Hecho En Waco Mexican Cuisine — Restaurant in Waco

We were in town today and I was looking for a brunch place after checkout from our hotel. After finding and seeing so many good reviews on google I was really excited to try this place. So we went to try it out. It was really nice. They have outside seating and the inside restaurant area was very nice, great atmosphere. I went in with really high hopes and they fell completely short. We were seated and It took 15-20 mins for someone to help us, at that we grabbed a waiter that walked by because they just kept walking past us. The waiter we grabbed went and got our waiter that was supposed to be serving us. That was the 1st red flag. Mind you went went about 10 am. When we arrived, there wasn't alot of people in the restaurant. Finally, our waiter arrived and took our order. She brought our beverages, and after bringing our beverages she took our order. Then she was no where to be found. We never got a refill during this time period of waiting for our food and didn't see her again until our food was brought to us. We were served and she then refilled us. Then disappeared again. My expectations where high especially with hispanic/mexican people running this establishment. I ordered Posole verde and there was more hominy than chicken. The hominy was not well cooked so it was grainy, the broth was bland. They served it with purple onion and lettuce and a slice of lime. I requested cabbage but she said they didn't do cabbage. Fine.. Not that big of a deal I just ate it without the lettuce. My husband ordered Huevos divorciados. I tried the chile verde egg and again the salsa was bland and seemed like all they used was blended tomatillo so it was sour and bland. My husband said the red one was a little better but it was more of a tomato sauce compared to rotel.. My daughter kept it simple with pancakes, scrambled eggs, and sausage. She had no complaints. We finished and kept waiting for our waiter to pass to get the ticket but she was no where to be found. Finally she was spotted and my husband waved her down requesting the ticket to leave. So we thought she went to get it, but Instead she went and took another tables order. She seemed overwhelmed so early in the morning. After she took the order to the other table she never came back and once again my husband went chasing her down and told her we were ready to go. He said she was around the corner cleaning. So she brought the ticket. I paid and we left. The customer service was horrible, The food was edible but not great at all. If I am in Waco again I will definitely find somewhere else to eat. It's really shocking that this place was packed by the time we left. To each their own but I'll never eat there. I will say Waco has many great dining places but this is not one of them. Reconsider spending your money here.

Another review stated they cater to they Magnolia crowd if you know what I mean. I...

If you find yourself wandering through Waco craving Mexican food with a polished edge, Hecho en Waco looks the part: modern ambiance, stylish lighting, and a menu that hints at ambition. But a recent visit proved that while the presentation is strong, the flavor journey might leave you more inspired by the chips than the entrée.

I ordered Emilio’s Salmon, a plate that sounds like a bold statement: adobo-glazed salmon topped with grilled shrimp, laid on a bed of rice with charred vegetables. It took about 25 minutes to arrive, which set expectations high — anticipation builds appetite. Unfortunately, the rice arrived cold, and the salmon was slightly overcooked. It started promising, with a bit of adobo heat on the crust, but quickly turned one-note as I worked through it. The grilled shrimp were small, and while nicely charred, they didn’t bring much to the plate beyond decoration. The vegetables were fine — just that. Not crisp, not juicy, just… okay.

The real surprise? The chips, bean dip, and salsa. Not exaggerating — that trio stole the show. The chips were thicker than average but somehow still airy, with that aerated crunch that keeps you going back without regret. The bean dip was rich and satisfying, and the salsa carried a depth of spice and flavor that stood out in contrast to the more muted main course.

I paired the meal with a jalapeño margarita, which was decent — citrus-forward with a mild kick — but not something I’d write home about. Still, it complemented the chips and salsa well, especially if you’re showing up during happy hour (3–6 PM, Mon–Fri) when appetizers and margaritas are half off. That’s a solid deal and, frankly, a smart way to enjoy this place.

Service was polite but not especially present. With a delay like that on the entrée, a little table-side check-in would’ve gone a long way.

The atmosphere during the week is relaxed. Moody walls, warm Edison bulbs, and a touch of Mexican decor give it a modern cantina feel without being loud or busy. Ideal for a mellow lunch or a casual margarita meet-up.

Final Verdict:

Hecho en Waco is worth visiting — but don’t come starving. The entrées are hit or miss, but the chips, salsa, and bean dip are strong enough to carry a happy hour. If you’re here to sip, snack, and settle into the vibe, you’ll leave satisfied. Just don’t expect culinary fireworks on every plate.

Go for the chips. Stay for the salsa. And if it’s between 3–6 PM? That’s...

My wife and I drove past Hecho En Waco on our way to the Magnolia Silos and were impressed by the look of the exterior. It looks modern, a little quirky, and upscale. So, when we were looking for a place to eat dinner later that day, we decided to give it a try. The interior doesn't really look as good as the exterior. It's not bad looking, but it isn't oozing with quirky fun. But that's a minor quibble. This being Covid times, we scanned a QR code with our phones to examine the menu. I decided on chicken/beef fajitas and my wife chose beef enchiladas. She really liked her flautas. They were filled with ground beef and topped with a brown "gravy" and cheese. She was quite satisfied. My fajitas were good, except when they arrived the chicken and beef were resting on a cast iron skillet of onions, but no peppers. That was odd. We checked the menu once again, and sure enough the fajitas were supposed to include peppers. So, we alerted our server. (The server doesn't actually bring the meal. Someone from the kitchen does.) The server thought it was odd, too, so he checked with the kitchen. He was told that the restaurant ran out of peppers. Our server was apologetic, but I decided to eat my pepperless fajitas anyway. About three minutes later, the server appeared again with a small bowl of grilled peppers. Apparently someone made a dash to the store to pick up some peppers, so they cooked one up for me quickly. I added the peppers to my plate and the addition certainly did help. Other than that odd occurance, my meal was quite good. The quality of my steak and chicken was good, and it was served with warm flour tortillas and beans, cheese, lettuce, and pico de gallo on the side. The prices were reasonable and I ate more food than I should have. I would certainly be willing to go back again. I would chalk up the pepperless experience to a once-in-a-lifetime quirk. Our service was good and the food was hot and tasty. Oh, and before the meal comes a basket of chips is delivered to the table with salsa and bean dip. I thought that was a nice touch including both the salsa and the dip. And the bean dip...