Gilberto's Taco Shop — Restaurant in Arlington

This is not Tex-Mex. Don't come in expecting OtB, El Fenix, etc. The queso is just cheese sauce, its not listed on the menu, and the chips are about a quarter of the size you are used to getting even compared to other non-tex mex places that are on the same street.

Parking is non-existent, you will park at another business and walk to get into this place, but by the looks of the old photos on the walls inside, this situation was a result of the city expanding the road out front, so this house-converted-into-a-business was just too close to the street to be able to accommodate the city's inevitable expansion.

Once inside, it is standing room only, you are going to place your order at a counter, there is no fountain soda machine for drink refills, they will bring food to your table, but you clear your own table, and you will be prompted at the counter when you pay upfront for how much extra you want to tip for this experience.

These are all the signs of a small business restaurant that is content with its usual customer base, with the ease of creating the specific menu selection it offers, and with whatever the costs vs income ratio is hovering at. If you don't like it, there are literally 7 other taco places within a mile to go bother instead.

Sometimes a really hesitate when I am given the option to tip when my food is being wrung up and charged before it is made, especially when any place expects you to pickup your food from a counter, clear your own table, get your own drink refills, or doesn't even have a fountain soda machine, so there is literally no service for drinks and you just have to buy an old can or bottle soda. Today I was glad I tipped before the food came out.

My friend and I were served the biggest Chimichangas we have ever seen in our lives, with sides, for just $13. I could say it was gargantuan, but instead you should picture it's size like when a new kid is working at one of those hipster build your own burrito places and accidentally uses the king size tortilla for your mini and you don't say anything because sometimes that just how they do it, but then you suddenly realized that the kid also hasn't learned the correct portion sizes yet and starts loading your mini like its going to be a sacrificial offering for Godzilla and when the kid finally realizes that he messed up but he can't just put the extra food back from your tortilla because you literally standing right there watching him and all the while the line behind you just keeps getting longer and longer so he just folds it over and pins it down with his elbow using not one but two wrappers around it just to wrangle untamed beast he just created and then after he wipes a bead of sweat from his brow with his boss grinding his teeth behind because that was clearly 4 times the burrito you had paid for, he hands it to you and give you a wink to tell you that he did it all on purpose because his boss is counting pennies instead of customer reviews.

I've eaten here half a dozen times now, and while I think the tacos are bland and the meat is watery and nothing comes with cheese on it that usually has cheese on it when I order it at other places, everyone else who goes with me says they really like it, that its authentic, that the onion and cilantro ratio is better than most places, that the crispy things come out seriously crispy, that the lady at the counter asked specific questions to ensure that what I thought I was ordering and how it gets prepared was what I was ordering, and that the green salsa is actually hot as all get out.

That said, Gilberto's on Abrams is authentic mexican, not tex-mex or expensive white people mexican, so your mileage may vary, but I am giving the place 5 stars for serving it the way it should be and not the way I think I want it. I will continue my search for the perfect taco according to my mind, but I will be recommend this place for anyone seeking authentic mexican tacos and more, at least for lunch only, because they seating for maybe 20 people in an area that is like 300 sq ft for...

Gilbertos Taco Shop is located in Arlington, TX, on Abram, and is just a short few blocks from Globe life serving up great fast Mexican food including breakfast burritos that are served all day plus combination platters, tacos, and your regular burritos.

From the view on Abram, it doesn't look like parking, but if you pull in, there is parking in the back adjacent to the auto shop. I came in before lunch and was greeted by the lovely staff and was presented a menu to order from at the counter. The menu is posted up on flat-screen tvs, and they also have paper menus as well. I went ahead and ordered the California burrito that came with Carne asada, fries, cheese, and Pico. The place isn't that big but offers roughly a good amount of seating for your friends and family to join you. There is a salsa station inside that had a nice variety of salsa with pickled carrots, onions, and jalapeños. They also have tapatio and Valentina as well.

Within minutes, my food was ready and was presented to me for my dine in order. The burrito was packaged and rolled nicely in a piece of paper. When I took off the wrapper, the heat from burrito startled me, and I got excited! The tortilla was perfectly grilled and soft and had a nice fat to flour ratio. Quick time first bite and wowwww! I was surprised how loaded and packed this thing was! The Carne was seasoned well, and the cheese was melted to perfection. All of the sauces complimented this beauty perfectly, and I kept digging in regardless of how hot and fresh this masterpiece was. It was an awesome meal, too, Jumpstart my day!

The food was marvelous and packed with lots of love from the chef. This wasn't a dry burrito but a juicy wet burrito with all the fat drippings waiting for you at the bottom of the tortilla. I'll definitely be back, and I'm excited to try more items such as the enchiladas or tortas! Thank you, Gilbertos, for a...

If breakfast is the most important meal of the day, then the Arlington Burrito is undoubtedly the most important burrito of your life! Packed with a mouthwatering medley of egg, potatoes, chorizo, ham, bacon, and meat, this breakfast marvel is a symphony of flavors that deserves a standing ovation. The Arlington Burrito doesn't hold back when it comes to flavor. The chorizo adds a spicy kick, while the bacon and ham provide a satisfying smokiness. The eggs and potatoes create a hearty and comforting base, and the assorted meats ensure every bite is a surprise of delightful tastes. The combination of tender meats and crispy bacon make for a textural masterpiece. The eggs are fluffy, the potatoes are perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and the chorizo adds a delightful crumble. It's a symphony of textures that will have your taste buds dancing. The Arlington Burrito doesn't skimp on portion size. This burrito is hefty enough to keep you full until lunchtime, making it an ideal choice for a hearty breakfast or brunch. The tortilla that envelops this culinary masterpiece is soft yet sturdy, holding everything together without becoming soggy. It's the ideal vessel for this...