Desperados Mexican Restaurant

Well known and highly regarded (locally and nationally) Tex-Mex food whose reputation preceeds it. Don't let the dodgy entry-area dissuade you; the food is good but it didn't knock me over. This place also has the feel of "This place is where deals are done." so come here for the experience.

Great tex mex food. We had the shrimp quesadillas Acapulos and cheese enchiladas. The shrimp dish had plenty of shrimp, and the cheese enchiladas with con carne sauce were well seasoned and some of the best I have had in a long time. We also had house Margheritas, which were great, but served in a Tom Collins glass. We prefer the traditional Margherita glass.

I was debating between four and five stars just because my desperado taco was lukewarm when they brought it out, but the food honestly was so good and the service was great so five stars it is definitely will be back!

This place made the Dallas Observer's list of essential DFW Tex-Mex restaurants, and so we decided to check it out on a recent evening in the area. Although there was no availability for a table of 6 through their online reservations, I called in and was given a reservation over the phone for 5:30 that same night--a Saturday. What a great move! We got in and were seated just as lots of other folks arrived. No wait! Our server was friendly and professional, the food arrived in a timely manner, and we all enjoyed the delicious fare. I LOVED the desperado tacos, a dish I had never had before. We were especially pleased that the owner/manager stopped by and listened to us and chatted for more than just a moment. Jake was his name, and he was very welcoming. An all around terrific experience!

I knew on my Dallas spring break trip I needed to try Tex Mex, so we checked out this place. I had one of the best food experiences in my entire life. SIZZLING FAJITAS. The tender flavorful and charred steak easily goes in the top 3 beef I've ever eaten. Combined with the pico de gayo, sour cream, guacamole, and charred onions/bell peppers, I was smacked with flavor the whole time. The owner also kindly greeted us and chatted with us about the food and the city when we got our food. Quite sad I will not be able to eat here for a while.

We had the best time tonight! What made it stand out the most was our server, Ricardo. He was hilarious — had us laughing the entire time — but also incredibly attentive. He anticipated what we needed before we even had to ask, gave great recommendations, and made sure everything came out just right. You can tell he genuinely loves what he does, and it made all the difference. The margaritas are ALWAYS on point. We visit OFTEN— and next time we come I’ll definitely be asking for Ricardo!

We moved here a few years ago and are happy we found these guys. They’ve become one of our favorite places. Always friendly, good food, and good service. We were there just last Sunday and served again by one of their managers Wilibaldo. He’s always friendly, helpful, and takes care of us. Look through their menu carefully and consider what sounds good to you. All Mexican restaurants are not created equally. My favorite dishes here were not my favorites at other similar restaurants. This was recommended to us by friends, now I’m recommending it to you. Be sure to check out the Churros for dessert!

Food looked good, but the flavor wasn't there. We ordered what they were known for (Desperado Tacos) and were disappointed. The puffy taco shells had great texture and taste, but the fillings did not add much flavor. If you look at the pictures, the tacos fillings were also skimpy except for maybe 2 tacos. We ordered 7 of them. The steak for the fajitas also had no flavor. I'd recommend passing on this place.

Ameet, Tony and the team from Desperados Dos did a great job at our daughter's wedding in September. The food was yummy and the team went above and beyond to make sure we were happy. Huge thumbs up!

We stopped by here for a late lunch on Sunday and had a pleasant experience . We started off with the stuffed jalapeños and I got the crabmeat enchilada while my fiance got the chimichanga with beef . Overall, the food was good and the servers were very attentive. I believe a manager checked in on us as well, which is always nice . The vibes are perfect for a family or friend outing . It's not romantic or date night , but it gives an authentic Mexican feel which I can always appreciate . Worth stopping by

I've been coming here since I was a kid and I cannot say enough good things about it. The service is always prompt and helpful, and you always start out with a massive portion of chips and salsa (the salsa verde is to die for). The owner is frequently there and going from table to table to check on patrons and ensure the food is up to par. (We went so often when I was a kid that he knew my family by name and always gave us a dessert on the house.) The waitstaff come by often to top off drinks and make sure that everything is delicious, which is much appreciated. It's a large restaurant with many different dining rooms. All of them have ample space between tables and a really enjoyable charm to them. Sometimes this place gets a little rowdy (particularly on weekends or when there's a big game on the TV), but that has never severely diminished my experience.

I came across El Paseo one afternoon and ever since it's been my favorite go-to for good quality Mexican food. And it's not just their good food but also their great service that brings me back. I'll be dining there tonight.

Always excellent food here, so don't fill up on the homemade chips hehe. Service wasn't the best, as my buddy and I seemed to be 3rd or even 4th in priority, as our server Anna would rather be taking care of the large 8-10 top that's behind us. Her attitude with them was bubbly and nice, however with us, it was "what do you want," and a lack of interest at all! Not what is expected here..that's for sure.

Came here on Monday October 2nd, our party of 3 ordered a range of items from the tex-mex options like enchiladas, shrimp tacos, beef tacos etc. Place was pretty empty for a weekday, service was very prompt and speedy. First impressions walking in is that the outside seems very authentic and homey. The inside is kind of dark - made me feel like I was in an underground bar. I was hoping for something a bit more lively. Food was very good, arrived very fast. Portion wasn't huge but decent and at a great price. Nothing to go too crazy about, but it fit the bill for what we wanted. I would recommend it for a no frills dinner or lunch options.

*No photos* We joined our family first lunch after an event. We ordered an array of dishes from the menu. Loaded queso, chicken fajitas, steak, and chicken nachos, stuffed jalapeños, steak fajitas, and taquitos. Our bill was very reasonable, landing around $70 for five people with beverages. Everything was delicious, the atmosphere was relaxing, dim lighting, but inviting. The decor was givin' Great Granny's house with a warm color texture. We will definitely be back if we are in the area. Roni's pick

Friendly attentive goat and wait staff. The food was just okay. Very basic Tex Mex. There was no wow factory. But if you want to just have some Mexican and it's convenient go for it. Not bad in flavor.

My wife and I knew that when we came to Texas that we had to try some Mexican food and from my research this seemed like the place to go and we were happy that we did! The restaurant itself is spacious and has a lot of wood accents, the staff was nice and helpful in catering to our needs. When we were seated we immediately were given chips and salsa. We ordered guacamole which was good, interesting that it was served over a bed of lettuce but not a complaint. As far as food my wife went with the steak Argentina which was served with potatoes, peppers and pico, I had the 3 brisket corn tacos with beans. We both enjoyed our food and saw many items on the menu that we would have if we came back. I recommend this place.

Great food.qnd service. Always a treat to come Here. Tacos al carbon are my favorite

Did lunch on a Wednesday with 5 friends. Plenty of free on-site parking. Great, fast, and attentive service. Water glasses kept filled and menu questions answered. Chips and salsa both good. I enjoyed my lunch selection especially since allowed Charro beans instead of refried beans. No one complained about their choices so all good selections for lunches. Portions were generous enough. A few people even took some leftovers home. The inside of the place is well lit, they have plenty of tables and space. We were able to have a conversation at our table. I can certainly recommend this place for small groups.

This is a place I drove by a million times and never went in, though the stand-alone building is very unique and pretty. So finally I went there for dinner, and glad I did. The place feels very authentic and cozy. The staff is wonderful. Even the owner (actually he turned out to be the son of the person who opened this restaurant back in 1976) stopped by every table to check on them and ensure their satisfaction. So the fact that this restaurant has been opened since 1976 tells me that they are doing something very good. Our table tried multiple plates and everyone loved their plate. So order with confidence.

Desperados Mexican is one of our favorite location to have drinks and appetizer , we like to seat at the bar and have a drink and order a few

My wife and I dined at Desperados in Dallas, Texas, today. This is one of our all-time favorite restaurants and for 44 years, my preferred restaurant for Tex-Mex. Its been a year since we ate there and things have changed, not in good way. The margarita ordered was very good but the guacamole was just so-so. The chips delivered with salsa to our table were crumbs compared to the large, unbroken chips delivered normally. The salsa was nowhere near as tasty as it used to be....maybe that is why they don't bottle and sell it at the front desk? In addition, the table salsa was brought in two, tiny cups that were about the size of a quarter. No wonder the chips were in tiny pieces....you could not use a large chip in the salsa bowls! Seriously. The first time in over 40 years I have seen this at Desperados. The guacamole appetizer was bland and did not taste like it was made with fresh lemon or mixed with salsa. The Desperado Tacos were as good as always....and they are phenominal. The tacos were supposed to come with refried beans and salad. Only the salad came with the plate. We had to track the waiter down to bring the beans. They used to be served on the plate. We received a small cup of beans....small cup of beans. Shameful. A great restaurant is being taken down and it is hard to watch. We saw a Desperados T-shirt advertised at the front but they were out. Along with the salsa they used to sell to take home. We will remember Desperados for the great restaurant it used to be. Those days are now in the past. Sadly, we cannot recommend Desperados. Wish we could.

This is our family's go-to place for Mexican food on Fridays. Great fajitas and a solid frozen margarita!

Came here on an awful workday and hey, I felt a whole lot better afterwards! As you walk into this family restaurant, you immediately will feel a sense of warmth. I don't particularly love margaritas BUT I did like their house margaritas! Service was prompt and the food came out quickly. The salsa and chips were on point and you could tell they were made fresh. We had both the chicken and beef desperados tacos, which were great. I also had the Argentina steak, which I thought was cooked well. However, I thought the chimichurri did not match my expectations, but still decent regardless. We also had the flan for dessert and wow, this thing was THICC. All the flavors were there so we enjoyed it. Would love to come back to try the other dishes :)

The restaurant is casual, very dark inside like hole in the wall type place. The servers were nice and attentive, a manager stopped by each table to check on things. The food was just average for me. I give it 4 stars due to the nice service and no wait for a table.

Staff and servers were great. Food though lacked flavor - luster etc. It was par for course Tex Mex. Nothing special.

There's so much competition in Tex Mex and it's hard to beat our favorites like E Bar! We decided to try this location and it was okay. We were expecting it to be much better. I had the shrimp fajitas and there were only about 6-7 butterflied shrimp on a bed of onions. The guacamole was good but lacked flavor. Overall the service was good and quick and that was the best part of our visit. Not sure we would rush back.

Desperado beef taco and the La margarita are delicious. They don't use a mix for the margarita. The margaritas are so fresh and flavorful. The taco shell on the desperado tacos is RIDICULOUSLY DELICIOUS. No matter what you order here make sure you order at least one desperado taco you won't regret it. Oh and the owner is super sweet and welcoming.

Great long time Dallas Mexican Food! Have been eating here a very long time. Everything is great and the service is wonderful. Definitely a neighborhood vibe.

My 7 year old wanted to write a review to tell you how much he loves Desperados! "I like the food, especially the extra cold sour cream, the decorations and guns on the wall, I like the servers and how nice they are, and I like the gumball machine and how the restaurant looks like an old building." We love Desperados and will come back for years to come!

Pretty good little Mexican spot. Lots of options on the menu. I got the combo plate with the puff taco and enchilada. I think I'd get enchiladas again, but the puff taco was a little greasy. The biggest thing that threw me off was the staff. We sat at the bar and they were talking in a way that probably wasn't the best in front of customers - not sure if they knew we could hear.

My husband reminisced about eating at Desperados over 30 years ago, now that we live in the DFW area - it was time to visit. I am glad that we did. The service was outstanding and the food was great. The salsa has a good flavor and carries heat. I ordered a puff taco and a guacamole tostada - both were great. My husband had the beef Desperado tacos - he loved them. We both had a top shelf margarita and the drinks were delicious - no mixers.

We were on some kind of taco and margarita tour that started here... and LET ME TELL YOU, this was the BEST tacos in the entire tour so it makes sense they started here. The beef tacos OOOOOO WEEE , with the puffy flour shell.. man that was probably the best taco I've ever eaten! It was SOO good, after the tour literally Everyone and I mean EVERYONE 17 whole humans who most did not know each other before the tour all came back to have drinks and spend money here because the tacos were SOOO good. I didn't care for the queso much. I lovvvve queso. This one didn't do it for me but then tacos! I'll catch a flight for this tacos. Already booked it! I'm NOT playing.

A Dallas classic for 45 years and counting! My mother has been coming here for happy hour for probably at least the last 20 years and i have just recently started joining her. It's always a hit every time i come. The restaurant is located on the corner of Greenville and University along with some other restaurants. The parking lot is fairly small and narrow, it fills up rather quickly. There is a small patio out front with about 4 tables. The restaurant is a lot bigger inside than it appears. It's dimly lit and intimate, but can also be loud at times. Service has been outstanding each time, the servers are always very attentive and kind. I think Jose was our most recent server and he was delightful. The menu is full of authentic dishes with a mix of some Desperado classics, such as the Desperado Tacos. I've tried a few different items such as the tortilla soup, the brisket tacos (Tacos Albañil), and the queso bandito. I don't remember the tortilla soup being my favorite but it was okay. The bean soup is delish and so is their version of tres leches, the Pastel de Cuatro Leches. Drinks are strong and fresh with a happy hour you don't want to miss! Happy hour is Monday-Friday 11- 7 PM, all day Sunday and Wednesdays they have House Margaritas for $3.00 all day.

The chicken enchiladas with sour cream sauce were amazing! We also really enjoyed the queso. Service was incredible and we were well taken care of. We had a minor issue with waiting for a dish and they really made it up to us! Great family local spot environment. Would highly recommend this place and will definitely be back

Best Tacos in Dallas! I'm doing this review so that I can delete this photo from my phone and stop lusting after scrolling past it in my photo gallery! They fry the taco shells for the Desperados Tacos so they melt in your mouth. It is the most satisfying and unforgettable experience consuming these! Always great customer service from this family run establishment. Great for work lunches or dates. Also, check out the patio when the weather allows.

Had the pick 3 items and they were all very good! One of the salsas was a little too spicy for me. Sangria swirl marg is great too.

We came here during a team meeting and the owner happen to know my manager and greeted us kindly and told us the menu. We got the chips and salsa. Unfortunately, the chips were stale and hard to eat. We ordered the queso which was alright. I then decided to try their desperado tacos that were beef, but unfortunately the tacos were dry. I did like the crunch to it. Service was great though, but I did not enjoy the food as much as I wanted I probably would not come back here with my wife, but with the team members that is the only way I would.

Family owned, family run since 1976. That's how good the food and service are here. They have a small but nice outside patio in the shade with fans. For your first visit you can't go wrong with the Desperados tacos and a margarita.

I ordered the Fish tacos off the lunch special. Guess I should have read the fried part a little better. I opened up the taco after they were delivered and the fish looked like a fish stick i used to give Mt daughter as a child. I only ate 1, just couldn't stomach another one. The bean soup was good, hard to mess that up. I thought Desperado's was better than a fried fish stick in a fish taco. Guess not, so won't be going back there. I should have tried the nachos, hard to mess those up. Sorry I didn't take a picture, should have. I was so disillusioned I didn't think of a bad picture.

I love coming here! Everyone is so nice and the owner is so fun and welcoming. Everything is always so hot and delicious! So far my favorite has been the fajitas. They're so yummy and cooked to perfection.

Delicious food, great happy hour, and a fun ambiance. Love the vibe here. Service varies.

Ordered from this place for the first time on a Wednesday evening around 6 PM. Ordered delivery via UberEats. Delivery arrive on time & order was completed correctly. They didn't give us much chips. Queso was packed in a drink cup. The salsa was minuscule. Chips - average. Salsa - Jalapeño seeds all over. Very spicy. Queso - Very spicy. Chimichanga - Minuscule amount of sauce topping packed on the side. Tomato's are cut very largely. Taste is slightly less than average. Not sure why there are peas & carrots in the rice - like Chinese fried rice, but Mexican version. Overall, very disappointed, but food is not inedible. We would not recommend & we would not go back.

Great service and management! Also the food and drinks are 10/10. I love that they have brunch specials

I ate here yesterday and it was a horrible experience. The host was weird about me saying i had 9 people in a not busy restaurant and i knew i should have just left right then and there(ended up only being 6 of us and a baby) When we finally ordered our food 4 out of the 6 orders were wrong. Every single plate was cold like it had been sitting in the window for 30 min. Took a couple of bites of my own plate and was grossed out. My cousins had to ask for their food to be put in the microwave. And to top off this entire experience, as everyone was eating we saw a roach crawling on the wall directly behind me. The waiter also saw and just rolled his eyes and walked away. After that it did take him a while to come back to our table. He just kept walking right on by. This was my first and last time here. What a horrible experience.

We were in Dallas for the eclipse and we were craving Mexican food. I can summarize our experience here with one word: EXCELLENT. Highly recommend.

Great food and atmosphere! Will be going back and liked the nachos!! Definitely recommend

My wife and I love this place. It's got great food and great service!! Desperados has been family owned and operated for 45 years and it's still owned by the same family! KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!!

Tried this place out on a trip to Dallas and it was so tasty! The chips were warm, the salsa was fresh a tad spicy. I ordered the shrimp desperato tacos. The shells were lightly fried and melted in my mouth. Another group of ladies suggested we order them, and they were not wrong! Rice and beans were cooked to perfection and so flavorful. The skinny margarita was where it was at! We sat at the bar on a Friday night, our bartender let us know it was his first night behind the bar, typically he was a server. He was so fast and friendly. We met a couple in town from Nashville. If I find myself in Dallas again, I'd be thrilled to visit.

Don't go in there at 9pm when they close at 9:30pm. Apparently they really close at 9. No other customers were in there. That isn't a good sign to start. I am trying to get a quick dinner knowing they close at 9:30 and I don't want to be there any longer than necessary. The server pressed to hurry up and order. Manager on duty lied about some things including their liquor license. So i won't be going back. I tried to go about once a week for Mexican food convenience to where I live but no more. Frankly there are much better Mexican places to eat at like Ebar, Banditos, Marianos. So I am very happy to spend my money elsewhere!

Our group of 4 was seated promptly but after that it was like we were on island time. After over 5 minutes of not being greeted at our table i had to get up and ask for a server, the food was slow to arrive but it was good, we had to ask for refills and once we were ready to leave we had to ask our check. They were not busy and we saw multiple employees standing around. Longest lunch ever!

A staple from my college days. The Best Salsa in my book. This is only place that I will order chicken enchiladas in verde sauce. Once you find something you like, then you do not want to try anything else. One day I ventured into shrimp fajitas. I was pleased. The shrimp had a good seasoning. Charro beans are great. The only thing that I tried and could do without was the queso dip. Again, there is so much more to enjoy that the queso blemish how much I like this place.

Amazing authentic Mexican food, excellent chips and salsa, and nice house margarita. The owner stopped by the table and was super friendly, and shared that his father had started the restaurant in 1976 and they pride themselves on affordable high quality food. The value, especially for current restaurant prices, is unbeatable, and it's clear they are committed to this way of doing business. I was in town for my daughter's collegiate swim meet at SMU, but if I lived here Desperados would definitely be my go to for great Mexican food.

I lived in Dallas for 13 years and enjoyed many Mexican and Tex-Mex places, but Despos remains my favorite. The owner Jake is very kind, and their food is delicious. The staff has always been nice as well. The Desperados tacos are award winning for a reason. The flautas are large and incredible as well. I have never found a similar comparison for either entree. It's all in the breading! The guacamole appetizer and side that comes with some entrees is always fresh and tasty. It's not overly lime flavored like so many places. If you like tres leches, then you will like their CUATRO leches. It's incredible, and I've even ordered a whole cake before for a party (must do in advance). I always make it a point to visit Despos when I'm in Dallas visiting now. Highly recommend!

We decided on desperados based on the reviews from Yelp since we are from out of town. The parking lot was nice and lit up well. We had a uncomfortable moment at first when asking for a table. I of course had my service dog with me and the hostess informed us that only service animals were allowed in. Maybe it was a language barrier but Luci was wearing her service vest which clearly marks her as a service dog. Anyways after we assured her Luci was a service animal we waited a few minutes and we were sat at a table on the patio. I decided to try the "best margarita in Dallas". It was ok not bad by any means but if that is the best awarding winning margarita Dallas need to step up their game. We are started with some queso but it was too spicy for my wife which is unusual since usually the cheese is what people go to when the salsa is too spicy. We ran out of chips while waiting for our food and just sat there for awhile. Once our food finally was served the waiter did bring us some chips but never got refills of the salsa. I got the taco carbonara. It wasn't bad but nothing great. I've had better. Overall they do a decent job but nothing memorable and the service could use improvement.

The food was hands down delicious we also had gotten the Special Platter () sorry I didn't take a picture but it was so good! Everything was fresh & nicely presented . My salad was so delicious, I didn't care for the dressing but it was so good. I gave them a 4/5 because the service was not the best. Maybe they were short staffed, idk. It was just a little unorganized and I wasn't sure who our waiter was.

Desperados has become our favorite place for Tex Mex. Great food. Great service!!!! Great price!!