Sad to say our weekly visit to this El Fenix will pause until quality improves. The fajita enchiladas were burned, the tortilla soup wasn't hot, and the chips in the basket were stale. "Problem with supplier," explained the server about the bad chips. We've come here every Saturday for years. What happened? So disappointed.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 4
Diana Souza
Another beloved, longtime classic Dallas restaurant has been ruined by a new owner, a German investor who has made it clear that he is more interested in profit than in food.
El Fenix always had the lightest, freshest tortilla chips. No more. Since the new owner changed suppliers, the chips are now heavy and stale. El Fenix always had the most delicious chili con carne cheese enchiladas. No more. Since the new owner changed the recipe, the chili con carne is ground beef in oil – so unappetizing, and such a complete departure from their delicious classic chili con carne enchiladas. Why oh why would a new owner abandon the signature dish of El Fenix?! Such a decision shows no respect for the restaurant's devoted customer base.
The previous owner of El Fenix was generous. You could have as much salsa as you wanted and free refills of soda pop. No more. Since the new owner took charge, customers can only have one tiny container of salsa per person. Anything beyond that will cost extra. And now, a refill of soda pop will cost you 50 cents.
The servers at this restaurant are warm and hard-working, always kind to customers. They say that the new owner comes in, criticizes what he doesn't like, and won't even speak to them. Most of the servers have worked at the restaurant for many years. The quickest way to destroy a restaurant's inviting ambiance is for the owner to show the long-dedicated servers no respect.
To take charge of a beloved Dallas restaurant with such a long history and such well-established recipes… and to change what people liked the most about it… is transparently egotistical and greedy. These changes reveal that the new owner cares nothing about his employees, his customers or the classic recipes that he inherited from this historic restaurant. Sadly, he has lost this lifetime customer – and no doubt others will follow my departure to the numerous providers of excellent Mexican food in this city.
RIP, El Fenix. I'll be eating Mexican food with your competitors now, not with you. Not even on cheap enchilada night.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 5
Melissa Wilkerson
Favorite place to be
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Large Bag of El Fenix Chips, Nachos, Guacamole
Mellie Escobar
The fajitas were very hard very chewy and the waitress brought cold tortillas and she didn't come back to ask us what we needed so my husband had to take it to the counter to get some hot ones not good service and the food was not good but the El Fenix in Arlington Waxahachie are awesome food and awesome service
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 1
Lori T
Always a classic. Great food and a really good swirl margarita. Our server was very attentive. We will be going back real soon.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Large Bag of El Fenix Chips, Chicken Enchilada, Our Famous Tortilla Soup, Monterrey Chicken Platter, Chicken Tortilla Soup
marco portillo
They take care of the golden wings well
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Garth Maul
The waitress became visibly rude, when I explained that our orders were not correct. I told the manager about it and she listened but she wasn't proactive and didn't offer anything after I had already paid the bill. I have gone to El Fenix for many years and this is one of their oldest locations. This was a very disappointing experience. There's another Mexican restaurant just down the road on buckner. That I would rather go to from now on. I will never go back to El Fenix.?
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Michael Reed
The food sucks...
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Rebecca M. Reese
Solid Tex-Mex food at this establishment. My family have been going to this location for over 40 years.
I grew up near this shopping center, and have been a customer of this restaurant since it was built. It has been a frequent choice for our HS reunion group. They always take great care of us.
The server made me uncomfortable. I was still getting the appetizers when she kept coming back maybe after a minute asking me if I was ready to order. It was literally only a minute, then towards the end, she didn’t want to take my card at the table so I had to walk to the front to pay. Everyone else paid at the table. Idk if it was cause I was black but I don’t really recommend this location. If you’re a POC, outside of Hispanic or elderly white, you might want to visit the downtown locations
Food: 4
Service: 1
TC L
The one downtown is the best. Food is great at either location, but the survive was better downtown. I highly recommend this place. The drinks, food and deserts are authentic and excellent.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Large Bag of El Fenix Chips, Monterrey Chicken Platter, Guacamole
Sad to say our weekly visit to this El Fenix will pause until quality improves. The fajita enchiladas were burned, the tortilla soup wasn't hot, and the chips in the basket were stale. "Problem with supplier," explained the server about the bad chips.
We've come here every Saturday for years. What happened? So disappointed.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 4
Another beloved, longtime classic Dallas restaurant has been ruined by a new owner, a German investor who has made it clear that he is more interested in profit than in food.
El Fenix always had the lightest, freshest tortilla chips. No more. Since the new owner changed suppliers, the chips are now heavy and stale. El Fenix always had the most delicious chili con carne cheese enchiladas. No more. Since the new owner changed the recipe, the chili con carne is ground beef in oil – so unappetizing, and such a complete departure from their delicious classic chili con carne enchiladas. Why oh why would a new owner abandon the signature dish of El Fenix?! Such a decision shows no respect for the restaurant's devoted customer base.
The previous owner of El Fenix was generous. You could have as much salsa as you wanted and free refills of soda pop. No more. Since the new owner took charge, customers can only have one tiny container of salsa per person. Anything beyond that will cost extra. And now, a refill of soda pop will cost you 50 cents.
The servers at this restaurant are warm and hard-working, always kind to customers. They say that the new owner comes in, criticizes what he doesn't like, and won't even speak to them. Most of the servers have worked at the restaurant for many years. The quickest way to destroy a restaurant's inviting ambiance is for the owner to show the long-dedicated servers no respect.
To take charge of a beloved Dallas restaurant with such a long history and such well-established recipes… and to change what people liked the most about it… is transparently egotistical and greedy. These changes reveal that the new owner cares nothing about his employees, his customers or the classic recipes that he inherited from this historic restaurant. Sadly, he has lost this lifetime customer – and no doubt others will follow my departure to the numerous providers of excellent Mexican food in this city.
RIP, El Fenix. I'll be eating Mexican food with your competitors now, not with you. Not even on cheap enchilada night.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 5
Favorite place to be
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Large Bag of El Fenix Chips, Nachos, Guacamole
The fajitas were very hard very chewy and the waitress brought cold tortillas and she didn't come back to ask us what we needed so my husband had to take it to the counter to get some hot ones not good service and the food was not good but the El Fenix in Arlington Waxahachie are awesome food and awesome service
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 1
Always a classic. Great food and a really good swirl margarita. Our server was very attentive. We will be going back real soon.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Large Bag of El Fenix Chips, Chicken Enchilada, Our Famous Tortilla Soup, Monterrey Chicken Platter, Chicken Tortilla Soup
They take care of the golden wings well
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The waitress became visibly rude, when I explained that our orders were not correct. I told the manager about it and she listened but she wasn't proactive and didn't offer anything after I had already paid the bill. I have gone to El Fenix for many years and this is one of their oldest locations. This was a very disappointing experience. There's another Mexican restaurant just down the road on buckner. That I would rather go to from now on. I will never go back to El Fenix.?
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
The food sucks...
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Solid Tex-Mex food at this establishment. My family have been going to this location for over 40 years.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Cheese Enchilada, Chile Relleno
I grew up near this shopping center, and have been a customer of this restaurant since it was built. It has been a frequent choice for our HS reunion group. They always take great care of us.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Food is great
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
The server made me uncomfortable. I was still getting the appetizers when she kept coming back maybe after a minute asking me if I was ready to order. It was literally only a minute, then towards the end, she didn’t want to take my card at the table so I had to walk to the front to pay. Everyone else paid at the table. Idk if it was cause I was black but I don’t really recommend this location. If you’re a POC, outside of Hispanic or elderly white, you might want to visit the downtown locations
Food: 4
Service: 1
The one downtown is the best. Food is great at either location, but the survive was better downtown. I highly recommend this place. The drinks, food and deserts are authentic and excellent.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Large Bag of El Fenix Chips, Monterrey Chicken Platter, Guacamole
Still wonderful!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Fajitas for 1, Cheese Enchilada, Chicken Enchilada, Guacamole
Reliably the same, in a great way.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cheese Enchilada
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