Irene's

Tex Mex BBQ I have felt for a long time that this area was missing kicked up or upscale Mexican Food. Irene’s delivers just that. The menu has great variety. The items we ordered had a depth of flavor you don’t find in other Mexican Restaurant in this area. The flames from the wood fired grill add to those flavors and the experience. We will be back and highly recommend. Well done Irene’s!

Loved the atmosphere and the food is great. Tex mex meets bbq. It’s a great combination of quality food and flavors, and fresh ingredients. Full bar wall full of tequilas and mezcals. They also have an amazing catering option.

Really delicious food and hip vibes. I really enjoyed their brunch service as well as dinner offerings. Some outdoor seating is available which makes this the perfect spot to hit up on a nice spring day. I've had the breakfast tacos, brisket, and pulled pork platters and all were excellent!

Fav restaurant in town! Some food was spicy but everything was amazing! Tallow chips were worth a Michelin star🫶🏼

Irene’s BBQ is exquisitely delicious. It is a mix of Mexican and BBQ. When I first heard about it I was skeptical, however, I decided to try it and I am hooked. They have a brunch menu on Saturday’s from 9am - 11am which the 2 food pictures on this review were taken from. The first is sweet potato hash and the second is a breakfast torta with melt in your mouth brisket. The bun is perfect in that it doesn’t fall apart yet it is soft at the same time. They offer a wide range of different salsas along with a full bar serving creatively delicious adult beverages. I highly recommend that you enjoy a meal here. The atmosphere is relaxing and an enjoyable place all around.

It was the first visit to Irene's for me, my wife, and our daughter and son-in-law, and it was outstanding. The hostess/waitress was very friendly and helpful. We ordered the Tacos for the Table. All of the meats were delicious, as were the sides and sauces. The menu claims that the Tacos for the Table feeds 4-6... I'd say more like 6-8, easily, considering our daughter and son-in-law took home food for at least 3 more meals. I highly recommend Irene's.

I keep trying to find a better bite of food in Columbia but I can't do it. From the fresh made tortillas to the flavor bomb barbacoa they simple set the standard for best bite of food around. Their ordering and service is awkward but friendly. Probably a byproduct of opening around covid staffing and probably needs to be adjusted but the food more than makes up for it. The drink selection is beyond comprehension. Like literally it's too much for the human brain to handle. The beer selection is local and pairs perfectly with the food. This place would probably fall into the 4 star range if it weren't for that first bite teleporting you to another world and for that it deserves the bonus star.

Delicious food, friendly employees, an all-around win in my opinion! Can't wait to go back and try more things!

Great bar with good food! Stopped on the way from Cleveland, going to KC. The brisket was outstanding. Always try to eat local when on road trips - Irene's did not disappoint.

In town for a concert and Irene's was recommended by many people. We dropped in and had these DELICIOUS nachos that another friend told us about (not on the menu though) but wow. The pulled pork was amazing. We sat at the bar and Nate and Kayleigh were great. Friendly service, great drinks and attentive. This place is super cute with such a great vibe. It's like a modern restaurant with a mexican/BBQ twist. The menu had so many amazing options and wish we were in town longer to get to try their brunch! We will certainly be back!

Grabbed lunch at Irene's while in Columbia. My husband and I shared a platter and and extra side. I also ordered a michelada and it was perfect! Our food was good - the tortillas and sweet potatoes were the stand outs. I felt like the meat didn't have a ton of flavor. I loved sitting at the bar - service was great.

The food was amazing!!! We had the guacamole app and the Caribbean chicken bowl, both were delicious! The service was amazing as well. Hopefully the two owners expand.

At some point, I will cease to be surprised by the excellent food options in Columbia. Irene's is serving up some excellent barbecue featuring not only a couple classic barbecue features but some proteins you won't find anywhere else. Bbq chicken thighs, green chili pork, house made spicy sausages, smoked barbacoa... all fantastic. Counter service with one order taker is engineered to keep the pace of incoming patrons to a slow enough flow to allow for tables to empty out. They must have taken some lessons from Pappy's in St. Louis. We had the Tacos for the Table (there were 6 of us): - grilled chicken thigh (4.75/5): Honestly, my favorite. Great flavor and cook - Green chili pork (4.5/5): Love this protein. This is something you might find in the southwest. I was happy and pleased to see it here. - Smoked Brisket Barbacoa (4.35/5): Typically, this is a braised protein. Love the smoked treatment. Excellent flavor! - Brisket (4.25/5): well executed. Great flavor. Not as tender as traditional Texas style, but very good - tortillas (4.75/5): Fresh, handmade and excellent - Mac & cheese with green chili (4.5/5): loved the flavor! Would have liked a bit more cheese sauce - my preference - slaw (3.75/5): Cojita dominates this dish, which I am not a huge fan of. But still tasty. - salsas: Everyone of them hit! Loved the very spicy rojo. Open space with large tables gave this a friendly and casual vibe. Love the service model.

Columbia Missouri has some great restaurants however I have been looking for another taco joint down here. On a random night my boyfriend and I decided to check out Irene's and I am very happy we did. To start off, the atmosphere of this place was wonderful. They had live music going on in the background, a wide menu of drinks and the service was amazing. Everyone was super nice and patient with us because we had a rough time deciding what to get! The food we had was fresh and delicious and the place was perfect for a little date I would definitely check out Irene's if you are in the area!!

Delicious Barbecue Delights at Irene's in the Arcade District! Irene's Barbecue in the Arcade District of Columbia, Missouri, is a hidden culinary gem that left me impressed. The food and service are top-notch, creating a delightful dining experience. The ambiance at Irene's is pretty cool, setting the stage for a memorable meal. However, the ordering process, requiring patrons to wait in line and decide before sitting down, adds a unique twist. While it can be a bit tricky or confusing, the pressure to order quickly might be the only drawback. Once you navigate the ordering process, Irene's reveals a menu full of interesting and delicious items. It's worth noting that this spot can be a bit spendy, but the culinary experience justifies the cost. The spacious parking lot and the abundance of nearby activities make Irene's an ideal spot for a date night or a fun time with friends. If you're a fan of flavorful barbecue and unique menu items, Irene's is definitely worth a visit in the vibrant Arcade District.

This place is awesome. Has something for everyone. Their Saturday brunch can't be missed. The workers are knowledgeable and kind. Really cool space as well.

We had heard good things about this place, and were excited to find it had opened this month! We went in on a weekday for dinner, and the place was pretty busy. It seems like an American take on Mexican food, with an emphasis on barbecue, and it was all yummy!. It is a fast casual type order at the counter. Very modern, nice but casual. - Beef carne asada platter (4.5/5): Very delicious. Lots of flavor, and lots going on. Basically like build your own tacos. We got lime dressed sweet potatoes as the side, and fire roasted taquera roja salsa. I wish it came with more salsa, but you can purchase extra. The tortillas are so yummy, taste homemade. The carne asada was cooked perfectly, seasoned well, and was tender. - Wagyu beef barbacoa sandwich (4/5): This was really good, just a bit greasy overall. The flavors and textures were amazing. Definitely recommend. Side was macha roasted Brussels, which were delicious. - Heart of fire cocktail (4/5): Love the smokiness of the mezcal. Semi sweet, and tart, good flavor overall. - Spicy margarita (3/5): I was a bit disappointed, this didn't really taste like a margarita, it was kind of plain. Tasted spicy but not much other flavor.

As soon as they gave me Mexican coke in a glass bottle, I knew I was at the right place. Very friendly staff, customers were a combination of families, young people, old people, etc. Food was fresh in taste and fresh in combo ideas.

Food was good service was good. Seating was good dining area was comfortable and clean. A bit over priced, but I blame Joe Biden for that.

OPENED MAY 2023! Newly opened restaurant and hang out spot North of MU campus. This place has an abundance of seating (indoor and out!) I would definitely describe this place having a more communal vibe. Tables are long and you don't have staff waiting on you. Ordered: Piña Colada Lime Margarita Chicken Torta w/ roasted sweet potatoes Carne asada platter w/ poblano potato salad and a side of tomatillo salsa and flour tortillas Before I get to the food, I want to mention the staff! You walk in and order right away. Everyone was so friendly and the staff was patient as we tried to decide what to order. This place is unique in that if you want to order more food, you place additional drink/food order via a QR code. Which is awesome because the line can get long and I'd rather sit and chat and order my food at my table. The menu is unique. It's definitely BBQ with a Mexican flair. You won't find your typical Mexican rice and beans here but it'll be delicious. Chicken Torta The chicken was smoked and OH SO tender! The Torta was finished off with black beans, pickled red onion, cilantro and queso cotija. The bread was crispy on the outside but soft on the inside. Sweet potatoes Yummy roasted sweet potatoes has a hint of lime topped with pepitas (pumpkin seeds) and cotija. Carne Asada Platter (Comes with tortillas, side and one salsa) The meat was marinated so well and had that charcoal roasted bits on the outside. The meat was cut thick and I felt like I should have had more meat on the platter for the price I paid. Poblano Potato Salad This was unique spin on potato salad. It's very light and refreshing and I loved the poblano pepper in it. Flour Tortilas HOLY SMOKES were these tortillas AMAZING. They were thick but soft and they held up to the meat. Can I please order some to go!? Yes. You can! But they're $2 for an order of 3 tortillas. One thing I wish they did was offer was a salsa bar or unlimited salsa. I wanted to try all of them! Extra salsa is $1 each.

Great Location and atmosphere. We went on a Friday for dinner and it was pretty busy. I'm not the biggest fan of the community seating style. We all enjoyed the food we ordered and portions were great. The blood orange margarita was delicious.

The food here is so flavorful (try the brunch, too!) they are super quick at getting your food to you and it's a fun place to gather with friends.

This was a great find as we travelled through the area. Quickly greeted by the host staff who explained the ordering process to us since this was our first visit. We both had the green chile pork bowl which was one of the freshest meals I have had in a long time. Made me never want to eat at a well known chain again. The mango mock tail was delicious. Would definitely go back again if in the area.

Irene's is a hidden gem in Columbia MO! From the moment we came in our experience was excellent! Our server Jess was so kind and helpful with suggestions. The food had such modern layers of flavor, I just wanted more! We will be back repeatedly.

Disappointing. Gucamole lacking lime juice. Carne asada lacking spice. Cole slaw bland (the sweet potatoes with cotija were good, though). The food was so much better when it was pre-order only out of Barred Owl! I suppose it was inevitable when you scaled up, but now it's getting more like an expensive Chipotle. Please try harder.

Food was ok; not great. Service was very good and friendly. Atmosphere was relaxing, but a little bit of echo that made it noisier than we like. All in all not our cup of tea.

Well, what to expect. Authentic, yet not, bbq set up, but odd. Over all. I come back, again and again. The bartender was awesome, great service. For your first time sit at the bar, party of one or two. It's the best way to understand the food, the drinks, Nate was very informative, we could ask questions about the food, ingredients, my husband and a mammal allergy, have you heard alpha gal? Never the less. He confirmed the ingredients, he made us feel welcomed, made a delicious Mango Fuengo during. Yes not fuego. But it was delicious. We had tortas and not platters for tacos. Just a little different. The chicken and the barbacoa lonches were amazing. Too bad I did not take pictures. It was aesthetically pleasing, as it was flavorful. I can't wait to come back!!

The Waiter or busboy was literally the rudest waiter we have ever had. Our first time here and my husband grabbed a seat while I ordered. We didn't know you weren't supposed to grab a seat while ordering. There was tables everywhere but only 2 of us so we just sat at the end of a table with a big party so we didn't take up a whole table. While I was ordering my husband repeatedly got harassed by waiter. The waiter told my husband he has to go get in line really rudely and I was literally ordering at the register. The waiter then said "what are you not understanding!" And my husband was nice and said my wife is literally right there and pointed at me. The waiter said I don't care. So we canceled our order and left. Won't be back

The service was great and I loved the ambiance! I had the brisket and it was delicious!

I was to hungry and forgot photos!! This place seems like a twist of Caribbean and Mexican cuisines mixed together. The Caribbean chicken thighs were ok. It came with tortilla shells on the side. The rice had a Caribbean name but was very different from Caribbean coconut rice, not as flavorful. I did enjoy the fried plantains with a twist of pineapple, nuts and I believe whipped cream. Summer veggies had a good flavor and the pulled chicken torta sandwhich did as well. I am just not a huge fan of flavors for my personal style. I will definitely try it again and see what other choices are out there that I may like more. Its in a nice spot at the arcade district. You order at the counter, get a number to place on your table and choose where ever you like to sit. The waiters then bring your food too your table. They bring drinks to the table as well but water is self service on a back table. Its pretty chill vibes at this place.

Awesome food!! Good atmosphere but limited menu. The tortillas are amazing. Drinks are tasty but smallish.

Great food, feels home made and special. Excellent flavors. Remarkable presentation. Reasonable pricing for what you get. Does take awhile, so plan to hang out a bit. Basically self service as you must get your own drink refills. Ambiance is open air industrial chic and feels very welcoming.

Ordering is a little confusing, but the food and drinks are excellent! Open, welcoming feeling. Have been twice and the staff was terrific. Will try lunch there soon.

Delicious restaurant for authentic BBQ/ Mexican menu. Great choices for sides - would highly recommend the poblano potato salad, green beans, and sweet potato. Bar vibe is casual and lots of large tables for big groups. Delicious margarita and mezcal options as well as nonalcoholic flavored drinks.

Amazing food. Fun environment. We had a good time and our bellies were happy. Go check it out! Great service too!

By far Columbia's best new restaurant. Set in the up and coming Arcade District, the vibe inside is superb. The menu is BBQ but I opted for the Tacos for the Table. Fed 5 of us and we took home some leftovers for an absent family member. Wow, this food is amazing; the meats were diverse and flavorful, the sides were complimentary and tasted wonderful. Eat inside at community seating or step outside on the patio and dine watching a movie on the screen. Service was fast, and if you needed another beverage, you scan a QR code and order. They will bring it to you. Will be headed back soon to sample more of the alcoholic fare, but the bar menu was fantastic as well. This is an all-around winner and a welcome addition to CoMO dining!!!

Awesome tacos They also have all types of cocktails.. wide variety of tequila. Easy to reorder drinks with the QR system too. Cool atmosphere and friendly people.

Nice atmosphere and service, but the food was just ok. I had the pulled pork sandwich and brussel sprouts for a side.

Food wasn't what I was expecting from a bbq place. Atmosphere is cool but not a bbq place

Amazing bbq! They do their own smoking and there is also a wood fired hearth where a lot more cooking is done (and you can watch them work!) . Great bar with huge mezcal selections. Order with a human as you come in. Paper menus are available to review while you wait. Then find a seat. There are long communal tables and also some four tops. More seating on the patio. Then help yourself to some water or staff can also bring it. There are QR codes for the table that allow you to easily order more drinks or food. Service was pretty quick and staff is always circling to clear dishes or answer questions. Most important: food is incredible. You can't order wrong. We got tacos for the table so that we could all do a lot of sampling. Don't skimp on the sides. Beets and sweet potatoes were my favorites. And the house made tortillas....oh my. Margaritas and palomas were great, as were the mole brownies (so rich with a little kick to them). Great, great, place!

We were there last weekend for dinner. Had a very fun time eating at the bar. Food and drinks were great. Excellent selection of tequila.