Overall, the food was decent. I noticed that there was some Tex-Mex items on the buffet line like hard-shell tacos and other toppings to capture a broader audience along with authentic Mexican food like pozole and menudo. I noticed that the tortillas were freshly-made since the server brings out to the table rather than sitting on the buffet line and letting it go stale. read more

See all

Buffet had authentic Mexican food but the fried options were subpar If you like simple Mexican food then you should like it. The cost was extremely high for the quality of the food read more

Great service, good food. Quick lunch, had a ton of good options. Authentic Mexican food.

The quality of food did not match the price, if I could describe the experience it would be 'bland'. For a buffet the food needs investment. Not terrible, tolerable. PS. Ask for the price before sitting down. read more

This place offered a vast selection of food & the service was very good. My favs included the albondigas, the chicken nuggets (very surprisingly), chicken quesadillas, the tamales were decent. The corn tortillas were so good! I definitely recommend getting the Pina agua Fresca read more

This is why I LOVE Yelp, to share great places you'd probably never try without a nudge. I am giving you a push. This place was excellent! And did I mention it's an all you can eat buffet? Great vegetarian options too. I loved the Poblano spaghetti. Chili rellenos, shrimp with corn. Desserts that you don't have room for, but don't pass up on because that would be a mistake. Service was excellent, staff very friendly, TRUST ME this is not a hole in a wall you want to miss out on. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Place is quiet, probably because people have their mouths full.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Very clean and well worth trying them.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Let me know if you agree. read more

See all

The food taste like it was poured out of a can nothing was authentic about this food. Everything looked dry and old the best thing about my entire experience was the grapes. [[HIGHLIGHT]]This place was horrible.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Food was average, but definitely not worth $25! Tik tok shows $15 price which is inaccurate!!

Diversidad de platillos de verdad Mexicanos, todos deliciosos... Menudo con pata excelente, mole un poco dulce pero muy rico, el arroz con leche una delicia todo todo todo muy riquísimo Excelente servicio muy atentas las meseras, servicio de 10 Música amena muy agradable el ambiente read more

This place is a hit or miss kinda place! It's buffet style with a good assortment of different Mexican food. I don't do buffet style often because I don't feel I can get my $$ worth. Their hours appear to be random and they were closed the last time I tried to go. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Ambiance is bare bones Mexican, nothing special.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Servers were very friendly the last time I went. read more

Food was good. Service was ok. Prices are ridiculous. $$$$ ask price of buffet before u sit down, u may need to walk out.

Never tried a Mexican buffet so decided to ditch the Chinese buffet and ended up here and it was a good experience. Greeted and paid ($14.99 each) and $ 2.5 for soda and chose our seats as not many people as it was almost 4pm. The hosts were very friendly even the old woman who could not speak english but able to understand our signs and got us everything we asked for. The food was great and decent spread which are fresh. Tacos were served piping hot and they were thick and tasted so good. Lot of beef and pork options and 2-3 soups. Not much options in dessert which was a disappointment . Pros: ------ Good food Friendly staff Decent prices Free parking Lot of food options close by Cons: --------- Lack of good desserts read more

See all

Nice Mexican restaurant that offers a nice buffet for a decent price. Good customer service with friendly staff. I enjoyed the refried beans and spicy cheese plabano. They are currently listed on TOO GOOD TO GO APP also. Enjoy! read more

See all

We went to El Refran today to celebrate a birthday with family. We're Hispanic and from San Antonio, so we're pretty picky. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant's setting was humble (which can mean really good food, right)?[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] There was NOT ONE ITEM our family tried that we didn't LOVE!!! The food was amazing - service was great. We can't wait to drive from Frisco to go back. worth the trip. Highly recommend! read more

Ate a late lunch there today. Food was great. Variety was very good, a lot to choose from. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Place was clean, restrooms were clean and wait staff was very friendly.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I asked if they have carne asada and the gentleman said only after 4:00pm so I was a little early for that. Ten minutes later he comes out and lays a plate of some very tasty carne asada in front of me. All of the food I had was very flavorful and you will definitely not leave there hungry. To put the icing on the cake I asked if they have a senior discount when I checked out and that made it $15.75 total. If you havent given this place a try put it on your check list. You will not be disappointed. read more

VERYYY GOOD FOOD!!!! Muy buena comida, deliciosa! while visiting Texas i've been here twice and every thing is good here. Great atmosphere and polite works. I'll definitely return to this place again. Pozole Fajitas Tacos Nachos You won't regret coming to this place. read more

I stumbled upon this place and was excited to see a Mexican buffet! AYCE and very reasonable pricing. They have a very wide selection, my favorite being the head on shrimpies then the make your own fajita situation. Definitely a place to try! read more

Think "Panchos Mexican Buffet" meets Authentic Mexican Taqueria. For less than $10 you can have your fill at lunch. Not only is it a good deal for the hungry, it is good food. Not Javier's, but worthy of a ten spot. Dinner is more dinero. I'm trying to be good and limit my carbs so this is a real test. Breaded Chili Rellenos filled with beef, a variety of enchiladas, various meats for tacos, chicken mole, rice, beans, soups, every kind of garnish, salads, salsas, home made tortillas, and deserts. And I'm leaving a lot out. read more

See all

1st time to a Mexican buffet in many many years. Don't see them often. The food was hot and fresh! Very tasty and authentic! read more

See all

We drove a bit further than usual to visit El Refran. The thought of a buffet featuring authentic Mexican cuisine was appealing. The food was of high quality and offered a large variety; everything from salads, to soups and entrees, to several desserts. And all of it seemed quite fresh. I believe I now realize that I prefer Tex-Mex to authentic Mexican, which this was. Even so, we found plenty of food to enjoy, with a few items which were new to me. And, the staff was friendly and helpful. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambiance was rather plain, but not unpleasant, and very clean.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] So, no complaints and a pleasant afternoon. read more

Stopped by here while in Dallas with my boyfriend on our road trip back to Cali. I'd been driving cross country from SoCal to New Orleans for a cruise and had been gone for at least two weeks at this point. Was definitely missing home (and its great, authentic Hispanic food). Like another Yelper said, this place def gave me a little slice of home. Good price for decent, hot food with lots of variety, and the staff was very friendly and checks on you to make sure everything is going well. And homemade tortillas? Say less. It was a nice, cozy atmosphere that you'd expect from a small business. The place was relatively clean (restrooms were as well), there were a couple families with kids, but nothing crazy. You're not gonna find overflowing fountains, mission-style architecture, and a dude named Chad or Skyler attempting to play the accordion in his mariachi tribute band. This ain't El Torito or Chipotle ya'll, chill. If you don't know what authentic means, then just say that baby, it's ok XD Also, don't be tryna go here while you're on a diet or anything, you will find yourself slippin. That being said, highly recommend, 10/10. :) read more

Came here on a Saturday lunch. Price was reasonable as the place is very basic. We were quickly seated in the next room towards the left as you pass the buffet station. I tried a bit of everything. Overall, some meats were a bit tough but well flavored. It was more of a comfort food for the locals but for me, it was just ok. read more

Great variety of food, great service too! I had never need to a Mexican buffet but I was blown away.

Great food, reminds me of grandmas cooking. Love the homemade tortillas. No such thing of too much food

I went there on a Tues. and the food was very good and lot's of verity. The waitress was super sweet and i enjoyed my meal very much. I hadn't paid attention to the fact they close at 3PM so I only a half hour to eat in. Which was OK. Why, only four stars, when i received the tab the buffet was $13.99 not the $9.99 for lunch like I thought. Why did I have to pay dinner price when they close at 3PM with no dinner hour? $13.99 + drink came to over $17.00 with tax, Way too much for lunch for a senior on a Strick budget. Yes the food was good, but I'll think again before driving there for lunch again. read more

I tried this hidden gem out today for lunch and was not disappointed! The restaurant was very clean, the staff was super friendly and the food was great. I sampled the chicken fajitas, beef taco, Chile relleno, poblano pasta, cheese enchiladas, sour cream chicken enchilada, guacamole, flautas, queso, rice, refried beans and the charro beans (clearly this was a cheat day!) and there wasn't one thing that I wouldn't have again. And that wasn't even half of the items available on the buffet! There were 4 different soups (I am hoping they rotate the options; I'd love to see a tortilla, black bean, or poblano corn chowder sometime), chicken nuggets and mini corn dogs for the kiddos, barbacoa, migas, fried potato tacos, mixed veggies, a salad bar, several different types of salsa and plenty of other things that I'm forgetting. There were also some desserts but I didn't try any. Everything was fresh and nothing seemed to come out of a can or package. The waitress also brought me warm flour and corn tortillas. ALL OF THIS FOR $10!!!! Some things I'd like to see added to the buffet: - ranchero sauce for the rellenos - tortilla chips - quesadillas - mini empanadas - sopapillas, flan, or tres leche on the dessert bar I'd also suggest they up the heat on the buffet so the food is hotter. It wasn't cold at all but it was a little lukewarm. Overall I loved this restaurant and will definitely be - a vegetarian option or two Update!!! Don't go here on the weekend. It's $12 for the buffet and the food is swimming in grease and had zero flavor. Super disappointing. read more

Walking into the restaurant the employees sat us down fairly quickly. They were tentative and provided us with drinks when needed and refills on request . The overall environment was great, the people were great , the music was great and even for a lunch rush it was still very spacious. The food however lacked in flavor and although I love a buffet style , the food tasted as if it was sitting out for a while. I wouldn't come here again unfortunately . read more

Honestly its hard finding a Mexican Cuisine Buffet and this will be my 1st to go place the food is very authentic and delicious!! Plates and silverware look clean their is no waiting for food to be out its out and ready. read more

See all

The food is awesome. Great flavors In everything. Not bland, not close to tasteless. The range of choices hard to believe. Ceviche, brisket, shrimp, taco bar?, fish, chicken, too many things to try them all. I liked everything I tasted. The trimmed brisket was my favorite. There was more cilantro in the guacamole than I like. Was surprised it wasn't packed, kind of a small place. The lunch buffet is a bargain at $14.99. read more

If you want to go to Heaven...go here!!!!! On Valley View in Dallas. They have almost EVERYTHING you would want!!! I'm in love!!! It's worth every penny you spend! Everything is fresh and HOT!!!! read more

Amazing food and wonderful service. Corn tortillas cooked to order and brought to the table! Very well priced, Sunday lunch buffet was under $30 for two adults... read more

See all

I've only been here once but I'm glad I found it . It's not the fanciest place but the food is good and there is plenty of it. Don't get me wrong , it's not high end quality Mexican food ... it's buffet food, but it's good. Let's face it , Mexican buffets are far and few. I can't speak to the freshness mentioned in other reviews since it was my first time but it was fresh when I went. The service is very friendly and accommodating. The atmosphere is non existent.. more like a small cafeteria... but the food makes up for it. When your good and hungry and want to devour some Mexican food ... give this place a try ... you'll be pleasantly surprised. read more

All I can say is WOW. I've never experienced a buffet like this, let alone a MEXICAN buffet, that's unheard of! All the food is so authentic and so delicious. I appreciate all the variety of entree options and dessert options. They have options for everyone to satisfy your Mexican taste palette. I want to tell everyone about this restaurant and bring my family in (which I probably will in the next week because it's just so good!) For the quantity and quality of food you receive, the prices are incredible! Restaurant is so clean and sanitary and the staff is so friendly! AND they are faith based which I LOVE! I would really recommend this spot to anyone looking for authentic yummy Mexican food and amazing service! read more

El Refran Mexican Buffet - Mexican Near Me - Farmers Branch, Texas

It's hard to find a buffet with Mexican food, but here it is! Just as with any buffet, you must go at a time when most people usually eat in order to get fresh food. This is just Buffet Knowledge 101. With that being said, if you do come at a typical human meal time, you will find a wide variety of fresh food. I have been here several times and on different days. The food changes from day to day, so one day you may get birria tacos and the next you may get beef fajitas. On some days you may even get brisket! I've tried all the food when it is fresh and it is good. They have a little dessert bar that changes too, sometimes they have various types of fruit and sometimes it just sweets. They have aguas frescas like cucumber and lime, Jamaica, horchata and some others. This is a great place to eat if you are starving! read more

I just moved here from California, and it has been a struggle trying to find a good authentic Mexican food spot. This place definitely fit the bill! It was just like home. read more

Tacos were amazing. I can't wait to try everything on the menu. I'll definitely be coming back for more.

So conflicted with this review. I'll start with the bad: There was a church group at 3 or so tables. They had 5 kids with them. The restaurant and the family at the tables all let the kids scream and run around and loudly play hide and seek and bother other tables. The kid touched my butt twice and another one bumped into me and a 3rd one kept coming over and just staring. Extremely awakened and uncomfortable environment to let this happen. A restaurant is NOT a playground and I was so dumbfounded the manager let that happen. A waitress woman even smiled and laughed with a kid being unruly. Almost encouraging that behavior. Times sure have changed. One small girl walked up to the forks and stuff her hand inside the fork holder. Touching as many forks as possible and no employee or parents stopped them or changed the forks out. Yuck. The good: The manager came by and asked how the food was. The service to our table was amazing and prompt. Constant refills and a different waiter even asked if we needed anything. Very good service. The music wasn't too loud which is very rare at Mexican restaurants. The floors and tables appeared clean. As we left I noticed the waiter guy cleaning our table even cleaned the top, edges, and all around the napkin holder. That was comforting to see how thoroughly they clean each table. The staff and managers were friendly. The only things that need MASSIVE improvement are the way they don't care about the comfort of other guests and the food selection. The food itself wasn't bad at all but there were no tamales of any kind and no red sauce enchiladas (whether beef or cheese enchiladas, neither of those either). Possibly some gorditas would be nice too. I won't be back but if anyone wants some pretty good mexican food in an awful environment with great service, this is the place to be. Very strange lunch today lol. read more

I was pleasantly surprised with the taste. This place does not look that organized and the service requires a translator . Luckily my son in law and daughter came with us. The seem to charge extra for tortillas. So beware of that. The food is deliciously seasoned. I loved the foods I tried. I will be honest I did not try the ones with cactus or the chicharones. The guacamole and sauces are amazing. The beef dishes are all stellar. The mole was slightly too bitter. The server was very nice but new and could not understand English but thankfully we had Spanish speakers in our family. The checkout lady knew English and so it made everything alright when we finally checked out. Cause the check was confusing like crazy. Anyways the food is amazing and the bathrooms were clean. We decided to go to Snow City for dessert cause they don't have very good desserts. I was hoping they would have flan and street corn but alas none. But all of the food was so home cooked and authentic... I highly recommend this little Mexican restaurant. The ambiance is not that great. read more

Super excited when I found this place!! Finally a buffet that's not Chinese/American! As soon as I walked in I couldn't wait to eat. The service was great always asking if we needed something! Music is nice and easy going. The foodddddd... I definitely had Mexican food I have not had at restaurants and it was delicious. The just opened up about 6months ago so there were not a lot of people but they are already planning to expand and become even bigger. Can't wait to see what's next! read more

Walked in and walked out. After looking at the buffet, I kinda lost my appetite. You could tell that nothing was fresh and everything was mostly stale. Who knows how long it was out. Hard pass. I didn't wanna risk getting food poisoning. Good luck though. P.S. definitely doesn't look authentic at all read more