El Fenix

Gone here a handful of times over the last couple of years and I’ve always been satisfied. Good food and good service! It reminds me of my late grandmother as she loved this place. I have great memories of going here with her and my boyfriend. Definitely recommend the fajita chicken enchiladas!! Never change El Fenix…never change.

Overall the experience was very good. The food tasted good and the portion sizes are more than reasonable for the prices. I was warmly greeted when I walked in and thanked as I left. The waiter was very polite, professional and made recommendations. However, I was there during happy hour and ordered a margarita and instead of asking he just brought me the most expensive one instead of the house and happy hour one. He also got my entree order wrong but did correctly and promptly have it fixed. When he came to check on me instead of stopping to ask and inquire he just did a walk bye (asking if everything is alright while never stopping). To me this is not personal and one of the traits that differentiates between a good server and a great server. I had the combo fajitas.

Hadn't been to an El Fenix since the one in Denton closed. It used to be my favorite Mexican restaurant, but not so today. I stopped at the Forest location when I saw it on the way back from an appointment in Dallas, anxious to have one of my old favorite selections, the fish tacos. Unfortunately, the fish was more like fish tails hard fried instead of the plump juicy tender bits I remember. Maybe it was just a one-off bad day for the cook, but disappointing. The service was friendly and efficient. The guacamole, chips and queso never disappoint.

Don't let the warehouse-like exterior turn you off from eating here; the food is good, the portions are plentiful, and the staff is friendly and accommodating. For instance, I asked for a side of mole with my steak fajitas and we worked out that I would pay for a side of soup but get a side of mole. It was a wonderful interaction. I will definitely be going back

This location in a strip shopping n g center is the best El Fenix Staff is great. The combination plattere like the Durango is a great way to sample the menu.

Parking sucks, place is an older location so not shiny new but not falling apart either. Service was accurate if a little slow. Food was hot and fresh but not very memorable as good or bad, just background for our table talk. Good to go back if convenient or some one's favorite but not one I will add to my regular rotation.

09/04/24: super servers Zoelpop ensure our visit was fast efficient and super tasty. My wife and I loved the enchilada special here. My personal favorite is having cheese enchiladas with a little bit of fresh cut onions on top! What's the best food around , thank you for being here!!!! Earlier post: We were in Colorado for a week. Where do we go as we get off the plane? Yes, here for an Enchilada dinner! Love it!

This is one of the oldest locations in Dallas for El Fenix. Used to go to El Fenix every week for 20 to 30 years. If they don't change things, then it is still the best tex-mex food anywhere. The hot sauce, chips, chili, and the taco meat are all the best Mexican food around. Our waitress was Iris, she was awesome and we will be coming back. We love El Fenix staying around for over 100 years now

I had been wanting to stop by and check it out. Some days I'd pass by and the parking lot woyld be packed and other times it would be empty. So I wasn't going in with the highet of hopes. However, this is a pretty good Tex-Mex restaurant, I couldn't complain about any of the food we got and the service was so great. Thd chips are not greasy, the salsa is medium hot. I had asked if they had a hotter salsa but this location did not. I loved my salad both my proteins were seasoned and grilled perfectly and I enjoyed the Chipotle ranch and fresh veggies. I wasn't too much of the cheese smothered chicken burrito, the cheese was missing something not sure maybe some spice. The sizzling trio platter were bought for 2 which was recommended but it seemed to be small for my party. They had wished there was a bit more but once again, the fajita, chicken, and shrimp were so well cooked! Loved my watermelon margarita, very refreshing and grealty appreciated on that hot day. The slice of watermelon was just as great!

The food and decor were overall nice. Like any Tex Mex restaurant, you are greeted with a batch of complimentary chips and salsa after being seated. I ordered the Texas Brisket Enchilada Plate (12 hour slow-cooked brisket, white corn tortilla, Anaheim chili sauce, queso fresco, served with black beans and rice); to my surprise, the brisket was a little tough. I also ordered a Sopapilla for dessert, which was warm and topped with cinnamon sugar and served with a side of honey; its consistency was similar to a beignet but slightly harder. Everything came fairly quickly. I've docked a star because I had asked for hot sauce but got fajita sauce instead. This side of fajita sauce was $3, which was expensive for its portion but also not worth it because it didn't add a kick of spice like I had wanted. Side note, the additional charge of the fajita sauce was not communicated beforehand. I was further disappointed when my server said that they don't have hot sauce only after he had brought out and charged me for the fajita sauce. This experience was very strange, as I have never been to a Mexican restaurant that doesn't have hot sauce.

I wanted to share some feedback regarding my recent dining experience on Friday, July 2, 2025. I was visiting with friends, and while we were excited for our meal, our experience was initially overshadowed by the demeanor of one particular waiter. He came across as noticeably unfriendly and unwelcoming, never smiled, and interacted with us in a curt, disengaged manner. It made our group feel uncomfortable and unwelcome. I felt compelled to speak with the manager on duty during our visit and respectfully requested a different table and server. I'm grateful that we were then served by Iris, who was absolutely wonderful--she was warm, attentive, and even apologized on behalf of the previous waiter. Her service truly turned our evening around, and we very much appreciated her kindness and professionalism. This interaction occurred around 5:30 to 6:00 PM. While the manager was accommodating in helping us switch tables, I now realize there may not have been a direct apology for the earlier poor service. I hope this can be followed up on. One rude server can really impact a guest's experience, and potentially drive away future repeat customers. My family and I had previously stopped dining at this location years ago due to issues with the wait staff and a decline in overall quality. However, we returned about a year ago and have been consistently impressed by the food--it's a testament to your 105-year tradition of excellence. That's why we care enough to share this feedback.

I've been going to el fénix for years. But yesterday was the worst experience I've ever had with the waitress Beatriz Cardona! First she was ignoring my table and till she stated that if I was going to leave without paying. I confronted her and wanted to know what she meant. I've never left without paying nor leaving without nor tipping! I know the food industry, and respect the workers as they need to be paid. But for me to be accused of not paying is not okay. She immediately noticed that she was wrong. In the past I noticed that she would be giving me bad attitude.

I have been eating at El Fenix for over 57 years. It was my family's "go-to" dinner place for all of our special occasions. It saddens me to see them go down hill in the quality of their food. We ate there yesterday and the enchiladas were a weird color. Not the robust chili con carne that I remember with joy and anticipation at all! We were served one small bowl of chips for a table of 7 people. The flavor of salsa has changed from the original recipe. The waiter had to be hunted down for everything and they weren't crowded or busy at all! I hate to give up such a wonderful family tradition, but El Fenix's quality has let us down for the last time.

Will not be coming back. We did not finish our food. -Salsa: not good. Tastes like store bought nasty salsa. -Fajitas did not taste good. Had a weird seasoning? Or it was marinated in something weird.

What has happened to El Fenix on Forest Ln??? Been going there for years and the food/service has always been excellent. Visited there a few nites ago. Ordered the Street Tacos, chicken, which I have eaten on many occasions. The chicken this time was kind of tough and had kind of a synthetic type consistency. I don't know if they are trying to save $$$ like most of us, but shouldn't mess with the food quality. I hope there are enuf people that recognize this change and they go back to their old supplier.

Very disappointed!! Have fined at El Fenix for decades and on my last venture, major disappointment! The food was "barely decent ", the service was extremely slow ( only a few tables had diners). Sadly, an old icon fades!!

This restaurant was very antique or original to my understanding. The food was nice and the hospitality was great. I may not return to this location unless I'm in the vicinity. Overall everything was fine.

They fancied this place up since I was here last. Looks really nice. And, they changed their chips. Might be the best I've had anywhere. Hope it's all the El Fenix's. Food hasn't changed still good. All in all I like what they've did with the place.

Yum! I don't know the secret to happiness but I know I've never been sad at a Mexican restaurant. I opted for the El Fenix Inca Gold Margarita with Jose Cuervo Gold Especial, Cointreau and grand marnier served on the rocks. Strong flavor, love the margarita mix here, and the grand marnier topper was perfect. Our waiter made it himself and he should be proud! For dinner I had the fish tacos with rice and charro beans. Great portion sizes and the food came out piping hot! Even the plate lol. The cabbage slaw was a great accompaniment for the tilapia. The fish was well seasoned and not over cooked. My corn tortillas were nice and thin and I really liked the vinaigrette because it gave some tang. I added lime and avocado of course. Absolutely delicious

I've been eating at El Fenix for many years. I usually dine a Fort Worth or the Weatherford location, but I was working in Dallas, so I tried the Forest Lane restaurant. To say I was disappointed with my experience would be an understatement. All the food tasted bland and was semi-warm when it came out. Only saw the waitress three times - when I sat down, ordered, and got dessert. I paid at the counter as my waitress disappeared, no drink refills or to-go boxes that I requested. I hadn't been eating at restaurants due to COVID and somehow picked the first weekend to eat at this El Fenix when Texas opened again. The place was packed! So yes, my waitress had four tables, but that's not a good excuse for being ignored. I was looking forward to eating there, but this location soured my experience. I will, however, go to other locations, just not this one ever again. I learned not all El Fenix locations are equal, but rating reflects the location in this review and partially my overall experience with the brand.

I had THE worst meal ever on Christmas Eve. I felt so bad for my mom because she ordered the same thing as I did. And then we made the mistake of ordering dessert. Flan. Tasted like crap. I can't believe this El Fenix has gone this far off the rails. And rudest server ever. What a waste of money.

Got to bump these guys up a star. We've been hitting a different tex mex joint in this area nearly every week for the last few months looking for great classic tex mex enchiladas. Puebla enchilada plate - one cheese queso, one cheese chili, one sour cream chicken, was the closest I've had, the best classic old school tex mex we've found. Appetizer combo of guac and fire roasted queso was perfect for a little feeding frenzy to start happy hour. The fire roasted queso is much better than the regular queso; lots more flavor and a bit of heat. We ordered so delivery was timed for the apps at happy hour, and nuked the dinners after a few cocktails. The puebla plate was easy to transfer to a dinner plate and, once heated up to a molten state, was probably better than when it had first arrived. Wife even complemented her light dinner chicken tacos fresco plate - though after a bite of my cheese queso enchilada, I'm pretty sure that's what she'll switch to next time - Friday night's after all are time for a little splurge.

El Fenix is my favorite Tex Mex restaurant. They have been around Dallas for many years. Quality of food is always excellent, fast and consistent. Service is usually good.

The staff is very friendly, Pedro is a great . I just didn't like that he meddled in while we were ordering. And convinced my husband not to get tacos , when he was there for specially that . Mango margaritas are amazing, and so is their Santa Fe salad they are scrumptious!!

Consistently bad if you order takeout. I ordered 3 tacos and an order of Nachos. They sold me a taco platter with one taco, and another individual taco. The taco shells were soggy. The Nachos had very little beef and were also soggy. The bag of chips were crushed into little pieces and crumbs.​

El Fenix is always great. I lived in LA for a long time and of course Mexican food was great. Dallas also has excellent Mexican, just different. This place is up there with a lot of the best and super consistent.

Don't order to go. I guess this is what happens when you don't leave a tip on your order. Does this look like guacamole sour cream cheese pica de Gallo to go with the fajitas? I think not.

I have found a dish I enjoy at El Fenix. I will admit I have been pretty hard on this Restaurant with my complicated New Mexican taste standards. So I update my review of El Fenix in summarizing the following. I am still not a fan of the general food options at El Fenix having tried various dishes such as enchiladas, taco, various Mexican food items. BUT the tortilla soup is delicious. The tortilla soup is a generous size bowl filled with chicken, cheese, avocado, and rice. When it arrives at your table they pour the chicken broth in right in front of you. This is the first time I have seen this done and I love the effect. The soup is not soggy as each ingredient still holds its shape and texture as your enjoy your soup. My only wish was that there were some delicious homemade tortillas to enjoy on the side. This seems to be a popular restaurant in the area so I am very thankful I found a dish I really enjoy.

I really like this place. To go orders are always great. We enjoy eating there. All restaurant's prices have gone up.

Took my mother here for lunch on the recommendation from a coworker. Sadly, the location that was closest to my home is closed according to Yelp. So we drove here because she wanted Nachos, and my coworker said their chips were good. And they were. Ate the heck out of the chips and salsa on the table. Red salsa was fresh, with just the right amount of heat. I got the tacos lunch special with a tamale. The Texas style nachos were good, which is high praise as my mother is notoriously hard to please, especially when trying out something/somewhere new. The menu touted the award winning house margaritas. They were tasty on the rocks. It was lunch time on a Friday. This location is massive on the inside. Probably gets super busy if the number of seats inside is any indication.

El Fenix is the Grand Old Abuela of Dallas area Tex Mex restaurants, and they still seldom fail to please. From the best and crispiest tortilla chips, to the fast and friendly service, El Fenix stands out from most of the crowd. At a lunch visit yesterday, we enjoyed the quick service from David. It turns out he is one of the assistant managers. He was excellent at customer service. Additionally our food came out very quickly, even though we came in during the tail end of the lunch rush. The enchiladas and tamales and taco were excellent, as were the rice and beans. The only knock I have have on the place is that the salsa is way too mild. I wish that they offered a spicy version, for those of us who are chili heads. All things being equal, El Fenix is a great place to go for good Tex Mex.

Tasty but average Tex/Mex food. David was our helpful and energetic server. The chips are crispy but they are from a bag, real chips are much thicker. The salsa has an average sweet taste made for tourists. The Queso was good, nice and thick with peppers. They do not have any real butter. The meat in the beef taco is too runny with little flavor. The cheese and beef enchiladas are tasty. The tamales are stout with a thick corn batter cover. Tasty Tex/Mex and they have been serving since 1918.

We have eaten here several times. Some in restaurant, some delivery. On the last 3 times we have ordered delivery, the Tortilla Soup is SO SALTY we can't eat it!! Their recipe must be screwed up because there is no reason to use so much salt in the recipe because people can SALT TO TASTE!!! Figure it out!

Love the food here and usually the service but todays service was very slow even though we were there at 3:30 when business was slow. Plenty of help but our waitress kept disappearing. The enchiladas were loaded with chicken, hot, flavorful and as always fresh salsa is superior. The place needs updated with new paint, flooring and furniture, all so tired.

Age-old restaurant still maintaing the traditional values & ethical practices in preparing food & serving their guests. This was my first time to El Fenix despite having office in the same location from over a year and always looking out for food options around. Today found the perfect & authentic Mexican restaurant. Totally bowled by the taste of their homemade chips & salsa, guacamole, & veggie quesadilla is just yum. One of the best Mexican restaurant I've visited in US. Beautiful hacienda style setting & friendly staff. Food was reasonably priced.

I'm in my 70's and have been eating at El Fenix's for many decades. My family met at this location to celebrate my sister's life. She had recently passed away. This location was "central" to many of us and easy to get to. There were around 30 of us there to visit and reminisce. We arranged for a "taco bar" since there were so many of us. It was delicious and the staff was so friendly and accommodating.

All the food was delicious and came out fresh & hot. Fast and friendly service by our server Frank who was helpful while we wanted substitutes on their plates. Will sure come back for their flan too!

It's Friday and I failed to pack my lunch so I let me coworkers convince me to tag along with them for lunch and I'm glad I did. I've been in DFW for over 20 years and haven't eaten here since the 90s due to a bad experience. We walked in and were greeted and seated immediately. Our drinks, salsa and chips came quickly and lets just say I ate way too many as usual. The lunch menu has a great variety of entrees and all are very affordable. I decided on rhe chose 2 with 1 beef and 1 cheese enchilada. Our food maybe took 10 minutes to arrive and I was very pleased with my selection it was excellent. Our waiter was in training however he was very attentive and took good care of our entire table he even told us about the Wednesday special which I can assure you I'll take advantage of with my daughter and grandaon. Great experience will definitely return.

Originally I chose the restaurant for the proximity to my training but after eating here and reading reviews, I can see why El Fenix is a staple Tex-Mex restaurant in south Dallas. The queso is really good (and I know my quesos). The food is very affordable, especially the lunch menu. And the drinks are cheap. A $3.49 margarita during happy hour can't be beat. I know when I'll be coming back!

We were led past many open tables to the back of the restaurant by our glum hostess, who seated us next to a large, loud party. After watching waitstaff standing around talking to each other for 15 minutes while ignoring us, we left. The hostess said "Thank You" without a hint of irony. I've been eating at El Fenix for nearly 60 years. I'm done with this place.

This makes me so sad. El Fenix is always great, right? Well, at this location it is NOT. Nothing good. Margaritas weren't good at all. Food was not good - no taste; tasted more like an old time TV dinner. And the chips (El Fenix chips are always good, aren't they? ) Huge disappointment - these were stale and not good at all - we asked for replacements and the replacements weren't good either. Won't be going here again. I'm telling all my friends so they won't make the mistake of going to this location.

This is a great family-style Tex Mex joint!! The atmosphere is warm and inviting. The waitstaff is always friendly and courteous. Carlos is our guy! He always has a smile on his face and loves being there.

Wow, I stopped by this place this afternoon for an early dinner only to find that they were hosting a private party from 12 noon until 5 PM. Seriously on a FRIDAY?!? Thanks to Yelp I was able to find Casa Navarro down the road at Forest Lane and Marsh Lane. Super friendly waitress took my order and within 10 minutes I was chowing down on some really good Tex-Mex ! El Fenix You let me down for the second time this month; what gives? why are you turning your backs on loyal customers?

Not impressed El Fenix. I have been coming to this location for as long as I can remember and my mom has been coming to this one since the 80's. I hate to admit it, but this place has gone down hill. Service-wise, we were seated in the very back corner even though there were many other clean available booths...? So the service was VERY slow. The waiter only came to the table three times and we had to bother other busy waiters for things like salsa. Food-wise, the food has definitely changed. The chips are good of course, but the salsa tastes like a can of pace picante. The beans taste like a can of Ortega, they weren't even traditionally refried, they were almost whole. The enchiladas are okay but what happened to corn tortillas? Traditional enchiladas are rolled in corn not a sponge!!

Love everything at El Fenix! Such authentic and fresh homemade Mexican food! We god at least once a week when possible!

The original owners, the Martinez family sold El Fenix to Firebird Restaurant Group in 2008 and the quality has dramatically dropped down since then. The food tastes nothing like it used to, and on this particular visit the service was really lacking. I ordered the chicken tortilla soup and it was nothing at all like I remembered it to be. The chicken tasted really old so I actually removed all the chicken from my soup so that I could eat the rest. My wife had the chicken enchiladas and they were extremely tasteless, besides the taste of old chicken. We both ended up with upset stomachs after this visit, and sadly it will be our last. I really used to love coming here, but it will have to remain as a memory for now. R.I.P. Old El Fenix, you will be missed...

I love this place..been going here since I was little... had a new waiter a little slow but he was good for only been there a week... yummy food got a #9 love.....fast fast s Fast..yummy

Was so excited to try their award winning Mexican food and especially the margaritas. Don't. For an establishment that has been around since 1918 you are off the mark. For starters the chips and salsa- chips were fresh from a bag and they literally opened a jar of Pace-type salsa and served our table. How do I know? Bc they were selling them at the check out counter. As with the queso. I want fresh from a restaurant not food I can get in a jar. Entrees not any better. My son's burger looked like a frozen patty that had been warmed. Not sure where the beef from my fajitas came from. It may have been beef at one point but not since 1918. Shrimp, I literally took one bite and unmade that taco. It was overcooked and blah. The only saving grace for the meal was the service. Everyone was nice and attentive. But if you want good Mexican this was not the place. Oh their margaritas, yep was a mix you could purchase as you walked out the door. Nope!! Go to the Taco Cabana down the street for the same quality (better fajitas and fresher salsa) for half of the price.

After I saw a movie across the street I was really really hungry for something and this was the only recognizable restaurant in eyeshot from the theater. I used to go to El Fenix when I was a lad in the 80s, so I decided it might be fun to see what I've missed these past 20+ years. Apparently nothing! This particular El Fenix is a time capsule into the past, in a big way. It looks like it hadn't been redecorated since it opened. The style is just the way I recall it so many years ago -- except everything is slightly worn out. The napkins are bleached from wash / wear, the table tops are micro-fissured with age, and the utensils looked like millions of mouths have bitten down on them. The menus looked the same too! And the food came out exactly the same as I remember; The cheese topping of my enchiladas was the same old yellow+orange color I remember, a little watery but legally edible. The rice looked like it was under extreme duress when cooked -- each piece of rice looked exploded from the inside out. I knew better than to try the beans. The experience was incredible! I can only imagine the managers haven't spiffed up the joint so long because the fate of the shopping center it's located in looks like it could be bulldozed any day...and it's looked that way for years now. Fresh coats of blue+gray paint on a facade doesn't fool anybody. Anthropologists and historians, grab your notebooks and get over to this El Fenix today! This is an excellent study of what the chain restaurant was in the 80s.

Second time coming to El Fenix both times Franklin took care of me, great service attentive and you never have to get his attention to get another drink. Food has been great both times the chicken tortilla soup is the best I've had.

I regretfully ate the beef enchilada with beans and rice plate. It tasted like a frozen tv dinner because, their corporate office decided to substitute the original beef chili topping for nauseating, cheaper chili sauce. I'll never eat their again after being a customer for the past sixty years.

I have been a fan of El Fenix since I was a little girl. I have basically been to all of the DFW locations at this point and this one is one of my favorites. Insanely nice and professional staff. Even when busy they take the time to carry over orders to customers and open the doors for them. This is how you do it folks! I feel like I have gone back in time here because they get customer service.

I'm giving this one star because the chips were so good. However, my overall experience was not one to be desired. As my party and I walked in no one was at the front to greet us. We waited 10 minutes before any came over to seat us despite me trying to flag someone down. Finally we are sat but it's at a table that hasn't fully been cleaned off...then our waitress didn't come by for a while. She took our drink order but never came back and two other people began helping us even though the girl was still there. Food wasn't that great and service wasn't either. I probably won't go back here...

Always love the food here. I have to have the chips and salsa in my life at least once every couple of weeks. The service is always fast and pleasant. Prices are very reasonable. Only complaint I have is when we picked up food to go for our office. We ordered lots of food and 3 bowls of Queso. They charged me extra for the chips and even for the salsa. I thought Chips came with the queso but apparently not. However the food and workers made up for it. Not gonna stop me from getting my El FIX.

Great place! Love it! Had a blast with family! Food was great! Loved the margaritas! Can't go wrong with fajitas

I did give them another try. Online ordering this time. Interesting that they called me a few minutes before my scheduled pickup just as I was driving up. Curbside was fast and friendly. Didn't have to find parking. Food was great. Thanks

This place was just alright. The eating area is huge and is good for groups. Very colorful and typical of what you would expect for a tex-mex place. The food was just okay. Nothing fantastic. I suppose it'll do if you're hungry and need something right away. Not stellar. I had the lunch fajitas. Just not enough for a meal. A girl's gotta eat.