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    El Fenix

    3.3 (676 reviews)
    ModerateMexican, Tex-Mex
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Order El Fenix Takeout or Delivery

    El Fenix Photos

    EL FENIX ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Happy hour specials
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - El Fenix

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    Reviews With Photos

    Enchiladas
    Monica D.

    We were seated immediately when we walked in which was a great start. There was plenty of seating and the tables were clean. They offer free parking for two hours across the street with a quick QR code scan, which made visiting downtown much easier. El Fénix always delivers consistent food that is fresh and delicious. I ordered the enchilada platter with beans and rice and everything came out hot and flavorful. The chips and salsa were also really good. However, quite a few of the chips were tiny pieces that were broken chips. Our waitress was attentive throughout the meal and made sure we had everything we needed. Definitely a reliable spot when you are craving Tex Mex.

    Chips and salsa
    Grisel A.

    I've been dying to try this place, and I finally was able to. We love a good Tex Mex. We got the fajitas and the tamales with carne con chili. And oh my goodness was it so yummy. The rice is nice and fluffy the beans are flavored just perfect. And well the tamales and meat were perfection. The hubby loved the fajitas. The hubby wanted to try the chicken tortilla soup and it hit the spot The bag of chips and salsa were the icing on top. Can't wait to try this place again.

    Beef enchilada with chili con carne
    Faz K.

    A Dallas institution, serving up tex Mex, is there anyone in Dallas who hasn't eaten at an El Fenix? Yeah me ... well up to a few days ago but a few coworkers decided to take care of that character flaw so here we were. Thos location is huge inside. I gotta say i enjoyed the kitschy interior with the large open hall, high ceilings with murals painted all over. Its cool. This was a weekday during lunch but school was iut so the restaurant was filled with families probably in the area to visit the museum next door. Despite that seating was aplenty, available in all shapes and sizes. Our aerver was fantastic. He really took care of us, bringing refill of chips and salsa without being asked, checking on us and just being nice! We ordered off the lunch menu but overall their prices are reasonable, especially if you consider the location. Food was, well mine was pretty good. I've tried traditional tex-mex before and generally find it underseasoned. Here the food was flavorful and cooked well. My coworkers enjoyed their dishes as well. That said, when we got back to the office it became a topic of curious conversation that it was my first time eating there and I found people have had hit and miss experiences here, though they all seem to have a soft spot for this place. It is a local thing after all.

    Guy H.

    It's been a long past 7 or 8 years for El Finex. An ownership change from the 100 + year operation by the family to an entrepreneur nearly put them out of business. However,they slowly recovered in fits and starts and I'm happy to report this original location is holding its own with food quality and service Two of us had a nice Tex Mex dinner sans alcohol for $30. Hard to beat these days. If you're downtown for any reason,park free next door and grab a representative plate of Tex Mex originating in this spot over 100 years ago .

    Rick S.

    El Fenix is a local institution in Dallas having origins stretching back over a century now. The founder, Miguel Martinez, also invented a tortilla machine that he sold to a fellow by the name of Herman Lay. Yup, it was that "Lay" of Frito-Lay fame. Anyhow, El Fenix continues to serve up its brand of food, claiming to be the originator of the Tex-Mex genre. The restaurant moved to its Uptown location in 1925 and has been serving food ever since. The menu is well known now and features the entrees you'd expect at any Tex-Mex venue. Our food came out fresh and hot and the service was excellent. There were no surprises, good or bad, and it was a pleasant experience. If you're looking for the latest ideas in fusion cuisine you're not going to get it here, but if you want a good solid meal with a great heritage, this is the place to be. Recommended.

    a black vase with a chain around it
    Matt B.

    I come here at all my Dallas visits. Love the ambiance love the people and the service. Food is always good and never disappoints.

    Delish sopapillas...gone!
    Jamie D.

    A family favorite and anytime we are in Dallas we have to stop by! Food is delicious! Our FANTASTIC server, Mingo, made it that much better! He was attentive, kind and happy!!! We found out today he's worked here for 45 years! Come see MINGO! He will make your day!

    Stephanie C.

    This is definitely my favorite El Fenix location! The building, ambience, food, and drinks are spot-on. They also have a great happy hour 3-7pm. My only complaint is that the service was a bit slow and our waiter seemed to be tending to other tables and didn't stop by ours as much as I would hoped. We likely would've ordered another drink or two if he had. Overall, though, I will be back at this location for sure!

    Quesadilla and fajitas.
    Laura P.

    Better than expected! The restaurant is huge with a lot of seating for big groups. The waiters also try their best but the place seems under staffed. The food was tasty and came out piping hot. Lots of flavor and good portion sizes for the price.

    Lunch special - chicken tortilla soup & picadillo beef taco (choose 2 items off lunch menu for $9.99, 3 for $11.99)
    Christie N.

    You have to love this place for it's historic charm! They've been serving TexMex in Dallas for over 100 years! Said to be the first tex mex restaurant in Dallas. It's a large building with ample space for dining, patio, bar area & an upstairs party room with a downtown view. They've made some updates and of course have some to do- for example, getting the fresh tortilla making station back up and running and replacing some tattered blinds on the 2nd floor that you see from the main dining area. It was a tad warm inside for my preference. I could only imagine if it was full of people- I would have been miserable. (We went for late lunch during the week) You do pay to park but can validate it inside. We paid $12 for 2 hours and got our money back by validating using the QR code located inside the restaurant. Like any downtown area I've been, there are sketchy parts and people- there were people begging for money between the lot and building. Our service was excellent. Our waiter has worked there for over 40 years! He was very friendly, extremely attentive, shared his passion for the business & food and even upsold us on dessert (sopapillas). They have a good happy hour that I'd come back for when in the area. $5 margaritas with $4 queso, nachos & a few other things I can't remember. That's a deal!! I ordered off the lunch menu. They have several items that you can choose 2 for $9.99 or 3 for $11.99 and all are served with rice and beans. I had their "famous" chicken tortilla soup and a picadillo beef taco. The soup was good - plenty of chicken, rice, cheese, tortilla strips and a couple of chunks of avocado. It was good but a tad salty for my taste. The taco was average at best. Rice, beans, & queso were bland but edible. My Mom can't handle any spice so appreciated being able to eat all of her food without issue. Their salsa is very mild and good. Tortilla chips seem fresh and are crunchy and good. Lunch fajita portion is good. My parents each enjoyed a sopapilla with honey. They're made to order so there was about a 5 minute wait during a non-busy late lunch service which they were happy to wait for!

    Chips
    Bobby W.

    Seriously El Fenix. You changed your chips???!!! The chips and salsa were the main reason we ate there. So disappointed. Bring the original back.

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    4 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Amazing food ambience and service. If you are in the area, this is a must go place if you want excellent Mexican food!

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    4 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Old stand-by, food always good, friendly service. We prefer the booth seating. We go regularly.

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    2 years ago

    Dinner at El Fenix. Check out my brisket tacos in flour tortillas with a slice of avocado paired with rice and beans.

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    1 year ago

    Amazing service, atmosphere, and food!!! The sever was very attentive and made sure we were taking care of

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    10 out of 10. From the customer service to the food! Food came out quickly and was hot and fresh! Ill definitely be back!

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    1 year ago

    Our server was very pleasant. Parking was validated on the inside, and very easy to navigate. We will be back

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    1 year ago

    Ricardo was a fantastic server. El Fenix is lucky to have him. You should ask for him when you go there.

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    6 years ago

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    Page 2 of 17

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    E Bar Tex-Mex

    E Bar Tex-Mex

    4.2
    (1k reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    I've lived in Dallas for ten years, and I've never visited E-bar. I'm from ATX and the drinks…read moreremind me of Baby A's (IYKYK)! They were so cold, strong, and smooth. E-bar might have just won the spot for the best TexMex chile relleno in my book (I was a die hard Chuy's fan before they quit selling them). The beans clearly have the pork grease (yum) and the rice was delicious. Even though the place was packed, we were told it'd be a 30ish minute wait, we were seated in less than 20 minutes. Our server came out quickly, brought us drinks, so attentive! We'll definitely return! What a fun little spot!

    Good food and great vibes! I visited with a group of three to enjoy dinner and watch a soccer game…read more Although it was quite busy, the wait time is very reasonable. The staff and other patrons were all enjoying the game together--there's definitely a good community that comes to this restaurant regularly. As for the food, the portions are GENEROUS. Each guest gets their own dipping bowl of chips and salsa. We shared an appetizer and two meals, and still had plenty of leftovers. I highly recommend the fajita nachos, which come loaded with toppings. Their drinks are also very strong, so plan accordingly! With all the fun and food, I accidentally left my wallet and did not realize until the next day. The staff held the wallet in their lost and found, made sure to ask verifying questions, and asked me to confirm if all my belongings were still in the wallet before leaving. For this exceptional service, food, and vibes, I highly recommend.

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    E Bar Tex-Mex
    Happy place! I think this is my twentieth time here!

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    Mia's Tex-Mex Restaurant

    Mia's Tex-Mex Restaurant

    4.1
    (1k reviews)
    2.4 mi
    $$

    It had been several decades since my last visit to Mia's Tex-Mex, and since my wife and I were in…read morethe area, we decided to stop in. Wow--things have definitely changed! I remember when they were located further down Lemmon Avenue in a much smaller space. They've since moved uptown, and the new digs are beautiful and very inviting. After we were seated, our server, Ruben, greeted us with a warm smile. We were especially excited since we arrived just in time to catch their lunch specials--and there are plenty of great ones to choose from. We started with a couple of frozen margaritas and a cup of queso while browsing the menu. The margaritas were spot-on--not wimpy at all, with just the right kick. And the queso? Absolutely outstanding--some of the best we've had in a long time. The salsa was excellent as well. My wife chose the lunch-sized chicken quesadillas, while I went with the #7 lunch special, which included a cheese taco, a chicken enchilada, and a beef enchilada topped with chili con carne. Our meals arrived after a short wait, and everything exceeded expectations. My wife was thrilled with the portion size--it was just right--and she was all smiles after her first bite. The chicken fajita meat was tender, flavorful, and perfectly marinated. My lunch special hit the spot and delivered exactly what I was craving. We had a fantastic experience at Mia's Tex-Mex. Ruben took excellent care of us throughout our visit, and we'll definitely be back again soon!

    Best camarones a la diabla I have ever had. Plus, amazingly well cooked and seasoned white rice and…read morevegetables - which would normally be a throwaway anywhere else. AND, the server heated up fresh tortillas for me when I asked him for some on the side. SO. Good. White queso was perfect. Brisket tacos were fantastic; I didn't get them this recent visit but I've had them numerous times when I took out-of-towners here. Chips and salsa are also top notch. Service could not have been better. Portions are generous. I will come back here again when I am in the area.

    Photos
    Insaide
    Insaide
    The best chicken tortilla soup!
    The best chicken tortilla soup!
    March 28, 2022 Menu

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    March 28, 2022 Menu
    Doce Mesas

    Doce Mesas

    4.0
    (563 reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$

    The food here was great! But the service here was bizarre to say the least. We had actually booked…read morea reservation at another Doce Mesas location, but I did't know there was another location. So thinking we showed up for our reservation, this location says they don't take reservations. They stop at is anyway, which was nice. We were seated on the porch, and here's where things got weird. We ordered our drinks and when the drinks were delivered, we said we were ready to order, and the waitress, hesitated and then said she would be back. Kinda strange, but eventually we had our order taken. I ordered a mango agua fresca which was pretty good. The complementary chips and salsas were also really good. For an entree I had the Tempura Fried Fish Tacos. These were very good and the coleslaw served with them was very good- crunch and bright. Overall the food here is pretty solid. The service was a bit off, but not a deal breaker, just be prepared to wait a while to have your order taken.

    I justttttt could not love this place more. Mezcal margs, chips and various dips, and banging…read moreshrimp tacos. The service is so polite as well. What more could a girl want? I would like to mention that they nickel and dime you pretty hard. There's a split plate fee and they voluntarily brought out veggies for my GF friends when they inquired if they could eat the chips, but they ended up charging us $6 for it. Not the end of the world, but good to note!

    Photos
    Bright, Cozy & Relaxing Ambience at lunchtime! (December, 2022)
    Bright, Cozy & Relaxing Ambience at lunchtime! (December, 2022)
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    The Mexican

    The Mexican

    4.0
    (621 reviews)
    1.2 mi

    Celebrating our 1-year anniversary at The Mexican was nothing short of extraordinary…read more From the moment we walked in, the energy, attention to detail, and genuine passion for excellence were evident in every aspect of the experience. The food, cocktails, atmosphere, and service came together to create an unforgettable evening. A special shout-out to Ashley, whose hospitality and mastery behind the bar elevated our celebration even more. Her knowledge of her craft, warm personality, and thoughtful recommendations made us feel truly welcomed and valued. It's rare for me to give an establishment a perfect score, but this one has earned it without hesitation. 10/10--an exceptional dining experience and the perfect place to celebrate life's special moments. Thank you to the entire team for making our anniversary so memorable. We can't wait to return!

    If Gloria's and Texas de Brazil had a baby--with proper valet service--this would be it…read more Upscale, classy, and packed with top-tier service, it's the perfect date-night spot. It was my first visit, and it was absolutely worth the wait. I've seen all the Instagram posts, and I finally got my chance to experience it for myself. Since it was Taco Tuesday, I had to order the tacos and the ceviche. I snagged a cozy corner seat so I could take in the entire atmosphere, and everything was spot on. The food was delicious, the ambiance was beautiful, and the bartender was even kind enough to take my picture. From the service to the vibe, this place exceeded my expectations. It will definitely be one of the first places I think of for a date night!

    Photos
    Lovely and comfortable bar area
    Lovely and comfortable bar area
    Queso fundito
    Queso fundito
    Manchego Whipped Potatoes

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    El Fenix - mexican - Updated July 2026

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