Had a chance to stop by here and grab a couple of tacos so I can compare to some. I get down the street and elsewhere. [[HIGHLIGHT]]this is a nice place, the real deal but wasn't crowded and I just ordered a few tacos to run home and finish work and chow down.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] These were as good as I found that speedy burrito, but they were a couple of price points higher, which I have to consider. I tend to run the Speedy burrito as their tacos are under four bucks and a bit more selection, but this is a great place, family, friendly, would probably sit and eat in here next time. Highly recommend.!!!! read more

I've been wanting to come here since they opened a while back. My kids and I visited on a Thursday for dinner. As it being our first time, we were a little confused if we needed to wait for someone to seat us or not. There was no workers around..Then I saw a sign pointing to where we needed to order. (No table service, Smokey Gringo is counter service). We ordered 2 kids meal chicken quesadillas, 4 tacos, 2 empanadas, a side of corn, and 2 additional fountain drinks. My total was about $80. The tacos were ok, they were lacking flavor. When I picked up my carne asada taco there was so much liquid dripping onto my tray, but sadly it tasted a little overcooked. The empanadas were huge but dry, even though there was sauce drizzled all over it. The chips were nice and crispy. ** Street parking is available. There was also a small parking lot across the street. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Smokey Gringo offers both outdoor and indoor seating. We choose to sit inside.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Their prices are pretty high for the little amount of food you get. read more

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Looking for a bite to eat in town we decided to give Smokey gringo a try and it did not disappoint. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Upon walking in, it was trendy, up to date and clean.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] It's more of a Moe's type of order and they make infront of you food chain. There's no table service. For food, It sounded like they were out of a lot of things so we settled for the carne asada signature tacos and the bbq wings. The tacos were flavorful but a little bit on the salty side. The chips were well seasoned and there's a salsa bar that you can help yourself to. They were out of the cotija cheese for the corn so they gave me parm which wasn't a bad substitute. Overall it wasn't bad! But we were fortunate to have things we liked, if not we'd be very sad. read more

Smokey Gringo Taco Bar - Roasted Street Corn - Tacos Near Me - Winder, Georgia

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We came here on our first stop of a "Tour de Dinner" and got the brisket empanadas and queso apps. I LOVED this empanadas. Served fried and crunchy with a sweet and tangy sauce. The queso was delicious and the chips had a bbq run on them. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I love the ambiance of the place! A little grunge but pops of color.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]What a great mix of music as well. Country to pop to punk.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] It was everything I wanted. Will definitely be back! read more

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Their seasoned tortilla chips and little salsa bar are so delicious! I've been here dozens of times and have yet to be disappointed. Service is great, the owner is kind, and the ingredients are always fresh. read more

Smokey Gringo Taco Bar - Tacos Near Me - Winder, Georgia

After a few years, wanted to update my review and feedback ... [[HIGHLIGHT]]The location, while nice, lacks quality staff and food.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The staff are not friendly, the food lacks flavor. Years ago this was a good four stars, the location (same as Latin Flavors) has gone down in quality. The food lack the flavor expected for the price point. Just STAY AWAY ... read more

Absolutely amazing food!! Their "Gringo Burger" is ah-may-zing but today I took a chance and got the "Glizzies". Smoked beef hotdogs and smothered in special "gringo sauce" and everything else that amazing. My wife risked it this time and got the Samuel and at first I was jealous. Until I took a bite. Coupled with their famous Gringo-Rita this place is the best. If you get the chance say hi to David the owner. Absolutely down to earth and one incredible man. read more

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Best Brisket Nachos I'd ever had! David treats his customers like family! Fresh Guacamole and the chips are homemade and so amazing!!!! read more

Service was ok. Food was ok. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Ambience was also ok.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]We went during the peak hours on a Saturday night., and it was a packed house., seats were filled.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Although the line wasn't long, we were taken care of right away. We ordered the combo that comes with 3 tacos and paid almost $20, And we also ordered 2 drinks, which was an additional $15 each.... i am not sure how i feel about it.... From a value perception, I think it's overly priced... better food and better experience somewhere else. read more

Smokey Gringo Taco Bar - 3 carne asada taco combo, comes with a side of chips - Tacos Near Me - Winder, Georgia

[[HIGHLIGHT]]This is the 2nd time I've gone in and it was like a ghost town.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]I sat at the bar and there was no one around.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Another customer walked over to the counter and had to tell to get someone's attention in the kitchen to let them know someone had come in. The staff (manager included) only seem to care about what's going on in their little world and their friends that come in. The owner/manager brought my wings and just sort of threw them on the bar. Didn't ask if I needed anything else. We of course needed drink refills and had to chase someone down. Then a group of their friends came in and they were all over them. It was expensive and not that great. Will not return. read more

To the manager, Olivia- thank you for coming to check on us, but there's another message I have for you as well. You have an amazing staff. Top to bottom. Zoe took great care of us, and then Katie went above and beyond to make sure we were satisfied with our food. Even the other kitchen staff wouldn't hesitate in a second to help whenever they could, wherever they could. VERY IMPRESSED. 1000% will be back. read more

Smokey Gringo Taco Bar - Full order Pork Nachos - Tacos Near Me - Winder, Georgia

As I consider myself a smokey gringo, I had high hopes for this place. Still, my expectations were blown all the way to Mexico and back. The carne asada taco was the best taco I've ever had in my life. Hooves down. That cilantro cream sauce is the greatest invention in modern society. The chips were excellent too! Whatever seasoning they use should be illegal. And a free salsa bar?? With lime slices??! I'm overwhelmed. Sadly it took way too long to get to Winder due to merciless traffic backups on I-85. But should I choose to torture myself on that highway again, I will be back to indulge once more. read more

Smokey Gringo Taco Bar - 10/10 would bathe in the sauce - Tacos Near Me - Winder, Georgia

I've been here at least 20 times. The "service" has never been good, but what can be realistically expected from the disinterested teenagers running the place... The food used to be a lot better, but recently the menu has lost a long list of items, and there are literally just a few choices. The only actually hot food they served is no longer available - forget about fish tacos completely. Everything else is barely warm. Oh, and the drinks are not strong enough to be as expensive as they are. read more

The food was absolutely delicious and it was seasoned to perfection. The service was on point and couldn't have asked for a better server. Zoe took our order at our table while we were grabbing a beer at Finished Goods. Before we knew it, she was back with a bag of deliciousness. Highly recommend! read more

They have been closed for a couple of months and have reopened as Tacos y Social. Amped up their menu and it shows.

My husband and I came today for the first time and tried the bowls! I got the steak and he got the brisket. We absolutely loved it. I believe you get plenty for the price. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I enjoyed the ambiance and prefer counter service rather than being served.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] All in all, I can't wait to come back and enjoy live music with a margarita. The owner David is super kind! read more

The dirty queso is next level and the chips are home made !! Everything I've had is amazing and David is so friendly. We will recommend this business to everyone we encounter! Please go here and don't waste your time or money to any other Mexican/tex mex restaurant in the Athens/Atlanta area! read more

Smokey Gringo Taco Bar - Tacos Near Me - Winder, Georgia

I was ready to hate this place after going thru the "chipotle" like area to personalize your food. The area was really not appetizing at all the chaffing pans did not look clean. Not sure when they were refreshed. Hubby had the brisket bowl and I had a steak Taco and a side of corn. We asked for cups for water and the ice was out. Strike 2. The ambiance is fast casual and definitely not about the ambiance. Chain link, Mexican wrestler branded tables and hard seats. As I was thinking about my 1 star review when I took a bit and another. Food was actually very good. Everything was well seasoned and pleasantly surprised. Brisket bowl was huge, a bit pricey but big and tasty. I am still giving it 3 stars due to the food prep and serving area, ambiance and no ice. We owned a restaurant and your ice should be filled before lunch and dinner rush. No excuses. read more

Grew up in Winder, and I wish this place was open when I went to high school. Amazing food, amazing ambiance/music, and amazing service. Owner was here, explained the menu thoroughly and hand made our orders. You can tell this is his passion and I'll make sure to stop in every time I visit town. read more

Smokey Gringo Taco Bar - Clucker taco, carne asada tacos, and the staple tacos. Side of queso. - Tacos Near Me - Winder, Georgia

Stopped by when I had a meeting in the area. It has the feeling of a Moe's with a bar. You can order from the menu of tacos (which are unique) or create your own. I tried "The Staple" (smoked brisket, cilantro, cabbage, pickled onion, cojita, and cilantro cream sauce), "Carne Asada" and "Shrimp". My husband tried the same and also had "The Cue" (pulled pork, country slaw, fried pickles, and BBQ sauce). All were really good. The shrimp is pretty spicy, but that could have been from the spicy pico de gallo. We ordered a couple drinks from the bar. I got the Gringo margarita and my husband tried a Mexican beer that is made in Georgia. We both enjoyed them. Only reason I'm not giving 5 stars is because of the bartender. He seemed more concerned with talking to some girl he knew sitting at the bar (she was there for a social visit, not eating or drinking anything, and the visit didn't look pleasant). Bartender was good at making my drink, but really could use more personality. Bartenders are better when they are friendly and actually smile. If he was having potential relationship issues, work is not the place to deal with them. Overall, worth going back to. read more

Smokey Gringo Taco Bar - Tacos Near Me - Winder, Georgia

Use to be good. Idk what happened. Prices are now ridiculous and they covered up the meats/food with glass so now you can't see your food being prepared. 4 tacos and a half order of nachos 45 dollars and water cups is absurd. read more

The good: My salad was very good with the smoked chicken thighs. They were generous with the salad toppings. Husband liked his tacos. The corn was terrific, but I was not expecting it to be on the sweet side. The bad: No one greets you, ever. Not friendly at all. (running theme here) Menus online only! Seriously this is stupid and very customer unfriendly. Print up a few, get them laminated, and put on the wall right there where you order. It's absolutely lazy and inefficient to not have them printed. You can't see any of the toppings at the taco bar because they are all covered. They ask "how do you want them" and you have to ask, "Well....what do you HAVE?" and they run thru the list (that could be printed and posted). It's just...inefficient and customer unfriendly. Are you seeing a pattern? The bartender, I'm guessing the owner, is as friendly as a walrus. He's more concerned with chatting with his visiting friends than making sure his restaurant is running properly. They were out of pico and red salsa, all the while the bartender/owner is sitting layed back in a chair chatting with his buddy. Sadly, this place needs some work. It could be terrific! I'm rooting for a turn around, but this starts at the TOP. Are you listening Smokey? read more

We finally made a visit to Smokey Gringo Taco Bar 1/21/23. I was not expecting it to be a more fancy version of Chipotle's but that's what you got with sub par service. It wasn't very crowded and we still had to wait on food to be prepared. The atmosphere was really cool, this place has potential but unfortunately I doubt this place will be around in a year or two. The food, for the price, was very bland and poorly prepared. I had a carne asada and brisket bowl with rice, beans and guacamole. Sadly the guacamole is the only thing I would order again! read more

Food is FANTASTIC! The policy of not having a hard menu and requiring QR code usage is AGEIST and inappropriate. Not being able to order ALL food (only certain items) from the bar makes for a difficult situation. Would give 5 star if food matches experience. read more

*Food 8/10 *Service 7/10 *Ambiance 10/10 (we ate it at home) Food was good and the home made chips were amazing. Tried the bowl and was not a fan but the quality of everything in it was good. Service was okay we ordered ahead and came a few minutes after the time we were asked and still was not ready Overall I think you need to try this place if you are in winder read more

Tacos are so good. I love the Queso and chips it's truly so good. 10/10 definitely Recommend. read more

Smokey Gringo Taco Bar - Shrimp Taco - Tacos Near Me - Winder, Georgia

Used to love this place then they either switched owner or manager and they totally changed the whole place. They don't make your food immediately anymore. And they hiked their prices way up! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Not a fun easy taco place anymore.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Dinner for two ran about $60. read more

used to frequent this place a lot, but came back today after a break and left feeling quite disappointed and nostalgic for our previous times here. Where the price has gone up, the quality of the food has gone down. my food was not seasoned great like it used to be, however with the price increase i wasn't able to choose the same options i typically would for my food, so it could be that as well. overall, there are better places to spend your time and money. read more

Wow. This brand new spot is stellar! The food is amazing, the brisket, the corn...all with a little twist. And come on, they rim the glass with their brisket rub!!!! And the entire place has a super cool vibe. Get here. read more

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Went there during happy hour tacos and it did NOT disappoint! Really good Tex-mex style tacos for a really decent price! The chips were surprisingly very good. Top it off with a friendly staff and this is one of winders best hidden gems. Can't wait to come back and taste the rest of the menu items! read more

Smokey Gringo Taco Bar - Tacos: Carne asada, brisket, chicken Beer: tropicalia IPA All happy hour - Tacos Near Me - Winder, Georgia

Smoked meats and tacos...how can you get anything better! Well try the burger, recently crowned best burger in Winder. This was a special and unexpected treat . As a professional in the food industry I can tell you that this is a gem in Winder and worth the drive if you live miles away. read more

I had the three Taco special which was very good however the chips were overcooked. The service could be improved.

My first time at this restaurant and my quesadillas with brisket were wonderful as was the sauce. I ordered a large guac and it was pretty good. Could've used a little more spice and the chips were a little overcooked. I will give it another try. read more

I am very surprised to see these reviews. I've had a wonderful experience every time from the front staff to the bartender. Their carne asada taco is TO DIE FOR! My girls and I eat there at least a few times a month because we are obsessed and sounds crazy but ADDICTED to their carne asada taco particularly! True story! read more

This was my first time trying this spot and I plan to go again before I make a true determination. In the meantime, here's what I ordered: carne asada, fish, and pulled pork tacos, queso, and two empanadas. I also ordered some margaritas - which in my opinion were the best part. The setup reminds me of chipotle, you walk up, place your order and decide your toppings. In my opinion, the tacos were sort of bland, really nothing special about them. The empanadas were the star of the show, the crust was flaky and whatever the sauce topping they put on top is delicious. The queso was watery and needed something else, their chips were great. The margaritas were fresh, good alcohol ratio and whatever smoky rim salt they created, it's bomb. Overall, my husband and I will return, it's a unique local establishment that would be good for a quick bite and some drinks read more

Great tacos BBQ and margaritas!! The owner/chef David is a stand-up guy. Recommended. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Loved the Lucia Libre vibe.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

I absolutely love this place. I stop in anytime my work has me in this area (even if it makes me late for my next stop ). The interior is super cool and luchador themed and I personally love the music played in there. The food has always been spot on and fast with an interesting twist on Mexican and American BBQ. I also enjoy their chips more than any Mexican restaurant. Ah man, and that spicy pico?! I'd eat it plain. If I lived in Winder, I would eat here often. read more

Great place for tacos, even for a vegetarian! The ladies working were very nice and the covered patio was nice. Don't miss out on the chips!

YOU are coming here for the vibes. And that is exactly why you would want to come here. I love the patio, the decor is nice. But the food...I had way higher expectations. It wasn't something, I would come back for. Especially the ribs...it was dry and jerky like. The tacos were okay, meat was on the dry side. On a drunken night in winder; I would definitely be back if they opened later. But you know, it's 10 & they are about to close for the night. Wish them the best! read more

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Food is good but they removed items they should have left and left the oddest ones. Service is hit or miss. Asked for a pound of chicken (which IS on their menu) at 3:00 and was told they didn't have enough to sell to me and make it thru the night. What!? How can you advertise your meat by the pound but not even have enough to sell someone? Place took a nose dive in the last few weeks! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Ambiance is great atleast![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more