Excellent drinks and salsa. Fun atmosphere--pretty family friendly. Great service. We'll be back!

Their sour cream chicken enchiladas are delicious as is everything else I've tried here (queso, green salsa, quesadillas, tacos). Under the radar texmex spot that is one of the best I've tried in Dallas in 30 years. read more

This is my favorite Tex Mex in the neighborhood. The atmosphere is friendly and home like, which I love. Food is great. Green salsa is amazing. We find ourselves here a lot. read more

This place has quickly become my favorite Tex Mex spot in Dallas. Its a great atmosphere, solid menu and the food is delicious. The chips and salsa are so good and so far the El Cuenco bowl is my favorite dish-so fresh, so flavorful and so light. Nothing I've eaten here is greasy. The servers are so pleasant and the whole dining experience is excellent. read more

I love this place. They have the yummiest margaritas, chips and salsa. Good service and cute atmosphere. I stop her frequently for lunch when I'm in the area or grab a nice dinner with friends. A must try!! read more

El Vecino - Love this chicken rice salad. Tasty - Tex-Mex Near Me - Dallas, Texas

Y'all...this place right here deserves some or all types of rewards. Chips & salsa. Queso dips. Enchiladas. Quesadillas. Even salads?! I don't think this place has any nasty food on their menu. I don't care for "tex mex" too much being Mexican myself, however this place is the exception. I've never been obsessed with a tex mex restaurants beef fajitas before. So tender & so flavorful. read more

I saw a review on yelp about the Mole and indeed it was very good. I ordered the chicken enchiladas with Mole at lunch but it was not on the lunch menu, only on the dinner menu. I did ask for shredded lettuce instead of rice and there was no up chary. The restaurant staff were very friendly and the atmosphere was great as well. I intend to return when dining with family. read more

Place was really good first few times we went there but I dunno y if they changed some of their higher cost items for more cost effective ones or if they are cutting corners on the cooking but it's been a little bland and tastes like some things are microwaved now read more

Admittedly, I was very disappointed when Fernando's decided to close its doors at this location. However, El Vecino has filled in nicely. Onto the review: Food: if a Mexican restaurant wants to survive in Dallas, then they better have decent chips and salsa, and I am here to report that El Vecino has a solid offering. You get red and green salsa, which is nice. I prefer the red as it has a nice, silky texture, and just the right amount of spice. For entrees, I've only had enchiladas here (more on this later), and every kind have been delicious. Examples of sauces are tomatillo, ranchera, chili con carne, and sour cream. Service: Very, very attentive. While my waiter has always been very quick and helpful, if your salsa or water is low, and another waiter is waking by, they will fill these up for you. Value: Everything on the menu is fairly priced and not overly expensive. One of the specials I like taking advantage of is their enchilada special every Wednesday. From open to close, you can get 2 enchiladas of your choice, with rice and beans, for only $5.99. What a steal? Tip: If there is one thing I would like to see this place offer, it would be for them to come up with a brunch menu. This area is known for its brunch, and its predecessor had one of the best around. When the weather is nice, there is nothing better than having a boozy brunch to top off your weekend. If this place can learn to be a Sunday Funday player, it might just move into 5 star territory. read more

Great food! A good local spot for Mexican and bomb margaritas. We ordered fajitas for one and it was enough for my husband and I to eat!

Great restaurant with a romantic ambience!! Food was delicious and great cocktails! Give them a try.

Delicious food (especially their salsas) and great service every single time we visit

This is a nice neighborhood restaurant. Every waiter and waitress we've had here has been extremely nice and attentive. They have great margaritas and good salsa. read more

It is very easy to pass by this place and not notice it, well, except if you are passing by at night and can see the patio lights and full parking lot. Was looking for a place to eat near the area for lunch and came across it on yelp. Immediately when we came in we loved the decor. Food was good. The spicy cheese appetizer was bomb, was actually spicy unlike some other restaurants. Churros are a must for dessert. The waiters are all very attentive! read more

Excellent Mexican food. I have eaten here several times and also used them for catering.

As a restaurant goes, the food is amazing. THIS is what the OLD El Fenix tasted like. (Too bad EF is now crap). The Omelete de Enchilada was astounding. Never would've thought to mix the two, but extremely well balanced. The salsas are a nice addition to any meal, the verde being a nice touch. Also, the service is very attentive and very prompt. This is a diamond in the rough, and we will definitely be back. My only problem would be that they do not accept reservations. So if you're looking for a date night with the Mr. or Mrs., or an accommodation after a function for a small group, this is a great option. If, however, you are looking for a spot to host a big group of over six for a party, either go in the slow period of the day or prepare to wait an hour. Solid four stars, five if they took reservations. read more

Food was good, service was horrible. Guacamole was not fresh and very expensive. I had mole and asked for extra sauce and was charged 3.00 for a little plate which the waitress didn't even tell me it was going to be 3.00 for it. I ended up paying almost 20..00 for a two enchilada plate with rice and beans. Not coming back had better with way better service read more

Fair price for good selection and quality Great neighborhood feel with family friendly setting Service team is solid read more

Neighborhood awesome alert! A newish Tex-Mex option that offers a solid variety of recognizable classics, with El Vecino's own flair. Greatness in their fresh salsa and chips. Solid enchilada and tacos, as well as other more hearty dinner options such as the greatness that is the conchinita pibil - amazing roasted pork with rice and beans. Oh my! Solid variety of frozen/rocks margaritas (try 'The V' - you won't be disappointed) - and one of my favorite choices: $5.99 enchiladas on Wednesdays. How can you go wrong in the world of three for $15 tacos?? Knowing about the special, best to get here early or you will be waiting (although wait is never bad). Friendly, efficient service. Great for all ages, El Vecino is (I hope!) here to stay. read more

exceptional food, very friendly staff, great service! The only downside is that the restaurant is small - so the wait is always long.

We love this place! My in laws love it and request to go there all the time! Also, my aunt and uncle love it as well! Food is good, margaritas are tasty and typically always good service. I'm pregnant so I'm not able to enjoy a margarita yet, but once this baby is here you can bet I will be ordering one! read more

Great, authentic Tex-mex! I was so happy to finally try El Vecino! We walked in at 7:00 on a Saturday and were immediately seated. They have booths for smaller parties and tables for larger ones. Started with chips and queso and a couple of margaritas. Queso was pretty standard and chips were nice and crispy. Margaritas were strong! I had two, and could definitely feel them. For dinner, my husband ordered the enchiladas and really liked them. I ordered a combination (I can't remember the name) but it had tortilla soup, sour cream enchiladas and a bean tostada. The tortilla soup was served "El Fenix" style with the dry ingredients in the bowl, with the broth poured over. It made me so happy to see them serve it this way, reminded me of my childhood. They have a enchilada special on Wednesday night so be sure to check it out! I have a feeling that this is our new neighborhood Mexican place! read more

Great bartender Cal Campbell, he is outstanding. Very professional and does a great job, always serves up the best beverages. Thank you!

This place is EXCELLENT! Friendly staff and amazing service. The food is delicious! They have elevated options if you are feeling fancy or just regular items if you want to go with the traditional Tex-mex. Highly recommend! read more

I hate how this used to be hole in the wall Tex Mex joint is now getting so much attention, but it's well deserved! They seriously have some of the best house frozen or the rocks margaritas I've ever had. Their dining and to-go staff are so nice. Their fajita meat is so tender and the veggies are made just right. Always consistent and always tasty! read more

Very tasty food and best curbside experience - don't even have to call when you arrive - they are outside waiting for those doing curbside pickup. Love this place. read more

Open, colorful dining room. Great Tex-Mex offerings that are relatively healthy. Reliable COVID/curbside process.

Delicious margaritas & my absolute favorite Paloma in town! I really enjoyed the chips, salsa & queso but especially loved the green tomatillo salsa that's served with the chips & red salsa. We had the sour cream chicken enchiladas & they were very good. The chicken in the enchilada was moist and the beans/rice were perfectly seasoned. The service was excellent-I felt everyone was very warm & welcoming from the time we walked through the door to the time we left. We will definitely be back to this local gem. O! And the decor is outstanding read more

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El restaurante servir la comida "Tex-mex" en Dallas. La comida son la mejor en el ciudad. Prefiero una quesadilla con bistec, cebollas, y peppers. Y la Salsa y queso son muy buenos. Los Camareros son muy bueno, servicial, y rapido. El ambiente es como Papasitos o otras restaurantes en San Antonio. Son mas grande. El restaurante ésta cerca de White Rock Lago, y esta 15 minutos de la universidad. read more

I had the Big John's Dinner, and yes, comprehensive meal, and I know why John is so big! Excellent items, very fresh even considering I came in the afternoon. Even the rice and beans were good when in so many other places they're an afterthought. Chips were good, and salsas had great flavor. Friendly careful service. read more

Wonderful neighborhood place! Live the food, the cocktails and the servers! Even the decor is adorable. Always tell people to check them out, you won't be disappointed read more

I usually don't make a big deal of Tex-Mex restaurants since I get to eat REAL Mexican food at home...but, El Vecino definitely has impressed me. The Staff at this restaurant really know their soft skills and they know how to apply them to their clientele...they're on point. And for the food, it was done properly, and it tasted delicious. With a family of finicky eaters, El Vecino came through and shined with flying colors with their traditional Tex-Mex flavors that left the whole family impressed. Note: Since I'm a Mexican-American, I consider Tex-Mex style of food Mexican with a twist...not real Mexican food. So that considered, the standard should be reflected as such. I would definitely come back, and I do highly recommend this restaurant to anyone that loves Tex-Mex. read more

WOW! Wish we lived closer. Chips were so fresh and loved the salsa and poblano queso. Entrees were delicious, especially the mole. Coconut flan was very good. Great and friendly service. Very clean. Will definitely be back when in the area! read more

Ordered a $9.00 mojito at the bar and got soda water, lime juice and mint. I would have complained, but how do you say "there's no alcohol in my drink" without looking like a jerk? Queso was bland, bordering on tasteless. The same was true of the rest of the food. Service was fast, but apparently only because they wanted to shove us out the door as soon as possible. Our server hovered above me while I signed the check (which took about two minutes). It was s 45 minute wait in the bar area, which was unpleasant because they have essentially converted every spare inch into food service areas. No one is keeping the bar area orderly, so I had to beg a drink menu from the group that was hoarding at least eight (8!) of them. This place is basically a cavalcade of amateur errors. Based on the many positive reviews, I have two theories. First, many people are happy just to have another restaurant in the area and, therefore, are not interested in really assessing the food. (Stop giving into the tyranny of low expectations, East Dallas. This is why we can't have nice things.) Second, quality control is insufficient, so when the restaurant is busy, basics like seasoning (and alcohol in the drinks) get overlooked. If you want to go, go now. Because it will probably be gone in six months unless they get their act together. read more

Our go-to Tex Mex restaurant. Food is consistently good and service is even better! Happy hour daily, Wednesday enchilada special and convenient location makes El Vecino a no brainer! read more

They have really dolled this place up! I'm digging it. Service is spot on. Our server was delightful, I mean really. Let's start with what's really important--queso. Queso can make a break any Tex-Mex place. Their queso is delish. Adding brisket brought it up a notch, but even without it the creamy yellow stuff is yummy. They bring out two salsas with the chips. One is a pineapple tomatillo habanero job that has a nice smokey, sweet, fire thing going on. It's fantastic but that pepper will sneak up on you. Wait for your water before you dig in. The red is not your typical salsa. it's almost like a homemade Tapatio sauce. For dinner we had a combo plate which had a chicken enchilada with sour cream sauce. I'm also pretty solid on having my sour cream sauce be super thick, and it is. Taco is in my fridge because the portions are generous. Also tried the chicken lasagna. It was just okay. It was a little bland for my taste. Rice has a nice flavor. Prices are moderate. If you want to watch a game there are several tv's, but do NOT get a booth. The booth backs are high which is great for privacy but not so great on a Monday night. We were too lazy to move so that's on us. read more

We Love this restaurant. It has a great vibe and the decor is super cute. The bathrooms are huge and family oriented they even have an adorable male/female sign on each door. The food is outstanding and the chips and queso are awesome! Swirls and Margaritas are $5 at Brunch and I had a breakfast bowl which was wonderful as well as healthy for Tex Mex. Very comfortable bar with good bar seats....always a plus for us. Santiago the bar tender was warm friendly and very attentive. We love this Mexican restaurant maybe one of the best in Dallas! Please go and support this locally owned family restaurant. read more

El Vecino - Tex-Mex Near Me - Dallas, Texas

Sure it is shiny and new, and we all like shiny and new, but it was really, really, really loud. The food was okay, not great, although my son LOVED the brisket tacos and I appreciated the two salsas. Margaritas on the rocks tasted weak...unforgivable at $8 a pop. read more

The GF and I checked out El Vecino on a date night with another couple. It was the first visit for all of us. Our friends really enjoyed their food as did we. Our service was great and everyone on the staff was really polite as we came in and left. That said, we considered it quite pricey considering the rather small food portions left all of us less than full. My GF had the brisket tacos and I had shrimp enchiladas. Her plate was a bit over-priced for 3 small tacos; mine was more reasonably priced but the portion size of 2 small enchiladas cancelled that out. For drinks, I had 2 beers and she had 2 margaritas that were definitely on the smallish side. While the food itself was okay, our bill for two entrees and four drinks was $57 before tip. I tipped 20% on top of that because the service was excellent. However, my GF and I definitely left hungry; we stopped by Whataburger on the way home and ate again. So even though the service and food were excellent, it's unlikely that we'll return any time soon. The value for our money just wasn't there. read more

Went here on a whim, noticed it was really busy the other night. Service was great and the food was really good! Pleasant surprise and so close to home. This will definitely be my New Mexican go to. The food tasted fresh and the restaurant was very clean, neat and spacious for being in a strip mall. Loved it! read more