We had excellent service and excellent food. Loved the Texas 3 Step, La Mejor, and street corn. The staff was wonderfully playful and interacted with us. It was a birthday lunch and they put a candle in a taco and came'out to sing happy birthday to us. One even took our picture with the neon. Couldn't have asked for better! read more

The Local - Texas Gothic at The Local. - Mexican Near Me - Abilene, Texas

Parking is street parking. Location is very convenient. The Local is cool restaurant! The ambiance it wasn't too loud. The service is good! Our meals were stemmed from our waiter's recommendations. He was attentive and swift with our orders. The food was good! We had no complaints! read more

The Local - Mexican Near Me - Abilene, Texas

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Stopped by for an afternoon drink. Chill atmosphere, grabbed a nice comfy corner couch with my better half and sipped on a tasty Deadbeach Abuela Mexican Chocolate Stout. We'll come back for a meal. read more

Awesome fish taco and carne asada tacos! Great service from everyone, especially Joelie Rain! Also had a tasty Long Island Iced Tea. Comfortable seating and cool vibes here. Look for the sign above the door that says "you made it!" read more

The Local - Mexican Near Me - Abilene, Texas

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Food is always great as usually! Cute Instagramming place for a date or with a small group! They also have a bar inside as well as pretty clean bathrooms. Service is great although not sure why they don't allow customers to have ketchup during the lunch hours which seemed odd to me! read more

The Local - Burrito special - Mexican Near Me - Abilene, Texas

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Back to update my review! I am completely shocked by the change in portion size in regard to their tacos. I haven't been here in quite a while, but the size of tortilla has gone from a regular tortilla to a street taco. You can see the difference just by looking at my previously posted photos and the new photo of my Texas 3 Step & my Blackened Fish Taco! Regardless, I love the Local and I'm upping my review to 5 stars, because the quality of the food is great, consistently delicious. The atmosphere is a huge plus as well! read more

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I was part of a group who had the pleasure of eating at The Local Saturday night. We enjoyed every second of our experience. The service was over the top excellent, the food beautifully prepared and delicious, and the ambience extremely comfortable and pleasant. The whole staff was friendly and eager to see to our needs, and went above and beyond to make sure we had what we needed. They were playful and professional and just the right degree of attentiveness. We enjoyed ourselves thoroughly and commend The Local and staff on their excellence. read more

Open until midnight and serve a wide variety of Tacos and unique Mexican dishes. Very modern and upbeat location. read more

The Local - Blackened Fish Taco, Carne Asada Taco, Texas 3 Step Taco - Mexican Near Me - Abilene, Texas

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The automatic 18% gratuity is CRAZY. You could tell the bartender didn't feel a need to be polite before we even got the bill. I had mentioned it to my husband how he seemed annoyed we were there. Then the bill comes and we see the extra auto charge. The portion size is no bueno and over priced on top of that. Sooooo IF I were to go back it would probably be because someone invited me and that is a MAYBE I would probably try talking them into going somewhere else! read more

I visited The Local with suspicion this afternoon for lunch with a friend. I have only lived in Abilene for three weeks, and whenever someone recommended me, this place would say, "it is an overpriced Mexican restaurant." I am Mexican and know of all those Mexican wannabe restaurants out there. But, today, my white-American friend wanted to go there, and I accepted. He said he would pay, so I decided to try the overpriced Mexican restaurant for free! I love pizza and found a "Carne Asada Pizza with Beans on The Local menu. Of course, Italians would find that disgusting, but for some strange reason, I felt compelled to order that pizza. To my surprise, I was not disappointed. The dough's texture was on point, and the meat was fresh. The beans gave the pizza an authentic Mexican flavor. Who would have thought I would find a delicious pizza in an overpriced Mexican restaurant? So far, I give this place five stars. I agree it is a little expensive, but the site is aesthetically pleasing and has a good vibe. read more

The Local - Carne asa - Mexican Near Me - Abilene, Texas

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We came in to the restaurant at 5:15pm they had 5 tables seated and the manager told the host in front of us she could seat us if she wanted to that they were really busy and needed to catch up. She it was "on her". I truly believe it was only because we had our 2 & 3 year old sons with us and he didn't want them in the restaurant. So I wouldn't say they're very kid friendly. Our waitress which was also the host was super sweet though and somewhat saved this experience for us. read more

In a 5 days trip around West Texas, this was my favorite restaurant! The food was delicious, the atmosphere modern and cutesy and the service was great! I shared the fajitas for 2 with my friend and there was plenty for us both. It was served with a bowl of rice and bowl of beans for each of us. There were plenty of tortillas. The chips and salsa were tasty as well as the queso dip. I like how they top their queso with ground beef. I hope you return to Abilene some time do I can make a trip to The Local! YUMMM read more

We were in town for a quick overnight trip. I was letting my fingers do the magic of flipping through Yelp to find a new place to try. I ran across this gem and I convinced my dining companions to try it. I made reservations for dinner and when we showed up they were already getting busy. The outside has cute patio area for dining but we wanted to be inside. This place has an industrial feel to it with really cool steam punk vibe. It's got the industrial feel with some velvet furniture too. Very cool!!! We ordered the queso to start and this stuff was magical!!! Not your typical yellow queso but creamy white queso with extra spicy stuff. The salsas were amazing too! Loved them both! I ordered the TL's quesadilla with steak and it was an interesting presentation. Very good flavors and I loved it! My dining campion raved about their salmon and asparagus. He said it was very very good. My other companion also enjoyed her food. She had the three tacos. The only disappointment was the enchilada taco. She said it was greasy and when compared to the grilled shrimp and Ruthie's chicken it came in a very distant third. Great place!!! Can't wait to come here again!! read more

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One year later we went back....wow I was seriously disappointed. With that being said we sat in the bar and our bartender was great! I went to order the carne asada fries and my poor bartender had to inform me they were out of fries....oh and our truck didn't come in so we are also out of salmon, shrimp, pico, and the only side we have is the cilantro rice. What the heck???? Like they could have posted a sign out front that said we are sorry but..... instead we had already ordered two other appetizers so we decided to stay. We opted for the carne asada nachos. They were very good. Our friends ordered the rice bowl and she said the rice was undercooked and literally maybe ate 3 bites. Our other friends ordered the chicken wonton rolls. I asked how they were and she said they weren't very crunchy and the chicken tastes like canned chicken. Oh myyyy she eats there all the time and loves these. That is why I am very inclined to believe her. We went to order the Birria tacos and well, they were out of the meat for it, but offered to use pork instead. We said sure. They were good. They had good flavor and were crunchy like a Birria taco should be. Consume soup had good flavor as well. We were really disappointed this time. It was pretty quiet in there. We were able to laugh and had a great visit with our friends. read more

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This place was awesome! The Queso was incredible. Great flavor. Creamy with some ground beef in it. Their chips were light and flavorful. I had the Texas 3 Step and Blackened Fish tacos. Both were very good and a good size. The interior design was nice and inviting. Really loved this place and hope to try other things on our next visit. read more

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We were in town for a day and decided to check out Mexican restaurants. Since this is Texas, we were looking for a good Tex-Mex eatery. Taco Local is in the SODA District which is the older, more historic part of the city. The outer appearance was inviting and the afternoon was perfect for dining al fresco, so we decided to check it out. We went inside to be seated and saw that the tables in the main dining area were appropriately spaced. The host and other employees inside were wearing masks. Since the weather was so beautiful, we asked to be seated on the patio. We were seated in a corner where one other table was occupied. There was a breeze blowing so we didn't object. By the time we finished our dinner, there were three other tables occupied in this same corner even though there was ample open seating on the other side of the patio with no one seated there. Our server came to the table with no mask. Another server in the patio also wore no mask. No employee in the patio wore masks. We ordered anyway: chips and salsa (for which you are charged) sprinkled with hot chili pepper salt (too hot and too salty). My wife ordered the chicken quesadilla which was presented nicely and tasted good. I ordered a portobello mushroom taco and a carnitas taco. Both were good but not Tex-Mex. in fairness, the restaurant didn't advertise a Tex-Mex menu, so it was what it was. Our orders came with a side of rice; both were hard and undercooked so we sent them back. The Margaritas were delicious and we were there during Happy Hour which made them extra good. When finished, I walked through the bar (nicely appointed with sofas, stuffed chairs, booths and bench seating) on my way to the men's room which was spotless. It appeared that this was a go to place especially for the younger crowd in the evenings. Parking that is close to the restaurant might be challenging, but it's in a great location filled with charm. read more

The Local - Fun Neon sign near the restrooms - Mexican Near Me - Abilene, Texas

Really good! From a flyer that listed local restaurants here in Abilene, we chose The Local for lunch today. Glad we did. The Local has several tables outdoors in front of the restaurant, inset from the sidewalk - so, very roomy. Some were high tops and others were low tables. Indoors was very spacious with a seated waiting area, a bar area, a large dining area and while I didn't check it out, it looked like they had an upstairs dining area as well. Carson, our server took real good care of us. Water was delivered right away, as was a basket of crisp, tasty tortilla chips with red and green salsas. The red salsa was the winner for me. Very flavorful and packing a bit of a punch. Loved it. We ordered queso dip as well and it was very good. It even had ground meat in it. We all ordered something different. i had the Street Enchilada plate. I had shredded beef and cheese in mine. Very good. I brought 2 of them back to the RV to savor later. I have the Cilantro Lime Rice and Street Corn sides and added their Chato Beans. All 3 were very good. Not much more to add here - we all enjoyed the service and the food and we'd come back. read more

The Local - Sopapilla - yum! - Mexican Near Me - Abilene, Texas

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Food was subpar for the price. Service wasn't great and it's an uncomfortable atmosphere. We won't be back.

Abilene finally has a taco spot! Service was amazing and everyone was super friendly and attentive. The ambiance was fantastic and everything was perfect. We really enjoyed our experience. The tacos were amazing, finally a place that does carne asada right! But the fried fish taco stole my heart!! The local pasta was fantastic (a cross between Mexican and Alfredo). Deserts were scrumptious and great decision. Pro tip, Just remember to put your card up on the stand for service, otherwise they will let you enjoy your privacy. read more

Drinks were awesome ! The tacos were very flavorful only complaint was the tortilla fell apart but overall I'd definitely go back ! read more

I dined in for lunch yesterday and sat at the bar. I ordered two tacos. I was impressed with the potion size of each taco the jerk chicken was my favorite! I asked for salsa but don't realize they charge $1.50 for a side of salsa?!? The local also puts an automatic 18% gratuity plus a 3% service charge. The automatic charges should be noted on the menu to give patrons. Heads up. Aside from visiting Miami, this is the first time I've experienced auto grat for parties less than 6 people. read more

having just moved to Abilene, my husband and I were looking for a great date night before seeing a show at the Paramount right next door. The service, food and ambiance exceeded my expectations as the appetizer and pasta were the BEST I have ever had. read more

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Chips and queso were amazing! Salsa was pretty good too. We waited a bit but expected for a Friday night. Had a nice vibe, like date night setting! The person serving our table just had a bad (I don't want to be here) attitude. read more

The Local - Waiting area. - Mexican Near Me - Abilene, Texas

The restaurant is a very nice place and we had no issues with the service. But, everything we had barely had any flavor to it. And let me just say, I know everything is expensive these days, but if I'm about to pay these prices for churched up Mexican fusion style whatever that was, it better have some solid flavors. Never even knew you can make flavorless biria tacos! Don't always roast but the meal was a huge let down and I'm not a fan of wasting money like that. read more

I love the dimly lit room. It was my second visit and I definitely like the bartender from the first visit more. This dude wasn't a dick, but he couldn't balance a drink if you marked the glass. Not enjoyable. They had a celebrity in house from "It's So Raven", or whatever that show was. Lol He seemed star struck. Oh well, we moved on. read more

The tacos were amazing and inexpensive. The Local had a nice environment and great music :) read more

The Local - Top Left: Al Pastor Taco, Fried Shrimp Taco Top Right: Birria Tacos Middle Bottom: O.D.B Taco, Ruthie's Chicken Taco - Mexican Near Me - Abilene, Texas

Came here on a Tuesday night after our first choice was closed. Taco Tuesday right? Sat right down, great service. The server was new, but attentive and helpful with our questions. Ordered the chips and queso and some drinks. The cocktails were fairly weak, and just OK overall (el diablo and la paloma). Chips and queso were delicious....but when aren't they? All of us ordered tacos. Overall we enjoyed them, they put a little bit of a different spin on some traditional Mexican meat choices. The best was Al Pastor, although it didn't look or taste like any Al Pastor I've ever had. Feel like you're mostly paying for the ambience here. It is very trendy inside, great place to relax and have a drink, but there's better traditional Mexican food in town...although it won't be as trendy and cool on the inside. read more

This place had a great vibe! The food & drinks were delicious! Great service too! Highly recommend! read more

The Local - Senor Grey!!! - Mexican Near Me - Abilene, Texas

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I see reviews questioning the authenticity and/or high prices. Both of these "issues" were obvious to me when investigating where to eat and I still chose the place in order to experience something unique. And that it was! It's not really fair to compare tacos with NY strip steak in them to those with lesser quality of meat. If you're looking for cheap, authentic Tex Mex, go somewhere else, but if you choose to go to The Local, you'll end up getting tasty food with high quality ingredients in a nice atmosphere. I will say, however, that the service was very slow, albeit provided by a very nice, sweet, and personable waitress. read more

The Local - Salmon with street corn and asparagus - Mexican Near Me - Abilene, Texas

I always want this place to be good, but it always misses the mark. But, even after the reopening it's just not living up to the swanky vibe and original menu. Food is very hot or miss. Salsa is all spice with little flavor, and costs extra. Main dishes are not as flavorful as the descriptions imply. And they charge for soda refills like it's 1982. I will say, the bar and apps are definitely the way to go. Good drinks and decent things to pick at if you want small food. read more

Two words: street corn. Perfect balance of flavors. Best street corn I've had. My life has been changed for the better. read more

The food was good! I got the brisket taco and dipped it in the Birria sauce...cilantro lime was a little dry but if you pour the birria sauce on it, it gives the kick you need. The Cotija potatoes were good too, salty but that's what made them good! read more

The Local - Coffee brisket taco...cojita potatoes... - Mexican Near Me - Abilene, Texas

Fantastic restaurant with fresh food and happy staff. Ambience is amazing-the restaurant is filled with original art, much of it from the Klotz gallery across the street. The street tacos are amazing! Rosa is the best bartender in the city! Wonderful front patio that is dog friendly, too. A must try! read more

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if you need a place to have a nice dinner, a work lunch, or drinks with friends, this is your place. I had been going since it opened and have loved watching the evolution of this space, my son and I had many "date nights" here. Grab a friend or a book, get you the queso, a ranch water or plain water and enjoy the patio some afternoon real soon. I miss being able to come here since I've moved out of state, but will be back as I visit! read more

solid choice for downtown eating in abilene i'd recommend it highly, specially for cocktail hour read more

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Ordered takeout while in Abilene on a business trip and had the birria tacos. They were very cheesy and good. Will definitely order again.

Great food awesome atmosphere. Love to support local and will continue to do so with this restaurant. Check it out. Keisha San Marcos read more

After moving here I was told this is one of the spots I had to try. And I can now say, I totally agree and you too should try it. The queso is amazing!!!! I got the Texas 2 step taco and the enchilada taco and both of them were fantastic. I love that they have vegetarian tacos as well. I want to try them all. I will definitely be back! read more

The Local - Texas two step - Mexican Near Me - Abilene, Texas

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My new favorite place to eat in Abilene! Great food and great people! Highly recommended. read more

The Local - Beef Enchiladas - Mexican Near Me - Abilene, Texas

the service has been subpar almost every single time but the 3 stars is for the food which is always delicious. the asada fries and sopapillas are a must every time. ps. do not have a big event here. attended a rehearsal dinner that was a DISASTER. food was cold, no one's orders were right, took 2 hours to get our food, barely any drink service. chips and queso and dirty plates left on the table the whole dinner, no bussing was done. 1-star experience. read more

The Local - Asada Fries - Mexican Near Me - Abilene, Texas