Freebirds Taco Meal for $6 is Back

$6.50 with tax. You can also get individual tacos for $1.59 or 3 tacos and a drink for $4.99.

Freebirds $6 Taco Meal is Dead

3 tacos, a drink, chips and salsa will now run you over $8. Not such a cheap lunch anymore.

On The Border — 4855 Belt Line

On the Tex side of the Tex-Mex border, east of Addison Road.

Once upon a long, long time ago this On The Border was on the other side of Belt Line and closer to Midway and if my brain wasn't fried from too much hot sauce I'd guess it was in the building now occupied by Black Finn but I wouldn't bet a chimichanga on it. But I do remember two, large, really cool chandeliers made of empty beer bottles that hung in the bar at the old place. Those two chandeliers immigrated and now reside in the bar of the new location.

On The Border offers typical Tex-Mex fare in a fiesta-colored environment. The food is somewhat unimspired yet good enough to make you go back. La lista de comida es aquí. Pay particular attention to the Create Your Own Combo. Our party of five took advantage of the choices on our last visit. I had the chicken tortilla soup which came with a very small slice of avacado. Good! Everyone else had a house salad. One of the dressings available was jalapeño vinegarette which sounds delicious but no one would give it a try. Neither compliments nor complaints were heard about any of the food. However, a queso dip was ordered to share and share it was with abandon. It should be a must-have on your next visit.

OTB is completely smoke-free inside. Smoking is allowed on the patio which features a unique fountain. A separate to-go counter is located on the opposite corner and has reserved parking spaces. Full bar.

Hours:
11:00 am - 11:00 pm Sun-Thur
11:00 am - midnight Fri-Sat

Google map is here.

Manny's Uptown Tex-Mex — 14905 Midway

1 ½ blocks south of Belt Line, next to J's Breakfast & Burgers.

The front door is on the side of the building.
This is casual sit down dining of some very good Tex_Mex fare. Judging from the crowds during weekday lunch hours many agree. The lunch specials, available Monday-Friday 11:00 am - 4:00 pm, are $6.95. You won't be disappointed with what is brought to your table. The refried beans, which are good, do not quite equal those at the Blue Goose. The hot sauce certainly deserves the adjective. You won't be smothered by the black-clad wait staff though they are attentive.

Many times their web site doesn't work as well as their cooks but you can try it.

Happy hour brings the crowds back weekday afternoons 4:00-7:00. Nineteen different types of bottled beer are available, including my favorite, Bohemia. No beer is on tap. Margaritas on the rocks are popular. The bar itself seats 10 where ESPN is usually tuned in on the 3 TV screens. The volume, however, is normally muted so as to not interfer with the musica Mexicana heard throughout the restaurant.

I've saved the best for last: the patio. Fortunately it faces east, an important consideration in hot Texas summers. Only there may Joe Camel light up.
No guns allowed.

Hours:
11:00 am - 10:00 pm Daily

Google map is here.

Freebirds - $6 for 3 tacos, chips, salsa, drink DEAD

At Freebirds you can get 3 tacos (your choice of meat) with chips, salsa and a drink for $6. This has been going on for a few months, not sure when it will end.

Gloria's Restaurant — 5100 Belt Line, Neighborhood 8

Village on the Parkway, directly behind Bed Bath & Beyond and facing Dallas Parkway.



Gloria's has its roots in El Salvador but it knows which side of the tortilla is buttered and thus has a menu with plenty of Tex-Mex favorites. Yes, you can order fajitas, quesadillas, tacos, enchiladas and nachos but why do so when you can have some true Central American food. Try the Salvadoran inspired pupuas - two corn tortillas stuffed with pork, cheese or both. It's refreshing to have black beans in lieu of refried. Plantains, those green banana cousins, are served with some meals. I've never appreciated ceviche so I can't truthfully comment on it. I can positively comment on the pollo con champiñones but then I pretty much like every chicken dish put in front of me. Read the description in the menu section.

Gloria's is popular with the Addison beautiful people and the $30,000 millionaires. Happy hour on the patio is an event and though it faces the afternoon sun some foliage-impared palms have been planted. The umbrellas bloom at the appropriate time. I've never been to Gloria's at 11:00 pm on a Saturday night but apparently that's when the live salsa music amps up y la Latina bonita population appear.

Hours:
11:00 am - 10:00 pm Sun-Thur
11:00 am - 11:00 pm Fri
11:00 am - 2:00 am Sat

Google map is here.

Blue Goose Cantina — 14920 Midway

SE corner of Beltway in the yellow frame building.


The story, as I've heard it on many occasions, is that the original restaurant owners took a trip to Mexico and "saw" a bordello with the name Blue Goose. Hence the nombre. This is some of the best traditional Tex-Mex for your dinero that you'll find. Yes, I've been to Joe T. Garcia's in Fort Worth, Mi Tierra's in San Antonio and Matt's El Rancho in Austin.
The decor is as colorful as you'd expect, but gone is the mariachi music. It's been replaced by satellite. There's also a cute little wall-mounted touch screen juke box. Dos Equis is on tap plus 18 or so different brands of beer in bottles. Tequila by Jose Cuervo and the sip-and-enjoy Patrón. The frozen margaritas are very popular but in my opinion the lime taste is too strong.

The menu should satisfy all Tex-Mex tastes but the basics bring the regulars back. Try the refried beans. There's even a brunch on weekends. Huevos execelente. But eating the famous nachos should be on everyone's bucket list.

Hours:
Sun-Thur 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Fri-Sat 11:00 am - midnight

Google map is here. Biker friendly.

2009 Taste Addison participant.

Los Lupes Mexican Restaurant — 3855 Belt Line

On the Canadian side of the road. Closer to Marsh than Midway.
In the building formerly occupied by Joe's Crab Shack.



First, click here for the menu, history, location and minutiae. Scroll down for the lunch specials. If you're up early they have breakfast including lengua (tongue) tacos. No gracias. If you're off early they have happy hour. If you want to smoke you can do so in the bar. During warmer months the patio is open. There are numerous TVs and an ATM machine. The restroom is self service.

Let's discuss the LUNCH SPECIALS. By checking the menu tab (en Inglés y Español) at the left on the web site you'll find that there is a $5.95 buffet but despite its all-you-can-eat feature it's really not that popular. I spent $4.95 for the #45 and a glass of ice water. It's hard to mess up refried beans and I wasn't disappointed. It's hard to mess up the rice and I wasn't disappointed. It's hard to mess up cheese and onion enchiladas but there were no onions and the ends of the tortillas were unchewable. The cheese inside was fine. There are various choices of sauces to spread on top and I chose the chili. To disappoint someone like me whose first Spanish words were "Careful the plate is hot" and loves cheap Tex-Mex fare is almost impossible. I was disappointed. That one sauce ruined the entire meal.

I will not trash the place because of one bad experience. I've eaten at their Carrollton location several times and always left fat and happy. That location is normally very busy.

Back to the Addison restaurant. Watch the step down as they seat you. My waitress, Marisela, spoke limited but sufficient English. She probably has a green card. She also shorted me a dime when she returned with my change. There was no wait to be seated but few empty tables during the noon hour which leads me to believe that the word was out on the chili sauce. The attire of the guests was office casual though there were a few JCPenney neckties.

Suggestion: If office politics dictate that you eat at Los Lupes just don't order from the back page of the menu and you'll probably have an enjoyable experience. Otherwise there are too many Tex-Mex restaurants around to dine here.

Opens 6:00 am Mon-Fri and by 7:00 am 7 days per week.

Separate checks allowed.

Google map is here.

2009 Taste Addison participant.

Freebirds - 5000 Belt Line

This has long been one of my favorite lunch places. Burritos (and now tacos, salads and more) made from fresh ingredients right in front of you. You see the steak and chicken grilled as you wait in line. Try that Chipotle. Around noon on Friday, expect a wait as the line can reach the door.

Atmosphere (***) - Urban hippy with poorly laid brick walls. Piercings or tattoos are required for those making your tortillas. Art made from foil burrito wrappings line the walls.

Entertainment (**) - Classic rock music. Eye candy can make up for lack of TVs. Attracts the mid-20s crowd.

Financial (***) - One of the better values in Addison. Around $8 for a filling meal.

Nutritional (****) - One of the healthiest places in Addison. Fresh ingredients. One Freebird flour tortilla does have 280 calories, but what else would you expect from such a thing. More nutritional information at http://www.freebirds.com/PDFRepor.pdf.