This place was a trip to the past! (Prices too) Felt very homey and overall was a great experience. Mack is a very nice guy and makes you feel very welcome. The Tamales were the best, same recipe from when the place opened in 69'! 100% recommend to anyone in the area. read more

Hand hewn restaurant run by a wonderful guy, Mac. Originally started by his mom, who is rumored to have wonderful food. Upon her passing Mac has tried to revive the place. Emotionally he's been beaten yet again with the kiss of his brother , just weeks ago. Whether, Carmen's ever regain its glory days is yet to be seen. At this point food is mediocre at best. But we will keep checking in first on Mack , then on the food. read more

Carmens Place - Buffalo watching over the dining room!! - Tex-Mex Near Me - Belton, Texas

I have seen this place for 25 years and never really thought it was open for business. When I saw they replaced roof after tornado, i looked them up and we decided to give them a try. So glad we did. I love the atmosphere; Mack is so welcoming & friendly; the prices are beyond reasonable and the food was good. I wish we would have tried them years ago, we would have loved to meet Carmen. read more

To Go Review: The place doesn't have the best looks from the outside, but the inside is welcoming and spacious. They have partial outdoor seating as well as a fully inside. The owner was very friendly and helpful. We got the mix plate, with all things pictured for $7.50 total. They have the typical fixings (jalapenos, spicy salsa, onions limes etc) there available to pack for to go, as well as a station with a variety of chips to take as you want. Just keep in mind they stay out in the open so they may be stale. Not a big deal but nice that they offer it anyway. The tostada was tasty, as well as the enchilada, beans and tamale. The taco was basic and the rice was a little on the bland side. Overall, I can't complain because it's a great value.. very worth the price and the owner is very kind, so go support and give them a try!To Go Review: The place doesn't have the best looks from the outside, but the inside is welcoming and spacious. They have partial outdoor seating as well as a fully inside. The owner was very friendly and helpful. We got the mix plate, with all things pictured for $7.50 total. They have the typical fixings (jalapenos, spicy salsa, onions limes etc) there available to pack for to go, as well as a station with a variety of chips to take as you want. Just keep in mind they stay out in the open so they may be stale. Not a big deal but nice that they offer it anyway. The tostada was tasty, as well as the enchilada, beans and tamale. The taco was basic and the rice was a little on the bland side. Overall, I can't complain because it's a great value.. very worth the price and the owner is very kind, so go support and give them a try! read more

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This was the strangest dining experience ever. The average rating didn't seem bad so I decided to try it. As we parked I noticed we were the only car parked in the lot. The place is run down and in need of renovations. As we walked inside we saw a hand painted menu on the wall. The prices were very affordable but there was not anyone around. Finally the owner approached us and was very friendly and personable. He informed us that Carmen passed away a couple years ago and he was trying his best to keep this place going. He was very proud of his chips and salsa bar and the nacho cheese and his homemade soup. My wife got the enchilada plate and I got the taco plate. My wife thought the place was creepy. The rice was over cooked and the tacos were not that good and the shell of one was slightly burned and the other shell was a store bought hard shell because he ran out of corn tortillas. We wanted to get out as quickly as possible but the owner talked with us for a while. He said that he doesn't get too many visitors. Most of the chat was interesting and good but then he started taking about how women in their 50s often visit trying to get him to marry them. He is in his 60s btw. Then he talked about his first kiss when he was 7 and how after the kiss the girl smiled and her teeth were rotted. Anyway, very strange. I wouldn't go for the food but you could go just to experience the weirdness of this place too. read more

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Tried this place after 8 years of living here in town. Owner is very nice and personable. Food was very bland It was nice to experience but not a place we would return to. read more

Umm...So-So, So-So Joint.... Average Mexican food...I wish I could say more, but when you first walk into the place you already have an unsure/uneasy feeling....questionable at best! That's because the exterior of the building looks like it was built probably somewhere in the 1930s and never renovated or upkept. Reminds me of my Grandpa's homemade shed in the backyard... Food: the portions are small to average, but then again so is the menu. The main reason I tried this place was based purely on curiosity. I have passed it several times once a month on the way to drill and when day figured what the heck I'm gonna stop. read more

We just moved into town. My family and I figured we would give this place a shot. I love the old family style feel this place provides. The owner came out and introduced himself and was a very nice. You want to try something different and good all around food you gotta give this place a shot. FYI if you like homemade salsa try his special verde sauce it's awesome!!! read more

Carmens Place - Chile Rellenos - Tex-Mex Near Me - Belton, Texas

Carmen's is a different dinning experience. It seems like a fusion of fast-food, self-serve, and sit-down restaurant. This may not be apparent at first. Last week, I took my kids. We sat down at a table and waited to be served. Little did I know, that is not how it works. You are supposed to get your silverware and chips and salsa yourself when you first come in. You "make" your own salsa by getting some hot salsa, and cutting it back with tomato sauce. You also get your own drink (tea or canned drinks). They also have nacho cheese that is pretty tasty you can use with your chips. Then, you go to a window and order what you want. There is not table menu, just a large menu overhead. It doesn't say what all is included in the meal, you have to ask. Prices are very, very low. I really like this. The food came reasonably quickly. The lettuce and tomato on the tostada and taco I had were really fresh. The taco meat is what I would call old-style. Not a lot of taco seasoning, just enough for flavor. I prefer this, so it doesn't mask the flavor of the meat. Taco meat also came on the tostada. I got a Mexican dinner, which included a tamale, an enchilada (I asked for cheese and got it), a tostada, and a taco. All for $7.50. The kids got a 2 taco plate and a 2 enchilada plate, each costing $4.50. The people were friendly. While we were sitting, a man came out a took a larger table's order manually, but they seemed to be regulars, so perhaps that is why we needed to go to the window. Not a whole lot of ambiance, but not bad either. I would say rustic mom-and-pop kinda place. A little hole-in-the-wall, but not dirty. A type of place where often some of the best food is found. We are planning on going back. The above said, this is not the way it used to be many years ago. It was a more traditional-style sit-down restaurant back then. I don't mind the way it is now, but I just didn't know when I first sat down. AC doesn't work as well as I would like when it is hot in the summer. I would recommend giving it a try. I believe it is only for dinner Thur-Fri 5-8pm and 11-8pm on Sat and Sun. Closed M-T-W. read more

I hadn't been here in about 25 years. Back then Carmen's was terrific. I don't know if my tastes have changed or what happened, but Carmen's is no where near the same. I miss the old food or what I remember the old food being like. read more

Very good food, nice and friendly people. Our cook was the owner, he was very nice and even vame out to play chess with one of my brothers.

Give this place a try please!!! It has old charm and a relaxed slow down attitude. The owner/ cook/ everything is a nice guy that runs the place. It's nice to just sit and enjoy the atmosphere when all you see out front is the busy busy road with thousands of people that pass by everyday and don't give it a second thought. read more

We go there every Friday and he greets us he treats us like family and gives stuff to us on the house. He knows us so well that we call him by his first name. My dad has been going there since he was a kid so we are friends with him. His food always turns out good and quick. You can get your own drink chips and salsa there is also cheese dip that is homemade. It is a cheap and affordable I recommend this restaurant. read more

Took our five boys out since we're new to town and had a great time. Very unique atmosphere and the owner is so kind and fun to talk to. The food was good and the discussion even better! Since it wasn't too busy he even played a game of chess with our son. We will be back for sure. read more

Honestly when I first went in I thought it was going to be authentic because of how it looks and how its themed, but now just another place in Texas where they just don't get the concept of Awesome mexican food, Honestly I could of made this at home and did a better job. I'd rather go up the street to Sol Jalisco. Yea you pay more but you get better food. I feel like the food was just microwaved and given to me. It wasn't given that love you get from an authentic place. So yea I gave it two stars because I wont say it wasn't good, but not the type of place I'd go into again. Especially if I can make it look more authentic at home. read more

I have ate there quite a bit while I was in Belton and Temple and the food was vary good and the owners were vary friendly. it is my fav place to eat when I am around that area. I even got my son-in-law to stop in and eat there and he loved it . My son-in-law is a semi driver and instead of going to a truck stop he will go to Carmens when they are open. We are both from Wisc so what does that tell you we love it. If people are having a problem with Mexican food there. I suggest going to Mexico then. Times have changed things change but Carmens is the same to me as it always was .And if you feel they have changed then ask why? I can almost bet the answer you recive will be to your satifacation. Like I said things change and times change so don't be so harsh to judge until you find out what is going on. Thank-you for reading this. Coustmer From Wisc read more

I have tried this restaurant 3 times. It is very close to where I live, therefore, it would be very convenient to have a great Mexican food place near me. However, all 3 times I did not care for their food. read more

Been eating and drinking BEER at Carmens for 30 years. I wish there was one up here in Arlington Tx. Who knows, maybe someday ! " THE BEAST " read more

When you walk in you immediately have a very shady feeling, something is just not quite right here. The stale chips are self-serve, the "queso" tastes like cheap nacho cheese out of a bottle. The guy likened his restaurant to "taco bell," however taco bell tastes like gourmet compared to this place. This place was actually the worst food I have ever put into my mouth. We heard him heating up food in a microwave in the back. There was no seasoning on the taco meat, just plain ground beef. I would not be surprised if there is something else going on at this restaurant, given that the food is so terrible and they're only open on weekends. There is no way their food is keeping them in business. read more