El Chico menu prices featuring 49 items ranging from $1.99 to $16.29

I made a visit to El Chico, a restaurant that served me some hot lunch and dinner.

EL CHICO Menu Prices

This popular haunt was established back in 1940 in Dallas, Texas, by Adelaida Cuellar's five enterprising sons. Here's a whimsical fun fact – Adelaida, their mother, had a longtime tradition that went back to 1926 where she would serve delicious tamales at the Kaufman County Fair. These recipes were handed down to her sons who leaped at the opportunity to integrate them into their opening restaurant menu as soon as the convention concluded.

Need to know more about El Chico's delightful offerings? Check out their exclusive webpage here for thorough information.

El Chico’s Savory Spread Across Countries

El Chico has become a household name both in the United States and the United Arab Emirates with a flourishing count of over 70 locations. Abu Dhabi takes pride in housing two of these famed locations, with one nestled in Dalma Mall and the other in the World Trade Center. Their prominence can also be felt majorly in the US states of Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas while they also have a stronghold in Florida, Louisiana, and Tennessee.

The El Chico Distinction

The taste tradition of El Chico is impressive and hard to miss. The establishment fittingly carries forward Adelaida's legacy, given that she was one of the pioneering Tex-Mex providers, dating back as early as 1926.

Further enhancing the El Chico experience is their e-club, which offers exclusive deals and special events to their privileged members. If you join, you'll be treated to a free appetizer, a tempting start! Not just that, they also boast of a Mobile Club that generously serves up another round of free appetizers.

Does El Chico Challenge the Taste Buds?

Prepare to spice up your life with El Chico’s red-hot options. My taste adventure featured their spicy White Queso dip, the Mama's Favorite Enchilada Dinner packing a spicy beef punch, and Tacos seasoned with your preference of spicy beef or chicken.

If spice isn't your thing, fear not! El Chico also serves a variety of mildly spicy or non-spicy meals. One of my favorites was the Tortilla Soup with grilled chicken, crisp tortilla strips, avocado, and jack cheese, and the Fajitas Nachos packed up with beans, cheese, nachos, and succulent fajita steaks or chicken. Neither of these delectable options posed a spicy challenge to my palate.

The Delectable Variety on El Chico's Menu

El Chico, as any true-blooded Tex-Mex restaurant, serves up a hearty menu comprising of tacos, burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas, tamales, and nachos.

Let me share some highlights that stood out to me from the meals I received. Their Chicken Cascabel tacos were sheer delight with its spicy cascabel sauce, onions, cilantro, and cotija cheese. Their shrimp tacos were immaculately prepared with jack cheese, jalapeño slaw, cotija cheese, and a dash of chipotle drizzle.

If you are a cheese lover like me, you can't miss the Burrito con Queso! It contains spicy beef, chili con queso, rice, refried beans, and guacamole on request.

The dessert lineup did not disappoint either! I relished their famous Sopapilla with Honey, a traditional Mexican fried pastry that came sprinkled with honey and cinnamon sugar. Their brownie skillet sundae was sinfully delightful, providing sweet relief with Mexican brandy butter and a dollop of vanilla ice cream.

You can pick between steak, chicken, or spinach quesadillas for your main course.

One of El Chico's unique offerings that caught my eye was their "Tex Mex for 2" item, a perfect choice for a couple or friends sharing a meal. This three-course delicacy features an appetizer, entrée, and dessert. The appetizer comes with your choice of chicken fajita nachos or a cup of queso. The entrée serves rice and beans with your selection of a taco, enchilada, burrito, or beef tamale. Sealing the deal is the dessert offering - chocolate caramel nachos, churros, or a brownie sundae to share.

How to Place an Order at El Chico?

Placing an order at El Chico didn't require much effort. They offer onsite dining as well as an online ordering option through their website for pickup at any of their restaurants.

El Chico’s Offerings for Vegetarians

I can't say El Chico is excessively vegetarian-friendly, at least not to what I was expecting. A bulk of their dishes consist of meat, so hunting for a meatless main dish can be a tad bit challenging.

They do offer some vegetarian items, like the Bean Nachos, Fajita Nachos, or the Sopapilla with Honey. You'll notice, however, that your choice is mainly limited to appetizers and desserts since most of their salads even have meat.

El Chico’s Treats for Kids

El Chico notably includes options for kids in their menu! They have a Kids Menu, specifically designed for those 12 and under. It includes choices such as the Taco Dinner, Kraft Mac & Cheese, Corndogs, Mexican Pizza, and Taquitos.

Operating Hours of El Chico

El Chico's operating hours varies depending on the location. Generally, they open up at 11 am and shut shop at 9 pm. However, many of their locations are open till late into the night, sometimes even up to midnight. It's best to check the timing for your nearest El Chico before making a visit.

Is El Chico Health-Friendly?

El Chico's menu is a mixed bag when I think of health-friendly options. Many of their items are high in fat, such as their Top Shelf Fajita Enchilada oozing with cheese and beef, or the Burrito Bowl that comes with a fried pork option.

However, they also have healthier options. One such is The Chicken Fajita that features a mix of wholesome ingredients - chicken, onions, peppers, tortillas, pepper, tomatoes, and an assortment of vegetables. Similarly, the Chicken Taco also serves up a healthy blend of corn, tortillas, lettuce, rice and more.

Can I Cook El Chico at Home?

While El Chico themselves do not offer any cook-at-home products or services, one could try to recreate their recipes at home as a fun culinary adventure.