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    El Norte Mexican Grill

    3.6 (290 reviews)
    ModerateMexican, Tex-Mex
    Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Order El Norte Mexican Grill Takeout or Delivery

    El Norte Mexican Grill Photos

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    EL NORTE MEXICAN GRILL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - El Norte Mexican Grill

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    Dinner
    Peter M.

    El Norte Mexican Grill: A Dallas Tradition Full of Flavor and Fun "Every visit to Dallas begins with a stop at El Norte. It is the kind of restaurant that feels like home the moment you walk in." For many families, certain restaurants become part of their story. For us, El Norte Mexican Grill is one of those special places. No trip to Dallas is complete without a visit. The moment we step through the doors, we are greeted by an atmosphere that feels like a lively gathering place somewhere deep in Mexico. The décor is bold and eclectic with bright colors, hand painted elements, and fun touches everywhere you look. It brings a smile to your face before you even sit down. Ambiance and Décor The atmosphere is one of the things that makes El Norte so memorable. The interior is vibrant and full of personality. It captures the spirit of a true local cantina. Plenty of restaurants try to create energy, but El Norte does it naturally with a mix of color, texture, light, and joyful noise. It is a place where families relax, friends gather, and guests immediately feel at ease. There is something comforting and familiar about it even if it is your first time visiting. Menu and Drinks El Norte has one of the most extensive menus of any Tex Mex restaurant we have visited. There are countless options to choose from including tacos, enchiladas, fajitas, tamales, combination plates, and a full lineup of specialty dishes. One of our favorite features is the build your own plate option which lets you choose one to three items with their signature sides. Speaking of sides, the sweet potato casserole and the squash casserole are both outstanding and easily worth ordering on their own. During our visit I enjoyed a crispy taco, a pork tamale, and a chicken verde enchilada. Susan chose the steak, chicken, and shrimp fajitas which arrived sizzling, fragrant, and delicious. Their drink menu includes everything from classic margaritas to fun specialty cocktails and they always serve them with a generous pour. Food Quality Food quality is where El Norte shines. Everything is flavorful, fresh, and satisfying. They serve what we consider to be the best chips in Dallas. Light, crisp, and perfectly seasoned. We always order the appetizer sampler because it includes our favorites. Stuffed jalapeno peppers, creamy guacamole, chicken chalupa, and queso. It is a wonderful way to taste a bit of everything and it sets the stage for a great meal. Service The service has always been warm and friendly. El Norte is a true local spot and the staff reflects that spirit. You feel taken care of by people who truly enjoy what they do. Our food arrived quickly, drinks were refreshed without asking, and every request was met with a smile. Value and Pricing El Norte offers exceptional value. The portions are generous and the pricing is very fair. In a time when dining out can often feel expensive, it is refreshing to find a restaurant that delivers big flavors, big plates, and a sense of hospitality without an inflated bill. Overall Experience El Norte Mexican Grill is a place we will always return to. It is authentic, comforting, and full of character. It is the type of restaurant that we look forward to visiting again and again. If you love flavorful Mexican food served in a lively and welcoming atmosphere, El Norte is a must try. The Culinary Duo Rating:

    Happy hour sign
    JT T.

    I wanted to check out a random new tex mex spot so I used yelp and found this spot. The environment was that of any typical texmex place. Kinda like a smaller on the border. Service was good. While the waiter seemed new, he was still attentive. I ordered the camarones de juan plate and also the fish taco plate. Also ordered a michelada. The michelada good. The camarrones de juan were super good, would def order again. The fish tacos were a miss, the tortilla crumbled as i tried to fold it. The tacos lacked flavor, def needed some type of salsa or juicer slaw. The reason for the 2 rating is because when we were leaving, we quickly had to use the restroom and we both also threw up while in there. They seem to have a drain/sewage problem and smelled sooo bad that it almost made us throw up. Other than that seems like an ok place, just dont go to the restroom here.

    Enchiladas
    Neha A.

    A fancy restaurant this is not, but the food, particularly the queso, is good. Friends and I split the queso (nom nom - could eat this all day every day) and I ordered the chicken enchiladas as my entree, which were fine. I do think given the number of fantastic Tex-mex spots in the area, there are better places. That said this was still pretty darn good. Ambiance was nothing to write home about, but as I mentioned the food is good.

    Quesadilla, Tx brisket tacos, Enchilada lunch special, unlimited chips/salsa ;)

    Mommy/son lunch date :) El Norte has been a family fave for 15 years! The homemade fresh chips are so light & crispy...and their salsa is delicious. We have tried almost everything on the menu from the famous award winning blanco queso to their delicious margaritas! Chuck used to be one of our fave waiters!

    JohnK W.

    Ate here for a birthday celebration. First time back in about 6 years. Enjoyed the large portions and the food!

    a person dipping a tortilla into a bowl of salsa
    Guy H.

    Tonite was my first ever questionable experience here. I have sought out Tex Mex here for 25 years. Ive noticed a little inconsistency in my last few visits. Last visit was great but I didn't get my usual tex mex order. Tonight I was feeling cheese enchiladas and brisket tamale! So after a movie, I headed to El Norte. Without going into too much detail(this visit doesn't deserve it) I will just say they've hit bottom. Long story short I always know when the food has a tectonic shift,it usually involves new ownership. So after considerable back and forth on two menu items, I had ordered that weren't right in any galaxy in the known Tex Mex universe I bluntly ask, has this business changed hands? The reply was guarded with a twisting hedging body language so, I know. Nothing wrong with a new owner. That is unless they start monkeying with a decades-old success formula. This happens occasionally and sadly for me. Everyone loves to find a dependable go-to for a great favorite meal. The same thing happened recently at one of my favorite Thai places. The problem here came in the form of some questions about the offerings and confusion over what was served me. I then asked for a manager and the Gas Lighting continued. I was perplexed and still am! They just made it way too hard and I dont like to be BSed, especially for no reason. Just spit it out. 20 years ago you couldnt get a seat in this place. The food was exceptional and won national acclaim. Right before my eyes I see all that hard earned good will melting away. Southern Living, D magazine and others raved about this place. Unfortunately, Im not investing my "treasure" on their learning curve so Ill be moving on from this establishment. Its been a good run but, Rest in Peace El Norte. Dont Go!

    Margarita and chips and salsa

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    15 days ago

    The food is AMAZING, drinks are incredible, service is kind and attentive, and the vibe is awesome! Also price point is great!!

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    1 year ago

    Best margaritas!!! Salsa is always sooooo good. Love coming here. Service is almost always just as good as the food.

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    2 years ago

    Loved this place! Great service, chimichanga and the happy hour margs are with a lot of flavor options that aren't super sweet.

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    3 years ago

    Flavorless. This restaurant does not belong in Texas. Staff was nice, but that's only good thing I can say.

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    Page 1 of 8

    Ask the Community - El Norte Mexican Grill

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    Photos
    Cool murals
    Cool murals
    Shrimp Fajitas.. again!
    Shrimp Fajitas.. again!
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    Pork shank in Adobo Sauce!! Fantastic!!!
    Pork shank in Adobo Sauce!! Fantastic!!!
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    Photos
    Interior dining and cocktail bar
    Interior dining and cocktail bar
    Guacamole with pork belly!
    Guacamole with pork belly!
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    El Norte Mexican Grill - mexican - Updated August 2026

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