I'm upping my star rating for this place. Yes, I know it's a chain but their frozen drinks are friggin' fantastic. The food is decent too (standard Mexi/Americanized dishes). And something new that I found out is that on Friday evenings, they have a 1/2 off special. If you sit in the bar area (there are high-tops and a handful of booths), you get 1/2 off your appetizers. It's a really great deal. Especially, if you get the sampler platter to split with a friend. I also like this place because it's in a large shopping area (Meijer, TJMaxx, Target, etc., etc.). And after a little grocery shopping at Meijer, it's great to pop in for a drink. Grocery shopping can be stressful people! I need to unwind and On the Border makes me forget all about the cart war I just had in aisle two. Anyway, this is probably my favorite of all chains. They have never done me or my jumbo frozen margarita wrong.
(4)
kevin s.
I am one of those die hard taqueria guys so it nearly killed me to hit a chain like this. It actually wasn't as bad as I suspect, but it wasn't really anything speacial either. The building is actually quite nice. The best way to describe it is to say that if you removed all the tables it would be a really sweet night club. On a friday night this place was super packed. Despite this fact we still received really good service. Our waitress was on the ball and nailed everything. As for the food. The chips are all half tortilla's that need to be broken down which I thought was rather inconveinent. The accommpanying salsa is... salsa. It lacks any real character and better can be found in the aisle's of a kroger. It severely lacked a citrus and spices. I played it safe (in terms of calories) and skipped all the staples. The chicken breast I had was very tastey, as was the rice. The zuc and squash on the plate were grilled perfectly and tasted good also. My diner partner agreed the rice was good, and added the whole beans were good as well. She did have a fair bit of complaint about the "street tacos". She said the meat was caked with seasoning, the tacos only had one corn shell so they fell apart rather easily, they lacked cilentro, and were void of the lime one expects with street tacos. I was curious as to why the choice of this place was made, and it all came to light at the end... fricking coupon. I guess they had online coupons for free sopapillas (sp), and my girlfriend cannot pass up a free anything. I must say though, the free bit was one of the best parts of the meal. Instead of the harder fried tortillas is was made of a warm moist chewy bread similar to pita covered in cinnimon and sugar with dark mexican chocolate and honey on the side.
(3)
Debbie L.
Went there recently and ordered a chips and salsa to go, large portions of both.
(4)
Vionte' S.
While some wouldn't call this place authentic Mexican food, it's some of thee best tex mex I've had! The fajitas are a classic and I've never had a bad experience with them. The queso is a must have, and the guac live made me into a fan! The happy hour specials on the drinks are easy on the wallet and they don't use the cheap stuff. The staff is friendly and my service has always been fast, again, it's not Mexican town, but don't downplay on the border, great food, good service and affordable prices!
(3)
Carolyn W.
Great place. Hubby's favorite place to Mexi-Can. Spicy salsa and chips are free and delicious. Beef Enchiladas and chicken fajita bowls on deck. Yummy yummy yummy.
(5)
Ivan N.
My favorite Mexican stop. Chip and salsa are the best. Servers are great too. Lynsey (sp) is the best..
(5)
Don K.
It was my first time out on a themed day. Cinco de Mayo. The specials were a bit confusing for us as I've never been here before. I understand plastic cups after work and late night but not during lunch. The Monterrey chicken and bacon fajitas were amazing but unfortunately for us the smallest fajita serving I've ever been served at the most expensive price. We started with the guacamole and queso duo with our chips, both were very good as were the Sopapillas we ended our lunch with. I would go back but not for an event. The place was unorganized and lacked fun for the day it was.
(4)
Ammi W.
This was my first time going to On the Border but it may not be my last. The hosting staff wasn't extremely attentive but did their jobs fine. Our waitress was attentive and funny, came around in good intervals. My FAVORITE part about this restaurant was the Border Smart menu that listed the calories as well as a break down of whats going to be in your food and the calories for each addition. That alone made me smitten and made it so much easier to choose my meal. I've gone to other Mexican restaurants and ate nothing because there were no light versions, etc. Loved that feature and it places them above going to some other place, for me!
(4)
Giles C.
Salty. Salty. Salty. The drinks are cool and the service is fine but I wouldn't feed their food to my dog.
(1)
Nicki C.
Frozen margaritas were tasty. Food was just ok. Heavy handed on the chili powder to the point where we kept coughing. Better dining options available. Although I will say their mahi fish taco was pretty good.
(2)
Magnus L.
Good place to go for lunch. They have lot's of parking since it's close to so many stores which is nice. The servers are always friendly and they have lot's of good dining options. If you are celebrating a birthday you may want to know they don't sing at this location but that isn't too important to me at least.
(3)
Bharath N.
Consistently good! Vegetarian and non vegetarian. An excellent place to wind down with friends or family.
(5)
Keith J.
Gave it a couple tries years back when they first opened. Did not like, swore never to go back. Finally tried again, and was very pleased. The whole family enjoys the food. (Maybe different management ?) Pork and fish tacos are great. Would recommend.
(4)
Monica B.
Very disappointed. This page had really gone down in quality in the past 2 years. There were face prints on the window where someone had kissed the glass at our table, and what looked like someone had sport in their finger and drawn on that windiw. The menu was nasty with hard crispy salsa, sticking the pages together. If what I can see is this dirty, I hate to see the kitchen. The chicken flutas were dropping in grease, & the lettuce for my fajitas were brown. The only thing that will get me back are the Margarita, and that's not even a guarantee.
(2)
Rola S.
Time for an update and I'm very happy. Not authentic but they have stepped up their game. Maybe it's the new manager that comped my drinks after I snapped about them being late and that one was made wrong. New bartenders and they are in training..ok that's understandable. My order has been made to perfection since I have been coming. My nieces and nephews look forward to Saturdays coming here and having nachos, guacamole, and cheese quesadillas. They love their ice cream sundaes that come after their meal as much as I am enjoying my mojito. And they get crayons and a little menu book to color every time. It stops them from asking me questions the whole time and gives me some quiet, and I love it.
(5)
Stephanie J.
WOW! This place was great and my new favorite! It's different than other Mexican restaurant. Everything I ate was different than traditional Mexican restaurants, in a delicious way! I was completely blown away. It's a little pricey compared to other Mexican restaurants but totally worth it! The food, service and atmosphere was all fantastic!!
(5)
Stephanie I.
I went here on cinco de mayo and it was very busy as expected. I was greeted at the door by the hostess, who was very friendly. We waited for about a twenty minutes for our table. Considering the holiday, I thought that was fine. I ordered the house margarita, it was excellent! I wasn't too hungry because I had eaten a few hours before so I just got desert. I ordered the flan. The flan was the best that I have ever had! All in all the servers were keeping up with the busy restaurant very well. We never had empty chip bowl, and we were never short on salsa. I will come back again and try the food for sure. If it is half as good as the desert, I will be in for a treat. Excellent place!
(5)
Lindsey W.
I've been here more times than I can count--not because I like it, but because my daughter loves their Guacamole Live and ALWAYS wants to eat here. Most of the food choices are greasy, with little flavor and moderate spiciness. It's basically Americanized Mexican food, served in a chain restaurant atmosphere. Since I am forced to frequent this establishment regularly, I have tried many different menu items. Regardless of what I order, I always leave with a stomach ache...wtf? This location has a few good servers, but most are not very competent or attentive. Don't waste your time here. You'd be better off at an authentic Mexican restaurant.
(2)
Andrea H.
Always good when I go to eat there! The chips and salsa and Queso are great with any Margaritas, especially the Watermelon ones! The best food item I like are the beer battered fish tacos! But basically I love all their food.
(5)
Brian S.
Service from Kimberly was friendly and the portions and taste was really good. Very clean and the manager came around and was very interested in how our lunch experience was and if there was anything he could do to help our experience.
(4)
Jack M.
This is a "Happy Hour" review and not debating if it is "authentic" Mexican fare. Met some friends here for a couple of drinks and it was really cool! Nice bar area..our server was cheerful and attentive. Large 20oz boombas in a frosty mug were a plus!! Miller or Bud Lite 3 dollars, Dosequis was 4 dollars. Margaritas were $3 for 12oz and $4 for a 20oz. Also included was free chips and salsa. They had an array of appetizers for 2 and 3 dollars. The guacamole was very good as were the flautas. Also tried some deep fried avacado for the first time and liked it. Of course anything deep fried is good. Nice small portions to go with your large cold beers. Perfect to munch on but not get too full and bloated and of course ruin your buzz.
(4)
Kristina Z.
The food was awesome and so are the margaritas! But the best part was the service. The man who waited on me and my boyfriend was amazing. When ordering he noticed I was a vegetarian and without me even telling him he asked. After he asked he pointed out I did not want to refried beans b/c they were made with beef stock and I didnt want the spanish rice b/c there was chicken stock in it
(4)
Kate B.
I've had some great times at this restaurant. It's a great place for meeting friends since it's so close to all the major freeways-I-94, I-96, and the Southfield. Great margaritas and appetizers, I like the pulled pork fajitas and the kahlua cheesecake!
(4)
Nikki C.
There must be crack in these margaritas. Next to Mexicantown, these are as good as it gets. If you catch them during Happy Hour (3-7 pm AND after 9pm), they're less than $5 each, for an 18 oz glass. Chips and salsa are complimentary, but their queso is pretty delish. It's considered an appetizer and during Happy Hour, it's also half off! I can honestly say I'm not a fan of the entrees. I've tried a couple of items, but I keep going back to my favorite, which is an appetizer--the Nacho Supreme (with ground beef, which is not featured on the menu). It's a generous sized appetizer and serves as a meal for me. The waitstaff is fun and I usually go straight to the bar --(skip the middle man/woman and go straight to the source!) The bar staff is friendly and personable and remember what you like and will suggest things for you to try or just to help you along in making your choice. Do sign up for their Club Cantina and get emails with coupons of free appetizers/desserts and special offers.
(4)
Craig M.
Not a bad attempt at a Suburban Gringo Mexican Restaurant. What I mean is that the food is nowhere near authentic Mexican, but there are some redeeming dishes just the same. Of their fare, my favorite is the Beef Brisket Tacos with fried Onion straws and BBQ sauce. Certainly not authentic, but absolutely tasty. Others rave about their Mahi-Mahi tacos. The Salsa here is good, not great. Similar to what you'd get from a jar of Pace Medium. Not as good as Chi-Chi's Salsa IMHO. Prices seem a little high as dinners are in the $10 range. But consider a new building has higher rent than some of the wonderfull places in Mexican town. Prices seem in line with other mall-type eateries. And I have to say that service here is good, even for large groups. A 10 seat table this afternoon was handled very smoothly by a main waitress and a team of people distributing the entrees. Good team work yield good service all around. So if you have a hankerin' for some over cheesed Suburban Gringo Mexican fare... This could be a good place for you.
(3)
Jeff L.
Service is always bad, food is pretty good, so pick you battles.
(2)
Will D.
Bad, bad gringo Mexican. I have only gone once and will never go back. The portions of my taco dinner were not filling. The wait staff was unattentive. The entire place was too crowded and noisy. Worst of all, my food taste like something my mother, a southern-style cook, would throw together in 5 minutes using taco seasoning packets. It's not worth your time or money.
(1)
Carole H.
Commercialized Mexican joint. Like Chili's, only with tacos. Or like Chi-Chi's, minus the hepatitis*. All the standards you'd expect - free chips & salsa, sombreros on the wall, and big-a** margaritas. I didn't sample any of the the food, but Nikki C. turned me on to the "Corona-rita" (see posted pic) - a huge margarita with a full Corona bottle dumped upside down in it. Through the magic of physics, the beer doesn't overflow your glass, but rather stays in the bottle until you lift it out little by little. So you can keep adding little shots of beer in, as you drink down the margarita and make more room in the glass. Brilliant. The menu is middle of the road - nothing that wows, but you'll still be satisfied with what you get. Especially if you get the Corona-rita. :) --------------------------------------- (* about-hepatitis.com/hepa… )
(3)
T. J.
Woke up and needed a black bean fix. Yelp guided me here. There are MANY Mexican places in the area and I had never been here as it is a chain and I prefer Mom & Pop places. I ordered the 4 enchilada dinner, choosing from the 5 varieties offered. It was $10.99 but it was one of the larger possibilities on menu. Food was very good. Nice selection and preparation. Feeling good about myself & restaurant choice I chose an apple & ice cream dessert from card on table. No prices on dessert card. 6.99 on bill. Nice food, but over half of large dinner price for dessert? I can afford it but it didn't seem to go with the casual motif. Think Applebees attacking mid range Mexican restaurant and having a bastard child.
(3)
Ala M.
This restaurant is so good, they have the best margaritas!!! The sangria margarita is my favorite!! love there southwest chicken tacos and black beans, the Torta Cubana is also excellent. Nice atmosphere clean and priced reasonably and the staff is always friendly and attentive. Happy hour every Friday is a go day to go!!
(5)
William h.
The wait for a table was crazy wait time the cost for 2 people meal was high over $45 ugh
(2)
Chris M.
I like coming here for a quick lunch. They have a good deal on lunch combo's that start at 7.99....The salsa has a little kick that some people think is too spicy (but it's not) but overall a very good place to eat.
(4)
Lisa M.
I love On the Border! This is my favorite Restaurant. We got every Sunday after church and get the pick three on the menu. It is the best value and the food tastes great! I love the house salad and of course the homemade chips and salsa!
(5)
Alice A.
I've been to this location a few times. However, the service this time was rough. Our waitress was less than friendly, and totally screwed up my order. The happy hour specials are great! The margaritas are a great price - thankfully you have chips on your table though because the six chips they give you with the queso and guac duo would not get you very far. Also, if you're expecting a good queso don't bother - it's extremely watery. The food tasted good - even if it wasn't what I ordered. The empandas were tasty as well as the enchiladas. The refried beans were not what you would expect - they were really just whole pinto beans.
(3)
Daniel S.
For a chain, this is a pretty good lunch spot. The menu is typical Americanized Mexican food. It's reliable. I like the fish tacos and the chili relleno. I also like that they will sub vegetables for the typical rice and beans if you're trying to keep it healthy. They have a nice bar if you need to eat solo and outdoor seating in the summer. One gripe... why do they charge so much for soda?? Crazy.
(3)
Rachel K.
I love On The Border. Sure it's not authentic Mexican, but the food is always delicious. Always crowded near dinner time (wait time can be anywhere from 5-15 minutes) and super noisy/busy. The bar section has a few tvs, so during sports games, those seats and booths are near impossible to get. The chips are good and the hot sauce is great. Try the shaken margarita -- a pitcher of margarita comes to your table and is enough for two glasses. I like mine with a splash of Chambord, but Grand Marnier is a close second. I've tried everything from the Steak Taco salad to the mini steak tacos, but my favorite dish here is the steak fajitas. Perfectly seasoned steak, lots of vegetables, and fresh tortillas. You can pick from a number of protein options (steak, shrimp, chicken), sauces (the tequila lime was my favorite), and vegetable styles. If you're looking for authentic mexican, then no, you won't be impressed. Prices are relatively cheap, though, and I've never had a bad meal here.
(4)
Drea K.
Ok three stars is the average of my two visits to this place. The first time I came here it was great, it was busy, we had an ADHD waitress which meant everything was quick since she doesn't sit still. It was outstanding made me want to come back. That was the first trip. Second trip we got some waiter in the bar area who was completely off his game. Kept forgetting things, talked to us about how he was off that day. That was the breaking point if you are forgetting things and things are not going well then you stand at my table and tell me you are off, you have just made me realize that 1. you should not be serving 2. you should not use it as an excuse you should fix it. And this time the food was just ok. I think with these restaurants it is hit or miss. And so I gave it three stars and if I do go back it will be on a busy night to the first waitress.
(3)
Samantha K.
Even though this is a chain, it's one of my favorite restaurants downriver! I think they have good chips and salsa -I could eat a ton of those. If the salsa is too spicy for you, they will give you a can of tomato juice to cool it down. For lunch, my favorite thing to get is the lunch chimichanga. It's tasty and very filling. Another one of my favorites is the enchiladas suizas. I also like how you have the option of getting black beans instead of refried beans. Beware though: this place is in a shopping center and the parking lot is often like a madhouse.
(4)
Cameron R.
Not a place I crave but it's close to my house so I don't have any problem going there. It's definitely not authentic Mexican food but it's obvious by how much they've veered with their ingredients (i.e. bbq sauce on a taco) that they aren't really trying to be. The restaurant is clean and well maintained. Our server was really nice, doing little magic tricks for the kids and very attentive.
(3)
John N.
Not at all impressed with this restaurant. They do not even have staples like tacos on their menu & their beer selection is quite limited. They were out of most of their liquor & who doesn't have margaritas in a mexican restaurant! Their service was ssslllooooooooowww. Not going back.
(1)
Laurence S.
It had been a while since I had been to On the border.It was a boat loads of folks on a Friday night early evening walked right in without any wait at all.The hostess tried to seat me right in front of the kitchen door.Not so much that didnt work at all.The server Dean was good he did a great job. The food its self was very filling for Mexican and worth the money not bad at all..
(4)
Laura M.
I wish I could do a 2.5 star rating. I've been there 4 times now, never my choice. I get by okay on their food, but a couple of things really bug me about this place--number one is that it is too loud in there. I mean, come on, really, who wants to eat while screaming over their plates at their table mate? Yesterday I insisted that they turn down the music. It took two tries, but they finally did and I could see the other people in the dining room where we were seated visibly relax. Yesterday was also what brought on my second gripe about this restaurant chain. We were late getting lunch and were planning for a nice dinner out in the evening, so we decided to split the fish tacos and add a side of guacamole. A side of guacamole....The fish tacos arrived along with a nice little side dish of guacamole. All tasted good and I especially liked the way that the fish was done in a light batter. However, when the check arrived we found that the little side dish of guacamole was considered an "appetizer" portion and so we were charged nearly six bucks for it. WHAT??!!?? For half of an avocado? Not cool. I must say, though, that the server was excellent. Very attentive, but not hovering.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
Jenee M.
I'm upping my star rating for this place. Yes, I know it's a chain but their frozen drinks are friggin' fantastic. The food is decent too (standard Mexi/Americanized dishes). And something new that I found out is that on Friday evenings, they have a 1/2 off special. If you sit in the bar area (there are high-tops and a handful of booths), you get 1/2 off your appetizers. It's a really great deal. Especially, if you get the sampler platter to split with a friend. I also like this place because it's in a large shopping area (Meijer, TJMaxx, Target, etc., etc.). And after a little grocery shopping at Meijer, it's great to pop in for a drink. Grocery shopping can be stressful people! I need to unwind and On the Border makes me forget all about the cart war I just had in aisle two. Anyway, this is probably my favorite of all chains. They have never done me or my jumbo frozen margarita wrong.
(4)kevin s.
I am one of those die hard taqueria guys so it nearly killed me to hit a chain like this. It actually wasn't as bad as I suspect, but it wasn't really anything speacial either. The building is actually quite nice. The best way to describe it is to say that if you removed all the tables it would be a really sweet night club. On a friday night this place was super packed. Despite this fact we still received really good service. Our waitress was on the ball and nailed everything. As for the food. The chips are all half tortilla's that need to be broken down which I thought was rather inconveinent. The accommpanying salsa is... salsa. It lacks any real character and better can be found in the aisle's of a kroger. It severely lacked a citrus and spices. I played it safe (in terms of calories) and skipped all the staples. The chicken breast I had was very tastey, as was the rice. The zuc and squash on the plate were grilled perfectly and tasted good also. My diner partner agreed the rice was good, and added the whole beans were good as well. She did have a fair bit of complaint about the "street tacos". She said the meat was caked with seasoning, the tacos only had one corn shell so they fell apart rather easily, they lacked cilentro, and were void of the lime one expects with street tacos. I was curious as to why the choice of this place was made, and it all came to light at the end... fricking coupon. I guess they had online coupons for free sopapillas (sp), and my girlfriend cannot pass up a free anything. I must say though, the free bit was one of the best parts of the meal. Instead of the harder fried tortillas is was made of a warm moist chewy bread similar to pita covered in cinnimon and sugar with dark mexican chocolate and honey on the side.
(3)Debbie L.
Went there recently and ordered a chips and salsa to go, large portions of both.
(4)Vionte' S.
While some wouldn't call this place authentic Mexican food, it's some of thee best tex mex I've had! The fajitas are a classic and I've never had a bad experience with them. The queso is a must have, and the guac live made me into a fan! The happy hour specials on the drinks are easy on the wallet and they don't use the cheap stuff. The staff is friendly and my service has always been fast, again, it's not Mexican town, but don't downplay on the border, great food, good service and affordable prices!
(3)Carolyn W.
Great place. Hubby's favorite place to Mexi-Can. Spicy salsa and chips are free and delicious. Beef Enchiladas and chicken fajita bowls on deck. Yummy yummy yummy.
(5)Ivan N.
My favorite Mexican stop. Chip and salsa are the best. Servers are great too. Lynsey (sp) is the best..
(5)Don K.
It was my first time out on a themed day. Cinco de Mayo. The specials were a bit confusing for us as I've never been here before. I understand plastic cups after work and late night but not during lunch. The Monterrey chicken and bacon fajitas were amazing but unfortunately for us the smallest fajita serving I've ever been served at the most expensive price. We started with the guacamole and queso duo with our chips, both were very good as were the Sopapillas we ended our lunch with. I would go back but not for an event. The place was unorganized and lacked fun for the day it was.
(4)Ammi W.
This was my first time going to On the Border but it may not be my last. The hosting staff wasn't extremely attentive but did their jobs fine. Our waitress was attentive and funny, came around in good intervals. My FAVORITE part about this restaurant was the Border Smart menu that listed the calories as well as a break down of whats going to be in your food and the calories for each addition. That alone made me smitten and made it so much easier to choose my meal. I've gone to other Mexican restaurants and ate nothing because there were no light versions, etc. Loved that feature and it places them above going to some other place, for me!
(4)Giles C.
Salty. Salty. Salty. The drinks are cool and the service is fine but I wouldn't feed their food to my dog.
(1)Nicki C.
Frozen margaritas were tasty. Food was just ok. Heavy handed on the chili powder to the point where we kept coughing. Better dining options available. Although I will say their mahi fish taco was pretty good.
(2)Magnus L.
Good place to go for lunch. They have lot's of parking since it's close to so many stores which is nice. The servers are always friendly and they have lot's of good dining options. If you are celebrating a birthday you may want to know they don't sing at this location but that isn't too important to me at least.
(3)Bharath N.
Consistently good! Vegetarian and non vegetarian. An excellent place to wind down with friends or family.
(5)Keith J.
Gave it a couple tries years back when they first opened. Did not like, swore never to go back. Finally tried again, and was very pleased. The whole family enjoys the food. (Maybe different management ?) Pork and fish tacos are great. Would recommend.
(4)Monica B.
Very disappointed. This page had really gone down in quality in the past 2 years. There were face prints on the window where someone had kissed the glass at our table, and what looked like someone had sport in their finger and drawn on that windiw. The menu was nasty with hard crispy salsa, sticking the pages together. If what I can see is this dirty, I hate to see the kitchen. The chicken flutas were dropping in grease, & the lettuce for my fajitas were brown. The only thing that will get me back are the Margarita, and that's not even a guarantee.
(2)Rola S.
Time for an update and I'm very happy. Not authentic but they have stepped up their game. Maybe it's the new manager that comped my drinks after I snapped about them being late and that one was made wrong. New bartenders and they are in training..ok that's understandable. My order has been made to perfection since I have been coming. My nieces and nephews look forward to Saturdays coming here and having nachos, guacamole, and cheese quesadillas. They love their ice cream sundaes that come after their meal as much as I am enjoying my mojito. And they get crayons and a little menu book to color every time. It stops them from asking me questions the whole time and gives me some quiet, and I love it.
(5)Stephanie J.
WOW! This place was great and my new favorite! It's different than other Mexican restaurant. Everything I ate was different than traditional Mexican restaurants, in a delicious way! I was completely blown away. It's a little pricey compared to other Mexican restaurants but totally worth it! The food, service and atmosphere was all fantastic!!
(5)Stephanie I.
I went here on cinco de mayo and it was very busy as expected. I was greeted at the door by the hostess, who was very friendly. We waited for about a twenty minutes for our table. Considering the holiday, I thought that was fine. I ordered the house margarita, it was excellent! I wasn't too hungry because I had eaten a few hours before so I just got desert. I ordered the flan. The flan was the best that I have ever had! All in all the servers were keeping up with the busy restaurant very well. We never had empty chip bowl, and we were never short on salsa. I will come back again and try the food for sure. If it is half as good as the desert, I will be in for a treat. Excellent place!
(5)Lindsey W.
I've been here more times than I can count--not because I like it, but because my daughter loves their Guacamole Live and ALWAYS wants to eat here. Most of the food choices are greasy, with little flavor and moderate spiciness. It's basically Americanized Mexican food, served in a chain restaurant atmosphere. Since I am forced to frequent this establishment regularly, I have tried many different menu items. Regardless of what I order, I always leave with a stomach ache...wtf? This location has a few good servers, but most are not very competent or attentive. Don't waste your time here. You'd be better off at an authentic Mexican restaurant.
(2)Andrea H.
Always good when I go to eat there! The chips and salsa and Queso are great with any Margaritas, especially the Watermelon ones! The best food item I like are the beer battered fish tacos! But basically I love all their food.
(5)Brian S.
Service from Kimberly was friendly and the portions and taste was really good. Very clean and the manager came around and was very interested in how our lunch experience was and if there was anything he could do to help our experience.
(4)Jack M.
This is a "Happy Hour" review and not debating if it is "authentic" Mexican fare. Met some friends here for a couple of drinks and it was really cool! Nice bar area..our server was cheerful and attentive. Large 20oz boombas in a frosty mug were a plus!! Miller or Bud Lite 3 dollars, Dosequis was 4 dollars. Margaritas were $3 for 12oz and $4 for a 20oz. Also included was free chips and salsa. They had an array of appetizers for 2 and 3 dollars. The guacamole was very good as were the flautas. Also tried some deep fried avacado for the first time and liked it. Of course anything deep fried is good. Nice small portions to go with your large cold beers. Perfect to munch on but not get too full and bloated and of course ruin your buzz.
(4)Kristina Z.
The food was awesome and so are the margaritas! But the best part was the service. The man who waited on me and my boyfriend was amazing. When ordering he noticed I was a vegetarian and without me even telling him he asked. After he asked he pointed out I did not want to refried beans b/c they were made with beef stock and I didnt want the spanish rice b/c there was chicken stock in it
(4)Kate B.
I've had some great times at this restaurant. It's a great place for meeting friends since it's so close to all the major freeways-I-94, I-96, and the Southfield. Great margaritas and appetizers, I like the pulled pork fajitas and the kahlua cheesecake!
(4)Nikki C.
There must be crack in these margaritas. Next to Mexicantown, these are as good as it gets. If you catch them during Happy Hour (3-7 pm AND after 9pm), they're less than $5 each, for an 18 oz glass. Chips and salsa are complimentary, but their queso is pretty delish. It's considered an appetizer and during Happy Hour, it's also half off! I can honestly say I'm not a fan of the entrees. I've tried a couple of items, but I keep going back to my favorite, which is an appetizer--the Nacho Supreme (with ground beef, which is not featured on the menu). It's a generous sized appetizer and serves as a meal for me. The waitstaff is fun and I usually go straight to the bar --(skip the middle man/woman and go straight to the source!) The bar staff is friendly and personable and remember what you like and will suggest things for you to try or just to help you along in making your choice. Do sign up for their Club Cantina and get emails with coupons of free appetizers/desserts and special offers.
(4)Craig M.
Not a bad attempt at a Suburban Gringo Mexican Restaurant. What I mean is that the food is nowhere near authentic Mexican, but there are some redeeming dishes just the same. Of their fare, my favorite is the Beef Brisket Tacos with fried Onion straws and BBQ sauce. Certainly not authentic, but absolutely tasty. Others rave about their Mahi-Mahi tacos. The Salsa here is good, not great. Similar to what you'd get from a jar of Pace Medium. Not as good as Chi-Chi's Salsa IMHO. Prices seem a little high as dinners are in the $10 range. But consider a new building has higher rent than some of the wonderfull places in Mexican town. Prices seem in line with other mall-type eateries. And I have to say that service here is good, even for large groups. A 10 seat table this afternoon was handled very smoothly by a main waitress and a team of people distributing the entrees. Good team work yield good service all around. So if you have a hankerin' for some over cheesed Suburban Gringo Mexican fare... This could be a good place for you.
(3)Jeff L.
Service is always bad, food is pretty good, so pick you battles.
(2)Will D.
Bad, bad gringo Mexican. I have only gone once and will never go back. The portions of my taco dinner were not filling. The wait staff was unattentive. The entire place was too crowded and noisy. Worst of all, my food taste like something my mother, a southern-style cook, would throw together in 5 minutes using taco seasoning packets. It's not worth your time or money.
(1)Carole H.
Commercialized Mexican joint. Like Chili's, only with tacos. Or like Chi-Chi's, minus the hepatitis*. All the standards you'd expect - free chips & salsa, sombreros on the wall, and big-a** margaritas. I didn't sample any of the the food, but Nikki C. turned me on to the "Corona-rita" (see posted pic) - a huge margarita with a full Corona bottle dumped upside down in it. Through the magic of physics, the beer doesn't overflow your glass, but rather stays in the bottle until you lift it out little by little. So you can keep adding little shots of beer in, as you drink down the margarita and make more room in the glass. Brilliant. The menu is middle of the road - nothing that wows, but you'll still be satisfied with what you get. Especially if you get the Corona-rita. :) --------------------------------------- (* about-hepatitis.com/hepa… )
(3)T. J.
Woke up and needed a black bean fix. Yelp guided me here. There are MANY Mexican places in the area and I had never been here as it is a chain and I prefer Mom & Pop places. I ordered the 4 enchilada dinner, choosing from the 5 varieties offered. It was $10.99 but it was one of the larger possibilities on menu. Food was very good. Nice selection and preparation. Feeling good about myself & restaurant choice I chose an apple & ice cream dessert from card on table. No prices on dessert card. 6.99 on bill. Nice food, but over half of large dinner price for dessert? I can afford it but it didn't seem to go with the casual motif. Think Applebees attacking mid range Mexican restaurant and having a bastard child.
(3)Ala M.
This restaurant is so good, they have the best margaritas!!! The sangria margarita is my favorite!! love there southwest chicken tacos and black beans, the Torta Cubana is also excellent. Nice atmosphere clean and priced reasonably and the staff is always friendly and attentive. Happy hour every Friday is a go day to go!!
(5)William h.
The wait for a table was crazy wait time the cost for 2 people meal was high over $45 ugh
(2)Chris M.
I like coming here for a quick lunch. They have a good deal on lunch combo's that start at 7.99....The salsa has a little kick that some people think is too spicy (but it's not) but overall a very good place to eat.
(4)Lisa M.
I love On the Border! This is my favorite Restaurant. We got every Sunday after church and get the pick three on the menu. It is the best value and the food tastes great! I love the house salad and of course the homemade chips and salsa!
(5)Alice A.
I've been to this location a few times. However, the service this time was rough. Our waitress was less than friendly, and totally screwed up my order. The happy hour specials are great! The margaritas are a great price - thankfully you have chips on your table though because the six chips they give you with the queso and guac duo would not get you very far. Also, if you're expecting a good queso don't bother - it's extremely watery. The food tasted good - even if it wasn't what I ordered. The empandas were tasty as well as the enchiladas. The refried beans were not what you would expect - they were really just whole pinto beans.
(3)Daniel S.
For a chain, this is a pretty good lunch spot. The menu is typical Americanized Mexican food. It's reliable. I like the fish tacos and the chili relleno. I also like that they will sub vegetables for the typical rice and beans if you're trying to keep it healthy. They have a nice bar if you need to eat solo and outdoor seating in the summer. One gripe... why do they charge so much for soda?? Crazy.
(3)Rachel K.
I love On The Border. Sure it's not authentic Mexican, but the food is always delicious. Always crowded near dinner time (wait time can be anywhere from 5-15 minutes) and super noisy/busy. The bar section has a few tvs, so during sports games, those seats and booths are near impossible to get. The chips are good and the hot sauce is great. Try the shaken margarita -- a pitcher of margarita comes to your table and is enough for two glasses. I like mine with a splash of Chambord, but Grand Marnier is a close second. I've tried everything from the Steak Taco salad to the mini steak tacos, but my favorite dish here is the steak fajitas. Perfectly seasoned steak, lots of vegetables, and fresh tortillas. You can pick from a number of protein options (steak, shrimp, chicken), sauces (the tequila lime was my favorite), and vegetable styles. If you're looking for authentic mexican, then no, you won't be impressed. Prices are relatively cheap, though, and I've never had a bad meal here.
(4)Drea K.
Ok three stars is the average of my two visits to this place. The first time I came here it was great, it was busy, we had an ADHD waitress which meant everything was quick since she doesn't sit still. It was outstanding made me want to come back. That was the first trip. Second trip we got some waiter in the bar area who was completely off his game. Kept forgetting things, talked to us about how he was off that day. That was the breaking point if you are forgetting things and things are not going well then you stand at my table and tell me you are off, you have just made me realize that 1. you should not be serving 2. you should not use it as an excuse you should fix it. And this time the food was just ok. I think with these restaurants it is hit or miss. And so I gave it three stars and if I do go back it will be on a busy night to the first waitress.
(3)Samantha K.
Even though this is a chain, it's one of my favorite restaurants downriver! I think they have good chips and salsa -I could eat a ton of those. If the salsa is too spicy for you, they will give you a can of tomato juice to cool it down. For lunch, my favorite thing to get is the lunch chimichanga. It's tasty and very filling. Another one of my favorites is the enchiladas suizas. I also like how you have the option of getting black beans instead of refried beans. Beware though: this place is in a shopping center and the parking lot is often like a madhouse.
(4)Cameron R.
Not a place I crave but it's close to my house so I don't have any problem going there. It's definitely not authentic Mexican food but it's obvious by how much they've veered with their ingredients (i.e. bbq sauce on a taco) that they aren't really trying to be. The restaurant is clean and well maintained. Our server was really nice, doing little magic tricks for the kids and very attentive.
(3)John N.
Not at all impressed with this restaurant. They do not even have staples like tacos on their menu & their beer selection is quite limited. They were out of most of their liquor & who doesn't have margaritas in a mexican restaurant! Their service was ssslllooooooooowww. Not going back.
(1)Laurence S.
It had been a while since I had been to On the border.It was a boat loads of folks on a Friday night early evening walked right in without any wait at all.The hostess tried to seat me right in front of the kitchen door.Not so much that didnt work at all.The server Dean was good he did a great job. The food its self was very filling for Mexican and worth the money not bad at all..
(4)Laura M.
I wish I could do a 2.5 star rating. I've been there 4 times now, never my choice. I get by okay on their food, but a couple of things really bug me about this place--number one is that it is too loud in there. I mean, come on, really, who wants to eat while screaming over their plates at their table mate? Yesterday I insisted that they turn down the music. It took two tries, but they finally did and I could see the other people in the dining room where we were seated visibly relax. Yesterday was also what brought on my second gripe about this restaurant chain. We were late getting lunch and were planning for a nice dinner out in the evening, so we decided to split the fish tacos and add a side of guacamole. A side of guacamole....The fish tacos arrived along with a nice little side dish of guacamole. All tasted good and I especially liked the way that the fish was done in a light batter. However, when the check arrived we found that the little side dish of guacamole was considered an "appetizer" portion and so we were charged nearly six bucks for it. WHAT??!!?? For half of an avocado? Not cool. I must say, though, that the server was excellent. Very attentive, but not hovering.
(3)