Friendly atmosphere quick service people are great food is good the coffee and sweat tea is great

We honestly came here by mistake jsut driving around! The food was amazing, and no where can beat the price! the service was amazing, and it was pretty quiet when we got there, after a little while they had live music and large parties began showing up. It was awesome. This place is def on our visit again list. read more

Great service and delicious food!!! Every time I've eaten here the food is consistently fresh, hot, and soooo good!!!

After learning of a technical issue at a restaurant mentioned in the local news I had to visit the this years old staple of the community. So I had a chance to visit Joel's restaurant for brunch and I gotta say it was worth it. From authentic menudo to breakfast plates with all the fixins, they have a very diverse menu. As we sat down the wait staff was immediately out to serve us with a smile. Chips and salsa was an 8 out of 10. We ordered a bowl of menudo (9 of 10) and a barbacoa plate with beans and rice (10 of 10). Everyone needs to visit Joel's Mexican restaurant for that down home family kitchen food and drop a little extra to keep this place open for years to come. read more

I went back to Joels with a friend of mine. We used to go 25 years ago when it was just very, minimal. There was a little buffet and it was really good! Today we got there at 12pm and not one person acknowledged that we were there. We seated ourselves. and waited for ten minutes to even be looked at! I ended up spending almost $40 on a breakfast plate And a barbacova plate. Not only did they charge us 2.50 for drinks. They charge us the extra 50 cents for Styrofoam cups. I asked for the Ranchero sauce on side, and they charged me $2.99 for 1.5 ounces. So when going to a place like this for lunch, it is not reasonable at all! The waitress had no personality whatsoever.... you could tell she was pissed about something! What's funny to me?They dont care anymore. What really pisses me off about being a Hispanic person? Is that ghetto ass Hispanic restaurants will nickel and dime everyone! Even as far as charging you for water because they charge you for the cup! I should have just gone to Sabrosa 289 and and Quaker. Far superior service and attractive waitstaff! Joels was such a great place in the old days...... it turned into just a money-grubbing pit. Yeah, I feel bad. Peace! read more

I went here because it was recommended but i was kind of dissapointed because the bar had choices that even i am mexican cant tell what dishbit was. Even the pozole was not bad but ot look more like a stew than pozole. Half of the bar was for salads and dessert bought from the store rather than a home made dessert. It will be hard for me to be back at this place Prices are cheap but no good food at least not my favorite type of mexican food. read more

Not a hidden gem. Service was poor. Taste was horrible. Never received my coffee. Menu is printed terribly. Watched our waitress eating before I received food. read more

I wouldn't even give this place one star! It's not the same at all, the carne gusada has NO flavor! (I couldn't eat it) the time wait SUCKS 15 min just for 2 burritos and a pint of hot sauce (came out to $17) no wonder why the place looks dead ‍ yeah I'd rather go to Jalisco read more

Joel's Mexican Restaurant - Carne Guisada - Mexican Near Me - Lubbock, Texas

I always forget about this place, probably because it is placed in the middle of a neighborhood. I leave satisfied. I partook of of the Lunch Buffet. Started with a small bowl of menudo, which had plenty of hominy. Good menudo in my book. From there, moved to the cheese enchiladas with rice and beans. I'm not a huge fan of cheese enchiladas but these were okay. I finished with their carne guisada with rice and beans, which was my favorite from the Buffet. You could also make a crispy taco if interested. They also have homemade chips and a challenging hot sauce if you like it on the warmer side. I rate this place for what it is - a neighborhood hole-in-the-wall. read more

Joel's Mexican Restaurant - Lunch Buffet Monday thru Friday. - Mexican Near Me - Lubbock, Texas

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This is a hidden gem! I've had both breakfast and lunch here. They have a lunch buffet. The enchiladas are wonderful. The salad bar is a basic salad bar (think similar to the pizza buffet salad bars of the 80s), but service is always good and salsa is always hot! This place isn't for your country club friends, but if you want to try a unique place, give this one a shot! read more

Coming from the white ethnicity I think all Mexican food tastes the same UNTIL I had Joel's, by far best Mexican food I have ever had, never going to Taco Bell again read more

When you want home style Mexican food this is the place. Their noon buffet is a great way to get lunch on your lunch hour. The carne guisada is my favorite dish. So tender and flavorful. If you have to have a fountain drink you won't find it there but their tea is very good and they even have koolaid. read more

If you have good taste in breakfast then this is the perfect spot!! I've never had better pancakes in my life (and I try everyone's pancakes). Their service is fast and friendly. And they have a large menu full of choices. My favorite place to eat in all of Lubbock!! read more

Great family restaurant . Home cooking . Best barbacoa in Lubbock Tx. Buffet real good. They serve spam! Best spam potatoes burrito. Owners great people. read more

Really good food and atmosphere! I'll definitely be going back again. Its located in a neighborhood but worth looking for.

I will not be returning to this place. We went for breakfast and it was terrible. The service was awful, the server didn't check on us once. It took over 30 minutes to get our food. The eggs were very runny, the potatoes were undercooked and had no flavor and the tortillas were raw in the middle. I was very disappointed with our experience, especially since this place was recommended to us by family. read more

The place is a ​hidden gem. They have great salsa and a lunch buffet.

Got a little worried when we pulled up and we're the only people there staff very friendly pancakes were some of the best I've ever had a Ranchero sauce it was very good read more

I went for the first time yesterday, and I will definitely continue going to eat here! The food was delicious and very affordable. The buffet for lunch was really good and cost only $10 including a drink! I can go on and on! Definitely give his place a try! read more

Been to Joel's more than once and I must say the food is absolutely perfect, the staff is super friendly and nice, the restaurant is very family oriented great place to eat on a Sunday after church! I say it is one of the BEST places in Lubbock to eat Mexican food. There is nothing to complain about, everything is delicious and taste like mom cooked it, I love all the food I've had here at Joel's. Mexican Restaurant!!(: read more

Great AUTHENTIC Mexican food! We ordered Menudo and a breakfast burrito. We will definitely be back!

Joel's is the best kept secret in Lubbock. I have lived in Dallas for 18 years, Los Angeles for 8 years, and Lubbock for 8 years and the best Mexican food I have ever eaten is this tiny little brick building in the middle of the Arnett. You go to Joel's for the lunch buffet. $8 all you can eat cheese enchiladas, fideo, menudo, carne asado, rice, beans, tortillas -- drink included. The highlight of the restaurant is the carne asado -- a spicy pork that will literally end your life. You can not stop eating it. When I say spicy, I mean -- you are going to feel it for the next 5 hours. You're going to go up for a 3rd plate and know that you are making a terrible decision, but you're going to do it anyways. You'll find Joel cleaning off tables -- be sure to thank him for his life-changing buffet. This is mexican food for mexicans. According to my fiance their breakfast burritos are legit as hell too. read more

Joel's Mexican Restaurant - two cars parked in a parking lot - Mexican Near Me - Lubbock, Texas