Chuy's has arrived in Abilene--get ready for the creamy jalapeno sauce!

Chuy's Tex Mex has arrived in Abilene! I usually do not focus much on chain restaurants but the arrival of Chuy's has been much anticipated locally and since they opened they have been swamped with customers since they opened almost 3 weeks ago.

Pico de gallo or salsa? Something is off.

My first visit to Chuy's was about 30 years ago at the original Barton Springs Rd. location in Austin, TX. This was long before their acquisition by Darden Restaurants (owners of Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse and others) in 2024. It was  positive experience and I do recall the cart with all the salsa and chips. The last time I went to a Chuy's was in Waco about 8 years ago. From that visit, I remember eating a lot of the creamy, spicy jalapeno dip with my chips and having a meal with the famous Boom Boom sauce but what I most remember is that I was tired that evening and so full after dinner that I went to bed almost immediately after getting to the hotel. 

Yesterday (Sunday), I went to Chuy's at 2:45pm to meet a friend for either a late lunch or early supper...lupper? It was a 25 minute wait for a table for two. Even at that time of day there were still several people waiting to be seated. Abilene folks have a tendency to overwhelm new places in town, especially when they are chains that people have been looking forward to having locally available. It was a nice day to sit outside, so the wait was not terribly inconvenient. There was not a lot of space in the entry for people to wait but there are benches outside and they had also put out dining chairs on the sidewalk as well.  Once you are on the waiting list, you get a text when your table is ready. The waitlist option on the website is not active for Abilene yet.  

Chicken Flautas dinner

Once we were seated, we were greeted fairly quickly by our server and the chips and salsa arrived. The salsa looked very anemic. It was more like a watery pico de gallo rather than salsa. It was a disappointment. When we asked our server about it she said that it looks that way when it comes out of the freezer before it has a chance to thaw and get more red. I am not sure about that. Perhaps they ran out of regular salsa and had to substitute something similar. By the way, it is absolutely not uncommon for there to be supply issues when a new place gets hit as hard as they do when they come to Abilene. The demand here is unexpected.for most of them. However, once we asked for the creamy jalapeno dip, that helped us have something better in which to dip the tortilla chips. It is very tasty with a nice kick. 

For my meal, I ordered the chicken flautas dinner. It came with six good sized flautas, rice, refried beans, sour cream, fresh guacamole, and chopped tomatoes. You can choose between the traditional Spanish rice or green chile rice. I went for the green chile and it was perfectly fine but a bit blander than I expected from something with green chili in it. The refried beans tasted like they came from a can. I was put in mind of either Old El Paso or Gebhardt brand canned beans by the color and consistancy...will not be ordering any bean based dishes at Chuy's in the future. However, I was impressed with the chicken flautas which had cheese as well as white meat chicken on the inside. The outer part was perfectly fried. The chicken was moist and there was plenty of it. Frequently, flautas come out dry and overcooked in a lot of places. I was only able to eat 4 of the 6 on the plate so the portions were generous and worth the cost. The guacamole was also a standout. Not too much onion or lime, very fresh and flavorful. 

Enchilada (no cheese) and taco plate

My friend ordered the enchilada and crispy beef taco dinner. It also came with rice and refried beans. She opted for the traditional Spanish rice. Since she is lactose intolerant she substituted a beef enchilada for the default cheese one and got the regular ranchero sauce on top. She liked the taste of the ground beef in her taco and enchilada but was not crazy about the sauce on top of the enchilada. The dinner was adequate but nothing to "write home about" in the end. 

Both of our dinners were between $11-$12 each which was at the lower end of the cost spectrum. The price point was very reasonable for the amount of food we were given. Menu prices on the website for pick up or delivery do not match the printed menus inside. Dine in was a little bit less expensive. There is a weekday happy hour from 3pm-6pm with drink and appetizer specials.

Service was just fine considering how busy they were in the middle of the afternoon and considering most of the servers were likely new hires. There were plenty of workers on hand to keep things moving along. The inside of the building has fit as many tables as possible so it does have a bit of a cramped feel to it and there is the usual eclectic Chuy's decor. 

All in all the experience had some hits and misses. They deserve some grace since they have not even been open a month. As I love Tex-Mex food, I am sure I will return once the hub bub has died down and the wait times are not as long. I just hope they fix the salsa situation before next time but at least the creamy jalapeno was as good as I remember. 

Chuy's

4104 S. Clack St.

Abilene, TX 79606

325-237-1113

Located at the Mall of Abilene

Website: https://www.chuys.com/home

Hours:

Sun-Thurs 11am-10pm

Fri & Sat 11am-11pm

Maria's Mexican Kitchen in Odessa, TX, elevated Mexican food with magnificent mole sauce

Maria's Mexican Kitchen only opened in Odessa this summer but it is already a hit judging by the crown at 1pm on a Saturday afternoon. I traveled with my companion to Odessa just to eat at this restaurant as a birthday treat. 

A 

House-made guacamole

little back story on why I wanted to got to Odessa for lunch...in the past when I would visit San Angelo, Texas, I enjoyed going to a family run Mexican restaurant there called Armenta's. Primarily because they served mole sauce with some of the dishes. The sauce was the matriarch Maria's recipe. It was a rare thing to find mole sauce on the menu of the average Mexican restaurant. The last time I visited, I found out that they no longer serve the sauce as Maria had passed away. When I read that Maria's Kitchen, which is owned by her chef son Felipe Armenta, and was named this one in honor of his mother, I had to eat there and enjoy the delicious mole sauce again. The Odessa location is new and the other location is in Fort Worth. Chef Armenta has several restaurants in Texas. 

Chips and salsa

First off, I recommend making reservations, especially on the weekend. Odessa, much like Abilene, is a town that always wants to try the newest restaurant arrivals to the local scene so that may or may not have contributed to how busy they were on a Saturday at lunchtime. We arrived a little early for our reservation and were seated about 5 minutes after walking in the door. Maria's Kitchen is not an overly expansive restaurant, which is another reason to make reservations. The decor is modern and there are very high ceilings and contemporary style furnishings. The only drawback to the building is that it is quite loud when the tables are all full so keep that in mind if  that is an issue for you when dining. There will eventually be patio seating outside but the summer heat does not make that a pleasant option at the moment.

After we were seated at our table, the server arrived quickly. The service for the entire meal was very attentive and professional. Homemade chips and salsa was placed on the table almost immediately. The flavor of the salsa was very appealing. It had a roasted tomato profile and was served warm. I thought the chips were a bit on the thick side but they certainly did not break when used to scoop up some of the flavorful salsa, which did have a spicy kick to it due to the seeds that were visible. 

Mariposa and Maple Old Fashioned

A minor critique is that the drinks from the bar were a bit slow arriving, I think there was only one bartender working, but that was not a major issue for us and the manager brought our beverages over himself once they were ready. They were perfectly balanced cocktails. 

For an appetizer we ordered the house-made guacamole ($14). It was absolutely fresh tasting and quite delicious. There was a bit of a sweet flavor to it instead of the avocado being overwhelmed with a lemon/lime, onion, or cilantro flavor, as can happen with guacamole at times. It is a guess, but I think it may have had pineapple juice in it. We enjoyed it immensely and it was consumed quickly. 

For my entree, I was torn between getting the chicken in mole sauce or the enchiladas tres colores ($22) which had three different sauces on each enchilada. The enchiladas won because I wanted to try the poblano sauce in addition to the mole sauce. The third enchilada had sour cream sauce on it. For the filling, I got the chicken but picadillo beef was another option. My companion ordered the steak fajitas ($36). 

Tres colores enchiladas

Steak fajitas

My enchiladas came out looking like perfection on a plate. Of course, I had to try the mole one first. It did not disappoint. The sauce is complex and had some heat to it, the bitter chocolate note was there but the underlying flavor was red chili. Sesame seeds were sprinkled on the top. The chicken inside was tasty and tender. It was even better than I remembered it. The poblano sauce was also yummy and almost gave the mole a run for its money. The sour cream sauce was very, very good, no complaints at all. I could not have been happier with my choice. It was well worth the 2.5 hour drive, one way, to Odessa from Abilene.  

My friend's fajitas came out sizzling and the meat was full of flavor and tender. The accompanying flour tortillas were just the right size to make the a "bite-able" fajita taco. They came with the requisite peppers and onions, with a whole grilled jalapeno and grilled pineapple as well,  which as a little surprising but not unwelcome. 

Our dinners came with rice and refried black beans, served family style. Both were non-traditional as the refried beans were made with black beans and the rice used long grain rice, which put a different twist on the staple sides. I am not a huge fan of black beans but the flavor on both was good but to be honest I was too full from the enchiladas to each much of the sides. 

Interior

As you may surmise from the price points that were annotated, Maria's Kitchen is "elevated" Mexican food. The ingredients are high quality, along with the presentation, and the service as you would expect from the prices. The menu is not huge but the choices reflected several seafood options which one would not expect to see in west Texas. My next goal is to try the Fort Worth location which has been in business longer and see if it is just as impressive. 

If you find yourself in the Midland/Odessa area, I recommend you got the Maria's Kitchen for a lovely meal. I know I will again.  

Maria's Mexican Kitchen

7254 TX-191 #200, Odessa, TX 79765

432-282-0240

https://www.mariasmexicankitchen.com/odessa/

Hours

Mon-Thu 11am-1opm

Fri 11am-11pm

Sat 10am-11pm

Sun 10am-9pm

Brunch--Sat & Sun 10am-3pm

Happy hour--Mon-Fri 3pm-6pm

Closed--Farolito Restaurant has been in business since 1936 in Abilene--they must be doing something right!

Exterior of the building

For a true "hole-in-the-wall" Mexican food experience, you need to go to Farolito Restaurant. It is family-owned, super kitschy (orange booths, sombreros on the wall, reruns of the Price is Right on the television), difficult to find, and generally only open for lunch on weekdays. Check their Facebook to be sure they are open before you venture over since there could be a staff shortage or other issue that keeps them from opening. Farolito's is the oldest restaurant in Abilene, coming up on 90 years old. It recently reopened after having to close for a while as the owner had to recover from a serious traffic accident.  

Chips and salsa

Some things you should know...it is located on a dead end street by a bridge and the parking lot is small. You may need to be creative with your parking if the place is packed. The building is old but personally, I have never had an issue with things not being clean. There may be some dust on the decor but that generally does not bother me as long as it stays on the decor. It is also not wheelchair accessible as you have to go down two steps to get into the dining room. They do offer "take out" service as well as dine in. Remember that it is a "hole-in-the-wall" so adjust expectations accordingly. The place is vintage. 

Enchilada Salad on the lunch special

The current price on the daily specials is $9.50 and that includes the chips and hot sauce. There is a note on the menu that you cannot do substitutions on the lunch specials such as requesting a different sauce.

On to the food. I really enjoy their salsa. It has heat without being overwhelming, and it does not taste like canned tomato sauce. You can tell that is made fresh in-house. The chips are not made there but I am okay with that. They were crispy which is what matters.

There are seven options on the daily special menu but they have a large selection of other items on their regular menu if you want to venture beyond the specials. Today I ordered the #7 which is an enchilada "salad". The salad is two flat beef enchiladas with sauce, lettuce, tomato, and you get your choice of sour cream or guacamole. It is served with rice and beans. 

Interior

An aspect of what I appreciate about Farolito's is that the enchilada sauce tastes homemade. It has a very nice beefy flavor. The rice and beans were also good. The rice was not dry and I would bet they use lard in the refried beans. None of my lunch today would qualify as health food but it certainly filled me up. My only criticism is that the enchiladas did not have a whole lot of meat in them. If you have a larger appetite, you may want to go for a meal on the regular menu.

The servers were friendly and quick. Everyone I saw was enjoying their meal. As they were paying up front, I heard more then one person comment that they were pleased that the restaurant was open again.

If you are lucky you might catch actor Robert Duvall having lunch there if he happens to be in Abilene. No joke. 

Hours:
Monday-Friday 11:00 AM - 1:45 PM

Saturday-Sunday CLOSED

209 Cottonwood St. 

Abilene, TX

325-672-0002

https://www.facebook.com/Farolito.Restaurant1936/

Abilene favorite El Fenix (not the chain) in Burro Alley has reopened

For those of you who have missed the long-time home-grown eatery, El Fenix, in Burro Alley on S. 1st and S. Willis, it has reopened under new ownership recently. This El Fenix is a stand-alone and is not part of the El Fenix chain.

Based on how much buzz there has been about the reopening, Abilenians are here for it! Other reviews have been mixed. Seems like there are bumps, so this review may not reflect everyone’s experience. 

My mother and I went for an early lunch at 11am last Sunday. The usual "rush to go to a place that just opened" was not in evidence at that time, so there was no wait. The server was attentive and friendly which is always a plus in my book. One new feature of the reopening, is that they now have a full bar which was not the case in the past. Another change is that you can now pay the server at your table instead of paying at the host/hostess stand as in the past. For ease of parking, use the lot behind the restaurant. It is much easier to get in and out than parking on S. 1st street in front.

As in the majority of Mexican restaurants in Abilene, the chips and salsa came out first. At El Fenix you get two types of salsa. One is tomato-based and one is a tomatillo sauce. Both had a bit of a kick. In fact, they had the most spice of anything we ate. I prefer the tomatillo because it had a fresher taste. Unfortunately, the chips were stale or perhaps stayed in the fryer too long, so they were not crisp. I usually overeat the chips and salsa but did not on this occasion as they did not tempt me.

For my meal, I ordered what I tended to always get in the past, chicken flautas ($14). My mother got a cheese and onion enchilada topped with queso ($10). Both meals came with refried beans and rice (though I believe charro beans are also an option.) The flautas, four on the plate, were the same as I remembered, topped with lettuce, tomato, shredded cheese, sour cream and guacamole. This pleased me a lot. I believe the meat inside the flautas was a combination or white and dark meat or it was thigh meat. Few people would have never known that they were not made by the previous owner, except there was less meat than in the past.

Our meals came out quickly and everything was the correct temperature. The guacamole was especially outstanding. Very fresh and tasty. Next time I may get some of it as an appetizer. It was just that good.

My mom enjoyed her enchilada but she also does not like spice. It was right up her alley. I thought the queso looked like processed American cheese (see the pic) but she was happy with it. It is probably a good choice for kids or those who are not huge Mexican or Tex-Mex food fans.

The refried beans were on the bland side but not runny. It is a pet peeve of mine when the beans are too thin. They needed more seasoning but at least they were not over salted. The rice was good, not dry and had a tasty flavor. I liked the rice quite a lot and finished it before the beans which is a reversal of my usual precedence.

I would suggest, based on what I have heard about the experiences of others since they opened, that you do not go during peak times. The wait times for tables and food, along with adequate food temperature, have been an issue when the restaurant is slammed with customers. Also, keep in mind that although the menu is much the same as the "old" El Fenix, it is going to have some differences. Everything on the menu is not going to be exactly as it was in the past. Some people have not been happy with the differences in flavor profiles but I hope that once the bumps have been smoothed out with the timing in the kitchen, that most of these issues will resolve.

 Their extended hours are especially useful along with the breakfast options on the menu. Several locally owned Mexican places in town are not open at night. They just need to be sure the tortilla chips are up to par.

El Fenix was missed while it was gone.

El Fenix--Abilene (no website, Facebook page only)

3241 S. 1st St.

Abilene, TX 79605

325-788-0062

 

Hours:

Sunday 10am-2pm

Monday-Thursday 11am-10pm

Friday 11am-11pm

 Saturday 10am-11pm

 

 

CLOSED--La Concina de mi Madre--tasty "hole-in-the-wall" place for lunch close to McMurry University

Front of restaurant 

La Cocina De Mi Madre is a small Mexican restaurant that is open for lunch on Tuesday-Sunday. It is located on S. 14th just east of Sayles Blvd. next to a nail salon.

They serve traditional homemade Mexican dishes. This place is not a Tex-Mex restaurant. The menu is not very large but they do have mole sauce, birria tacos, and lunch specials for $7.99--a real bargain in today's world. Most of the dishes come with rice and beans. Complementary chips and salsa is also brought to the table but be careful as the salsa has a bite!

My friends and I met for lunch on there a Saturday to give them a try. When we got there we were told to sit anywhere we liked. It was a little after 11am and there were already three tables occupied which I took as a good sign. 

Chips and salsa

Each of us got our own salsa bowl which I enjoy. After looking over the menu, I asked the server if she recommended the birria or the mole. She told me both were tasty but she loved the birria tacos and since I had never had them before, I went ahead ordered them. My friends got the chicken enchilada plate with green sauce and the street taco plate with two tacos (without the onion, queso fresco, and cilantro), one beef and one chicken.

Birria taco plate

The birria tacos were very big and challenging to eat since they were grilled with cheese on the outside and hard to pick up, so I used a knife and fork to start. The beef inside was tasty and the consommé that came with them had flavor. I could only finish one of the tacos because they were very filling. The rice was especially good to me, since it probably had chicken broth in it. The refried beans did not have much spice to them but I finished them nonetheless. 

Chicken enchiladas with green sauce

Everyone liked their meals and the prices were very reasonable. All under $15. You can get other items for $10 even when they are not on special.

I am sure I will return to try the mole next time or perhaps a chile relleno. Give them a try the next time you are craving some Mexican food at lunchtime.  

La Concina de mi Madre 

2025 S. 14th St, Ste A

Abilene TX 79602

https://www.facebook.com/LACOCINAABILENE/

Hours

Monday CLOSED

Tuesday 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Wednesday 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Thursday 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Friday 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Saturday 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Sunday 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Mexican comfort food--The Original Henry's in San Angelo, Texas

Chicken Flautas plate

Beef enchiladas

It is not secret that when I visit San Angelo eating Mexican food is often on my list of things to do. Recently, I went to visit my niece there who recently graduated from Angelo State and took her to lunch there. Despite having gone to college in San Angelo she had somehow missed eating at this local institution.

You do need to expect a wait but it is not usually too long because the restaurant is large. Henry's is very popular--for a reason. We went on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend and because there were only two of us, it only took about 20 minutes. There were several large family groups waiting to be seated.

The décor is colorful. It isn't a quiet restaurant when it is busy but everyone seemed to be in a good mood and enjoying themselves. The service was very attentive and food came out fast. Of course, complimentary chips and salsa are served. Ask for the white sauce too if your like a creamy dip for your chips. It is garlicy and reminds me of something between aioli sauce and ranch dressing. 

My niece ordered the beef enchilada plate with chili con carne sauce and I got the chicken flauta plate. Bothe came with beans and rice. I have the choice of lettuce or cabbage with my flautas. They were topped with avocado sauce. I enjoyed the refried beans but the rice was a little dry but I do not usually eat the rice much anyway. 

Usually it get the tres colores enchiladas but this time I varied my routine. The flautas were calling my name.  Everything was tasty and we did not leave the least but unsatisfied with our meal. I miss when Henry's had a sister restaurant in Abilene called Enrique's which was one of my "go to" places for comfort food and a great burger as well.

The next time you are in San Angelo, give them a go. I think you will enjoy the food and leave in a good mood.

3015 Sherwood Way

San Angelo, TX 76901

325-223-0171

https://originalhenrys.com/

Torchy's Tacos comes to Abilene--Updated

Update: This past Sunday at about 11:15am, I went by Torchy's to get lunch for myself and my mom. I ordered two different types of tacos, some chips and green chili queso, and some guacamole. It took about  20 minutes to get the food to me even though they were not particularly busy. When I got to the house 5 minutes later, the order was correct but my taco wasn't very hot but my primary issue was the hair clinging to some cilantro in the queso. Not cool, along with the general overuse of cilantro in everything but that is a personal preference. All in all, Torchy's is just too expensive for what you get. The bill for all this was $23.00. I fail to see what all the fuss was about regarding this chain.

 

Torch's Tacos has finally made it to Abilene. I went with a small group of friends on a Wednesday evening. For those of you who have never been to one, it is a go through the line and order your food type of place. Then they will bring it out to you. Fast casual it the term I believe nowadays. The difference with Torchy's is they also have a full bar as well with a variety of specialty drinks.

Trailer Park (trashy) and Chicken Fajita tacos

The restaurant was quite popular (and probably a bit too crowded by pandemic standards though there were tables blocked off) and there was a large contingent of college students and under 30 folks there that evening. It is a noisy space so if you prefer a quieter dining experience, go at an off time or get take out instead of dining inside.

Now to the tacos. There is quite a variety. Many with creative names. There is also a salad option and a burrito too. The ingredients were fresh. The tacos are in the usual soft taco-sized tortillas.

I ordered a Trailer Park and made it "trashy". Trashy means instead of lettuce it had queso on it. The meat inside was fried chicken with green chili, pico, cheddar jack cheese, poblano sauce (on the side) served in a flour tortilla, though corn is an option as well. The chicken was tasty and I'm always a fan of green chilies. One taco is not likely to fill a person up if you are hungry so the second taco I ordered was a chicken fajita taco--went more traditional. It has grilled onions and bell pepper, pico, cheddar jack cheese and tomatillo sauce on the side. You can have either a flour or a corn tortilla. The chicken was juicy and I did not think it was greasy as though it had been sitting in oil. I was pleased with both tacos.

The vegetarian choice on the menu is a taco with fried avocado. There is not tradition ground beef taco on the menu. Carnitas, shrimp, salmon, barbacoa, brisket, sausage, beef fajita, and Jamaican jerk chicken are all options.

One of my friends ordered the green chili queso. It come with a small dollop of guacamole, a bit of cotija cheese, cilantro and a drizzle of diablo sauce on to top and a basket of thin tortilla chips. It was probably my favorite thing. Very flavorful but not a large serving. I believe it was about $5 for the bowl. The sauces provided with my tacos were quite good.

Probably my biggest issue was the price point. The tacos are quite good but at $4-$5 a piece they are expensive. There are no sides that come with them so if you want beans or rice that is an extra charge. Two tacos will cost about $10.

I am sure I will return but not if I want a big meal.

  

Located on the south end of the Shops of Abilene--

3765 Catclaw Dr. Abilene, TX 79606 

325-480-3380

Hours--

Monday - Thursday 11AM - 8PM

Friday 11AM - 9PM

Saturday 9AM - 10PM

Sunday 9AM - 8PM

https://torchystacos.com/location/abilene/

 

Uncle Julio--I love you! Tex Mex in the Metroplex

There is a chain of Tex-Mex restaurants that is my absolute favorite among all Tex-Mex places in the world...Uncle Julio's. This review is only about the Dallas and Fort Worth locations as they are the only two I have visited. The chain started in Big D in 1986. Most of the time, I go to the Fort Worth location.

Roasted salsa and tortilla chips

Let me get some of the obvious criticisms out of the way. Yes, they get crowded and there can be a long wait. Yes, the service can be "iffy" or slow, particularly when they are slammed. Yes, sometimes it is noisy. But I love U.J. anyway. The roasted salsa and tortilla chips are divine. The fajitas are fabulous, best I have ever eaten. The house-made flour tortillas--yum. This is the standard by which I judge ALL other Tex-Mex restaurants and I have loved it for over two decades.

The challenge every time is not fill up on the chips and salsa. The salsa has a wonderful smokey taste and is spicy enough to please but not so hot that it causes pain. You can see the little bits of veggies and cilantro. The chips are nice and light. Addictive, without question.

Queso

My sister and I stopped for lunch last week in Fort Worth on the way back to Abilene from East Texas. It was a Tuesday at a little around 11:15am and we were seated right away. It was cool enough to sit on the patio but we ended up inside on the other side of the window. The server came by and greeted us about 5 minutes after we were seated which was a bit on the slow side but we were not in a rush. He took our beverage orders. Shortly thereafter chips and salsa arrived. I enjoy that we each get our own salsa cups.

When the server returned with our drinks (another 5-6 minutes later) we put in an order for some queso and my sister asked some questions about the menu. He went to get the queso while we made up our minds.

Mamacita's lunch nachos with beef fajitas

I wasn't hungry enough to go for  the fajitas so I got steak fajita nachos instead ($8.99). My sister went for the chicken honey chipotle fajitas ($14.99). The beef fajitas have a great "crust" on them and are never stringy which can be a problem with skirt steak and why I often don't order beef fajitas anymore because lots of places tend to skimp on the quality of the meat.

The queso was a little disappointing at $5.99 for a cup. It tasted fine but nothing that I can't easily make at home with Velveeta cheese and some pico de gallo. It did function as a nice topping for my nachos after I had eaten the steak off of the tostada though. The nachos also came with sour cream and tasty guacamole, garnished with fresh sliced jalapenos. I asked for some pickled peppers and was accommodated. I would have liked a bit more steak but it turned out I couldn't finish it all anyway.

Honey Chipotle Chicken Fajitas (lunch portion)

My sister enjoyed her fajitas. She describe the sauce as more "bbq-ish" than glaze which she prefers but said some people may not like it. Too sweet for my taste. It was served with the usual fajita fixins', charro beans and rice. She didn't even bother with the rice and beans and went straight for the meat (after picking off the cilantro--she's not a fan of that herb). They were juicy but not overly drippy as many places try to disguise dry chicken with lots of oil.

The food came out pretty quickly and the server checked back a couple of times to refill our drinks and see if we needed anything else. The bill did arrive at the end and we were dismayed to have to drive back to Abilene instead of being able to take an after lunch nap. I can't ever recall not leaving this place satisfied and stuffed. The prices may be on the high side but it is worth it.

My favorite location is at I-30 and Camp Bowie in Fort Worth. Only a 2 hour and 15 minute drive from Abilene! You can us the "find a table" option on their website to reserve a spot during busy times.
 
Uncle Julio's 
5301 Camp Bowie Blvd.
Fort Worth, TX 76107
817.377.2777

CLOSED Don Luis Cafe--Cuban and Mexican food

First let me say that I really wanted to love the Don Luis Cafe. The owner, Jorge, is very accommodating and friendly. He puts his heart into his business. The location (being the old Gardski's) has a ton of sentimental value for a lot of Abilenians.  It has been redecorated but still has the same booths and tables. Plus, it is close to my house. They are still working out some issues with training and hiring staff so the service was on the slow side but hopefully that will get resolved. I have been there twice, once for lunch and once for dinner, and though the food was okay it didn't blow me away. What I liked the best were the house-made fried cheese sticks.

House-made cheese sticks with ranch and chipotle ranch dressing

Burger with hand-cut fries

The first visit I went with two friends for lunch. There was the obligatory chips and hot sauce before the meal. The tortilla chips were a little thick for my taste and the hot sauce just average. The restaurant was in its second week of operation, so some glitches were to be expected. On that day, it was super slow service. The menu had a lot of choices, almost overwhelming in the variety.

I ordered a burger and fries since I had eaten Mexican food the night before and my friends both selected dishes from the daily specials. We also ordered some cheese sticks ($6 for 6) for an appetizer and they were quite tasty. I really enjoyed the chipotle ranch for dipping. The burger was nice and greasy. The fries were quite good. The meat patty could have been a bit thicker for a cost of $5.99. My companions found the Mexican food to be a bit bland. They did like the refried beans a lot though. I know that I enjoy Tex-Mex more than traditional Mexican because the flavors are kicked up. The lunch specials were $5.99 which is reasonable for Abilene.

Beef tostada, beef enchilada, rice & beans

My next visit was with my husband on a Tuesday evening when they serve a deep fried stuffed avocado dish. I have had this before when visiting my sister in the hill country and enjoyed it. The evening service was quicker (fewer people in the restaurant) but there were still only 3 people working. I ordered the Tuesday avocado special stuffed with chicken. It came with charro beans and rice. My husband ordered the beef fajitas. I deduct points since they didn't come out on a hot skillet but my husband liked the flavor though the portion size was on the small side for $10.50. It came with a little sour cream, a bit of guacamole, pico de gallo, two tortillas, refried beans and rice.

Stuffed deep-fried avocado with charro beans & rice

The chicken stuffed fried avocados were covered in queso and served with charro beans and rice for $10.99. Sadly, they were a disappointment. The breading was the same that was on the cheese sticks but it needed some spices to enhance the avocado. There was very little chicken and the queso was too salty. The charro beans had barbecue sauce which made them taste like ranch style beans. I was hoping for something kind of special and it just did not live up to my expectations.

Beef fajitas

Since the restaurant does serve Cuban food, including a traditional Cuban sandwich (I believe the owner is Cuban) the next time I'll order one of those dishes and hope for some more "oomph" in the food. Otherwise, I imagine I will have to continue my hunt for some really outstanding Latin food in Abilene and just go to Don Luis for appetizers and the occasional meal since they are in our neighborhood.





Don Luis Cafe 

• 3370 N 1st St

• Abilene, Texas 79603

(325) 268-4198
Open 7 days a week.

Casa Herrera--An Abilene Institution

I have long lamented the lack of really top shelf Mexican or Tex-Mex food in Abilene. We have many adequate places and some have a few dishes that stand out but there isn't a place that I would tell the world was the best. Lots of people pick Casa Herrera as there favorite spot in Abilene to quell a quesadilla craving. It has been in its current location by the Mall of Abilene for many years and before that it was located in Burro Alley (we are talking about 25 years ago) on S. 1st so it truly is one of the longest lasting places in town. Casa Herrera is locally owned so I give them points for that because the other most popular Mexican food in town is a chain called Abuelo's.

Last Friday night was date night for me and the mister. We were craving some Mexican food so we decided to go to Casa Herrera as we hadn't had dinner there as a couple before. I ordered the deluxe nachos and he had a carne guisada (beef chunks in a flavorful gravy) plate that came with beans, rice and flour tortillas. The meal started with complimentary chips and hot sauce. The hot sauce is quite spicy and has the consistency of taco sauce rather than a chunky salsa, as if you mixed tomato sauce and Tabasco sauce together. The chips came unsalted and were reasonably fresh though they had an aftertaste that was a bit odd. My husband really enjoyed his carne guisada and I liked the nachos with the lettuce and tomato though the meat was under-spiced. The meals ran about $7-8 each...not overpriced for what you get though the portions were not huge. The food is much like your average taqueria but the surroundings are classier and the service is better. As you read other online reviews of the restaurant you will find that people tend to either love it or hate it.

Deluxe Nachos

Casa Herrera also serves a weekday and Sunday lunch buffet that people really seem to enjoy.  The lines are long to get in during those times and on Friday and Saturday nights. I have found the buffet to be rather hit or miss. Buffets just tend to be unimpressive in my book, everything gets soggy under the heat lamps.

Our server was very attentive and professional. We could tell that he had been working in the business for years and he was great at anticipating our needs. He asked if I needed jalapenos for my nachos before I had a chance to request them, kept our glasses topped off and promptly took away the dirty dishes. This fact alone helps to elevate Casa Herrera above a lot of the other Mexican restaurants in town.

4109 Ridgemont Dr, Abilene, TX 79606
(325) 692-7065
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Casa-Herrera-Mexican-Restaurant/164570176924603

Fuzzy's Taco Shop--Abilene location

For New Year's Eve my husband and I went to a movie at the local mall and then decided to eat at Fuzzy's Taco Shop when we got out of the theater at 8:30pm. Fuzzy's is located adjacent to the mall in small shopping center (used to be a pool hall/bar called Rack Daddy's). As with any new restaurant chain in Abilene it took a while for the crowds to thin out but even so after 3 months of being in business it was surprisingly deserted for a place with a full bar and relatively inexpensive food on NYE.

Fuzzy's is not a sit down and order restaurant. You go through the line and order your food, they give you a number and you pick it up. What differentiates them from fast food is the full bar and the slightly higher prices. This type of establishment should be pretty popular in Abilene with a large Air Force base and lots of college students, especially since they don't close their doors until late (M-F until midnight, 1am on Saturday and 11pm on Sunday) and open at 7am. Plus, they are in a heavy traffic area. The crowd that was in there on New Year's was decided older. Kind of unexpected. There were a few 20somethings and two large groups of 60-70somethings. We were the only people that were in the middle age bracket.


Fuzzy's advertises Baja style Mexican food. The main difference is the addition of cilantro, feta cheese and a garlic sauce on their tacos along with the usual iceberg lettuce, tomato and cheddar topping.  All nice additions to most taco flavors. I ordered a plate so I had my choice of many different meats and three types of tortillas; crispy, corn or flour.  I went with a shrimp tempura (not really tempura batter but fried shrimp) and a spicy shredded pork, both flour. One of them was missing the feta. The plate came with two sides, also of my choice...refried beans and cilantro lime rice. My companion got three tacos; chorizo, egg, and cheese, ground beef and  I believe the third was shredded beef. We also got seasoned chips and salsa as an appetizer. I am not a wimp when it comes to spice/heat in my food but be warned, the salsa has a real kick and lots of flavor. So much so that after eating it, my taste buds were dulled when I ate my tacos. Of all the tacos, we agreed that the shredded pork and the breakfast taco were the best.  Breakfast tacos are served all the time. Salsa and pickled jalapenos are not free, no salsa bar. Skip the side dishes, not impressive and boost the cost more than they should. They do have other items such as burritos, fajitas, tamales, nachos, and some grilled sandwiches.

Taco plate with cilantro lime rice and refried beans

Service was indifferent. Didn't see a manager around. They could use some more people to bus tables and wash dishes. Quite a bit of seating but not a lot a parking. On the positive side the outdoor enclosed patio would be inviting on a less chilly night. Televisions tuned to sports were scattered around but not turned up too loud.

All in all it was an okay experience but not a place I'll regularly visit unless I happen to be by the mall or have friends who want to go. Next time I will try the chips and white queso and/or guacamole.  As far as chains like this, I like Yucatan Taco Stand. The food quality is better.

Fuzzy's Taco Shop
3351 Turner Plaza Drive, Suite 100
Abilene, TX 79606
Ph: 325-701-9521
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Armenta's Cafe in San Angelo

Armenta's is a family-owned place in San Angelo.The hubby and I went to San Angelo for the day and wanted to find a place that the locals would recommend. We found it! The restaurant is located in a mostly residential neighborhood and is off the beaten path but well worth finding. It is fairly small but has an outside patio area that would be a nice place to sit in cooler weather.

I ordered chicken enchiladas with mole sauce and some guacamole on the side. Mole is hard to find so I had to try it. My husband had the Veracruz (green jalapeno pepper sauce) chicken enchiladas. Both meals were served with refried beans and rice.  Fresh tortilla chips and spicy salsa come with the meal. Dessert was a HUGE slice of homemade carrot cake. We really enjoyed our lunch. The prices were very reasonable, only $7.25 for the enchilada plates.

They had a large selection of seafood options as well, including ceviche. Sorry, no pictures. We were too hungry to remember to take some. I'll remember when we go again.

	Armenta's Cafe 1325 S Oakes St, San Angelo, TX 76903
	(325) 653-1954