Cartel Taco Bar
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Wow! A taco as big as your face! Everything we ordered was appetizing and delicious! Unique pairings like mac-n-cheese in a taco. Birria Tacos, and Nachos with fresh jalapeños were excellent. The salsa packed some heat! The Taco Salad $12 is the best value if you're hungry. For $16, the nachos were on the lite side, albeit flavorful, and each corn chip was evenly topped. We will definitely be back to try your other menu items. We played a couple doors down and came over for tacos. It was our first time here, so the guy at the counter offered suggestions based on our tastes. We found seating right away, and he brought our correct orders to our table. Before we left we threw our trash away, but we didn't know where to put our trays so we left them at the table. Bring cash in case you feel inclined to leave a tip in their jar. I appreciated the thoughtful layout of the restaurant as the entry, order counter, and kitchen window were separated by a partial wall allowing for a comfortable dining experience in the next room.
It's Me!It's Me!
10
Went mostly from the hype of others, and I have to say, I'm slightly underwhelmed. Ordering was easy, anyone that's been to a Torchy's should feel right at home. The layout of the dining area feels a little cramped...I get that it's a smaller restaurant, but they may have tried to squeeze in too many tables, so when it starts getting busy (and they make room for live music), it feels like you're constantly brushing by someone else while navigating to the bar, etc. It does have a great looking patio, though! The food itself was good, but nothing I tried wowed me at all. The "6-layer dip", while enjoyable, feels like they're cheating you a layer or two, and you're really just getting some type of loaded queso. I was feeling fish tacos, so I tried both the Fried Mahi and Smoked Salmon. The Mahi tasted like your average fish taco, with no flavors really jumping out. The Salmon was the opposite, with the horseradish slaw definitely making itself known on every bite...but unfortunately, the flavor of salmon never really showed up. Don't get me wrong, nothing here was terrible. I guess I just expected more, based on everything I've heard. I'm certainly glad that locations like these are available in the downtown Arlington area, and if you're just wanting a spot to grab a quick bite with friends, which turns into a few drinks, this place will definitely do. Maybe next time I'll stick with the more traditional options, and become part of the hype train, who knows?
Jesse McGuireJesse McGuire
00
We decided to try this place based on the reviews and to try something different. We love traditional Mexican food but I like to keep an open mind. Nice, clean place and the staff were great. Ordering tacos was a little confusing. I asked for a #10, thinking is was 2-3 tacos with rice and beans. My company ordered a #3, thinking the same thing. One taco was brought out to each of us. By making one item a #, it is a little misleading. The chips and salsas were very good. The tacos were ok, I would best describe them as “fusion” tacos. They were stuffed with veggies, which we decided we did not like. My company thought they were getting rice and beans as well, which is customary for taco orders. They were told “it’s in the tacos.” We ordered drinks at the bar. I ordered a frozen margarita and was told they were out of them. I asked what kind of Cabernet they had and was told the same. I ordered a margarita on the rocks and was told by my company that it was weaker then OJ Simpson’s alibi. We will not be returning, as it is not our favorite kind of food. I would not recommend this place to family and friends who like traditional Mexican food.
Mike MeltonMike Melton
60
It takes a really great experience or a REALLY bad experience for me to take the time to write a review. We came to the Cidercade next door and learned they don’t have food yet like ft worth. I had Heard of cartel taco and thought I heard Good things. When I tell you I ordered 70$ worth of food for my family of 4 to literally throw it in the trash. We didn’t try one bite of any of it. They got things wrong, walked back across the street to get chips and flour tortillas since they gave us pork rinds and corn tortillas (my kids wouldn’t not eat those). Once I came Back ready to eat the queso looked disgusting,food greasy. Honestly with the way it looked I was Worried we would get sick. Also the people in the kitchen were a bunch of teenagers wearing hoodies and sweatpants and crocks cooking the food.
Heather RogersHeather Rogers
20
The rice here was absolutely THE MOST DISGUSTING rice I've ever tasted in my entire life. It tasted like stale, wet cardboard, and no one at my table could stomach more than one bite. The food was so spicy, 3 of our 4 person group couldn't eat what was ordered. We were offered no warning nor any less spicy options. The staff was friendly and incredibly fast at serving us. I'm tempted to leave 3 stars because of the excellence of the staff and the fact that we should have known authentic tacos would be so spicy.....but the Mexican Rice was so unbelievably disgusting that it's amazing I'm leaving more than 1 star. Mexican Rice is a staple of Mexican restaurants. Not only did they not get it right, but they got it so wrong, I won't eat Mexican food again for at least a whole week. It was that bad.
The Ju2 ExperienceThe Ju2 Experience
10
We stopped in before the Cowboys game and we enjoyed the food, the person at the register recommended the birria tacos so that’s what we ordered, they were good. We also ordered the queso with chips &chicharrones, very generous serving and delicious!
Ana GAna G
00
Nearby Attractions Of Cartel Taco Bar
CB Furniture
Dyno-Rock Indoor Climbing Center
Theatre Arlington
Kasa Arlington Dallas
Executive Inn of Arlington, Near AT&T Stadium
Budget Host Inn
Ann's Natural Grocery & Nutrition
MLB & Texas Rangers All-Star Legacy Park and Corey Seager Batting Cages
Knapp Heritage Park
The Rambler Inn

CB Furniture
4.9
(377)Click for details

Dyno-Rock Indoor Climbing Center
4.2
(207)Click for details

Theatre Arlington
4.7
(147)Click for details

Kasa Arlington Dallas
4.6
(145)Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of Cartel Taco Bar
Hurtado Barbecue
Babe's Chicken Dinner House
J. Gilligan's Bar & Grill
Grease Monkey Burger Shop
Free Play Arcade - Arlington
The Tipsy Oak
Mellow Mushroom Arlington
Twisted Root Burger Co.
Candlelite Inn Restaurant
Cane Rosso Arlington

Hurtado Barbecue
4.5
(1.5K)Click for details

Babe's Chicken Dinner House
4.5
(2.2K)Click for details

J. Gilligan's Bar & Grill
4.4
(1.3K)Click for details

Grease Monkey Burger Shop
4.4
(1.4K)Click for details
Basic Info
Address
506 E Division St #150, Arlington, TX 76011
Map
Phone
(817) 200-6364
Call
Website
carteltacobar.com
Visit
Reviews
Overview
4.2
(550 reviews)
Ratings & Description
Description
Draft beer & a variety of tacos in a rustic, laid-back pit stop with live music & a shaded terrace.
attractions: CB Furniture, Dyno-Rock Indoor Climbing Center, Theatre Arlington, Kasa Arlington Dallas, Executive Inn of Arlington, Near AT&T Stadium, Budget Host Inn, Ann's Natural Grocery & Nutrition, MLB & Texas Rangers All-Star Legacy Park and Corey Seager Batting Cages, Knapp Heritage Park, The Rambler Inn, restaurants: Hurtado Barbecue, Babe's Chicken Dinner House, J. Gilligan's Bar & Grill, Grease Monkey Burger Shop, Free Play Arcade - Arlington, The Tipsy Oak, Mellow Mushroom Arlington, Twisted Root Burger Co., Candlelite Inn Restaurant, Cane Rosso Arlington
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