Ortega’s Original Mexican Food

Had the Torta Special, chips and salsa, and a crispy beef taco for around $ 10. I’m not going to pick apart every detail down to the size of cilantro leaves… the salsa was fresh and tasty, the torta was fine, and I probably won’t order a crunchy taco again, although it tasted ok, I didn’t care for the shell
Overall a good value spot to grab a bite
Place looks like it was a Dairy Queen in the 1980s

Unilocal! You REALLY let me down on this one. Perhaps the early reviews touting the cream cheese enchiladas were written by the owner’s family members. Now that I checked again, this place is getting closer to the rating it deserves (0 stars). Based on the early reviews, I went to Ortega’s with a friend. Driving into the barely paved parking lot and seeing what appeared to be an old Dairy Queen, converted into a Mexican restaurant, I was apprehensive. However, I gave them the benefit of the doubt. (see my review of Wilson’s Barbecue to see why)
I wish I’d followed my gut instinct and driven away.
I cannot remember what I ordered, but not being a fan of cream cheese enchiladas, I did not order that highly praised dish. However, my friend, based on my description of the reviews, did. My dish was so bland, I must have just purged it from my memory…
What he received was a plate containing what appeared to be a fresh cow pattie (Texans will know what I mean). Actually it looked like a cow pattie, from a cow at death’s door. After a few bites, he’d had enough.
We spent some of our time there in complete amazement at their clientele. My friend described the setting aptly as «looking like we were trapped in the shooting of The Last Picture Show. Except this was in living color. There was one large woman, I remember vividly, with HUGE curlers in her hair. Her makeup was so heavy, it would have distracted pilots on final approach to DFW. And her mumu… Well, enough about the patrons, you’re here for a dining review…
Suffice it to say, we left, still hungry in search of Mexican food, since our taste buds were still waiting expectantly. (wait until you see what happened at the El Chico, just up the road a ways!)

Very friendly staff. Had the breakfast plate, that make it in front of u so it comes out hot and fresh. One thing they could improve on, is have home made tortillas, and not the packaged store bought. My plate was $ 7. And breakfast tacos start at $ 3.50 ea.

Lunch today at El Chico. Sat in the bar. Got great service from bartender while watching Fox Sports. Tried the new Acapulco Shrimp. Bacon wrapped shrimp stuffed with cheese and jalapino. Great dish. Would have liked to had a tecate with lunch but have to work rest of the day. :(They have a $ 2 draft beer special on Thursdays. Will come back.

The staff is friendly and the food is not bad. That’s why I gave them 2 stars. The bad thing is the food is NOT authentic. When I go to a Mexican resturant I want the people working there and cooking there to look authentic! Call me crazy but I think the best Mexican places to eat are the ones where you can order in Spanish.

This place is totally bad!!! The food has no flavor and is definitely not Mexican. It is more like something kids would throw together on a Saturday night. The staff brings their «loud» kids and lets them play video games on the TV in the dining room! One waitress will occupy ALL your time by talking to you and telling you her entire life history while you try to eat! As if you were even interested??? The only good thing about this place is their hamburgers on sourdough bread. You don’t get many French fries though. And take it TO GO!!!

Not worth it. my mom ordered scrambled eggs, fried potatoes, with biscuits and gravy. The gravy was really salty, the eggs tasted hard boiled, and the biscuits were rock hard. I ordered the enchilida plate-​one beef, one cheese. First bite in I discovered that they
a chicken enchilida not beef and the. chicken was PINK upon further expection. The cheese one was fine and I really enjoyed the chips and salsa. However after being ill from the pink chicken I will not return. No matter how close they are.

Overview:
I hoped that a good place would move in to this location after Burgers+ and some pizza place both left; so I was very excited to see a Mexican food place open in Richland Hills. Unfortunately, I’m back to wishing again because I will not likely ever eat food made by these people again.
This is a «family-​owned and operated» business — and you can tell. It seems like they generally have 2 or 3 generations hanging around; either eating or helping out. This might make you think that the food and service would be top notch — but that’s not the case. When we visited, there were two (rather loud) boys who belonged to employees just hanging out while their parents worked. The waitress kept getting on them to behave, but this had little effect.
Speaking of the family, they say that they are from «Northside» in Fort Worth, but the food tastes more like they are from the «North Side» of the U.S. Their food is very bland and is neither TexMex nor «Authentic Mexican.» Granted, I’m not Mexican, but I eat at as many small, authentic places that I can. This place could benefit by the cooks visiting either a good TexMex place or San Diego Tacos on Hwy 26 for some *real* mexican food.
Food Details:
Had to ask for Chips and Salsa. The Chips were so, so greasy and had no salt. The salsa was thick like tomato paste and must have been at least 25% raw garlic. I could hardly «dip» a chip in it and eat it. Really, it was the thickest salsa I have ever had.
I had the Carne Asada (from the specials board). The vegetables (onions and peppers) were slimy and overcooked and the meat had little flavor. The tortillas were standard fare. The rice and beans were also bland and not very warm.
My wife got the Chicken Fried Steak with Mac and Cheese and Green Beans. She said the steak was «ok» but bland. I could see the Mac and Cheese looked like standard cafeteria orange/​yellow nastiness (but I realize that some people like this).
Conclusion:
I don’t mind a «family place» and even some stray kids hanging around if they’re well-​behaved. I don’t take my kids to restaurants and let them act up — and I expect the same from the establishment.
I also don’t mind a «family place» where the family works together to try to make everything as good as it can be. Someone needs to tell the cook to either hire someone else to make the recipes or get another cook.
You cannot serve «Mexican Food» like this in North Texas and stay in business. For the sake of this family, I hope they make some changes for the better.

second chance! staff had their act together this time, unfortunately the food is severely lacking.
i ordered the chicken soft taco plate (included rice and beans). my server brought the meal and apologized that the «dark meat wasn’t ready, so i got white meat».
the tacos were plain unseasoned shredded white meat with lettuce/​tomato/​cheese, and tasteless rice. beans were good, salsa was good. beans and salsa don’t make a meal, though.
don’t waste your time here, i really can’t see this place lasting.

New restaurant very friendly staff. Sure soon will out do any food around. Fresh food was very good my Mexican eggs will be back soon

This place is not good. I ordered nachos to go and they forgot the cheese (I kid you not). Even then, the food was mediocre. The meat was bland and the beans were watery. Evidently there is no one on staff with any knowledge of Mexican cuisine.
If you’re looking for good Mexican food, I suggest Taco Bell, because it is not to be found here. This place is like something you would find in North Dakota.
I will be shocked if this place is not a vacant building by summer.