This place has the BEST service I have had in a long time. However, I got enchiladas with a taquito and it was probably the most bland mexican I have ever had. On a side note, my friend got the fajita tacos and they were absolutely amazing. The margaritas were great and the food was out fast. If your looking for tex-mex style quick mexi fix this would be the place. If your looking for something a bit more authentic I would head south down the blvd.
(3)
Matt E.
Pretty dang average, and there are definitely better, more authentic Mexican restaurants in the immediate vicinity. But sometimes you just want a super-Americanized burrito covered in yellow cheese, and that is where Manny's shines. A group of 4, we went here for some pre-First Fridays margaritas and Mexican grub. I wanted to go someplace a bit more authentic, but due to the proximity to the galleries and the fact that we were cabbing it, I was outvoted. Still, it was a decent meal and I left happy and full. They have a silly number of drink specials, to the point where I was confused. I just sort of ignored them and went with a pitcher of top shelf margaritas. for $24 we got probably 8 margaritas, so we'd say it's definitely a good value. AND they were pretty dang good. For food, well it's pretty much exactly what you'd expect. I had a pork chimichanga, which they call a burrito frito, topped with monterey jack cheese. It was pretty standard, didn't blow my mind but wasn't offensive to my tastebuds, either. That was pretty much everybody's opinion of their meals. The one weird thing is that their salsa tastes pretty much exactly like marinara sauce. Quite strange. Not necessarily bad, but strange. Service is always top notch. You have your main server, and a good number of server assistants are always on top of you with fresh chips and water refills. They really have the steps of service down pat. Manny's is far from my favorite restaurant in KC, let alone in the neighborhood, or even the street. BUT for what it is, it's perfectly fine. 3 stars all the way.
(3)
Andrew K.
Extraordinarily average food that somehow came highly recommended of places to eat in Kansas City. Have you ever wondered what it would be like British people tried to make Mexican food? I hadn't either, until I tried this. It tastes like what I think that would taste like. If you've only had Taco Bell before, this might be impressive. And it's certainly a "safe" and inoffensive spot to bring a group. (Perhaps a vanload of Minnesotan insurance actuaries looking for an exotic night out. TGIViernes!) There are so many better, more authentic, and less expensive options literally right down the street and all over the metro. You'll be happier there.
(2)
Norma G.
I came into Manny's with an old friend of mine yesturday afternoon, and overall I was impressed. Our waitress was a young, blonde woman who was incredibly sweet to us! She spoke Spanish to us for fun and recommended the carnitas to us. They sounded so good, my friend and I both got them. It was an excellent choice, the meat was full of a rich flavor and the whole meal was well put together. The restaurant was busy but we got our food very fast and the waitress kept us taken care of whenever we needed something. I'll definitely be back.
(4)
Angie R.
Since leaving KC and moving to Denver I have a totally different palate for Mexican food.. But one thing this place has that most don't.. That white cheese queso. OH.MY.GOD. I would put that shit on everything! Great atmosphere. Kind of in an odd location. Service was ALWAYS great. I never had to have a long wait. I try to get here whenever I get back to KC.
(3)
Jessica B.
I been going to manny a for years and today the food was great , but my waitress Courtney was having a attitude after I ask to get another toco that did not even look like the toco my family had on their plate . Also, I was listening to how she talk to the other people next to me and she was having the same attitude with them. She only started being nice because the boss was watching the floor because of this experience I rate it a 4 star, but the food is great and I recommend the Mucho Tacos.
(4)
Rhonda S.
I still don't care for Manny's. It doesn't measure up to the Mexican restaurants that exist in Kansas City. I think it;s getting worse. Parking (on a Wednesday, around 1:00) was horrible. Sketchy to say the least. How do you know if you don't park in Manny's parking, if you are parked legally or not? Before I ever return, they need to revamp and update parking. The signage isn't clear. Still pretty on the inside, but what is it with the wait? Most places in Kansas City aren't worth waiting over 15 minutes, and the place wasn't that full. I had a near 15 minute wait, but saw plenty of empty tables. But then, maybe I am being picky. Not a place for a quick lunch. I should've called my order, cause with my job, I'm never sure where I'll be in Kansas City. Just glad I didn't have any appointments after. I ordered the soft tacos.I guess I eat a fuck load of tacos. But anyway, they were soft tacos, with sour cream, lettuce, cheese. The ground beef was prepared and seasoned not too much, and not too hot. I had flour tortilla shells. I think still what doesn't' sell me on Manny's, is, once again, the sauce, this time, instead of resembling Ragu, it kind of tasted a bit like Hines, not that I mind Hines, it's in my refrigerator. I don't like it on my tacos. I think that is the kicker right there. I asked about the vegetarian tacos, but the server kind of looked at me funny. They do have them. Funny looks irritate me. I know I said I'd not be back, but I needed to give them another chance. I really want to give them more than 2 stars, cause it's a destination spot for some, but I still don't get why, except that it looks cool, and the building has historical properties, I would guess. Rather Ponaks down the street with it's crappy parking than Manny's. This time I stand by my word...no more.
(2)
Mark R.
I have to agree with a lot of the previous reviews. The food is good, not great. The chili relleno with beef was good when I added some of the cheesy white Monterrey sauce the waitress brought us. The pork in the Manny burrito was good but the rest of the presentation was average. I probably will not return.
(3)
Rachel P.
There's not a lot to say about Manny's that hasn't been said. The food is Mexican with a "healthy" dose of queso available upon request. The chips and salsa are pretty standard and free flowing. They do have good margaritas and drink specials on First Fridays. I've gotten a few things, but mostly the Monterey burrito (since about second grade.)The dinner crowd is usually lighter, but lunch can be really busy.
(4)
J J.
This place, no matter what the reviews, is just plain average. It's mediocre. The meats- be it chicken or beef are highly under-seasoned. The chips and salsa are whatever. They put WAY too much cheese on top of their enchiladas, which are metiocre. People love it who don't know any better. Skip it. There are SO MANY more good Mexican places right on S.W Blvd.
(2)
Jessica R.
This isn't authentic Mexican. Everything just covered in cheese. Ordered a chicken taco on soft tortilla and seriously got a hunk of chicken breast in a tortilla and nothing else. Nothing. The enchilada wasn't much better but smothered in cheese. The green Chile sauce is rather spicy! We didn't really eat our dinners. Real disappointment. The waitress was nice but didn't really address the plain "taco" situation. If you want fast food style tex-mex, this might work. If you want authentic Mexican, I suggest reconsidering this selection.
(1)
Cassandra B.
Food was acceptable. That's about it. Nothing spectacular. Standard Mexican fare. But the personnel working at the establishment made the establishment one to remember... And not for any good reasons. The hostess was a bundle of joy. If bundle of joy means a petulant unhappy emotionless robot. She did not greet or acknowledge our party of 6 upon entry in any capacity. It was like the worst thing in the world that she had customers to sit. I haven't bothered to write a review until this visit. But 3 times of dealing with the same rude hostess over a period of a couple weeks prompted me to do so. I would quit going... But my doofus friends keep insisting because it's close. You should probably hire someone who makes the establishment worth going to.
(1)
Jessica R.
This isn't authentic Mexican. Everything just covered in cheese. Ordered a chicken taco on soft tortilla and seriously got a hunk of chicken breast in a tortilla and nothing else. Nothing. The enchilada wasn't much better but smothered in cheese. The green Chile sauce is rather spicy! We didn't really eat our dinners. Real disappointment. The waitress was nice but didn't really address the plain "taco" situation. If you want fast food style tex-mex, this might work. If you want authentic Mexican, I suggest reconsidering this selection.
(1)
John K.
They say location is key and that is the only thing this DUMP has going for it. Sure the talking heads in the media like to think of it as a KC tradition because it's been there since the dawn of time but eat there once and you'll know why anywhere else would be better. Ho hum Tex Mex and a few sad attempts at "authentic Mexican" all swathed in grease and cheese. The service is unfriendly and slow. The only tradition here is intestinal unrest a few hours after eating which works out great for those going to the game, art show or ballet...braaaaaap uh oh, proot proot run NEVER AGAIN!!!
(1)
Hunter G.
I ate here today for probably the fiftieth time in my life. I've been here with friends, lovers, enemies and acquaintances. It's a KC institution. Not the best Mexican place but not the worst by far. The staff is always great and the food is tasty. Before this afternoon the last time I was here was with my bros. We filled up on Mexican and downed some margaritas and kept the Mexican train rolling by downing Tecates poolside all afternoon. Such a great summer day. Today, I ate with coworkers who tried to Catfish me once (unsuccessfully) and call me gay because I wear Birkenstocks. How can my bros be so fucking cool and my coworkers be so terrible. The ying and yang of the people in my life. I had the Burrito lunch special. Great deal.
(4)
Melissa R.
I've lived in KC for 22 years and have been to nearly every Mexican restaurant around. About every 5 years, I think I will try Manny's again, and always regret it. I will say the chips and salsa are decent & enchiladas are good. I took my family last night and it was a huge disappointment. The portions are tiny! My three kids ordered regular entrees, and left hungry! We ordered refried beans with one meal, and it came out with rice. When I brought it to the servers attention, she said she'd bring out beans right away. She did, but then charged us nearly $2 for less than 1/4 cup of beans. They also charged for about 1 spoonful of sour cream. Not happy, and NOT going back!
(1)
Rich H.
Came based on a friend's recommendation, and the fact they've been here for a long time. I'm not sure why. The salsa wasn't very spicy (mostly just tomato flavor), and the sampler platter I got while it had a good variety didn't have much flavor either. Pretty generic Mexican "fast food" from what I can tell. I'll probably give them another try and get something less generic than a sampler, but for now it's a 2.
(2)
David S.
TL;DR Nachos Gigante are awesome! Smothered in queso and sour cream. Great house chips and salsa My girlfriend and I were driving around looking to kill about and hour and a half before a movie. We drove past Manny's and I immediately thought, "QUESO!" So I pulled in and we went inside. We'd had a late breakfast so we weren't super hungry so we ordered the Nachos Gigante with chicken. When it came it was smothered in white Monterrey cheese queso, sour cream and a layer of refried beans. There was definitely more topping than there was chips...just the way it should be. The service was friendly and very, very fast. No sooner had I finished my Pepsi and set it down there was a new one right there. The chips and salsa young when first seated are very good too. The chips were hot and fresh and the salsa had just enough cilantro but wasn't overpowering.
(5)
Stephanie C.
Went here again a few days ago. Had reservation for 10 at 530 and all of us were all here almost at 540. They only seat parties that are all there, WHICH IS VERY STUPID! We still had to wait awhile. It looked like they were short....and it was a Saturday night! Finally got sat at about 6 in a smaller area in the back which was more quiet. A guy who seemed like a server assistant/busser got 7 waters. Me and 2 others didn't get a drink. Server came few mins later asking about drinks. A few got alcohol and me and the other 2 asked for water. She came back with the 5 alcoholic drinks and NO WATERS. ?? Ok....but she had to fix a maragarita. She came back with just the margarita. By then I was getting mad not having anything to drink with my chips and salsa. She finally came back few mins later with waters. After we ordered we didn't even see her at all til our food came. The guy that brought us waters at the very beginning did everything, refills mostly on chips, salsa, drinks. Saw server once we had our food and she had 3 other tables. But she barely paid attention to us. She didn't seem like she wanted to be there. She got our boxes later and gave the checks out. She didn't come back til 5 mins later after we asked the same guy to get her. She was VERY SLOW. Idk if she was new or needed help, which she clearly got help from the guy. We should have tipped him instead.....like for real! The food was same. Salsa still SUCKS. Taco sauce/pizza sauce is what others said it tasted like. Not even chunky. Thats not even salsa. Salsa is suppose to be somewhat chunky with onions, cilantro, jalopenos. Enchiladas were good though. In all it was just ok....won't go back unless we really want Mexican and are in the area.
(3)
Thomas A.
This restaurant is a Kansas City favorite. The atmosphere is nice, the prices are decent. The food is fine. It's located near several Kansas City entertainment venues so it's convenient for that. People from where I work, like to meet here for drinks, Happy Hour and group dinners. It's fine.
(3)
Jarrod V.
Another stop in my fiancee and I looking for good Mexican food. We happened in on Taco Tuesday, so we got one, along with our usual cheese sauce. The cheese sauce was alright, but I've had better. Didn't like the taco so much. For our entrees, I got the "famous" Manny's Burrito with pork. It wasn't bad. This was not my usual type of order and I was happy with that selection. My fiancee ordered the Enchilada Burrito. Again, not bad was the verdict. The atmosphere was nice, but it was a little tough to get a hold of the waiter, but he did have a large party to cover. He was quite helpful otherwise. Left him a nice tip.
(3)
Lauren M.
I've been going here for probably 10 years. They catered my wedding and I think they have amazing burritos. I always get the sombrero or the para su gusto. We just went last night and noticed their prices have gone up quite a bit. I felt that some of the items were pretty ridiculously priced, considering there's a Margaritas and El Patron down the street. I love Manny's salsa, it's the #1 salsa in my book. I still think they have the best Mexican food.
(4)
Cindy R.
Conveniently enough it was "Taco Tuesday" yesterday and I had some time to kill waiting for a friend who is always late. I stopped into Manny's for a quick bite at the bar and was greeted by a very friendly bartender. I ordered a white cheese dip, a chicken and beef hard shell taco and side of rice. I'm excited to say that Manny's NOW OFFERS TACO TUESDAY SPECIALS! :) $5 for two hard shell tacos of your choice with side of rice or beans. Nice deal! Oh and $2.50 Domestic beers (draft or bottle). I wanted to try both the beef and chicken tacos and the chicken is by far better. Maybe it's because I'm more of a chicken person in general but the meat was cooked to perfection. The cheese dip was just okay. Could have used a little more of something, although I'd have to put some good thought into it to figure it out... I mixed the hot and mild sauce last night and enjoyed it better than just one of them on their own. Their chips were warm and not greasy so that was good also! Overall, I was in the middle of either a 3 or 4 because my food was good and I can definitely see some changes occurring. Plus, the owner reaching out yesterday made me more willing to go back. Keep it up! :)
(3)
Mary M.
We dine here pretty regularly because it's an easy walk from our apartment and the prices are pretty good. Food arrives very quickly after ordering. While I'm not personally fond of their enchilada sauce, I've enjoyed every other thing I have ordered-- especially the chile relleno burrito and the huevos Mexicanos. They're generous with the chips and salsa and they also have Diet Dr. Pepper, which isn't all that common in restaurants.
(4)
Samantha G.
If I could give this no stars I would. Let me begin by saying I downloaded yelp just to write this review! The service started out as ok but it quickly turned south when the waitress wasn't very attentive. We ordered the cheapest margaritas.... And they were HORRIBLE. So bad, I sent mine back! This is saying something because I've never met a margarita I couldn't drink before. The waitress ran off before even asking if i wanted to replace it. My friend had the same but was able to get it down. She tried ordering the top shelf Cadillac marg. When the waitress returned And it was worse than the first. She tried explaining to the waitress on a peer level, that this drink was BAD and she should taste it. On that peer level she did say it was fucking disgusting and we weren't trying to be rude but that it was BAD and something was wrong..... And immediately the waitress ran off and said she would get her manager. Her manager came back with new drink in hand and immediately started yelling at us and saying they would fix anything but we shouldn't cuss at her employees... And we tried explaining that we didnt like her aggressive behavior and that we didnt cuzz AT her.... She wouldn't listen... At which point we asked for our checks. We were brought one. We then asked for them to be split. She split them in a weird way without asking. They then had to be fixed..... Needless to say, the only tip she got was that her boss needed anger management classes and that she needs to offer solutions to a customer before immediately running to a manager.... I pray we don't get food poisoning from these horrible drinks!
(1)
R R.
Just ate here, it's a Saturday around 4:30. Got right in. We eat here often so I finally decided to sign up on Yelp an give my opinion. It's wonderful. Its got flavor, reasonable price, great service, really enjoy the margaritas as well. Chips were delivered immediately by Eric. He never missed a beat getting chips and sauce when getting low. Want to mention too the cheese sauce is perfect. This is a Mexican restaurant not a Tex Mex. Delicious!
(4)
Bobby N.
Manny's is good. Just good. Coming from a Mexican family, I hold Mexican food joints to a pretty high standard. When I was a kid I fricken looooved this place! In grade school some of the other kids parents I went to school with worked here. My grandparents took the whole family to dinner for their anniversary here. I have many fond memories of dinner at Manny's. Now...Manny's is good. Just good. The chips and salsa are fire. So are the margaritas. I also dig the mariachis when they are there. But that's about where my love for the place stops. The food is good. Not stellar. And there is ALWAYS a wait. And I won't wait. Unless you're paying.
(3)
P M.
Worst Mexican food, rude staff, RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE. Here are some tips for the cooks... One, you need to oil up your corn tortillas before heating them. The failure to do so will result in making an already dry product even more dry. This is why your chicken soft tacos tasted like sandpaper (the dry chicken did not help). This lack of oil also led to your dry rice and dried flour tortilla that surrounded my chicken and veggie burrito. Also, cheddar should not be on a chicken burrito. Then there's the salsa. I am pretty sure it's spaghetti sauce. Finally, there's the wait staff. I was eating with a friend when a couple we knew randomly showed up and we invited them to sit with us. We asked to be moved to a larger table. "We don't sit incomplete parties. You guys should not have even been seated." She had a very rude tone and talked to us like we were little kids. Finally, this place is way overpriced. How on earth this place is still in business is way beyond me, especially when there are several Mexican restaurants around with better food, service, and prices.
Great street tacos and a mean (good) mojito! This place is a nice spot on the map for Mexican food.
(5)
Jarold W.
First time so we will see. For an AZ native in MO eating Mexican food....review will follow......food was good for what we had. I was part of a large group and we were served buffet style so it may not be fair to suggest ordering from the menu would be the same but what I ate was not the kind of Mexican food we enjoy in Arizona. Starting with chips and "hot sauce" (I was craving salsa) which had little picante zing to it - even the so called hotter version. Again, good for what it was but we (I had table mates from Denver and Austin) did not eat what we call Mexican food.
(2)
Sharon M.
I love this place. OK -- the salsa is very mild -- but the food is great. High recommend for a lunch and cocktail.
(4)
Kelly M.
Food was decent, had the burrito Frito. Service was average... The main dining room was way too loud to carry on a nice conversation though.
(3)
Xyz X.
Everything tasted like it came straight from a can.
(1)
Suzi S.
We were looking for a place to grab lunch on Valentine's Day and walked into Manny's. We were seated quickly, even on such a busy day with a party of eight. It's a big place with lots of tables. The building is renovated and the place seemed clean and nicely decorated. Service was quick and courteous, food was fresh and hot, and arrived quickly. I thought it was really good! There are a lot of good Mexican restaurants in KC, so maybe it's not THE BEST, but I will go back.
(4)
Alicia H.
My husband and I have poked fun at Manny's for years, but there was a major flaw in the attitude we had toward the place. Neither of us actually had the Manny's experience. We decided if we were going to continue joking about eating at Manny's that we should actually go. We remedied the situation this past Saturday afternoon for lunch. We opted not to go on First Friday because I'm pretty certain that's when the place does the bulk of its business in a month. This isn't to say the place is not busy. Because it looks busy most evenings on the weekends. People continually complain about how long the wait is sometimes. I can sum my experience by saying this -- as a kid, I really liked Carlos O'Kelly's. Manny's is a lot like Carlos O'Kelly's only more cheese and possibly higher prices. This is probably because of the amount of cheese Manny's uses along with inflation ... but probably more because of the cosmic yellow cheese. My husband ordered the El Sombrero to get an opportunity to sample some different TexMex elements that Manny's produces. I went with the Para las Senoritas because it's "for the ladies" and for lighter appetites. I'm not sure what's light about it. It's TexMex. Saying TexMex is light is like saying cheetahs don't run. Also, I don't necessarily take issue with this dish being for the ladies. I think dudes can order it as well. But it seems to me that whenever this dish is ordered that Beyonce should come out and serenade the person ordering. Why Beyonce? I don't know know. I guess because of that "Single Ladies" song. The words of that song can be changed for this occasion pretty easily. I'm sure of it. Anyhow, here's how I assess the elements of the "For the Ladies" meal: - Ground beef taco - Not offensive. Shell was a bit greasy - Bean tostada - buried under the other stuff on the plate so it was the last thing I tried. At that point the crispy shell was not crispy, which is to be expected. - Chicken enchilada - the chicken was a little dry but OK. I found the yellow goopy cheese not at all to my liking and it covered the enchilada. I felt pretty happy I went with the chicken and not the cheese & onion option. Rice - it was rice. So, there you have it. Lots of places do TexMex a bit better and they are within blocks of Carlos O'Manny's ... err ... Manny's.
(2)
Charles D.
Manny's is one of my favorite restaurants and is my favorite Mexican restaurant in Kansas City. I have been a long time fan. When I worked nearby, I would go 1-2 times a week for lunch. Now that I don't work nearby, I go fairly often and it is always as good as I remember. I always order the Frito Burrito with chicken and beef. It is basically a chimichanga and it is incredibly delicious. Their spicy salsa is my favorite salsa. I eat way too much of it every time I go. The mild salsa isn't my favorite, but this is not a problem because I eat almost exclusively the spicy salsa. The only downside is that Manny's is expensive. It is worth it, though, and my family and I go as often as we can.
(5)
Melissa F.
Never again. We walked in and were waiting forever to be seated despite the fact that it was an off time and not busy. We were seated so far away from the main area way in the back of a second giant room. The salsa was watery and lacked any substance or flavor. The chips were stale. I ordered a chicken burrito and it was disappointing. To be on southwest blvd with Mexican food I expected way more. I won't be coming back here.
(1)
Z M.
Would love to give this place a (0) Zero star if I could. It took 25 minutes of waiting for a vegan meal. Seriously!?!? The owner was less than accommodating with a simple request. I'm out of town and like checking new venues. Glad to say that I will never be coming back to this place. It's too bad that the owner don't see the value of taking care of their guests.
(1)
Alexia R.
If I could, I would give this 0 stars. Horrible service... And one of our friends fell asleep waiting for his food... This is not an exaggeration
(1)
Corbie K.
Tried Manny's for the first time a few days ago for a friend's birthday. We made the reservation the night before, but still had to wait a while because they won't seat a group until everyone is present and the person who drove all of us was still trying to find a place to park. They have horrible parking, by the way, so be prepared to drive around the block several times until something opens up. Anyway when we were finally taken to our table we were led through the first large room and into the next and then given a table placed in the hallway next to the waitstaff's cash register and computer desk. It felt like we were always in the way as employees and customers were constantly walking past our table. The food was a let down. It was pretty pricey and lacked flavor. I got the tamale spread, but was turned off by the huge amount of cheese dip that covered both tamales. The cheese quickly cooled and became gluey and the flavor overpowered everything else. I did enjoy their hot salsa and rice, however. Overall, I'd have to say I was disappointed. I was excited to try the famous Manny's, but I'm sad to say, I'd rather have almost any other Tex-Mex place around here.
(2)
D. B.
Just saw that someone rated this with two stars and suggested she likes On the Border better. I mean, to each their own, but if On the Border is your idea of good, authentic Mexican food, I think that that means the joke is on you and it kind of makes me feel a little sad inside. Parking isn't great, no, but that has more to do with where the building is located - the building is on a corner of a busy intersection in the Crossroads district - what would you expect, especially on a weekend night? When we go, we usually start with the queso dip for our chips because that dip tastes like unicorn snot (really good). I like to eat on the lighter side, so I normally order the Manny's chicken salad and I'm never disappointed. I saw another reviewer complain about the servings being too small. I'm sure Manny's would apologize for not stuffing your kids' plates with 3,500 calories because, y'know, freedom and America. It's called "portion" for a reason. Manny's is absolutely essential for KCMO.
(5)
Justin W.
Great food and customer service. Able to get quickly sat. Margarita amazing as well. Will be returning. The taco sin carne (vegetable taco) was really good and had a lot of flavor. Manager was proactive and attentive to our table as well.
(5)
Cassandra B.
Food was acceptable. That's about it. Nothing spectacular. Standard Mexican fare. But the personnel working at the establishment made the establishment one to remember... And not for any good reasons. The hostess was a bundle of joy. If bundle of joy means a petulant unhappy emotionless robot. She did not greet or acknowledge our party of 6 upon entry in any capacity. It was like the worst thing in the world that she had customers to sit. I haven't bothered to write a review until this visit. But 3 times of dealing with the same rude hostess over a period of a couple weeks prompted me to do so. I would quit going... But my doofus friends keep insisting because it's close. You should probably hire someone who makes the establishment worth going to.
(1)
John K.
They say location is key and that is the only thing this DUMP has going for it. Sure the talking heads in the media like to think of it as a KC tradition because it's been there since the dawn of time but eat there once and you'll know why anywhere else would be better. Ho hum Tex Mex and a few sad attempts at "authentic Mexican" all swathed in grease and cheese. The service is unfriendly and slow. The only tradition here is intestinal unrest a few hours after eating which works out great for those going to the game, art show or ballet...braaaaaap uh oh, proot proot run NEVER AGAIN!!!
(1)
Hunter G.
I ate here today for probably the fiftieth time in my life. I've been here with friends, lovers, enemies and acquaintances. It's a KC institution. Not the best Mexican place but not the worst by far. The staff is always great and the food is tasty. Before this afternoon the last time I was here was with my bros. We filled up on Mexican and downed some margaritas and kept the Mexican train rolling by downing Tecates poolside all afternoon. Such a great summer day. Today, I ate with coworkers who tried to Catfish me once (unsuccessfully) and call me gay because I wear Birkenstocks. How can my bros be so fucking cool and my coworkers be so terrible. The ying and yang of the people in my life. I had the Burrito lunch special. Great deal.
(4)
Melissa R.
I've lived in KC for 22 years and have been to nearly every Mexican restaurant around. About every 5 years, I think I will try Manny's again, and always regret it. I will say the chips and salsa are decent & enchiladas are good. I took my family last night and it was a huge disappointment. The portions are tiny! My three kids ordered regular entrees, and left hungry! We ordered refried beans with one meal, and it came out with rice. When I brought it to the servers attention, she said she'd bring out beans right away. She did, but then charged us nearly $2 for less than 1/4 cup of beans. They also charged for about 1 spoonful of sour cream. Not happy, and NOT going back!
(1)
Rich H.
Came based on a friend's recommendation, and the fact they've been here for a long time. I'm not sure why. The salsa wasn't very spicy (mostly just tomato flavor), and the sampler platter I got while it had a good variety didn't have much flavor either. Pretty generic Mexican "fast food" from what I can tell. I'll probably give them another try and get something less generic than a sampler, but for now it's a 2.
(2)
David S.
TL;DR Nachos Gigante are awesome! Smothered in queso and sour cream. Great house chips and salsa My girlfriend and I were driving around looking to kill about and hour and a half before a movie. We drove past Manny's and I immediately thought, "QUESO!" So I pulled in and we went inside. We'd had a late breakfast so we weren't super hungry so we ordered the Nachos Gigante with chicken. When it came it was smothered in white Monterrey cheese queso, sour cream and a layer of refried beans. There was definitely more topping than there was chips...just the way it should be. The service was friendly and very, very fast. No sooner had I finished my Pepsi and set it down there was a new one right there. The chips and salsa young when first seated are very good too. The chips were hot and fresh and the salsa had just enough cilantro but wasn't overpowering.
(5)
Stephanie C.
Went here again a few days ago. Had reservation for 10 at 530 and all of us were all here almost at 540. They only seat parties that are all there, WHICH IS VERY STUPID! We still had to wait awhile. It looked like they were short....and it was a Saturday night! Finally got sat at about 6 in a smaller area in the back which was more quiet. A guy who seemed like a server assistant/busser got 7 waters. Me and 2 others didn't get a drink. Server came few mins later asking about drinks. A few got alcohol and me and the other 2 asked for water. She came back with the 5 alcoholic drinks and NO WATERS. ?? Ok....but she had to fix a maragarita. She came back with just the margarita. By then I was getting mad not having anything to drink with my chips and salsa. She finally came back few mins later with waters. After we ordered we didn't even see her at all til our food came. The guy that brought us waters at the very beginning did everything, refills mostly on chips, salsa, drinks. Saw server once we had our food and she had 3 other tables. But she barely paid attention to us. She didn't seem like she wanted to be there. She got our boxes later and gave the checks out. She didn't come back til 5 mins later after we asked the same guy to get her. She was VERY SLOW. Idk if she was new or needed help, which she clearly got help from the guy. We should have tipped him instead.....like for real! The food was same. Salsa still SUCKS. Taco sauce/pizza sauce is what others said it tasted like. Not even chunky. Thats not even salsa. Salsa is suppose to be somewhat chunky with onions, cilantro, jalopenos. Enchiladas were good though. In all it was just ok....won't go back unless we really want Mexican and are in the area.
(3)
Thomas A.
This restaurant is a Kansas City favorite. The atmosphere is nice, the prices are decent. The food is fine. It's located near several Kansas City entertainment venues so it's convenient for that. People from where I work, like to meet here for drinks, Happy Hour and group dinners. It's fine.
(3)
Jarrod V.
Another stop in my fiancee and I looking for good Mexican food. We happened in on Taco Tuesday, so we got one, along with our usual cheese sauce. The cheese sauce was alright, but I've had better. Didn't like the taco so much. For our entrees, I got the "famous" Manny's Burrito with pork. It wasn't bad. This was not my usual type of order and I was happy with that selection. My fiancee ordered the Enchilada Burrito. Again, not bad was the verdict. The atmosphere was nice, but it was a little tough to get a hold of the waiter, but he did have a large party to cover. He was quite helpful otherwise. Left him a nice tip.
(3)
Lauren M.
I've been going here for probably 10 years. They catered my wedding and I think they have amazing burritos. I always get the sombrero or the para su gusto. We just went last night and noticed their prices have gone up quite a bit. I felt that some of the items were pretty ridiculously priced, considering there's a Margaritas and El Patron down the street. I love Manny's salsa, it's the #1 salsa in my book. I still think they have the best Mexican food.
(4)
Cindy R.
Conveniently enough it was "Taco Tuesday" yesterday and I had some time to kill waiting for a friend who is always late. I stopped into Manny's for a quick bite at the bar and was greeted by a very friendly bartender. I ordered a white cheese dip, a chicken and beef hard shell taco and side of rice. I'm excited to say that Manny's NOW OFFERS TACO TUESDAY SPECIALS! :) $5 for two hard shell tacos of your choice with side of rice or beans. Nice deal! Oh and $2.50 Domestic beers (draft or bottle). I wanted to try both the beef and chicken tacos and the chicken is by far better. Maybe it's because I'm more of a chicken person in general but the meat was cooked to perfection. The cheese dip was just okay. Could have used a little more of something, although I'd have to put some good thought into it to figure it out... I mixed the hot and mild sauce last night and enjoyed it better than just one of them on their own. Their chips were warm and not greasy so that was good also! Overall, I was in the middle of either a 3 or 4 because my food was good and I can definitely see some changes occurring. Plus, the owner reaching out yesterday made me more willing to go back. Keep it up! :)
(3)
Mary M.
We dine here pretty regularly because it's an easy walk from our apartment and the prices are pretty good. Food arrives very quickly after ordering. While I'm not personally fond of their enchilada sauce, I've enjoyed every other thing I have ordered-- especially the chile relleno burrito and the huevos Mexicanos. They're generous with the chips and salsa and they also have Diet Dr. Pepper, which isn't all that common in restaurants.
(4)
Samantha G.
If I could give this no stars I would. Let me begin by saying I downloaded yelp just to write this review! The service started out as ok but it quickly turned south when the waitress wasn't very attentive. We ordered the cheapest margaritas.... And they were HORRIBLE. So bad, I sent mine back! This is saying something because I've never met a margarita I couldn't drink before. The waitress ran off before even asking if i wanted to replace it. My friend had the same but was able to get it down. She tried ordering the top shelf Cadillac marg. When the waitress returned And it was worse than the first. She tried explaining to the waitress on a peer level, that this drink was BAD and she should taste it. On that peer level she did say it was fucking disgusting and we weren't trying to be rude but that it was BAD and something was wrong..... And immediately the waitress ran off and said she would get her manager. Her manager came back with new drink in hand and immediately started yelling at us and saying they would fix anything but we shouldn't cuss at her employees... And we tried explaining that we didnt like her aggressive behavior and that we didnt cuzz AT her.... She wouldn't listen... At which point we asked for our checks. We were brought one. We then asked for them to be split. She split them in a weird way without asking. They then had to be fixed..... Needless to say, the only tip she got was that her boss needed anger management classes and that she needs to offer solutions to a customer before immediately running to a manager.... I pray we don't get food poisoning from these horrible drinks!
(1)
R R.
Just ate here, it's a Saturday around 4:30. Got right in. We eat here often so I finally decided to sign up on Yelp an give my opinion. It's wonderful. Its got flavor, reasonable price, great service, really enjoy the margaritas as well. Chips were delivered immediately by Eric. He never missed a beat getting chips and sauce when getting low. Want to mention too the cheese sauce is perfect. This is a Mexican restaurant not a Tex Mex. Delicious!
(4)
Bobby N.
Manny's is good. Just good. Coming from a Mexican family, I hold Mexican food joints to a pretty high standard. When I was a kid I fricken looooved this place! In grade school some of the other kids parents I went to school with worked here. My grandparents took the whole family to dinner for their anniversary here. I have many fond memories of dinner at Manny's. Now...Manny's is good. Just good. The chips and salsa are fire. So are the margaritas. I also dig the mariachis when they are there. But that's about where my love for the place stops. The food is good. Not stellar. And there is ALWAYS a wait. And I won't wait. Unless you're paying.
(3)
P M.
Worst Mexican food, rude staff, RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE. Here are some tips for the cooks... One, you need to oil up your corn tortillas before heating them. The failure to do so will result in making an already dry product even more dry. This is why your chicken soft tacos tasted like sandpaper (the dry chicken did not help). This lack of oil also led to your dry rice and dried flour tortilla that surrounded my chicken and veggie burrito. Also, cheddar should not be on a chicken burrito. Then there's the salsa. I am pretty sure it's spaghetti sauce. Finally, there's the wait staff. I was eating with a friend when a couple we knew randomly showed up and we invited them to sit with us. We asked to be moved to a larger table. "We don't sit incomplete parties. You guys should not have even been seated." She had a very rude tone and talked to us like we were little kids. Finally, this place is way overpriced. How on earth this place is still in business is way beyond me, especially when there are several Mexican restaurants around with better food, service, and prices.
Great street tacos and a mean (good) mojito! This place is a nice spot on the map for Mexican food.
(5)
Jarold W.
First time so we will see. For an AZ native in MO eating Mexican food....review will follow......food was good for what we had. I was part of a large group and we were served buffet style so it may not be fair to suggest ordering from the menu would be the same but what I ate was not the kind of Mexican food we enjoy in Arizona. Starting with chips and "hot sauce" (I was craving salsa) which had little picante zing to it - even the so called hotter version. Again, good for what it was but we (I had table mates from Denver and Austin) did not eat what we call Mexican food.
(2)
Sharon M.
I love this place. OK -- the salsa is very mild -- but the food is great. High recommend for a lunch and cocktail.
(4)
Kelly M.
Food was decent, had the burrito Frito. Service was average... The main dining room was way too loud to carry on a nice conversation though.
(3)
Xyz X.
Everything tasted like it came straight from a can.
(1)
Suzi S.
We were looking for a place to grab lunch on Valentine's Day and walked into Manny's. We were seated quickly, even on such a busy day with a party of eight. It's a big place with lots of tables. The building is renovated and the place seemed clean and nicely decorated. Service was quick and courteous, food was fresh and hot, and arrived quickly. I thought it was really good! There are a lot of good Mexican restaurants in KC, so maybe it's not THE BEST, but I will go back.
(4)
Liz P.
Ehhhh I expect better. The food is not even near the quality it should be for the prices they charge and neither is the service. It seems to be a popular place though and always crowded. I've been there twice and both times, I definitely saw waiters rushing around and doing things, but never actually waiting on customers. There was also mass confusion in the waiting/entrance area when my friends and I walked in (4 of us). There were other people standing around and no one knew what to do or who to talk to since the host was nowhere to be seen. If nothing else, the bartender could have said something like "Hold on folks, the host will be right with you". It wasn't that long until we were finally seated, but we didn't even get a half-assed apology, let alone a real apology for the wait/confusion. At least say it, even if you don't care and hate your job. Bottom line: go find another Mexican restaurant and eat better food. Suggestion: El Patron. So delicious.
(1)
Tabitha M.
First off, nothing beats my boyfriend's Mexican cooking or anything I have ever eaten in Mexico. That said, Manny's is pretty damn good. I'm confused by why the rating is so low. I got the Burrito Frito (which is seriously just a chimichanga) but it was delicious. The tortilla was flakey and perfectly fried. The chicken was tender and well seasoned. It was a decent size for about $7. My boyfriend got the Burrito Verde (swears it was delicious, I can't vouch for it since it's pork but I believe him). The cheese sauce was AMAZING! I said numerous times I thought I could just drink the cheese sauce. We'll blame that one on being pregnant. haha. The service was lightening speed. It was a friday night around 7-8 when we went. Our food came in less than 15 minutes after ordering. The waitress was quick on the drink and chip refills. She was wonderful. The environment is clean, but kind of strange. It looks kind of high class for being what it is, but I guess that just makes for an interesting experience. I cannot wait to go back to Manny's.
(4)
Lindsey S.
How does Manny's only have 2 1/2 stars?? Every time I go there is at least a 30 min. wait.... I must say I don't love the salsa or the re-fried beans which are very important things at Mexican food restaurants. But the main entrees, atmosphere, and service do make up for them. It's always a lively crowd on Friday nights. It's a great place to host a birthday dinner, or any dinner with a large group. There are always large groups so they seem to be very accommodating for them. My favorite dish is served during lent (i don't celebrate but love the idea of this). I get their cheese and spinach enchilada meal. Wonderful! I wish they served it YEAR ROUND!! wink wink to the manager.
(4)
Christopher Thomas B.
I used to swear by this place, but a recent visit confirmed some suspicions. 1) They have turning tables down to a science. Service lacks warmth and sincerity. You'll get your meal quickly, but the same can be said for the public school cafeteria. And at least they smile. 2) No refills on chips? Is cutting this cost really worth being known as stingy? 3) Always a wait here. You probably should go down the street for something more authentic, and more inviting---but the crowds can't be wrong can they? 10 billion served at McDonalds
(2)
Amanda R.
After a long gap, we decided to visit Manny's again for dinner on a First Friday. Not really the best time to get a table anywhere in the vicinity of the Crossroads District and, as expected, we waited for about 15-20 minutes before being seated (better than 30+ minutes at Pizza Bella, hah!) While waiting, we got drinks. Never had a margarita at Manny's before but, damn, it was strong. Anyway, I'm not sure if it's because we've tried more Mexican places in the area or what, but it would seem that my fondness for Manny's is somewhat diminished. Their chips and salsa are still my favorite, and the food is good enough for what it is. But... Their menu is smaller than I remember and rather basic in terms of selection. Many of the selections are more Tex than Mex, and there's nothing as exotic as mole (which we are now using as our barometer of authenticity). I noticed that they now have a fish taco...with breaded white fish? Nonetheless, SO enjoyed his tamales, and I enjoyed my burrito. We went home full and happy, and I can't complain about that.
(3)
Bryant S.
After everyone around me working this place up to be such an awesome "Mexican" restaurant, I felt very let down by the simplest Mexican dish. Corn soft shell tacos. They were bland with no spice served with flavorless colby cheese and rice that looked promising but was just as bland as steamed white rice... The salsa with the chips seemed like it was tomato sauce cut with water and a little cilantro. And the "hot" version was about the same with a hint of bell pepper. All and all it was ok nothing to spit out, but if I want authentic I won't be coming here again.
(3)
Scott M.
I'll never understand why so many out-of-towners think that this is the Mexican restaurant you are supposed to go to when visiting KC. It makes me sad to think that they go back home and tell others that Manny's represents KC's style of Mexican. It also makes me sad that visitors who fall into the Manny's trap miss out on all of the far superior Mexican food just a few blocks further down the Boulevard, up on Summit, or even over in Argentine and Armourdale. The salsa is uninspiring and almost completely devoid of flavor. The food is just above frozen TV dinner Tex-Mex. In fact, most suburban strip mall parking lot chains serve up better dishes. As for the service, long waits for anything seem to be the norm. On my last visit there were only two other tables occupied and we never got refills and had to hunt for our server when we were ready to pay. Really, people, if you are visiting KC and your friends tell you you MUST visit Manny's, slap them upside the head and find new friends.
(2)
John L.
I don't know where some of the reviewers are coming from that did not give this place higher marks. It is as good or better than any Tex-Mex place I have eaten in Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, or Arizona. Very reasonably priced and very tasty. House margarita was excellent. My only dissatisfied selection was the sopapillas that we ordered boxed up to go. They were crispy cinnamon coated sopapillas Chips, not the fluffy pastries I expected. Give it a try and decide for yourself.
(4)
Jason A.
Standard Mexican food establishment. The service was nice. Expect to pay 10 bucks for a place most people can find for 6-8 bucks elsewhere. Not that big a difference considering you are in the middle of KC, MO. I would eat here again if I were in the area and just wanted to drop on by for some quick Mexican food. However, I would not say to go out of your way to eat here. The salsa is better than most Mexican places I've been.
(2)
Andrea W.
My husband and I ate a late lunch here on Saturday. Perfect timing! There were plenty of available seats. Great service and very friendly. The guacamole was flavorful and fresh. I ordered the favorite pork tacos on corn tortillas with refried beans. It came with a green tomatillo sauce that was delicious on the tacos. My husband ordered tamales and enjoyed every bite. Not every Mexican restaurant serves them.
(4)
Chris D.
Manny's is about as Mexican as Pizza Hut is Italian. The names are there, as are the basic ingredients; but the end result is far, far from authentic. Yes I understand that Manny's is a "Kansas City Institution". And yes I understand that it has legions of loyal customers. But come on. The second we found out "Blame it on the Rain" wasn't sang by Milli or Vanilli we banished their asses into musical obscurity. Why have we not yet done so with the culinary sham that is Manny's? Case in point: crunchy tacos. Mexicans do not eat crunchy tacos. The brown skin folks on the Old El Paso commercials have lied to you! I'm fairly sure that they will not even let you into Mexico with crunchy shells. Liquid cheese? I know its tastes good, but to the best of my knowledge, such a thing does not exist anywhere south of Arizona; and it sure as hell isn't put on top of tamales and burritos. And don't even get me started on ground beef! Sure, I get that most Americans prefer their tex-mex. But Manny's isn't even good at that. If you insist on a plate of melted cheese at least go somewhere that does it well. On the positive side. I love the building. Love the downtown location. It's huge. Great for large parties. Staff is friendly and attentive. For these things Manny's gets 2 stars instead of 1. Last but not least, the salsa here is worst in the city. If you want to pick some up to take home you can find it in your local grocery under the title Ragu.
(2)
Jarah C.
The food at Manny's was fantastic, I had a spicy burrito with pork and a tomatillo sauce inside with a white cheese sausce on top, it was amazing! Their margaritas were about average, nothing out of the ordinary but they were strong, you definitely get your money's worth on those! I would definitely go back!
(4)
Diane N.
Please do yourself a favor and DO NOT go to Manny's. The salsa is like marinara pasta sauce. Seriously! Also the food is just bland, no taste and absolutely no heat. Very greasy. Actually it is quite bizarre that some KC residents love this place. It is more like taco Hamburger Helper. It is NOT "Tex-Mex" at all...not even close. Oh...and the cheese...BLECH! I've been there twice. Never again. I will drive further west on SW Blvd. to the REAL Mexican restaurants.
(1)
Ryan A.
If someone suggests this place to you and insists it is THE place for Mexican food in Kansas City, you should never under any circumstances take restaurant advice from them. They don't know what they're talking about, and they may be trying to kill you. Ok, so it isn't that bad, but it is pretty bad. Manny's is the epitome of KC-style "gringo Mex" which, for the uninitiated, generally consists of greasy piles of grease served inside (usually fried) corn tortillas, garnished with a pile of greasy yellow cheese and lettuce on top of everything. Mexican food this is not. Sadly, Manny's isn't even a very good example of "gringo Mex"; it's just the biggest and most famous, with Ponak's and others trailing not too far behind. It is mediocre at best. There are far better places to go for "gringo Mex". Fortunately, there are lots of great authentic Mex places in the city and across the river in KCK, too, if you know where to look. Oh, and one last thing. Sometimes you do have to park a block or two away and walk to get to Manny's. I suppose for people who are only used to walking a block or two past rows of cars in giant Wal-Mart parking lots instead of past buildings and through actual city blocks, this might seem like a big deal, but it really isn't. If having to walk a block or two is the only thing keeping you from returning to Manny's, try Taco Bell. You don't even have to get out of your car!
(2)
Reed N.
I liked the food, but they did short us one entree in our order. This happens too often at too many places and there is no excuse for it. I usually try three things to judge a Mexican place. Chile Rellenos, Tamales, and Enchiladas. I had the Rellenos here and they were very good. The beans and rice were actually tasty as well, and they better be if you are going to stick them on every plate! And yes, the salsa is "OK," but good salsa is very hard to find, and not the reason I'd go to a restaurant anyway.
(3)
Charolette G.
Manny's has been a staple for mexican food in my family since I was a little kid. For years, every Friday at 5 p.m., you could find us at Manny's. At the same table. The perks about this place is the family atmosphere, and the food is fairly decent, although I will agree with other reviews about it being greasy and heavy. My favorite is, and always will be the pork monterrey burrito, with lots of rice. it's a burrito with seasoned pork and refried beans smothered in their monterrey jack queso. YUM! The chips and salsa is really good, although if you like lots of strong flavor eat the hot variety. The queso is creamy and delicious, and you have to eat one of their chicken flautas (like a taquito) at least once! That being said, I will admit that quality has gone down a bit over the years, as well as the prices have gone up slightly, but it's still a favorite of mine, and always will be with all the memories I've had there!
(3)
Ryan R.
Horrible food, high prices, lame atmosphere. Biggest problem is the food though. I don't understand how a place can make Mexican food suck so bad. This is coming from a guy who loves almost all Mexican food with a passion too. Avoid this place.
(1)
Cori A.
This place used to be awesome! What happened? This place is more expensive than the other mexican places in KC. Service was good, nothing to complain about there. The salsa wasn't very good. I ordered taco's and they were good, but could've gone down the street and paid less. Parking is AWFUL, so be prepared.
(2)
Charity J.
Good atmosphere and food. I would eat here again.
(3)
Adam O.
I've eaten here numerous times simply because I live next door and don't learn my lesson quickly. Bland and over priced for what you get. PS How do you screw up salsa?!
(2)
Uncle Grannon L.
Honestly? Manny's isn't nearly as bad (or as good) as the reviews would have you believe. It is what it is. It's NOT authentic (nor can I fathom why any of the previous asshole reviewers from Texas or southern CA would think it was) nor is it particularly adventurous. It's a family owned "Tex-Mex" institution that's been in the area for a million years. It has hard shell tacos, and deep fried burritos and less than mind-blowing chips and salsa. It's ALSO: -filling -reasonably priced -consistent Yeah, it's not lengua and tripe served in a double soft shell corn tortilla, but most of the people who are complaining about it not being "real" Mexican food wouldn't know what to do with a chicharron taco if it threw up in their face.
(3)
Sarah L.
I went to Manny's with a couple coworkers after working all day. I had never been there before, but have heard from many people that they have amazing food. "Amazing" is not quite the word I would use to describe Manny's. More like "sub-par". The pros: There's tons of room, and it's good for groups Service is quick Food is filling The cons: Our water was a jerk Salsa tasted like tomato sauce (apparently many other reviewers noticed this also) Dinner enchiladas/burritos do not come with rice or beans. They're served with a side of lettuce. Given our experience, we will not be going back. I'd rather pay the same amount and go to a chain and get more food than go back to Manny's.
(2)
Joe C.
I don't get the appeal of Manny's. Sure, it's not bad but it sure isn't great. Someone loves it because there is always a line to get into this place. The staff is not overly friendly. From the hostess to the waitstaff, everyone seems to just be going through the motions without any passion for the job. The food tastes the same. It's good but without any passion. They seem to like to keep moving people through this place. If they keep moving people too quickly, they aren't going to have to worry about a line to get in too much longer!
(3)
Dan V.
Salsa and cheese dip are above average. Just don't expect to get seated unless all your party is in the building. They don't want you to start ordering appetizers and drinks.(Spending money) I don't get it but, it is a "RULE" that can not be broken. They really need a hostess that understands customer service. In this economy I would appreciate large parties in my establishment.
(3)
Jamison U.
Authentic? no, hardly. A landmark in KC gastronomic history? yes. Manny's is a place you go and don't expect authentic Mexican cuisine but KC-MEX cheesy-greasy food. If your expectations are right going in its good food in a good atmosphere.
(3)
Sarah B.
I'm so sad about the poor reviews for this restaurant! I love Manny's! True, it's not the best Mexican food in the world, but it is really good. The chips and salsa are awesome, though I recommend getting the queso. I've had a few dishes here and all have been pretty good. And the desserts are really great. The monterrey burrito, cheese enchiladas and taco salads are good choices... The Good: 1. The prices are reasonable and they offer discounts to some of the bigger businesses in KC 2. The wait for a table is never too long 3. Bottomless chips and salsa 4. Pleasant atmosphere 5. Fast service. Great for lunch breaks. The Bad: 1. Parking SUCKS. There is one teeny, tiny little lot next to the restaurant which is always full. You usually have to park a block away and walk. 2. Bitchy waitresses! Not all of them of course, but a fair few. Too many over the course of the 5 years I've been eating here. I never end up tipping much. 3. If you're vegetarian, your choices are limited. They have a veggie burrito which I will admit is crap. I desperately miss the chicken taco salad!
(4)
Jaime F.
Special occasions like a new employee, birthday or exodus from an old timer warrant staff lunch outings at my place of employment. The male to female ratio is skewed in favor of the calorie consuming burrito craving gents and we tend to wind up at Manny's more often than not. I knew I worked with considerate people once I heard the orders rolling in with each individual opting to sub rice for beans (this spells massive relief in light of the two toilets for the entire crew and open air layout of our desks). Manny's is a well oiled machine, the chip baskets rarely go low, water pitchers are close at hand and the staff tends to unforeseen needs without being pushy. Be advised that everything is fully saturated with cheese, just like I expect Kansas City style Mexican to be. I would be lying if I said it tasted authentic but that doesn't decrease the enjoyment of caloric cheesy overload. I have had the Monterey Chicken Burrito (with double rice of course) and a Quesadilla the last two times. The portions are beyond generous and if you really want to push your digestive tract into overdrive (or please your table-fed pit bull) take the leftovers. This is where I admit that I am a hot sauce geek, and yes, for emergency situations I do have a bottle of Tabasco in my purse. Shameful I know. It did come in handy here, they only offer their house made salsas to ignite your taste buds. I definitely recommend this as a lunch spot regardless of the size of your crew (although I would advise giving them a heads up in the form of a reservation for groups over 10). Always back to the office within an hour, standing in line for our offering from the Costco sized Tums bottle in the kitchen, preemptively purchased for days like these. The Febreeze cloud hangs heavy overhead and productivity is likely lower as the whole crew is fat, happy and sluggish after the burrito belly bomber lunch, but that doesn't seem to dissuade anyone from going back. An update will be warranted once I visit off the clock and sample the tequila centered concoctions...
(4)
Jody L.
Meh. I was so looking forward to trying this KC legend. The atmosphere and margaritas were good. But, the food was not. I had the cheese and onion enchiladas. The enchilada sauce was gross. So gross that I scraped as much as I could off my plate. I even had my friends take a taste just to make sure I was not being a total diva. And, they agreed it was totally gross. I am sticking with Ixtapa in the Northland for Mexican food. Sorry, Manny's.
(2)
Lisa L.
I like Manny's. Not my favorite but the Beef and Cheese nachos are to die for. Their food is reasonable and the staff is very nice.
(5)
Jennifer H.
Manny's is good Mexican food, if a little bland.
(3)
Candace M.
Love the white cheese dip. Seems to be a midwest thing because now that I live in Vegas I don't see it anywhere? Don't take it for granted! Good salsa and chips and love the margaritas. Food is good but not heavenly. If you don't live too far away I would check it out. Not in the nicest area of town. Prices okay. Service not that fantastic, and they seemed to close pretty early at night, however there was hardly anyone in there on the weeknight we went.
(3)
Noelle M.
I ended up coming here after I couldn't find Sol Azteca. It seemed pretty hopin', so I figured why not? I have been pretty spoiled with amazing mexican food, so while Manny's was good, it wasn't like aaaaaah-mazing. They bring out three kinds of salsa, none of which are too hot and one is SO good and flavorful, yum. I got a chicken flauta with rice and beans and a margarita---had to go native, right!? The margarita was so good, on the rocks of course, and the flauta was okay, looking back I probably would have gotten just a normal burrito or something. The highlight of the evening was dessert- Sopapilla Chips! MHHH basically they're a chip version of a churro and I got honey and chocolate on them with a scoop of ice cream---the table next door saw it once it hit my table and immediately ordered one, ha. The honey and chocolate was a good move, but next time I'm getting it on the side---less is more! Overall I enjoyed myself but wasn't wowed. The place seems authentic, but it is just soooooo huge, it would be a great place to bring a big group of people though!
(3)
Joe H.
Just because a lot of people go someplace, that doesn't mean it's good food. Manny's is the place for you if you like cheese and grease. If you like actual Mexican food, don't bother. I've never felt good about eating here the handful of times I've been.
(2)
David W.
I use to go to manny's growing up and it was good but after the fire it got bad. The food is greesy there is nothing like biting into a taco and drinking a cup of greese. The staff is ok if you can find anyone who speaks english. I went there about a year ago and found that they had raised the prices to levels that are a joke. I dont think I will be going back anytime soon.
(2)
Ashley M.
I don't understand the excitement of Manny's. The wait was long, water neglected, orders messed up, portions not great and the food - well, I've had a lot better. The amount of grease that leaked from my taco was disgusting. This place is overrated and not recommended. If you decide to go though - reservations are a good idea.
(1)
Kyle R.
Definitely the most famous and biggest Mexican restaurant in KC, Manny's has built a reputation in its many years on the Boulevard in KC. A reputation that is probably not wholly deserved. The food's decent, the servers are alright but the only thing that makes Manny's stand out is that's a massive restaurant with multiple stories, making it perfect for a group lunch or dinner. Its smart to make reservations on weekdays for lunch; all other times, you're going to be fine if you just show up. Parking is always a bit of a challenge, even though the restaurant owns two different parking lots across the street. If you're looking for the best Mexican food in the city, look elsewhere though.
(3)
Guinnivere B.
I can't believe someone told me this was THE place for Mexican food in KC. I hate to give a poor review, but I was extremely disappointed. Food quality: poor Service: okay Atmosphere: cheesy Authenticity: unheard of here
(1)
Jon S.
The staff was friendly, the food was, in my opinion incredible. They have two types of salsa: really bland and really hot. Being a medium kind of guy, I wasn't impressed. Like I said though, the burrito was fantastic!
(3)
Adam C.
Manny's down on Southwest Boulevard is often touted as some of the best Mexican cuisine in Kansas City. I personally, do not see what warrants this distinction. The experience I had there was far from a negative one, but hardly anything that sticks out in my mind as "the best," my first reservation with this restaurant is the complimentary salsa, being a connoisseur of Mexican food, I've had many restaurant style salsa, and this one seemed like nothing more than tomato sauce. One of the best things about going to eat Mexican is stuffing your face with chips and salsa, so right off the bat I was disappointed. I will say, that when the food came, it was good, and the portions were pretty gigantic. It's just that nothing blew me away, and it may have been because going into the experience the restaurant was very hyped up in my mind. I would recommend this restaurant to others, just don't go into it thinking it's the best in KC.
(2)
jennifer j.
Too greasy...plenty of other choices for great Mexican. Skip it.
(1)
Scott D.
Although it seems clean and all, there are much better places for Mexican food.
(1)
Erin L.
my review is based purely on the service. i've eaten the food several times and it's not memorable - it's your basic american greasy cheese on a plate. but on my most recent (and final) visit, the servers were so rude to us that we ended up leaving before we even ate. (if you want true tacos, go to Rico's up the road. if you want amazing food within walking distance, head to Jack Stack around the corner.)
(1)
Scott S.
Thought it was pretty good, waitress was nice and friendly.
(3)
Lisa H.
Go about once per year, as I have friends who think its great- I respect that. Its my least favorite Mexican restaurant in Kansas City metro, north, south, east or west. If chips and margaritas are good, I'm usually a happy camper, so use this for your guide when reading this: Chips are thin and crispy, but greasy. I won't waste calories on margaritas, where other places I could down a mini-pitcher myself. There was only a 30 min wait that ended up to be 20 on a Sat night at 7pm, so I don't think I'm alone. We passed other restaurants with folks waiting outside (some were Mexican). Mexican restaurants aren't always the best choice for large groups, but they seem to specialize in it. I've heard its the place to go for tamales, I don't like tamales. I prefer fresh tacos to their fried with little ground beef. I'm not fond of the chili sauce on the enchiladas and need to remember to ask for something else (because I know I will go with friends again). Two came with my meal, and I hadn't ate all day, so very hungry and I could only eat one and didn't take the other to go. Skip tostadas completely. Rice-dry. Beans-just no. The veggie toppings are always dry, pale white shreds of iceberg lettuce and pink pale tomatoes. Last night, I had very little cheese on anything, which was alright, just different. I know I will go again, I love my friends...but have already decided I will order a salad or finally the fajitas. Maybe that's the ticket.
(2)
Shawn J.
Manny's is a Kansas City institution and it has stayed open all these years due to the quality of its food. On Friday and Saturday nights there can be an hour+ wait to get in. Parking can be tricky as you have to find a space in one of the surface lots close by. But once inside if there's a wait there's a full service bar that can make the wait a lot more bearable, along with a TV to watch. Once inside service can vary from prompt to sometimes downright frustrating. Chips and salsa arrive fairly fast but the salsa is not what a lot of people expect. It's more like the consistency of pizza sauce. But try it before you critique it on appearance alone. They also have a spicy version with some kick, and you can order pico de gallo that also offers a little more kick. While I've tried pretty much all of the classic things on their menu I've moved to Las Vegas and I don't get to try their full menu like I used to. But this is a recent review and the two plates we ordered on our most recent visit were the Monterrey Chicken Burrito and Renee's Nachos. Both use the same type of cheese, a spicy queso type cheese that I haven't been quite able to duplicate at home, not that I haven't tried. (The search for a comparable queso is what's driven me to explore Mexican supermarkets in Denver, KC, and Las Vegas...and the Lopez family won't share the secret so I'm trying to figure it out myself!) The chicken isn't over cooked, the nachos come loaded, and in short you won't leave here hungry. 4 stars: Even with my gripes I miss having a place like Manny's in Vegas and look forward to going back every time I make it to KC.
(4)
Ken B.
Manny's is smack dab in the middle of the road. Not bad, not great. They obviously have a loyal following because there is always a line or wait to get into this place. I've never had anything bad here but I have also never craved anything off of the menu to make me come back between my yearly visits that I find myself having here. It's always one of those places when neither me or my partner know what we want, we are driving around hungry and starting to get a little annoyed and someone finally says "how about Manny's, we haven't been there for a long time"! That's how we usually end up at Manny's. The one aspect of Manny's that usually makes me mad/sad is the lack of heart this place has. It's like fine tuned well oiled machine that has no passion or heart behind anything they do. I've never had a sincere or heartfelt exchange with anyone working inside these four walls. Everything between being greeted and walking out of the doors is very mechanical. Everyone does their job just fine, but with no appreciation or excitement for the guests. Sad! Hopefully it will take two years in between visits to remember we haven't been there for awhile instead of our normal one!
(3)
Jessica H.
My parents have lived in KC for decades, this is one of their fav places to go, so we went. My mom looked up online their happy hour which we were wanting to take advantage of. It was very confusing because when we were seated we were given a happy hour menu but then our waiter said happy hour was only available in the bar seating area. It doesn't say anything online about happy hour being only in the bar area and what was printed on the happy hour menu was misleading. A woman who works there walked by the table, rudely took the happy hour menu and said something like, "no, no, no, that's a mistake, you shouldn't have been given that." I really think that situation could have been handled better. The food was good, I like their tacos and burrito frito.
(3)
Bethanie W.
I have to agree with the rest of the reviews - Manny's is pretty average compared to the rest of Mexican restaurants I have been to in KC. However, I would go back. So why the four stars instead of three? Spice! Nothing irritates me more than a restaurant (specifically a Mexican restaurant) that has the jalapeno icon stating that a dish is spicy and then I dive in to a tomato paste heat equivalent. Manny's says spicy and means it! Thank you Mannys! I got the fajita tacos which were pretty good, but spicy which totally redeemed the dish. On top of the spice Manny's offers a spicy salsa in addition to the reeeeeally mild salsa offered. Another plus! The rest of the table seemed to enjoy their food - specifically the beads, which if you like your beans runny you will also enjoy them. Price was good for the quality and the service was fantastic. I recommend trying it out for yourself.
(4)
Mike N.
Do you like poor service? Greasy good? Pounds of cheese to try to liven up tasteless food? This is you place! There are so many better choices in KC for real Mexican food, don't waste your time here.
(1)
Longorious L.
If you've never had good Mexican (aka not mid-west Mexican) then you'll love this place. But if you, like me, are Hispanic, born & raised on the border of south Texas and had a grandmother who disciplined you with a broomstick but you still loved her because she made fresh tortillas at 5 am every morning then no you will not love this place. Keep on walkin'...
(1)
Paul R.
People who write that this is the best Mexican food in KC or, as one person said, north of the Rio Grande, make me laugh. I grew up in KC, and loved Manny's before and after the fire. I've always preferred Los Corrals up the street, though, in terms of flavor. And it's a fraction of the price of Manny's. But since I've lived in Johnson County for the last 9 years and have tried most of the restaurants out this way, I'm able to compare Manny's to more places. I went back to Manny's last night, and the Manny's burrito that I ordered was pretty bland. The chicken was dry, and there were only refried beans inside (tasted like from a can). And the cheese melted on top was obviously from a bag, and it had turned kind of plastic and only came off in big chunks. The taco was also dry. The white queso solidified pretty quickly -- five minutes? You have to constantly stir it to keep it gooey. Salsa is OK. Chips needed salt and tasted like something out of a bag. I was pretty disappointed. Growing up in a partially hispanic family and with godparents who are hispanic, and living in a city with such rich hispanic heritage, I'm shocked that Manny's doesn't step up its game. There's very little "cuisine" in their food. It wouldn't take a chef of any kind to put together this food as it seemed as if everything was right out of the bag and off the assembly line in the kitchen. I'd put Salty Iguana light years ahead of Manny's. And that's a chain. Los Corrals is a step above Manny's. Margaritas a step above that (and evident by the line out the door). Mi Ranchito's espinaca dip crushes Manny's white queso. Fronteras and Taquiero Mexico have more flavor in the different sauces for burritos and enchiladas. And the prices are better at all of those places. I want to like Manny's because I like that it's a local restaurant that I grew up with, but I probably won't be going back.
(2)
Brent K.
Manny's at one time was my go to mexican place on the boulevard. then they got popular, raised all the prices on their menu and it went downhill from there. The food is now no better than what you would get at any tex-mex restauraunt in JoCo, except people still flock here likes it's old school. believe me, it is no longer old school. The margaritas are still quite tasty, but there are better, cheaper and more authentic places within blocks of this place, so just skip it.
(2)
Candice T.
The portions were large and the service was OK, but the food was nothing to write home about. The sauces had no flavor, guacamole had no citrus punch to it, everything was just plain, plain, plain. I've had better fast food Mexican. I expected better for the price. Also note that they won't seat you until your entire party arrives.
(2)
Stephanie P.
Manny's is a fun place with good food, good margaritas, and good service. You can bring a group of friends to start a night of drinking or you can bring your grandparents. It's great for a date night or a large party. They accommodate larger parties very well. I'll second all the previous good reviews!
(4)
Amanda S.
My husband and I had a coupon for Manny's and I had always seen lines out the door every time we drove by so I figured we might as well see what all the hype was about. We went on a Friday night and got there around 7:20. There were so many people waiting to be seated that it was claustrophobic and hot. People were even waiting out side in the heat it was so stuffy. We were told it would be a 15 min wait and saw many groups asking over and over "how much longer?". Finally. An hour and a half later we were the last people to not have been seated yet and a young couple came in. The girl seating people was vacuuming and asked if we had been helped! My husband at that point went up there to see if they forgot about us and they immediately seated us as well as the couple that JUST walked in. Once we got to the eating area we realized how huge the place was and saw several empty tables. Once we finally got seated around 9PM we ordered our drinks and I got a blue colored alcoholic beverage. I was asked if I wanted salt or sugar on the rim to which I said salt. The waiter brought us chips and plenty of salsa. The salsa tasted like marinara sauce and before I could say anything my husband said it, so I know I was not the only one that put that idea in his head. So the chips and salsa were a bust. We get our drink orders and I go to drink my drink and it is way too sweet to drink. Not only that, they put sugar on the rim instead of salt. We order our food and it's not authentic Mexican, it's tex-mex. Unlike most Mexican food restaurants that give you a side of beans AND rice they only give you one or the other at Manny's so you have to pay almost $2 more to get a side of whichever one you didn't get. We get our food and start eating and even though it is slathered in cheese, the food is bland. They had a band but they weren't really playing music. They were just plucking away at their instruments in a nonchalant way like it wasn't even a song and my husband put it best when he said it sounded like the band had been tuning and warming up for over an hour. By the time we finish our meal at almost 10pm the restaurant is closing! They are vacuuming and counting money at the tables around us making us feel rushed. I can't believe how long we have been there and our night has been wasted. We will never go back to Manny's and can't even imagine going during 1st Fridays which it is even busier!
(2)
Katie H.
My Favorite Mexican place in Downtown KC. Everything here is amazing! The wait staff is great and quick and the menu is HUGE :)
(5)
Erin W.
I've loved Manny's ever since I was a little kid. The three guitar players that would play songs for you on Friday nights were awesome. KC treasure
(4)
Jeff S.
It has been years since I last visited Manny's -- I remembered it as having really good food and good service. Well, it has changed. Went there on a Thursday evening during happy hour. Had some grilled chicken nachos with zesty jalapeno cheese. The chicken was very sparse and void of any taste like it had been frozen for a while. There was plenty of cheese but it was the same cheap stuff you get at the ball park, made with cheez whiz. Mexican places should specialize in margaritas but theirs were pathetic. Worst margarita I have had except in a chinese restaurant. They were made with plan old sweet'n'sour mix with maybe a few drops of tequila. The service was pretty bad too. Bottom line: I won't be back for a few years.
(1)
Brenda R.
Part of me thinks "Manny's is pretty good" is enough of a review for them, but that would just be silly since, duh, this is Yelp. I'm trying to find more to say about them and maybe that's why it doesn't garner the sort of "wow factor" reviews that are fun to write. The chips are fine but their salsa is boring - another reviewer likened it to marinara sauce and I have to admit they were right. The service, however, was fast and friendly even though they refuse to seat your party until all of you arrive. I had the burrito frito with chicken and it made for a good lunch. It was fried but not greasy or soggy, the chicken was flavored but not distinctively seasoned, and the monterrey jack cheese sauce over top was great. A side of sour cream, beans, and lettuce rounded out the plate. So... yeah. Good but not the kind of good that makes me want to come back the next day. Definitely not BAD, but just.. good. Okay. Fine and dandy. I guess their biggest problem as far as reviews is that there are so many authentic homestyle Mexican joints in KC that going to Manny's feels a little bit like going to Chili's. If they added a little something special to their dishes I'd like them more - maybe a thicker fresher salsa with more garlic and cilantro? Maybe a Cancun Fiesta Fresh-style pickled carrot and radish with the dishes? I don't know, just something that makes the dishes pop more instead of just be.. okay.
(3)
Patrick F.
Best sit down Mexican food I've had in KC so far. I had the fried burrito with pork and it was quite tasty. I wish all dishes came with rice and beans though. I'm used to that being the standard so I didn't realize I needed to order a side dish. Other than that... I was happy.
(4)
Zach K.
This place is not good and is completely overrated. The low rating I've given this place is well deserved. Some restaurants get cocky from their popularity over the years and in turn, start slacking on providing to the customer and increase prices way beyond what they should be in an attempt to make major profit -- Manny's is no exception. The best way to describe Manny's food is simple and uneventful. The best way to describe what they think their food is worth is exotic and second mortgage. What I mean by simple and uneventful is their chicken and beef (the meat offerings I have tried) are bland -- there's really no seasoning. The chicken is basically boiled, pulled chicken and the meat is basic taco meat with no seasoning. Throw in a simple tortilla or taco shell, some of their "white special shredded cheese", lettuce, and some of their red sauce and you've got a $15-$20 platter that comes with re-fried beans that taste like cardboard and rice. Like salsa? It's like Italian marinara sauce. I really enjoy having the chips and salsa at Mexican restaurants and it's to be expected at the best of places -- Manny's will typically charge you for extra chips and dishes of their salsa. In my eyes, they see they've gained a reputation and popularity over the years as being high-quality Kansas City Mexican which is far from the truth. They take advantage of their tourist visitors and provide a false example of what Mexican food in Kansas City is really like. Go an extra mile down Southwest Blvd to the Mexican district and try some real, quality Mexican food for half the cost.
(1)
Liz P.
Ehhhh I expect better. The food is not even near the quality it should be for the prices they charge and neither is the service. It seems to be a popular place though and always crowded. I've been there twice and both times, I definitely saw waiters rushing around and doing things, but never actually waiting on customers. There was also mass confusion in the waiting/entrance area when my friends and I walked in (4 of us). There were other people standing around and no one knew what to do or who to talk to since the host was nowhere to be seen. If nothing else, the bartender could have said something like "Hold on folks, the host will be right with you". It wasn't that long until we were finally seated, but we didn't even get a half-assed apology, let alone a real apology for the wait/confusion. At least say it, even if you don't care and hate your job. Bottom line: go find another Mexican restaurant and eat better food. Suggestion: El Patron. So delicious.
(1)
Tabitha M.
First off, nothing beats my boyfriend's Mexican cooking or anything I have ever eaten in Mexico. That said, Manny's is pretty damn good. I'm confused by why the rating is so low. I got the Burrito Frito (which is seriously just a chimichanga) but it was delicious. The tortilla was flakey and perfectly fried. The chicken was tender and well seasoned. It was a decent size for about $7. My boyfriend got the Burrito Verde (swears it was delicious, I can't vouch for it since it's pork but I believe him). The cheese sauce was AMAZING! I said numerous times I thought I could just drink the cheese sauce. We'll blame that one on being pregnant. haha. The service was lightening speed. It was a friday night around 7-8 when we went. Our food came in less than 15 minutes after ordering. The waitress was quick on the drink and chip refills. She was wonderful. The environment is clean, but kind of strange. It looks kind of high class for being what it is, but I guess that just makes for an interesting experience. I cannot wait to go back to Manny's.
(4)
Lindsey S.
How does Manny's only have 2 1/2 stars?? Every time I go there is at least a 30 min. wait.... I must say I don't love the salsa or the re-fried beans which are very important things at Mexican food restaurants. But the main entrees, atmosphere, and service do make up for them. It's always a lively crowd on Friday nights. It's a great place to host a birthday dinner, or any dinner with a large group. There are always large groups so they seem to be very accommodating for them. My favorite dish is served during lent (i don't celebrate but love the idea of this). I get their cheese and spinach enchilada meal. Wonderful! I wish they served it YEAR ROUND!! wink wink to the manager.
(4)
Christopher Thomas B.
I used to swear by this place, but a recent visit confirmed some suspicions. 1) They have turning tables down to a science. Service lacks warmth and sincerity. You'll get your meal quickly, but the same can be said for the public school cafeteria. And at least they smile. 2) No refills on chips? Is cutting this cost really worth being known as stingy? 3) Always a wait here. You probably should go down the street for something more authentic, and more inviting---but the crowds can't be wrong can they? 10 billion served at McDonalds
(2)
Amanda R.
After a long gap, we decided to visit Manny's again for dinner on a First Friday. Not really the best time to get a table anywhere in the vicinity of the Crossroads District and, as expected, we waited for about 15-20 minutes before being seated (better than 30+ minutes at Pizza Bella, hah!) While waiting, we got drinks. Never had a margarita at Manny's before but, damn, it was strong. Anyway, I'm not sure if it's because we've tried more Mexican places in the area or what, but it would seem that my fondness for Manny's is somewhat diminished. Their chips and salsa are still my favorite, and the food is good enough for what it is. But... Their menu is smaller than I remember and rather basic in terms of selection. Many of the selections are more Tex than Mex, and there's nothing as exotic as mole (which we are now using as our barometer of authenticity). I noticed that they now have a fish taco...with breaded white fish? Nonetheless, SO enjoyed his tamales, and I enjoyed my burrito. We went home full and happy, and I can't complain about that.
(3)
Bryant S.
After everyone around me working this place up to be such an awesome "Mexican" restaurant, I felt very let down by the simplest Mexican dish. Corn soft shell tacos. They were bland with no spice served with flavorless colby cheese and rice that looked promising but was just as bland as steamed white rice... The salsa with the chips seemed like it was tomato sauce cut with water and a little cilantro. And the "hot" version was about the same with a hint of bell pepper. All and all it was ok nothing to spit out, but if I want authentic I won't be coming here again.
(3)
John L.
I don't know where some of the reviewers are coming from that did not give this place higher marks. It is as good or better than any Tex-Mex place I have eaten in Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, or Arizona. Very reasonably priced and very tasty. House margarita was excellent. My only dissatisfied selection was the sopapillas that we ordered boxed up to go. They were crispy cinnamon coated sopapillas Chips, not the fluffy pastries I expected. Give it a try and decide for yourself.
(4)
Scott M.
I'll never understand why so many out-of-towners think that this is the Mexican restaurant you are supposed to go to when visiting KC. It makes me sad to think that they go back home and tell others that Manny's represents KC's style of Mexican. It also makes me sad that visitors who fall into the Manny's trap miss out on all of the far superior Mexican food just a few blocks further down the Boulevard, up on Summit, or even over in Argentine and Armourdale. The salsa is uninspiring and almost completely devoid of flavor. The food is just above frozen TV dinner Tex-Mex. In fact, most suburban strip mall parking lot chains serve up better dishes. As for the service, long waits for anything seem to be the norm. On my last visit there were only two other tables occupied and we never got refills and had to hunt for our server when we were ready to pay. Really, people, if you are visiting KC and your friends tell you you MUST visit Manny's, slap them upside the head and find new friends.
(2)
Jason A.
Standard Mexican food establishment. The service was nice. Expect to pay 10 bucks for a place most people can find for 6-8 bucks elsewhere. Not that big a difference considering you are in the middle of KC, MO. I would eat here again if I were in the area and just wanted to drop on by for some quick Mexican food. However, I would not say to go out of your way to eat here. The salsa is better than most Mexican places I've been.
(2)
Andrea W.
My husband and I ate a late lunch here on Saturday. Perfect timing! There were plenty of available seats. Great service and very friendly. The guacamole was flavorful and fresh. I ordered the favorite pork tacos on corn tortillas with refried beans. It came with a green tomatillo sauce that was delicious on the tacos. My husband ordered tamales and enjoyed every bite. Not every Mexican restaurant serves them.
(4)
Chris D.
Manny's is about as Mexican as Pizza Hut is Italian. The names are there, as are the basic ingredients; but the end result is far, far from authentic. Yes I understand that Manny's is a "Kansas City Institution". And yes I understand that it has legions of loyal customers. But come on. The second we found out "Blame it on the Rain" wasn't sang by Milli or Vanilli we banished their asses into musical obscurity. Why have we not yet done so with the culinary sham that is Manny's? Case in point: crunchy tacos. Mexicans do not eat crunchy tacos. The brown skin folks on the Old El Paso commercials have lied to you! I'm fairly sure that they will not even let you into Mexico with crunchy shells. Liquid cheese? I know its tastes good, but to the best of my knowledge, such a thing does not exist anywhere south of Arizona; and it sure as hell isn't put on top of tamales and burritos. And don't even get me started on ground beef! Sure, I get that most Americans prefer their tex-mex. But Manny's isn't even good at that. If you insist on a plate of melted cheese at least go somewhere that does it well. On the positive side. I love the building. Love the downtown location. It's huge. Great for large parties. Staff is friendly and attentive. For these things Manny's gets 2 stars instead of 1. Last but not least, the salsa here is worst in the city. If you want to pick some up to take home you can find it in your local grocery under the title Ragu.
(2)
Jarah C.
The food at Manny's was fantastic, I had a spicy burrito with pork and a tomatillo sauce inside with a white cheese sausce on top, it was amazing! Their margaritas were about average, nothing out of the ordinary but they were strong, you definitely get your money's worth on those! I would definitely go back!
(4)
Diane N.
Please do yourself a favor and DO NOT go to Manny's. The salsa is like marinara pasta sauce. Seriously! Also the food is just bland, no taste and absolutely no heat. Very greasy. Actually it is quite bizarre that some KC residents love this place. It is more like taco Hamburger Helper. It is NOT "Tex-Mex" at all...not even close. Oh...and the cheese...BLECH! I've been there twice. Never again. I will drive further west on SW Blvd. to the REAL Mexican restaurants.
(1)
Alicia H.
My husband and I have poked fun at Manny's for years, but there was a major flaw in the attitude we had toward the place. Neither of us actually had the Manny's experience. We decided if we were going to continue joking about eating at Manny's that we should actually go. We remedied the situation this past Saturday afternoon for lunch. We opted not to go on First Friday because I'm pretty certain that's when the place does the bulk of its business in a month. This isn't to say the place is not busy. Because it looks busy most evenings on the weekends. People continually complain about how long the wait is sometimes. I can sum my experience by saying this -- as a kid, I really liked Carlos O'Kelly's. Manny's is a lot like Carlos O'Kelly's only more cheese and possibly higher prices. This is probably because of the amount of cheese Manny's uses along with inflation ... but probably more because of the cosmic yellow cheese. My husband ordered the El Sombrero to get an opportunity to sample some different TexMex elements that Manny's produces. I went with the Para las Senoritas because it's "for the ladies" and for lighter appetites. I'm not sure what's light about it. It's TexMex. Saying TexMex is light is like saying cheetahs don't run. Also, I don't necessarily take issue with this dish being for the ladies. I think dudes can order it as well. But it seems to me that whenever this dish is ordered that Beyonce should come out and serenade the person ordering. Why Beyonce? I don't know know. I guess because of that "Single Ladies" song. The words of that song can be changed for this occasion pretty easily. I'm sure of it. Anyhow, here's how I assess the elements of the "For the Ladies" meal: - Ground beef taco - Not offensive. Shell was a bit greasy - Bean tostada - buried under the other stuff on the plate so it was the last thing I tried. At that point the crispy shell was not crispy, which is to be expected. - Chicken enchilada - the chicken was a little dry but OK. I found the yellow goopy cheese not at all to my liking and it covered the enchilada. I felt pretty happy I went with the chicken and not the cheese & onion option. Rice - it was rice. So, there you have it. Lots of places do TexMex a bit better and they are within blocks of Carlos O'Manny's ... err ... Manny's.
(2)
Jennifer S.
This place has the BEST service I have had in a long time. However, I got enchiladas with a taquito and it was probably the most bland mexican I have ever had. On a side note, my friend got the fajita tacos and they were absolutely amazing. The margaritas were great and the food was out fast. If your looking for tex-mex style quick mexi fix this would be the place. If your looking for something a bit more authentic I would head south down the blvd.
(3)
Matt E.
Pretty dang average, and there are definitely better, more authentic Mexican restaurants in the immediate vicinity. But sometimes you just want a super-Americanized burrito covered in yellow cheese, and that is where Manny's shines. A group of 4, we went here for some pre-First Fridays margaritas and Mexican grub. I wanted to go someplace a bit more authentic, but due to the proximity to the galleries and the fact that we were cabbing it, I was outvoted. Still, it was a decent meal and I left happy and full. They have a silly number of drink specials, to the point where I was confused. I just sort of ignored them and went with a pitcher of top shelf margaritas. for $24 we got probably 8 margaritas, so we'd say it's definitely a good value. AND they were pretty dang good. For food, well it's pretty much exactly what you'd expect. I had a pork chimichanga, which they call a burrito frito, topped with monterey jack cheese. It was pretty standard, didn't blow my mind but wasn't offensive to my tastebuds, either. That was pretty much everybody's opinion of their meals. The one weird thing is that their salsa tastes pretty much exactly like marinara sauce. Quite strange. Not necessarily bad, but strange. Service is always top notch. You have your main server, and a good number of server assistants are always on top of you with fresh chips and water refills. They really have the steps of service down pat. Manny's is far from my favorite restaurant in KC, let alone in the neighborhood, or even the street. BUT for what it is, it's perfectly fine. 3 stars all the way.
(3)
Andrew K.
Extraordinarily average food that somehow came highly recommended of places to eat in Kansas City. Have you ever wondered what it would be like British people tried to make Mexican food? I hadn't either, until I tried this. It tastes like what I think that would taste like. If you've only had Taco Bell before, this might be impressive. And it's certainly a "safe" and inoffensive spot to bring a group. (Perhaps a vanload of Minnesotan insurance actuaries looking for an exotic night out. TGIViernes!) There are so many better, more authentic, and less expensive options literally right down the street and all over the metro. You'll be happier there.
(2)
Norma G.
I came into Manny's with an old friend of mine yesturday afternoon, and overall I was impressed. Our waitress was a young, blonde woman who was incredibly sweet to us! She spoke Spanish to us for fun and recommended the carnitas to us. They sounded so good, my friend and I both got them. It was an excellent choice, the meat was full of a rich flavor and the whole meal was well put together. The restaurant was busy but we got our food very fast and the waitress kept us taken care of whenever we needed something. I'll definitely be back.
(4)
Angie R.
Since leaving KC and moving to Denver I have a totally different palate for Mexican food.. But one thing this place has that most don't.. That white cheese queso. OH.MY.GOD. I would put that shit on everything! Great atmosphere. Kind of in an odd location. Service was ALWAYS great. I never had to have a long wait. I try to get here whenever I get back to KC.
(3)
Jessica B.
I been going to manny a for years and today the food was great , but my waitress Courtney was having a attitude after I ask to get another toco that did not even look like the toco my family had on their plate . Also, I was listening to how she talk to the other people next to me and she was having the same attitude with them. She only started being nice because the boss was watching the floor because of this experience I rate it a 4 star, but the food is great and I recommend the Mucho Tacos.
(4)
Rhonda S.
I still don't care for Manny's. It doesn't measure up to the Mexican restaurants that exist in Kansas City. I think it;s getting worse. Parking (on a Wednesday, around 1:00) was horrible. Sketchy to say the least. How do you know if you don't park in Manny's parking, if you are parked legally or not? Before I ever return, they need to revamp and update parking. The signage isn't clear. Still pretty on the inside, but what is it with the wait? Most places in Kansas City aren't worth waiting over 15 minutes, and the place wasn't that full. I had a near 15 minute wait, but saw plenty of empty tables. But then, maybe I am being picky. Not a place for a quick lunch. I should've called my order, cause with my job, I'm never sure where I'll be in Kansas City. Just glad I didn't have any appointments after. I ordered the soft tacos.I guess I eat a fuck load of tacos. But anyway, they were soft tacos, with sour cream, lettuce, cheese. The ground beef was prepared and seasoned not too much, and not too hot. I had flour tortilla shells. I think still what doesn't' sell me on Manny's, is, once again, the sauce, this time, instead of resembling Ragu, it kind of tasted a bit like Hines, not that I mind Hines, it's in my refrigerator. I don't like it on my tacos. I think that is the kicker right there. I asked about the vegetarian tacos, but the server kind of looked at me funny. They do have them. Funny looks irritate me. I know I said I'd not be back, but I needed to give them another chance. I really want to give them more than 2 stars, cause it's a destination spot for some, but I still don't get why, except that it looks cool, and the building has historical properties, I would guess. Rather Ponaks down the street with it's crappy parking than Manny's. This time I stand by my word...no more.
(2)
Mark R.
I have to agree with a lot of the previous reviews. The food is good, not great. The chili relleno with beef was good when I added some of the cheesy white Monterrey sauce the waitress brought us. The pork in the Manny burrito was good but the rest of the presentation was average. I probably will not return.
(3)
Rachel P.
There's not a lot to say about Manny's that hasn't been said. The food is Mexican with a "healthy" dose of queso available upon request. The chips and salsa are pretty standard and free flowing. They do have good margaritas and drink specials on First Fridays. I've gotten a few things, but mostly the Monterey burrito (since about second grade.)The dinner crowd is usually lighter, but lunch can be really busy.
(4)
J J.
This place, no matter what the reviews, is just plain average. It's mediocre. The meats- be it chicken or beef are highly under-seasoned. The chips and salsa are whatever. They put WAY too much cheese on top of their enchiladas, which are metiocre. People love it who don't know any better. Skip it. There are SO MANY more good Mexican places right on S.W Blvd.
(2)
Scott S.
Thought it was pretty good, waitress was nice and friendly.
(3)
Lisa H.
Go about once per year, as I have friends who think its great- I respect that. Its my least favorite Mexican restaurant in Kansas City metro, north, south, east or west. If chips and margaritas are good, I'm usually a happy camper, so use this for your guide when reading this: Chips are thin and crispy, but greasy. I won't waste calories on margaritas, where other places I could down a mini-pitcher myself. There was only a 30 min wait that ended up to be 20 on a Sat night at 7pm, so I don't think I'm alone. We passed other restaurants with folks waiting outside (some were Mexican). Mexican restaurants aren't always the best choice for large groups, but they seem to specialize in it. I've heard its the place to go for tamales, I don't like tamales. I prefer fresh tacos to their fried with little ground beef. I'm not fond of the chili sauce on the enchiladas and need to remember to ask for something else (because I know I will go with friends again). Two came with my meal, and I hadn't ate all day, so very hungry and I could only eat one and didn't take the other to go. Skip tostadas completely. Rice-dry. Beans-just no. The veggie toppings are always dry, pale white shreds of iceberg lettuce and pink pale tomatoes. Last night, I had very little cheese on anything, which was alright, just different. I know I will go again, I love my friends...but have already decided I will order a salad or finally the fajitas. Maybe that's the ticket.
(2)
Shawn J.
Manny's is a Kansas City institution and it has stayed open all these years due to the quality of its food. On Friday and Saturday nights there can be an hour+ wait to get in. Parking can be tricky as you have to find a space in one of the surface lots close by. But once inside if there's a wait there's a full service bar that can make the wait a lot more bearable, along with a TV to watch. Once inside service can vary from prompt to sometimes downright frustrating. Chips and salsa arrive fairly fast but the salsa is not what a lot of people expect. It's more like the consistency of pizza sauce. But try it before you critique it on appearance alone. They also have a spicy version with some kick, and you can order pico de gallo that also offers a little more kick. While I've tried pretty much all of the classic things on their menu I've moved to Las Vegas and I don't get to try their full menu like I used to. But this is a recent review and the two plates we ordered on our most recent visit were the Monterrey Chicken Burrito and Renee's Nachos. Both use the same type of cheese, a spicy queso type cheese that I haven't been quite able to duplicate at home, not that I haven't tried. (The search for a comparable queso is what's driven me to explore Mexican supermarkets in Denver, KC, and Las Vegas...and the Lopez family won't share the secret so I'm trying to figure it out myself!) The chicken isn't over cooked, the nachos come loaded, and in short you won't leave here hungry. 4 stars: Even with my gripes I miss having a place like Manny's in Vegas and look forward to going back every time I make it to KC.
(4)
Ken B.
Manny's is smack dab in the middle of the road. Not bad, not great. They obviously have a loyal following because there is always a line or wait to get into this place. I've never had anything bad here but I have also never craved anything off of the menu to make me come back between my yearly visits that I find myself having here. It's always one of those places when neither me or my partner know what we want, we are driving around hungry and starting to get a little annoyed and someone finally says "how about Manny's, we haven't been there for a long time"! That's how we usually end up at Manny's. The one aspect of Manny's that usually makes me mad/sad is the lack of heart this place has. It's like fine tuned well oiled machine that has no passion or heart behind anything they do. I've never had a sincere or heartfelt exchange with anyone working inside these four walls. Everything between being greeted and walking out of the doors is very mechanical. Everyone does their job just fine, but with no appreciation or excitement for the guests. Sad! Hopefully it will take two years in between visits to remember we haven't been there for awhile instead of our normal one!
(3)
Jessica H.
My parents have lived in KC for decades, this is one of their fav places to go, so we went. My mom looked up online their happy hour which we were wanting to take advantage of. It was very confusing because when we were seated we were given a happy hour menu but then our waiter said happy hour was only available in the bar seating area. It doesn't say anything online about happy hour being only in the bar area and what was printed on the happy hour menu was misleading. A woman who works there walked by the table, rudely took the happy hour menu and said something like, "no, no, no, that's a mistake, you shouldn't have been given that." I really think that situation could have been handled better. The food was good, I like their tacos and burrito frito.
(3)
Bethanie W.
I have to agree with the rest of the reviews - Manny's is pretty average compared to the rest of Mexican restaurants I have been to in KC. However, I would go back. So why the four stars instead of three? Spice! Nothing irritates me more than a restaurant (specifically a Mexican restaurant) that has the jalapeno icon stating that a dish is spicy and then I dive in to a tomato paste heat equivalent. Manny's says spicy and means it! Thank you Mannys! I got the fajita tacos which were pretty good, but spicy which totally redeemed the dish. On top of the spice Manny's offers a spicy salsa in addition to the reeeeeally mild salsa offered. Another plus! The rest of the table seemed to enjoy their food - specifically the beads, which if you like your beans runny you will also enjoy them. Price was good for the quality and the service was fantastic. I recommend trying it out for yourself.
(4)
Mike N.
Do you like poor service? Greasy good? Pounds of cheese to try to liven up tasteless food? This is you place! There are so many better choices in KC for real Mexican food, don't waste your time here.
(1)
Longorious L.
If you've never had good Mexican (aka not mid-west Mexican) then you'll love this place. But if you, like me, are Hispanic, born & raised on the border of south Texas and had a grandmother who disciplined you with a broomstick but you still loved her because she made fresh tortillas at 5 am every morning then no you will not love this place. Keep on walkin'...
(1)
Paul R.
People who write that this is the best Mexican food in KC or, as one person said, north of the Rio Grande, make me laugh. I grew up in KC, and loved Manny's before and after the fire. I've always preferred Los Corrals up the street, though, in terms of flavor. And it's a fraction of the price of Manny's. But since I've lived in Johnson County for the last 9 years and have tried most of the restaurants out this way, I'm able to compare Manny's to more places. I went back to Manny's last night, and the Manny's burrito that I ordered was pretty bland. The chicken was dry, and there were only refried beans inside (tasted like from a can). And the cheese melted on top was obviously from a bag, and it had turned kind of plastic and only came off in big chunks. The taco was also dry. The white queso solidified pretty quickly -- five minutes? You have to constantly stir it to keep it gooey. Salsa is OK. Chips needed salt and tasted like something out of a bag. I was pretty disappointed. Growing up in a partially hispanic family and with godparents who are hispanic, and living in a city with such rich hispanic heritage, I'm shocked that Manny's doesn't step up its game. There's very little "cuisine" in their food. It wouldn't take a chef of any kind to put together this food as it seemed as if everything was right out of the bag and off the assembly line in the kitchen. I'd put Salty Iguana light years ahead of Manny's. And that's a chain. Los Corrals is a step above Manny's. Margaritas a step above that (and evident by the line out the door). Mi Ranchito's espinaca dip crushes Manny's white queso. Fronteras and Taquiero Mexico have more flavor in the different sauces for burritos and enchiladas. And the prices are better at all of those places. I want to like Manny's because I like that it's a local restaurant that I grew up with, but I probably won't be going back.
(2)
Brent K.
Manny's at one time was my go to mexican place on the boulevard. then they got popular, raised all the prices on their menu and it went downhill from there. The food is now no better than what you would get at any tex-mex restauraunt in JoCo, except people still flock here likes it's old school. believe me, it is no longer old school. The margaritas are still quite tasty, but there are better, cheaper and more authentic places within blocks of this place, so just skip it.
(2)
Candice T.
The portions were large and the service was OK, but the food was nothing to write home about. The sauces had no flavor, guacamole had no citrus punch to it, everything was just plain, plain, plain. I've had better fast food Mexican. I expected better for the price. Also note that they won't seat you until your entire party arrives.
(2)
Stephanie P.
Manny's is a fun place with good food, good margaritas, and good service. You can bring a group of friends to start a night of drinking or you can bring your grandparents. It's great for a date night or a large party. They accommodate larger parties very well. I'll second all the previous good reviews!
(4)
Amanda S.
My husband and I had a coupon for Manny's and I had always seen lines out the door every time we drove by so I figured we might as well see what all the hype was about. We went on a Friday night and got there around 7:20. There were so many people waiting to be seated that it was claustrophobic and hot. People were even waiting out side in the heat it was so stuffy. We were told it would be a 15 min wait and saw many groups asking over and over "how much longer?". Finally. An hour and a half later we were the last people to not have been seated yet and a young couple came in. The girl seating people was vacuuming and asked if we had been helped! My husband at that point went up there to see if they forgot about us and they immediately seated us as well as the couple that JUST walked in. Once we got to the eating area we realized how huge the place was and saw several empty tables. Once we finally got seated around 9PM we ordered our drinks and I got a blue colored alcoholic beverage. I was asked if I wanted salt or sugar on the rim to which I said salt. The waiter brought us chips and plenty of salsa. The salsa tasted like marinara sauce and before I could say anything my husband said it, so I know I was not the only one that put that idea in his head. So the chips and salsa were a bust. We get our drink orders and I go to drink my drink and it is way too sweet to drink. Not only that, they put sugar on the rim instead of salt. We order our food and it's not authentic Mexican, it's tex-mex. Unlike most Mexican food restaurants that give you a side of beans AND rice they only give you one or the other at Manny's so you have to pay almost $2 more to get a side of whichever one you didn't get. We get our food and start eating and even though it is slathered in cheese, the food is bland. They had a band but they weren't really playing music. They were just plucking away at their instruments in a nonchalant way like it wasn't even a song and my husband put it best when he said it sounded like the band had been tuning and warming up for over an hour. By the time we finish our meal at almost 10pm the restaurant is closing! They are vacuuming and counting money at the tables around us making us feel rushed. I can't believe how long we have been there and our night has been wasted. We will never go back to Manny's and can't even imagine going during 1st Fridays which it is even busier!
(2)
Katie H.
My Favorite Mexican place in Downtown KC. Everything here is amazing! The wait staff is great and quick and the menu is HUGE :)
(5)
Erin W.
I've loved Manny's ever since I was a little kid. The three guitar players that would play songs for you on Friday nights were awesome. KC treasure
(4)
Jeff S.
It has been years since I last visited Manny's -- I remembered it as having really good food and good service. Well, it has changed. Went there on a Thursday evening during happy hour. Had some grilled chicken nachos with zesty jalapeno cheese. The chicken was very sparse and void of any taste like it had been frozen for a while. There was plenty of cheese but it was the same cheap stuff you get at the ball park, made with cheez whiz. Mexican places should specialize in margaritas but theirs were pathetic. Worst margarita I have had except in a chinese restaurant. They were made with plan old sweet'n'sour mix with maybe a few drops of tequila. The service was pretty bad too. Bottom line: I won't be back for a few years.
(1)
Brenda R.
Part of me thinks "Manny's is pretty good" is enough of a review for them, but that would just be silly since, duh, this is Yelp. I'm trying to find more to say about them and maybe that's why it doesn't garner the sort of "wow factor" reviews that are fun to write. The chips are fine but their salsa is boring - another reviewer likened it to marinara sauce and I have to admit they were right. The service, however, was fast and friendly even though they refuse to seat your party until all of you arrive. I had the burrito frito with chicken and it made for a good lunch. It was fried but not greasy or soggy, the chicken was flavored but not distinctively seasoned, and the monterrey jack cheese sauce over top was great. A side of sour cream, beans, and lettuce rounded out the plate. So... yeah. Good but not the kind of good that makes me want to come back the next day. Definitely not BAD, but just.. good. Okay. Fine and dandy. I guess their biggest problem as far as reviews is that there are so many authentic homestyle Mexican joints in KC that going to Manny's feels a little bit like going to Chili's. If they added a little something special to their dishes I'd like them more - maybe a thicker fresher salsa with more garlic and cilantro? Maybe a Cancun Fiesta Fresh-style pickled carrot and radish with the dishes? I don't know, just something that makes the dishes pop more instead of just be.. okay.
(3)
Patrick F.
Best sit down Mexican food I've had in KC so far. I had the fried burrito with pork and it was quite tasty. I wish all dishes came with rice and beans though. I'm used to that being the standard so I didn't realize I needed to order a side dish. Other than that... I was happy.
(4)
Zach K.
This place is not good and is completely overrated. The low rating I've given this place is well deserved. Some restaurants get cocky from their popularity over the years and in turn, start slacking on providing to the customer and increase prices way beyond what they should be in an attempt to make major profit -- Manny's is no exception. The best way to describe Manny's food is simple and uneventful. The best way to describe what they think their food is worth is exotic and second mortgage. What I mean by simple and uneventful is their chicken and beef (the meat offerings I have tried) are bland -- there's really no seasoning. The chicken is basically boiled, pulled chicken and the meat is basic taco meat with no seasoning. Throw in a simple tortilla or taco shell, some of their "white special shredded cheese", lettuce, and some of their red sauce and you've got a $15-$20 platter that comes with re-fried beans that taste like cardboard and rice. Like salsa? It's like Italian marinara sauce. I really enjoy having the chips and salsa at Mexican restaurants and it's to be expected at the best of places -- Manny's will typically charge you for extra chips and dishes of their salsa. In my eyes, they see they've gained a reputation and popularity over the years as being high-quality Kansas City Mexican which is far from the truth. They take advantage of their tourist visitors and provide a false example of what Mexican food in Kansas City is really like. Go an extra mile down Southwest Blvd to the Mexican district and try some real, quality Mexican food for half the cost.
(1)
Michelle G.
allright, i put off writing a review on this place but i cant hold my peace any longer when it comes to new visitors to this town getting sold snake oil by the positive reviews. and if you liked it please put what you had! i understand Manny's is a KC beloved place and frankly to an extent respect that the family works hard for thier money. couldnt they invest it in better recipes and products? its right near my work and every single time its "lets go to manny's" why, why do i have to continue to go there and have tasteless greasy food??? oh right because every single co worker has to have thier "favorite" dish there! some liked a shrimp taco i dislike shrimp instensely- and others liked this smothered chicken burrito. i tried that once. it wasnt bad but i only had a forkful- then the next time i went back i couldnt find it. then the NEXT time it was awful. tasteless goo with an undercooked tortilla. have i been able to find a favorite dish? even at on the border i prefer fajitas or empanadas with queso. nope surely havent. i normally order tacos and pray they are decent. do i avoid it and beg to go anywhere else? YES. jackstack is right around the corner! you'll have cheesy corn bake and leftovers! i like certain dishes at all the places here in town Ponaks Margaritas Jose Peppers Fronteras Mi Ranchito and i even got that bad salsa and threw them up! those poor people. how horrible. some day i hope to be able to return. i grew up with Taco Johns being the epitome of perfect tacos in my little NE town and thought a burrito was those hard fried things in the school cafeteria. i moved to LA. found GOOD food and since i just cant tolerate wasting good money on poor food. and the next time i hear lets go to mannys. i will yet again hope they change thier cooks and thier menu. think investing in some DECENT ground chilis for the enchilada sauce! spice your taco meat. and hello powdered cheese sauce isnt better than the real deal! yeesh. ps. just a clarification- i really didnt have a BAD experience. meh experienced better sums it up.. and i wouldnt even be whining except them taking good money for food that i didnt like just grates my cheese. but after the first time i knew what not to expect and had to resent spending money here due to peer pressure. not really Mannys fault - they served us were pleasant and took care of the table okay. the food was served timely and was at least hot. its just. in my opinion. there are so many better places in town. thier parking sucks. i've gotten door and even bumper scrapes in thier lot and of course no note which didnt increase my love for them coming out from a meh meal to find my car looked like somebody wacko repeatedly slammed thier car door into mine. i've had better food at taco bell. least they spice the meat. and the salsa & chips were never consistent. some days good somedays i think we got last weeks chips and salsa that was reserved. i preferred Ponaks specifically the sonora taco if they still have it- or just to go to anywhere else! anyway, thats my clarification. m
(2)
Mykie D.
if you live in KC and you've never been to manny's, you are seriously missing out. good food. great prices. authentic. delightful.
(5)
Ryan A.
If someone suggests this place to you and insists it is THE place for Mexican food in Kansas City, you should never under any circumstances take restaurant advice from them. They don't know what they're talking about, and they may be trying to kill you. Ok, so it isn't that bad, but it is pretty bad. Manny's is the epitome of KC-style "gringo Mex" which, for the uninitiated, generally consists of greasy piles of grease served inside (usually fried) corn tortillas, garnished with a pile of greasy yellow cheese and lettuce on top of everything. Mexican food this is not. Sadly, Manny's isn't even a very good example of "gringo Mex"; it's just the biggest and most famous, with Ponak's and others trailing not too far behind. It is mediocre at best. There are far better places to go for "gringo Mex". Fortunately, there are lots of great authentic Mex places in the city and across the river in KCK, too, if you know where to look. Oh, and one last thing. Sometimes you do have to park a block or two away and walk to get to Manny's. I suppose for people who are only used to walking a block or two past rows of cars in giant Wal-Mart parking lots instead of past buildings and through actual city blocks, this might seem like a big deal, but it really isn't. If having to walk a block or two is the only thing keeping you from returning to Manny's, try Taco Bell. You don't even have to get out of your car!
(2)
Reed N.
I liked the food, but they did short us one entree in our order. This happens too often at too many places and there is no excuse for it. I usually try three things to judge a Mexican place. Chile Rellenos, Tamales, and Enchiladas. I had the Rellenos here and they were very good. The beans and rice were actually tasty as well, and they better be if you are going to stick them on every plate! And yes, the salsa is "OK," but good salsa is very hard to find, and not the reason I'd go to a restaurant anyway.
(3)
Charolette G.
Manny's has been a staple for mexican food in my family since I was a little kid. For years, every Friday at 5 p.m., you could find us at Manny's. At the same table. The perks about this place is the family atmosphere, and the food is fairly decent, although I will agree with other reviews about it being greasy and heavy. My favorite is, and always will be the pork monterrey burrito, with lots of rice. it's a burrito with seasoned pork and refried beans smothered in their monterrey jack queso. YUM! The chips and salsa is really good, although if you like lots of strong flavor eat the hot variety. The queso is creamy and delicious, and you have to eat one of their chicken flautas (like a taquito) at least once! That being said, I will admit that quality has gone down a bit over the years, as well as the prices have gone up slightly, but it's still a favorite of mine, and always will be with all the memories I've had there!
(3)
Ryan R.
Horrible food, high prices, lame atmosphere. Biggest problem is the food though. I don't understand how a place can make Mexican food suck so bad. This is coming from a guy who loves almost all Mexican food with a passion too. Avoid this place.
(1)
Cori A.
This place used to be awesome! What happened? This place is more expensive than the other mexican places in KC. Service was good, nothing to complain about there. The salsa wasn't very good. I ordered taco's and they were good, but could've gone down the street and paid less. Parking is AWFUL, so be prepared.
(2)
Charity J.
Good atmosphere and food. I would eat here again.
(3)
Adam O.
I've eaten here numerous times simply because I live next door and don't learn my lesson quickly. Bland and over priced for what you get. PS How do you screw up salsa?!
(2)
Uncle Grannon L.
Honestly? Manny's isn't nearly as bad (or as good) as the reviews would have you believe. It is what it is. It's NOT authentic (nor can I fathom why any of the previous asshole reviewers from Texas or southern CA would think it was) nor is it particularly adventurous. It's a family owned "Tex-Mex" institution that's been in the area for a million years. It has hard shell tacos, and deep fried burritos and less than mind-blowing chips and salsa. It's ALSO: -filling -reasonably priced -consistent Yeah, it's not lengua and tripe served in a double soft shell corn tortilla, but most of the people who are complaining about it not being "real" Mexican food wouldn't know what to do with a chicharron taco if it threw up in their face.
(3)
Sarah L.
I went to Manny's with a couple coworkers after working all day. I had never been there before, but have heard from many people that they have amazing food. "Amazing" is not quite the word I would use to describe Manny's. More like "sub-par". The pros: There's tons of room, and it's good for groups Service is quick Food is filling The cons: Our water was a jerk Salsa tasted like tomato sauce (apparently many other reviewers noticed this also) Dinner enchiladas/burritos do not come with rice or beans. They're served with a side of lettuce. Given our experience, we will not be going back. I'd rather pay the same amount and go to a chain and get more food than go back to Manny's.
(2)
Joe C.
I don't get the appeal of Manny's. Sure, it's not bad but it sure isn't great. Someone loves it because there is always a line to get into this place. The staff is not overly friendly. From the hostess to the waitstaff, everyone seems to just be going through the motions without any passion for the job. The food tastes the same. It's good but without any passion. They seem to like to keep moving people through this place. If they keep moving people too quickly, they aren't going to have to worry about a line to get in too much longer!
(3)
Dan V.
Salsa and cheese dip are above average. Just don't expect to get seated unless all your party is in the building. They don't want you to start ordering appetizers and drinks.(Spending money) I don't get it but, it is a "RULE" that can not be broken. They really need a hostess that understands customer service. In this economy I would appreciate large parties in my establishment.
(3)
Jamison U.
Authentic? no, hardly. A landmark in KC gastronomic history? yes. Manny's is a place you go and don't expect authentic Mexican cuisine but KC-MEX cheesy-greasy food. If your expectations are right going in its good food in a good atmosphere.
(3)
Sarah B.
I'm so sad about the poor reviews for this restaurant! I love Manny's! True, it's not the best Mexican food in the world, but it is really good. The chips and salsa are awesome, though I recommend getting the queso. I've had a few dishes here and all have been pretty good. And the desserts are really great. The monterrey burrito, cheese enchiladas and taco salads are good choices... The Good: 1. The prices are reasonable and they offer discounts to some of the bigger businesses in KC 2. The wait for a table is never too long 3. Bottomless chips and salsa 4. Pleasant atmosphere 5. Fast service. Great for lunch breaks. The Bad: 1. Parking SUCKS. There is one teeny, tiny little lot next to the restaurant which is always full. You usually have to park a block away and walk. 2. Bitchy waitresses! Not all of them of course, but a fair few. Too many over the course of the 5 years I've been eating here. I never end up tipping much. 3. If you're vegetarian, your choices are limited. They have a veggie burrito which I will admit is crap. I desperately miss the chicken taco salad!
(4)
Jaime F.
Special occasions like a new employee, birthday or exodus from an old timer warrant staff lunch outings at my place of employment. The male to female ratio is skewed in favor of the calorie consuming burrito craving gents and we tend to wind up at Manny's more often than not. I knew I worked with considerate people once I heard the orders rolling in with each individual opting to sub rice for beans (this spells massive relief in light of the two toilets for the entire crew and open air layout of our desks). Manny's is a well oiled machine, the chip baskets rarely go low, water pitchers are close at hand and the staff tends to unforeseen needs without being pushy. Be advised that everything is fully saturated with cheese, just like I expect Kansas City style Mexican to be. I would be lying if I said it tasted authentic but that doesn't decrease the enjoyment of caloric cheesy overload. I have had the Monterey Chicken Burrito (with double rice of course) and a Quesadilla the last two times. The portions are beyond generous and if you really want to push your digestive tract into overdrive (or please your table-fed pit bull) take the leftovers. This is where I admit that I am a hot sauce geek, and yes, for emergency situations I do have a bottle of Tabasco in my purse. Shameful I know. It did come in handy here, they only offer their house made salsas to ignite your taste buds. I definitely recommend this as a lunch spot regardless of the size of your crew (although I would advise giving them a heads up in the form of a reservation for groups over 10). Always back to the office within an hour, standing in line for our offering from the Costco sized Tums bottle in the kitchen, preemptively purchased for days like these. The Febreeze cloud hangs heavy overhead and productivity is likely lower as the whole crew is fat, happy and sluggish after the burrito belly bomber lunch, but that doesn't seem to dissuade anyone from going back. An update will be warranted once I visit off the clock and sample the tequila centered concoctions...
(4)
Jody L.
Meh. I was so looking forward to trying this KC legend. The atmosphere and margaritas were good. But, the food was not. I had the cheese and onion enchiladas. The enchilada sauce was gross. So gross that I scraped as much as I could off my plate. I even had my friends take a taste just to make sure I was not being a total diva. And, they agreed it was totally gross. I am sticking with Ixtapa in the Northland for Mexican food. Sorry, Manny's.
(2)
Charles D.
Manny's is one of my favorite restaurants and is my favorite Mexican restaurant in Kansas City. I have been a long time fan. When I worked nearby, I would go 1-2 times a week for lunch. Now that I don't work nearby, I go fairly often and it is always as good as I remember. I always order the Frito Burrito with chicken and beef. It is basically a chimichanga and it is incredibly delicious. Their spicy salsa is my favorite salsa. I eat way too much of it every time I go. The mild salsa isn't my favorite, but this is not a problem because I eat almost exclusively the spicy salsa. The only downside is that Manny's is expensive. It is worth it, though, and my family and I go as often as we can.
(5)
Melissa F.
Never again. We walked in and were waiting forever to be seated despite the fact that it was an off time and not busy. We were seated so far away from the main area way in the back of a second giant room. The salsa was watery and lacked any substance or flavor. The chips were stale. I ordered a chicken burrito and it was disappointing. To be on southwest blvd with Mexican food I expected way more. I won't be coming back here.
(1)
Z M.
Would love to give this place a (0) Zero star if I could. It took 25 minutes of waiting for a vegan meal. Seriously!?!? The owner was less than accommodating with a simple request. I'm out of town and like checking new venues. Glad to say that I will never be coming back to this place. It's too bad that the owner don't see the value of taking care of their guests.
(1)
Matt T.
Shortly after moving here we ate at Manny's for lunch after being told it was a local institution. The location in good and there seemed to be plenty of seating...and that is all I can say in favor of the place. In short the food is unexceptional, the salsa is weak my enchiladas were bland. Honestly if you scoot a little further southwest on Southwest Blvd you will find 3 or 4 more Mexican restaurants that are better.
(2)
Alexia R.
If I could, I would give this 0 stars. Horrible service... And one of our friends fell asleep waiting for his food... This is not an exaggeration
(1)
Corbie K.
Tried Manny's for the first time a few days ago for a friend's birthday. We made the reservation the night before, but still had to wait a while because they won't seat a group until everyone is present and the person who drove all of us was still trying to find a place to park. They have horrible parking, by the way, so be prepared to drive around the block several times until something opens up. Anyway when we were finally taken to our table we were led through the first large room and into the next and then given a table placed in the hallway next to the waitstaff's cash register and computer desk. It felt like we were always in the way as employees and customers were constantly walking past our table. The food was a let down. It was pretty pricey and lacked flavor. I got the tamale spread, but was turned off by the huge amount of cheese dip that covered both tamales. The cheese quickly cooled and became gluey and the flavor overpowered everything else. I did enjoy their hot salsa and rice, however. Overall, I'd have to say I was disappointed. I was excited to try the famous Manny's, but I'm sad to say, I'd rather have almost any other Tex-Mex place around here.
(2)
D. B.
Just saw that someone rated this with two stars and suggested she likes On the Border better. I mean, to each their own, but if On the Border is your idea of good, authentic Mexican food, I think that that means the joke is on you and it kind of makes me feel a little sad inside. Parking isn't great, no, but that has more to do with where the building is located - the building is on a corner of a busy intersection in the Crossroads district - what would you expect, especially on a weekend night? When we go, we usually start with the queso dip for our chips because that dip tastes like unicorn snot (really good). I like to eat on the lighter side, so I normally order the Manny's chicken salad and I'm never disappointed. I saw another reviewer complain about the servings being too small. I'm sure Manny's would apologize for not stuffing your kids' plates with 3,500 calories because, y'know, freedom and America. It's called "portion" for a reason. Manny's is absolutely essential for KCMO.
(5)
Lisa L.
I like Manny's. Not my favorite but the Beef and Cheese nachos are to die for. Their food is reasonable and the staff is very nice.
(5)
Jennifer H.
Manny's is good Mexican food, if a little bland.
(3)
Candace M.
Love the white cheese dip. Seems to be a midwest thing because now that I live in Vegas I don't see it anywhere? Don't take it for granted! Good salsa and chips and love the margaritas. Food is good but not heavenly. If you don't live too far away I would check it out. Not in the nicest area of town. Prices okay. Service not that fantastic, and they seemed to close pretty early at night, however there was hardly anyone in there on the weeknight we went.
(3)
Noelle M.
I ended up coming here after I couldn't find Sol Azteca. It seemed pretty hopin', so I figured why not? I have been pretty spoiled with amazing mexican food, so while Manny's was good, it wasn't like aaaaaah-mazing. They bring out three kinds of salsa, none of which are too hot and one is SO good and flavorful, yum. I got a chicken flauta with rice and beans and a margarita---had to go native, right!? The margarita was so good, on the rocks of course, and the flauta was okay, looking back I probably would have gotten just a normal burrito or something. The highlight of the evening was dessert- Sopapilla Chips! MHHH basically they're a chip version of a churro and I got honey and chocolate on them with a scoop of ice cream---the table next door saw it once it hit my table and immediately ordered one, ha. The honey and chocolate was a good move, but next time I'm getting it on the side---less is more! Overall I enjoyed myself but wasn't wowed. The place seems authentic, but it is just soooooo huge, it would be a great place to bring a big group of people though!
(3)
Joe H.
Just because a lot of people go someplace, that doesn't mean it's good food. Manny's is the place for you if you like cheese and grease. If you like actual Mexican food, don't bother. I've never felt good about eating here the handful of times I've been.
(2)
David W.
I use to go to manny's growing up and it was good but after the fire it got bad. The food is greesy there is nothing like biting into a taco and drinking a cup of greese. The staff is ok if you can find anyone who speaks english. I went there about a year ago and found that they had raised the prices to levels that are a joke. I dont think I will be going back anytime soon.
(2)
Ashley M.
I don't understand the excitement of Manny's. The wait was long, water neglected, orders messed up, portions not great and the food - well, I've had a lot better. The amount of grease that leaked from my taco was disgusting. This place is overrated and not recommended. If you decide to go though - reservations are a good idea.
(1)
Kyle R.
Definitely the most famous and biggest Mexican restaurant in KC, Manny's has built a reputation in its many years on the Boulevard in KC. A reputation that is probably not wholly deserved. The food's decent, the servers are alright but the only thing that makes Manny's stand out is that's a massive restaurant with multiple stories, making it perfect for a group lunch or dinner. Its smart to make reservations on weekdays for lunch; all other times, you're going to be fine if you just show up. Parking is always a bit of a challenge, even though the restaurant owns two different parking lots across the street. If you're looking for the best Mexican food in the city, look elsewhere though.
(3)
Guinnivere B.
I can't believe someone told me this was THE place for Mexican food in KC. I hate to give a poor review, but I was extremely disappointed. Food quality: poor Service: okay Atmosphere: cheesy Authenticity: unheard of here
(1)
Jon S.
The staff was friendly, the food was, in my opinion incredible. They have two types of salsa: really bland and really hot. Being a medium kind of guy, I wasn't impressed. Like I said though, the burrito was fantastic!
(3)
Michelle G.
allright, i put off writing a review on this place but i cant hold my peace any longer when it comes to new visitors to this town getting sold snake oil by the positive reviews. and if you liked it please put what you had! i understand Manny's is a KC beloved place and frankly to an extent respect that the family works hard for thier money. couldnt they invest it in better recipes and products? its right near my work and every single time its "lets go to manny's" why, why do i have to continue to go there and have tasteless greasy food??? oh right because every single co worker has to have thier "favorite" dish there! some liked a shrimp taco i dislike shrimp instensely- and others liked this smothered chicken burrito. i tried that once. it wasnt bad but i only had a forkful- then the next time i went back i couldnt find it. then the NEXT time it was awful. tasteless goo with an undercooked tortilla. have i been able to find a favorite dish? even at on the border i prefer fajitas or empanadas with queso. nope surely havent. i normally order tacos and pray they are decent. do i avoid it and beg to go anywhere else? YES. jackstack is right around the corner! you'll have cheesy corn bake and leftovers! i like certain dishes at all the places here in town Ponaks Margaritas Jose Peppers Fronteras Mi Ranchito and i even got that bad salsa and threw them up! those poor people. how horrible. some day i hope to be able to return. i grew up with Taco Johns being the epitome of perfect tacos in my little NE town and thought a burrito was those hard fried things in the school cafeteria. i moved to LA. found GOOD food and since i just cant tolerate wasting good money on poor food. and the next time i hear lets go to mannys. i will yet again hope they change thier cooks and thier menu. think investing in some DECENT ground chilis for the enchilada sauce! spice your taco meat. and hello powdered cheese sauce isnt better than the real deal! yeesh. ps. just a clarification- i really didnt have a BAD experience. meh experienced better sums it up.. and i wouldnt even be whining except them taking good money for food that i didnt like just grates my cheese. but after the first time i knew what not to expect and had to resent spending money here due to peer pressure. not really Mannys fault - they served us were pleasant and took care of the table okay. the food was served timely and was at least hot. its just. in my opinion. there are so many better places in town. thier parking sucks. i've gotten door and even bumper scrapes in thier lot and of course no note which didnt increase my love for them coming out from a meh meal to find my car looked like somebody wacko repeatedly slammed thier car door into mine. i've had better food at taco bell. least they spice the meat. and the salsa & chips were never consistent. some days good somedays i think we got last weeks chips and salsa that was reserved. i preferred Ponaks specifically the sonora taco if they still have it- or just to go to anywhere else! anyway, thats my clarification. m
(2)
Mykie D.
if you live in KC and you've never been to manny's, you are seriously missing out. good food. great prices. authentic. delightful.
(5)
Adam C.
Manny's down on Southwest Boulevard is often touted as some of the best Mexican cuisine in Kansas City. I personally, do not see what warrants this distinction. The experience I had there was far from a negative one, but hardly anything that sticks out in my mind as "the best," my first reservation with this restaurant is the complimentary salsa, being a connoisseur of Mexican food, I've had many restaurant style salsa, and this one seemed like nothing more than tomato sauce. One of the best things about going to eat Mexican is stuffing your face with chips and salsa, so right off the bat I was disappointed. I will say, that when the food came, it was good, and the portions were pretty gigantic. It's just that nothing blew me away, and it may have been because going into the experience the restaurant was very hyped up in my mind. I would recommend this restaurant to others, just don't go into it thinking it's the best in KC.
(2)
jennifer j.
Too greasy...plenty of other choices for great Mexican. Skip it.
(1)
Scott D.
Although it seems clean and all, there are much better places for Mexican food.
(1)
Erin L.
my review is based purely on the service. i've eaten the food several times and it's not memorable - it's your basic american greasy cheese on a plate. but on my most recent (and final) visit, the servers were so rude to us that we ended up leaving before we even ate. (if you want true tacos, go to Rico's up the road. if you want amazing food within walking distance, head to Jack Stack around the corner.)
(1)
Justin W.
Great food and customer service. Able to get quickly sat. Margarita amazing as well. Will be returning. The taco sin carne (vegetable taco) was really good and had a lot of flavor. Manager was proactive and attentive to our table as well.
(5)
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Address :207 Southwest Blvd
Kansas City, MO, 64108
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street, Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No 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.
Jennifer S.
This place has the BEST service I have had in a long time. However, I got enchiladas with a taquito and it was probably the most bland mexican I have ever had. On a side note, my friend got the fajita tacos and they were absolutely amazing. The margaritas were great and the food was out fast. If your looking for tex-mex style quick mexi fix this would be the place. If your looking for something a bit more authentic I would head south down the blvd.
(3)Matt E.
Pretty dang average, and there are definitely better, more authentic Mexican restaurants in the immediate vicinity. But sometimes you just want a super-Americanized burrito covered in yellow cheese, and that is where Manny's shines. A group of 4, we went here for some pre-First Fridays margaritas and Mexican grub. I wanted to go someplace a bit more authentic, but due to the proximity to the galleries and the fact that we were cabbing it, I was outvoted. Still, it was a decent meal and I left happy and full. They have a silly number of drink specials, to the point where I was confused. I just sort of ignored them and went with a pitcher of top shelf margaritas. for $24 we got probably 8 margaritas, so we'd say it's definitely a good value. AND they were pretty dang good. For food, well it's pretty much exactly what you'd expect. I had a pork chimichanga, which they call a burrito frito, topped with monterey jack cheese. It was pretty standard, didn't blow my mind but wasn't offensive to my tastebuds, either. That was pretty much everybody's opinion of their meals. The one weird thing is that their salsa tastes pretty much exactly like marinara sauce. Quite strange. Not necessarily bad, but strange. Service is always top notch. You have your main server, and a good number of server assistants are always on top of you with fresh chips and water refills. They really have the steps of service down pat. Manny's is far from my favorite restaurant in KC, let alone in the neighborhood, or even the street. BUT for what it is, it's perfectly fine. 3 stars all the way.
(3)Andrew K.
Extraordinarily average food that somehow came highly recommended of places to eat in Kansas City. Have you ever wondered what it would be like British people tried to make Mexican food? I hadn't either, until I tried this. It tastes like what I think that would taste like. If you've only had Taco Bell before, this might be impressive. And it's certainly a "safe" and inoffensive spot to bring a group. (Perhaps a vanload of Minnesotan insurance actuaries looking for an exotic night out. TGIViernes!) There are so many better, more authentic, and less expensive options literally right down the street and all over the metro. You'll be happier there.
(2)Norma G.
I came into Manny's with an old friend of mine yesturday afternoon, and overall I was impressed. Our waitress was a young, blonde woman who was incredibly sweet to us! She spoke Spanish to us for fun and recommended the carnitas to us. They sounded so good, my friend and I both got them. It was an excellent choice, the meat was full of a rich flavor and the whole meal was well put together. The restaurant was busy but we got our food very fast and the waitress kept us taken care of whenever we needed something. I'll definitely be back.
(4)Angie R.
Since leaving KC and moving to Denver I have a totally different palate for Mexican food.. But one thing this place has that most don't.. That white cheese queso. OH.MY.GOD. I would put that shit on everything! Great atmosphere. Kind of in an odd location. Service was ALWAYS great. I never had to have a long wait. I try to get here whenever I get back to KC.
(3)Jessica B.
I been going to manny a for years and today the food was great , but my waitress Courtney was having a attitude after I ask to get another toco that did not even look like the toco my family had on their plate . Also, I was listening to how she talk to the other people next to me and she was having the same attitude with them. She only started being nice because the boss was watching the floor because of this experience I rate it a 4 star, but the food is great and I recommend the Mucho Tacos.
(4)Rhonda S.
I still don't care for Manny's. It doesn't measure up to the Mexican restaurants that exist in Kansas City. I think it;s getting worse. Parking (on a Wednesday, around 1:00) was horrible. Sketchy to say the least. How do you know if you don't park in Manny's parking, if you are parked legally or not? Before I ever return, they need to revamp and update parking. The signage isn't clear. Still pretty on the inside, but what is it with the wait? Most places in Kansas City aren't worth waiting over 15 minutes, and the place wasn't that full. I had a near 15 minute wait, but saw plenty of empty tables. But then, maybe I am being picky. Not a place for a quick lunch. I should've called my order, cause with my job, I'm never sure where I'll be in Kansas City. Just glad I didn't have any appointments after. I ordered the soft tacos.I guess I eat a fuck load of tacos. But anyway, they were soft tacos, with sour cream, lettuce, cheese. The ground beef was prepared and seasoned not too much, and not too hot. I had flour tortilla shells. I think still what doesn't' sell me on Manny's, is, once again, the sauce, this time, instead of resembling Ragu, it kind of tasted a bit like Hines, not that I mind Hines, it's in my refrigerator. I don't like it on my tacos. I think that is the kicker right there. I asked about the vegetarian tacos, but the server kind of looked at me funny. They do have them. Funny looks irritate me. I know I said I'd not be back, but I needed to give them another chance. I really want to give them more than 2 stars, cause it's a destination spot for some, but I still don't get why, except that it looks cool, and the building has historical properties, I would guess. Rather Ponaks down the street with it's crappy parking than Manny's. This time I stand by my word...no more.
(2)Mark R.
I have to agree with a lot of the previous reviews. The food is good, not great. The chili relleno with beef was good when I added some of the cheesy white Monterrey sauce the waitress brought us. The pork in the Manny burrito was good but the rest of the presentation was average. I probably will not return.
(3)Rachel P.
There's not a lot to say about Manny's that hasn't been said. The food is Mexican with a "healthy" dose of queso available upon request. The chips and salsa are pretty standard and free flowing. They do have good margaritas and drink specials on First Fridays. I've gotten a few things, but mostly the Monterey burrito (since about second grade.)The dinner crowd is usually lighter, but lunch can be really busy.
(4)J J.
This place, no matter what the reviews, is just plain average. It's mediocre. The meats- be it chicken or beef are highly under-seasoned. The chips and salsa are whatever. They put WAY too much cheese on top of their enchiladas, which are metiocre. People love it who don't know any better. Skip it. There are SO MANY more good Mexican places right on S.W Blvd.
(2)Jessica R.
This isn't authentic Mexican. Everything just covered in cheese. Ordered a chicken taco on soft tortilla and seriously got a hunk of chicken breast in a tortilla and nothing else. Nothing. The enchilada wasn't much better but smothered in cheese. The green Chile sauce is rather spicy! We didn't really eat our dinners. Real disappointment. The waitress was nice but didn't really address the plain "taco" situation. If you want fast food style tex-mex, this might work. If you want authentic Mexican, I suggest reconsidering this selection.
(1)Cassandra B.
Food was acceptable. That's about it. Nothing spectacular. Standard Mexican fare. But the personnel working at the establishment made the establishment one to remember... And not for any good reasons. The hostess was a bundle of joy. If bundle of joy means a petulant unhappy emotionless robot. She did not greet or acknowledge our party of 6 upon entry in any capacity. It was like the worst thing in the world that she had customers to sit. I haven't bothered to write a review until this visit. But 3 times of dealing with the same rude hostess over a period of a couple weeks prompted me to do so. I would quit going... But my doofus friends keep insisting because it's close. You should probably hire someone who makes the establishment worth going to.
(1)Jessica R.
This isn't authentic Mexican. Everything just covered in cheese. Ordered a chicken taco on soft tortilla and seriously got a hunk of chicken breast in a tortilla and nothing else. Nothing. The enchilada wasn't much better but smothered in cheese. The green Chile sauce is rather spicy! We didn't really eat our dinners. Real disappointment. The waitress was nice but didn't really address the plain "taco" situation. If you want fast food style tex-mex, this might work. If you want authentic Mexican, I suggest reconsidering this selection.
(1)John K.
They say location is key and that is the only thing this DUMP has going for it. Sure the talking heads in the media like to think of it as a KC tradition because it's been there since the dawn of time but eat there once and you'll know why anywhere else would be better. Ho hum Tex Mex and a few sad attempts at "authentic Mexican" all swathed in grease and cheese. The service is unfriendly and slow. The only tradition here is intestinal unrest a few hours after eating which works out great for those going to the game, art show or ballet...braaaaaap uh oh, proot proot run NEVER AGAIN!!!
(1)Hunter G.
I ate here today for probably the fiftieth time in my life. I've been here with friends, lovers, enemies and acquaintances. It's a KC institution. Not the best Mexican place but not the worst by far. The staff is always great and the food is tasty. Before this afternoon the last time I was here was with my bros. We filled up on Mexican and downed some margaritas and kept the Mexican train rolling by downing Tecates poolside all afternoon. Such a great summer day. Today, I ate with coworkers who tried to Catfish me once (unsuccessfully) and call me gay because I wear Birkenstocks. How can my bros be so fucking cool and my coworkers be so terrible. The ying and yang of the people in my life. I had the Burrito lunch special. Great deal.
(4)Melissa R.
I've lived in KC for 22 years and have been to nearly every Mexican restaurant around. About every 5 years, I think I will try Manny's again, and always regret it. I will say the chips and salsa are decent & enchiladas are good. I took my family last night and it was a huge disappointment. The portions are tiny! My three kids ordered regular entrees, and left hungry! We ordered refried beans with one meal, and it came out with rice. When I brought it to the servers attention, she said she'd bring out beans right away. She did, but then charged us nearly $2 for less than 1/4 cup of beans. They also charged for about 1 spoonful of sour cream. Not happy, and NOT going back!
(1)Rich H.
Came based on a friend's recommendation, and the fact they've been here for a long time. I'm not sure why. The salsa wasn't very spicy (mostly just tomato flavor), and the sampler platter I got while it had a good variety didn't have much flavor either. Pretty generic Mexican "fast food" from what I can tell. I'll probably give them another try and get something less generic than a sampler, but for now it's a 2.
(2)David S.
TL;DR Nachos Gigante are awesome! Smothered in queso and sour cream. Great house chips and salsa My girlfriend and I were driving around looking to kill about and hour and a half before a movie. We drove past Manny's and I immediately thought, "QUESO!" So I pulled in and we went inside. We'd had a late breakfast so we weren't super hungry so we ordered the Nachos Gigante with chicken. When it came it was smothered in white Monterrey cheese queso, sour cream and a layer of refried beans. There was definitely more topping than there was chips...just the way it should be. The service was friendly and very, very fast. No sooner had I finished my Pepsi and set it down there was a new one right there. The chips and salsa young when first seated are very good too. The chips were hot and fresh and the salsa had just enough cilantro but wasn't overpowering.
(5)Stephanie C.
Went here again a few days ago. Had reservation for 10 at 530 and all of us were all here almost at 540. They only seat parties that are all there, WHICH IS VERY STUPID! We still had to wait awhile. It looked like they were short....and it was a Saturday night! Finally got sat at about 6 in a smaller area in the back which was more quiet. A guy who seemed like a server assistant/busser got 7 waters. Me and 2 others didn't get a drink. Server came few mins later asking about drinks. A few got alcohol and me and the other 2 asked for water. She came back with the 5 alcoholic drinks and NO WATERS. ?? Ok....but she had to fix a maragarita. She came back with just the margarita. By then I was getting mad not having anything to drink with my chips and salsa. She finally came back few mins later with waters. After we ordered we didn't even see her at all til our food came. The guy that brought us waters at the very beginning did everything, refills mostly on chips, salsa, drinks. Saw server once we had our food and she had 3 other tables. But she barely paid attention to us. She didn't seem like she wanted to be there. She got our boxes later and gave the checks out. She didn't come back til 5 mins later after we asked the same guy to get her. She was VERY SLOW. Idk if she was new or needed help, which she clearly got help from the guy. We should have tipped him instead.....like for real! The food was same. Salsa still SUCKS. Taco sauce/pizza sauce is what others said it tasted like. Not even chunky. Thats not even salsa. Salsa is suppose to be somewhat chunky with onions, cilantro, jalopenos. Enchiladas were good though. In all it was just ok....won't go back unless we really want Mexican and are in the area.
(3)Thomas A.
This restaurant is a Kansas City favorite. The atmosphere is nice, the prices are decent. The food is fine. It's located near several Kansas City entertainment venues so it's convenient for that. People from where I work, like to meet here for drinks, Happy Hour and group dinners. It's fine.
(3)Jarrod V.
Another stop in my fiancee and I looking for good Mexican food. We happened in on Taco Tuesday, so we got one, along with our usual cheese sauce. The cheese sauce was alright, but I've had better. Didn't like the taco so much. For our entrees, I got the "famous" Manny's Burrito with pork. It wasn't bad. This was not my usual type of order and I was happy with that selection. My fiancee ordered the Enchilada Burrito. Again, not bad was the verdict. The atmosphere was nice, but it was a little tough to get a hold of the waiter, but he did have a large party to cover. He was quite helpful otherwise. Left him a nice tip.
(3)Lauren M.
I've been going here for probably 10 years. They catered my wedding and I think they have amazing burritos. I always get the sombrero or the para su gusto. We just went last night and noticed their prices have gone up quite a bit. I felt that some of the items were pretty ridiculously priced, considering there's a Margaritas and El Patron down the street. I love Manny's salsa, it's the #1 salsa in my book. I still think they have the best Mexican food.
(4)Cindy R.
Conveniently enough it was "Taco Tuesday" yesterday and I had some time to kill waiting for a friend who is always late. I stopped into Manny's for a quick bite at the bar and was greeted by a very friendly bartender. I ordered a white cheese dip, a chicken and beef hard shell taco and side of rice. I'm excited to say that Manny's NOW OFFERS TACO TUESDAY SPECIALS! :) $5 for two hard shell tacos of your choice with side of rice or beans. Nice deal! Oh and $2.50 Domestic beers (draft or bottle). I wanted to try both the beef and chicken tacos and the chicken is by far better. Maybe it's because I'm more of a chicken person in general but the meat was cooked to perfection. The cheese dip was just okay. Could have used a little more of something, although I'd have to put some good thought into it to figure it out... I mixed the hot and mild sauce last night and enjoyed it better than just one of them on their own. Their chips were warm and not greasy so that was good also! Overall, I was in the middle of either a 3 or 4 because my food was good and I can definitely see some changes occurring. Plus, the owner reaching out yesterday made me more willing to go back. Keep it up! :)
(3)Mary M.
We dine here pretty regularly because it's an easy walk from our apartment and the prices are pretty good. Food arrives very quickly after ordering. While I'm not personally fond of their enchilada sauce, I've enjoyed every other thing I have ordered-- especially the chile relleno burrito and the huevos Mexicanos. They're generous with the chips and salsa and they also have Diet Dr. Pepper, which isn't all that common in restaurants.
(4)Samantha G.
If I could give this no stars I would. Let me begin by saying I downloaded yelp just to write this review! The service started out as ok but it quickly turned south when the waitress wasn't very attentive. We ordered the cheapest margaritas.... And they were HORRIBLE. So bad, I sent mine back! This is saying something because I've never met a margarita I couldn't drink before. The waitress ran off before even asking if i wanted to replace it. My friend had the same but was able to get it down. She tried ordering the top shelf Cadillac marg. When the waitress returned And it was worse than the first. She tried explaining to the waitress on a peer level, that this drink was BAD and she should taste it. On that peer level she did say it was fucking disgusting and we weren't trying to be rude but that it was BAD and something was wrong..... And immediately the waitress ran off and said she would get her manager. Her manager came back with new drink in hand and immediately started yelling at us and saying they would fix anything but we shouldn't cuss at her employees... And we tried explaining that we didnt like her aggressive behavior and that we didnt cuzz AT her.... She wouldn't listen... At which point we asked for our checks. We were brought one. We then asked for them to be split. She split them in a weird way without asking. They then had to be fixed..... Needless to say, the only tip she got was that her boss needed anger management classes and that she needs to offer solutions to a customer before immediately running to a manager.... I pray we don't get food poisoning from these horrible drinks!
(1)R R.
Just ate here, it's a Saturday around 4:30. Got right in. We eat here often so I finally decided to sign up on Yelp an give my opinion. It's wonderful. Its got flavor, reasonable price, great service, really enjoy the margaritas as well. Chips were delivered immediately by Eric. He never missed a beat getting chips and sauce when getting low. Want to mention too the cheese sauce is perfect. This is a Mexican restaurant not a Tex Mex. Delicious!
(4)Bobby N.
Manny's is good. Just good. Coming from a Mexican family, I hold Mexican food joints to a pretty high standard. When I was a kid I fricken looooved this place! In grade school some of the other kids parents I went to school with worked here. My grandparents took the whole family to dinner for their anniversary here. I have many fond memories of dinner at Manny's. Now...Manny's is good. Just good. The chips and salsa are fire. So are the margaritas. I also dig the mariachis when they are there. But that's about where my love for the place stops. The food is good. Not stellar. And there is ALWAYS a wait. And I won't wait. Unless you're paying.
(3)P M.
Worst Mexican food, rude staff, RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE. Here are some tips for the cooks... One, you need to oil up your corn tortillas before heating them. The failure to do so will result in making an already dry product even more dry. This is why your chicken soft tacos tasted like sandpaper (the dry chicken did not help). This lack of oil also led to your dry rice and dried flour tortilla that surrounded my chicken and veggie burrito. Also, cheddar should not be on a chicken burrito. Then there's the salsa. I am pretty sure it's spaghetti sauce. Finally, there's the wait staff. I was eating with a friend when a couple we knew randomly showed up and we invited them to sit with us. We asked to be moved to a larger table. "We don't sit incomplete parties. You guys should not have even been seated." She had a very rude tone and talked to us like we were little kids. Finally, this place is way overpriced. How on earth this place is still in business is way beyond me, especially when there are several Mexican restaurants around with better food, service, and prices.
(1)Jaime L.
Attended a rehearsal dinner here, and was not impressed. The salsa was lackluster - tasting of puréed stewed tomatoes, and desperately in need of some spice and heat. The buffet offered up, consisted of pork tamales, beef tacos, chicken quesadilla, and the staples of course of refried beans and rice. Dessert concluded with sopapillas. All of which was edible, but just can't call it good Mexican.
(2)Anna D.
Great street tacos and a mean (good) mojito! This place is a nice spot on the map for Mexican food.
(5)Jarold W.
First time so we will see. For an AZ native in MO eating Mexican food....review will follow......food was good for what we had. I was part of a large group and we were served buffet style so it may not be fair to suggest ordering from the menu would be the same but what I ate was not the kind of Mexican food we enjoy in Arizona. Starting with chips and "hot sauce" (I was craving salsa) which had little picante zing to it - even the so called hotter version. Again, good for what it was but we (I had table mates from Denver and Austin) did not eat what we call Mexican food.
(2)Sharon M.
I love this place. OK -- the salsa is very mild -- but the food is great. High recommend for a lunch and cocktail.
(4)Kelly M.
Food was decent, had the burrito Frito. Service was average... The main dining room was way too loud to carry on a nice conversation though.
(3)Xyz X.
Everything tasted like it came straight from a can.
(1)Suzi S.
We were looking for a place to grab lunch on Valentine's Day and walked into Manny's. We were seated quickly, even on such a busy day with a party of eight. It's a big place with lots of tables. The building is renovated and the place seemed clean and nicely decorated. Service was quick and courteous, food was fresh and hot, and arrived quickly. I thought it was really good! There are a lot of good Mexican restaurants in KC, so maybe it's not THE BEST, but I will go back.
(4)Alicia H.
My husband and I have poked fun at Manny's for years, but there was a major flaw in the attitude we had toward the place. Neither of us actually had the Manny's experience. We decided if we were going to continue joking about eating at Manny's that we should actually go. We remedied the situation this past Saturday afternoon for lunch. We opted not to go on First Friday because I'm pretty certain that's when the place does the bulk of its business in a month. This isn't to say the place is not busy. Because it looks busy most evenings on the weekends. People continually complain about how long the wait is sometimes. I can sum my experience by saying this -- as a kid, I really liked Carlos O'Kelly's. Manny's is a lot like Carlos O'Kelly's only more cheese and possibly higher prices. This is probably because of the amount of cheese Manny's uses along with inflation ... but probably more because of the cosmic yellow cheese. My husband ordered the El Sombrero to get an opportunity to sample some different TexMex elements that Manny's produces. I went with the Para las Senoritas because it's "for the ladies" and for lighter appetites. I'm not sure what's light about it. It's TexMex. Saying TexMex is light is like saying cheetahs don't run. Also, I don't necessarily take issue with this dish being for the ladies. I think dudes can order it as well. But it seems to me that whenever this dish is ordered that Beyonce should come out and serenade the person ordering. Why Beyonce? I don't know know. I guess because of that "Single Ladies" song. The words of that song can be changed for this occasion pretty easily. I'm sure of it. Anyhow, here's how I assess the elements of the "For the Ladies" meal: - Ground beef taco - Not offensive. Shell was a bit greasy - Bean tostada - buried under the other stuff on the plate so it was the last thing I tried. At that point the crispy shell was not crispy, which is to be expected. - Chicken enchilada - the chicken was a little dry but OK. I found the yellow goopy cheese not at all to my liking and it covered the enchilada. I felt pretty happy I went with the chicken and not the cheese & onion option. Rice - it was rice. So, there you have it. Lots of places do TexMex a bit better and they are within blocks of Carlos O'Manny's ... err ... Manny's.
(2)Charles D.
Manny's is one of my favorite restaurants and is my favorite Mexican restaurant in Kansas City. I have been a long time fan. When I worked nearby, I would go 1-2 times a week for lunch. Now that I don't work nearby, I go fairly often and it is always as good as I remember. I always order the Frito Burrito with chicken and beef. It is basically a chimichanga and it is incredibly delicious. Their spicy salsa is my favorite salsa. I eat way too much of it every time I go. The mild salsa isn't my favorite, but this is not a problem because I eat almost exclusively the spicy salsa. The only downside is that Manny's is expensive. It is worth it, though, and my family and I go as often as we can.
(5)Melissa F.
Never again. We walked in and were waiting forever to be seated despite the fact that it was an off time and not busy. We were seated so far away from the main area way in the back of a second giant room. The salsa was watery and lacked any substance or flavor. The chips were stale. I ordered a chicken burrito and it was disappointing. To be on southwest blvd with Mexican food I expected way more. I won't be coming back here.
(1)Z M.
Would love to give this place a (0) Zero star if I could. It took 25 minutes of waiting for a vegan meal. Seriously!?!? The owner was less than accommodating with a simple request. I'm out of town and like checking new venues. Glad to say that I will never be coming back to this place. It's too bad that the owner don't see the value of taking care of their guests.
(1)Alexia R.
If I could, I would give this 0 stars. Horrible service... And one of our friends fell asleep waiting for his food... This is not an exaggeration
(1)Corbie K.
Tried Manny's for the first time a few days ago for a friend's birthday. We made the reservation the night before, but still had to wait a while because they won't seat a group until everyone is present and the person who drove all of us was still trying to find a place to park. They have horrible parking, by the way, so be prepared to drive around the block several times until something opens up. Anyway when we were finally taken to our table we were led through the first large room and into the next and then given a table placed in the hallway next to the waitstaff's cash register and computer desk. It felt like we were always in the way as employees and customers were constantly walking past our table. The food was a let down. It was pretty pricey and lacked flavor. I got the tamale spread, but was turned off by the huge amount of cheese dip that covered both tamales. The cheese quickly cooled and became gluey and the flavor overpowered everything else. I did enjoy their hot salsa and rice, however. Overall, I'd have to say I was disappointed. I was excited to try the famous Manny's, but I'm sad to say, I'd rather have almost any other Tex-Mex place around here.
(2)D. B.
Just saw that someone rated this with two stars and suggested she likes On the Border better. I mean, to each their own, but if On the Border is your idea of good, authentic Mexican food, I think that that means the joke is on you and it kind of makes me feel a little sad inside. Parking isn't great, no, but that has more to do with where the building is located - the building is on a corner of a busy intersection in the Crossroads district - what would you expect, especially on a weekend night? When we go, we usually start with the queso dip for our chips because that dip tastes like unicorn snot (really good). I like to eat on the lighter side, so I normally order the Manny's chicken salad and I'm never disappointed. I saw another reviewer complain about the servings being too small. I'm sure Manny's would apologize for not stuffing your kids' plates with 3,500 calories because, y'know, freedom and America. It's called "portion" for a reason. Manny's is absolutely essential for KCMO.
(5)Justin W.
Great food and customer service. Able to get quickly sat. Margarita amazing as well. Will be returning. The taco sin carne (vegetable taco) was really good and had a lot of flavor. Manager was proactive and attentive to our table as well.
(5)Cassandra B.
Food was acceptable. That's about it. Nothing spectacular. Standard Mexican fare. But the personnel working at the establishment made the establishment one to remember... And not for any good reasons. The hostess was a bundle of joy. If bundle of joy means a petulant unhappy emotionless robot. She did not greet or acknowledge our party of 6 upon entry in any capacity. It was like the worst thing in the world that she had customers to sit. I haven't bothered to write a review until this visit. But 3 times of dealing with the same rude hostess over a period of a couple weeks prompted me to do so. I would quit going... But my doofus friends keep insisting because it's close. You should probably hire someone who makes the establishment worth going to.
(1)John K.
They say location is key and that is the only thing this DUMP has going for it. Sure the talking heads in the media like to think of it as a KC tradition because it's been there since the dawn of time but eat there once and you'll know why anywhere else would be better. Ho hum Tex Mex and a few sad attempts at "authentic Mexican" all swathed in grease and cheese. The service is unfriendly and slow. The only tradition here is intestinal unrest a few hours after eating which works out great for those going to the game, art show or ballet...braaaaaap uh oh, proot proot run NEVER AGAIN!!!
(1)Hunter G.
I ate here today for probably the fiftieth time in my life. I've been here with friends, lovers, enemies and acquaintances. It's a KC institution. Not the best Mexican place but not the worst by far. The staff is always great and the food is tasty. Before this afternoon the last time I was here was with my bros. We filled up on Mexican and downed some margaritas and kept the Mexican train rolling by downing Tecates poolside all afternoon. Such a great summer day. Today, I ate with coworkers who tried to Catfish me once (unsuccessfully) and call me gay because I wear Birkenstocks. How can my bros be so fucking cool and my coworkers be so terrible. The ying and yang of the people in my life. I had the Burrito lunch special. Great deal.
(4)Melissa R.
I've lived in KC for 22 years and have been to nearly every Mexican restaurant around. About every 5 years, I think I will try Manny's again, and always regret it. I will say the chips and salsa are decent & enchiladas are good. I took my family last night and it was a huge disappointment. The portions are tiny! My three kids ordered regular entrees, and left hungry! We ordered refried beans with one meal, and it came out with rice. When I brought it to the servers attention, she said she'd bring out beans right away. She did, but then charged us nearly $2 for less than 1/4 cup of beans. They also charged for about 1 spoonful of sour cream. Not happy, and NOT going back!
(1)Rich H.
Came based on a friend's recommendation, and the fact they've been here for a long time. I'm not sure why. The salsa wasn't very spicy (mostly just tomato flavor), and the sampler platter I got while it had a good variety didn't have much flavor either. Pretty generic Mexican "fast food" from what I can tell. I'll probably give them another try and get something less generic than a sampler, but for now it's a 2.
(2)David S.
TL;DR Nachos Gigante are awesome! Smothered in queso and sour cream. Great house chips and salsa My girlfriend and I were driving around looking to kill about and hour and a half before a movie. We drove past Manny's and I immediately thought, "QUESO!" So I pulled in and we went inside. We'd had a late breakfast so we weren't super hungry so we ordered the Nachos Gigante with chicken. When it came it was smothered in white Monterrey cheese queso, sour cream and a layer of refried beans. There was definitely more topping than there was chips...just the way it should be. The service was friendly and very, very fast. No sooner had I finished my Pepsi and set it down there was a new one right there. The chips and salsa young when first seated are very good too. The chips were hot and fresh and the salsa had just enough cilantro but wasn't overpowering.
(5)Stephanie C.
Went here again a few days ago. Had reservation for 10 at 530 and all of us were all here almost at 540. They only seat parties that are all there, WHICH IS VERY STUPID! We still had to wait awhile. It looked like they were short....and it was a Saturday night! Finally got sat at about 6 in a smaller area in the back which was more quiet. A guy who seemed like a server assistant/busser got 7 waters. Me and 2 others didn't get a drink. Server came few mins later asking about drinks. A few got alcohol and me and the other 2 asked for water. She came back with the 5 alcoholic drinks and NO WATERS. ?? Ok....but she had to fix a maragarita. She came back with just the margarita. By then I was getting mad not having anything to drink with my chips and salsa. She finally came back few mins later with waters. After we ordered we didn't even see her at all til our food came. The guy that brought us waters at the very beginning did everything, refills mostly on chips, salsa, drinks. Saw server once we had our food and she had 3 other tables. But she barely paid attention to us. She didn't seem like she wanted to be there. She got our boxes later and gave the checks out. She didn't come back til 5 mins later after we asked the same guy to get her. She was VERY SLOW. Idk if she was new or needed help, which she clearly got help from the guy. We should have tipped him instead.....like for real! The food was same. Salsa still SUCKS. Taco sauce/pizza sauce is what others said it tasted like. Not even chunky. Thats not even salsa. Salsa is suppose to be somewhat chunky with onions, cilantro, jalopenos. Enchiladas were good though. In all it was just ok....won't go back unless we really want Mexican and are in the area.
(3)Thomas A.
This restaurant is a Kansas City favorite. The atmosphere is nice, the prices are decent. The food is fine. It's located near several Kansas City entertainment venues so it's convenient for that. People from where I work, like to meet here for drinks, Happy Hour and group dinners. It's fine.
(3)Jarrod V.
Another stop in my fiancee and I looking for good Mexican food. We happened in on Taco Tuesday, so we got one, along with our usual cheese sauce. The cheese sauce was alright, but I've had better. Didn't like the taco so much. For our entrees, I got the "famous" Manny's Burrito with pork. It wasn't bad. This was not my usual type of order and I was happy with that selection. My fiancee ordered the Enchilada Burrito. Again, not bad was the verdict. The atmosphere was nice, but it was a little tough to get a hold of the waiter, but he did have a large party to cover. He was quite helpful otherwise. Left him a nice tip.
(3)Lauren M.
I've been going here for probably 10 years. They catered my wedding and I think they have amazing burritos. I always get the sombrero or the para su gusto. We just went last night and noticed their prices have gone up quite a bit. I felt that some of the items were pretty ridiculously priced, considering there's a Margaritas and El Patron down the street. I love Manny's salsa, it's the #1 salsa in my book. I still think they have the best Mexican food.
(4)Cindy R.
Conveniently enough it was "Taco Tuesday" yesterday and I had some time to kill waiting for a friend who is always late. I stopped into Manny's for a quick bite at the bar and was greeted by a very friendly bartender. I ordered a white cheese dip, a chicken and beef hard shell taco and side of rice. I'm excited to say that Manny's NOW OFFERS TACO TUESDAY SPECIALS! :) $5 for two hard shell tacos of your choice with side of rice or beans. Nice deal! Oh and $2.50 Domestic beers (draft or bottle). I wanted to try both the beef and chicken tacos and the chicken is by far better. Maybe it's because I'm more of a chicken person in general but the meat was cooked to perfection. The cheese dip was just okay. Could have used a little more of something, although I'd have to put some good thought into it to figure it out... I mixed the hot and mild sauce last night and enjoyed it better than just one of them on their own. Their chips were warm and not greasy so that was good also! Overall, I was in the middle of either a 3 or 4 because my food was good and I can definitely see some changes occurring. Plus, the owner reaching out yesterday made me more willing to go back. Keep it up! :)
(3)Mary M.
We dine here pretty regularly because it's an easy walk from our apartment and the prices are pretty good. Food arrives very quickly after ordering. While I'm not personally fond of their enchilada sauce, I've enjoyed every other thing I have ordered-- especially the chile relleno burrito and the huevos Mexicanos. They're generous with the chips and salsa and they also have Diet Dr. Pepper, which isn't all that common in restaurants.
(4)Samantha G.
If I could give this no stars I would. Let me begin by saying I downloaded yelp just to write this review! The service started out as ok but it quickly turned south when the waitress wasn't very attentive. We ordered the cheapest margaritas.... And they were HORRIBLE. So bad, I sent mine back! This is saying something because I've never met a margarita I couldn't drink before. The waitress ran off before even asking if i wanted to replace it. My friend had the same but was able to get it down. She tried ordering the top shelf Cadillac marg. When the waitress returned And it was worse than the first. She tried explaining to the waitress on a peer level, that this drink was BAD and she should taste it. On that peer level she did say it was fucking disgusting and we weren't trying to be rude but that it was BAD and something was wrong..... And immediately the waitress ran off and said she would get her manager. Her manager came back with new drink in hand and immediately started yelling at us and saying they would fix anything but we shouldn't cuss at her employees... And we tried explaining that we didnt like her aggressive behavior and that we didnt cuzz AT her.... She wouldn't listen... At which point we asked for our checks. We were brought one. We then asked for them to be split. She split them in a weird way without asking. They then had to be fixed..... Needless to say, the only tip she got was that her boss needed anger management classes and that she needs to offer solutions to a customer before immediately running to a manager.... I pray we don't get food poisoning from these horrible drinks!
(1)R R.
Just ate here, it's a Saturday around 4:30. Got right in. We eat here often so I finally decided to sign up on Yelp an give my opinion. It's wonderful. Its got flavor, reasonable price, great service, really enjoy the margaritas as well. Chips were delivered immediately by Eric. He never missed a beat getting chips and sauce when getting low. Want to mention too the cheese sauce is perfect. This is a Mexican restaurant not a Tex Mex. Delicious!
(4)Bobby N.
Manny's is good. Just good. Coming from a Mexican family, I hold Mexican food joints to a pretty high standard. When I was a kid I fricken looooved this place! In grade school some of the other kids parents I went to school with worked here. My grandparents took the whole family to dinner for their anniversary here. I have many fond memories of dinner at Manny's. Now...Manny's is good. Just good. The chips and salsa are fire. So are the margaritas. I also dig the mariachis when they are there. But that's about where my love for the place stops. The food is good. Not stellar. And there is ALWAYS a wait. And I won't wait. Unless you're paying.
(3)P M.
Worst Mexican food, rude staff, RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE. Here are some tips for the cooks... One, you need to oil up your corn tortillas before heating them. The failure to do so will result in making an already dry product even more dry. This is why your chicken soft tacos tasted like sandpaper (the dry chicken did not help). This lack of oil also led to your dry rice and dried flour tortilla that surrounded my chicken and veggie burrito. Also, cheddar should not be on a chicken burrito. Then there's the salsa. I am pretty sure it's spaghetti sauce. Finally, there's the wait staff. I was eating with a friend when a couple we knew randomly showed up and we invited them to sit with us. We asked to be moved to a larger table. "We don't sit incomplete parties. You guys should not have even been seated." She had a very rude tone and talked to us like we were little kids. Finally, this place is way overpriced. How on earth this place is still in business is way beyond me, especially when there are several Mexican restaurants around with better food, service, and prices.
(1)Jaime L.
Attended a rehearsal dinner here, and was not impressed. The salsa was lackluster - tasting of puréed stewed tomatoes, and desperately in need of some spice and heat. The buffet offered up, consisted of pork tamales, beef tacos, chicken quesadilla, and the staples of course of refried beans and rice. Dessert concluded with sopapillas. All of which was edible, but just can't call it good Mexican.
(2)Anna D.
Great street tacos and a mean (good) mojito! This place is a nice spot on the map for Mexican food.
(5)Jarold W.
First time so we will see. For an AZ native in MO eating Mexican food....review will follow......food was good for what we had. I was part of a large group and we were served buffet style so it may not be fair to suggest ordering from the menu would be the same but what I ate was not the kind of Mexican food we enjoy in Arizona. Starting with chips and "hot sauce" (I was craving salsa) which had little picante zing to it - even the so called hotter version. Again, good for what it was but we (I had table mates from Denver and Austin) did not eat what we call Mexican food.
(2)Sharon M.
I love this place. OK -- the salsa is very mild -- but the food is great. High recommend for a lunch and cocktail.
(4)Kelly M.
Food was decent, had the burrito Frito. Service was average... The main dining room was way too loud to carry on a nice conversation though.
(3)Xyz X.
Everything tasted like it came straight from a can.
(1)Suzi S.
We were looking for a place to grab lunch on Valentine's Day and walked into Manny's. We were seated quickly, even on such a busy day with a party of eight. It's a big place with lots of tables. The building is renovated and the place seemed clean and nicely decorated. Service was quick and courteous, food was fresh and hot, and arrived quickly. I thought it was really good! There are a lot of good Mexican restaurants in KC, so maybe it's not THE BEST, but I will go back.
(4)Liz P.
Ehhhh I expect better. The food is not even near the quality it should be for the prices they charge and neither is the service. It seems to be a popular place though and always crowded. I've been there twice and both times, I definitely saw waiters rushing around and doing things, but never actually waiting on customers. There was also mass confusion in the waiting/entrance area when my friends and I walked in (4 of us). There were other people standing around and no one knew what to do or who to talk to since the host was nowhere to be seen. If nothing else, the bartender could have said something like "Hold on folks, the host will be right with you". It wasn't that long until we were finally seated, but we didn't even get a half-assed apology, let alone a real apology for the wait/confusion. At least say it, even if you don't care and hate your job. Bottom line: go find another Mexican restaurant and eat better food. Suggestion: El Patron. So delicious.
(1)Tabitha M.
First off, nothing beats my boyfriend's Mexican cooking or anything I have ever eaten in Mexico. That said, Manny's is pretty damn good. I'm confused by why the rating is so low. I got the Burrito Frito (which is seriously just a chimichanga) but it was delicious. The tortilla was flakey and perfectly fried. The chicken was tender and well seasoned. It was a decent size for about $7. My boyfriend got the Burrito Verde (swears it was delicious, I can't vouch for it since it's pork but I believe him). The cheese sauce was AMAZING! I said numerous times I thought I could just drink the cheese sauce. We'll blame that one on being pregnant. haha. The service was lightening speed. It was a friday night around 7-8 when we went. Our food came in less than 15 minutes after ordering. The waitress was quick on the drink and chip refills. She was wonderful. The environment is clean, but kind of strange. It looks kind of high class for being what it is, but I guess that just makes for an interesting experience. I cannot wait to go back to Manny's.
(4)Lindsey S.
How does Manny's only have 2 1/2 stars?? Every time I go there is at least a 30 min. wait.... I must say I don't love the salsa or the re-fried beans which are very important things at Mexican food restaurants. But the main entrees, atmosphere, and service do make up for them. It's always a lively crowd on Friday nights. It's a great place to host a birthday dinner, or any dinner with a large group. There are always large groups so they seem to be very accommodating for them. My favorite dish is served during lent (i don't celebrate but love the idea of this). I get their cheese and spinach enchilada meal. Wonderful! I wish they served it YEAR ROUND!! wink wink to the manager.
(4)Christopher Thomas B.
I used to swear by this place, but a recent visit confirmed some suspicions. 1) They have turning tables down to a science. Service lacks warmth and sincerity. You'll get your meal quickly, but the same can be said for the public school cafeteria. And at least they smile. 2) No refills on chips? Is cutting this cost really worth being known as stingy? 3) Always a wait here. You probably should go down the street for something more authentic, and more inviting---but the crowds can't be wrong can they? 10 billion served at McDonalds
(2)Amanda R.
After a long gap, we decided to visit Manny's again for dinner on a First Friday. Not really the best time to get a table anywhere in the vicinity of the Crossroads District and, as expected, we waited for about 15-20 minutes before being seated (better than 30+ minutes at Pizza Bella, hah!) While waiting, we got drinks. Never had a margarita at Manny's before but, damn, it was strong. Anyway, I'm not sure if it's because we've tried more Mexican places in the area or what, but it would seem that my fondness for Manny's is somewhat diminished. Their chips and salsa are still my favorite, and the food is good enough for what it is. But... Their menu is smaller than I remember and rather basic in terms of selection. Many of the selections are more Tex than Mex, and there's nothing as exotic as mole (which we are now using as our barometer of authenticity). I noticed that they now have a fish taco...with breaded white fish? Nonetheless, SO enjoyed his tamales, and I enjoyed my burrito. We went home full and happy, and I can't complain about that.
(3)Bryant S.
After everyone around me working this place up to be such an awesome "Mexican" restaurant, I felt very let down by the simplest Mexican dish. Corn soft shell tacos. They were bland with no spice served with flavorless colby cheese and rice that looked promising but was just as bland as steamed white rice... The salsa with the chips seemed like it was tomato sauce cut with water and a little cilantro. And the "hot" version was about the same with a hint of bell pepper. All and all it was ok nothing to spit out, but if I want authentic I won't be coming here again.
(3)Scott M.
I'll never understand why so many out-of-towners think that this is the Mexican restaurant you are supposed to go to when visiting KC. It makes me sad to think that they go back home and tell others that Manny's represents KC's style of Mexican. It also makes me sad that visitors who fall into the Manny's trap miss out on all of the far superior Mexican food just a few blocks further down the Boulevard, up on Summit, or even over in Argentine and Armourdale. The salsa is uninspiring and almost completely devoid of flavor. The food is just above frozen TV dinner Tex-Mex. In fact, most suburban strip mall parking lot chains serve up better dishes. As for the service, long waits for anything seem to be the norm. On my last visit there were only two other tables occupied and we never got refills and had to hunt for our server when we were ready to pay. Really, people, if you are visiting KC and your friends tell you you MUST visit Manny's, slap them upside the head and find new friends.
(2)John L.
I don't know where some of the reviewers are coming from that did not give this place higher marks. It is as good or better than any Tex-Mex place I have eaten in Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, or Arizona. Very reasonably priced and very tasty. House margarita was excellent. My only dissatisfied selection was the sopapillas that we ordered boxed up to go. They were crispy cinnamon coated sopapillas Chips, not the fluffy pastries I expected. Give it a try and decide for yourself.
(4)Jason A.
Standard Mexican food establishment. The service was nice. Expect to pay 10 bucks for a place most people can find for 6-8 bucks elsewhere. Not that big a difference considering you are in the middle of KC, MO. I would eat here again if I were in the area and just wanted to drop on by for some quick Mexican food. However, I would not say to go out of your way to eat here. The salsa is better than most Mexican places I've been.
(2)Andrea W.
My husband and I ate a late lunch here on Saturday. Perfect timing! There were plenty of available seats. Great service and very friendly. The guacamole was flavorful and fresh. I ordered the favorite pork tacos on corn tortillas with refried beans. It came with a green tomatillo sauce that was delicious on the tacos. My husband ordered tamales and enjoyed every bite. Not every Mexican restaurant serves them.
(4)Chris D.
Manny's is about as Mexican as Pizza Hut is Italian. The names are there, as are the basic ingredients; but the end result is far, far from authentic. Yes I understand that Manny's is a "Kansas City Institution". And yes I understand that it has legions of loyal customers. But come on. The second we found out "Blame it on the Rain" wasn't sang by Milli or Vanilli we banished their asses into musical obscurity. Why have we not yet done so with the culinary sham that is Manny's? Case in point: crunchy tacos. Mexicans do not eat crunchy tacos. The brown skin folks on the Old El Paso commercials have lied to you! I'm fairly sure that they will not even let you into Mexico with crunchy shells. Liquid cheese? I know its tastes good, but to the best of my knowledge, such a thing does not exist anywhere south of Arizona; and it sure as hell isn't put on top of tamales and burritos. And don't even get me started on ground beef! Sure, I get that most Americans prefer their tex-mex. But Manny's isn't even good at that. If you insist on a plate of melted cheese at least go somewhere that does it well. On the positive side. I love the building. Love the downtown location. It's huge. Great for large parties. Staff is friendly and attentive. For these things Manny's gets 2 stars instead of 1. Last but not least, the salsa here is worst in the city. If you want to pick some up to take home you can find it in your local grocery under the title Ragu.
(2)Jarah C.
The food at Manny's was fantastic, I had a spicy burrito with pork and a tomatillo sauce inside with a white cheese sausce on top, it was amazing! Their margaritas were about average, nothing out of the ordinary but they were strong, you definitely get your money's worth on those! I would definitely go back!
(4)Diane N.
Please do yourself a favor and DO NOT go to Manny's. The salsa is like marinara pasta sauce. Seriously! Also the food is just bland, no taste and absolutely no heat. Very greasy. Actually it is quite bizarre that some KC residents love this place. It is more like taco Hamburger Helper. It is NOT "Tex-Mex" at all...not even close. Oh...and the cheese...BLECH! I've been there twice. Never again. I will drive further west on SW Blvd. to the REAL Mexican restaurants.
(1)Ryan A.
If someone suggests this place to you and insists it is THE place for Mexican food in Kansas City, you should never under any circumstances take restaurant advice from them. They don't know what they're talking about, and they may be trying to kill you. Ok, so it isn't that bad, but it is pretty bad. Manny's is the epitome of KC-style "gringo Mex" which, for the uninitiated, generally consists of greasy piles of grease served inside (usually fried) corn tortillas, garnished with a pile of greasy yellow cheese and lettuce on top of everything. Mexican food this is not. Sadly, Manny's isn't even a very good example of "gringo Mex"; it's just the biggest and most famous, with Ponak's and others trailing not too far behind. It is mediocre at best. There are far better places to go for "gringo Mex". Fortunately, there are lots of great authentic Mex places in the city and across the river in KCK, too, if you know where to look. Oh, and one last thing. Sometimes you do have to park a block or two away and walk to get to Manny's. I suppose for people who are only used to walking a block or two past rows of cars in giant Wal-Mart parking lots instead of past buildings and through actual city blocks, this might seem like a big deal, but it really isn't. If having to walk a block or two is the only thing keeping you from returning to Manny's, try Taco Bell. You don't even have to get out of your car!
(2)Reed N.
I liked the food, but they did short us one entree in our order. This happens too often at too many places and there is no excuse for it. I usually try three things to judge a Mexican place. Chile Rellenos, Tamales, and Enchiladas. I had the Rellenos here and they were very good. The beans and rice were actually tasty as well, and they better be if you are going to stick them on every plate! And yes, the salsa is "OK," but good salsa is very hard to find, and not the reason I'd go to a restaurant anyway.
(3)Charolette G.
Manny's has been a staple for mexican food in my family since I was a little kid. For years, every Friday at 5 p.m., you could find us at Manny's. At the same table. The perks about this place is the family atmosphere, and the food is fairly decent, although I will agree with other reviews about it being greasy and heavy. My favorite is, and always will be the pork monterrey burrito, with lots of rice. it's a burrito with seasoned pork and refried beans smothered in their monterrey jack queso. YUM! The chips and salsa is really good, although if you like lots of strong flavor eat the hot variety. The queso is creamy and delicious, and you have to eat one of their chicken flautas (like a taquito) at least once! That being said, I will admit that quality has gone down a bit over the years, as well as the prices have gone up slightly, but it's still a favorite of mine, and always will be with all the memories I've had there!
(3)Ryan R.
Horrible food, high prices, lame atmosphere. Biggest problem is the food though. I don't understand how a place can make Mexican food suck so bad. This is coming from a guy who loves almost all Mexican food with a passion too. Avoid this place.
(1)Cori A.
This place used to be awesome! What happened? This place is more expensive than the other mexican places in KC. Service was good, nothing to complain about there. The salsa wasn't very good. I ordered taco's and they were good, but could've gone down the street and paid less. Parking is AWFUL, so be prepared.
(2)Charity J.
Good atmosphere and food. I would eat here again.
(3)Adam O.
I've eaten here numerous times simply because I live next door and don't learn my lesson quickly. Bland and over priced for what you get. PS How do you screw up salsa?!
(2)Uncle Grannon L.
Honestly? Manny's isn't nearly as bad (or as good) as the reviews would have you believe. It is what it is. It's NOT authentic (nor can I fathom why any of the previous asshole reviewers from Texas or southern CA would think it was) nor is it particularly adventurous. It's a family owned "Tex-Mex" institution that's been in the area for a million years. It has hard shell tacos, and deep fried burritos and less than mind-blowing chips and salsa. It's ALSO: -filling -reasonably priced -consistent Yeah, it's not lengua and tripe served in a double soft shell corn tortilla, but most of the people who are complaining about it not being "real" Mexican food wouldn't know what to do with a chicharron taco if it threw up in their face.
(3)Sarah L.
I went to Manny's with a couple coworkers after working all day. I had never been there before, but have heard from many people that they have amazing food. "Amazing" is not quite the word I would use to describe Manny's. More like "sub-par". The pros: There's tons of room, and it's good for groups Service is quick Food is filling The cons: Our water was a jerk Salsa tasted like tomato sauce (apparently many other reviewers noticed this also) Dinner enchiladas/burritos do not come with rice or beans. They're served with a side of lettuce. Given our experience, we will not be going back. I'd rather pay the same amount and go to a chain and get more food than go back to Manny's.
(2)Joe C.
I don't get the appeal of Manny's. Sure, it's not bad but it sure isn't great. Someone loves it because there is always a line to get into this place. The staff is not overly friendly. From the hostess to the waitstaff, everyone seems to just be going through the motions without any passion for the job. The food tastes the same. It's good but without any passion. They seem to like to keep moving people through this place. If they keep moving people too quickly, they aren't going to have to worry about a line to get in too much longer!
(3)Dan V.
Salsa and cheese dip are above average. Just don't expect to get seated unless all your party is in the building. They don't want you to start ordering appetizers and drinks.(Spending money) I don't get it but, it is a "RULE" that can not be broken. They really need a hostess that understands customer service. In this economy I would appreciate large parties in my establishment.
(3)Jamison U.
Authentic? no, hardly. A landmark in KC gastronomic history? yes. Manny's is a place you go and don't expect authentic Mexican cuisine but KC-MEX cheesy-greasy food. If your expectations are right going in its good food in a good atmosphere.
(3)Sarah B.
I'm so sad about the poor reviews for this restaurant! I love Manny's! True, it's not the best Mexican food in the world, but it is really good. The chips and salsa are awesome, though I recommend getting the queso. I've had a few dishes here and all have been pretty good. And the desserts are really great. The monterrey burrito, cheese enchiladas and taco salads are good choices... The Good: 1. The prices are reasonable and they offer discounts to some of the bigger businesses in KC 2. The wait for a table is never too long 3. Bottomless chips and salsa 4. Pleasant atmosphere 5. Fast service. Great for lunch breaks. The Bad: 1. Parking SUCKS. There is one teeny, tiny little lot next to the restaurant which is always full. You usually have to park a block away and walk. 2. Bitchy waitresses! Not all of them of course, but a fair few. Too many over the course of the 5 years I've been eating here. I never end up tipping much. 3. If you're vegetarian, your choices are limited. They have a veggie burrito which I will admit is crap. I desperately miss the chicken taco salad!
(4)Jaime F.
Special occasions like a new employee, birthday or exodus from an old timer warrant staff lunch outings at my place of employment. The male to female ratio is skewed in favor of the calorie consuming burrito craving gents and we tend to wind up at Manny's more often than not. I knew I worked with considerate people once I heard the orders rolling in with each individual opting to sub rice for beans (this spells massive relief in light of the two toilets for the entire crew and open air layout of our desks). Manny's is a well oiled machine, the chip baskets rarely go low, water pitchers are close at hand and the staff tends to unforeseen needs without being pushy. Be advised that everything is fully saturated with cheese, just like I expect Kansas City style Mexican to be. I would be lying if I said it tasted authentic but that doesn't decrease the enjoyment of caloric cheesy overload. I have had the Monterey Chicken Burrito (with double rice of course) and a Quesadilla the last two times. The portions are beyond generous and if you really want to push your digestive tract into overdrive (or please your table-fed pit bull) take the leftovers. This is where I admit that I am a hot sauce geek, and yes, for emergency situations I do have a bottle of Tabasco in my purse. Shameful I know. It did come in handy here, they only offer their house made salsas to ignite your taste buds. I definitely recommend this as a lunch spot regardless of the size of your crew (although I would advise giving them a heads up in the form of a reservation for groups over 10). Always back to the office within an hour, standing in line for our offering from the Costco sized Tums bottle in the kitchen, preemptively purchased for days like these. The Febreeze cloud hangs heavy overhead and productivity is likely lower as the whole crew is fat, happy and sluggish after the burrito belly bomber lunch, but that doesn't seem to dissuade anyone from going back. An update will be warranted once I visit off the clock and sample the tequila centered concoctions...
(4)Jody L.
Meh. I was so looking forward to trying this KC legend. The atmosphere and margaritas were good. But, the food was not. I had the cheese and onion enchiladas. The enchilada sauce was gross. So gross that I scraped as much as I could off my plate. I even had my friends take a taste just to make sure I was not being a total diva. And, they agreed it was totally gross. I am sticking with Ixtapa in the Northland for Mexican food. Sorry, Manny's.
(2)Lisa L.
I like Manny's. Not my favorite but the Beef and Cheese nachos are to die for. Their food is reasonable and the staff is very nice.
(5)Jennifer H.
Manny's is good Mexican food, if a little bland.
(3)Candace M.
Love the white cheese dip. Seems to be a midwest thing because now that I live in Vegas I don't see it anywhere? Don't take it for granted! Good salsa and chips and love the margaritas. Food is good but not heavenly. If you don't live too far away I would check it out. Not in the nicest area of town. Prices okay. Service not that fantastic, and they seemed to close pretty early at night, however there was hardly anyone in there on the weeknight we went.
(3)Noelle M.
I ended up coming here after I couldn't find Sol Azteca. It seemed pretty hopin', so I figured why not? I have been pretty spoiled with amazing mexican food, so while Manny's was good, it wasn't like aaaaaah-mazing. They bring out three kinds of salsa, none of which are too hot and one is SO good and flavorful, yum. I got a chicken flauta with rice and beans and a margarita---had to go native, right!? The margarita was so good, on the rocks of course, and the flauta was okay, looking back I probably would have gotten just a normal burrito or something. The highlight of the evening was dessert- Sopapilla Chips! MHHH basically they're a chip version of a churro and I got honey and chocolate on them with a scoop of ice cream---the table next door saw it once it hit my table and immediately ordered one, ha. The honey and chocolate was a good move, but next time I'm getting it on the side---less is more! Overall I enjoyed myself but wasn't wowed. The place seems authentic, but it is just soooooo huge, it would be a great place to bring a big group of people though!
(3)Joe H.
Just because a lot of people go someplace, that doesn't mean it's good food. Manny's is the place for you if you like cheese and grease. If you like actual Mexican food, don't bother. I've never felt good about eating here the handful of times I've been.
(2)David W.
I use to go to manny's growing up and it was good but after the fire it got bad. The food is greesy there is nothing like biting into a taco and drinking a cup of greese. The staff is ok if you can find anyone who speaks english. I went there about a year ago and found that they had raised the prices to levels that are a joke. I dont think I will be going back anytime soon.
(2)Ashley M.
I don't understand the excitement of Manny's. The wait was long, water neglected, orders messed up, portions not great and the food - well, I've had a lot better. The amount of grease that leaked from my taco was disgusting. This place is overrated and not recommended. If you decide to go though - reservations are a good idea.
(1)Kyle R.
Definitely the most famous and biggest Mexican restaurant in KC, Manny's has built a reputation in its many years on the Boulevard in KC. A reputation that is probably not wholly deserved. The food's decent, the servers are alright but the only thing that makes Manny's stand out is that's a massive restaurant with multiple stories, making it perfect for a group lunch or dinner. Its smart to make reservations on weekdays for lunch; all other times, you're going to be fine if you just show up. Parking is always a bit of a challenge, even though the restaurant owns two different parking lots across the street. If you're looking for the best Mexican food in the city, look elsewhere though.
(3)Guinnivere B.
I can't believe someone told me this was THE place for Mexican food in KC. I hate to give a poor review, but I was extremely disappointed. Food quality: poor Service: okay Atmosphere: cheesy Authenticity: unheard of here
(1)Jon S.
The staff was friendly, the food was, in my opinion incredible. They have two types of salsa: really bland and really hot. Being a medium kind of guy, I wasn't impressed. Like I said though, the burrito was fantastic!
(3)Adam C.
Manny's down on Southwest Boulevard is often touted as some of the best Mexican cuisine in Kansas City. I personally, do not see what warrants this distinction. The experience I had there was far from a negative one, but hardly anything that sticks out in my mind as "the best," my first reservation with this restaurant is the complimentary salsa, being a connoisseur of Mexican food, I've had many restaurant style salsa, and this one seemed like nothing more than tomato sauce. One of the best things about going to eat Mexican is stuffing your face with chips and salsa, so right off the bat I was disappointed. I will say, that when the food came, it was good, and the portions were pretty gigantic. It's just that nothing blew me away, and it may have been because going into the experience the restaurant was very hyped up in my mind. I would recommend this restaurant to others, just don't go into it thinking it's the best in KC.
(2)jennifer j.
Too greasy...plenty of other choices for great Mexican. Skip it.
(1)Scott D.
Although it seems clean and all, there are much better places for Mexican food.
(1)Erin L.
my review is based purely on the service. i've eaten the food several times and it's not memorable - it's your basic american greasy cheese on a plate. but on my most recent (and final) visit, the servers were so rude to us that we ended up leaving before we even ate. (if you want true tacos, go to Rico's up the road. if you want amazing food within walking distance, head to Jack Stack around the corner.)
(1)Scott S.
Thought it was pretty good, waitress was nice and friendly.
(3)Lisa H.
Go about once per year, as I have friends who think its great- I respect that. Its my least favorite Mexican restaurant in Kansas City metro, north, south, east or west. If chips and margaritas are good, I'm usually a happy camper, so use this for your guide when reading this: Chips are thin and crispy, but greasy. I won't waste calories on margaritas, where other places I could down a mini-pitcher myself. There was only a 30 min wait that ended up to be 20 on a Sat night at 7pm, so I don't think I'm alone. We passed other restaurants with folks waiting outside (some were Mexican). Mexican restaurants aren't always the best choice for large groups, but they seem to specialize in it. I've heard its the place to go for tamales, I don't like tamales. I prefer fresh tacos to their fried with little ground beef. I'm not fond of the chili sauce on the enchiladas and need to remember to ask for something else (because I know I will go with friends again). Two came with my meal, and I hadn't ate all day, so very hungry and I could only eat one and didn't take the other to go. Skip tostadas completely. Rice-dry. Beans-just no. The veggie toppings are always dry, pale white shreds of iceberg lettuce and pink pale tomatoes. Last night, I had very little cheese on anything, which was alright, just different. I know I will go again, I love my friends...but have already decided I will order a salad or finally the fajitas. Maybe that's the ticket.
(2)Shawn J.
Manny's is a Kansas City institution and it has stayed open all these years due to the quality of its food. On Friday and Saturday nights there can be an hour+ wait to get in. Parking can be tricky as you have to find a space in one of the surface lots close by. But once inside if there's a wait there's a full service bar that can make the wait a lot more bearable, along with a TV to watch. Once inside service can vary from prompt to sometimes downright frustrating. Chips and salsa arrive fairly fast but the salsa is not what a lot of people expect. It's more like the consistency of pizza sauce. But try it before you critique it on appearance alone. They also have a spicy version with some kick, and you can order pico de gallo that also offers a little more kick. While I've tried pretty much all of the classic things on their menu I've moved to Las Vegas and I don't get to try their full menu like I used to. But this is a recent review and the two plates we ordered on our most recent visit were the Monterrey Chicken Burrito and Renee's Nachos. Both use the same type of cheese, a spicy queso type cheese that I haven't been quite able to duplicate at home, not that I haven't tried. (The search for a comparable queso is what's driven me to explore Mexican supermarkets in Denver, KC, and Las Vegas...and the Lopez family won't share the secret so I'm trying to figure it out myself!) The chicken isn't over cooked, the nachos come loaded, and in short you won't leave here hungry. 4 stars: Even with my gripes I miss having a place like Manny's in Vegas and look forward to going back every time I make it to KC.
(4)Ken B.
Manny's is smack dab in the middle of the road. Not bad, not great. They obviously have a loyal following because there is always a line or wait to get into this place. I've never had anything bad here but I have also never craved anything off of the menu to make me come back between my yearly visits that I find myself having here. It's always one of those places when neither me or my partner know what we want, we are driving around hungry and starting to get a little annoyed and someone finally says "how about Manny's, we haven't been there for a long time"! That's how we usually end up at Manny's. The one aspect of Manny's that usually makes me mad/sad is the lack of heart this place has. It's like fine tuned well oiled machine that has no passion or heart behind anything they do. I've never had a sincere or heartfelt exchange with anyone working inside these four walls. Everything between being greeted and walking out of the doors is very mechanical. Everyone does their job just fine, but with no appreciation or excitement for the guests. Sad! Hopefully it will take two years in between visits to remember we haven't been there for awhile instead of our normal one!
(3)Jessica H.
My parents have lived in KC for decades, this is one of their fav places to go, so we went. My mom looked up online their happy hour which we were wanting to take advantage of. It was very confusing because when we were seated we were given a happy hour menu but then our waiter said happy hour was only available in the bar seating area. It doesn't say anything online about happy hour being only in the bar area and what was printed on the happy hour menu was misleading. A woman who works there walked by the table, rudely took the happy hour menu and said something like, "no, no, no, that's a mistake, you shouldn't have been given that." I really think that situation could have been handled better. The food was good, I like their tacos and burrito frito.
(3)Bethanie W.
I have to agree with the rest of the reviews - Manny's is pretty average compared to the rest of Mexican restaurants I have been to in KC. However, I would go back. So why the four stars instead of three? Spice! Nothing irritates me more than a restaurant (specifically a Mexican restaurant) that has the jalapeno icon stating that a dish is spicy and then I dive in to a tomato paste heat equivalent. Manny's says spicy and means it! Thank you Mannys! I got the fajita tacos which were pretty good, but spicy which totally redeemed the dish. On top of the spice Manny's offers a spicy salsa in addition to the reeeeeally mild salsa offered. Another plus! The rest of the table seemed to enjoy their food - specifically the beads, which if you like your beans runny you will also enjoy them. Price was good for the quality and the service was fantastic. I recommend trying it out for yourself.
(4)Mike N.
Do you like poor service? Greasy good? Pounds of cheese to try to liven up tasteless food? This is you place! There are so many better choices in KC for real Mexican food, don't waste your time here.
(1)Longorious L.
If you've never had good Mexican (aka not mid-west Mexican) then you'll love this place. But if you, like me, are Hispanic, born & raised on the border of south Texas and had a grandmother who disciplined you with a broomstick but you still loved her because she made fresh tortillas at 5 am every morning then no you will not love this place. Keep on walkin'...
(1)Paul R.
People who write that this is the best Mexican food in KC or, as one person said, north of the Rio Grande, make me laugh. I grew up in KC, and loved Manny's before and after the fire. I've always preferred Los Corrals up the street, though, in terms of flavor. And it's a fraction of the price of Manny's. But since I've lived in Johnson County for the last 9 years and have tried most of the restaurants out this way, I'm able to compare Manny's to more places. I went back to Manny's last night, and the Manny's burrito that I ordered was pretty bland. The chicken was dry, and there were only refried beans inside (tasted like from a can). And the cheese melted on top was obviously from a bag, and it had turned kind of plastic and only came off in big chunks. The taco was also dry. The white queso solidified pretty quickly -- five minutes? You have to constantly stir it to keep it gooey. Salsa is OK. Chips needed salt and tasted like something out of a bag. I was pretty disappointed. Growing up in a partially hispanic family and with godparents who are hispanic, and living in a city with such rich hispanic heritage, I'm shocked that Manny's doesn't step up its game. There's very little "cuisine" in their food. It wouldn't take a chef of any kind to put together this food as it seemed as if everything was right out of the bag and off the assembly line in the kitchen. I'd put Salty Iguana light years ahead of Manny's. And that's a chain. Los Corrals is a step above Manny's. Margaritas a step above that (and evident by the line out the door). Mi Ranchito's espinaca dip crushes Manny's white queso. Fronteras and Taquiero Mexico have more flavor in the different sauces for burritos and enchiladas. And the prices are better at all of those places. I want to like Manny's because I like that it's a local restaurant that I grew up with, but I probably won't be going back.
(2)Brent K.
Manny's at one time was my go to mexican place on the boulevard. then they got popular, raised all the prices on their menu and it went downhill from there. The food is now no better than what you would get at any tex-mex restauraunt in JoCo, except people still flock here likes it's old school. believe me, it is no longer old school. The margaritas are still quite tasty, but there are better, cheaper and more authentic places within blocks of this place, so just skip it.
(2)Candice T.
The portions were large and the service was OK, but the food was nothing to write home about. The sauces had no flavor, guacamole had no citrus punch to it, everything was just plain, plain, plain. I've had better fast food Mexican. I expected better for the price. Also note that they won't seat you until your entire party arrives.
(2)Stephanie P.
Manny's is a fun place with good food, good margaritas, and good service. You can bring a group of friends to start a night of drinking or you can bring your grandparents. It's great for a date night or a large party. They accommodate larger parties very well. I'll second all the previous good reviews!
(4)Amanda S.
My husband and I had a coupon for Manny's and I had always seen lines out the door every time we drove by so I figured we might as well see what all the hype was about. We went on a Friday night and got there around 7:20. There were so many people waiting to be seated that it was claustrophobic and hot. People were even waiting out side in the heat it was so stuffy. We were told it would be a 15 min wait and saw many groups asking over and over "how much longer?". Finally. An hour and a half later we were the last people to not have been seated yet and a young couple came in. The girl seating people was vacuuming and asked if we had been helped! My husband at that point went up there to see if they forgot about us and they immediately seated us as well as the couple that JUST walked in. Once we got to the eating area we realized how huge the place was and saw several empty tables. Once we finally got seated around 9PM we ordered our drinks and I got a blue colored alcoholic beverage. I was asked if I wanted salt or sugar on the rim to which I said salt. The waiter brought us chips and plenty of salsa. The salsa tasted like marinara sauce and before I could say anything my husband said it, so I know I was not the only one that put that idea in his head. So the chips and salsa were a bust. We get our drink orders and I go to drink my drink and it is way too sweet to drink. Not only that, they put sugar on the rim instead of salt. We order our food and it's not authentic Mexican, it's tex-mex. Unlike most Mexican food restaurants that give you a side of beans AND rice they only give you one or the other at Manny's so you have to pay almost $2 more to get a side of whichever one you didn't get. We get our food and start eating and even though it is slathered in cheese, the food is bland. They had a band but they weren't really playing music. They were just plucking away at their instruments in a nonchalant way like it wasn't even a song and my husband put it best when he said it sounded like the band had been tuning and warming up for over an hour. By the time we finish our meal at almost 10pm the restaurant is closing! They are vacuuming and counting money at the tables around us making us feel rushed. I can't believe how long we have been there and our night has been wasted. We will never go back to Manny's and can't even imagine going during 1st Fridays which it is even busier!
(2)Katie H.
My Favorite Mexican place in Downtown KC. Everything here is amazing! The wait staff is great and quick and the menu is HUGE :)
(5)Erin W.
I've loved Manny's ever since I was a little kid. The three guitar players that would play songs for you on Friday nights were awesome. KC treasure
(4)Jeff S.
It has been years since I last visited Manny's -- I remembered it as having really good food and good service. Well, it has changed. Went there on a Thursday evening during happy hour. Had some grilled chicken nachos with zesty jalapeno cheese. The chicken was very sparse and void of any taste like it had been frozen for a while. There was plenty of cheese but it was the same cheap stuff you get at the ball park, made with cheez whiz. Mexican places should specialize in margaritas but theirs were pathetic. Worst margarita I have had except in a chinese restaurant. They were made with plan old sweet'n'sour mix with maybe a few drops of tequila. The service was pretty bad too. Bottom line: I won't be back for a few years.
(1)Brenda R.
Part of me thinks "Manny's is pretty good" is enough of a review for them, but that would just be silly since, duh, this is Yelp. I'm trying to find more to say about them and maybe that's why it doesn't garner the sort of "wow factor" reviews that are fun to write. The chips are fine but their salsa is boring - another reviewer likened it to marinara sauce and I have to admit they were right. The service, however, was fast and friendly even though they refuse to seat your party until all of you arrive. I had the burrito frito with chicken and it made for a good lunch. It was fried but not greasy or soggy, the chicken was flavored but not distinctively seasoned, and the monterrey jack cheese sauce over top was great. A side of sour cream, beans, and lettuce rounded out the plate. So... yeah. Good but not the kind of good that makes me want to come back the next day. Definitely not BAD, but just.. good. Okay. Fine and dandy. I guess their biggest problem as far as reviews is that there are so many authentic homestyle Mexican joints in KC that going to Manny's feels a little bit like going to Chili's. If they added a little something special to their dishes I'd like them more - maybe a thicker fresher salsa with more garlic and cilantro? Maybe a Cancun Fiesta Fresh-style pickled carrot and radish with the dishes? I don't know, just something that makes the dishes pop more instead of just be.. okay.
(3)Patrick F.
Best sit down Mexican food I've had in KC so far. I had the fried burrito with pork and it was quite tasty. I wish all dishes came with rice and beans though. I'm used to that being the standard so I didn't realize I needed to order a side dish. Other than that... I was happy.
(4)Zach K.
This place is not good and is completely overrated. The low rating I've given this place is well deserved. Some restaurants get cocky from their popularity over the years and in turn, start slacking on providing to the customer and increase prices way beyond what they should be in an attempt to make major profit -- Manny's is no exception. The best way to describe Manny's food is simple and uneventful. The best way to describe what they think their food is worth is exotic and second mortgage. What I mean by simple and uneventful is their chicken and beef (the meat offerings I have tried) are bland -- there's really no seasoning. The chicken is basically boiled, pulled chicken and the meat is basic taco meat with no seasoning. Throw in a simple tortilla or taco shell, some of their "white special shredded cheese", lettuce, and some of their red sauce and you've got a $15-$20 platter that comes with re-fried beans that taste like cardboard and rice. Like salsa? It's like Italian marinara sauce. I really enjoy having the chips and salsa at Mexican restaurants and it's to be expected at the best of places -- Manny's will typically charge you for extra chips and dishes of their salsa. In my eyes, they see they've gained a reputation and popularity over the years as being high-quality Kansas City Mexican which is far from the truth. They take advantage of their tourist visitors and provide a false example of what Mexican food in Kansas City is really like. Go an extra mile down Southwest Blvd to the Mexican district and try some real, quality Mexican food for half the cost.
(1)Liz P.
Ehhhh I expect better. The food is not even near the quality it should be for the prices they charge and neither is the service. It seems to be a popular place though and always crowded. I've been there twice and both times, I definitely saw waiters rushing around and doing things, but never actually waiting on customers. There was also mass confusion in the waiting/entrance area when my friends and I walked in (4 of us). There were other people standing around and no one knew what to do or who to talk to since the host was nowhere to be seen. If nothing else, the bartender could have said something like "Hold on folks, the host will be right with you". It wasn't that long until we were finally seated, but we didn't even get a half-assed apology, let alone a real apology for the wait/confusion. At least say it, even if you don't care and hate your job. Bottom line: go find another Mexican restaurant and eat better food. Suggestion: El Patron. So delicious.
(1)Tabitha M.
First off, nothing beats my boyfriend's Mexican cooking or anything I have ever eaten in Mexico. That said, Manny's is pretty damn good. I'm confused by why the rating is so low. I got the Burrito Frito (which is seriously just a chimichanga) but it was delicious. The tortilla was flakey and perfectly fried. The chicken was tender and well seasoned. It was a decent size for about $7. My boyfriend got the Burrito Verde (swears it was delicious, I can't vouch for it since it's pork but I believe him). The cheese sauce was AMAZING! I said numerous times I thought I could just drink the cheese sauce. We'll blame that one on being pregnant. haha. The service was lightening speed. It was a friday night around 7-8 when we went. Our food came in less than 15 minutes after ordering. The waitress was quick on the drink and chip refills. She was wonderful. The environment is clean, but kind of strange. It looks kind of high class for being what it is, but I guess that just makes for an interesting experience. I cannot wait to go back to Manny's.
(4)Lindsey S.
How does Manny's only have 2 1/2 stars?? Every time I go there is at least a 30 min. wait.... I must say I don't love the salsa or the re-fried beans which are very important things at Mexican food restaurants. But the main entrees, atmosphere, and service do make up for them. It's always a lively crowd on Friday nights. It's a great place to host a birthday dinner, or any dinner with a large group. There are always large groups so they seem to be very accommodating for them. My favorite dish is served during lent (i don't celebrate but love the idea of this). I get their cheese and spinach enchilada meal. Wonderful! I wish they served it YEAR ROUND!! wink wink to the manager.
(4)Christopher Thomas B.
I used to swear by this place, but a recent visit confirmed some suspicions. 1) They have turning tables down to a science. Service lacks warmth and sincerity. You'll get your meal quickly, but the same can be said for the public school cafeteria. And at least they smile. 2) No refills on chips? Is cutting this cost really worth being known as stingy? 3) Always a wait here. You probably should go down the street for something more authentic, and more inviting---but the crowds can't be wrong can they? 10 billion served at McDonalds
(2)Amanda R.
After a long gap, we decided to visit Manny's again for dinner on a First Friday. Not really the best time to get a table anywhere in the vicinity of the Crossroads District and, as expected, we waited for about 15-20 minutes before being seated (better than 30+ minutes at Pizza Bella, hah!) While waiting, we got drinks. Never had a margarita at Manny's before but, damn, it was strong. Anyway, I'm not sure if it's because we've tried more Mexican places in the area or what, but it would seem that my fondness for Manny's is somewhat diminished. Their chips and salsa are still my favorite, and the food is good enough for what it is. But... Their menu is smaller than I remember and rather basic in terms of selection. Many of the selections are more Tex than Mex, and there's nothing as exotic as mole (which we are now using as our barometer of authenticity). I noticed that they now have a fish taco...with breaded white fish? Nonetheless, SO enjoyed his tamales, and I enjoyed my burrito. We went home full and happy, and I can't complain about that.
(3)Bryant S.
After everyone around me working this place up to be such an awesome "Mexican" restaurant, I felt very let down by the simplest Mexican dish. Corn soft shell tacos. They were bland with no spice served with flavorless colby cheese and rice that looked promising but was just as bland as steamed white rice... The salsa with the chips seemed like it was tomato sauce cut with water and a little cilantro. And the "hot" version was about the same with a hint of bell pepper. All and all it was ok nothing to spit out, but if I want authentic I won't be coming here again.
(3)John L.
I don't know where some of the reviewers are coming from that did not give this place higher marks. It is as good or better than any Tex-Mex place I have eaten in Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, or Arizona. Very reasonably priced and very tasty. House margarita was excellent. My only dissatisfied selection was the sopapillas that we ordered boxed up to go. They were crispy cinnamon coated sopapillas Chips, not the fluffy pastries I expected. Give it a try and decide for yourself.
(4)Scott M.
I'll never understand why so many out-of-towners think that this is the Mexican restaurant you are supposed to go to when visiting KC. It makes me sad to think that they go back home and tell others that Manny's represents KC's style of Mexican. It also makes me sad that visitors who fall into the Manny's trap miss out on all of the far superior Mexican food just a few blocks further down the Boulevard, up on Summit, or even over in Argentine and Armourdale. The salsa is uninspiring and almost completely devoid of flavor. The food is just above frozen TV dinner Tex-Mex. In fact, most suburban strip mall parking lot chains serve up better dishes. As for the service, long waits for anything seem to be the norm. On my last visit there were only two other tables occupied and we never got refills and had to hunt for our server when we were ready to pay. Really, people, if you are visiting KC and your friends tell you you MUST visit Manny's, slap them upside the head and find new friends.
(2)Jason A.
Standard Mexican food establishment. The service was nice. Expect to pay 10 bucks for a place most people can find for 6-8 bucks elsewhere. Not that big a difference considering you are in the middle of KC, MO. I would eat here again if I were in the area and just wanted to drop on by for some quick Mexican food. However, I would not say to go out of your way to eat here. The salsa is better than most Mexican places I've been.
(2)Andrea W.
My husband and I ate a late lunch here on Saturday. Perfect timing! There were plenty of available seats. Great service and very friendly. The guacamole was flavorful and fresh. I ordered the favorite pork tacos on corn tortillas with refried beans. It came with a green tomatillo sauce that was delicious on the tacos. My husband ordered tamales and enjoyed every bite. Not every Mexican restaurant serves them.
(4)Chris D.
Manny's is about as Mexican as Pizza Hut is Italian. The names are there, as are the basic ingredients; but the end result is far, far from authentic. Yes I understand that Manny's is a "Kansas City Institution". And yes I understand that it has legions of loyal customers. But come on. The second we found out "Blame it on the Rain" wasn't sang by Milli or Vanilli we banished their asses into musical obscurity. Why have we not yet done so with the culinary sham that is Manny's? Case in point: crunchy tacos. Mexicans do not eat crunchy tacos. The brown skin folks on the Old El Paso commercials have lied to you! I'm fairly sure that they will not even let you into Mexico with crunchy shells. Liquid cheese? I know its tastes good, but to the best of my knowledge, such a thing does not exist anywhere south of Arizona; and it sure as hell isn't put on top of tamales and burritos. And don't even get me started on ground beef! Sure, I get that most Americans prefer their tex-mex. But Manny's isn't even good at that. If you insist on a plate of melted cheese at least go somewhere that does it well. On the positive side. I love the building. Love the downtown location. It's huge. Great for large parties. Staff is friendly and attentive. For these things Manny's gets 2 stars instead of 1. Last but not least, the salsa here is worst in the city. If you want to pick some up to take home you can find it in your local grocery under the title Ragu.
(2)Jarah C.
The food at Manny's was fantastic, I had a spicy burrito with pork and a tomatillo sauce inside with a white cheese sausce on top, it was amazing! Their margaritas were about average, nothing out of the ordinary but they were strong, you definitely get your money's worth on those! I would definitely go back!
(4)Diane N.
Please do yourself a favor and DO NOT go to Manny's. The salsa is like marinara pasta sauce. Seriously! Also the food is just bland, no taste and absolutely no heat. Very greasy. Actually it is quite bizarre that some KC residents love this place. It is more like taco Hamburger Helper. It is NOT "Tex-Mex" at all...not even close. Oh...and the cheese...BLECH! I've been there twice. Never again. I will drive further west on SW Blvd. to the REAL Mexican restaurants.
(1)Alicia H.
My husband and I have poked fun at Manny's for years, but there was a major flaw in the attitude we had toward the place. Neither of us actually had the Manny's experience. We decided if we were going to continue joking about eating at Manny's that we should actually go. We remedied the situation this past Saturday afternoon for lunch. We opted not to go on First Friday because I'm pretty certain that's when the place does the bulk of its business in a month. This isn't to say the place is not busy. Because it looks busy most evenings on the weekends. People continually complain about how long the wait is sometimes. I can sum my experience by saying this -- as a kid, I really liked Carlos O'Kelly's. Manny's is a lot like Carlos O'Kelly's only more cheese and possibly higher prices. This is probably because of the amount of cheese Manny's uses along with inflation ... but probably more because of the cosmic yellow cheese. My husband ordered the El Sombrero to get an opportunity to sample some different TexMex elements that Manny's produces. I went with the Para las Senoritas because it's "for the ladies" and for lighter appetites. I'm not sure what's light about it. It's TexMex. Saying TexMex is light is like saying cheetahs don't run. Also, I don't necessarily take issue with this dish being for the ladies. I think dudes can order it as well. But it seems to me that whenever this dish is ordered that Beyonce should come out and serenade the person ordering. Why Beyonce? I don't know know. I guess because of that "Single Ladies" song. The words of that song can be changed for this occasion pretty easily. I'm sure of it. Anyhow, here's how I assess the elements of the "For the Ladies" meal: - Ground beef taco - Not offensive. Shell was a bit greasy - Bean tostada - buried under the other stuff on the plate so it was the last thing I tried. At that point the crispy shell was not crispy, which is to be expected. - Chicken enchilada - the chicken was a little dry but OK. I found the yellow goopy cheese not at all to my liking and it covered the enchilada. I felt pretty happy I went with the chicken and not the cheese & onion option. Rice - it was rice. So, there you have it. Lots of places do TexMex a bit better and they are within blocks of Carlos O'Manny's ... err ... Manny's.
(2)Jennifer S.
This place has the BEST service I have had in a long time. However, I got enchiladas with a taquito and it was probably the most bland mexican I have ever had. On a side note, my friend got the fajita tacos and they were absolutely amazing. The margaritas were great and the food was out fast. If your looking for tex-mex style quick mexi fix this would be the place. If your looking for something a bit more authentic I would head south down the blvd.
(3)Matt E.
Pretty dang average, and there are definitely better, more authentic Mexican restaurants in the immediate vicinity. But sometimes you just want a super-Americanized burrito covered in yellow cheese, and that is where Manny's shines. A group of 4, we went here for some pre-First Fridays margaritas and Mexican grub. I wanted to go someplace a bit more authentic, but due to the proximity to the galleries and the fact that we were cabbing it, I was outvoted. Still, it was a decent meal and I left happy and full. They have a silly number of drink specials, to the point where I was confused. I just sort of ignored them and went with a pitcher of top shelf margaritas. for $24 we got probably 8 margaritas, so we'd say it's definitely a good value. AND they were pretty dang good. For food, well it's pretty much exactly what you'd expect. I had a pork chimichanga, which they call a burrito frito, topped with monterey jack cheese. It was pretty standard, didn't blow my mind but wasn't offensive to my tastebuds, either. That was pretty much everybody's opinion of their meals. The one weird thing is that their salsa tastes pretty much exactly like marinara sauce. Quite strange. Not necessarily bad, but strange. Service is always top notch. You have your main server, and a good number of server assistants are always on top of you with fresh chips and water refills. They really have the steps of service down pat. Manny's is far from my favorite restaurant in KC, let alone in the neighborhood, or even the street. BUT for what it is, it's perfectly fine. 3 stars all the way.
(3)Andrew K.
Extraordinarily average food that somehow came highly recommended of places to eat in Kansas City. Have you ever wondered what it would be like British people tried to make Mexican food? I hadn't either, until I tried this. It tastes like what I think that would taste like. If you've only had Taco Bell before, this might be impressive. And it's certainly a "safe" and inoffensive spot to bring a group. (Perhaps a vanload of Minnesotan insurance actuaries looking for an exotic night out. TGIViernes!) There are so many better, more authentic, and less expensive options literally right down the street and all over the metro. You'll be happier there.
(2)Norma G.
I came into Manny's with an old friend of mine yesturday afternoon, and overall I was impressed. Our waitress was a young, blonde woman who was incredibly sweet to us! She spoke Spanish to us for fun and recommended the carnitas to us. They sounded so good, my friend and I both got them. It was an excellent choice, the meat was full of a rich flavor and the whole meal was well put together. The restaurant was busy but we got our food very fast and the waitress kept us taken care of whenever we needed something. I'll definitely be back.
(4)Angie R.
Since leaving KC and moving to Denver I have a totally different palate for Mexican food.. But one thing this place has that most don't.. That white cheese queso. OH.MY.GOD. I would put that shit on everything! Great atmosphere. Kind of in an odd location. Service was ALWAYS great. I never had to have a long wait. I try to get here whenever I get back to KC.
(3)Jessica B.
I been going to manny a for years and today the food was great , but my waitress Courtney was having a attitude after I ask to get another toco that did not even look like the toco my family had on their plate . Also, I was listening to how she talk to the other people next to me and she was having the same attitude with them. She only started being nice because the boss was watching the floor because of this experience I rate it a 4 star, but the food is great and I recommend the Mucho Tacos.
(4)Rhonda S.
I still don't care for Manny's. It doesn't measure up to the Mexican restaurants that exist in Kansas City. I think it;s getting worse. Parking (on a Wednesday, around 1:00) was horrible. Sketchy to say the least. How do you know if you don't park in Manny's parking, if you are parked legally or not? Before I ever return, they need to revamp and update parking. The signage isn't clear. Still pretty on the inside, but what is it with the wait? Most places in Kansas City aren't worth waiting over 15 minutes, and the place wasn't that full. I had a near 15 minute wait, but saw plenty of empty tables. But then, maybe I am being picky. Not a place for a quick lunch. I should've called my order, cause with my job, I'm never sure where I'll be in Kansas City. Just glad I didn't have any appointments after. I ordered the soft tacos.I guess I eat a fuck load of tacos. But anyway, they were soft tacos, with sour cream, lettuce, cheese. The ground beef was prepared and seasoned not too much, and not too hot. I had flour tortilla shells. I think still what doesn't' sell me on Manny's, is, once again, the sauce, this time, instead of resembling Ragu, it kind of tasted a bit like Hines, not that I mind Hines, it's in my refrigerator. I don't like it on my tacos. I think that is the kicker right there. I asked about the vegetarian tacos, but the server kind of looked at me funny. They do have them. Funny looks irritate me. I know I said I'd not be back, but I needed to give them another chance. I really want to give them more than 2 stars, cause it's a destination spot for some, but I still don't get why, except that it looks cool, and the building has historical properties, I would guess. Rather Ponaks down the street with it's crappy parking than Manny's. This time I stand by my word...no more.
(2)Mark R.
I have to agree with a lot of the previous reviews. The food is good, not great. The chili relleno with beef was good when I added some of the cheesy white Monterrey sauce the waitress brought us. The pork in the Manny burrito was good but the rest of the presentation was average. I probably will not return.
(3)Rachel P.
There's not a lot to say about Manny's that hasn't been said. The food is Mexican with a "healthy" dose of queso available upon request. The chips and salsa are pretty standard and free flowing. They do have good margaritas and drink specials on First Fridays. I've gotten a few things, but mostly the Monterey burrito (since about second grade.)The dinner crowd is usually lighter, but lunch can be really busy.
(4)J J.
This place, no matter what the reviews, is just plain average. It's mediocre. The meats- be it chicken or beef are highly under-seasoned. The chips and salsa are whatever. They put WAY too much cheese on top of their enchiladas, which are metiocre. People love it who don't know any better. Skip it. There are SO MANY more good Mexican places right on S.W Blvd.
(2)Scott S.
Thought it was pretty good, waitress was nice and friendly.
(3)Lisa H.
Go about once per year, as I have friends who think its great- I respect that. Its my least favorite Mexican restaurant in Kansas City metro, north, south, east or west. If chips and margaritas are good, I'm usually a happy camper, so use this for your guide when reading this: Chips are thin and crispy, but greasy. I won't waste calories on margaritas, where other places I could down a mini-pitcher myself. There was only a 30 min wait that ended up to be 20 on a Sat night at 7pm, so I don't think I'm alone. We passed other restaurants with folks waiting outside (some were Mexican). Mexican restaurants aren't always the best choice for large groups, but they seem to specialize in it. I've heard its the place to go for tamales, I don't like tamales. I prefer fresh tacos to their fried with little ground beef. I'm not fond of the chili sauce on the enchiladas and need to remember to ask for something else (because I know I will go with friends again). Two came with my meal, and I hadn't ate all day, so very hungry and I could only eat one and didn't take the other to go. Skip tostadas completely. Rice-dry. Beans-just no. The veggie toppings are always dry, pale white shreds of iceberg lettuce and pink pale tomatoes. Last night, I had very little cheese on anything, which was alright, just different. I know I will go again, I love my friends...but have already decided I will order a salad or finally the fajitas. Maybe that's the ticket.
(2)Shawn J.
Manny's is a Kansas City institution and it has stayed open all these years due to the quality of its food. On Friday and Saturday nights there can be an hour+ wait to get in. Parking can be tricky as you have to find a space in one of the surface lots close by. But once inside if there's a wait there's a full service bar that can make the wait a lot more bearable, along with a TV to watch. Once inside service can vary from prompt to sometimes downright frustrating. Chips and salsa arrive fairly fast but the salsa is not what a lot of people expect. It's more like the consistency of pizza sauce. But try it before you critique it on appearance alone. They also have a spicy version with some kick, and you can order pico de gallo that also offers a little more kick. While I've tried pretty much all of the classic things on their menu I've moved to Las Vegas and I don't get to try their full menu like I used to. But this is a recent review and the two plates we ordered on our most recent visit were the Monterrey Chicken Burrito and Renee's Nachos. Both use the same type of cheese, a spicy queso type cheese that I haven't been quite able to duplicate at home, not that I haven't tried. (The search for a comparable queso is what's driven me to explore Mexican supermarkets in Denver, KC, and Las Vegas...and the Lopez family won't share the secret so I'm trying to figure it out myself!) The chicken isn't over cooked, the nachos come loaded, and in short you won't leave here hungry. 4 stars: Even with my gripes I miss having a place like Manny's in Vegas and look forward to going back every time I make it to KC.
(4)Ken B.
Manny's is smack dab in the middle of the road. Not bad, not great. They obviously have a loyal following because there is always a line or wait to get into this place. I've never had anything bad here but I have also never craved anything off of the menu to make me come back between my yearly visits that I find myself having here. It's always one of those places when neither me or my partner know what we want, we are driving around hungry and starting to get a little annoyed and someone finally says "how about Manny's, we haven't been there for a long time"! That's how we usually end up at Manny's. The one aspect of Manny's that usually makes me mad/sad is the lack of heart this place has. It's like fine tuned well oiled machine that has no passion or heart behind anything they do. I've never had a sincere or heartfelt exchange with anyone working inside these four walls. Everything between being greeted and walking out of the doors is very mechanical. Everyone does their job just fine, but with no appreciation or excitement for the guests. Sad! Hopefully it will take two years in between visits to remember we haven't been there for awhile instead of our normal one!
(3)Jessica H.
My parents have lived in KC for decades, this is one of their fav places to go, so we went. My mom looked up online their happy hour which we were wanting to take advantage of. It was very confusing because when we were seated we were given a happy hour menu but then our waiter said happy hour was only available in the bar seating area. It doesn't say anything online about happy hour being only in the bar area and what was printed on the happy hour menu was misleading. A woman who works there walked by the table, rudely took the happy hour menu and said something like, "no, no, no, that's a mistake, you shouldn't have been given that." I really think that situation could have been handled better. The food was good, I like their tacos and burrito frito.
(3)Bethanie W.
I have to agree with the rest of the reviews - Manny's is pretty average compared to the rest of Mexican restaurants I have been to in KC. However, I would go back. So why the four stars instead of three? Spice! Nothing irritates me more than a restaurant (specifically a Mexican restaurant) that has the jalapeno icon stating that a dish is spicy and then I dive in to a tomato paste heat equivalent. Manny's says spicy and means it! Thank you Mannys! I got the fajita tacos which were pretty good, but spicy which totally redeemed the dish. On top of the spice Manny's offers a spicy salsa in addition to the reeeeeally mild salsa offered. Another plus! The rest of the table seemed to enjoy their food - specifically the beads, which if you like your beans runny you will also enjoy them. Price was good for the quality and the service was fantastic. I recommend trying it out for yourself.
(4)Mike N.
Do you like poor service? Greasy good? Pounds of cheese to try to liven up tasteless food? This is you place! There are so many better choices in KC for real Mexican food, don't waste your time here.
(1)Longorious L.
If you've never had good Mexican (aka not mid-west Mexican) then you'll love this place. But if you, like me, are Hispanic, born & raised on the border of south Texas and had a grandmother who disciplined you with a broomstick but you still loved her because she made fresh tortillas at 5 am every morning then no you will not love this place. Keep on walkin'...
(1)Paul R.
People who write that this is the best Mexican food in KC or, as one person said, north of the Rio Grande, make me laugh. I grew up in KC, and loved Manny's before and after the fire. I've always preferred Los Corrals up the street, though, in terms of flavor. And it's a fraction of the price of Manny's. But since I've lived in Johnson County for the last 9 years and have tried most of the restaurants out this way, I'm able to compare Manny's to more places. I went back to Manny's last night, and the Manny's burrito that I ordered was pretty bland. The chicken was dry, and there were only refried beans inside (tasted like from a can). And the cheese melted on top was obviously from a bag, and it had turned kind of plastic and only came off in big chunks. The taco was also dry. The white queso solidified pretty quickly -- five minutes? You have to constantly stir it to keep it gooey. Salsa is OK. Chips needed salt and tasted like something out of a bag. I was pretty disappointed. Growing up in a partially hispanic family and with godparents who are hispanic, and living in a city with such rich hispanic heritage, I'm shocked that Manny's doesn't step up its game. There's very little "cuisine" in their food. It wouldn't take a chef of any kind to put together this food as it seemed as if everything was right out of the bag and off the assembly line in the kitchen. I'd put Salty Iguana light years ahead of Manny's. And that's a chain. Los Corrals is a step above Manny's. Margaritas a step above that (and evident by the line out the door). Mi Ranchito's espinaca dip crushes Manny's white queso. Fronteras and Taquiero Mexico have more flavor in the different sauces for burritos and enchiladas. And the prices are better at all of those places. I want to like Manny's because I like that it's a local restaurant that I grew up with, but I probably won't be going back.
(2)Brent K.
Manny's at one time was my go to mexican place on the boulevard. then they got popular, raised all the prices on their menu and it went downhill from there. The food is now no better than what you would get at any tex-mex restauraunt in JoCo, except people still flock here likes it's old school. believe me, it is no longer old school. The margaritas are still quite tasty, but there are better, cheaper and more authentic places within blocks of this place, so just skip it.
(2)Candice T.
The portions were large and the service was OK, but the food was nothing to write home about. The sauces had no flavor, guacamole had no citrus punch to it, everything was just plain, plain, plain. I've had better fast food Mexican. I expected better for the price. Also note that they won't seat you until your entire party arrives.
(2)Stephanie P.
Manny's is a fun place with good food, good margaritas, and good service. You can bring a group of friends to start a night of drinking or you can bring your grandparents. It's great for a date night or a large party. They accommodate larger parties very well. I'll second all the previous good reviews!
(4)Amanda S.
My husband and I had a coupon for Manny's and I had always seen lines out the door every time we drove by so I figured we might as well see what all the hype was about. We went on a Friday night and got there around 7:20. There were so many people waiting to be seated that it was claustrophobic and hot. People were even waiting out side in the heat it was so stuffy. We were told it would be a 15 min wait and saw many groups asking over and over "how much longer?". Finally. An hour and a half later we were the last people to not have been seated yet and a young couple came in. The girl seating people was vacuuming and asked if we had been helped! My husband at that point went up there to see if they forgot about us and they immediately seated us as well as the couple that JUST walked in. Once we got to the eating area we realized how huge the place was and saw several empty tables. Once we finally got seated around 9PM we ordered our drinks and I got a blue colored alcoholic beverage. I was asked if I wanted salt or sugar on the rim to which I said salt. The waiter brought us chips and plenty of salsa. The salsa tasted like marinara sauce and before I could say anything my husband said it, so I know I was not the only one that put that idea in his head. So the chips and salsa were a bust. We get our drink orders and I go to drink my drink and it is way too sweet to drink. Not only that, they put sugar on the rim instead of salt. We order our food and it's not authentic Mexican, it's tex-mex. Unlike most Mexican food restaurants that give you a side of beans AND rice they only give you one or the other at Manny's so you have to pay almost $2 more to get a side of whichever one you didn't get. We get our food and start eating and even though it is slathered in cheese, the food is bland. They had a band but they weren't really playing music. They were just plucking away at their instruments in a nonchalant way like it wasn't even a song and my husband put it best when he said it sounded like the band had been tuning and warming up for over an hour. By the time we finish our meal at almost 10pm the restaurant is closing! They are vacuuming and counting money at the tables around us making us feel rushed. I can't believe how long we have been there and our night has been wasted. We will never go back to Manny's and can't even imagine going during 1st Fridays which it is even busier!
(2)Katie H.
My Favorite Mexican place in Downtown KC. Everything here is amazing! The wait staff is great and quick and the menu is HUGE :)
(5)Erin W.
I've loved Manny's ever since I was a little kid. The three guitar players that would play songs for you on Friday nights were awesome. KC treasure
(4)Jeff S.
It has been years since I last visited Manny's -- I remembered it as having really good food and good service. Well, it has changed. Went there on a Thursday evening during happy hour. Had some grilled chicken nachos with zesty jalapeno cheese. The chicken was very sparse and void of any taste like it had been frozen for a while. There was plenty of cheese but it was the same cheap stuff you get at the ball park, made with cheez whiz. Mexican places should specialize in margaritas but theirs were pathetic. Worst margarita I have had except in a chinese restaurant. They were made with plan old sweet'n'sour mix with maybe a few drops of tequila. The service was pretty bad too. Bottom line: I won't be back for a few years.
(1)Brenda R.
Part of me thinks "Manny's is pretty good" is enough of a review for them, but that would just be silly since, duh, this is Yelp. I'm trying to find more to say about them and maybe that's why it doesn't garner the sort of "wow factor" reviews that are fun to write. The chips are fine but their salsa is boring - another reviewer likened it to marinara sauce and I have to admit they were right. The service, however, was fast and friendly even though they refuse to seat your party until all of you arrive. I had the burrito frito with chicken and it made for a good lunch. It was fried but not greasy or soggy, the chicken was flavored but not distinctively seasoned, and the monterrey jack cheese sauce over top was great. A side of sour cream, beans, and lettuce rounded out the plate. So... yeah. Good but not the kind of good that makes me want to come back the next day. Definitely not BAD, but just.. good. Okay. Fine and dandy. I guess their biggest problem as far as reviews is that there are so many authentic homestyle Mexican joints in KC that going to Manny's feels a little bit like going to Chili's. If they added a little something special to their dishes I'd like them more - maybe a thicker fresher salsa with more garlic and cilantro? Maybe a Cancun Fiesta Fresh-style pickled carrot and radish with the dishes? I don't know, just something that makes the dishes pop more instead of just be.. okay.
(3)Patrick F.
Best sit down Mexican food I've had in KC so far. I had the fried burrito with pork and it was quite tasty. I wish all dishes came with rice and beans though. I'm used to that being the standard so I didn't realize I needed to order a side dish. Other than that... I was happy.
(4)Zach K.
This place is not good and is completely overrated. The low rating I've given this place is well deserved. Some restaurants get cocky from their popularity over the years and in turn, start slacking on providing to the customer and increase prices way beyond what they should be in an attempt to make major profit -- Manny's is no exception. The best way to describe Manny's food is simple and uneventful. The best way to describe what they think their food is worth is exotic and second mortgage. What I mean by simple and uneventful is their chicken and beef (the meat offerings I have tried) are bland -- there's really no seasoning. The chicken is basically boiled, pulled chicken and the meat is basic taco meat with no seasoning. Throw in a simple tortilla or taco shell, some of their "white special shredded cheese", lettuce, and some of their red sauce and you've got a $15-$20 platter that comes with re-fried beans that taste like cardboard and rice. Like salsa? It's like Italian marinara sauce. I really enjoy having the chips and salsa at Mexican restaurants and it's to be expected at the best of places -- Manny's will typically charge you for extra chips and dishes of their salsa. In my eyes, they see they've gained a reputation and popularity over the years as being high-quality Kansas City Mexican which is far from the truth. They take advantage of their tourist visitors and provide a false example of what Mexican food in Kansas City is really like. Go an extra mile down Southwest Blvd to the Mexican district and try some real, quality Mexican food for half the cost.
(1)Michelle G.
allright, i put off writing a review on this place but i cant hold my peace any longer when it comes to new visitors to this town getting sold snake oil by the positive reviews. and if you liked it please put what you had! i understand Manny's is a KC beloved place and frankly to an extent respect that the family works hard for thier money. couldnt they invest it in better recipes and products? its right near my work and every single time its "lets go to manny's" why, why do i have to continue to go there and have tasteless greasy food??? oh right because every single co worker has to have thier "favorite" dish there! some liked a shrimp taco i dislike shrimp instensely- and others liked this smothered chicken burrito. i tried that once. it wasnt bad but i only had a forkful- then the next time i went back i couldnt find it. then the NEXT time it was awful. tasteless goo with an undercooked tortilla. have i been able to find a favorite dish? even at on the border i prefer fajitas or empanadas with queso. nope surely havent. i normally order tacos and pray they are decent. do i avoid it and beg to go anywhere else? YES. jackstack is right around the corner! you'll have cheesy corn bake and leftovers! i like certain dishes at all the places here in town Ponaks Margaritas Jose Peppers Fronteras Mi Ranchito and i even got that bad salsa and threw them up! those poor people. how horrible. some day i hope to be able to return. i grew up with Taco Johns being the epitome of perfect tacos in my little NE town and thought a burrito was those hard fried things in the school cafeteria. i moved to LA. found GOOD food and since i just cant tolerate wasting good money on poor food. and the next time i hear lets go to mannys. i will yet again hope they change thier cooks and thier menu. think investing in some DECENT ground chilis for the enchilada sauce! spice your taco meat. and hello powdered cheese sauce isnt better than the real deal! yeesh. ps. just a clarification- i really didnt have a BAD experience. meh experienced better sums it up.. and i wouldnt even be whining except them taking good money for food that i didnt like just grates my cheese. but after the first time i knew what not to expect and had to resent spending money here due to peer pressure. not really Mannys fault - they served us were pleasant and took care of the table okay. the food was served timely and was at least hot. its just. in my opinion. there are so many better places in town. thier parking sucks. i've gotten door and even bumper scrapes in thier lot and of course no note which didnt increase my love for them coming out from a meh meal to find my car looked like somebody wacko repeatedly slammed thier car door into mine. i've had better food at taco bell. least they spice the meat. and the salsa & chips were never consistent. some days good somedays i think we got last weeks chips and salsa that was reserved. i preferred Ponaks specifically the sonora taco if they still have it- or just to go to anywhere else! anyway, thats my clarification. m
(2)Mykie D.
if you live in KC and you've never been to manny's, you are seriously missing out. good food. great prices. authentic. delightful.
(5)Ryan A.
If someone suggests this place to you and insists it is THE place for Mexican food in Kansas City, you should never under any circumstances take restaurant advice from them. They don't know what they're talking about, and they may be trying to kill you. Ok, so it isn't that bad, but it is pretty bad. Manny's is the epitome of KC-style "gringo Mex" which, for the uninitiated, generally consists of greasy piles of grease served inside (usually fried) corn tortillas, garnished with a pile of greasy yellow cheese and lettuce on top of everything. Mexican food this is not. Sadly, Manny's isn't even a very good example of "gringo Mex"; it's just the biggest and most famous, with Ponak's and others trailing not too far behind. It is mediocre at best. There are far better places to go for "gringo Mex". Fortunately, there are lots of great authentic Mex places in the city and across the river in KCK, too, if you know where to look. Oh, and one last thing. Sometimes you do have to park a block or two away and walk to get to Manny's. I suppose for people who are only used to walking a block or two past rows of cars in giant Wal-Mart parking lots instead of past buildings and through actual city blocks, this might seem like a big deal, but it really isn't. If having to walk a block or two is the only thing keeping you from returning to Manny's, try Taco Bell. You don't even have to get out of your car!
(2)Reed N.
I liked the food, but they did short us one entree in our order. This happens too often at too many places and there is no excuse for it. I usually try three things to judge a Mexican place. Chile Rellenos, Tamales, and Enchiladas. I had the Rellenos here and they were very good. The beans and rice were actually tasty as well, and they better be if you are going to stick them on every plate! And yes, the salsa is "OK," but good salsa is very hard to find, and not the reason I'd go to a restaurant anyway.
(3)Charolette G.
Manny's has been a staple for mexican food in my family since I was a little kid. For years, every Friday at 5 p.m., you could find us at Manny's. At the same table. The perks about this place is the family atmosphere, and the food is fairly decent, although I will agree with other reviews about it being greasy and heavy. My favorite is, and always will be the pork monterrey burrito, with lots of rice. it's a burrito with seasoned pork and refried beans smothered in their monterrey jack queso. YUM! The chips and salsa is really good, although if you like lots of strong flavor eat the hot variety. The queso is creamy and delicious, and you have to eat one of their chicken flautas (like a taquito) at least once! That being said, I will admit that quality has gone down a bit over the years, as well as the prices have gone up slightly, but it's still a favorite of mine, and always will be with all the memories I've had there!
(3)Ryan R.
Horrible food, high prices, lame atmosphere. Biggest problem is the food though. I don't understand how a place can make Mexican food suck so bad. This is coming from a guy who loves almost all Mexican food with a passion too. Avoid this place.
(1)Cori A.
This place used to be awesome! What happened? This place is more expensive than the other mexican places in KC. Service was good, nothing to complain about there. The salsa wasn't very good. I ordered taco's and they were good, but could've gone down the street and paid less. Parking is AWFUL, so be prepared.
(2)Charity J.
Good atmosphere and food. I would eat here again.
(3)Adam O.
I've eaten here numerous times simply because I live next door and don't learn my lesson quickly. Bland and over priced for what you get. PS How do you screw up salsa?!
(2)Uncle Grannon L.
Honestly? Manny's isn't nearly as bad (or as good) as the reviews would have you believe. It is what it is. It's NOT authentic (nor can I fathom why any of the previous asshole reviewers from Texas or southern CA would think it was) nor is it particularly adventurous. It's a family owned "Tex-Mex" institution that's been in the area for a million years. It has hard shell tacos, and deep fried burritos and less than mind-blowing chips and salsa. It's ALSO: -filling -reasonably priced -consistent Yeah, it's not lengua and tripe served in a double soft shell corn tortilla, but most of the people who are complaining about it not being "real" Mexican food wouldn't know what to do with a chicharron taco if it threw up in their face.
(3)Sarah L.
I went to Manny's with a couple coworkers after working all day. I had never been there before, but have heard from many people that they have amazing food. "Amazing" is not quite the word I would use to describe Manny's. More like "sub-par". The pros: There's tons of room, and it's good for groups Service is quick Food is filling The cons: Our water was a jerk Salsa tasted like tomato sauce (apparently many other reviewers noticed this also) Dinner enchiladas/burritos do not come with rice or beans. They're served with a side of lettuce. Given our experience, we will not be going back. I'd rather pay the same amount and go to a chain and get more food than go back to Manny's.
(2)Joe C.
I don't get the appeal of Manny's. Sure, it's not bad but it sure isn't great. Someone loves it because there is always a line to get into this place. The staff is not overly friendly. From the hostess to the waitstaff, everyone seems to just be going through the motions without any passion for the job. The food tastes the same. It's good but without any passion. They seem to like to keep moving people through this place. If they keep moving people too quickly, they aren't going to have to worry about a line to get in too much longer!
(3)Dan V.
Salsa and cheese dip are above average. Just don't expect to get seated unless all your party is in the building. They don't want you to start ordering appetizers and drinks.(Spending money) I don't get it but, it is a "RULE" that can not be broken. They really need a hostess that understands customer service. In this economy I would appreciate large parties in my establishment.
(3)Jamison U.
Authentic? no, hardly. A landmark in KC gastronomic history? yes. Manny's is a place you go and don't expect authentic Mexican cuisine but KC-MEX cheesy-greasy food. If your expectations are right going in its good food in a good atmosphere.
(3)Sarah B.
I'm so sad about the poor reviews for this restaurant! I love Manny's! True, it's not the best Mexican food in the world, but it is really good. The chips and salsa are awesome, though I recommend getting the queso. I've had a few dishes here and all have been pretty good. And the desserts are really great. The monterrey burrito, cheese enchiladas and taco salads are good choices... The Good: 1. The prices are reasonable and they offer discounts to some of the bigger businesses in KC 2. The wait for a table is never too long 3. Bottomless chips and salsa 4. Pleasant atmosphere 5. Fast service. Great for lunch breaks. The Bad: 1. Parking SUCKS. There is one teeny, tiny little lot next to the restaurant which is always full. You usually have to park a block away and walk. 2. Bitchy waitresses! Not all of them of course, but a fair few. Too many over the course of the 5 years I've been eating here. I never end up tipping much. 3. If you're vegetarian, your choices are limited. They have a veggie burrito which I will admit is crap. I desperately miss the chicken taco salad!
(4)Jaime F.
Special occasions like a new employee, birthday or exodus from an old timer warrant staff lunch outings at my place of employment. The male to female ratio is skewed in favor of the calorie consuming burrito craving gents and we tend to wind up at Manny's more often than not. I knew I worked with considerate people once I heard the orders rolling in with each individual opting to sub rice for beans (this spells massive relief in light of the two toilets for the entire crew and open air layout of our desks). Manny's is a well oiled machine, the chip baskets rarely go low, water pitchers are close at hand and the staff tends to unforeseen needs without being pushy. Be advised that everything is fully saturated with cheese, just like I expect Kansas City style Mexican to be. I would be lying if I said it tasted authentic but that doesn't decrease the enjoyment of caloric cheesy overload. I have had the Monterey Chicken Burrito (with double rice of course) and a Quesadilla the last two times. The portions are beyond generous and if you really want to push your digestive tract into overdrive (or please your table-fed pit bull) take the leftovers. This is where I admit that I am a hot sauce geek, and yes, for emergency situations I do have a bottle of Tabasco in my purse. Shameful I know. It did come in handy here, they only offer their house made salsas to ignite your taste buds. I definitely recommend this as a lunch spot regardless of the size of your crew (although I would advise giving them a heads up in the form of a reservation for groups over 10). Always back to the office within an hour, standing in line for our offering from the Costco sized Tums bottle in the kitchen, preemptively purchased for days like these. The Febreeze cloud hangs heavy overhead and productivity is likely lower as the whole crew is fat, happy and sluggish after the burrito belly bomber lunch, but that doesn't seem to dissuade anyone from going back. An update will be warranted once I visit off the clock and sample the tequila centered concoctions...
(4)Jody L.
Meh. I was so looking forward to trying this KC legend. The atmosphere and margaritas were good. But, the food was not. I had the cheese and onion enchiladas. The enchilada sauce was gross. So gross that I scraped as much as I could off my plate. I even had my friends take a taste just to make sure I was not being a total diva. And, they agreed it was totally gross. I am sticking with Ixtapa in the Northland for Mexican food. Sorry, Manny's.
(2)Charles D.
Manny's is one of my favorite restaurants and is my favorite Mexican restaurant in Kansas City. I have been a long time fan. When I worked nearby, I would go 1-2 times a week for lunch. Now that I don't work nearby, I go fairly often and it is always as good as I remember. I always order the Frito Burrito with chicken and beef. It is basically a chimichanga and it is incredibly delicious. Their spicy salsa is my favorite salsa. I eat way too much of it every time I go. The mild salsa isn't my favorite, but this is not a problem because I eat almost exclusively the spicy salsa. The only downside is that Manny's is expensive. It is worth it, though, and my family and I go as often as we can.
(5)Melissa F.
Never again. We walked in and were waiting forever to be seated despite the fact that it was an off time and not busy. We were seated so far away from the main area way in the back of a second giant room. The salsa was watery and lacked any substance or flavor. The chips were stale. I ordered a chicken burrito and it was disappointing. To be on southwest blvd with Mexican food I expected way more. I won't be coming back here.
(1)Z M.
Would love to give this place a (0) Zero star if I could. It took 25 minutes of waiting for a vegan meal. Seriously!?!? The owner was less than accommodating with a simple request. I'm out of town and like checking new venues. Glad to say that I will never be coming back to this place. It's too bad that the owner don't see the value of taking care of their guests.
(1)Matt T.
Shortly after moving here we ate at Manny's for lunch after being told it was a local institution. The location in good and there seemed to be plenty of seating...and that is all I can say in favor of the place. In short the food is unexceptional, the salsa is weak my enchiladas were bland. Honestly if you scoot a little further southwest on Southwest Blvd you will find 3 or 4 more Mexican restaurants that are better.
(2)Alexia R.
If I could, I would give this 0 stars. Horrible service... And one of our friends fell asleep waiting for his food... This is not an exaggeration
(1)Corbie K.
Tried Manny's for the first time a few days ago for a friend's birthday. We made the reservation the night before, but still had to wait a while because they won't seat a group until everyone is present and the person who drove all of us was still trying to find a place to park. They have horrible parking, by the way, so be prepared to drive around the block several times until something opens up. Anyway when we were finally taken to our table we were led through the first large room and into the next and then given a table placed in the hallway next to the waitstaff's cash register and computer desk. It felt like we were always in the way as employees and customers were constantly walking past our table. The food was a let down. It was pretty pricey and lacked flavor. I got the tamale spread, but was turned off by the huge amount of cheese dip that covered both tamales. The cheese quickly cooled and became gluey and the flavor overpowered everything else. I did enjoy their hot salsa and rice, however. Overall, I'd have to say I was disappointed. I was excited to try the famous Manny's, but I'm sad to say, I'd rather have almost any other Tex-Mex place around here.
(2)D. B.
Just saw that someone rated this with two stars and suggested she likes On the Border better. I mean, to each their own, but if On the Border is your idea of good, authentic Mexican food, I think that that means the joke is on you and it kind of makes me feel a little sad inside. Parking isn't great, no, but that has more to do with where the building is located - the building is on a corner of a busy intersection in the Crossroads district - what would you expect, especially on a weekend night? When we go, we usually start with the queso dip for our chips because that dip tastes like unicorn snot (really good). I like to eat on the lighter side, so I normally order the Manny's chicken salad and I'm never disappointed. I saw another reviewer complain about the servings being too small. I'm sure Manny's would apologize for not stuffing your kids' plates with 3,500 calories because, y'know, freedom and America. It's called "portion" for a reason. Manny's is absolutely essential for KCMO.
(5)Lisa L.
I like Manny's. Not my favorite but the Beef and Cheese nachos are to die for. Their food is reasonable and the staff is very nice.
(5)Jennifer H.
Manny's is good Mexican food, if a little bland.
(3)Candace M.
Love the white cheese dip. Seems to be a midwest thing because now that I live in Vegas I don't see it anywhere? Don't take it for granted! Good salsa and chips and love the margaritas. Food is good but not heavenly. If you don't live too far away I would check it out. Not in the nicest area of town. Prices okay. Service not that fantastic, and they seemed to close pretty early at night, however there was hardly anyone in there on the weeknight we went.
(3)Noelle M.
I ended up coming here after I couldn't find Sol Azteca. It seemed pretty hopin', so I figured why not? I have been pretty spoiled with amazing mexican food, so while Manny's was good, it wasn't like aaaaaah-mazing. They bring out three kinds of salsa, none of which are too hot and one is SO good and flavorful, yum. I got a chicken flauta with rice and beans and a margarita---had to go native, right!? The margarita was so good, on the rocks of course, and the flauta was okay, looking back I probably would have gotten just a normal burrito or something. The highlight of the evening was dessert- Sopapilla Chips! MHHH basically they're a chip version of a churro and I got honey and chocolate on them with a scoop of ice cream---the table next door saw it once it hit my table and immediately ordered one, ha. The honey and chocolate was a good move, but next time I'm getting it on the side---less is more! Overall I enjoyed myself but wasn't wowed. The place seems authentic, but it is just soooooo huge, it would be a great place to bring a big group of people though!
(3)Joe H.
Just because a lot of people go someplace, that doesn't mean it's good food. Manny's is the place for you if you like cheese and grease. If you like actual Mexican food, don't bother. I've never felt good about eating here the handful of times I've been.
(2)David W.
I use to go to manny's growing up and it was good but after the fire it got bad. The food is greesy there is nothing like biting into a taco and drinking a cup of greese. The staff is ok if you can find anyone who speaks english. I went there about a year ago and found that they had raised the prices to levels that are a joke. I dont think I will be going back anytime soon.
(2)Ashley M.
I don't understand the excitement of Manny's. The wait was long, water neglected, orders messed up, portions not great and the food - well, I've had a lot better. The amount of grease that leaked from my taco was disgusting. This place is overrated and not recommended. If you decide to go though - reservations are a good idea.
(1)Kyle R.
Definitely the most famous and biggest Mexican restaurant in KC, Manny's has built a reputation in its many years on the Boulevard in KC. A reputation that is probably not wholly deserved. The food's decent, the servers are alright but the only thing that makes Manny's stand out is that's a massive restaurant with multiple stories, making it perfect for a group lunch or dinner. Its smart to make reservations on weekdays for lunch; all other times, you're going to be fine if you just show up. Parking is always a bit of a challenge, even though the restaurant owns two different parking lots across the street. If you're looking for the best Mexican food in the city, look elsewhere though.
(3)Guinnivere B.
I can't believe someone told me this was THE place for Mexican food in KC. I hate to give a poor review, but I was extremely disappointed. Food quality: poor Service: okay Atmosphere: cheesy Authenticity: unheard of here
(1)Jon S.
The staff was friendly, the food was, in my opinion incredible. They have two types of salsa: really bland and really hot. Being a medium kind of guy, I wasn't impressed. Like I said though, the burrito was fantastic!
(3)Michelle G.
allright, i put off writing a review on this place but i cant hold my peace any longer when it comes to new visitors to this town getting sold snake oil by the positive reviews. and if you liked it please put what you had! i understand Manny's is a KC beloved place and frankly to an extent respect that the family works hard for thier money. couldnt they invest it in better recipes and products? its right near my work and every single time its "lets go to manny's" why, why do i have to continue to go there and have tasteless greasy food??? oh right because every single co worker has to have thier "favorite" dish there! some liked a shrimp taco i dislike shrimp instensely- and others liked this smothered chicken burrito. i tried that once. it wasnt bad but i only had a forkful- then the next time i went back i couldnt find it. then the NEXT time it was awful. tasteless goo with an undercooked tortilla. have i been able to find a favorite dish? even at on the border i prefer fajitas or empanadas with queso. nope surely havent. i normally order tacos and pray they are decent. do i avoid it and beg to go anywhere else? YES. jackstack is right around the corner! you'll have cheesy corn bake and leftovers! i like certain dishes at all the places here in town Ponaks Margaritas Jose Peppers Fronteras Mi Ranchito and i even got that bad salsa and threw them up! those poor people. how horrible. some day i hope to be able to return. i grew up with Taco Johns being the epitome of perfect tacos in my little NE town and thought a burrito was those hard fried things in the school cafeteria. i moved to LA. found GOOD food and since i just cant tolerate wasting good money on poor food. and the next time i hear lets go to mannys. i will yet again hope they change thier cooks and thier menu. think investing in some DECENT ground chilis for the enchilada sauce! spice your taco meat. and hello powdered cheese sauce isnt better than the real deal! yeesh. ps. just a clarification- i really didnt have a BAD experience. meh experienced better sums it up.. and i wouldnt even be whining except them taking good money for food that i didnt like just grates my cheese. but after the first time i knew what not to expect and had to resent spending money here due to peer pressure. not really Mannys fault - they served us were pleasant and took care of the table okay. the food was served timely and was at least hot. its just. in my opinion. there are so many better places in town. thier parking sucks. i've gotten door and even bumper scrapes in thier lot and of course no note which didnt increase my love for them coming out from a meh meal to find my car looked like somebody wacko repeatedly slammed thier car door into mine. i've had better food at taco bell. least they spice the meat. and the salsa & chips were never consistent. some days good somedays i think we got last weeks chips and salsa that was reserved. i preferred Ponaks specifically the sonora taco if they still have it- or just to go to anywhere else! anyway, thats my clarification. m
(2)Mykie D.
if you live in KC and you've never been to manny's, you are seriously missing out. good food. great prices. authentic. delightful.
(5)Adam C.
Manny's down on Southwest Boulevard is often touted as some of the best Mexican cuisine in Kansas City. I personally, do not see what warrants this distinction. The experience I had there was far from a negative one, but hardly anything that sticks out in my mind as "the best," my first reservation with this restaurant is the complimentary salsa, being a connoisseur of Mexican food, I've had many restaurant style salsa, and this one seemed like nothing more than tomato sauce. One of the best things about going to eat Mexican is stuffing your face with chips and salsa, so right off the bat I was disappointed. I will say, that when the food came, it was good, and the portions were pretty gigantic. It's just that nothing blew me away, and it may have been because going into the experience the restaurant was very hyped up in my mind. I would recommend this restaurant to others, just don't go into it thinking it's the best in KC.
(2)jennifer j.
Too greasy...plenty of other choices for great Mexican. Skip it.
(1)Scott D.
Although it seems clean and all, there are much better places for Mexican food.
(1)Erin L.
my review is based purely on the service. i've eaten the food several times and it's not memorable - it's your basic american greasy cheese on a plate. but on my most recent (and final) visit, the servers were so rude to us that we ended up leaving before we even ate. (if you want true tacos, go to Rico's up the road. if you want amazing food within walking distance, head to Jack Stack around the corner.)
(1)Justin W.
Great food and customer service. Able to get quickly sat. Margarita amazing as well. Will be returning. The taco sin carne (vegetable taco) was really good and had a lot of flavor. Manager was proactive and attentive to our table as well.
(5)