Awful, just scarily awful. I've never eaten at a restaurant where I actually felt unsafe before, but this dining experience there felt like what I expect the dining room attached to the Bates Motel would provide.It was peak dinner hour, and we were "greeted" at the door by an imposing, masked individual who stated up-front that there was a limited menu, and it would be cash only.We were hungry, the place had come highly recommended by my sister- and brother-in-law (who we will never trust again!), and despite initial reservations, we went inside and were immediately seated.We should have trusted our instincts; it turns out the last time our in-laws had eaten there was in the 1990s. It has not aged well.Below I've provided three photos: #1 is a picture of the other diners. (None.) #2 is a picture of the menu. (What's left of it.) #3 is a picture of my meal, which consisted of a small, cold tortilla wrapped around some boiled, lukewarm, shredded, so-bland-as-to-be-absolutely-tasteless chicken(?) and...that's it. Nothing else. It was advertised on the disintegrating menu as a Burrito "stuffed with spicy shredded chicken". That was a lie.My wife's meal was actually a little better; the chicken was in a savory sauce and fairly tasty. Not savory or tasty enough that I will ever eat there again, though.While eating, I happened to glance up over my wife's shoulder and saw our "host" staring at us, nearly unblinking, from back behind the kitchen counter. And his gaze never wavered. Each time I looked up, there he was, staring at us intently. (Norman, is that you?)Finally, my wife was finished with her meal. No one visited our table for tea refills, or for any other reason. But the staring continued. Unaware of his staring, she went back to him, and asked him if she could have the first of four possible menu-listed desserts. Not available. How about the second? Not available. The third? Not available. Maybe the fourth? Strangely enough, also not available. It seems as if a normal person would have stopped her after the first inquiry, or at the most, the second, to tell her there were no desserts available. Not "Normy".Dispirited, my wife headed to the bathroom. She foolishly neglected to note there was no toilet paper. Nor paper towels. She wound up having to bounce to "air dry" and went to wash her hands. The fixtures were rusted through and looked as if they were disintegrating along with the menus. But water still flowed and she was able to rinse her hands (no soap) and shake them off into the sink, then dry them on her pants.We hurriedly paid our bill (cash only!) and hastened out into the night, watching over our shoulders in case our host was going to follow us with a cleaver on the way to our car.He was still staring at us through the window.We quickly headed back onto I-10 and did not spend the night in Van Horn as we'd originally planned. We've seen the movies; we weren't taking chances.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 2
Dominique Salet
Limited menu where really not much was available, no dressing of any kind available for the salad, no lemon for the tea and terrible service. Cash only, although sign inside says cards are accepted.You couldn't act worse if you wanted to drive business away. One wonders how this place survives.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 1
chris carlile
Well to start with it I haven’t ever given such a low score. It has lost it’s flair forever with me. To begin with it has really gone down hill. Met by truly one of the most unpleasant people I’ve come across. I have a heart for special needs people but I can’t help but wonder if or not he may be. We were handed a menu that I believe was a skinned grandmother. Just kidding but it was very grey and wrinkled as mentioned. Enough destruction on the service but don’t take my word for it. Try it out yourself? But I warned ya. Food was ok but honestly I think a Banquet TV dinner would definitely give it some stiff competition. The experience is nothing incredible better yet looking at the photos will suffice. Go anywhere else to eat in Van Horn even the convenience stores offer more.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 1
John L
Used to come to this place as a kid. WOW. I don’t know where to start. The place is in desperate need of a remodel. Black mold in the restroom ceiling!! Terrible service, the guy that sat/served us was unwelcoming and rude. He told us half of the menu options were out. The items that we ordered took over 30 minutes to come out to us. Old avocado on the gorditas, beef tacos were meh, beans and rice absolutely no flavor and the enchiladas were terrible tasting and extremely spicy. TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE. Oh, and what Mexican restaurant has absolutely no salsa?!? Stay away and let this establishment wither and pass.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Hayden Tillison
The prices for food do not reflect the quality. The food came out cold. Terrible customer service. Will try to make you pay for food you ordered even if it is
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Royal S
Only reason not 5 on the 1st. Unfortunately got there later on Sunday and the menu was missing some items. Overall very good, don't go through Van Horn very often at all but will always make it a point to stop at Chuy'
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Taco Plate, Beans and Rice, Tacos
Kimberly Hayes
On our way back from a trip recently, my Pop suggested we stop off and try it out.Worst mistake ever! I'm not even sure why this place is open. Maybe it's the original owner's family keeping it open. Seriously, put the poor guy out of his misery. He is rude. The food has no flavor... or at least not any good flavor.The place needs a good cleaning.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Kimberly Duguid
First off, this is NOT the chain Chuys. It's a bit deceptive and I thought we were going to the chain restaurant. But no big deal, we quickly saw it was not and decided to give it a try anyway. Second thing...it's August and today was 105. When we went inside, it felt warmer inside! It was so hot.No one else was there. It was a red flag but I thought maybe because their AC was broken? The man who sat us was very curt and offered no pleasantries. We asked for water and he ran away. I told my husband we should just order to go because it was too hot to eat there. He brought back the water and asked for our orders, we hadn't even had time to glance at the menu. So he said he'd be back.We were left alone long enough to look over the crinkled dirty paper menu. I took a good look around the room and saw dust in the corners and dirt on the floor. I was feeling more uneasy the longer we sat there. He was gone quite awhile. No one else was in the restaurant, so I know he wasn't busy. We decided against ordering. When we stood up the man was now standing by the front door glaring at us. I asked him why it was so warm, is your AC broken?He wouldn't look at me. He stared at my husband. My husband told him we changed our mind and thank you. I again asked if their AC was broken? He stared past me as we walked toward him and the door. I said, "You don't want to talk to me?". He turned and started walking away from me. Extremely rude. If we had been treated better we may have ordered something just to try it out... but he was horribly rude. My husband and I are an interracial couple. I don't know if that's the reason we were treated so poorly or if everyone is treated this way. Either way, guess they don't want my business.If you're looking for wonderful Mexican food, go to Broadway Cafe, it's right up the road. Great staff, very clean, delicious food!!
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
Trammel
Place used to be great, now it is a prime candidate for Kitchen Nightmares. Haven't been here in 3 years and will never be back. Let me count the red flags. 1. Cook outside with kitchen apron on blowing the dirt. 2. One window AC, ceiling fans won't work (he tried) 3. No queso, no fish. 4. Chips are day+ old stale. 5. Wife ordered beef flautas, brings chicken. Doesn't say anything, when asked he states they are out of beef. At this point, I wouldn't trust them with anything that could make you sick. Oh, they seem to have lost their liquor license as well. The health department needs to visit this place. Read the other reviews.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Ray Garcia
From the moment we arrived the place was very run down looking. But we took a chance since we didn’t have many options to eat in this city until after 5pm. Walking in the door they have a sign that states: we take credit cards but prefer cash. We were given crumpled up menus and the waiter was very pushy and rude. I asked him if they served beer, he said no so we ordered waters. This was place was hot. It’s summer time and the AC was not on, nor was any of the ceiling fans. The decor was very confusing for a Mexican restaurant. I didn’t try the food I was actually kind of nervous to try anything with the way we were being treated. So we left and when we tried to talk to the waiter he ignored us completely. Like outright acting like we were not even talking. My suggestion is to stay away. Next time we travel thru this city we will not come here again. #FakeChuys #rudestaff #turnontheAC
We travel to work from Corpus Christi. So we are in Van Horne and decided to try Chuys. My friend ordered the Chili Rellenos and asked to have queso on them & was told there was only red & green sauce. I asked for the fish tacos & was told they didn't have fish. The tall guy that waited on us, sucked, literally. He was rude. It was warm in there. The paper menus were dirty, old & nasty. I had the beef enchiladas. The refried beans seemed old & dry. The rice had no taste, even salt didn't help. My friend had yellow cheese in his rellenos. It was disappointing. It seemed dirty in there. Please, don't waste your money there. Go elsewhere.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Cynthia Saucedo
Omg! Worst experience ever ?, heard so much hype about the place, about best fajitas, very disappointed ? they didn't have any, very hot no AC! No toilet paper, no soap to wash hands, waiter not friendly, had tea to drink, asked for lemon didn't have any not even lime! Will never go back again, went from El Paso for nothing I don't recommend wasted my time and gas!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 1
Steve & Carla Kennedy
Stopped for lunch, remembering past visit of 19 years ago. First, the women's restroom had no toilet paper, no paper towels and no soap, so are the food handlers washing there? The iced tea spoon which was delivered to the table in my tea has a chunk of food stuck on it. The waiter merely shrugged when all this was pointed out. The paper menus have not been reprinted and were nasty. The food was "meh" compared to other local authentic eateries.Too bad they have rested on their laurels and damaged their hard-earmed legacy.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
jlhist64
Unfriendly waiter. Terrible food. A 100% unsatisfactory lunch. Old and tired atmosphere. Surprised it has been in business as long as it has.
Russell Spillers
We weren't sure what to expect given there was Noone else there at noon on a Thursday but we had little patience to get back in the RV and look for anything else. I am SO glad we stayed. The food is ON POINT. The server was quiet but very respectful and prompt and provided exactly what we needed when we needed it.The atmosphere..well it's just that Noone else was here at the time, so don't give that too much weight. Place is clean.Did I mention the food is great?!
Awful, just scarily awful. I've never eaten at a restaurant where I actually felt unsafe before, but this dining experience there felt like what I expect the dining room attached to the Bates Motel would provide.It was peak dinner hour, and we were "greeted" at the door by an imposing, masked individual who stated up-front that there was a limited menu, and it would be cash only.We were hungry, the place had come highly recommended by my sister- and brother-in-law (who we will never trust again!), and despite initial reservations, we went inside and were immediately seated.We should have trusted our instincts; it turns out the last time our in-laws had eaten there was in the 1990s. It has not aged well.Below I've provided three photos: #1 is a picture of the other diners. (None.) #2 is a picture of the menu. (What's left of it.) #3 is a picture of my meal, which consisted of a small, cold tortilla wrapped around some boiled, lukewarm, shredded, so-bland-as-to-be-absolutely-tasteless chicken(?) and...that's it. Nothing else. It was advertised on the disintegrating menu as a Burrito "stuffed with spicy shredded chicken". That was a lie.My wife's meal was actually a little better; the chicken was in a savory sauce and fairly tasty. Not savory or tasty enough that I will ever eat there again, though.While eating, I happened to glance up over my wife's shoulder and saw our "host" staring at us, nearly unblinking, from back behind the kitchen counter. And his gaze never wavered. Each time I looked up, there he was, staring at us intently. (Norman, is that you?)Finally, my wife was finished with her meal. No one visited our table for tea refills, or for any other reason. But the staring continued. Unaware of his staring, she went back to him, and asked him if she could have the first of four possible menu-listed desserts. Not available. How about the second? Not available. The third? Not available. Maybe the fourth? Strangely enough, also not available. It seems as if a normal person would have stopped her after the first inquiry, or at the most, the second, to tell her there were no desserts available. Not "Normy".Dispirited, my wife headed to the bathroom. She foolishly neglected to note there was no toilet paper. Nor paper towels. She wound up having to bounce to "air dry" and went to wash her hands. The fixtures were rusted through and looked as if they were disintegrating along with the menus. But water still flowed and she was able to rinse her hands (no soap) and shake them off into the sink, then dry them on her pants.We hurriedly paid our bill (cash only!) and hastened out into the night, watching over our shoulders in case our host was going to follow us with a cleaver on the way to our car.He was still staring at us through the window.We quickly headed back onto I-10 and did not spend the night in Van Horn as we'd originally planned. We've seen the movies; we weren't taking chances.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 2
Limited menu where really not much was available, no dressing of any kind available for the salad, no lemon for the tea and terrible service. Cash only, although sign inside says cards are accepted.You couldn't act worse if you wanted to drive business away. One wonders how this place survives.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 1
Well to start with it I haven’t ever given such a low score. It has lost it’s flair forever with me. To begin with it has really gone down hill. Met by truly one of the most unpleasant people I’ve come across. I have a heart for special needs people but I can’t help but wonder if or not he may be. We were handed a menu that I believe was a skinned grandmother. Just kidding but it was very grey and wrinkled as mentioned. Enough destruction on the service but don’t take my word for it. Try it out yourself? But I warned ya. Food was ok but honestly I think a Banquet TV dinner would definitely give it some stiff competition. The experience is nothing incredible better yet looking at the photos will suffice. Go anywhere else to eat in Van Horn even the convenience stores offer more.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 1
Used to come to this place as a kid. WOW. I don’t know where to start. The place is in desperate need of a remodel. Black mold in the restroom ceiling!! Terrible service, the guy that sat/served us was unwelcoming and rude. He told us half of the menu options were out. The items that we ordered took over 30 minutes to come out to us. Old avocado on the gorditas, beef tacos were meh, beans and rice absolutely no flavor and the enchiladas were terrible tasting and extremely spicy. TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE. Oh, and what Mexican restaurant has absolutely no salsa?!? Stay away and let this establishment wither and pass.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
The prices for food do not reflect the quality. The food came out cold. Terrible customer service. Will try to make you pay for food you ordered even if it is
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Only reason not 5 on the 1st. Unfortunately got there later on Sunday and the menu was missing some items. Overall very good, don't go through Van Horn very often at all but will always make it a point to stop at Chuy'
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Taco Plate, Beans and Rice, Tacos
On our way back from a trip recently, my Pop suggested we stop off and try it out.Worst mistake ever! I'm not even sure why this place is open. Maybe it's the original owner's family keeping it open. Seriously, put the poor guy out of his misery. He is rude. The food has no flavor... or at least not any good flavor.The place needs a good cleaning.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
First off, this is NOT the chain Chuys. It's a bit deceptive and I thought we were going to the chain restaurant. But no big deal, we quickly saw it was not and decided to give it a try anyway. Second thing...it's August and today was 105. When we went inside, it felt warmer inside! It was so hot.No one else was there. It was a red flag but I thought maybe because their AC was broken? The man who sat us was very curt and offered no pleasantries. We asked for water and he ran away. I told my husband we should just order to go because it was too hot to eat there. He brought back the water and asked for our orders, we hadn't even had time to glance at the menu. So he said he'd be back.We were left alone long enough to look over the crinkled dirty paper menu. I took a good look around the room and saw dust in the corners and dirt on the floor. I was feeling more uneasy the longer we sat there. He was gone quite awhile. No one else was in the restaurant, so I know he wasn't busy. We decided against ordering. When we stood up the man was now standing by the front door glaring at us. I asked him why it was so warm, is your AC broken?He wouldn't look at me. He stared at my husband. My husband told him we changed our mind and thank you. I again asked if their AC was broken? He stared past me as we walked toward him and the door. I said, "You don't want to talk to me?". He turned and started walking away from me. Extremely rude. If we had been treated better we may have ordered something just to try it out... but he was horribly rude. My husband and I are an interracial couple. I don't know if that's the reason we were treated so poorly or if everyone is treated this way. Either way, guess they don't want my business.If you're looking for wonderful Mexican food, go to Broadway Cafe, it's right up the road. Great staff, very clean, delicious food!!
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
Place used to be great, now it is a prime candidate for Kitchen Nightmares. Haven't been here in 3 years and will never be back. Let me count the red flags. 1. Cook outside with kitchen apron on blowing the dirt. 2. One window AC, ceiling fans won't work (he tried) 3. No queso, no fish. 4. Chips are day+ old stale. 5. Wife ordered beef flautas, brings chicken. Doesn't say anything, when asked he states they are out of beef. At this point, I wouldn't trust them with anything that could make you sick. Oh, they seem to have lost their liquor license as well. The health department needs to visit this place. Read the other reviews.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
From the moment we arrived the place was very run down looking. But we took a chance since we didn’t have many options to eat in this city until after 5pm. Walking in the door they have a sign that states: we take credit cards but prefer cash. We were given crumpled up menus and the waiter was very pushy and rude. I asked him if they served beer, he said no so we ordered waters. This was place was hot. It’s summer time and the AC was not on, nor was any of the ceiling fans. The decor was very confusing for a Mexican restaurant. I didn’t try the food I was actually kind of nervous to try anything with the way we were being treated. So we left and when we tried to talk to the waiter he ignored us completely. Like outright acting like we were not even talking. My suggestion is to stay away. Next time we travel thru this city we will not come here again. #FakeChuys #rudestaff #turnontheAC
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
We travel to work from Corpus Christi. So we are in Van Horne and decided to try Chuys. My friend ordered the Chili Rellenos and asked to have queso on them & was told there was only red & green sauce. I asked for the fish tacos & was told they didn't have fish. The tall guy that waited on us, sucked, literally. He was rude. It was warm in there. The paper menus were dirty, old & nasty. I had the beef enchiladas. The refried beans seemed old & dry. The rice had no taste, even salt didn't help. My friend had yellow cheese in his rellenos. It was disappointing. It seemed dirty in there. Please, don't waste your money there. Go elsewhere.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Omg! Worst experience ever ?, heard so much hype about the place, about best fajitas, very disappointed ? they didn't have any, very hot no AC! No toilet paper, no soap to wash hands, waiter not friendly, had tea to drink, asked for lemon didn't have any not even lime! Will never go back again, went from El Paso for nothing I don't recommend wasted my time and gas!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 1
Stopped for lunch, remembering past visit of 19 years ago. First, the women's restroom had no toilet paper, no paper towels and no soap, so are the food handlers washing there? The iced tea spoon which was delivered to the table in my tea has a chunk of food stuck on it. The waiter merely shrugged when all this was pointed out. The paper menus have not been reprinted and were nasty. The food was "meh" compared to other local authentic eateries.Too bad they have rested on their laurels and damaged their hard-earmed legacy.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
Unfriendly waiter. Terrible food. A 100% unsatisfactory lunch. Old and tired atmosphere. Surprised it has been in business as long as it has.
We weren't sure what to expect given there was Noone else there at noon on a Thursday but we had little patience to get back in the RV and look for anything else. I am SO glad we stayed. The food is ON POINT. The server was quiet but very respectful and prompt and provided exactly what we needed when we needed it.The atmosphere..well it's just that Noone else was here at the time, so don't give that too much weight. Place is clean.Did I mention the food is great?!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Loading...