Red-shirted "lifeguards" are veteran Chuy's employees who help get new locations up and running |
In the comfortable bar area, you'll encounter the ubiquitous flatscreen TVs, but also the rear of a vintage Chrysler doubling as a nacho bar. Here, I started off with their classic margarita with fresh-squeezed lime juice. Very refreshing, but I found their frozen strawberry margarita to be even better. Another stand-out is the Texas Martini, which has jalapeno-stuffed olives, and you can actually detect their presence in the flavor.
Chuy's famous margarita |
Made with fresh-squeezed lime juice |
The Dog Wall, where you can bring a framed photo of your mutt to add to the collection |
This appears to be your typical nacho bar... |
...except it has Chuy's famous sauces... |
...and is in the trunk of a Chrysler... |
...and perhaps most importantly, is free from 4-7 PM Monday-Friday |
One man in Mexico makes thousands of these for Chuy's all these years later (the first Chuy's opened in Austin in 1982) |
Step up to the bar |
Some of these fish are not like the others |
Artificial palm trees in the main dining room |
Each one is distinctive - this one is bearing coconuts |
And this one sports a dying, yellow leaf |
Seating is vintage Americana |
Neon? Check |
Hubcaps? Check |
Automotive wall decor graces the Hubcap Room |
The glass-enclosed tortilla station may be the most important spot in the restaurant |
Each Chuy's has a "Pride Wall" featuring what employees are most proud of, including staff members and charity work |
Chicken roasting oven |
Spices and seasonings custom-made for Chuy's |
Chuy's combs yard and estate sales on both sides of the border to find unique artworks... |
...and vintage photos |
The entry foyer |
Chuy's famous sauces |
Classic Tex-Mex Enchiladas plate with refried beans and Mexican rice |
Tough, dry rubbery steak is my pet peeve in steak burritos. This steak was the best-ever; tender, juicy, and flavorful thanks to quality meat and that marinade. Where I often avoid steak burritos because of the chance of finding a Goodyear tire playing the role of steak, here I will seek this Steak Burrito out, and recommend you do as well. A side of charro beans plays like a chili without beef, and goes well with the other side on the platter, green chile rice. I prefer the green chile rice to the Mexican rice here.
Get a load of that melted cheese |
Pause for a sip of the Texas Martini |
Chicka-Chicka Boom-Boom chicken enchiladas with refried beans and green chile rice |
The best chicken you'll find in an enchilada |
Strawberry Frozen Margarita |
Fresh tostada chips, crunchy and piping hot |
The Steak Burrito is a must-try |
A side of charro beans is great on a fall evening |
Look at that steak and melted cheese |
I'm looking forward to trying the two Elvis items on the menu on future visits - Elvis Green Chile Fried Chicken, and the Elvis Presley Memorial Combo. Any place that has a shrine to Elvis is my kind of place. The good news is that I'm pretty sure The King would approve of the food, as well. If you know Elvis, you know he had high standards when it came to food. Fortunately, so does Chuy's. This is the way Tex-Mex should be made. Five stars.
I need one of these |
A great American |
"Get me one of those Elvis Memorial Combos" |
"Have you seen my TV glasses?" |
"Psst. Ask your server about Creamy Jalapeno Sauce" |
The way the review is worded, it rings of paid endorsement. (for example. calling them "chuy's famous sauces" instead of just describing it as a nacho bar with various sauces. or "chuy's famous margarita". You worked extraordinarily hard to find unique aspects of a chain restaurant. Anyway, paid endorsement (by gift certificates?) or not, I do plan on visiting.
ReplyDeleteNot to be mean, just a little constructive criticism - maybe make reviews seem a little more natural and omit the corporate lingo they try to use? Love your blog!
Bob, you kinda went overboard on this one.
ReplyDeleteSorry, there was no "payment" or "gift certificate." Just an honest review. I've given ratings to restaurants and products ranging from one star to five stars. In the case of one company, Taco Bell, which sent me one of a thousand "Breakfast Phones" it mailed to influential YouTube creators, I did not hesitate to blast their Quesalupa later when it failed to live up to the hype.
ReplyDeleteI welcome any constructive criticism, but also face similar types of comments from a troll on my Bethesda blog, who is frustrated that his bosses' floundering website has fallen behind mine in the restaurant review business. I understand his frustration.
Meanwhile, what I would consider odd, would be someone posting a negative review of Chuy's - what grounds would there be to do so? It's also a fact that their margaritas and sauces are "famous" - they are two things, among others, the chain is known for doing well.
Of course there are hipsters who will rip any chain restaurant. I'm not one of them, and I don't think the majority of my readers are either. They just want to know if Chuy's is worth their dining dollars, and that is my job as critic.
Bob, chill... I don't think that you're in anyone's pocket. And, I'll probably try Chuy's at some point (based on your review. I just thought that a 1,000 word, 52 photo, FULL page (i.e. one post filling the space that would normally have 4 or 5 posts), was over the top. Apparently, you really loved the place. Keep up the good work. Notatroll :-)
DeleteI wrote the comment. I don't own a restaurant, nor am I trolling. I'm sorry that you're unable to take constructive criticism. I was simply pointing out that your phrasing and attention to (in my opinion) insignificant details seemed biased. I'm glad to hear that it isn't.
ReplyDeleteRE: "Meanwhile, what I would consider odd, would be someone posting a negative review of Chuy's - what grounds would there be to do so?" - I don't know. I haven't eaten there yet. I'll post a yelp review like everyone else when I do. It may very well be a 5-star place, but you don't have to get so defensive. Not everyone has the same taste or will get the same experience you did.
Chuy's is tourist trap food. No self respecting Texan would eat this crap. If you've been to a Chuy's then you have not had real Tex-Mex food. If you like Chuy's food, then you have no taste or class and need to go eat the real thing so you understand how terrible Chuy's food really is.
ReplyDelete