El Fenix image

El Fenix

Restaurant Mexican restaurant

One of the Most Reviewed Mexican restaurants in Dallas


Address

1601 McKinney Ave Downtown #1, Dallas, TX 75202, United States

Website

www.elfenix.com

Contact

+1 214-747-1121

Price rating

$$ $$

Rating on Google Maps

4.20 (5.1K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Sunday: 11 am to 10 pm
  • Monday: 11 am to 10 pm
  • Tuesday: 11 am to 10 pm
  • Wednesday: 11 am to 10 pm
  • Thursday: 11 am to 10 pm
  • Friday: 11 am to 11 pm
  • Saturday: 11 am to 11 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: service (12) Fenix (12) good (10) great (9) delicious (8) enchiladas (7) chips (7) downtown (7) Dallas (6) time (6)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Tracy Z. 4 months ago on Google
    Yum! No wonder this place has been in business for over 100 years. Delicious food at a good price and excellent service. Their queso sauce on the enchilada was the best I have ever tasted. I can't eat spicy food, but all of my food was perfectly flavorful and zesty without being spicy. I wish I lived nearby so I could eat here again and again.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Stephen B. 1 year ago on Google
    Please follow us on Facebook and Instagram at SNDTRAVELS and EATWELLTRAVELOFTEN If you are coming to Dallas and want tex-mex, this is a must! Ok, so I have never reviewed one of my all time favorite restaurants because I don't usually review chains. I keep forgetting that this is not a chain restaurant but still a family owned business and that they are mostly in Dallas. I have been going to El Fenix since I was born and one of the best things that I can say about them it that they still use the same recipes. It always taste the same after all these years. My favorite is the basics, cheese enchiladas with rice and beans. Wisconsin cheese and real chili-con-carne instead of redsauce. Happy food, comfort food or just a great tasting meal, call it what you want just get it. From nachos to fajitas, taco, flautas, tostadas, carne-asada, handmade guacamole ect, there is nothing that is not outstanding. Their chips and salsa are legendary. Thin and crispy the chips are unlike any other restaurant. If your traveling to Dallas, you got to put this at the top of your "get to" list. Any location will do but the downtown is the most nostalgic.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Raven 1 year ago on Google
    I would not recommend having a large group here. My family and I came with a group of 17 total and we had to wait over 1.5 hours to be seated because they did not have a server ready. I witnessed 3 managers and 2 hostesses standing about on their phones and basically twiddling their thumbs. There were elderly people and children with no where to sit. The table was empty and ready the entire time. After waiting so long, we were seated at separate adjacent tables. The food was very bland. While this was a cheap meal for downtown dining, it wasn’t worth it. My kiddo enjoyed the chicken fingers, so that’s a positive. Two thumbs down for me.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 B C. 4 months ago on Google
    Fantastic vibe, fresh, delicious, and value for money food. However the male server… a really unusual experience to say the least … sat down he asked for food orders 3 times in 5 mins, kept pushing the house margaritas, yelling out for no reason, etc. On payment didn’t want to show the total in the payment machine Just really odd… As I say great food and vibe the service lets it down and the only reason why I won’t return
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 GG G. 1 year ago on Google
    I love eating at the original El Fenix. This takes me back to when I grew up in Little Mexico ,2911 Harry Hines, My Birth/ Childhood to age 6 play area, which has changed so much. One thing that HASN'T changed, is THIS AWESOME TASTING FOOD and RESTAURANT still like when I was a little girl and my Parents would bring me😋😋😋 As you can see by my Super clean plate, they DIDN'T disappoint again! Their service is still superb, From the friendly Hostess, their Attentive, Nice staff, along with their cool Atmosphere made me want to keep this location, the original, be my El Fenix go to... I suggest you all give it a try!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Andre T. 1 year ago on Google
    Great affordable tex-mes food here. The service was friendly and hospitable and we were seated quickly. But what stood out was the food. All the dishes I tried were well-prepared and very reasonably priced. I enjoyed the lunch special which let you choose 3 different dishes, all for about $10! Stop by this Dallas institution if you have charge chance!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jamie C. 1 year ago on Google
    My husband and I went to El Fenix for lunch on a Saturday. We were very pleased with our experience! The atmosphere was fun and festive. The food was delicious and the service was exceptionable. This location is in walking distance of many downtown Dallas attractions. It is a large restaurant with plenty of room for big groups. There were so many delicious items to choose from including plenty of vegetarian and gluten-free choices! Highly recommend!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Liam A. 1 year ago on Google
    Food was delicious but the service was way too slow and the gentleman who served us was not very responsive tbh... not trying to be a Karen but it seems like he just in a rush Maybe they are short staffed I dono
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Michelle R. 5 months ago on Google
    I have dined in here before and it’s always been good. I decided to UberEats for dinner. I had the chicken flautas with beans. My daughter had the chimichanga with rice. It was near closing time but the food was still hot and fresh. We really enjoyed all the food. I’d definitely recommend
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Fearlessly S. 1 year ago on Google
    I came here due to a recommendation and I was not let down! The spicy enchiladas 😋 were tasty! My taste buds were singing. I had their version of a Pina colada and it was perfect! Finished with the Strawberry 🍓 passion sopapilla. I'd never had a sopapilla so it was a new treat and I enjoyed it. Staff was friendly everyone spoke. Took a little while to check out but in their defense it was super busy. It was about 5 min wait but nothing excruciating. I loved the whole vibe of the place great for lunch with self, friends or a date.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Wayne G. 1 year ago on Google
    A standard for our family for years. It was always a treat to go downtown and eat at El Fenix. Good is always great and the service is awesome. My usual is enchiladas. Their chips are different and always a treat with their salsa.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Carolina W. 3 months ago on Google New
    Albert in the bar is the best!! The tortilla soup is my favorite, and the mango margarita w/ tajin was excellent!

  • 5/5 Rachelle S. 3 months ago on Google New
    This place was Great! Great food, great service and great atmosphere! I was visiting family and we kept asking for more time before we ordered as we were drinking and eating appetizer, and just catching up. I never felt pressured to order or hurry up. They were patient and let us really enjoy our night. Would give 10 stars if i could.

  • 5/5 Mark K. 5 months ago on Google
    Food is TexMex and very good at this 105 year-old historic restaurant - service was excellent & I'd definitely go back!

  • 4/5 himali d. 5 months ago on Google
    Service and Atmosphere is good. Veggie enchiladas tasted delicious and veggie burrito was average. They have limited vegetarian options but Its worth giving a try at least once. I would highly recommend trying their lemon pie which is very delicious.

  • 5/5 Tara J. 11 months ago on Google
    We visited El Fenix while on a trip to the science museum. Great location in downtown and delicious food. We are from out of state and I was skeptical how good this place would be. Y'all walk don't run to El Fenix!!! Delicious and we experienced no wait time. Our waiter was absolutely amazing! We had chips, salsa, and lunch fajitas and it was all amazing! 👌

  • 5/5 John T. 1 year ago on Google
    We were downtown for a performance at the Meyerson Symphony center and decided to eat at El Fenix downtown. It has been a while since we ate there before but were not disappointed this time. Service is always good, and the food is done very well. I had the Fajita Combination Salad with fajita beef and Marinated chicken. M partner had the Chalupas, one with Guacamole & Been and the other with Chicken. They have the best chips in town, bar none. Highly recommend El Fenix for a great meal with great service and a very reasonable price.

  • 5/5 Felix A. 2 years ago on Google
    We had El Fenix as a family after church at the Upperroom Dallas tx. El fenix was delicious had very packed! The food came out supper hot and supper fast! Very pleased. I orders the el Jefe enchilada plate, my child had the burrito plate and my wife the bean and cheese nachos. The nachos were prepare just how we like them, plenty of beans and cheese on each chip and bite!

  • 5/5 Jeanie Shea R. 1 year ago on Google
    I enjoyed all the authentic decor in El Fenix. The menus had something for everyone. I loved the sour cream chicken enchiladas. My frozen margarita was perfect. The service was quick and friendly. I would come here again.

  • 2/5 Joe H. 1 year ago on Google
    The original El Felix building is beautiful and well maintained. A very pleasant environment. The food though was uneven and not so pleasant. The chips and salsa were good and the Queso with Piccadillo was also very good. We ordered cheese enchiladas and a beef fajita quesadilla. The cheese enchiladas were surprisingly tough and chewy. Looked like they had rolled them out and let them set for way too long. The Chile con carne sauce sauce on top had good flavor but the condition of the tortillas made made them unpleasant to eat. The quesadilla was served lukewarm and was not toasted enough. The fajita meat was good but didn’t make up for a tortilla that was cold and slightly soggy. I also had a spicy margarita that was very underwhelming. Very small, not weak and definitely not special. Overall, very disappointed.

  • 5/5 Toni C. 1 year ago on Google
    This was the Seniors second visit for the Birthday lunch We are to pick a place to go eat and the Seniors chose El Fenix. the food was great I also got a bag of chips and salsa. Great service. Nash-Davis Recreation Center Senior Program


Call +1 214-747-1121 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Parking
    • ✓️ Free parking lot
    • ✓️ Paid parking lot
    • ✓️ Plenty of parking
    • ✓️ Free of charge street parking
  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Coffee
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Spirits
    • ✓️ Cocktails
    • ✓️ Quick bite
    • ✓️ Comfort food
    • ✓️ Small plates
    • ✓️ Organic dishes
    • ✓️ Happy-hour food
    • ✓️ Happy-hour drinks
  • Popular for
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Solo dining
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible toilet
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible seating
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Brunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Dessert
    • ✓️ Seating
    • ✓️ Catering
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✓️ Delivery
    • ✓️ Takeaway
    • ✓️ Outdoor seating

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