Abuelo's Mexican Food Embassy

Recommends

squarah

Joined 4 years ago

My favorite Mexican place for sure. I love this place! It's much nicer than most Mexican places without being expensive. It's a fantastic place for a date with a romantic atmosphere. Their margaritas and salsa are the best in town! It's hard to pick what to order here because everything I've had is really good.

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lb108

Joined 4 years ago

Not TexMex - but Much Better. Personally I hate Texas Mexican. It is bland and boring - and very Texas. The delicious food is always served hot. The staff is excellent and I have not yet had a bad experience. The wait staff goes out of there way to make sure you have a great experience. Yes, they may be a chain but each restaurant allows management to put their flair on the place. If you are not from Texas (myself included) and have tasted real Mexican food then this may be the place for you. I cannot state anything negative about this restaurant and I eat here at least once a week.

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briloop

Joined 5 years ago

One of the best Mexican restaurants in Austin. My wife and I had lunch recently on a Saturday at Abuelos. I've eaten Mexican food for many, many years. I would rate Abuelos as one of the best places I've ever eaten Mexican food. Everything was excellent. The food was presented in a gourmet style. The meal was delicious. Wait service was excellent. The manager gave us a complementary dessert - flan. Overall, I highly recommend Abuelos. I will definitely eat there again.

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GibsonCRG

Joined 10 years ago

Not Your Average Austin Mexican Food. I've found Abuelo's to be a tremendously refreshing alternative to many of the Austin Tex-Mex eateries. They serve a spicy and chile-rich interpretation of both Tex-Mex and central Mexico style cuisine, and stands up well for both casual and fine dining choices. The service has always ranged from good to very good on each of many visits.

The lunch ambiance (I haven't been there for dinner but once) is alive and medium loud - don't come here for an intimate conversation. The lunch menu will set you back about $11 for an entree and a drink.

I've mainly had items off the Tex-Mex menu. The combinations are terrific, but if you prefer the local eateries habit of drenching everything in Velveeta cheese sauce, you won't like it here. Actual red and green sauces are in use here (though, yes, there IS a queso sauce as well!). The portions are generous, and they have an alternative to rice that's wonderful (Papas con Chile) - a sort of mash potato casserole with cheeses and chile in it.

In addition to the regular fare, they have some unique dishes of their own. For instance, there's a chicken breast stuffed with chorizo sausage, and also their version of a chimichanga comes with a chile relleno inside of it. The fajitas are good, though not special.

Overall, a good dining experience, a comfortable atmosphere, moderate to upscale pricing. Strongly recommended if/when you get tired of the Maudie's or Casa Garcia or Texican Cafe experience.

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Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

Patrons of this upscale Tex-Mex chain choose from a wide variety of dishes made with fresh ingredients.. In Short
The decor is the star attraction with colonial-style architecture, vibrant murals of Mexican life, and stone statuary resembling a wealthy landowner's rural hacienda. Entrees include Tex-Mex staples--enchiladas and fajita tacos--with a few surprises such as bacon-wrapped beef tenderloin and grilled mahi mahi. Sweets include the creamy caramel-flavored dulce de leche cheesecake and the rich chocolate flan drizzled with Kahlua cream sauce.

Doesn't Recommend

Julio999

Joined 5 years ago

Resounding Meh.. Fajita tacos. You could've told me I was north of the Mason-Dixon. There are numerous better Tex Mex places in Austin. Try Casa Garcias, etc. Less show, more go.

Doesn't Recommend

murphy65

Joined 6 years ago

Glass in the Food. Just got back from Abuelos tonight and I have to say this was a first culinary experience for me. As my girlfriend begins to dig in to her fajitas, she finds a piece of glass in her food. Not just a little piece - a piece that is as big as you making a circle with your fore finger and thumb - that big. The manager comes out and says "I apologize, the lady eats on the house tonight" and then does not even take her drinks / desert off the tab nor adjusts the tab for anyone else at the table. "Hey, sorry we served glass in your food and just about wrecked your f***ing mouth, but your fajitas are on the house." Thanks as*hole, uhhhmmm I think I'll go to Maudie's next time. My rating - 0. Don't even try it, not worth it.

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solero10

Joined 7 years ago

Good Food, Nice Ambiance. I found the waitstaff here pretty friendly and the food here pretty good. Be careful with the Chile Relleno here as it is definitely a little on the greasy side. I had the Shrimp fajitas here and I definitely liked them although I was a little surprised to find they had BBQ sauce on them (although not that much). Definitely not your authentic Mexican restuarant here but that does not mean that the food is not good. The shrimp fajitas were delicious, BBQ sauce and all. Just be prepared for some odd differences.

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hungryfoodgirl

Joined 7 years ago

it's okay. I think it's overpriced. Food is great, but nothing too special. Dessert is always good. Rather go for local Mexican restaurants. Nice ambience though.

Doesn't Recommend

darkangel77

Joined 7 years ago

User review by darkangel77. Nice service, but did not like the food at all. Much better options available in Austin.