Abuelo's Mexican Restaurant — Restaurant in Peoria

As our usual outcome when visiting Abuelo’s… full, satisfied and content. The preparation, presentation, serving, environment, ambience and the tastes are superb! I was recently disheartened to realize that all but one Abuelo’s Mexican Restaurants in the Valley of the Sun are left – so we made a pilgrimage to Peoria for a taste of our only big box, chain and corporate Tex-Mex! Our primary location used to be in Chandler, but with that closing, we had no choice but to travel close to an hour to enjoy a feast. Once arrived we put our travel reluctancy aside and ordered – what we are thinking may be our last visit, and enjoyment of their offerings. We obviously started with El Jefe Margarita, wimps had Iced Tea, a Blackberry Mint Mojito (they actually used Flor de Caña Rum) and my wife enjoyed her fave Sangria Roja on the Rocks. While sipping away, we were able to decipher from their extensive menu just what to order. Our party was hungry and desirous of a meal at Abuelo’s. Our table ordered and pretty much devoured everything so much so that we did not have to order to go boxes. The table gobbled up the likes of the Abuelo's Dip Sampler, a well portioned Guacamole Salad with Soup, a Taco Carnita Plate, my wife having her favorite Chicken Tampiqueña, and I my fave Chile Relleno and Enchilada! As usual, the accoutrements, sides and additions were fab. I must say that since our moving to the Phoenix Area over a decade ago, Abuelo’s has been one of our few go to restos for TexMex! We’ve loved family-oriented, home-style, TexMex and seem to find it to be always above with its service, tastes, consistency even with its enchanting yet extravagant in décor! We sincerely wish the corporate powers that will be able to ameliorate their situation of having filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and comes out stronger. As I have mentioned before, Abuelo’s as a multi-state operation does an excellent and resilient job of product consistency from visit to visit, which not many such operations can extend. We hope that its parent company Food Concepts International has the resilience, management know-how and financial acumen to sustain a restaurant that has so enriched its patrons. And hopefully bring back those already vanished. Buena suerte y...

Update 9/25 Tried their empanadas and was very pleased with the flavor of the filling and the dipping sauce. My friend loved the chimichanga and had to take 1/2 home. I still can't get enough of the murals but hard to get good angles because of the way they have the light shining off them. Once again the server was superb! My out of town friend remembered the old fountain in the center and missed it. I had to laugh since my review last time stressed that too! I was prepared to be disappointed since so many MX restaurants, esp. chains, serve such bland food in a bland setting, but I was pleasantly surprised! From the courtyard-like feel of a high ceilinged dining room surrounded with colorful murals, sculptures, and paintings, to the cozy side bar area, I was smitten. The warm tortilla chips with an assortment of sauces allowed us time to explore the extensive menu, but once we saw another table had a tortilla bowl that looked fabulous, we had to get that. Excellent choice too since the beans had flavor that was not like that out of a can, the tomatoes, lettuce, guac, were all fresh and whatever that creamy chile con queso sauce was is an excellent accent, and the choice of beef or chicken filling (we had one of each and both were tasty), and I can't believe I ate the whole fresh and crispy tortilla bowl--usually these can taste old-oily, but obviously this one was perfect. The server was attentive but never intrusive, always there to answer a question or refill the drinks. When I mentioned we were there for my birthday, he brought out a surprise velvety flan. The only sad note was my friend mourned the loss of the fountain they used to have and I agree that would have truly added a refreshing sound and oasis like atmosphere which is much needed in this AZ climate esp. with all the record breaking heat. If it were my business, I'd bring it back in a heartbeat with much fanfare and celebratory publicity so people would be even more encouraged to visit and be refreshed...

Fabulous! Even the customers were nice. I really did not want to leave the house that Friday evening but Joe wanted his steak. Plus he felt the need to be waited on and I damn sure didn’t feel up to that. Abuelo’s lot was so packed I had horrible flashbacks to L.A. Fortunately a customer pulled out from a spot right up front. Inside, it was a bit like being in a high-ceilinged, real plaster palace, with tables arrayed in a central courtyard and adjoining areas. Intricate, colorful murals covered the walls ceiling to floor everywhere. The one over the courtyard showed a terrace with a parapet and blue skies. I’m not kidding when I say the painted-on sky looked real. With those palm trees and mood lighting everywhere you’ll feel you’re in an actual outdoor courtyard in Clooney’s pricey villa. Every single table was full. Six other couples hung out waiting. I had resigned myself to staring at the gorgeous patterned ceiling, hoping that the host wasn’t full of s* and that maybe we’d get a table in about thirty, when Joe decided on bar seating. We sat at this polished wood-paneled countertop, the back wall of which glittered with a huge array of liquor bottles. There was some game on a big screen nearby, but it was more fun watching the bartender mix up all these colorful drinks in pretty glasses and the waitstaff zipping back and forth from their packed tables. I had no idea what to get from that extensive menu, so naturally I asked the customer next to me then took his suggestion. The veggie enchilada was amazing! For $20.59 you get a big enchilada covered in sauce with cheese-slathered guacamole on the side, plus black beans and truly awesome lime-cilantro rice. It’ll make me a couple more meals. Joe got a steak with bacony beans; I stole the steamed veggies off his plate because they were that perfect: crispy yet cooked. So, definitely some good memories made! I’m a total homebody, and not even that much into upscale, but if Joe says Abuelo’s again, I will...