Abelardo’s Mexican Fresh — Restaurant in Springfield

Alright, I'll just say off the bat that there is nothing wrong with the service here! I placed a pickup order and the worker at the front was very kind, immediately handed me my food with a kind smile and a request for me to have a good day. I have been so interested in Abelardo's ever since I saw several videos on TikTok about their super fries and of their churros.

It taunted me in my dreams, hypnotized me from my daily job with visions of raspberry filled churros in my mind. It was a delightful little siren in the midst of a surly storm. And then I saw one had opened up in Springfield! Huzzah, my wish was received! Little did I know that I would drop 30 bucks in the middle of an economic recession on the most mid food I have ever had.

First, my order. I had an order of the queso birria tacos, two raspberry filled churros, and a side of rice and beans. Pretty solid order, right? Wrong! The queso birria tacos were decent, although they had little to no flavor by themselves. Even with the addition of the three shriveled limes they provided with the meal, depression struck as soon as I nibbled at it. Not seasoned well, very sad. I thought the rice and beans would provide solace, but I was quickly revolted. I am an avid enjoyer of some refried beans and some rice, but I had to stop eating after the fourth or fifth bite where I had the most slimy mouthful of rice. Not saying that this happened (I'm truly not), but it felt like I had eaten a mouthful of spit. I quickly gave up, moving onto the main event: the raspberry churros. I fell to my knees, wailing my grief to the sky. The oil has not been changed, I swear to God, because it was foul. Gritty, black, and bitter beyond imagination.

All I have to say is that I wasn't expecting sit-down restaurant quality. I mean, it's a drive-thru next to a gas station. But with prices the way they are now, it was a severe waste of money for the quality of food provided. I don't think I'll spend my money here again, but I think the image I had in my mind was far too glamorous for the food I received. You exist in my heart and dreams,...

After trying to get food elsewhere, I thought I could easily come here and get some chips and salsa. I tried to order a simple chips and salsa through door dash but there was no option. So I drive there & the lady at the counter doesn't understand English so I tried to speak some Spanish that I was wanting warm or hot (Caliente) chips and hot salsa. Most places do not have hot salsa but I just wanted to double check. I am pregnant and that calls for strong flavors. They have this salsa sauce bar in the lobby that was a little confusing how it works. The chips were not near as warm as the stale reheated ones that were finally brought out to me. I asked for someone that speaks English. she told me no. she side eyed me & the situation. I started to leave and then I realize they or I can make the salsa hot by adding some of this quebrado from the salsa sauce station. This lady didn't suggest it and I do not understand why. Someone from the back finally came to help and charged me like 3.50 for the chips and salsa but only brought me chips. There is a sign on the salsa/sauce/chip station that says 2.00 if you leave with it. The sauce part is free I guess. Everyone is staring and it's all started because this girl does not want to provide customer service and is blatantly rude about it. She was nice in the past but how dare I be frustrated. She must think that is a direct...

Ok, so, hear me out. The food here is not 5-star worthy but you should eat here anyway. From what I ate and saw, this is C-tier Mexican at best. The birria tacos are sandwiched between two tortillas because, I'm guessing, they are so greasy that one would break and that makes them really thick and hard to eat. Wish it was just one and let me deal with the fallout. The camarones a la Diabla were hardly del Diablo and the camarones tasted like mattress foam smells. One of them tasted like cigarettes for some reason. BUT....

The staff was friendly and accommodating despite the language barrier, the nacho bar has an amazing pickled jalapeno salad option, and the Spicy Cheeto Burrito is the best thing I've eaten in this city since I first tried the camarones a la diabla at Amigo's (RIP). I have leftovers and am still, two days later, nibbling on the corgi-sized work of art that should become their flagship menu item. It is so. dang. good.

If they had birria ramen like the Taco Spot in Phoenix, I would pledge allegiance to them and tell all my friends to go there all the time for every meal. Go there. Don't eat the shrimp. It's worth it.

P.S. I would like a tip jar because I really wanted to give the two people running the whole operation on Taco Tuesday more money but didn't know...