Mi Cocina, Manny's, Iron Cactus, Uncle Julio's, and J. Pepe's are much better.
I"ve been here many times. The food is passable. The chips are quite good. What makes the place is the variety of salsas. I had a salsa fresca (or cruda) here that was WONDERFUL.
Most of the rest of the dishes are fairly uninspired. Although the prices are quite good - perhaps it's a bit of "get what you pay for"
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