Mariano's Hacienda Ranch Reviews

We had not been here for several years but it is relatively close and we were in the mood for Mexican so we decided to return. We love their smoky salsa and that is what we craved. We went early (before 5pm) because neither of us had eaten lunch so were hungry. We started with house margaritas and they were good but not great. The wife got rocks and it was really strong. The regular price is $9 but apparently there are happy hour prices because we were charged $7. For appetizer we had the Queso Mariano ($10). It was THE best queso we have eaten in Dallas. The cheese is not too salty, there is a ton of seasoned beef inside, and it comes topped with guac, tomatoes, and a dollop of sour cream. It was just outstanding. I could make a meal just of that alone. For entrees we split combo fajitas for two ($36.00). It was a mountain of food but most of it was onions. I really don't think that there was that much actual beef or chicken. The skirt steak was tender but really salty. I don't think I would get fajitas again but if I did I would not order the portion for 2. I think the portion for 1 is sufficient if you have an app first. The service was competent and more or less efficient. Could be better but no serious complaints. We left just after 6pm and the place was absolute packed. Every table inside and out was occupied plus there was a wait list and long line that went out the door to the patio. I was shocked. I guess this place really does a good business. I think that prices are a bit high for the area and compared to other Mexican restaurants in Dallas. I think it is higher than Meso Maya and Meso is the best in Dallas (IMO), so for the money that is where I would go. But this was a good experience and I would return.

Mariano's has a great vibe with consistently good Tex Mex. The brisket tacos and fajitas are excellent. The prices are outrageous. This is where the frozen margarita was invented. All frozen drinks are good.

We eat here a few times a month, and we usually have Gabriel as our waiter. He's pretty Awesome. Always knows what we want. The Emily's Queso is Awesome, a meal in itself! The Fiesta Fajita's are Great as well. Can't beat the fresh tortilla's! Margarita's are a bit pricey, but they are great!

Fresh homemade tortillas, chips & hot sauce may be as far as you get, but if you think you can eat more, go for the chicken fajita nachos. Incredible!

We come here all the time and love the food. Our recent addiction is to their torpedoes in the starter section. They offer cheese or spicy chicken. You can get half and half which is what we do. Comes with ranch dressing. They are the best stuffed jalapeños in Dallas! Once you start you cannot stop. The rest of the menu is excellent also. Try the off menu chimichanga--it's really, really good.

Yummy. These are the second best fajitas I've ever tasted. The came out tender, hot and fast like a bunny. The food was fantastic!! They tout the frozen margaritas and I did try it but the hand shaken ones are where it's at. This place is a must try!!'

Bert was our server, fast, efficient and willing to please. Very attentive. On a cool evening in Dallas, it was really nice to have a very pleasant dining experience. The tortilla soup was very good, though a bit on the spicy side. Fajitas ( beef ) were excellent. All in all, a great time.

We live 5 minutes from Mariano's and go often. The food is consistently good Tex-Mex. They use nice big pieces of chicken breast in their chicken enchiladas and stuffed poblano - not the shredded, greasy pieces that many places use. Flavors are good all around. They make a good tableside guacamole. There are some healthier options, also, with roast veggies as a side. Service has always been fast and friendly.

Omg... This place has the best Mexican food around! I go at least once a week. Try to Queso Mariano. You will be forever hooked!

This is one of my favorite Tex-Mex eateries. Went there on a Saturday with friends. The food was great and generously portioned; the Margaritas were a good size and not cheap on the tequila; and the chips & salsa always top quality.

This place def has been overhauled majorly,. The main is very small. And more expensive then I realized recall from last time I was there 6 mts ago. $18 for the same size Platte of fajitas, humm. The sides of piko and guak, was 2/3stars. The price for queso is was out of proportion. Our waitress was very good at her job, exp helpful/ knowledgeable over what's in the food as I have a ton of issues/allergies. Coud oooooo to her. Def a keeper**** maricela***

As the title says, awesome and flavorful fajitas (shrimp, beef and chicken). The only suggestion since this a takeout order is that more onions and peppers would have been included with the meats. Also perhaps more salsa, however still a go to for us when considering fajitas.

After having a mediocre Tex-Mex meal the first night in Dallas, I came here. The food, service and drinks were excellent. Fresh hot chips and salsa to start, a killer house margarita. The bar had a frozen ice trough going through it; outstanding! My bartender was quick and knew the menu. I had the poblano pepper stuff with chicken and cheese - very good. In fact, everything was good. I would have gone back again, if I stayed longer.

We have been there many times and it well worth it. In fact we are going back tonight. Very reasonable. Home of the frozen margarita. This is where it was first introduced to the world. I strongly recommend the fajita plate.

Finally, great Mexican food to go with really good margaritas. Great hand made chips and tortillas. Really good salsa and guacamole made at the table and really good food. Service was stupendous. Only drawback we sat in the patio which has been fixed with plastic screens for cold weather and heating...really warm out there when the heat is cranked.

Tried this on a recent weekend to Dallas. Food and service was very good. Apparently the home of the first margarita machine- they were good but I prefer sweeter, but still good. Quantity and quality were both good and the salsa was great. Would have no problem returning on our next trip.

Some friends in the area suggested we come here & now I know why, the food was great! If you come, get the steak fajitas, the steak meat is some of the best I’ve had

Mariano's is the home of the original margarita created many years ago. You can see the story on the wall that is in the Smithsonian. The food is always top notch and the staff friendly and quick. I especially like the steak fajitas. Enjoy your visit.

I visited this restaurant with a date on a busy Friday night. We were quoted a 20-30 minute wait for a table but seated in less than 10 minutes! I was pleased to be seated in a lovely room with paper star lanterns overhead. Our food came out extremely quickly and was delicious. We especially enjoyed the spicy queso we ordered as an appetizer, but my stuffed poblano pepper entrée was amazing as well. The margaritas we similarly satisfying. They were appropriately strong and tasted great. (I expected no less after learning that this restaurant pioneered the frozen margarita machine!) If you're looking for authentic Mexican food in a fun and lively environment, Mariano's is a must!!

Whenever I return home to Texas, this is one of my go-to places for Mexican food and margaritas. The food is good; service is good; prices are good and the margaritas are magnifico! Try the Papa's for a change. We had at the table guacamole; fish tacos; regular tacos; brisket tacos; a giant burrito and Poblano Al Carbon. All of it was very good.

Five of us ate a late dinner here on Saturday night. We had no trouble getting a table. The service was very good and the personnel were friendly. I had chicken enchiladas that were very good. The portions were very large and the atmosphere was great.

Went to this location to dine with a party of six adults and two young children. Even though the place was busy, we were seated quickly. Service was prompt and efficient. Chips and two varieties salsa were served. One of the salsas had a tasty smoky flavor - very good. Our group chose multiple platters of fajitas. The fajitas were excellent having a nice smoky flavor. The grilled onions and peppers were tasty but some were under cooked. The sides were OK, nothing special. The menu had several other interesting selections - a return visit is probably in order.

After a long days drive we found Mariano’s here on Trip Advisor. Short wait on a Friday night, but had frozen margaritas at the bar. (They served the first frozen margarita in 1971…see Smithsonian for article.) Good service and we were seated before we could finish the excellent margaritas. Meals were great and the vegetable sides were extraordinary for a Mexican restaurant. Was on the pricey side, but worth it in our opinion for a treat.

I took my wife her about 4 years ago and decided to give this place a try again. The restaurant on a Sunday is quiet and not as busy as a Friday evening the last time we came here. The service was excellent. Even though the food was good I still felt the prices were somewhat expensive compared to my last visit. I recommend this place if in the neighborhood. Otherwise, you can find excellent Tex-Mex pretty much anywhere in Dallas at at more reasonable price.

Really good texmex and the place where was created the Margarita Frozen. I like this place so much and for me is one the best option for Texmex in Dallas.

I've eaten at Mariano's for years. Very good chips and hot sauce and the food never disappoints. They maintain the best quality and customer service has only increased over the years. They are very attentive and it has an upscale feel. Will continue to eat here when in the area.

My family and I are big fans of Mariano's. Their food is great, their margaritas are delicious, and their decor is fun. (They even dress up the mounted game heads on the wall for Christmas!) Overall, a wonderful place to eat.

This is one of our favorite Mexican restaurants in Dallas. The prices are a bit high for the area but the food is always excellent. This trip we started with the queso Mariano as usual and it is the best in Dallas, hands down. For something new, the wife tried the Jesse Lopez which is two cheese enchiladas with chili con carne on top, very good ($11). Very filling. I tried the tapas tacos which are 7 mini crispy tacos, think a big bite or two smaller bites ($11). The meat is flavored really well, very delicious. The wife also tried the Whisky-Rita for the first time and really liked it. That is $12. I had the house frozen margarita for $10. This time there was a service glitch but it eventually got straightened out. Apparently they sent a server on a catering gig and someone forgot to tell the other servers and floor manager so tables (including us) sat for a really long time before I finally said something and a server pulled extra duty, for which she was nicely tipped! Overall, this is a great place and extremely popular. We will return for sure.

Let this be a lesson to all of you, don't just plug the address into the GPS because it won't find the place. Look at a map and read the directions on the website before you leave. Or 45 minutes later you will still be looking...Once the place was found it was easy to park and we walked right in and sat down right away. Skinny Margarita to the rescue was better than the Papa's, but both were yummy. The chips and fire roasted salsa were amazing! Our portions were huge! Everything was hot and super yummy! We would totally recommend to anyone who needs a Mexican fix!

We stopped by for lunch and had a great experience. The food was definitely great, very good potions, and great taste. The atmosphere was very friendly, excellent service and focus on detail. The frozen magarita was excellent. Great history as this is the restaurant of the person who invented the frozen magarita. Definitely a place to go and enjoy!

I was in the area and wanted to treat myself. I had lunch combo which came with a cheese enchilada, beef taco, rice, & beans. It was excellent. PS the chips and salsas are outstanding, too.

Never had such tasteless Mexican food. But if you want to get filled up ,this is the place.They will definitely give you a lot food for a modest price.

We love this restaurant and go to it each time we are in and around the Dallas area. The Mexican food is delicious and the salsa is fab. I can not begin to tell you what to order because everything we have tried is so good. No favorites ... love anything we order. AND it is always wonderfully sinful to finish up a great meal with the skillet apple pie and ice cream.

The food was great and the beer and margarita on the rocks was great. The atmosphere and thae wait staff were excellent.

Not only ate their twice this trip but discovered a new margarita called the 50/50. This is a 1/2 on the rocks and 1/2 frozen margarita and is actually a little stronger, not that there is anything wrong with the regular frozen margarita. My family (wife, son, daughter and her fiance) went one afternoon and then I went back for dinner with my friend. I had the brisket tacos once and Mexican tacos the second time. Enchiladas were eaten by two of my party; burrito by one and fish tacos by another. Everyone liked their food. We also had the "at the table" guacamole which was good but could use some jalapenos. The chips are excellent but the chips for the guacamole better. The salsas are weak.

Duh home of the margarita, how can you go wrong, you have to try any one of the multiple offerings!!! I tried several plain, frozen, and spicy. :-) (so I went a bit over board). All of the margaritas gave the appropriate nod to the traditions of the family. And oh yes it was decorated with the cutest little lime flower - nice attention to detail. And the fajitas, oh my ... tender and well seasoned. They came out super fast and had we known, we may have waited to order and slowed it down a bit so we could have enjoyed more margaritas. :-)

Mariano's invented the frozen margarita machine in Dallas, Texas in 1971. I have seen the original in the Smithstonian museum in Washington D.C. As they say, the rest is history. We stopped in the Dallas location Sunday afternoon after shopping for plants for a margarita and a nosh. I had a michelada and Cara had a Mariano's signature margarita on the rocks and we decided to try thei jalapeño poppers which we figured would be a snack and wouldn't ruin our planned dinner at home. Boy were we wrong! The plate arrived with 8 enormous jalapeños. Half were stuffed with cheese and the other half had shredded chicken and cheese. They had a crispy breeding and were served with a ranch dipping sauce. The sauce wasn't necessary as the poppers were delicious on their own. We managed to down all 8 of them and put off our planned dinner of pork chops for later in the week as were were stuffed. If you like good Tex Mex food, tasty margaritas and a little adult beverage history give Mariano's a try.

Mariano's is one of my favorite "go to" Mexican restaurants in Dallas. The quality of the food and service is always consistent and reliable. It's conveniently located and is suitable for business, casual, or group events. The enchiladas are terrific and, as an added bonus, Mariano's lays claim to having invented the frozen Margarita. I have no idea whether this is true, but the margaritas are mighty tasty. You'll never go wrong with Mariano's. Just don't touch the bear.

We love the food here and the salsa is the Best around! However the service lacks. We always sit on the patio and always have very slow service, so yesterday we thought we'd try eating inside. Pretty much the same unfortunately. I've been in the service industry for over 30 years so maybe i'm a bit picky. Watching everyone work this time it just seems everyone is pretty much the same. It's not just 1 or 2 that lack. Sometimes we get drinks before chips, sometimes our drinks come out with our food, many times we've had to ask for chips multiple times. That's just crazy to me. Especially for a not so cheap place to eat. We continue to return only because we do love the food. Our waitress yesterday was probably the best we've had there but...

Had been a couple years since we'd been. Used to be a favorite but the service had gotten pretty lousy. The food was pretty good and our server pretty nice. The margaritas have gotten wildly expensive. I think we paid $14 each for what we had. Just kind of outrageous for a margarita. The only other complaint is that just like years ago the wait staff just will not clear your dishes after you finish your meal. Our server let our empty plates sit even as he delivered our check. This is really basic stuff - please clear the table when your guests are finished eating.

Lots of variety on the menu, ports are HUGE. Good food, great salsa. Friendly staff and always plenty of them. Birthdays are fun as they sing, provide a sombrero and ice cream. The kids love it.

My favorite is the brisket taco, and they were serving it years before it became a hot item. The chips and homemade salsa are exemplary. Margaritas are good. The place gets really busy especially on weekends so expect a wait. The menu is your basic Tex-Mex but everything is a notch above the regular.

I love Marianos - from the handmade corn and flour tortillas (you can watch them making them near the front of the restaurant), to the title of home of the margarita machine (seriously, Mariano invented it), to the most delicious beef fajitas I have ever tasted. I love to take our guests here for delicious Mexican/Texican fare. I also recommend the Spanish Enchiladas- with a tangy green chili cream sauce. Their tableside guacamole is probably the best I've ever had in a restaurant. Yum! Service is excellent, restaurant and bathrooms are always immaculate. The décor has been updated and I love the room with all the stars on the ceiling and the funny, western campfire mural.

You owe it to yourself to try this restaurant! We lived in Dallas for 6 years and it was our very favorite! We still try to get back there as often as possible to enjoy their wonderful food and service. BEST MARGARITA’S ever!

We don't mind paying the price tag here because the food is ALWAYS phenomenal. From the fajitas, to hacienda chicken to queso, we've never had a meal we didn't enjoy. Also, the portions are huge, so always have leftovers too! Service was on par last night as well. Will continue to eat there regularly.

Second visit to Mariano's while visiting Dallas. Both times, service was above par, even during busy lunch rush. I personally don't eat much spicy food, but I had the brisket tacos- quite good. Others in my party reported tasty fajitas, enchilada, and salsa for chips.

We were driving around looking for some place to eat when we came across Mariano's by chance. We were promptly greeted, and our server was knowledgeable and appropriately attentive. The cilantro tilapia must have been very good because there was nothing left when I finished. It had a lot of very good flavors. The decor is not for everyone. There were the heads of lots of big animals hanging on the walls. We had Bevo staring at us while we ate. The other aspect that impresses me is the pricing, which, as we say in Texas, shows that they are proud of their food. But we will probably go back, but after pay day.

once again Dallas has another great restaurant. The Margaritas are fantastic, the atmosphere is right on the money and the food is really great. what more can i say

Terrible! There are so many great places to eat in Dallas, Texas. This is a sister restaurant to La Hacienda Ranch House (which is great) but don’t waste your time at Mariano’s!!

Delicious authentic Mexican food! Their signature margarita, "The Mariano" is wonderful. Their frozen Sunburst margaritas are a must try as well! Try the tableside guacamole with the generous tortilla chips they provide. We ordered the Spanish enchiladas, chicken, beef and brisket quesadillas. All delicious! The restaurant is large and can accommodate large groups as well. There is a bar just behind the entrance and covered outdoor seating is available. Service is good and atmosphere is very enjoyable.

Very nice and spacious establishment. Was greeted promptly and seated within minutes. Fast service and was quite busy. The chips and two flavors of sauce was nice and tasty. Food was okay...average, the enchiladas was good and the rice & ranchera beans was okay. Wife had the lite chicken with veggies. It was cooked good and tasty good. This average cost of meal is $12 or higher depending what you order

I would come here almost every week with my dad and have margaritas. The staff is friendly, and service is fast. I'd say it's slightly overpriced, but at least the portions are large. I always get the "skinny" vegetable fajitas and they are DELICIOUS! Seriously best fajitas in Dallas... nice smokey flavor yet it's low fat and healthy. The salsa is by far one of my favorites in Dallas. Huge win! As for drinks, I either get the frozen skinny margarita, or skinny marg on the rocks. Always does the trick. They were nice enough to sub the regular frozen margarita for a skinny marg when I ordered the champagne 'rita. (Basically a 2 for one drink - and we're not talking Andre champagne.. they at least use Zonin!) I highly recommend this place, especially if you're new to Dallas or just want a taste of history - home of the frozen Margarita!! TIPS: - They have a frozen strip on the bar to set your drinks on so they always remain cold. AWESOME. - This is more of a family oriented place. You'll see lots of middle aged parents and young kids here at night.

I love going there each time I am going to Dallas for business. They have excellent variety of Mexican food. Also their Margueritas are very good !!!

The food here is average or slightly above. It is the home of the original frozen margarita, try one! They are great! The drink menu has quite a few selections. There is a climate controlled patio which is rally great. There is a lot of really unique decor like a big bear at the entrance. The wait staff is fast and efficient and friendly. I will come back for sure.

We've been eating here for well over 20 years, at least once every few weeks. It's been about 6 weeks since our last visit because things seemed off on that visit. We ate here on Saturday during the slow time(3pm). Seems as if they've had a big change over in staff, which we noticed the last few visits. Only recognized 2 of the waiter's,which is a big bummer for us. We always requested 2 of the same waiter's, now who arloe no longer there. Even our 2 back ups are now gone as well. I've been in the service industry for over 30 years so I get change. On the last 2 visits we actually had to ask for chips and salsa, seriously! Then they arrived way after our drink's. Use to Always get chips as soon as we were seated, especially when it's slow! Food was still good but the drinks were very weak lately, especially for the price. Service was slow, but I must say our waitress had tables all over the place it seemed. To loose a bunch of great waitstaff usually means a change in Management. Hopefully they get things figured out soon.

The margaritas and table side guacamole are on point! The guacamole is so good you won't be able stop eating it and you'll probably will get full of just that! Make sure to try "The Marino" margarita!

Has good TexMex + are known for their selection of Margaritas; however, we waited over an hour (for sure, it was Friday night) and that's not the first night we've waited. Suggestion - do not visit on Friday or Saturday night and you may have better luck.

Try as we sometimes do to find comparable chicken tacos al carbon or fajita meat, Mariano's still surpasses all others in the flavor and quality of their meat, and has exceptional margaritas to accompany them. It is the home of the first Frozen Margarita Machine, now in the Smithsonian, although this is not the original location (it was demolished). Good kids' menu, too.

Cheese enchiladas very delicious! Table side guacamole very fresh and Ramiro did a wonderful job. He is a fantastic server! Apple pie delicious and beef fajitas wonderful too. They make homemade corn tortillas as well!!

Mariano's is our go-to Tex-Mex place around here. It's certainly more expensive than most, but I would say the food is a lot better as well. Many of their dishes have a smokey flavor that give it a more Texas flavor: the fire-roasted chipotle salsa just might be the best table-salsa in Dallas. Even without the great food, this is a great restaurant for kids or large groups, because it's busy and you don't notice the noise. Our kids love the pinata room in the back most of all. Being the place that invented the frozen margarita machine, they certainly emphasize the drinks, but other than being the original, I'm not sure they're any better than others out there.

Be expected to wait. We got lucky and ate at the bar. Place is crowded. Got my order wrong. My hubby’s drink was not up to the rim but it was good.

This restaurant has become our favorite Tex-Mex in Dallas. We have been here many times and never have been disappointed. We've basically eaten the menu and now circle back to our favorites. It's our go-to when we want Mexican. The food is consistently excellent. The service is excellent. The happy hour is excellent. There is a private parking lot. Everything is excellent. Our faves: Hacienda Chicken (the wife); tapas tacos (Mom); chimichanga with chicken (me). The fajitas with beef is also really good and a portion for one is enough to two to share. We love the Texas torpedoes (stuffed jalapeño). And, of course, Mariano's queso is the best queso in Dallas. Not even close. This place is packed every Friday and Saturday night and it is easy to see why. This restaurant absolutely rocks and they deserve all the success that they have. I hope they never change!

I went just to have a few margaritas. I was shocked that they started at $10 each and went up. I won’t go back unless it is for Happy Hour...price too steep otherwise!

Great Service - Great Food. If you have friends in from out of town - you cannot go wrong by bringing them here

Everything we ordered was superb, from the Mariano's special margarita to the guacamole (prepared tableside) to the fajitas. Both beef and chicken fajitas were exceptionally tender and well seasoned. However, my absolute favorite was the Texas Torpedoes (appetizers), cheese-stuffed jalapenos coated in Panko bread crumbs. I try stuffed jalapenos whenever I find them, and these are the best I have ever had, hands down. All 6 in our party raved about the food and drink. Mariano's is pricey for Mexican food, but the quality makes it a good value. The restaurant is extremely popular; we tried to go there at 7:00 one evening and were told there would be an hour wait. This time we went at 6:00, and got right in.

Went based on reviews. The place was not busy. The waiter was hovering around looking lost we placed our order I tried the Margarita and as a bartender it was terrible the waiter begin to argue it was birthplace of the Margarita trust me margaritas have evolved from cheap grade tequila there was no lime salt triple sec ice or grand mariner he started getting tacky and I told him I will pay you for the chips and my family's drinks but you need tact and lessons for the bartenders. THERE ARE BETTER PLACES SKIP THIS PLACE

Love every meal we eat here & fun atmosphere! Fajitas, cilantro tilapia, fish tacos, camarones, & beef tacos are ALL good. The Mariano Queso + chips is sinfully delicious & a must! They invented the frozen margarita, which is refreshing. We come with friends & kids at least once month. Kids love riding the electric horses in the front of the restaurant & standing by the huge bear by the entrance.

The service here is always warm and fuzzy. Staff is nice from when you arrive until you leave. Two kinds of salsa. A regular one and one with a smoky flavor and a bit more spice. Both are very good (even if you get them to go..with a side of the cheese dip!!) The combination fajitas are wondeful. The combination platters are great. You can't go wrong with the menu. You can see tortillas being made when you come in the front door. The bar area right inside is inviting. Make sure to get the Twister. A mixture of a frozen margarita and red sangria. DELICIOUS!!,

My favorite thing about this restaurant is the homemade smoky salsa, which you can purchase to take home also. I also really like their brisket tacos.

I've been coming to Mariano's since they were in Old Town off Caruth Haven. Yes, that's 45 years ago and more. This is a terrific restaurant. The food is always very, very good, and I especially recommend the Poblano al Carbon with chicken (curiously, the shrimp isn't as good). It's superb. The mesquite-grilled chicken and poblano are incredibly flavorful, and the chicken is never over-cooked. The added cheese enchilada with a couple of pickled jalapenos on top just makes the world a happy place. Whenever I don't order this, no matter how good my food was, I always wish I had. There's the risk of an after-dinner food coma, but so what? Also, get the Papa’s top-shelf margarita, on the rocks, of course, with salt and the lime cut into a sunburst. Yes, I know this is where the frozen margarita was invented and of course they're really good. But that's not what you want. You want Papa’s. It's so good one is never enough. And get fresh tortillas to go with your dinner. Corn or flour, they're made right there and are always great (I like corn myself but hey, I'm a traditional sort).. And the guacamole, which is made tableside, is excellent. One more thing - they do a brisk take-out business, too. Don’t call in your order unless you’re in a rush – go inside, sit at the bar, place your takeout order, then enjoy a margarita and some chips and salsa (which are drop-dead good, by the way) and wait for your take-out to be ready. When your server brings out your order, they always take everything out of the sack to make sure you're getting what you paid for. It's great service. Oh, and can I say again how good the chips and salsa are? After over 45 years I can't get enough of this place. I don't live in Dallas now, but whenever I'm in town this is where I go. Don't forget to check out the cool Dimitri Vail portrait of Mariano Martinez in the dining room. There's also a nice patio.

We used to live in Dalals about a mile from this restaurant, so we went there every week. It's especially good the first week of May for Cinco di Mayo, when they have margaritas on sale. I mean how can you beat the polace where the frozen margarita was invented? We hadn't been there for a year or so and went back last weekend. Same great food. Same great service. It gets REALLY busy on Friday and Saturday nights, but the wait isn't too bad. Especially when you can enjoy a margarita. Prices have gone up (No mroe $7-8 house margaritas) but hey so has everything else.

I had the worse experience ever at Mariano's this afternoon. Our waitress Luz was the rudest waitress I have ever!! We had a party of 8 at ~ 2:00pm. I asked her if she could bring us some more salsa and she replied, "I brought you one already." I pointed out that we had 3 to share between the 8 of us. Every time we asked for a refill on our water or for another alcoholic drink, she would mumble something when she brought it out and sloppily put it on the table. She brought our bill out before even asking if we were done (we were not) and when we told her we were going to take advantage of the happy hour, she pointed to a friend and said to her "You're not drinking." My friend did not leave a tip b/c of Luz's discourteous attitude and Luz had the audacity to tell her "You know the tip wasn't included." That wasn't even the worse: After another friend paid his bill, Luz came back to the table and told him "That wasn't even a 20% tip." UNBELIEVABLE! Then when we asked another male waiter if we could have some water, he just looked at us! WOW! We are a group of educated, working class individuals who would have generously tipped for good customer service. We will definitely not come back.

We visited Mariano's with our daughter and her husband on a Friday night. We had to wait for a table, but it was worth it. We waited at the bar and had one of their famous margaritas. YUM! It was excellent. It gave us a chance to relax and look around the huge place. We had great service both at the bar and at our table. I had the steak fajitas and they were superb! They came with rice and beans that were also excellent. The tortillas are handmade (you can watch them at the entrance) and it really does make a difference.

Met some friends here for dinner over the Christmas holidays. We were seated quickly and had a server at our table immediately. Everything was prepared as per our requests and was very tasty. Looking forward to coming here again.

Very good, had a price tag that matched! The margaritas are still about the best I remember having. Was a little disappointed that they changed the menu up so much, my favorite items were gone :( glad I went back though and I shall return!

Great margaritas, with good tequila. Food is well priced and good. Atmosphere is nice and service is good.

A comfortable, pleasant Mexican restaurant. Nice choices on the menu. Good guacamole and good chips and salsa. I highly recommend the steak fajitas. They make their tortillas fresh. Get in margarita on ice; don’t get the frozen one. Service is good.

Dropped in here during a trip to Dallas, drawn by the reviews and the raves over the margaritas. Happy to report it was all true. I had been seeking a great jalapeño margarita for months, and found a great one at Mariano's. The food was excellent, the atmosphere was better and different from any Mexican place I'd ever been....almost like a nice lodge or something and the staff was top notch with cool uniforms. I'll go back every time I get to Dallas.

We have eaten the entire menu and love just about everything. Best queso in Dallas. Best beef fajitas. Best stuffed jalapeños. I love the frozen margarita.

Mariano's is the home of the frozen margarita and indeed the beverage plays prominently on the menu./ The food is OK- I had the flautas and found that they weren't terribly dry as they can be when overcooked. The guac was quite tasty- which is a heck of an endorsement from me as I am extremely picky about my guac. Service was good at first, then our server disappeared for a good half an hour after we were done eating and ready for the check.

Always, busy, but worth the wait. Once you've eaten here you'll keep coming back. The food is good, and as with most Mexican restaurants, it is served quickly and hot. Their margarits are good, as befits the pace where the frozen Margarita machine was invented. Try the Skinny Margarita for a good one which won't bust your diet. The menu is broad, and they are quir=te willing to accommodate special requests. For the light eater their tapas taco plate, shown as an appetizer, is a good meal. If you have a huge appetite try The Whole Enchilada, a combo meal with almost everything you cna think of served on two platters! Their wait staff is courteous and quick, and mostly Mexican. Don't let a large wait list put you off. The bar area is a great place to wait, and they always tell you the wait is longer than it turns out to be. We try to go their whenever we are in Dallas.

I have been a huge fan after discovering the location in Arlington. I had an opportunity to try this location and it impressed me just as much. Mariano's my favorite place to introduce people to as it isn't a big chain. It's local Tex Mex and they do it amazingly well. Our waitress was very pleasant and helpful and had some great suggestions on what meals were some favorites. I think her name was Marcella. Always checked on us with a big smile on her face and made us feel right at home. Sat on the patio as it is enclosed for the winter and it was nicely sealed so you didn't feel the outdoor chill. I had the Spicy Chicken something or other. Blackened chicken breast on a bed of cheese and chiles with a puff taco, guacamole and rice. It was excellent and a large helping. She had the Fire roasted poblano pepper stuffed with jack cheese and grilled chicken. The margaritas are to die for. I like the Mariano, and she had a new frozen swirl with sangria, mango and all sorts of goodness. Great atmosphere, excellent food and drinks and wonderful wait staff!

I got take-out from Mariano's last weekend and brought beef fajitas and the fixing's home to my family. We've eaten here several times before and always were served good food but this past time I was blown away by the quality, flavor, and tenderness of the beef fajitas and felt compelled to write a review. Next time you go, order the beef fajitas! Don't think anyone else can make them that good. Plus, they provided generous amounts of the fixing's to top the meat. Bonus is that there is a parking spot for take-out and you don't even have to get out of your car!

Ate there with four friends. Got right in with reservations and was served in a timely manner. Margaritas were very good. We were served two kinds of salsa with our complimentary chips, the red salsa was good, the green salsa was excellent! Most of us ordered different meals and there were no complaints from anybody - great food!

Visit Mariano's the birthplace of the frozen margarita, or least the frozen margarita machine. In addition to great margarita's, Mariano's offers a wide selection to Tex-Mex foods to please just about anyone. The food is good, the atmosphere is pleasant the staff is friendly. The restaurant offers several amenities for just about everyone, from the ice trough at the bar to keep drinks cold while waiting during busy hours, outdoor seating with a fire pit on for chilly nights, seats with saddles for the kids, a tortilla kitchen with glass walls to make tortilla making transparent, and TV's over the urinals for the guys.

The beef fajitas was listed in the Dallas Observer and the best in Dallas, NOT. While the meat was very tender it did not have much flavor. The chicken fajita meat was just tasteless. Add mediocre service and it just was not an enjoyable experience. Rated this as average as the table side guacamole, flour tortillas and the salsa were good. Not sure if I'll go back.

We go here every week for 15 years and it never disappoints. Our waiter, Angel, is the best there is. Check it out.

Real deal Tex-Mex that’s consistent in quality, taste and service. Had the poblano al carbon that wasn’t suffocated by sauce accompanied by rice and beans. Prior to the entree, ordered the Skinny margarita that washed down fresh chips and salsa. This place gets busy and can be a little loud so not recommended for heavy business negotiations unless they’re out of towners wanting to sample the real deal. In that case, pick up the check and considered the deal closed.

My second visit to Mariano's was as satisfying as the first! The chips are served hot and fresh and the salsas are delicious! The service is fantastic and the decor is fun! You can see the lady making tortillas through a window as you walk up! Happy hour M-F 2-6. Discounted beer and margaritas!

Mariano's is a great place to get a real taste of Mexican food! Their chips and queso is delicious, along with their homemade tortillas! Every meal seems to have great portions but it is pretty expensive. I'd come back to this place in the future, though. If you're an adult, make sure you get one of their famous frozen margaritas!

Visited Mariano's with a friend for lunch. The service was excellent and the staff very accommodating. The food came out quickly and was good. I'd definitely visit again.

We went here to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. This restaurant has turned into one of our favorites. Prices are a bit higher than average but the food is consistently good. You have to order the queso mariano. It is no ordinary queso. There is seasoned meat, sour cream, guac, tomatoes, and peppers in it. You stir it all up and it is delicious! Pair it with some margaritas and you have a party! Don't forget to savor the smoky salsa and perfectly prepared chips that are of course free. We also ordered the mini tapas tacos (7 to an order) for $11.99. The meat is really well seasoned and tasty. Beef nachos come with copious amounts of well-seasoned skirt steak. The Jesse Lopez was two cheese enchiladas with rice and beans. Portions are very generous and there is no way you leave here hungry! This place gets crazy busy so there are doing a lot of things right.

The kids love this place for their birthday because they get to wear a sombrero and the staff will sing Happy Birthday. It's a great place for a family, the food is good, they serve the kiddos quickly, the drinks are flowing and everyone is happy. We had three kids (two meals between them), four adults with entrees, six adult drinks and milk for the kids. $135 plus tip.

We went in for a late dinner at about 10 PM on a Friday evening. Getting a table was no problem. I had the chicken enchiladas with rice & beans. They were excellent. My wife had the chicken tortilla soup and loved it. The service was excellent. The beer selection was a bit limited but it was OK. They have a great selection of margaritas.

I enjoyed two Mariano Margarita's and the Beef Fajitas for dinner a few nights ago. I'm still thinking about how delicious the food was. The housemade tortillas were phenomenal, and the service was impressive. I'll be going back.

They are home to the frozen margarita. You have to get one or two of those while you are here. Also very good salsa and queso. The steak fajitas were unbelievable. So tender and tasty! I highly recommend this place for your Tex-Mex needs. Will return again definitely!!

Wow!! The food was great, and the service was amazing. We split the VIP platter between 2 of us and are taking a good bit of it home. Fajitas were great and the brisket tacos were also good. We called ahead for seating and were promptly seated when we arrived 30 minutes later. Guacamole is exceptional and having grown up on the border- I have a pretty high standard when it comes to guac and Mexican food. Delicious and the food came out really quickly. The place was busy but service was on point despite how busy they were.

First time at Mariano and they win the prize for the best Mexican restaurant . The best salsa in town, smoke favor and warm . I wish they would add a branch in East Texas

Stopped in at 4PM, so it was a little confusing whether this was a really late lunch or a rather early dinner. I'll opt for the latter. My wife and I decided independently on the same dish (Spanish Chicken enchiladas) which is served with a heaping load of grilled veggies (broccoli, mushrooms, squash, cauliflower, and varieties of red and green pepper.) It was a large enough portion that it covered 2 meal requirements for me, but not so large that I couldn't finish it. Mariano's is home to the first frozen margarita machine, so I went really contrarian and had mine on the rocks -- while I'm not a big drinker, this is easily the best margarita ever for me. Service was friendly, attentive, without being intrusive, and the canned music stayed at a low enough level to permit normal conversation. The manager stopped by to apologize profusely for not having apple pie ready when we ordered. (Hey, it's the first day of school, so we can let something like that slide.)

Some local friends recommended this place for dinner. It was one of the best Mexican restaurants I've ever been to! The design and atmosphere was put together so well. Great story about how they invented the margarita and if you go on your birthday, they give you a wonderful celebration. 10 stars from us!!

Well prepared classic texmex meals. Tons of different margaritas and salsa for every palate. They also have a good selection of lunch specials. Service is attentive but not bothersome. The restaurant is clean and full of fun things to look at too!

Great dinner at Mariano's! We started with chips, delicious salsas, and a cup of queso which was great with the salsa. We also got a Wanda's margarita and a frozen margarita - both great! For our entrees, we had the cheese enchiladas which were covered in chili, which was different for us but delicious, and the Blackened Chicken Verde which was delicious and perfectly cooked. The portions were huge and we couldn't finish them! We would highly recommend Mariano's for dinner!

I was in Texas for a week and had to find a good place for Tex-Mex. I found Marianos on trip advisor and after looking at other similar restaurants this was our pick. The restaurant is huge and we went on a Monday night so the crowd was light and we were given a table immediately. The menu has great variety but I was in town for tacos so I went with the Brisket Tacos. First I have to describe the chips and salsa they brought. Chips were warm and very light. They had the typical cold red salsa but they also brought a warm fire grilled salsa that was simply fantastic. Deep flavors, a nice hint of spice, but I would compare it to gravy as I could put it on anything and it would make it delicious. Back to the tacos. Nice fresh flour tortillas, hint of hatch chili strips, and seasoned brisket to die for. Add in some fresh avocado and some of their in house fire grilled serrano house sauce and this was a great dinner. In no way was this the typical Mexican food that I find in Virginia where there are shiny pools of "stuff" on the plate, this was definitely a treat and if I'm ever in the area again I will make this a stop and try something different. Service was OK.

Mariano's, originally located in the Old Towne Shopping Center and home of the first Frozen Margarita Machine (Currently residing in the Smithsonian Institute), is a bastion of true "Tex-Mex" cuisine. Ingredients are fresh and well-prepared. The staff is courteous and professional and service is almost always swift. Their home made salsas are second to none. Frequent diner program takes some of the sting out of their slightly higher (but by no means unreasonable) prices. This is one of my favorite after church luncheon spots and a frequent, unanimous choice for family celebrations. Why go to a national chain when you can get superior food, excellent service and reasonable prices from a local landmark. Also, this is the same family that owns and operates the popular "La Hacienda Ranch" North Texas restaurants. Some menu differences and I believe Mariano's food quality to be a bit better. The entire organization has approximately six DFW locations.

Haven't been here in years, so decided to try it again for a Birthday dinner. And it didn't disappoint. Great salsa's and queso. Carnita's taco's were good as the mixed fajita's. Pretty great Margarita's as well. We'll be back very soon.

The quintessential Tex-Mex Restaurant in Dallas, TX at the birthplace of the Frozen Margarita Machine. Angel our server was great.

Great food and atmosphere. Kid friendly. Thumbs up! Everyone at our table enjoyed their plate. Food came in timely manner very pleased

We went to Cheesecake Factory was the wait was over 2 hours so we decided here since we come here at least 5 times a month and this is the first time it sucked from our waitress (Maye)looked lost n seemed she didn't feel like being at work ok so we've been here several times and my boyfriend is a vegetarian and we asked can you make the veggie enchiladas and she said no we said ya have made them bf she said no way to charge them ok fine what do ya have veggies she said veggie fajitas ok fine he will get that so the veggies were over cooked and just gross so whatever I guess some people they hire probably belong in the kitchen instead of taking orders she had no knowledge of anything I couldn't believe we got sucky service here but we'll probably not be going back to this location 👎🏼👎🏼

My sister in law recommended Mariano's when we were in Dallas last month and we had a delightful experience. Our grandson observed the coin operated horses which as we pulled into the parking lot which he rode on later We were greeted by a 10 ft tall stuffed bear when we entered the vestibule and there was additional taxidermy on the walls throughout the Resturant which set the desired ambiance for the dining experience. There was a large heated patio but we chose to eat indoors. The food was excellent and our waiter made guacamole with chips at our table which was a delicious treat for all of us to enjoy while waiting for our entrees. Our meals were large,delivered hot, reasonably priced and mighty tasty. Some in our family shared their food and we all enjoyed the entire dining experience and will definitely return when in the Dallas vicinity.

Just a touch crowded but very good service despite that. Huge portions and great Margaritas. Just a touch loud but overall, the dining experience was very good. I shall return.

Our family decided on this restaurant for lunch Easter Sunday. We expected there would be a long wait, but we were seated Immediately. The light tostadas and choice of two salsa dips was a nice beginning for the tasty meal that followed. Our family had a queso cheese appetizer followed by fajitas and cheese enchiladas topped with ranchero salsa. The waitstaff was prompt and efficient in serving our food. We would definitely return again.

never disappointed! Food great, service great, employees always seem happy. Good for families. Lots to look at and patio is wonderful. Delish margaritas! Fun atmosphere inside and out