El Arroyo 5th Street

I’m an original, born and raised here and been eating here for what seems like my whole life! Haven’t been here in a year but was excited to introduce this place to friends. It was awful! I was embarrassed. Sunday early dinner, literally 3 people working one of which was the cook! The menus were so faded we couldn’t read them! Seriously, I had to pull the menu up on my phone. Drinks were horrible, mostly sweet & sour mix. Their famous shrimp Diablo featured under cooked bacon. My guy ordered their seafood enchiladas and then was sick all night from them… I would have called for a refund, but we paid cash and bolted from there without our detailed receipt. The rest of us left 90% of our food uneaten. Maybe I should send all out of towners to eat here so they can giggle at their catchy signs and then hate the «Austin original» cuisine so much they won’t move here!
El Arroyo, this visit me sad that I’ve lost one more place that made my Austin, Austin.

Of course, I went there to see what the famous sign was. The food was good to OK. Chili con queso was tasty, but it even had that little film layer when it was hot and just delivered. Not surprising because I’ve heard it ranges from one of the best in town to absolutely horrible. The waiter recommended the enchiladas or something with their BBQ chicken, and he was right. BBQ chicken enchiladas were great. Good quality meat and clearly BBQ smoked taste, not just BBQ sauce. Different than flavors offered in most other Mexican or Tex-​Mex places. Also, super strong margaritas!

Manny, the manager was a complete jerk. We had fajitas delivered via grubhub they left out tortillas. When I called back he stated he would have the sent right out. 3 hours later I called back and ask for a credit, he laughed and stated too bad… not getting a refund. I will never eat here or order from grubhub again.

It was good and tasty; staff is friendly and outgoing.
Parking is a monster

So disappointed! Tortilla soup totally washed out-​no flavor-​sent it back-​ordered beef taco-​same thing! No flavor– it’s like the took the meat, put it through the dishwasher and put it back on the grill-​everything tasted really bland-​come here for the décor and don’t expect decent tasting Mexican food:(

This review is positively inflated because of the hilarious sign outside and because of the awesome service we had. Went here with a friend this past weekend. Chips and salsa were very store bought/​not impressive. I got the skinny margarita which was standard of ones I’ve had before. I had the grilled fish tacos which were just okay. I liked how the rice on the side tasted, but lots of hard, partially cooked pieces. Our waitress was very nice and attentive! Overall good quality would probably be a 2 but atmosphere makes it more a 3 – 3.5!

El Arroyo! You need to up your game! Out of the graciousness of my old school Austin heart, I am not going to post photos of the women’s restroom. It is filthy! It seems you guys had a slammin brunch, then everyone took off and left our poor server and a bartender behind to fend for themselves. There are WAY TOO many choices in this town now for you not to at least try and make me feel like you ARE TRYING. You once were a classic, but now I think you may become extinct. Please WIPE THE MENUS, CLEAN THE RESTROOMS, TIDY UP THE PLACE AND HOLD YOUR STAFF TO A HIGHER STANDARD. I would guess they get the lack of standards from YOU though.

Has this place gone downhill or what?
This used to be one of my favorite spots downtown. It was always packed.
We arrived tonight at 6pm and there was hardly anyone there. We soon discovered why.
The chips and salsa were good, but that was about all. I ate one bite of the rice and 2 bites of my sour cream chicken enchiladas. Gross. I won’t be back. It’s sad because this place was so good a few years ago.

Worst service in the history of restaurants! It’s really really bad. And the food was sub-​par at best. The «$ 1 margaritas on Thursday» are actually $ 2 if you get it frozen. The waitress (I hate to even call her a waitress) failed to tell me that and after a friend and I had several of them we got the check to find out that they were actually $ 2. She said that there was nothing she could do to get the check fixed. I am 100% sure that I will NEVER be back. This place seriously sucks. I would rather go eat with the animals at McDonald’s.

Tex-​Mex fabulousity! Their queso is delicious and their food was divine. The way I test a Tex-​Mex place is if you screw up queso or enchiladas we’re done, but these folks have it down pat! Cute venue, lots of seating outdoors. We had been outside all day and wanted to enjoy a bit of A/​C, so we sat inside. They keep that place COLD! So, bring a little sweater along and enjoy great food and great service. I must also say that the people watching is really good there… Parking is not great there, but no one in that area has good parking…

Went for dinner yesterday around 6. We had what I can only say was the worlds worst service ever. They were expecting a large party which took the full dining room (party didn’t arrive until we were leaving) so they were staffed to be busy. Our drinks from the bar didn’t arrive until after our meal, a table of 6 was given 1 basket of chips and one small salsa, we sat in the 95 degree heat in a patio with water glasses empty until we paid our bill. Food was good. Service terrible. When we told manager our experience he agreed with us but instead of getting us our waters or drinks from the bar, disappeared. Terrible service.

So bad! Came today with a group of coworkers. The service was so slow. We got our first round of drinks pretty quick and then they took our order… and then the wait began. We could not get the waitresses attention for drink refills. When we finally did they didn’t bring tea. Everyone finally received their orders… except one person who’s order they completely missed. They came back and asked him what he ordered. Then they came back and told him they were making it right now. He got it when everyone else was almost done. She said as she set the plate down that the manger had discounted his lunch. Really? Should have just comped it.
The bbq chicken enchiladas were good but the rice is horrible.
Just a meh for me. Not a place I will seek out.

This place is great for the 99 cent Thursday ritas. I recommend passing on the food, though.

Have not been here in a very long time. Tried to go today and went in, sat down and waited to be acknowledged. We waited… And waited. And waited.
After more than 5 minutes of being ignored, we got up and left.

What the Hell??? This is the worst service I’ve ever had here. For a place that serves marginal food they should step up the service. 20 minutes and no menus or chips or drinks. Big girl acted like it was a bother to wipe the table off.
Skip this place and go anywhere else. Geeze!

Not sure if this place is under new management or just stepped up their game but for years we thought the only good thing about it was the marquee until I got a random cravin for some tex mex. We were tentative to go on their frat dollar margarita night but were pleased to find out that’s no longer a thing.
Food — great (add jalepenos or seranos to the fajitas for extra kick)
Drinks — awesome, the bartender hand made me an amazing margarita
Service — We sat at the bar and the service was legit in my opinion, everyone there had really great energy (especially the bartender) save for the occasional server, but that’s the industry
There’s something new in the ditch’s water, we highly recommend, check it out!

Their Marquee sign is a definite highlight. I drive by it everyday on my way to work and think it is hilarious.
I frequent this establishment for one reason only: the margaritas that are magically priced at $ 1 or $ 2 on Thursday nights. Endless chips and salsa and $ 1 margaritas makes for a very happy Caitlin.
I have tried some of their menu items, including the fajitas and I feel like the food is average. What really tops this place to a 4 star is their thursday promotion, where I can get my drink on without breaking my bank.

Let’s see… what can I say about this place… oh, that’s right, it’s AWESOME.
Not just for their hilarious signs that are shared globally on Facebook, but their drinks, food, and service are phenomenal.
Do you like Happy Hour? Me too. Know who else does? El Arroyo. Seriously, you should check it out.
They have a great patio as well. Do yourself a favor and get one (or a few) of their ritas, some chips & queso, and soak in all the amazing weather Austin has to offer.
By the way, they have live music on the weekends. Sounds like heaven right?

I’ve always loved going here. Was one of my favorites when I moved to Austin. They’ve always been known for great food, great drinks (Can’t beat $ 0.99 rita Thursdays), and most of all, great signs!
The Fidel’s Burger (which was renamed from Cuban Burger) was to die for, and their spinach queso was amazing. Sadly, the last time I went, they’d removed much of their menu (including the Fidel’s which I so very much loved) and the spinach queso was gone. My friends also complained of their favorites having disappeared as well.
The drastic change in the menu really disappointed me, and while I wouldn’t say no to going back, El Arroyo isn’t on my ‘automatic go-​to’ list anymore.

Three stars isn’t really my thing but w/​El Arroyo on 5^th St its hard to justify more, or less.
So, what does three stars mean to me? Well, I wouldn’t go out of my way to go here but it’ll do in a pinch. And that’s El Arroyo.
Had lunch here the other day w a colleague and was reminded it can’t be better than three stars. Chips? Plentiful and stale. That’s like having bad free coffee… Yeah, its free, but bad. The salsa? Nothing noteworthy and thin: I hate thin salsa. Mexican rice? Forgettable (but if you’ve read my other reviews you know how hard it is to get Mexican rice right.
The good? The tamale plate (pork) is usually pretty reliable, and its pretty damned tasty. And the charro beans? Really good — better than average.
Service here, like many old Austin institutions, is entirely a crap shoot: sometimes good, sometimes not. The bus service (clean-​up, chips/​salsa) is almost always good however, while the hostesses, when on duty, are almost always put off by having to show you to your table.
What a place: some one-​star stuff, some five, or close to five anyway, so that’s a three.
Perhaps the best thing about this place is its ever-​changing and almost always snarky and fun sign. But if you’re a restaurant and the thing you’re best known for is your marquee? Well, that’s not good.