This is a difficult review for me to write. My wife and I have been to Chuy's a number of times, and the food has been consistently good. The dishes are flavorful, the portion sizes are generous, and the prices are reasonable. If I were to rate the food only, I would give it four stars. A dining experience is about more than the food, however; and the overall dining experience at Chuy's is mediocre at best. The problem is the service, which has never been any better than indifferent. Of late, it's gone from indifferent to outright bad. Tonight's debacle takes the cake. It started when our server came to take our drink order. My wife was undecided about her beverage choice, but asked for some water and put in our appetizer order. At that point, the server walked away without asking for my drink order. My wife called her back, and I ordered a beer. The server mumbled that she was just going to bring me a water and take my drink order when she came back. Next, the server brought our waters, together with chips and salsa. She did not, however, bring us any napkins. Before we got a chance to ask for them, she was gone. The bar brought our beverages, but our appetizer was nowhere in sight. Finally, after about 15 minutes, a food runner brought it out. We still had no napkins, and now we had an appetizer but no appetizer plates. We asked the food runner for napkins. Our server brought some shortly thereafter, then proceeded to deliver napkins to every other table in her section before we could ask her form some plates. By the time we got appetizer plates, the food runner brought our entrees. The server proceeded to put them on the table next to our appetizer, with no acknowledgment of the ridiculously poor timing of the meal. If my wife hadn't mentioned the poor timing to the server, she would have simply walked away as if nothing were wrong. She offered to take the entrees away and put in another order, but that wouldn't solve the issue. All that would have done is cause another extended wait after we finished our appetizer. She needed to take control on the front end. Ideally, our appetizer wouldn't have been so badly delayed. But once it was, it was incumbent upon the server to take control of the situation and ensure that we didn't receive our entrees right on top of our appetizer. Her failure to do this was bad enough, but her complete indifference to the situation, and willingness to simply drop the entrees on the table and leave without even acknowledging that there was an issue was completely unprofessional. My advice to anyone thinking of giving Chuy's a try is to order some food to go, pick it up, and take it home to eat it. That way, you can enjoy their tasty food without having to put up with the lousy service. read more

There is just nothing that I like about the food at Chuy's! I first went around the time they opened and have been several times throughout the years when I have found myself surrounded by fans of this place and have been willing to give it a shot. I do not get the hype, as I find the food to be terrible. To me, it is really difficult to screw up Mexican food this badly. I have never finished a meal here and always leave feeling as if I spent way too much money on a sub par meal. Don't waste your time here, it won't satisfy your desire for Mexican. read more

Chuys is pretty good Mexican for a chain. I've been a few times and always order something different and each time it's really good. The salsa is very fresh and flavorful and chips are light and crispy! Also kid friendly! read more

Chuy's - Mexican Near Me - Glen Allen, Virginia

I am usually not a huge fan of chain restaurants but I loved everything about this place. First of all I walked in to bright and exciting colored decor. The decor is awesome and it made me feel super excited when I walked in. When we were seated our waiter came by and he was extremely friendly. It was my first time at Chuy's so he explained to me how everything is made fresh daily and proceeded to tell us that we got free nachos during happy hour which were delicious. The chips and salsa were also amazing and super fresh. My meal, the spinach and chicken enchiladas was delicious. This is probably the best mexican food that I have had so far in Richmond and I can't wait to go back again! read more

Had explosive diarrhea before the entrees arrived. Valet service was excellent, chips were decent, appetizer was below average, entrees were horrible. No flavor, no passion! read more

Chuy's - Mexican Near Me - Glen Allen, Virginia

It wasnt bad, but i was expecting a lot more. The menu was big and there were lots of choices. I ended up getting a relleno and enchilada combo with two different types of sauces. They didnt have a very good selection of beer, just your standard light beers and a few imports, but no craft beers. However the bartender was great and very knowledgeable, really the only reason i'd ever come back. The food came out in around 10 minutes after ordering. The sauces were not very hot even though i got the two hottest. Ive never had a relleno before so i really couldnt compare it to anything, but overall it was pretty good. The enchilada wasnt anything special. The dish also came with beans and rice. The rice was on the dry side. I didn't really like the beans, but i wont factor that into the rating since i dont really like pintos to begin with. I'll probably come back and try the tacos or burritos next time and give another review. I really wanted to fall in love with this place but its not really bringing anything better than the other Mexican restaurants around here. read more

Came to Chuy's on their fourth day open and was surprised at the large crowds already coming in. I was seated pretty quickly for the number of people waiting and it took a little time for my waitress to come and ask for my drink. I got a typical strawberry frozen margarita since it was Happy Hour with $4.75 margaritas. My friend had asked which margaritas were included in the Happy Hour price and told that the perfect margarita was included, which it ended up not being. After that, our waitress was not very friendly and pushed our checks before we finished our drinks. Service aside, we got the appetizer sample of tacquitos, quesadillas, chips and queso, which were pretty good but seems like typical Mexican fare. Based on the service alone, I don't think I'll make a special effort to go out there especially with so many Mexican options in Richmond. read more

I was a frequent diner at Chuy's in Fairfax,VA but recently moved to Charlottesville. When I found out that there was a Chuy's in Richmond, I was ecstatic! We made a trip to Short Pump before Christmas and stopped for dinner at Chuy's very hungry and thirsty after shopping all day. The hostess was friendly and we were seated promptly, after that it went downhill. We did not have a server come by for about 30 minutes after seating. When he finally came by, he asked if we knew what our drink order would be. He returned with our drinks a few minutes later and said he'd be back to take our dinner order. Another 10 minutes went by and we finally placed our food order. The food came out from a food runner shortly after and by that time we were due for more drinks (mind you, it was a water and 2 sodas). The runner said our server would be by soon. We finished our meal with no drinks left and he came by and said "I haven't been by in awhile have I?"... We laughed it off but were honestly a bit irritated by that point. We got our refills and paid our checks and left. I was very disappointed in the service at this Chuy's. I probably would not return to this location. Oh well. read more

Food and service were great! The complementary chips were plentiful, our waitress came out to refill them multiple times without us asking. The salsa and creamy jalapeno dip that came with them were very tasty as well, I'd put the creamy jalapeno sauce on everything if I could. I ordered a "big as your face" fajita chicken burrito; portions were humongous, the burrito was stuffed with beans, chicken, and cheese, but I asked to add grilled onions to it, and it was pretty good and super filling. Lots of broad food options; they had tacos, fajitas, flautas, combination meals, etc. I do wish they had more of a variety for the burrito fillings, but they seem to be glad to customize any burrito for you, which is nice. Parking situation isn't the best on weekends, but as long as you can find parking in the garage next to the restaurant, you'll be okay. Pretty standard Tex-Mex place; food is affordable, portions are generous, would definitely like to visit again to try the fajitas. read more

I had moved to this area and I was looking for a good Mexican restaurant. I went to few and I was very dissapointed. Chuys was going to be my last Mexican restaurant I try. Surprisingly, the food was descent and the service was excellent. Very friendly stuff and very helpful. BUT.. Don't ever have a margarita or any alcoholic drinks there cause they I think forgot to put the alcohol part. Had many margaritas and I haven't been able to taste any tequila!!! It's cheap, real cheap and I finally figured it out. NO alcohol. So dissappointed. read more

Stopped in on opening night with my wife and didn't enjoy the food or service. In short, the food was marginal. Despite the decor, this place reminded me of a Mexican Applebee's. It feels like a really big chain with average food. Doesn't seem like a Mexican restaurant and I don't know how they will compete against local Mexican restaurants. My wife refused to go back. So, I got a friend of mine to join me for lunch in July. Same experience as the first time but better service. My steak burrito was 25% steak and 75% cheese. It was hard to eat around the cheese believe it or not. When we both left and went back to the office we could barely move due to indigestion and stomach issues. Will most likely be my last Chuy's experience. read more

I've always steered clear from this chain because to be honest, I don't like Mexican restaurants that aren't Mexican-owned. For example, I think Nacho Mamma's is completely overrated. But I was pleasantly surprised. The chips were light and perfectly seasoned. The steak fajitas were tasty. The disappointing part of the meal was dessert. We ordered the sopapilla. Sopapilla should be crisp, drizzled with honey and cinnamon. Instead, it was served like a beignet, and way too doughy. We only ate 2 of the 4 pieces because they were not good. Still, overall Chuys was good. I can't believe I'm saying this: Chuys is better than Plaza Azteca. read more

First off let me just say that the manager was probably the nicest person on the planet, even his staff says so. We were in from NY and were a little confused with our directions to head back (it wasn't as simple as hopping on the highway because we were pulling a 40ft trailer) Not only did the manager give us directions but, after we were served our meal from the very sweet waitress, he came back with handwritten directions and a map showing us exactly how to get back on track for our trek home. People like this are gems that need to be treasured. We greatly appreciated his genuine kindness and thought he deserved some recognition for it. Thank you! read more

I went there with my family & i can only say it's HORRIBLE, it's AWFUL! If you think this is good. Then you are wrong. You're taste buds are lying to you! Don't be fooled. Stay AWAY! read more

I have to LOL at the fact that Chuy's has lower stars than other Mexican restaurants out here. Being from Texas and therefore the authority on Mexican food I can tell you I doubt the other restaurants can even hold a candle to chuys. read more

Richmond is usually not the "guinea pig" area for new restaurant chains in Virginia. That honor more than likely goes to Northern Virginia or VA Beach. But here is Chuy's, a Texas based mexican food chain that is as much about decor as it is about food. Heck, they even have an Elvis shrine in their restaurants and menu items dedicated to the King. Their first commonwealth outpost landed right here in Short Pump. Now, I know, between Plaza Azteca, Mexico, Casa Grande, El Paso, etc. etc. how do you keep all of these places straight? Well let me see if I can help you with that. Chuy's is one of a kind in terms of whimsy, atmosphere and ultimately, food. Richmond has a legitimate restaurant row at the Short Pump Crossing/Station area (funny, no trains here but lots of allusions to them) and Chuy's will certainly become an anchor for YUSPYs (Young Urban or Suburban Professional Yelpers) to bring their Happy Hour crowds of coworkers. So this place will hum with that vibe. But there is also the family vibe and the foodie vibe and they all have a place here too. If I can describe Chuy's in one word, it's colorful. The welcome area, dining rooms, bar area, all have themes. The bar welcomes pictures of local dogs to put on their wall (You'll get a free appetizer if you contribute one in a nice frame). Another room has car hubcaps replacing a ceiling fresco. You get the idea. And did I mention the Elvis shrine? So much about the decor, what about the food? Well here is where I get conflicted about the difference between Tex-Mex and Mexican. If Chuy's wants to distinguish itself from the restaurants listed above, then it needs to do a bit more with what it is good at. The options of expertly fried and delicious Chile Rellenos, Blue Corn Tortillas for Veggie Enchiladas, and other unique and tasty specialties makes it stand above the usual fare found at it's Mexican counterparts, but in my opinion, it falls just short of true distinction because of the similarity in their side items. I know people will disagree with me, but refried beans serve one purpose on a platter of food and that is to take up as much space as possible. Texture and taste-wise, I don't think it truly adds anything to a meal except a higher likelihood of taking all of the other food home in a container. What Chuy's should do is offer a bit more choice in their side items so we are not faced with the typical beans and rice that, in my opinion, slightly diminish the creativity (and appearance, I mean what picture of a platter featuring refried beans looks attractive?) of otherwise above-average food. How about a small salad or fresh steamed or grilled fajita vegetables? Or even a side of sauce option to replace the beans? The sauce list reads like a who's who of tex-mex flavor, why not promote it better? I'd love more boom-boom sauce for my chips too! Other than that, I have no major complaints. The serving staff is always friendly and energetic (can only imagine the amount of Red Bull that is consumed per capita there) and the prices are fairly reasonable for what you get. So welcome Chuy's, I and many other food enthusiasts and Richmond apologists have more to be excited about and less to be defensive about when out-of-towners come to call. More and more, I am glad to see that companies are willing to take a chance on the confederate capital, and by the looks of things, it may be the beginning of a beautiful food friendship. read more

As someone who just moved to VA from Austin, this Chuy's is not too shabby---and I've been to the original Chuy's in Austin, too. The bartender working the bar was a really sweet guy who you can tell loves his job. He gave great service and gave me a delicious sangria! Chips & jalapeño ranch were awesome, as always. However, when I ordered my Baja tacos, there was hardly ANYTHING in one of the tacos. What I mean is, there were 4 pieces of shrimp and a sprinkling of red cabbage. C'mon Chuy's, pile on the ingredients! But when I asked for more red cabbage, the waitress was very courteous and brought some more. Overall good experience for being north of the Lone Star State. read more

First time here, and yeah, I'm a fan indeed. This is about as unpretentious, fun Tex Mex as you can find! We had a table of six and were seated within 15 minutes on a Saturday evening. Unheard of in the Short Pump area. The food is really, really good. Is it authentic Mexican? Nope. But it doesn't claim to be. It's fun, rambunctious, let down your hair, have a drink & chow down food, and that's exactly what we did. read more

Margarita = Decent Chips and salsa = GREAT! Whatever that creamy white dip is called...? Well, I'm renaming it crack dip. SO GOOD. The food was mediocre in my opinion except for one thing. The chile relleno. It was by far the best chile relleno I've ever eaten. Also, do not leave without getting a piece of tres leches cake. Seriously. You will be missing out if you don't get it. It's pretty big, so maybe take it home? that's what I did.... But it didn't last long once we got there. read more

So tried this place for the first time... Reluctant to try as I usually don't like chain restaurants...but boy am I glad I did! For the service AND the food. First thing's first, I do NOT recommend the Chuy's special! It was so bad that I took one bite and the Manager saw my face and came over to ask if I liked the meal. I am not a picky eater and felt bad for saying no...but he insisted that He get me something else. I was so impressed by his proactive customer service! For my replacement meal I got the Shrimp Chile Rellanos with a side of Creamy Jalapeño Sauce. Words cannot describe how good this dish was! The Free Nachos, Dip and Meal were all excellent. I highly recommend this place not only for the quality and taste of the food, but for the exceptional customer service. read more

Chuy's - Shrimp Chile Rellanos. - Mexican Near Me - Glen Allen, Virginia

One of our favorite places in Richmond. Make sure you ask for the creamy jalepeno if your server doesn't bring it out automatically. And their Mango Margaritas are delicious! I also recommended the Taco Salad. We have only had 1 bad server in all of the times we've been there; most are very good and attentive. This isn't Mexican good like Casa Grande or Plaza Azteca. It's Tex-Mex. It's a little bit spicier. But it's fresher. We go here at least once every month. read more

Very festive and colorful restaurant with a cool bar and happy hour. The stacked enchiladas are very good - just wish that there was the option for flour tortillas or corn tortillas. I went with a group of 9 for lunch and they served us quickly - in and out within an hour. I've had their chicken burrito before and that was just okay... their Mexican dishes aren't quite traditional. And they are lacking some classic Mexican dishes like arroz con pollo. read more

Excellent Americanized Mexican food with phenomenal service. Mouth watering burrito and Faijtas. Should definitely try ! read more

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After spending a summer in Ft. Worth, TX in 2011 I fell in love with Chuy's. Then I headed back to the East Coast and thought I'd never find love with Tex Mex again. Driving through Short Pump one day I saw construction for a new building and a few weeks later I saw "Chuy's" on the banner. My fiance nearly wrecked the car when I let out a scream of joy knowing that I'd soon have this scrumptious delicacy back in my life. We waited about two weeks after it opened to go and it was absolutely swamped. That evening we devoured so much chips and salsa due to waiting forever to get a table that I honestly am not sure what I ordered. Veggie enchiladas perhaps? I know I had the Deluxe Tomatillo sauce on my dish and it was heavenly. A few weeks later I returned with some girlfriends and it was just as good. I was seated immediately and since I was waiting for my friends to get there, the waitress even brought me some Creamy Jalapeno sauce so I didn't feel so lonely. This stuff is seriously heaven in a bowl. I could probably make a meal out of just their salsa and the Jalapeno dip. Their salsa is one of my favorites and I love how the chips are so thin and always piping hot, fresh from the fryer. I was sad to learn I could not get the fish tacos with grilled fish so just went ahead and got them fried. One downside to a chain that probably just has frozen fried fish fillets. I didn't care for the fish still being in one large fillet, it would have been much better broken up into chunks. It was still delicious and I added some of the leftover Jalapeno sauce to it. Instead of beans and rice the server graciously let me sub for a side of grilled veggies which were great, but ridiculously spicy. It was another great experience and I can't wait to go back! read more

Don't hate it don't love it.... The Pros: -Chips and Salsa are pretty great. You can tell yourself all day long that you're only going to have a handful of chips but that's bullsh*...you're going to eat a whole basket by yourself. -HH offers a free nacho bar if you drink there...so that's cool -Food flavor is decent (I've gotten the Fajitas...good seasoning and tenderness on the beef) Cons: -Their Guac is no bueno. Maybe I got a bad batch, but I love me some good guacamole -They are texmex so I know there are some differences....but really....no white cheese dip?! - They only have Tabasco sauce...to all of my spicy food friends out there you know what a bummer that can be when you order mexican(ish) type food. I want my Cholula or Tapatio dam*it! I'll go back again...probably next week for HH with my coworkers because it's a pretty cool place to go with a group of people. All joking aside I liked the staff....service was very good. I'll just have to bring my own hot sauce next time. read more

This is one of our children's favorite places to eat. We try to go during Happy Hour Monday-Friday from 4-7pm because they have the free chips and sauces in the bar area. Our last visit we had and EXCELLENT server Michael A. He was so attentive and helpful. He was great with our children engaging them and even commenting on their coloring and drawings. They accidentally brought out the wrong kid's meal for our son and our server picked up on it immediately and corrected it even though we told him it was ok. We appreciated his honestly in which salad dressings to get and he ended up giving us the best suggestions with the Creamy Jalapeño. SOOOOO good. Fun, laid back environment where we can be comfortable and relaxed. read more

Meh. The margarita was OK. Expensive for being mostly ice. The chips and salsa you dig yourself out of the back of a car trunk was uninspiring with super thin chips that break off when you dip and salsa that is average however anything but authentic. The guacamole looked good but was super salty. The Elvis Plate with different enchiladas was OK. Rice and beans from a can. Typically I do not go to chains when traveling on the road so I should not have expected much. The service however I must say was very, very friendly and attentive. No complaints there. In fact it was very much above average. I would not make a point to go here again. read more

Chuy's - The Elvis Plate of enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Glen Allen, Virginia

Best Tex-Mex in all of Virginia. Be sure you get the creamy jalapeno sauce. Mmm. I first became familiar with Chuy's from numerous trips to Austin, back when that was the only place you could find this restaurant. Something gets lost in the translation -- maybe it's not surprising that a suburban Richmond, Va., restaurant doesn't have the same funky vibe as the Austin originals. But, since going to Austin for lunch isn't practical, Chuy's is a fine alternative. read more

Chuy's - Mexican Near Me - Glen Allen, Virginia

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Ate here with my family on June 21, 2013. I'm afraid our first visit will also be our last. The good: service was friendly and relatively quick in spite of being a busy Friday night. Food was delivered promptly, and they provided crayons and coloring pages for my three-year-old (which is a BIG hit). Taste was standard tex-mex, nothing really special of note. I got a beef burrito, wife got the taco salad, daughter got the kids' quesadilla. I was disappointed that they didn't have horchata (which I love) or flan. The bad: This place doesn't know what it wants to be. Is it a 50's diner? The hubcaps hanging from the ceiling and retro decor would make me think so. But wait, they're playing pop music from the 80s, 90s and today. So maybe it's a more modern dining experience? Hold it--now they're serving me chips and salsa (which was ok, I guess) and bringing me Mexican food? I just don't get it. This restaurant has identity issues. The really ugly: our whole family experienced varying levels of indigestion and food sickness later that night after our meal at Chuy's. Not a pleasant way to start the weekend, to say the least. It may have been a fluke, but after experiencing the schizophrenic ambiance, we're going to seek a salsa source elsewhere. read more

I love this place! Been here twice and service was great and food amazing! Definitely a great Tex mex place

Absolutely wonderful food, great menu and excellent service. Perfect atmosphere!!! This was our second time at this location and drove 45 minutes just for the food, worth the drive. I used to go to the original Chuy's in Austin in the 80's, and loved it. I'm definitely definitely not disappointed to have one so close to me now. The stuffed chili relleno's are amazing!!!! read more

I love this place!!! The ambiance, food, and staff are excellent!! I come here to eat every time I'm visiting the area. Go here to eat. You won't be disappointed!! read more

Only once have I had a problem at this restaurant, where the wait staff completely ignored (forgot?) about my table for over 30 minutes. We got chips and that was it. No one took out order and there were barely 3 other tables with people in the dining area. We notified the desk and it still took forever to get our food. No apology, no freebie, nothing. That being said, any other time, the service has been normal and the food is always excellent. read more

Is this authentic Mexican food? Nah. Is it totally cheesy, gooey, fried deliciousness? Heck yeah it is! Not very spicy but still flavorful. Margaritas are nothing special but definitely tasty. Green chili is on the menu which is an automatic plus for me. Best part is the Atmosphere. REALLY fun & if you bring in a framed picture of your pooch you get a free appetizer. A place that loves dogs?! Sign me up! read more

Pros: good chips & fresh salsa, sauces on entrees are flavorful, and if you like spice, you can find it here Cons: busy, distracting atmosphere (our table was parallel to the kitchen service line, so in fairness, it was probably the worst seat in the house), lackluster service, food (other than the sauces) is just okay Sorry to say, but we were disappointed and will not go back. read more

Love Chuys.... but no auto trunk full of chips cuz not Happy hour.... but I'm happy. ... that doesn't count. But the food is great so it makes up. read more

Chuy's - Chuys with Joy and Danielle the Great.... buautiful girls and Great food. What's not to love. - Mexican Near Me - Glen Allen, Virginia

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Chuy's is what I need in a restaurant:. They have delicious drinks (blackberry or mango margaritas are amazing!!), seriously addicting chips- best paired with Creamy Jalapeno dip (yes, crack dip), and always hot food. Their entrees aren't God's gift to earth, but they are always fresh (beautiful peppers), colorful, filling, and delicious. The service has always been very attentive and fast- my glass and chip basket are never empty! Chuy's is a great place to relax, have fun, and stuff your belly until you're wonderfully uncomfortable. I feel like I'm on vacation when I'm there! As for the critics of the decor- it's a JOKE guys! They are making fun of kitschy Tex-Mex restaurants and I just so happen to enjoy the absurdity. read more

My Wife, Sister in Law and her Husband, went here for Valentine's Day. (Feb 14 2015) It was also my sister in law and her husbands 2nd wedding anniversary. I got the Steak Burrito, A handmade, 12" flour tortilla stuffed with sliced grilled steak & cheese, topped with spicy Hatch Green Chile sauce. Served with green chile rice & charro beans. You can switch the sauce for any of the other sauce's they have. It was awesome, Steak was like cotton candy, (a good thing) My wife & her sister are Vegetarians, so they got The Veggie, Spinach, onions, zucchini, yellow squash, red bell peppers, serranos, roasted green chiles, corn & cheese in homemade blue corn tortillas with Ranchero sauce. All were very satisfied with the Service, Atmosphere & Food. We will be going back. Taking our daughter next time, she loves Mexican food...\m/... http://www.chuys.com/ read more

I have eaten here often and my very favorite dessert in Richmond is their Tres Leches cake. I just ordered one to pick up and noticed a "packaging fee" of 40 cents. I've been in the restaurant business for 40 years and have never seen this before. You just lost any future "To Go" orders from me. read more

Mediocre food. Someone compared the decor it to a Applebee's- true. Service was okay...irritating because the waitress input my order incorrectly which kept us waiting for a while. She gave us a fry bread for dessert. The white jalapeño sauce tasted like Hidden Valley Ranch from the dry mix- and it was not spicy. It tasted okay with the freshly fried chips. Shrimp in the Baja taco was cooked perfectly but the same jalapeño white sauce slathered on the bottom was a bit too much. Steak and rice were good. read more