The green, (somewhere between neon green, and olive green) exterior of the building makes it easy to spot. On google this place has great reviews reviews. One person on tripadvisor.com said, "For being in the middle of nowhere, this place is amazing." and gave it 5/5. Let me say, for being in the middle of nowhere...well, that doesn't matter. Good food is good food, mediocre food is mediocre food, and bad food is bad food; it doesn't matter where it is. This was mediocre. Apparently John Madden eats here. But that doesn't really say much. From the little football I've watched, I find him quite annoying. Though for whatever reason, when I couldn't decide on what to order I went for the "John Madden Special". Which looked good. Diced grilled chicken with sauteed peppers and onions, served with rice, refried beans, and warm tortillas. It wasn't bad. But it also wasn't great. The salsa was served in a clear, ketchup style squeeze bottle with the nozzle cut down a bit more to allow the small chunks of pepper ant tomato to flow out. A sure sign that the salsa wasn't made there (though maybe it was, but I wouldn't have guessed it). They did serve beer, though, which was nice. But no draft. Everything was bottled. I guess compared to the alternative fast food joints, this place is ok. But, if I had to do it again, I woulda hit the grocery store before leaving El Paso.
(3)
John B.
Showed up at 9:30 PM on a Wed night and we were the only ones there, but no one rushed us and were as nice as can be. Good food and left happy. I think Chuy's is a a chain, but I believe this one is at minimum family operated. I 'd be happy to eat there again.
(4)
Meghan M.
So we read the poor reviews before coming here but since it is the only game in town we decided to give it a chance. Bad idea! Stay far away! The sauce on the enchilada looked like tomato sauce but was so excruciatingly hot that it took hours to recover. The waitress said it said "mild on the package" but why are they even using packaged food?? I have had a ton of Mexican food in both California and Texas and never tasted something so awful. So do yourself a favor and hit up the fast food instead. Your stomach will be thanking you!
(1)
Dick H.
Interesting place with local flavor and enjoyable Mexican and American food.
This place is an official "John Madden Haul of Fame" bus stop. John does not fly so his tour bus takes him everywhere. Read all about it on the menu. This little Mexican Food diner is as authentic as it gets. Good food, great prices, and good service. Take a moment to review all of the wall art as this place is a museum of sports and music memorabilia.
(4)
sri n.
This place was fine. They didnt have almost any veggie options and then they were kind enough to make me something. The owner claims that this is the first Chuy's and that the Houston Chuy's copied their name. Whatever. Dont know dont care. yes, they have plenty of John Madden stuff in the restaurant since he apparently eats here.
(3)
Erik C.
The food had no flavor, the chips and taco shells were not house made. The only good note was the decore of the dinning room.
(1)
Yuri V.
It's not that it's good or bad. It's just left in time . Think of a "Mexican" restaurants 20 years ago and you get the picture. So chile verde is beef chunks mixed with potatos covered by green sauce. Probably not bad, but not any relation to the roasted pork simmered in chilie verde sauce one would expect. As long as you know that in advance you'll be ok. I ordered an "asada" plate which ended up being pork in red chile sauce. Not bad.
(3)
Ephraim T.
Ugh. So disappointed. I do a significant amount of work near Van Horn, involving a significant amount of time outdoors, which means that by the time supper rolls around, HUNGRY has a whole new connotation. Now, I figure that a Tex-Mex place in West Texas would have the authentic thing down, which they do. However, in a town surrounded by desert and cattle ranches, I would also expect said Tex-Mex place to serve a serious plate of food, a plate the size of which John Madden would have trouble finishing. I've come to expect Tex-Mex restaurants to load the plate with so much rice and beans that you'd think they used a small bulldozer to get it all on there. In the case of Chuy's, I would be wrong. I had no trouble finishing my meal, and in fact stopped by Wendy's *gasp* to top off my dining experience. The only saving grace from "1 Star Ignominy" is that at least it tasted good. However, in the future, I will find somewhere else in town to take my hunger.
(2)
Janice B.
We were staying in Van Horn for the night, so were pleased to find anything at all still open at 8:00 p.m. It has a TV, all right. Big, honkin' thing, and we were seated literally next to it . . . a bit uncomfortable. The food here was pretty good (except for the "appetizer" chips, which were soggy in the middle). The gorditas that I ordered were really good, and the rest of my family enjoyed their choices, as well. Biggest issue was with the service . . . very, very long wait for our food, and then our waitress literally disappeared after bringing it. We quickly drained our water glasses (especially those of us who had ordered spicy food) and would have appreciated refills, but that didn't happen. Still, considering the time and place, I think overall they deserve three stars.
(3)
Joe A.
Stopped in for lunch on way to El Paso. Although not fine dinning, the place definitely has personality. If you are looking for a 5 star restaurant in Van Horn don't to to Chuy's, and don't eat in Van Horn. It's a very small place, but on a long road trip it beats the heck out of McDonalds. It's average mexican food, but has an interesting story. I love that the place is family owned, and that madden gave it a plug on national television. My wife to the 'Madden Chicken Dish' which was overpriced by good.
(4)
Summer H.
Just... don't.
(1)
Maria S.
Worst place ever. Had to leave due to horrible service. Asked for another basket of chips twice and they never came even 20min later. Worst service ever do not recommend.
(1)
Matt S.
Driving back from El Paso, we found we needed a place to eat. Chuy's is your atypical Texas Mexican restaurant. What makes it different is that John Madden once ate here (I can see Frank Caliendo doing a new bit on this.) If this restaurant was in my adopted San Antonio, I wouldn't return. It was average, except for the chance to see the John Madden chair and the sports memorabilia.
(2)
James S.
Everything was premade and store bought. . .limited resources. . .however, the salsa seemed freshly made and had some flavor and kick.
(2)
Angel J.
This place's claim to fame is that it's John Madden's #1. Well if that's true it's evidence John got hit top many times . After A grueling 25+ hours on the road, my family picked this spot to replenish our energy and grab a bite. I usually love homey hole in the wall places, but I should have known that any place that had a billboard is bad news. The menu is very limited. You don't get a lot of options as far as meat concerned, and as far as drinks: no horchata, no agua frescas, not even a jarritos. What they did have "lime squeeze" they didn't have at the time. I was also surprised to see that they offered plenty of American sandwiches but no tortas. I settled on gorditas because I really wanted avocado. Low and behold when they came out there was not a scoop of avocado to be found. I asked for hot sauce (because there was none in sight. Which I find disturbing b c this is a mexican restaurant ) they brought out tobacco, which I love, but I was expecting a genuine mexican hot sauce or at the very least tapatillio. That didn't help. Meat was very bland. As I sat back and watched everyone else my sisters food came out with beans, which she specifically asked to be removed. Worst of all my uncle's burrito had a piece of plastic in it. Guess that's why they're called Chuys. Overall the food was bad and the service was lackluster, to put it nicely. Take your money else where and avoid the disappointment.
(1)
Dave S.
Good Mexican food, especially for an isolated west Texas town. Excellent burger too. A new appetizer, fried green chilies was a pleasant surprise. Lotsa atmosphere. Service friendly, but a bit slow,
(4)
Peter M.
The ambience was interesting and the food - we had the John Madden Special - was surprisingly tasty and good. We would recommend the place - nothing fancy but good service, nice and quick.
(4)
Ryan S.
Dont know why there are so many bad reviews on here. We were just passing through and had it delivered to the room, so I can't really speak on the restaurant atmosphere or cleanliness. We had Fajitas, Quesadillas and a Kids hamburger. All of it was great. The only and best option in Van Horn other than the typical fast food.
(5)
Roland R.
I've been traveling back and forth from Los Angeles to San Antonio Texas for over 30 years it's been a while since I stopped at Chuy's Mexican restaurants in Van Horn Texas I was extremely disappointed before I sat at the table I needed use as the men's room I hate to say this but I seen cleaner restrooms at gas stations and truck stops no toilet paper and the toilet seat was broken the sink look like it hasn't been cleaned for weeks service was horrible we sat at are table for a while before we got our water I ordered the chile relleno plate which wasn't good at all it was overcooked and the breading tasted horrible I only takes a little bit of the beans and rice my father ordered the BBQ brisket sandwich you would think it would have thick slices of brisket meat but it was cut up like a little cubes of meat size of sugar cubes it looked more like a happy meal burger from McDonalds than a BBQ brisket sandwich that you expect when you're in Texas my mother needed to use the ladies room but it was so filthy we had to drive to the nearest McDonalds for her to use the ladies room they promote this as a John Madden restaurant but I know that John Madden would be extremely disappointed on the conditions the food and the service I don't think we'll ever stop there again.
(1)
Judy I.
Well, it is Van Horn, TX! We came on after 9 pm, but still.... Rice crunchy, refried beans dried out. I think they ran my enchiladas under the broiler too long. We stopped there because it said it was part of Joh Madden's Haul of Fame, and they do have lots of memorabilia there and a big chair with his name on it. My husband and his friend were happier to be there than I was. There is a very large mural on the wall with Jesus looking down over you while you are eating. It was interesting to look at, but the eyes follow you....wish Jesus could have helped my rice and beans.
(2)
Steve O.
Stopped to eat on the way to Arizona. Outstanding !!!! Loved looking at the all pictures of John Madden visit and making the Madden hall of fame.
(5)
Pyrin L.
I stopped here December 2012 while traveling across country, and it was the worst Mexican food I have ever had. I literally couldn't eat more than enough for basic survival. I'm not sure how you can really mess up Mexican food that badly, but it was awful ... even the rice and beans. Inside it was dark and felt dirty. I have no idea why anyone would go here except for the sports theme ... but don't go there if you're hungry.
(1)
Tiffany S.
Just...yuck. If we hadn't been starved for something besides fast food after driving from CA for two days, would have passed up this place. Expected good, authentic TexMex. Got: chips that tasted store-bought. Salsa from a jar. Enchiladas, beans and rice that were flavor-free. Best bet: eat in El Paso and skip this place. If not for the bad food, then for the iffy cleanliness of the place (dusty) and the surly help.
(1)
Kacie M.
Unfortunately, this review will be completely ineffective, because you don't have a whole lot of options when you're in Van Horn. It's basically a town that exists solely because travelers need gas while going across west Texas. Once you pass El Paso, Van Horn is the only other stop for hours if you're heading eastward. The Pizza Hut went out of business long ago (or, at least, both numbers listed online were disconnected), so Chuy's was our only choice for food besides the dismal steakhouse that we'd learned to avoid on past visits. We had high hopes. A Mexican restaurant located just a few miles from the border...it has to be at least decent, right? Wrong. Upon our arrival, we waited expectantly in the entryway, encouraged by the colorful stock photos of margaritas all over the walls. (We were badly in need of libations.) The sad, reluctant waitress/hostess/busser/janitor eventually pulled four menus out of the wall slot and, with a roll of the eyes, shuffled us to our table. When she asked for our drink orders, one of my dinner companions (suspicious already) asked about the makeup of said advertised margaritas; did they have real tequila? Our waitress had no idea. While she spent an interminable amount of time in the kitchen finding out the answer, we discovered that the menu stated "wine margaritas." OK, fine - you don't have hard alcohol. That's not a crime...but shouldn't your staff know about it? Cue the entrance of the obligatory chips and salsa. The chips themselves were fine - perfectly acceptable. But the laughable excuse for a salsa was not. First off, when we squirted it out of the ketchup bottle into the dish, it actually bubbled and efffervesced...the sure sign of fermentation, usually caused by acidic products being stored outside of refrigeration. Despite the visible bubbling, it smelled OK, so we tried it. It was completely lacking in any flavor whatsoever - no salt, no spice, no acidity. It suited the filthy warm bottle from which it was served. When we asked the waitress if she had any hot sauce, she seemed confused and pointed to the salsa we'd been given. Then, we began perusing the menu. A large number of the entree options contained "meat" as the only description of the protein. I asked about what "meat" meant on one of the choices, and was told that I had the option of either chicken or beef. I mistakenly assumed that this applied to the whole menu. When I then ordered the gorditas with chicken, I was informed that they only come with ground beef. So I guess the meaning of "meat" is changeable. So I ordered the chicken enchiladas instead. Encouraged by the listing of avocado as an ingredient in other entrees, I asked for a side of avocado. I was served a dish of that pre-made pureed sour-cream junk that passes as guacamole at fast-food restaurants. The other diners at my table ended up getting some of each "meat". The beef ended up being the (hardly) better option. It was the typical flavorless 'D' grade ground mystery cut better served at prison, public school and Taco Bell. The chicken was a fried dry foam, notable only for the high skin and bone content. Sigh. There was little taste to anything that I ate, save for the nice chalky corn tortilla and the greasy melted cheese on top. (I didn't bother with the mooshy rice and the baby poop beans - just pushed them aside.) In desperation, I asked the waitress if she had anything spicy...perhaps a jalapeno? She brought me a whole jalapeno on a plate with a steak knife. I didn't know that prepping my own vegetables/condiments was part of the average restaurant experience, but I was still trying to enjoy the respite from the long road trip. But after my lactose-intolerant friend received her tacos covered in cheese after being very specific about leaving it off, we waited way too long for water and beer refills, and the menu options all somehow proved to be inferior to what was described. (Based off what I could read through the crusty remains of disappointing past dinners, anyway.) And considering that at that point in the evening, we were the ONLY table there, I thought that maybe we were deserving of a little bit of attention from the bare bones staff. I concluded that our dinner would have been better if we had just gotten pizza rolls from the gas station and microwaved them in the motel room. There are many more details of sullen and begrudging service that I could share, but this review is already getting far too verbose. If you're coming to Van Horn - make sure you have dinner packed in your cooler. There just isn't anything in this town worth eating...and this restaurant proves it.
(1)
Ani P.
Well, there really is nothing else around. Eat here while driving across the country or starve. Quintessential tex mex. Greasy, cheesy and full of artery cloggers. Warning: kids menu is f8king spicy (enchilada has a serious kick). My bebes eat mad spicy food and this was too much. Cheap, calories per dollar is high.
(3)
Jill G.
Since there isn't much on this stretch of I-10, Chuy's seemed to be the place to stop. My boyfriend and I were wanting mexican and this place satisfied that. Although I've definitely had better this was ok for travel food. I had the chile relleno - very spicy, but good. I didn't eat the greasy, thick breading on the outside, but the chile was good. We also had queso which was surprisingly tasty. Since apparently John Madden eats here it was only appropriate that football was on tv, which helped the atmosphere.
(3)
Russ R.
A friend and I stopped here for lunch on the way to Austin from Phoenix. We took turns driving and did the 16 hour trip straight through. This is where we stopped for lunch. This places claim to fame is that John Madden stopped by at some point for a meal. They are really proud of this. We found this amusing. I had the red chile plate and I thought it was absolutely delicious. The meat was tender and the red chile sauce was nice and thick with just the right flavor. The tortillas seemed fresh and not store bought. The chips and salsa were really good, too. The chips were thick and crispy and seemed freshly made as well The style of cooking at this restaurant seems Sonoran. My plate was definitely five stars. Dining area was clean and the waitress was pleasant and friendly. They lose a star for the bathrooms, which were a bit run down. Men's room door did not lock. Don't tell, but I ended up using the ladies room, which did lock. I am from Arizona and I like Sonoran Mexican food. A friend of mine recently moved to Austin, TX and he stated that the style of Mexican food there is VERY different from what you generally find in Arizona. I am wondering if the negative reviews about the food at this restaurant are because it is not the style usually found in Texas. My friend really liked his lunch, too, although, I can't remember what he had. I am perplexed by all the negative reviews, though. This place is definitely not fancy, but we liked the food a lot.
(4)
William F.
Main courses are good. Fish and fajitas were top notch. Salsa and rice were kinda plain. Overall, good food.
(4)
Christopher M.
Bad bad bad. Had a burger which was cooked to death dry as a bone with a cold Kraft single slapped on top. A "meat burrito" was a room temperature Albertson's tortilla wrapped around terrible tasting ground beef. The "house made fries" were potatoes cut in to strips and dipped in oil. They were totally raw and inedible. Bathroom was dirty, food was sloppy beyond belief, I am sure their sanitation is less than stellar. DO NOT EAT HERE.
(1)
Gloria B.
Just finished the No. 1 Chuy's Special and must say I was pleased. Flavors were great and the Gordita and Chile Verde outstanding. Although I got my meal to go, I was nevertheless impressed by the interior that I viewed. Helpful and efficient staff greeted me as I came through the door and provided me with what I needed as a traveler for my meal. Seems so often customer service is lacking in so many establishments but not here! Thanks for a fine meal after a hard drive...
(4)
Erin W.
Another glorified ground beef restaurant. This isn't real mexican food. to top it off the customer service is a joke and they're plain rude!
(1)
Sarah G.
Mexico is practically a stone's throw away from Van Horn, yet somehow this Mexican restaurant has it all wrong. Originally from South Texas, I've had plenty of Mexican food in my life and this was the most over priced, zero-effort Mex I've ever had! To top it off the waitress was rude. I've never not given a tip before in my life and I've also never written a Yelp review! Hopefully this will convince you to stick with McDonalds and save your money.
(1)
Josh W.
Crappy! Don't even know where to start. Stale chips, we had a dirty chip bowl that had a piece of unidentifiable piece of meat in it under the paper. Food had no taste when it did show up, ordered a queso and it came out after the food. Waiter looked at us like we were stupid when we complained. NEVER AGAIN! Don't do it y'all!
(1)
Michael C.
The prominent restaurant in this little town. I stopped by about 7pm, just after I woke up and checked out of my hotel room. Wasn't really hungry, but knew it would be a long drive before other options presented themselves. John Madden ate here. Chuy's praises God! I ordered a bean burrito. $2.75, cheap. This burrito wouldn't have satisfied a child, it was minute. Thankfully, I tipped the waitress and she included a large bad of chips and a full 12oz cup of Salsa which was fairly spicy. Tasted better than than it looked, for this I was thankful. I didn't sample the food until a couple of hundred miles down the road. The Burrito was just a few bites, and not properly rolled. The chips and salsa were lifesavers, as I was driving late at night and didn't have a chance for food again until I reached Austin the following morning. Chuy's won't be my first choice if I find myself in Van Horn again, but the waitress treated me right.
(3)
Erika L.
This place gets promoted by Hampton Inn & Suites more than likely because of how late they're willing to stay open at night. It certainly isn't their food because it left a lot to be desired! Between myself and my other 2 companions, only one of us thought their food met even average standards (and he's 14!). On the whole, it was greasy and tasteless. Don't get the burrito-it was disgusting. Rarely do I encounter food I cannot bring myself to take a single bite from, but their burrito falls under that category for me. Go somewhere else or save your money and get something to tie you over from the gas station. This food is not worth it and is overpriced for what they offer.
(1)
Jim P.
Chuy's is very accommodating. We like to stop here because they are open until 10:00 PM. Very friendly staff. The chips and salsa were good with the salsa having a little zing to it. Our waitress thought it was a bit too hot but my wife and I enjoyed it. My wife ordered the chili verde plate. The beef was tender and moist. The food had lots of flavor and enough heat to enjoy but not too spicy hot. I like my food spicier so the waitress said she could do the fajita with jalapeno's instead of bell peppers. When she brought it to our table it was sizzling away on the skillet it was presented on. The meal came with potatoes, beans, fresh flour tortillas, quacamole, a hotter salsa, and onions. It was tender, tasty and a large portion. Who could ask for more. My wife enjoyed their coffee saying it was definatlely better than average. We stop in Van Horn on every cross country trip. One for dinner at Chuy's and the other is breakfast at Papa's Pantry. Both are good.
(5)
Jon H.
We ate here on the way to Tucson. It was OK, but I'm not going to write home about it. I would recommend eating at the Hotel El Capitan dining room instead. We ate there on the way back from Tucson. It was great!
(2)
Michael P.
Standard Mexican food. Ambiance is cool. John Madden comes here once a year.
(3)
Tina Z.
As long as you have time to spare this is a good place to stop and eat at. It's also walking distance from many of the motels/hotels. Nice environment and friendly staff. When the food finally arrived it was tasty. The waitress was attentive and often passed by to check and see if anything was needed. Dishes on other tables looked tasty as well and the large TV was a good option of additional entertainment.
(4)
Satoko Y.
The service was horrible. One waitress (older lady) took our drink order, and she never brought them to us. When we asked for more chips, she again didn't bring anything. Instead, she decided to clear tables. She seemed to be doing her work for the people sitting at the both end of our table, but she acted as if our table didn't even exist. She totally ignored us. It was not only me, but all three of us noticed it, so it was very obvious. Cheese enchiladas tasted very strange. Even though I usually eat everything, I couldn't eat that at all. Queso was pretty good. Next time I drive to West Texas, I will make sure to stop at Fort Stockton or just eat fast food in Van Horn.
(1)
Gail C.
My husband and I stopped in last night on our way through. We thought, great, a good Mexican place. Don't waste your time. Both our orders were dripping with grease. The only thing good was the salsa. It was very spicy.
(1)
Alicia S.
What a horrible place! First of all, the rice and beans were so dry they tasted like they had been sitting there uncovered all day. Next I was charged for the wrong meal. It was only an 80 cent difference but I told the waitress that I was charged for the wrong meal and her response was "it's only 80 cents, what's the big deal?" Honestly, I was going to just let it go but after her giving me such a terrible attitude I decided not to just let it go. She then proceeded to talk about me in Spanish. She was not professional at all and the customer service was absolutely horrendous! I will never go back there and I will let everyone know who is driving through not to stop. The best thing about the place was that the football game was on. What a terrible place, terrible food, and terrible overall experience.
(1)
Autumn S.
I would give it no stars if I could. The chips were cold and stale, the food was overpriced, and the chili con queso was watery velveeta with rotel. Further more my "enchilada" was a pile of red sauce with a corn tortilla underneath it, no cheese or meat in it. Very disappointing, I should have took the bad reviews for what they were...honesty. Lesson learned.
(1)
Nate C.
Service was quick, food was pretty good. Came in late at night and found both servers to be pleasant and attentive. Had the chicken enchiladas along with the complimentary chips and salsa. Nothing extraordinary, but nothing was wrong with the food either.
(4)
Efren M.
There we were. A pack of hungry Martinezes!! Hundreds of miles from home and many hours between our last real meal. Snacks can only carry a family of 9 so far until the hunger and irritability set in and we start to snap at each other. The first stop in van horn led us here so we were in no mood or shape to hunt around. As we entered, we were instantly greeted by a gentleman and celebrity memorabilia. this place had some history. also known as john maddens haul of fame, this place has character on top of stellar service. I didn't try maddens fave but I wasn't at all disappointed with the fajitas. Tx is known for its grade a meat, but the preparation and sauces turned a simple dinner into a meal to be remembered. if I could make meat that tasty on a regular basis, I would have to raise cattle just to feed my habit!!
(5)
Lesa F.
We ordered take out. Food was delivered fast it was hot and tasted wonderful This is a must try if your in the area I had the chili ralinos and hubby had burritos. We also ordered desert. Strawberry cheese cake and key line pie. Both were wonderful !! Homemade salsa. It was very inexpensive ... Will eat here again when we are passing thru.
(5)
Ruth G.
Stop here! You won't be disappointed. Real Mexican food!!! Chile Verde was amazing. Rice great Just do it!
(5)
Karen L.
Not sure about the other reviewers experiences but we enjoyed the food, the service was prompt and friendly. I had the chicken enchiladas and hubby has the chili rellanos. We both enjoyed our meal. They have a mural in the John Madden room (apparently he eats here) depicting John's bus, the restaurant and Jesus. Right next to that is a beer sign. Thought that was funny. We would eat here again.
(4)
Derrick C.
Finally got fresh food much better
(3)
Ray A.
Driving from L.A. all the way to San Antonio i finally needed a break and stopped in Van Horn. Couldnt find anywhere to sit and relax so i stopped at Chuys (neon signs serve their purpose). Pretty dusty as you walk in. Wait staff took forever to greet me. Food took long enough for me to tell them to just put it in a to-go box (30 minutes sitting with an empty drink). I noticed other patrons getting irritated waiting for their checks as well, i walked into the kitchen where the waitresses were gathered around, ignoring prepared food in the window, and talking about what they were gonna do after work (it was a friday night). I asked them to check me out and let them know others were waiting as well. I still put 2 stars because the food (besides the enchiladas) was pretty good (aside from them telling me they ran out of rice as i was paying). If this place had a decent manager it could easily be worth 5 stars. But as is, this Veteran was not impressed.
(2)
Gloria H.
We chose this place because it was Mexican and the only place open. Food quality left a little to be desired and service was very slow. We had faitas. Steak was chewy not tender. It was fun to look around. Lots of John Madden memorabilia. Beautiful mural on the wall inside and the courtesy van outside was cute.
(2)
Char G.
If you absolutely must stop somewhere don't stop here. What a complete waste of time. Ordered enchiladas and was brought 3 tacos. I had a friend with me and his food came and was also wrong. It took 30 mins for wrong food. My friend kept his but I didn't want tacos. What a mistake. I'm now an hour later dinner less leaving. No food at all. The cashier was like I didn't charge you for the water. I was like I would have paid you for dinner had someone bothered to make it and do it right. On a side note I'd love to open a Mexican restaurant here. Anyone want to finance me. This crap hole would be closed In a month. Also since I left with no dinner I came down the road a bit and found Sands across from the Love's truck stop. Wonderful place. Be sure to check them out.
(1)
Penney B.
This place is awesome! It is family owned and operated. The service was friendly and prompt. The food was amazing! Hubby had the Chili Rellano. It is covered in cheese and deep fried to perfection. The 3 taco plate was delicious and the seasoning was exactly right. The college memorabilia and John Madden's personal stamp of approval make this a must see!
(5)
Bill D.
I had eaten at Chuy's a few years ago with a group of folks and enjoyed the food then. I was staying in Van Horn the other night and decided to go back to Chuy's. I was not disappointed. The food was excellent, as was the service and the price. Admittedly, I am not a connoisseur of Mexican food. But the food at Chuy's (I had the #10 combo...beef and potatoes) was a few cuts above the food that I have had in other Mexican restaurants. I definitely would return.
(5)
Sakshi J.
Its one of those quaint little places with character, gotta give it that. Stopped by for dinner while staying at Van Horn. The place had just one vegetarian options which was just ok, but at that point I was just glad to get one. The chips and salsa were decent. Overall not bad if looking for food options in Van Horn. It is a small place, so did take a long time to seat us.
(2)
Nedra W.
Not many places open here on a Sunday. The first place we stopped at ignored us so we got up and left. With only fast food places left we came here. We were told to wait in the lobby while they cleared a table. Well we waited s d waited. I finally stood in the dining room and they finally gave us a table. They brought out chips and salsa. Chips were ok but the salsa was watered down and so thin it dripped everywhere. I ordered a fajita....worst I've ever had and we live in New Mexico so I know good fajitas. Hubby ordered a burger and fries. I tried the fries and they were soggy. The burger bun was greasy as was the burger. He ended up with heartburn. I feel sorry for people in van horn that have such poor restaurants to chose from. I'd think about moving!
(1)
J. E.
Being from out of town my friend and I were very hungry this place was not clean and the person in the front her name is OLIVIA was not nice after requesting fries inside my burrito that I wanted to have add on my order. She reply that I could not have it made that way, so we place are order and waited as we sat around the corner Olivia was talking to another employee about us that if we want it special order to go and get it at Burger king. This employee Olivia needs training in customer service and learn not to talk about customers, The food was not at all that great and to be treated that way being the gossip of an employee who doesn't care about the customer, I would not keep her on my staff. I work in a five star hotel and my employees are more professional then this person Olivia who has no concept of professionalism in the front of house of an restaurant.
(1)
Christi B.
This was the worst Mexican food I've ever had. The salsa had no flavor; how can you make salsa bland? I'm afraid the same was the same for the beans; no color, no flavor. The queso was good, like what make at home by opening a can of Rotel tomatoes and mixing with Velvetta cheese. Wait, I think that was exactly what they did. At least it was inexpensive, the only positive thing I can say.
(1)
Lee R.
The green chili fries are awesome. Green chili sliced, breaded, and fried served with a delicious dipping sauce. Stop in and get them.
(4)
Lefty P.
We stopped in for dinner last night. Waitresses weren't friendly, but finally got our order as ordered. Food was very bland, and expensive at that. We will not go back.
(1)
C J.
We drove for several hours to come here. Had really looked forward to some wonderful Mexican food. Well, the food was so-so - NOT worth driving the hours to the place. My big complaint was the bathrooms.... one was out of order so they sent me to the other one... I can't even say why I couldn't use this ... let's just say I don't think it had been flushed in a long long time! Oh and the waiters? Soooo not friendly ... so... Chuy's? No thank you! We are headed for Mesilla, NM for some real Mexican food!
(1)
Edward S.
We don't often get around to this part of Texas when we travel but, when we do, I like to stop at Chuy's for lunch/dinner. On this stop, I tried the gorditas. I was expecting them to be a lot bigger - these were about the size of silver dollar pancakes. BUT, the flavor was good! The corn "tortilla" was crispy, good texture, great seasoning, and stuffed with tasty ground beef. The rice and beans that came with it were equally good. Now, if you're health conscious or watching your weight in any way, this may not be the place for you. I overheard the waiter say the refried beans are made with lard (which is the traditional, preferred, way to do it) so I'm sure other menu items are as carefree with the ingredients as well. It won't keep me from coming back, though. Service is always good, although sometimes a little slow. Prices are decent and the food, by-and-large, is also good. If you happen to be in Van Horn......
(3)
Frank B.
If you need to eat while in Van Horn, this place does the job satisfactory. Despite the negative reviews about poor service, we found the opposite - we were drinking cold beer within 5 minutes of entering the restaurant. Our entrees were fine - tamale, enchilada, taco, tostada, rice and beans. Nothing extraordinary, but nothing wrong with it either.
(3)
Riccardino B.
Saturday 26 April After a delightful visit to the Big Bend, I did my usual stop at Chuys on the way home. Food was great as usual but service was miserable. The two male servers, one a tall heavy set and the other a younger body builder type, were clearly not happy to be at work and showed no interest in the customers. I refer Chuys each opportunity I get, having friends eat there only days before, but now I will hesitate because the service was so UNwelcoming
Apparently John Madden frequents this place. Goes to show just how knowledgeable he is about food. From the size of him, it looks like he lives here. Probably the worst food and service this side of Taco Bell. Avoid this dump like the plague.
(1)
Lynsey F.
Service was awful and food was ho-hum. I enjoy Mexican food and can eat it just about anywhere, anytime. It takes a pretty outstanding meal to make a real impression on me ... and this one didn't. My son and I both ordered burritos and although they were supposed to be different types, they both looked (and tasted) the same. But, hey, we finished them. :) We were sat by the TV and promptly forgotten. If we wanted the servers attention, we had to work for it. At one point, my son stood up to try and get a refill on his drink. And chips are not bottomless. Once out, refills cost $.50 each. Luckily this wasn't a huge problem for us since the server never noticed we were out.
(2)
Jennifer R.
Good service, ok food. We ordered the chile con queso, cheese burger and of course the John Madden special which was good. Nothing special.
(2)
Russ I.
We did no research, just stopped in here on a lark. So happy we did. Fast, friendly service, and great tex-mex. I had the #1 and loved all of it. We will be back again the next time we're passing through Van Horn.
(4)
Allison H.
Quite possibly the worst Mexican food we have ever had. Stopped here because it was one of the only restaurant open in this godforsaken town. The sports decor does not really go together with the dingy Mexican restaurant ambience. This restaurants claim to fame is that John Madden stopped here while he was still broadcasting for NBC football. The story goes on to say that while driving through on his bus he wanted to watch Monday night football so he stopped at this restaurant. He'd like this food so much that he stopped here at least once a year on his way through. The story also says that he promoted this restaurant on his broadcast as well as in sports illustrated. Later on he would at this restaurant to his "Haul of fame". Other than that there is absolutely no reason to go to this restaurant. The food was not very good, My husband says it's the worst Mexican food he's ever had. They would not even consider substituting a cheese enchilada for a Carnitas enchilada even when we said would would pay for an up charge. I'm sure if John Madden was there and requested this they would've done it in a heartbeat. All in all the food was bad, the atmosphere is bad and the service was bad. Skip it or join the many who will be writing a bad review on yelp about this
(1)
Ben H.
Stopped here because of the 'Madden' connection. We were in a hurry so we got our food to go. I don't know about you guys, but when I order food to go and there is no real service other than that of a cashier I don't leave a tip. I signed my name on the receipt and waited for my food. When it finally came we didn't get salsa and had to ask. The server rudely went back and got it without saying a word. Think he was the one who might be mentally handicapped. When we got in the car we noticed that they skimped out BIGTIME on the meat. I ordered a chicken burrito, not a chicken taco, and saw that I was given a few scoops of chicken in a flour tortilla. No rice, beans, lettuce like a normal burrito- just chicken. My brother got the chicken taco plates and said he got about a teaspoon of chicken in each taco! Old, dusty, mismatched decor, poor service, and poor quantities of food for the price. Definitely never returning.
(1)
Mike R.
It must have been a LONG TIME ago that John Madden was here. The guy at the hotel said "Some like it, some don't." I went anyway because I really wanted it to be good. I have had 10 times better Mexican food in Nashville. The $4 margarita was tiny and mostly ice. The people were nice, however there is nothing about this place that is appealing except the sports on the one flat screen. The food was seriously okay, not even middle of the road. I like dives but usually they have great food. Taco Bell is better and I hate Taco Bell.
(1)
Oceanna M.
There isn't much to like about this place. Its dark..dingy, strangely laid out. They have dusty decor and really..strange is the best way I can describe it..taste in design. The chips were stale. The salsa was so hot yet tasteless. The two waiters are twins and rude..very abrupt..potentially they are mentally disabled but either way bad customer service. They were out of coke. Yeah. No soda. The chicken enchiladas were bland, coated in cheese, and took twenty minutes to cool to eat. The town (if you can call it one) has very little else to offer so I'm sure it'll stay in business sadly. If you can wait to eat..do so.
(2)
Zenas T.
Tasty, cheap, and kitschy. Sweet potato fries can hang with the best of them. Burritos aren't huge but fine for the price. And while no cherry coke, they can add raspberry syrup to regular coke, which makes for a fine, resourceful substitute.
(4)
Texas Road T.
We made a stop at Chuy's while driving through Texas. The atmosphere is a little bit cluttered and quirky. During our visit, the place was full, but oddly quiet, I almost felt like we had to whisper. We ordered a Flauta plate, the Flat Enchilada plate, the Machaca plate and the Gordita plate. Our meal came with one serving of complimentary chips and salsa (if you want more, they charge you). The good: the salsa was mild, but tasty. My dad enjoyed his enchiladas (they are different from what we are used to at home). The Machaca meat was mixed with egg and pretty good. The Flautas were light, crispy, and absolutely delicious-definitely the stars of the meal. The service was polite, quick, and efficient. The just okay: the corn chips and tortillas were not homemade, the rice and beans were nothing special, we've had much better gorditas elsewhere. Overall-this is a fun stop with funky appeal, if we stopped again, I would order a giant plate of just the flautas and call it day.
(3)
Hannah Z.
They say that one's ability to endure stems from their lack of alternatives, certainly the case in Van Horn. Like everyone else, we were driving across the country and were faced with the option of starvation or stopping at Chuy's. After reading the reviews I had extremely low expectations and they were met. If this restaurant was anywhere else in the world I'd never recommend it but as it's located in the metropolis of Van Horn, you might not have a choice. They're very proud of the fact that it's one of John Madden's favorite restaurants. I'm reference to this my brother said,"John Madden has to get out more" and he's right. I can't tell you what to order because everything was equally flavorless. All in all, it's edible but just barely.
(2)
Dane S.
A lot of negative reviews here, I mean some of the worst I've read on a place. That does not describe my experience. Our story begins about the same as everyones, traveling from CA on my way to S. TX and had to stop here because of nothing else for hours. Now the inside does have a sport theme, is lit dimly, and may not be clean but you really can't tell because the lighting is so low. The food, well, lets start a new paragraph for that story.. Food was great, some of the best I've had. Was it because we had no other options or we were starving, maybe but either way I loved it. Seriously enjoyed this food. Seems like the reviews are mixed here, either amazing or horrible. I'd say give it a try but seeing you are in Van Horn and looking up a place to eat you might not have an option :-). Again we seriously ate some good food here.
(4)
Claudia A.
Atmosphere was pleasant, service was great . Loved the memorabilia . Would have given a 5 star if tortillas and Taco shells were freshly made. I had a wonderful experience and will definitely come again.
(4)
Troy B.
It's been years since I ate there , but I liked it because John madden used to coach my favorite team and I heard him talking about the place , ok , the food was blahhh and I got heartburn from it . Place was dirty but the staff was nice and responsive . That is all , carry on ...
(3)
KELLY W.
What a fabulous place. Pork was fabulous great staff a locals fav I imagine. I did here a rumor that is has been shut down so call ahead to make sure it is still in biz.
(5)
M K.
One of the few spots on our Texas roadtrip other than fast food which we were able to stop at and eat. Spent $5 on 3 delicious beef tacos and a dam good margarita which hit the spot. My friend got a quesadilla and also loved it. Looked over the menu and saw many other affordable options as well. Wouldn't hesitate coming back!
(5)
Anthony B.
Good Mexican food especially for in the middle of nowhere. My only worry is that it might come out and burn my butt!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street, Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Touristy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
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.
Justin D.
The green, (somewhere between neon green, and olive green) exterior of the building makes it easy to spot. On google this place has great reviews reviews. One person on tripadvisor.com said, "For being in the middle of nowhere, this place is amazing." and gave it 5/5. Let me say, for being in the middle of nowhere...well, that doesn't matter. Good food is good food, mediocre food is mediocre food, and bad food is bad food; it doesn't matter where it is. This was mediocre. Apparently John Madden eats here. But that doesn't really say much. From the little football I've watched, I find him quite annoying. Though for whatever reason, when I couldn't decide on what to order I went for the "John Madden Special". Which looked good. Diced grilled chicken with sauteed peppers and onions, served with rice, refried beans, and warm tortillas. It wasn't bad. But it also wasn't great. The salsa was served in a clear, ketchup style squeeze bottle with the nozzle cut down a bit more to allow the small chunks of pepper ant tomato to flow out. A sure sign that the salsa wasn't made there (though maybe it was, but I wouldn't have guessed it). They did serve beer, though, which was nice. But no draft. Everything was bottled. I guess compared to the alternative fast food joints, this place is ok. But, if I had to do it again, I woulda hit the grocery store before leaving El Paso.
(3)John B.
Showed up at 9:30 PM on a Wed night and we were the only ones there, but no one rushed us and were as nice as can be. Good food and left happy. I think Chuy's is a a chain, but I believe this one is at minimum family operated. I 'd be happy to eat there again.
(4)Meghan M.
So we read the poor reviews before coming here but since it is the only game in town we decided to give it a chance. Bad idea! Stay far away! The sauce on the enchilada looked like tomato sauce but was so excruciatingly hot that it took hours to recover. The waitress said it said "mild on the package" but why are they even using packaged food?? I have had a ton of Mexican food in both California and Texas and never tasted something so awful. So do yourself a favor and hit up the fast food instead. Your stomach will be thanking you!
(1)Dick H.
Interesting place with local flavor and enjoyable Mexican and American food.
(3)Joey H.
This place is better than IHOP we passed up for breakfast but barely. It's a great location for a quick meal off I 10. Interesting eclectic decor such as an old model T parked out front and a chair for John Madden to drive home the point that he visits periodically. The salsa was pretty good though heavy on the tomato purée. The enchiladas were the best thing we had between the two of us. The filler beef for the tacos was bland and the tortillas were stale. I could have passed on the lackluster beans and rice as well.
(2)Harold S.
This place is an official "John Madden Haul of Fame" bus stop. John does not fly so his tour bus takes him everywhere. Read all about it on the menu. This little Mexican Food diner is as authentic as it gets. Good food, great prices, and good service. Take a moment to review all of the wall art as this place is a museum of sports and music memorabilia.
(4)sri n.
This place was fine. They didnt have almost any veggie options and then they were kind enough to make me something. The owner claims that this is the first Chuy's and that the Houston Chuy's copied their name. Whatever. Dont know dont care. yes, they have plenty of John Madden stuff in the restaurant since he apparently eats here.
(3)Erik C.
The food had no flavor, the chips and taco shells were not house made. The only good note was the decore of the dinning room.
(1)Yuri V.
It's not that it's good or bad. It's just left in time . Think of a "Mexican" restaurants 20 years ago and you get the picture. So chile verde is beef chunks mixed with potatos covered by green sauce. Probably not bad, but not any relation to the roasted pork simmered in chilie verde sauce one would expect. As long as you know that in advance you'll be ok. I ordered an "asada" plate which ended up being pork in red chile sauce. Not bad.
(3)Ephraim T.
Ugh. So disappointed. I do a significant amount of work near Van Horn, involving a significant amount of time outdoors, which means that by the time supper rolls around, HUNGRY has a whole new connotation. Now, I figure that a Tex-Mex place in West Texas would have the authentic thing down, which they do. However, in a town surrounded by desert and cattle ranches, I would also expect said Tex-Mex place to serve a serious plate of food, a plate the size of which John Madden would have trouble finishing. I've come to expect Tex-Mex restaurants to load the plate with so much rice and beans that you'd think they used a small bulldozer to get it all on there. In the case of Chuy's, I would be wrong. I had no trouble finishing my meal, and in fact stopped by Wendy's *gasp* to top off my dining experience. The only saving grace from "1 Star Ignominy" is that at least it tasted good. However, in the future, I will find somewhere else in town to take my hunger.
(2)Janice B.
We were staying in Van Horn for the night, so were pleased to find anything at all still open at 8:00 p.m. It has a TV, all right. Big, honkin' thing, and we were seated literally next to it . . . a bit uncomfortable. The food here was pretty good (except for the "appetizer" chips, which were soggy in the middle). The gorditas that I ordered were really good, and the rest of my family enjoyed their choices, as well. Biggest issue was with the service . . . very, very long wait for our food, and then our waitress literally disappeared after bringing it. We quickly drained our water glasses (especially those of us who had ordered spicy food) and would have appreciated refills, but that didn't happen. Still, considering the time and place, I think overall they deserve three stars.
(3)Joe A.
Stopped in for lunch on way to El Paso. Although not fine dinning, the place definitely has personality. If you are looking for a 5 star restaurant in Van Horn don't to to Chuy's, and don't eat in Van Horn. It's a very small place, but on a long road trip it beats the heck out of McDonalds. It's average mexican food, but has an interesting story. I love that the place is family owned, and that madden gave it a plug on national television. My wife to the 'Madden Chicken Dish' which was overpriced by good.
(4)Summer H.
Just... don't.
(1)Maria S.
Worst place ever. Had to leave due to horrible service. Asked for another basket of chips twice and they never came even 20min later. Worst service ever do not recommend.
(1)Matt S.
Driving back from El Paso, we found we needed a place to eat. Chuy's is your atypical Texas Mexican restaurant. What makes it different is that John Madden once ate here (I can see Frank Caliendo doing a new bit on this.) If this restaurant was in my adopted San Antonio, I wouldn't return. It was average, except for the chance to see the John Madden chair and the sports memorabilia.
(2)James S.
Everything was premade and store bought. . .limited resources. . .however, the salsa seemed freshly made and had some flavor and kick.
(2)Angel J.
This place's claim to fame is that it's John Madden's #1. Well if that's true it's evidence John got hit top many times . After A grueling 25+ hours on the road, my family picked this spot to replenish our energy and grab a bite. I usually love homey hole in the wall places, but I should have known that any place that had a billboard is bad news. The menu is very limited. You don't get a lot of options as far as meat concerned, and as far as drinks: no horchata, no agua frescas, not even a jarritos. What they did have "lime squeeze" they didn't have at the time. I was also surprised to see that they offered plenty of American sandwiches but no tortas. I settled on gorditas because I really wanted avocado. Low and behold when they came out there was not a scoop of avocado to be found. I asked for hot sauce (because there was none in sight. Which I find disturbing b c this is a mexican restaurant ) they brought out tobacco, which I love, but I was expecting a genuine mexican hot sauce or at the very least tapatillio. That didn't help. Meat was very bland. As I sat back and watched everyone else my sisters food came out with beans, which she specifically asked to be removed. Worst of all my uncle's burrito had a piece of plastic in it. Guess that's why they're called Chuys. Overall the food was bad and the service was lackluster, to put it nicely. Take your money else where and avoid the disappointment.
(1)Dave S.
Good Mexican food, especially for an isolated west Texas town. Excellent burger too. A new appetizer, fried green chilies was a pleasant surprise. Lotsa atmosphere. Service friendly, but a bit slow,
(4)Peter M.
The ambience was interesting and the food - we had the John Madden Special - was surprisingly tasty and good. We would recommend the place - nothing fancy but good service, nice and quick.
(4)Ryan S.
Dont know why there are so many bad reviews on here. We were just passing through and had it delivered to the room, so I can't really speak on the restaurant atmosphere or cleanliness. We had Fajitas, Quesadillas and a Kids hamburger. All of it was great. The only and best option in Van Horn other than the typical fast food.
(5)Roland R.
I've been traveling back and forth from Los Angeles to San Antonio Texas for over 30 years it's been a while since I stopped at Chuy's Mexican restaurants in Van Horn Texas I was extremely disappointed before I sat at the table I needed use as the men's room I hate to say this but I seen cleaner restrooms at gas stations and truck stops no toilet paper and the toilet seat was broken the sink look like it hasn't been cleaned for weeks service was horrible we sat at are table for a while before we got our water I ordered the chile relleno plate which wasn't good at all it was overcooked and the breading tasted horrible I only takes a little bit of the beans and rice my father ordered the BBQ brisket sandwich you would think it would have thick slices of brisket meat but it was cut up like a little cubes of meat size of sugar cubes it looked more like a happy meal burger from McDonalds than a BBQ brisket sandwich that you expect when you're in Texas my mother needed to use the ladies room but it was so filthy we had to drive to the nearest McDonalds for her to use the ladies room they promote this as a John Madden restaurant but I know that John Madden would be extremely disappointed on the conditions the food and the service I don't think we'll ever stop there again.
(1)Judy I.
Well, it is Van Horn, TX! We came on after 9 pm, but still.... Rice crunchy, refried beans dried out. I think they ran my enchiladas under the broiler too long. We stopped there because it said it was part of Joh Madden's Haul of Fame, and they do have lots of memorabilia there and a big chair with his name on it. My husband and his friend were happier to be there than I was. There is a very large mural on the wall with Jesus looking down over you while you are eating. It was interesting to look at, but the eyes follow you....wish Jesus could have helped my rice and beans.
(2)Steve O.
Stopped to eat on the way to Arizona. Outstanding !!!! Loved looking at the all pictures of John Madden visit and making the Madden hall of fame.
(5)Pyrin L.
I stopped here December 2012 while traveling across country, and it was the worst Mexican food I have ever had. I literally couldn't eat more than enough for basic survival. I'm not sure how you can really mess up Mexican food that badly, but it was awful ... even the rice and beans. Inside it was dark and felt dirty. I have no idea why anyone would go here except for the sports theme ... but don't go there if you're hungry.
(1)Tiffany S.
Just...yuck. If we hadn't been starved for something besides fast food after driving from CA for two days, would have passed up this place. Expected good, authentic TexMex. Got: chips that tasted store-bought. Salsa from a jar. Enchiladas, beans and rice that were flavor-free. Best bet: eat in El Paso and skip this place. If not for the bad food, then for the iffy cleanliness of the place (dusty) and the surly help.
(1)Kacie M.
Unfortunately, this review will be completely ineffective, because you don't have a whole lot of options when you're in Van Horn. It's basically a town that exists solely because travelers need gas while going across west Texas. Once you pass El Paso, Van Horn is the only other stop for hours if you're heading eastward. The Pizza Hut went out of business long ago (or, at least, both numbers listed online were disconnected), so Chuy's was our only choice for food besides the dismal steakhouse that we'd learned to avoid on past visits. We had high hopes. A Mexican restaurant located just a few miles from the border...it has to be at least decent, right? Wrong. Upon our arrival, we waited expectantly in the entryway, encouraged by the colorful stock photos of margaritas all over the walls. (We were badly in need of libations.) The sad, reluctant waitress/hostess/busser/janitor eventually pulled four menus out of the wall slot and, with a roll of the eyes, shuffled us to our table. When she asked for our drink orders, one of my dinner companions (suspicious already) asked about the makeup of said advertised margaritas; did they have real tequila? Our waitress had no idea. While she spent an interminable amount of time in the kitchen finding out the answer, we discovered that the menu stated "wine margaritas." OK, fine - you don't have hard alcohol. That's not a crime...but shouldn't your staff know about it? Cue the entrance of the obligatory chips and salsa. The chips themselves were fine - perfectly acceptable. But the laughable excuse for a salsa was not. First off, when we squirted it out of the ketchup bottle into the dish, it actually bubbled and efffervesced...the sure sign of fermentation, usually caused by acidic products being stored outside of refrigeration. Despite the visible bubbling, it smelled OK, so we tried it. It was completely lacking in any flavor whatsoever - no salt, no spice, no acidity. It suited the filthy warm bottle from which it was served. When we asked the waitress if she had any hot sauce, she seemed confused and pointed to the salsa we'd been given. Then, we began perusing the menu. A large number of the entree options contained "meat" as the only description of the protein. I asked about what "meat" meant on one of the choices, and was told that I had the option of either chicken or beef. I mistakenly assumed that this applied to the whole menu. When I then ordered the gorditas with chicken, I was informed that they only come with ground beef. So I guess the meaning of "meat" is changeable. So I ordered the chicken enchiladas instead. Encouraged by the listing of avocado as an ingredient in other entrees, I asked for a side of avocado. I was served a dish of that pre-made pureed sour-cream junk that passes as guacamole at fast-food restaurants. The other diners at my table ended up getting some of each "meat". The beef ended up being the (hardly) better option. It was the typical flavorless 'D' grade ground mystery cut better served at prison, public school and Taco Bell. The chicken was a fried dry foam, notable only for the high skin and bone content. Sigh. There was little taste to anything that I ate, save for the nice chalky corn tortilla and the greasy melted cheese on top. (I didn't bother with the mooshy rice and the baby poop beans - just pushed them aside.) In desperation, I asked the waitress if she had anything spicy...perhaps a jalapeno? She brought me a whole jalapeno on a plate with a steak knife. I didn't know that prepping my own vegetables/condiments was part of the average restaurant experience, but I was still trying to enjoy the respite from the long road trip. But after my lactose-intolerant friend received her tacos covered in cheese after being very specific about leaving it off, we waited way too long for water and beer refills, and the menu options all somehow proved to be inferior to what was described. (Based off what I could read through the crusty remains of disappointing past dinners, anyway.) And considering that at that point in the evening, we were the ONLY table there, I thought that maybe we were deserving of a little bit of attention from the bare bones staff. I concluded that our dinner would have been better if we had just gotten pizza rolls from the gas station and microwaved them in the motel room. There are many more details of sullen and begrudging service that I could share, but this review is already getting far too verbose. If you're coming to Van Horn - make sure you have dinner packed in your cooler. There just isn't anything in this town worth eating...and this restaurant proves it.
(1)Ani P.
Well, there really is nothing else around. Eat here while driving across the country or starve. Quintessential tex mex. Greasy, cheesy and full of artery cloggers. Warning: kids menu is f8king spicy (enchilada has a serious kick). My bebes eat mad spicy food and this was too much. Cheap, calories per dollar is high.
(3)Jill G.
Since there isn't much on this stretch of I-10, Chuy's seemed to be the place to stop. My boyfriend and I were wanting mexican and this place satisfied that. Although I've definitely had better this was ok for travel food. I had the chile relleno - very spicy, but good. I didn't eat the greasy, thick breading on the outside, but the chile was good. We also had queso which was surprisingly tasty. Since apparently John Madden eats here it was only appropriate that football was on tv, which helped the atmosphere.
(3)Russ R.
A friend and I stopped here for lunch on the way to Austin from Phoenix. We took turns driving and did the 16 hour trip straight through. This is where we stopped for lunch. This places claim to fame is that John Madden stopped by at some point for a meal. They are really proud of this. We found this amusing. I had the red chile plate and I thought it was absolutely delicious. The meat was tender and the red chile sauce was nice and thick with just the right flavor. The tortillas seemed fresh and not store bought. The chips and salsa were really good, too. The chips were thick and crispy and seemed freshly made as well The style of cooking at this restaurant seems Sonoran. My plate was definitely five stars. Dining area was clean and the waitress was pleasant and friendly. They lose a star for the bathrooms, which were a bit run down. Men's room door did not lock. Don't tell, but I ended up using the ladies room, which did lock. I am from Arizona and I like Sonoran Mexican food. A friend of mine recently moved to Austin, TX and he stated that the style of Mexican food there is VERY different from what you generally find in Arizona. I am wondering if the negative reviews about the food at this restaurant are because it is not the style usually found in Texas. My friend really liked his lunch, too, although, I can't remember what he had. I am perplexed by all the negative reviews, though. This place is definitely not fancy, but we liked the food a lot.
(4)William F.
Main courses are good. Fish and fajitas were top notch. Salsa and rice were kinda plain. Overall, good food.
(4)Christopher M.
Bad bad bad. Had a burger which was cooked to death dry as a bone with a cold Kraft single slapped on top. A "meat burrito" was a room temperature Albertson's tortilla wrapped around terrible tasting ground beef. The "house made fries" were potatoes cut in to strips and dipped in oil. They were totally raw and inedible. Bathroom was dirty, food was sloppy beyond belief, I am sure their sanitation is less than stellar. DO NOT EAT HERE.
(1)Gloria B.
Just finished the No. 1 Chuy's Special and must say I was pleased. Flavors were great and the Gordita and Chile Verde outstanding. Although I got my meal to go, I was nevertheless impressed by the interior that I viewed. Helpful and efficient staff greeted me as I came through the door and provided me with what I needed as a traveler for my meal. Seems so often customer service is lacking in so many establishments but not here! Thanks for a fine meal after a hard drive...
(4)Erin W.
Another glorified ground beef restaurant. This isn't real mexican food. to top it off the customer service is a joke and they're plain rude!
(1)Sarah G.
Mexico is practically a stone's throw away from Van Horn, yet somehow this Mexican restaurant has it all wrong. Originally from South Texas, I've had plenty of Mexican food in my life and this was the most over priced, zero-effort Mex I've ever had! To top it off the waitress was rude. I've never not given a tip before in my life and I've also never written a Yelp review! Hopefully this will convince you to stick with McDonalds and save your money.
(1)Josh W.
Crappy! Don't even know where to start. Stale chips, we had a dirty chip bowl that had a piece of unidentifiable piece of meat in it under the paper. Food had no taste when it did show up, ordered a queso and it came out after the food. Waiter looked at us like we were stupid when we complained. NEVER AGAIN! Don't do it y'all!
(1)Michael C.
The prominent restaurant in this little town. I stopped by about 7pm, just after I woke up and checked out of my hotel room. Wasn't really hungry, but knew it would be a long drive before other options presented themselves. John Madden ate here. Chuy's praises God! I ordered a bean burrito. $2.75, cheap. This burrito wouldn't have satisfied a child, it was minute. Thankfully, I tipped the waitress and she included a large bad of chips and a full 12oz cup of Salsa which was fairly spicy. Tasted better than than it looked, for this I was thankful. I didn't sample the food until a couple of hundred miles down the road. The Burrito was just a few bites, and not properly rolled. The chips and salsa were lifesavers, as I was driving late at night and didn't have a chance for food again until I reached Austin the following morning. Chuy's won't be my first choice if I find myself in Van Horn again, but the waitress treated me right.
(3)Erika L.
This place gets promoted by Hampton Inn & Suites more than likely because of how late they're willing to stay open at night. It certainly isn't their food because it left a lot to be desired! Between myself and my other 2 companions, only one of us thought their food met even average standards (and he's 14!). On the whole, it was greasy and tasteless. Don't get the burrito-it was disgusting. Rarely do I encounter food I cannot bring myself to take a single bite from, but their burrito falls under that category for me. Go somewhere else or save your money and get something to tie you over from the gas station. This food is not worth it and is overpriced for what they offer.
(1)Jim P.
Chuy's is very accommodating. We like to stop here because they are open until 10:00 PM. Very friendly staff. The chips and salsa were good with the salsa having a little zing to it. Our waitress thought it was a bit too hot but my wife and I enjoyed it. My wife ordered the chili verde plate. The beef was tender and moist. The food had lots of flavor and enough heat to enjoy but not too spicy hot. I like my food spicier so the waitress said she could do the fajita with jalapeno's instead of bell peppers. When she brought it to our table it was sizzling away on the skillet it was presented on. The meal came with potatoes, beans, fresh flour tortillas, quacamole, a hotter salsa, and onions. It was tender, tasty and a large portion. Who could ask for more. My wife enjoyed their coffee saying it was definatlely better than average. We stop in Van Horn on every cross country trip. One for dinner at Chuy's and the other is breakfast at Papa's Pantry. Both are good.
(5)Jon H.
We ate here on the way to Tucson. It was OK, but I'm not going to write home about it. I would recommend eating at the Hotel El Capitan dining room instead. We ate there on the way back from Tucson. It was great!
(2)Michael P.
Standard Mexican food. Ambiance is cool. John Madden comes here once a year.
(3)Tina Z.
As long as you have time to spare this is a good place to stop and eat at. It's also walking distance from many of the motels/hotels. Nice environment and friendly staff. When the food finally arrived it was tasty. The waitress was attentive and often passed by to check and see if anything was needed. Dishes on other tables looked tasty as well and the large TV was a good option of additional entertainment.
(4)Satoko Y.
The service was horrible. One waitress (older lady) took our drink order, and she never brought them to us. When we asked for more chips, she again didn't bring anything. Instead, she decided to clear tables. She seemed to be doing her work for the people sitting at the both end of our table, but she acted as if our table didn't even exist. She totally ignored us. It was not only me, but all three of us noticed it, so it was very obvious. Cheese enchiladas tasted very strange. Even though I usually eat everything, I couldn't eat that at all. Queso was pretty good. Next time I drive to West Texas, I will make sure to stop at Fort Stockton or just eat fast food in Van Horn.
(1)Gail C.
My husband and I stopped in last night on our way through. We thought, great, a good Mexican place. Don't waste your time. Both our orders were dripping with grease. The only thing good was the salsa. It was very spicy.
(1)Alicia S.
What a horrible place! First of all, the rice and beans were so dry they tasted like they had been sitting there uncovered all day. Next I was charged for the wrong meal. It was only an 80 cent difference but I told the waitress that I was charged for the wrong meal and her response was "it's only 80 cents, what's the big deal?" Honestly, I was going to just let it go but after her giving me such a terrible attitude I decided not to just let it go. She then proceeded to talk about me in Spanish. She was not professional at all and the customer service was absolutely horrendous! I will never go back there and I will let everyone know who is driving through not to stop. The best thing about the place was that the football game was on. What a terrible place, terrible food, and terrible overall experience.
(1)Autumn S.
I would give it no stars if I could. The chips were cold and stale, the food was overpriced, and the chili con queso was watery velveeta with rotel. Further more my "enchilada" was a pile of red sauce with a corn tortilla underneath it, no cheese or meat in it. Very disappointing, I should have took the bad reviews for what they were...honesty. Lesson learned.
(1)Nate C.
Service was quick, food was pretty good. Came in late at night and found both servers to be pleasant and attentive. Had the chicken enchiladas along with the complimentary chips and salsa. Nothing extraordinary, but nothing was wrong with the food either.
(4)Efren M.
There we were. A pack of hungry Martinezes!! Hundreds of miles from home and many hours between our last real meal. Snacks can only carry a family of 9 so far until the hunger and irritability set in and we start to snap at each other. The first stop in van horn led us here so we were in no mood or shape to hunt around. As we entered, we were instantly greeted by a gentleman and celebrity memorabilia. this place had some history. also known as john maddens haul of fame, this place has character on top of stellar service. I didn't try maddens fave but I wasn't at all disappointed with the fajitas. Tx is known for its grade a meat, but the preparation and sauces turned a simple dinner into a meal to be remembered. if I could make meat that tasty on a regular basis, I would have to raise cattle just to feed my habit!!
(5)Lesa F.
We ordered take out. Food was delivered fast it was hot and tasted wonderful This is a must try if your in the area I had the chili ralinos and hubby had burritos. We also ordered desert. Strawberry cheese cake and key line pie. Both were wonderful !! Homemade salsa. It was very inexpensive ... Will eat here again when we are passing thru.
(5)Ruth G.
Stop here! You won't be disappointed. Real Mexican food!!! Chile Verde was amazing. Rice great Just do it!
(5)Karen L.
Not sure about the other reviewers experiences but we enjoyed the food, the service was prompt and friendly. I had the chicken enchiladas and hubby has the chili rellanos. We both enjoyed our meal. They have a mural in the John Madden room (apparently he eats here) depicting John's bus, the restaurant and Jesus. Right next to that is a beer sign. Thought that was funny. We would eat here again.
(4)Derrick C.
Finally got fresh food much better
(3)Ray A.
Driving from L.A. all the way to San Antonio i finally needed a break and stopped in Van Horn. Couldnt find anywhere to sit and relax so i stopped at Chuys (neon signs serve their purpose). Pretty dusty as you walk in. Wait staff took forever to greet me. Food took long enough for me to tell them to just put it in a to-go box (30 minutes sitting with an empty drink). I noticed other patrons getting irritated waiting for their checks as well, i walked into the kitchen where the waitresses were gathered around, ignoring prepared food in the window, and talking about what they were gonna do after work (it was a friday night). I asked them to check me out and let them know others were waiting as well. I still put 2 stars because the food (besides the enchiladas) was pretty good (aside from them telling me they ran out of rice as i was paying). If this place had a decent manager it could easily be worth 5 stars. But as is, this Veteran was not impressed.
(2)Gloria H.
We chose this place because it was Mexican and the only place open. Food quality left a little to be desired and service was very slow. We had faitas. Steak was chewy not tender. It was fun to look around. Lots of John Madden memorabilia. Beautiful mural on the wall inside and the courtesy van outside was cute.
(2)Char G.
If you absolutely must stop somewhere don't stop here. What a complete waste of time. Ordered enchiladas and was brought 3 tacos. I had a friend with me and his food came and was also wrong. It took 30 mins for wrong food. My friend kept his but I didn't want tacos. What a mistake. I'm now an hour later dinner less leaving. No food at all. The cashier was like I didn't charge you for the water. I was like I would have paid you for dinner had someone bothered to make it and do it right. On a side note I'd love to open a Mexican restaurant here. Anyone want to finance me. This crap hole would be closed In a month. Also since I left with no dinner I came down the road a bit and found Sands across from the Love's truck stop. Wonderful place. Be sure to check them out.
(1)Penney B.
This place is awesome! It is family owned and operated. The service was friendly and prompt. The food was amazing! Hubby had the Chili Rellano. It is covered in cheese and deep fried to perfection. The 3 taco plate was delicious and the seasoning was exactly right. The college memorabilia and John Madden's personal stamp of approval make this a must see!
(5)Bill D.
I had eaten at Chuy's a few years ago with a group of folks and enjoyed the food then. I was staying in Van Horn the other night and decided to go back to Chuy's. I was not disappointed. The food was excellent, as was the service and the price. Admittedly, I am not a connoisseur of Mexican food. But the food at Chuy's (I had the #10 combo...beef and potatoes) was a few cuts above the food that I have had in other Mexican restaurants. I definitely would return.
(5)Sakshi J.
Its one of those quaint little places with character, gotta give it that. Stopped by for dinner while staying at Van Horn. The place had just one vegetarian options which was just ok, but at that point I was just glad to get one. The chips and salsa were decent. Overall not bad if looking for food options in Van Horn. It is a small place, so did take a long time to seat us.
(2)Nedra W.
Not many places open here on a Sunday. The first place we stopped at ignored us so we got up and left. With only fast food places left we came here. We were told to wait in the lobby while they cleared a table. Well we waited s d waited. I finally stood in the dining room and they finally gave us a table. They brought out chips and salsa. Chips were ok but the salsa was watered down and so thin it dripped everywhere. I ordered a fajita....worst I've ever had and we live in New Mexico so I know good fajitas. Hubby ordered a burger and fries. I tried the fries and they were soggy. The burger bun was greasy as was the burger. He ended up with heartburn. I feel sorry for people in van horn that have such poor restaurants to chose from. I'd think about moving!
(1)J. E.
Being from out of town my friend and I were very hungry this place was not clean and the person in the front her name is OLIVIA was not nice after requesting fries inside my burrito that I wanted to have add on my order. She reply that I could not have it made that way, so we place are order and waited as we sat around the corner Olivia was talking to another employee about us that if we want it special order to go and get it at Burger king. This employee Olivia needs training in customer service and learn not to talk about customers, The food was not at all that great and to be treated that way being the gossip of an employee who doesn't care about the customer, I would not keep her on my staff. I work in a five star hotel and my employees are more professional then this person Olivia who has no concept of professionalism in the front of house of an restaurant.
(1)Christi B.
This was the worst Mexican food I've ever had. The salsa had no flavor; how can you make salsa bland? I'm afraid the same was the same for the beans; no color, no flavor. The queso was good, like what make at home by opening a can of Rotel tomatoes and mixing with Velvetta cheese. Wait, I think that was exactly what they did. At least it was inexpensive, the only positive thing I can say.
(1)Lee R.
The green chili fries are awesome. Green chili sliced, breaded, and fried served with a delicious dipping sauce. Stop in and get them.
(4)Lefty P.
We stopped in for dinner last night. Waitresses weren't friendly, but finally got our order as ordered. Food was very bland, and expensive at that. We will not go back.
(1)C J.
We drove for several hours to come here. Had really looked forward to some wonderful Mexican food. Well, the food was so-so - NOT worth driving the hours to the place. My big complaint was the bathrooms.... one was out of order so they sent me to the other one... I can't even say why I couldn't use this ... let's just say I don't think it had been flushed in a long long time! Oh and the waiters? Soooo not friendly ... so... Chuy's? No thank you! We are headed for Mesilla, NM for some real Mexican food!
(1)Edward S.
We don't often get around to this part of Texas when we travel but, when we do, I like to stop at Chuy's for lunch/dinner. On this stop, I tried the gorditas. I was expecting them to be a lot bigger - these were about the size of silver dollar pancakes. BUT, the flavor was good! The corn "tortilla" was crispy, good texture, great seasoning, and stuffed with tasty ground beef. The rice and beans that came with it were equally good. Now, if you're health conscious or watching your weight in any way, this may not be the place for you. I overheard the waiter say the refried beans are made with lard (which is the traditional, preferred, way to do it) so I'm sure other menu items are as carefree with the ingredients as well. It won't keep me from coming back, though. Service is always good, although sometimes a little slow. Prices are decent and the food, by-and-large, is also good. If you happen to be in Van Horn......
(3)Frank B.
If you need to eat while in Van Horn, this place does the job satisfactory. Despite the negative reviews about poor service, we found the opposite - we were drinking cold beer within 5 minutes of entering the restaurant. Our entrees were fine - tamale, enchilada, taco, tostada, rice and beans. Nothing extraordinary, but nothing wrong with it either.
(3)Riccardino B.
Saturday 26 April After a delightful visit to the Big Bend, I did my usual stop at Chuys on the way home. Food was great as usual but service was miserable. The two male servers, one a tall heavy set and the other a younger body builder type, were clearly not happy to be at work and showed no interest in the customers. I refer Chuys each opportunity I get, having friends eat there only days before, but now I will hesitate because the service was so UNwelcoming
(2)Rebecca D.
Middle of the road Mexican restaurant. We got the taco salad with chicken, and it was nothing special, but did the job. The service was a little slow- I did take out and had to wait almost 10 minutes just to give my order. After that however it was only another 15 minutes till the food was ready. The restaurant was a little bit dirtier than I normally eat in, but from what I could see into the kitchen, it looked clean. If you go online to their website you can get 10% off an entrée.
(2)Alan S.
Apparently John Madden frequents this place. Goes to show just how knowledgeable he is about food. From the size of him, it looks like he lives here. Probably the worst food and service this side of Taco Bell. Avoid this dump like the plague.
(1)Lynsey F.
Service was awful and food was ho-hum. I enjoy Mexican food and can eat it just about anywhere, anytime. It takes a pretty outstanding meal to make a real impression on me ... and this one didn't. My son and I both ordered burritos and although they were supposed to be different types, they both looked (and tasted) the same. But, hey, we finished them. :) We were sat by the TV and promptly forgotten. If we wanted the servers attention, we had to work for it. At one point, my son stood up to try and get a refill on his drink. And chips are not bottomless. Once out, refills cost $.50 each. Luckily this wasn't a huge problem for us since the server never noticed we were out.
(2)Jennifer R.
Good service, ok food. We ordered the chile con queso, cheese burger and of course the John Madden special which was good. Nothing special.
(2)Russ I.
We did no research, just stopped in here on a lark. So happy we did. Fast, friendly service, and great tex-mex. I had the #1 and loved all of it. We will be back again the next time we're passing through Van Horn.
(4)Allison H.
Quite possibly the worst Mexican food we have ever had. Stopped here because it was one of the only restaurant open in this godforsaken town. The sports decor does not really go together with the dingy Mexican restaurant ambience. This restaurants claim to fame is that John Madden stopped here while he was still broadcasting for NBC football. The story goes on to say that while driving through on his bus he wanted to watch Monday night football so he stopped at this restaurant. He'd like this food so much that he stopped here at least once a year on his way through. The story also says that he promoted this restaurant on his broadcast as well as in sports illustrated. Later on he would at this restaurant to his "Haul of fame". Other than that there is absolutely no reason to go to this restaurant. The food was not very good, My husband says it's the worst Mexican food he's ever had. They would not even consider substituting a cheese enchilada for a Carnitas enchilada even when we said would would pay for an up charge. I'm sure if John Madden was there and requested this they would've done it in a heartbeat. All in all the food was bad, the atmosphere is bad and the service was bad. Skip it or join the many who will be writing a bad review on yelp about this
(1)Ben H.
Stopped here because of the 'Madden' connection. We were in a hurry so we got our food to go. I don't know about you guys, but when I order food to go and there is no real service other than that of a cashier I don't leave a tip. I signed my name on the receipt and waited for my food. When it finally came we didn't get salsa and had to ask. The server rudely went back and got it without saying a word. Think he was the one who might be mentally handicapped. When we got in the car we noticed that they skimped out BIGTIME on the meat. I ordered a chicken burrito, not a chicken taco, and saw that I was given a few scoops of chicken in a flour tortilla. No rice, beans, lettuce like a normal burrito- just chicken. My brother got the chicken taco plates and said he got about a teaspoon of chicken in each taco! Old, dusty, mismatched decor, poor service, and poor quantities of food for the price. Definitely never returning.
(1)Mike R.
It must have been a LONG TIME ago that John Madden was here. The guy at the hotel said "Some like it, some don't." I went anyway because I really wanted it to be good. I have had 10 times better Mexican food in Nashville. The $4 margarita was tiny and mostly ice. The people were nice, however there is nothing about this place that is appealing except the sports on the one flat screen. The food was seriously okay, not even middle of the road. I like dives but usually they have great food. Taco Bell is better and I hate Taco Bell.
(1)Oceanna M.
There isn't much to like about this place. Its dark..dingy, strangely laid out. They have dusty decor and really..strange is the best way I can describe it..taste in design. The chips were stale. The salsa was so hot yet tasteless. The two waiters are twins and rude..very abrupt..potentially they are mentally disabled but either way bad customer service. They were out of coke. Yeah. No soda. The chicken enchiladas were bland, coated in cheese, and took twenty minutes to cool to eat. The town (if you can call it one) has very little else to offer so I'm sure it'll stay in business sadly. If you can wait to eat..do so.
(2)Zenas T.
Tasty, cheap, and kitschy. Sweet potato fries can hang with the best of them. Burritos aren't huge but fine for the price. And while no cherry coke, they can add raspberry syrup to regular coke, which makes for a fine, resourceful substitute.
(4)Texas Road T.
We made a stop at Chuy's while driving through Texas. The atmosphere is a little bit cluttered and quirky. During our visit, the place was full, but oddly quiet, I almost felt like we had to whisper. We ordered a Flauta plate, the Flat Enchilada plate, the Machaca plate and the Gordita plate. Our meal came with one serving of complimentary chips and salsa (if you want more, they charge you). The good: the salsa was mild, but tasty. My dad enjoyed his enchiladas (they are different from what we are used to at home). The Machaca meat was mixed with egg and pretty good. The Flautas were light, crispy, and absolutely delicious-definitely the stars of the meal. The service was polite, quick, and efficient. The just okay: the corn chips and tortillas were not homemade, the rice and beans were nothing special, we've had much better gorditas elsewhere. Overall-this is a fun stop with funky appeal, if we stopped again, I would order a giant plate of just the flautas and call it day.
(3)Hannah Z.
They say that one's ability to endure stems from their lack of alternatives, certainly the case in Van Horn. Like everyone else, we were driving across the country and were faced with the option of starvation or stopping at Chuy's. After reading the reviews I had extremely low expectations and they were met. If this restaurant was anywhere else in the world I'd never recommend it but as it's located in the metropolis of Van Horn, you might not have a choice. They're very proud of the fact that it's one of John Madden's favorite restaurants. I'm reference to this my brother said,"John Madden has to get out more" and he's right. I can't tell you what to order because everything was equally flavorless. All in all, it's edible but just barely.
(2)Dane S.
A lot of negative reviews here, I mean some of the worst I've read on a place. That does not describe my experience. Our story begins about the same as everyones, traveling from CA on my way to S. TX and had to stop here because of nothing else for hours. Now the inside does have a sport theme, is lit dimly, and may not be clean but you really can't tell because the lighting is so low. The food, well, lets start a new paragraph for that story.. Food was great, some of the best I've had. Was it because we had no other options or we were starving, maybe but either way I loved it. Seriously enjoyed this food. Seems like the reviews are mixed here, either amazing or horrible. I'd say give it a try but seeing you are in Van Horn and looking up a place to eat you might not have an option :-). Again we seriously ate some good food here.
(4)Claudia A.
Atmosphere was pleasant, service was great . Loved the memorabilia . Would have given a 5 star if tortillas and Taco shells were freshly made. I had a wonderful experience and will definitely come again.
(4)Troy B.
It's been years since I ate there , but I liked it because John madden used to coach my favorite team and I heard him talking about the place , ok , the food was blahhh and I got heartburn from it . Place was dirty but the staff was nice and responsive . That is all , carry on ...
(3)KELLY W.
What a fabulous place. Pork was fabulous great staff a locals fav I imagine. I did here a rumor that is has been shut down so call ahead to make sure it is still in biz.
(5)M K.
One of the few spots on our Texas roadtrip other than fast food which we were able to stop at and eat. Spent $5 on 3 delicious beef tacos and a dam good margarita which hit the spot. My friend got a quesadilla and also loved it. Looked over the menu and saw many other affordable options as well. Wouldn't hesitate coming back!
(5)Anthony B.
Good Mexican food especially for in the middle of nowhere. My only worry is that it might come out and burn my butt!
(4)