Chuy’s Mexican Food
216 Summit Blvd,Ste 135, Birmingham, AL, 35243
Chuy’s Mexican Food Menu
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Address :
216 Summit Blvd,Ste 135
Birmingham, AL, 35243 - Phone (205) 977-4224
- Website https://www.chuys.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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R G.
Just not good & won't return. In some ways it's typical tex-mex; however there are some major deal breakers. Let's start w/the complimentary salsa they bring to the table w/chips. It's extremely spicy...jalapeno spicy w/the seeds. It's so hot that it's hardly edible. Most tex-mex restaurants offer a mild complimentary salsa. What if you had kids that grabbed chips and just dug in? I had fish tacos that my husband referred to as "muddy" tasting. I describe them as just fishy - not fresh. My husband had vegetarian enchiladas, which were also extremely spicy. He actually likes spicy, and it was still a bit much for him. I've never been to a Mexican restaurant and most dishes were almost too spicy to eat. Lastly, flavor is just lacking.
(1)Chelsey C.
This really is, hands down, the best Mexican in Birmingham. Fresh food, house-made tortillas, and a happy hour nacho bar that could legitimately work as a full meal if you could stand passing up one of the entrees. I am big on getting good quality and quantity of food for price, and this is the best place for that. Wait staff is great and views on the patio are stunning.
(5)Jacob W.
Really great tex mex food. Lots of choices and unique options. I've eaten here several times and am always satisfied, never had anything I didn't enjoy. And I love the decor inside. So much to keep your attention while you enjoy your meal.
(4)Michael N.
This particular trip was intended just for a quick Happy Hour experience at the bar. They do have some unique free options during Happy Hour that can not be found at most Tex-Mex places. There is the option for chips and salsa but also cheese dip, ground beef, and refried beans. I decided to get an order of the Guacamole and found it to be quite good although you'll get some avocado chunks in there in an attempt to show it's "freshly" made. The House Margarita available on the cheap during Happy Hour is not surprisingly pretty weak but we all know that's not abnormal so can't necessarily fault them for that.
(4)Alyssa D.
I went to Chuys recently for a Saturday birthday lunch as was, sadly, not impressed. I REALLY wanted to like the place because of its great location and the great strawberry margarita that started off my meal. The margarita was excellent, as was the view from our outside table. The very friendly waiter even brought me a sample of a new margarita flavor to try on the house! The chips were not very fresh or thick, but the salsa was yummy-- fine grated rather than pico, as I like it, and with a little bite to it. Unfortunately, that's where the party ends and the lackluster begins. I ordered the enchilada plate. It was thoroughly OK. The enchiladas were very small for a ten dollar plate: I would have done better to order two more margaritas instead. =p I wasn't impressed by my meal, and neither was anyone else at the table. I paid a pricey $15 and left pretty hungry. I don't think I would go back to Chuy's on my own volition. Flip burger is next door, and your money is much better compensated there. I would happily go back to drink, though: that was a dang good margarita!
(3)J M.
Solid food, decent prices, good service, and an amazing view!
(4)Noelle D.
Large chain of fair to middlin Tex Mex food. Tex Mex tends to use a lot of cheese, stewed meats, and beans. Lots of cheese. This is not a place to go if you are looking for "authentic" mexican food. I guarantee you won't find authentic mexican food at The Summit. This place has all the good and bad elements of the five Chuys I've been to in Austin: Good: the chicka chicka boom boom margaritas cheese dip Bad: long wait loud music uncomfortable booths The service was pleasant, the hostess was blase, the food was a-ok. This Chuy's has a few bonuses Good: Great view of the hills in north shelby county from the patio My Dad is happy he can eat at Chuy's without having to drive to Texas. Bad: Parking. I mean. Damn. There is a covered parking deck but you have to walk through an alley with a dumpster and all around the patio. Sidenote: How is it that the summit is such a new development and the parking is this ill-planned? The Summit is pretty much a copy of all the latest 'lifestyle' malls out there - The Domain, Albuquerque Uptown, etc. I wouldn't be surprised if they were designed and owned by the same people.
(3)Amanda C.
Chuy's never disappoints! Our fave Tex-Mex in town. Salsa is very fresh and creamy jalepeño dip is addicting! We love the fajitas the best!!!
(5)Matt S.
This place probably has one of the best outside sitting views on 280. It over looks a vast stretch of the road, city, and mountains. My review might be higher but I was a little disappointed with what I ordered. I am used to Chimichangas from other restaurants so I ordered a "Chuychanga". Honestly, and my gf ordered same thing and agreed, it tasted like a fancy hot pocket. So I would not recommend this.
(3)Joshua W.
Great service and really good food. The steak burrito was awesome. If you're really hungry get the Elvis combination. They make their own tortillas on site.
(4)Marlin S.
Love the happy hour car trunk nacho buffet. The watermelon margaritas are great! Beautiful view on the patio.
(4)Matthew H.
Yeah it's a chain but a good chain, like Shake Shack, BurgerFi, or In-n-Out. We stopped in for lunch and really enjoyed the experience. The space is quite large and we were sat towards the back at a table and our server was very friendly and attentive. You get a basket of fresh made chips that were constantly refilled accompanied by fresh salsa and a jalapeno ranch which was really dang good. We order some queso as an app and quite honestly it was a large portion. We then ordered the mains, I went with the steak burrito and got it with the hot verde sauce. While the verde sauce was hot it wasn't overly so and went well with the burrito I pretty much devoured it in no time. The accompanying rice was very good as well. Overall I thought that the prices were very reasonable for what you got and the quality was better than 90% of other Mexican places. This is definitely a really nice addition to The Summit and I am looking forward to visiting it again in the future.
(4)Matt H.
Solid place to eat! The wait will be the only thing that dampers your visit but it is wort it for the authentic and fresh food that you get. Salsa is FANTASTIC!!!!
(5)Gordon K.
We arrived at Chuy's at about 7:00 P.M. last night, Tuesday. This review addresses this visit only, but since I have been here before, I will mention trends. We had a ten minute wait which is short for this restaurant. Long waits are the norm here. I ordered crispy tacos. The ground beef was not greasy, but was tasteless and oversalted. I have noticed this tendency to oversalt before at Chuy's. I got the green chili rice and charro beans with the tacos and they were mediocre, also. I asked for flour tortillas which actually were very good and are handmade in the restaurant. My wife ordered cheese enchiladas, but chicken was brought out, so we had a double wait for food. Serving incorrect orders is also common here. Our waiter was reasonably efficient, but had a major frown on his face always. Thirty years ago there were only a handful of bad Tex-Mex restaurants in Birmingham. Now, there are quite a few and this is one of the best. Having said that, the food is mediocre, service is hit or miss, but the view is wonderful. If you are in the mood for Tex-Mex in Birmingham, this is one of your few choices that is even worthwhile, but they could do much better. If you are new to Tex-Mex cuisine, you will probably really enjoy it.
(3)Stephen B.
Fun place. I would rate the restaurant as a whole 4 stars but 3 stars for the food. There is a lot better Mexican food in town. Nothing here is special. Still, it's a fun place to go.
(3)Paul C.
The reviews are right, you have to try the cream jalapeno salsa. Also, I recommend the charro beans over the refried beans. Unless you really love refried beans (does anyone really love refried beans?).
(4)Bret B.
This place is terrible. The service is poor and unprofessional. The food is mediocre unless you like plastic fork pieces in your tacos cause that is what I got last time I went. I have given this place three chances and each time it was a bad experience. Nasty jazz.
(1)Karen C.
I came in for a to go order at lunch. I ordered the tortilla soup after hearing good things and chips & queso. My total was around $11. I raised an eyebrow but assumed I would get some awesome food. I get back to my office and I look in the bag... one small thing of soup, one rolled up tortilla, small thing of cheese (this is not queso Chuy's) and condiments no chips. For $11? I could have gone to Winn Dixe and bought a bag of scoops and queso in a jar for half of that. And it would have tasted better too. The soup wasn't that great by the way So disappointing. Just go to Collonade El Poblano for the real thing.
(1)Matthew C.
Pretty decent Mexican cuisine FOOD: Standard Mexican cuisine. It's all pretty solid. SERVICE: Friendly, and fast. They get the dishes out very quickly. Honestly, I feel a bit rushed there. This place gets VERY crowded, and there can be a bit of a wait... but not because of slow service. ATMOSPHERE: Casual. Lots of old hubcaps and other nicknack things give it a fun feel. They also have a separate bar area. SUMMARY: Solid food, prompt service. It's a good spot.
(3)Keith C.
Apparently I never wrote a review of Chuy's, despite having gone two nights in a row, so here's my opportunity to make up for that. I was curious if all the hype surrounding Chuy's was due to the fact that it was new, it was new and at the Summit, or it was new, at the Summit, and located near the not-quite-as-new Flip burger "boutique". Turns out all that's probably true, but w/out even considering that, Chuy's seems to be able to hold its own just based on its food alone. The first time I visited the place, our party was originally at Flip and opted to "defect" over the burger border if you will, making our Flip waitress quite annoyed. (Sorry Flip, but when I want a burger, recognizing the toppings is kind of a requirement in my book.) So we hopped over and had some great friggin' food! I tried the "Chicka-Chicka Boom Boom" which was fantastic (check out chuys dot com for a look at a few menu offerings, including this one), and had a chance to try some sopapillas, which were just right after waaaayy too much in the belly. (Bottomless chips and salsa at the table are a great kickstart to the meal as well.) The second night's visit introduced the "big as yo' face" burrito (which is NOT false advertising to be sure) to my overindulgence, and it was just as delicious as night #1. And despite my not being the typical drinker, I decided to give a Chuy's mojito a try on that warm summers-end evening, and it was pretty tasty. It was my first so I don't have a basis for comparison, but the mint, limey, sugary combination hit the spot and went well with the ridiculously-ginormous burrito. And of course since I enjoyed night #1's sampling of the sopapillas, I had to give 'em another go - and bueno the second time around as well. So, my final thoughts on Chuy's - I'm not sure a 90 minute wait just to sit on the outside patio is worth it (when the weather's nice enough), but trying the place out I think is. The restaurant atmosphere and food options present a slight uniqueness that I'd imagine will have people coming back again and again, me being one of them. That said, go ahead, check 'em out -
(5)Randy A.
So I'm chewing my lunch here, the Chicka- Chicka Boom Boom plate and I find something really, really chewy. I pull it out and find a rubber band. Tengo yuck. The seasoning was okay though. Crowded for lunch. Service was fair. Good location. But not too keen on a rubber band in my meal. They were cool about taking care of the meal though.
(2)Courtney A.
Shortly after opening at The Summit, Chuy's quickly became one of my favorite restaurants in Birmingham. Not only because the fajitas are always great, but their location is super convenient (only 2 miles from my house). However, be prepared to wait. On any given night, the wait can be anywhere from 45 min - 2 hours. If weather permits, request a table outside on the patio. The views of Birmingham will not disappoint. It's a great place to go for a date or drinks with your friends. Only complaint: The customer service is mediocre. It seems the host/hostess would rather be somewhere else. And they are never super friendly when you enter the restaurant. Best bet: don't miss their Happy Hour (Mon-Fri; 4-7pm). First come, first serve seating available at the bar and some areas of the outside patio. Free nacho car...yes, FREE! Comes fully stocked with chips, queso, beans, salsa... $4.25 house margaritas and $2.75 domestic beers. It's the best way to enjoy Chuy's - no long wait, speedy service, drink specials and free nachos. Don't forget to ask about the creamy jalapeño dip!
(4)Russ M.
once again I wish I could give half stars, I would give 3.5 stars. As it is I rounded this one down to 3. There is certainly nothing bad to say about Chuy's. Nice decor, helpful staff, solidly good food, a few interesting perks like the choices of sauces together make Chuy's a good choice. But, I have to say that it is really no better than some well established nicer Tex-Mex offerings, most notably La Paz and Superior Grill. The hip, trendy, super stream-lined atmosphere of the Summit and everything there is fine but creates a lack of true character for everything there. For my time, effort and money I prefer somewhere with a dining experience with a bit more substance. All in all, not bad, but not a super-star either.
(3)Lauren S.
It's just not good food. Service is friendly, and it's a fun atmosphere, but the good is simply below average and overpriced. Good margaritas if you catch the happy hour deal, but that free food bar at happy hour is gross.
(1)Yassir M.
I was in Birmingham for a business trip and went looking for a good bite on a Monday night. We walked in and the place was full of people but we were seated in no time. Soon after that, our waitress Tiffany came over and explained to us the variety of different sauces and I ordered the Chicka Chicka boom boom. The combination of the fresh tortilla, tender chicken and that sauce, that dish was flavorful. We also enjoyed their chips and salsa especially the Jalapeno cream sauce, that sauce is money. The service was warm and friendly and the food was good. I love the decor, its cozy and welcoming. Next time I am in town I will eat there. Also check out their cool t-shirts that have for sale.
(4)Jessica M.
I have a pretty short review for this one. I've always had good experiences here, but it's a little bit overpriced...UNLESS....you get there between 4:00 and 7:00 on a weekday for their FREE NACHO BAR!! There is literally nothing better.
(3)Lori J.
Not impressed. Food was lukewarm on hot plates...so it probably sat in the window for a bit. Service was very slow. Good tasted good, but there really isn't any excuse for food being served warm. Won't go back.
(2)Jennifer W.
Love this place! It is crowded so not the place for a quiet dinner out. On the first visit, I had the chicka-chicka boom boom-boom. It was very tasty. My boyfriend ordered the steak burrito. I took one bite and that is all I order now. The meat is very tender, has great flavor and it's spicy. It comes with rice and beans which are also very good. It is a lot of food but I don't mind as I take home the leftovers and it is the perfect lunch. Not impressed with the salsa but it is fine. The nacho car is fun but better get there before 5:15pm if you want a seat. The outside seating is the best but can be hard to come by as it is open seating. There are many locations, I have eaten at 4 in AL, GA and SC. The consistency of the food is refreshing. It is good to know I will get a great meal no matter the location.
(5)Victoria M.
My mother and I tried out this Chuys a few months ago. I had not heard many good reviews of their food, but I had heard the cheese dip was good. Neither of our orders were what we expected them to be like and neither of them were that good. However the service we got was fantastic. After we told our water we weren't impressed, the manager (not sure of her name) came to ask us what our problems were and why we didn't like the food. My mom told her what was wrong with her order and I just mentioned that mine just wasn't that great. The manager ended up comping both of our meals and sent out a free dessert. Very impressed that she did this for us as nothing was actually wrong with my meal. The dessert, again not sure what it was but it was a cake type thing soaked in cream, was amazing. I was intimidated by all the dairy that was in it but I definitely recommend that dessert! Thank you for the great service!
(3)carolyn h.
So, if you are going in here wanting authentic Mexican food, this isn't the place for you. But, if you want a fun, casual atmosphere with good service and a menu with something for everyone, then this is a good place. I went here with some girlfriends after a movie. It was 9:55 when we walked in. Our server was attentive, friendly. We just order some beers and snacked on the chips and salsa. I eventually ordered a quesedilla appetizer which was full of lots of cheese. I was most impressed because we were obviously one of the last tables in the place and no one asked us to close our bill, or finish up, or even came over to tell us they were closing, they just kept saying "no, stay as long as you guys want". I think that says a lot.
(4)Jenn G.
I'm a fish tacos fanatic, so I almost always get the Baja Fish Tacos, which are delicious. Of course, Chuy's is located at the Summit, so you can expect a wait almost any night you go, and it's especially busy on the weekends -- but if you're with friends, the wait and mess of decor (reminding you that this is a chain restaurant) aren't a problem. It's not somewhere I'd want to go on a date, but my guy and I have ordered take-out a few times and it's been good every time. You definitely get a LOT of food for your money, and it's usually ready within 20-25 minutes of calling.
(4)Pete B.
Always consistent! Thank goodness Birmingham has a good TexMex restaurant now!
(4)John M.
Very very busy on the night I went, so it's a very busy place-maybe others have had a better experience? They don't take reservations. They do a lot of take-out as well, so, if you go for dinner on a busy night, there's a slew of people as you walk in, and you'll probably have to wait a bit. Almost impossible to find parking anywhere near the place. I had the steak burrito, defintely more burrito than steak. Lots of sauce-which wasn't bad-had the tex mex sauce-but again, there might have been a forkful or two of steak-if that much. We had a party of three-tortilla chips came with the meal-but there might have been a handful and a half of those in a small basket. Food is on spicy side which I like; quality of food was OK. service was so-so. Place was packed, so many seem to frequent this place. They do seem to have a lot of dips you can order-so if you like that sort of thing, then check it out. From my experience, I'd give it about a C minus. They do have an outdoor seating area, and the views are nice.
(2)Ray M.
I went on a recommendation of a friend and I had a good meal with solid service. I ordered the chicken fajita burrito which was huge and had some nice flavor to it. I sat at the bar and there were some interesting patrons which kept me entertained.
(3)Jeff A.
Tex Mex Great company, good food, great times! The service was stellar; the portions were huge! Sopapillas sooo good! The jalapeño creamy ranch type sauce was amazing, I wish I cold buy some, unfortunately they don't sell it by the bottle, they should! We split a couple different plates, including fajitas, and a fire chicken special plate of some sort, yeah it was all good! Not the best, just really good, and for the price and convenience and that creamy jalapeno sauce what more can one seriously ask for? I would hit this place again for sure!
(4)Kelly V.
Take my advice. Eat the chips & salsa. Ask for jalapeño ranch dip (free) and order a bowl of soup. The food is mediocre; the soup is DELICIOUS. Bonus: leaving w/a smile, $ in the pocket, and not stuffed & miserable. Sit at thebar w/Angie; she's very sweet
(3)Chris O.
Lame! I rolled into Chuy's solo and heard there was a 25 minute wait. Naturally I proceeded to the bar to get a beverage and order some food. I sat in the only chair left for 15 minutes and not once had been asked... ANYTHING! (Meanwhile the bartender had made numerous snide remarkes to her counterparts in front of customers a HUGE NO NO in the eyes of any consumer! I happened to have worked in the restaurant business for years, and if I were her boss I would have a "come to Jesus meeting" had I seen that.) I finally figured, okay if they are not going to pay attention to a customer who clearly has no drink or food in front of them I should probably speak up. So I asked if I can get a drink, Daniel kindly obliged. A couple minutes later I stated "This is my first time here what should I get?" the guy behind the bar said the steak burrito was good... okay I thought... and the bartender piped up... "If you like spicy". At this point I basically wanted to be away from this negative energy that was vomiting out her pours. Okay enough of that... FOOD! Food was reasonable but nothing I have not had in the past. I would give the food a 3 star but the service was poor until I experienced the server outside. We'll call her R.G. she was awesome, considering my experience inside and the fact that they dont "allow food" outside with the beautiful view they have, my benefit of the doubt was already exhausted. Sorry Chu... Chances are I'll hit up the burger joint next door which was suggested higher then yours although I was in the mood for some mexiCAN food. O
(1)Hise G.
I just waited 1 hour for a meal at this place. I will not recommend Chuy's to anyone looking for a pleasant experience.
(2)Steve K.
Chuy's is one of my favorite Mexican (well... Tex-Mex) restaurants. I try to come early to take advantage of the free chips and salsa bar and happy hour specials. They can hold you over very well while you wait (expect a wait as this is a very popular place). Don't expect truly authentic Mexican food here, but you will find a lot of delicious and creative offerings. The menu is quite expansive for just serving Tex-Mex. Definitely don't come here if you want a quiet dinner, but definitely do come here if you are hungry, don't mind waiting for a table (the place is located in the best outdoor shopping mall in Alabama, so it's easy to kill time if the salsa bar or a margarita aren't to your liking). parking can be problematic. If the lot is crowded, and it almost always is being next to Flip Burger, The Cheesecake Factory, and a host of other restaurants and stores, try the parking garage behind the restaurant. There is a rear entrance to the restaurant from the patio. Overall, I found the food to be as good or better than the slightly more expensive and upscale Cocina Superior located in Brookwood Village.
(4)Brian S.
We went to Chuy's last night. Party of 7. We waited for 48 minutes which was fine considering the time of day. We ordered drinks from the bar and grabbed a couple of baskets of chips and salsa and waited outside on the patio. The salsa is tasteless. We were seated in the covered patio area. It was a bit chilly and the hostess said they would turn on the heater. That didn't happen until meals arrived. We ordered drinks and only received part of the drink order. Two drinks didn't arrive until 17 minutes later. Reason given was bar was busy. (Then hire another bar tender or a better one) Our food order was taken and we had to ask for water. (is there a water shortage?) The food arrived in a reasonable amount of time. The waiter left and we had no silverware to eat with. We had to wait for our waiter to return to request silverware. After requesting silverware, we were only given forks? I had to go back into the kitchen to ask for knives!!! Which took a while. (is there a knife shortage?) I then had to go back to the kitchen to ask for napkins! WTFO! The fajitas were good. The steak burrito was too spicy. Couldnt taste the steak! Here is the kicker...my son and daughter both ended up getting sick that evening. "and I mean sick!" If I could give a half star I would. Go elsewhere for Mexican Food!
(1)Lillie P.
Addicted to the Happy Hour nacho bar. Cheese, salsa, ground beef and chips there for your endless consumption. They have a good selection of frozen margaritas...the mango is delish! We have also had the chicken quesadillas and they are excellently tasty. They are busy during happy hour but it's self seating outside and at the bar. The outdoor seating area is open and nice; great view from the top of the Summit hill.
(5)HooverGal Y.
Color me impressed. My husband and I tried to get into Chuy's on a Monday evening at 7 pm. The wait was an hour, so we left to return the following Sunday at 2:30 for a 35 minute delay. While waiting we grabbed an open table in the bar area, cutting our wait time to nil. I ordered the chicka-chick boom-boom enchiladas, and my partner in crime ordered the combination fajitas for one. We shared a tres leches for dessert. The food was superb! The tortillas are made fresh in the restaurant. the sauces were flavorful. The ambiance is a bit over the top, but totally fun. considering the restaurant is situated in the Summit, the prices were surprisingly resonable. Two thumbs up, well worth the wait, and I'd highly recommend!!
(5)Gerrick W.
Great southwest style mexican food in a very fun atmosphere with a great view. They get busy in the evening and sometimes the wait can be excessive, but you can usually find an area in the bar or bar patio that is open. Highly recommend.
(5)M C.
The food is delicious, the atmosphere is fun, and the staff there is sweet. It's a great place to go to for a fun night out!
(5)Jim B.
My friend in Texas warned me this place was kind of a joke out there, but I went with a group and it was the consensus pick. Went on a Thursday night arrived around 7:00 and were met with a 1 hour wait. Expected, so no big deal. Had a couple of drinks at the bar. Maragaritas were good so I was hopeful the food would be as well. Got seated after just over an hour wait, and sat at the table for a good 10 minutes before a server acknowledged us. Ordered drinks, and went ahead and ordered our entrees since we had already been there over an hour and knew what we wanted. The food arrived about 30 minutes later, and it was quite underwhelming. I had the steak burrito with hatch green chile sauce. Meh, is the best way I can describe it. Steak was dry and rather flavorless. The hatch sauce was good and spicy, which is about the only thing that saved the dish. Wife had the Chuy's Special, and again the chicken was dry and bland. One diner had tacos with beef, and the beef was extremely salty. I guess the cooks used up all the salt in the kitchen in the beef or something. All in all, it was just an underwhelming experience, especially given the wait time and price. Doubt I'll go again. Much better Tex-Mex options in town, that are more reasonably priced with little to no wait.
(2)Larry T.
We were able to slip late Sunday afternoon for a quick dinner and drinks. I have had better Mexican food in Birmingham. But, the outside ambiance made up for a lot...cool wind blowing, clear skies and cold beer! Hey! It is hard to complain with a mouth full of beer!
(3)Charles J.
The food was ok. I was not really impressed, they ran out of queso at 3 o'clock on a saturday! Really? You would think that a restaurant with a stellar view in an upscale demographic location would be... Well better. A total disappointment. Blah
(1)Eric S.
Handmade tortillas, fresh salsa, great music, and awesome view. Overall great dining experience.
(4)Santana C.
Last night my co workers and I went to dinner at Chuys and can I say that was the best food/customer service EVERRRRRYYY!!! Justin was our waiter and did a great job dealing with 6 people...we will be back asap!
(5)Don P.
We arrived at Chuy's on a typically hot and humid Birmingham afternoon at noontime for what we hoped would be a pleasant lunch gathering of friends. We attempted to make reservations because we had a group of 6-8 but we were told that we couldn't, therefore we expected a wait. Our group originally began as 6 and within 5 minutes of our initial request we asked for a table for 8 instead. We could have sat outside when we arrived however since it was so uncomfortably warm for our mature group we decided to wait for inside dining. It was now 1 PM and after an hour of waiting politely we were offered outdoor seating by the manager ! Since we were a party of 8 we required 2 tables and that apparently was a tremendously difficult task for Bruce the manager to undertake. As we patiently waited, over an hour at this point, 10-20 probably 30 people arrived, were seated, ate and left. Because we required 2 tables we had to wait until the entire lunch crowd was fed before they could somehow locate 2 tables to seat us. We observed side by side table after table filled with customers arriving at least 30 minutes after our request! Up to this point we were patient however many of us were ready to go elsewhere when management was finally able to slam two tables together to feed us our mediocre Mexican food by an overly patronizing server. I've read several poor reviews of Chuy's in Birmingham and it's obvious there is a serious problem with management. The food at best is typical of any Mexican restaurant in town therefore the service has to make your dining experience worth the aggravation of driving on highway 280, battling for parking at The Summit and waiting over an hour in 90 degree heat for a table and quite simply it is not worth the aggravation. If you're looking for good Mexican food go somewhere else and if you're looking for courteous service you won't find it Chuy's in Birmingham where the customer is treated as an inconvenience to the manager! I WILL NEVER go to Chuy's at the Summit again.
(1)Dana L.
They have pretty good Tex Mex (If you have been to the ones in Austin or Houston, don't set your expectations too high). The drinks and food are pretty good. The service is above average.
(3)Ee Vonn Y.
My boyfriend doesn't like Tex-Mex so you can imagine how reluctantly satisfied he was with this place with their complimentary chips and dip from their happy hour. We ended up having dinner here even though we came only for the appetizers. The waitresses at the bar area were very friendly and provided margarita samples. For the chips, get lots of meat onto one of their small plates and pour cheese on it. Make the cheese/meat dip away from the chips because they're flimsy and get soggy really fast.
(4)Nick B.
Loud and crowded and meh/barely par Mexican. I've been a couple times prior to the most recent and my wife kept saying she wanted to go. So finally we get to go together and I'm reminded of why nothing on the menu stuck out as a "you should really try this" item. Chips and cold salsa. No flavor, not enough kick and I personally prefer a room temp salsa vs. fridge cold. Atmosphere on Friday around 6-7pm is not the time if you don't like noisy, crowded places. Plenty large groups tho this is a very large restaurant. Very par Mexican food by far. Not great... Not horrible. We shared a #6 including a chalupa, enchilada and taco. The taco (hard shell) was good. Didn't taste the chalupa but wife did a job on it. The enchilada... Ummm. Tasted and was textured as if it were some frozen product that was microwaved and brought to the table. Thumbs all the way down! Maybe this place is more suited for the college crowd. We were seated next to a 21st birthday celebration, in fact. I never have to go back honestly unless it's meeting somebody for drinks. 2 stars is a good review with that being said.
(2)Scott N.
I finally checked this place out a couple weeks ago after hearing friends rave about it for what seems like eons. The food did not disappoint. While I'm a much bigger fan of dives and more authentic places, I did enjoy the food and experience. The service was good, the decor was nice and the food definitely was some of the better Tex-Mex that I've ever had. I do agree with prior reviewers points that the decor on the walls makes it look like a Tex-Mex TGI Fridays or Applebees. I had the chile relleno and enchilada combination plate. I loved the fact that I could choose the type and sauces for each item. Both items were excellent along with the rice and beans that came with them. Be careful with the chips and salsa & other dipping sauces; our waitress kept refilling our baskets so much that by the time our entrees showed up, we were all stuffed. Overall, some of the back-story printed on the menu about them getting a recipe for an item from some rural dude ranch in Texas or one from a small town in Mexico seems kind of cooked up by some marketing guru, the food does speak for itself. I also found it odd that the only Hispanics that I saw working there were busing the tables and I didn't see any eating there. That doesn't help with the "street cred". If you want to eat Tex-Mex in a trendy shopping center with 20 something girls and trophy wives sipping margaritas then this your place. :)
(4)Raye F.
Just OK. I was looking forward to a small meal & the only appealing option was a #8. I mistakenly ordered #6 and ended up sharing the mountain of food with my husband(which I didn't mind). #8=chuys lite plate: crispy taco w/guac & Chile con queso #6=enchilada(took one bite..gross), taco(husband devoured) & chaupla(surprising very tasty and I'd consider ordering this solo). The salsa at the table was sub par by far!! I'd like to go for happy hour and the fancy car trunk then I can give a better verdict. The service was really good. Attentive, but not hovering especially on a busy(slam packed) Friday night. The skyline was beautiful at night and RITAS were super fantastic! Might be the best Rita in town and priced well for my pockets. Had the Texas Rita tini=yumazing!!! Worth another try & next time I'll be looking forward to happier eats!
(3)Marcus D.
Great food and service! The Baja grilled shrimp taco was amazing and the steak burrito was delicious. I will come back to this place again when I'm in Birmingham! Thanks for the great service and atmosphere.
(5)Randy F.
It would be nice if they cooked exactly what's on the menu and atleast inform the guest if they have to alter the ingredients. ..smh!
(2)Cari S.
I am from Texas and I thought this was one of the best Chuys I've been to, friendly staff, good food.
(4)Darcey V.
Do I even need to say? Hands down the best texmex I've ever had in my entire life. All made fresh. And of course the creamy jalapeno dip. Yum. It is a must have if you have never eaten here, seriously! Founded by artists it is a free, creative environment with their signature decor you have to just experience for yourself, but above all. THE FOOD!!! So amazingggg!!!
(5)Mary H.
Nasty just nasty! The burritos are frozen so you cant change the type of meat that's in them. The chips and salsa are pretty good, but the service and food is bad. Just bad!
(1)Linda D.
well my 1st visit for lunch was great, 2nd okay and 3rd not good. We had a party of 16 on a Sat night, they would not take reservations so we waited two hours which was to be expected. When we were seated we were at a table that may have been comfortable for 12 not 16 we were packed in like sardines. Lets just say it went downhill from there. Our server was a sweet young guy who was NEW!!!! and had no help! Why would you let a new server wait on 16 people? Poor guy!!! Anyway about half orders were wrong, mine was terrible oh and I forgot to mention we were way overcharged at the bar! Luckily my husband caught it! We were there to celebrate my sisters birthday. It was not what we expected from Chuy's and after paying over 300 (not including bar tab) they offered us vouchers to come back. Sorry probably not going to happen again and I hate that because the 1st time was so good.
(2)Stefanie B.
The chuy changa is excellent! The food is always consistently delicious and freshly prepared. I would recommend getting there early because the wait can be 45-60 minutes after 6:00.
(5)Katie A.
DAMN GOOD FOOD! rude hostess but nice server. Quick service. Delicious food. Winded salsa and jalapeño ranch. Great view!!! I highly recommend eating here:)
(5)Lydia W.
You go here for the view. The food is good. The creamy jalapeño dip, which is free upon request, is legit. Our precious waitress, Maria, suggested it since we were from out of town. The outdoor table seating process kind of sucks. It is first come first serve. Basically, the only way you get an outdoor table is to be there during non-peak hours or stand over a table of people like a creep and sit down as soon as the think about leaving. The restaurant needs to definitely change that process so it is fair for those of us who aren't rude or overbearing. We ended up sitting at a window table by the patio so we still somewhat got the view.
(4)Maxwell W.
My wife and I don't go to the 280 area much so we did some research on where to eat that might have some good TexMex. Chuy's is located in the Summit which is a bit of a foo foo shopping center with a lot of retail stores that are geared toward the skinny white women with too much dang money. We arrived about 30 minutes after they opened and while there was not wait they were starting to get busy. I had the steak burrito which was awesome. The strip of flank steak were very tender and had the taste of just made as opposed to made the night before and wrapped in foil like other places (cough-Hanbenaro's-cough). My wife had a Taco Salad which had the smell of freshly chopped veggies and was slightly above average. Chuy's sits on top of a hill and has a waist level glass wall where you can look our over the nearby area. You mostly just see the roof of PF Changs, though. Pros: The waiter was awesome. He was very attentive and friendly, even though he was covering a lot of tables. My wife is a lightweight when it comes to spicy food so when she took a taste of our dip she asked him for a glass of milk. He didn't skip a beat and we had one in less than two minutes. We tipped him 25% because you should if they try to be good. Cons: The shell on my wifes taco salad was undercooked. I believe they make their own and even though crispy on the outside the inside had a doughy taste and smell. Not a deal killer, but one of the few faults they had. I liked Chuy's overall, but I need to stress this is not Mexican food. It is TexMex which means more heat and more meat.
(4)Will L.
Since it's located in the uber popular Summit, expect a small wait. Once seated, the bright decor and t-shirts with wacky slogans will remind you that this place is a chain. Regardless, the staff is always really friendly and the food and drinks are served quickly, even when it's packed. I wish I could tell you about the whole menu, but I generally stick with the nachos from the appetizer side of the menu. The plates are huge and filled with huge chips. Each chip is individually dressed with all of the nacho ingredients. This menu item is only about $6-$7 and is PLENTY of food for two adults. While most of the food and drinks are good, but nothing exceptional, the cream jalapeño salsa is a different story. It's good enough to keep me coming back. If they don't automatically bring it out, be sure to ask for it.
(4)Keisha R.
I was in town and decided to visit Chuys on a Friday night. Let me start off by saying " worst mistake of my life." 1) I ordered a chicken quesadilla and chili con queso. When the chili con queso was brought out, the server slammed it on the table in front of my friend who DID NOT order it and walked off. 2), I ordered my quesadilla with no guac and no sour cream. Guess what was with it when it came out?!? Yep you guessed it. The server did not even notice it whatsoever. Also, I never received my pico de gallo with it either. 3) The server would come over to the table and reach ACROSS the food to refill our drinks or hand us boxes. Ewww.... So it's possible there could have germs with the food as well. Overall, I will not be coming to this establishment because the service was not acceptable and I feel as if this restaurant lacks cleanliness.
(2)Romil G.
Food is amazing and you can't beat the view (during sunset and after). Highly recommended but its always crowded, so make sure you go a little early.
(4)Michele S.
I thought the chips and salsa were delicious! I also had the chicken enchiladas. Next time we'll eat outside as I heard the view was amazing!! I'll definitely be back!
(5)Ashley M.
I liked what I had because it had a lot of variety on one plate. My husband really liked his as well. I didn't care for the salsa because it was pretty watery. All in all it was good but I wouldn't willingly fight the Summit crowd to go back.
(3)R. W.
My favorite restaurant ever! I order the same thing every single time, because it's my most favorite meal. I just can't bring myself to order anything else. I always start out with creamy jalapeno and chips. I could put a straw in that sauce! For my meal, I order the taco salad with chicken and ranch dressing. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. I seriously can't get enough of that place! I know it doesn't sound like the most exciting meal ever, but it is just so darn good!! I highly highly recommend it. The service is always fast, friendly & attentive!
(5)Michele S.
We eat at this Chuy's frequently and have had good experiences the majority of the time. We often sit outside to enjoy the view or grab a seat at the bar if we are in a hurry. Food is good. We have had great service by Syndey on more than one occassion. She is really good about making sure everything is just right and will make extra effort to fix whatever is not right.
(4)Bill R.
The steak burritos are great plus if you can eat two, they're free.
(5)Scott M.
After a few visits, I've got to finally make the call on this place. Bad food, even worse service, disappointing at every turn...
(1)Christina S.
Yes. A chain. I'll probably lose points for yelping a chain, giving it 4 stars, nonetheless. But this one is DIFFERENT. I promise. Plus, we have a sweet past, me and Chuy's. My first introduction to Chuy's was about 18 years ago in Houston, Texas. The next time I went to Chuy's was years later, on my first visit to Austin for a Lance Armstrong Foundation event. The ORIGINAL one --- On Barton Springs. And I learned that I was addicted. So much so that we went there three times over the course of our long weekend visit (yes. It's THAT good - and no matter where I am, I will do that - it's like a comfort thing, I guess). Chuy's is one of "those" places. When new neighbors moved back from Houston, we sat around and talked about the jalapeno cream sauce, the cheese dip and those outta this freaking world tortillas while we, literally, drooled. So when Chuy's announced they were opening a restaurant in Alabama, I planned my work week around being there the first day they opened! It was a competition between us neighbors - who was going to get there first! I won. So ... The FOOD: The salsa is good. Not out of this world, but fresh - mostly tomato, onion, peppers and cilantro. It's salsa fresca, which makes it a little watery for my taste, but who wants to load up on chips and salsa when you have SO MANY MORE OPTIONS! The jalapeno cream sauce is TO. DIE. FOR. End of story. Just trust me. And ya kinda gotta be "in the know" to get a bowl of it. My favorite bartender / server, "T" knows what I like ... he pours me a Father Agave, no salt, gets me chips, salsa and a big ole bowl of JCS when I walk in, then puts in my order for queso ($5.89) and those TASTY fresh, hand-rolled tortillas! For dinner, I have had most everything on the menu, but over the past year, I've really started liking their baha tacos ($8.89). I usually get the combo - one fish and one shrimp. It comes with a side of slaw and some CJS to put on your tacos. I also like the taco salad ($8.59) (I know kinda boring, but I like it) it's fresher than most mexican taco salads. The Chicka Chicka Boom Boom ($9.99) is pretty tasty (if you're hungry) and comes with the rice and beans as sides. I also LOVE the veggie in the blue corn tortillas. If you want a taste of everything and aren't terribly hungry - split an appetizer plate with your dinner mate. It's got a little of it all. ATMOSPHERE: I usually sit in the bar area, so I cannot comment on the tables. I do know there's always a wait for the tables - at a normal eating hour, there are people stacked up all around the front door. It's a lively place - loud music, happy people, kids. But just go with it. SERVICE: The guys in the bar know what we like and since we go rather often, they are quick to make sure that we have everything we need. I can't comment on the wait staff in the dining area because I've never eaten in there, but my bar guys & gals - TOP NOTCH PRICING: I'm adding this because I DO think that Chuy's is a little pricey of you just want to pop out for some Mexican. Go for the experience ... eat the good food ... call it a date night. NOT TO MISS: Their T-SHIRTS. The t-shirts are what roped me in a LONG time ago. I once bought 12 CHUY'S t-shirts for a man whom I was (obviously) courting :) Things turned out OK though ... he still wears some of those t-shirts. Ya gotta get a t-shirt. Good luck picking your favorite one (hence ... TWELVE t-SHIRTS IN MY LUGGAGE back to the ATL!).
(4)Jenelle F.
Best chicken flautas I've tasted in Alabama so far. Chips were light and crunchy, server was great, never had an empty basket of chips. Salsa was a bit too spicy for me but the guac was amazing! Giving this place a 2 thumbs up.
(4)Meena N.
Coming to Bham from Texas, I'm a little spoiled (read: picky) when it comes to Tex-mex. I've been to Chuy's in Texas, but mostly for happy hour, etc. We arrived around 8PM, and were quickly seated inside. Our drink orders were taken, and chips and fresh salsa were brought out. We asked for napkins and silverware ( they never arrived). Our entrees came rather quickly, but our silverware was still MIA. We sat there looking at our food (get cold), and our waiter finally brought us utensils to use. Food was... Meh. Boyfriend's enchiladas were swimming in the creamy jalapeño sauce. The egg on my enchiladas was fried hard.... No runny yolk. Combined with the loud tables next to us, mediocre service, and average food, we'll probably find another Mexican joint next time.
(3)Foster W.
I have eaten at Chuy's six different states. The good thing I have noticed is they are consistent with food quality. Can't say I have had a bad meal at any of the locations I have visited. Today I has the Frio Burrito. It was OK and think I would try it again. Still my favorite is the Elvis Green Chili Fries Chicken. If you have b=n to a Chuy's so yourself a favor and try it.
(5)Gregory S.
Eclectic decor w/ friendly and attentive staff. Tons of authentic Mexican items on the menu. When you run low on free tortilla chips, a waiter appears and provides more. Utensils are served in sealed paper envelopes to highlight cleanliness. If the weather is nice, day or evening, its hands down one of b'ham's better Mexican restaurants with a fantastic view.
(4)Erika W.
So, I love Chuy's. Point blank period. What I love the most is all the different salsas and dressings for dishes. I had, what I called Spicy Ranch, but was actually Jalepeno Queso or something. I was too busy nomming to fully understand what the name was. I also love their Margs. Because let's be honest, you're going to Chuy's for Margs, salsa, and lovely dishes. Everytime I'm in Birmingham, I go here. Ask for Paige. She's a lovely little server.
(4)John S.
When arrived was told a 25 minute wait. Was more like 35-40 minutes. We ordered queso because we were both very hungry by the time we were seated. Really the creamy jalapeño and basic salsa with the chips would have been sufficient. Baja Tacos with grilled shrimp and Chicka-Chicka Boom-Boom for entrees. Very pleased with the flavor and quantity of both. Will definitely return.
(4)Preeyam P.
Well I wasn't a big fan of chain restaurants from the beginning and previously had a good experience at Chuys but unfortunately a few weeks ago the service was so bad that I will unfortunately never be back again. We stopped by Chuys during the week one afternoon for a quick dinner before another event. For a table of 4 people, we were only given one basket of chips and a small cup of salsa, which wasn't ever refilled in a timely manner. There were two tables around us with small children that were screaming and shouting very loudly and this was incredibly distracting to our dining experience. I ordered the vegetarian enchiladas however when our food came out and I cut into them, both enchiladas were beef. The waitress cleared the plate and told me she would have the plate back in a few minutes. About 20 minutes later I received my enchiladas, and everyone at the table had already finished their meal. We had to make it to another event so I had to ask for the food to go. The manager was not very nice about this. He made a big deal about the fact that the food was still very hot and would not do well in a container. Unfortunately this wasn't something I could control. The manager was running his mouth the entire time he was packing up my meal. It was incredibly embarrassing and I had no idea what to say. If you are looking for quality ingredients, small portions, and good service I would not recommend this place.
(2)Javier C.
Food is really good. Careful with the spicy stuff though... Can be quite hot. Staff is friendly but they felt somewhat unnatentive first time me and my wife ate there. Overall a good experience
(4)Kelly J.
Atmosphere is king here. Loved the view over Birmingham and the beautiful patio. Margaritas were great, staff super friendly and dinner was A+. Liked the salsa and fajitas were delicioso. Overall, an excellent experience.
(5)Herb L.
There are better Mexican in town. But I somehow end up at this place time to time. Maybe because it's at a shopping center and I'm there and lazy. Food is forgettable and like anything else. You could also start to see the place wearing out. Things aren't as clean and starting to look old. Staff are just their to do their job and nothing unique anymore. Last time I was there, two wait staff broke stuff on the dining floor. Noisy and nothing special. As I write this I'm thinking why do I do this to myself.
(2)Jason P.
Excellent food and service. The portions are huge!!! Boob boom sauce is the way to go.
(5)Reviewer P.
I tried Chuy's for the first time, and it was an average experience in my opinion. The food was very good, with portion sizes being above average, and taste that resembled a true Mexican restaurant. The reason this restaurant gets 3 stars is because the service was not good, the employee reeked of cigarette smoke and caused me to get a headache. Also, the chips and salsa were not good at all, with the salsa consisting of diced tomatoes and no flavor. Thus, I would come back for the food, but I would probably bring my own salsa and hopefully would get another server.
(3)Kyler R.
I personally like chuys I like the dip that comes with the chips oh so much I rather eat that than order a meal lol but don't order to go the food seems to be cold and dried out compared to if you sit down and eat where it's fresher.
(3)Randy W.
Pretty good Mexican chain. Great chips and salsa. Get the jalapeño ranch dipping sauce. I get always get the grilled shrimp tacos and they are delicious. Tortillas made fresh in the restaurant.
(4)Teresa H.
Really enjoyed the dinner with a group. We had a large group and our waiter Robby was great. He and another staff member did an excellent job. The food was very good. Kind of a long wait to be seated, but with such a large group on a busy night that was expected.
(4)Bruce K.
Wow, what a great view of the valley from their patio! Just amazing to see for miles and miles. This is a very popular restaurant in the evening after-work hours, so expect a wait. But if there's a space open at the bar, grab it. Same food, better service. And you're so much closer to the nacho cart. Wait, did you say "nacho cart"? Yes. Yes, I did. Order yourself a margarita and then get yourself set up with this. Fill your basket with chips (I found Chuy's chips to be way too thin but they're still tasty and salted right) and then full a small bowl with salsa or queso or Mexi-beef. Or all three. Yum! While you're chowing down on that nacho goodness, get your food order in. I went with the Wednesday special, a green chile chicken enchiladas. Very hot plate and the chile sauce had a small bit of zing to it. Served with the usual rice and beans. Good portion of chicken, nicely sized and with some of those chips to scoop the last bits, a nice meal! No, it's not authentic Mexican. It's probably not even authentic Tex-Mex. But is it good? Yep!
(4)Noreen D.
The food and the Absolute Margarita were really good. It was busy and the service was great too!
(5)Thomas C.
Summary: Standard mexican chain with some good points (chips and salsa) but low points (chile relleno) Restaurant: Pretty standard ambience. It's fun but nothing special. There's a bar with some TVs on one side with the front half of a car open with it customized to hold buffet-style food Food: As a group, we got a lot of food. The first thing was the chips and salsa. The chips were fresh and hot with a fresh tomato salsa and a creamy jalapeno dip, both of which were excellent. We also got extra sides of "boom-boom" sauce which I can't really describe. It was a thicker, more flavorful sauce that went well with the chips. I got the vegetarian combo that had a vegetable enchilada and a chile relleno, my favorite mexican dish. The enchilada was great - fresh, flavorful. The chile relleno was overbattered, overfried and just reminded me of the excess of southern food. Others got the panchos, boom boom chicken and others, which everyone else enjoyed. Overall: This is a chain that has all your standards with some good sauces and good chips and salsa. I wouldn't get a chile relleno here again but the enchilada was good. I'd come back here with a group again as it was fun atmosphere and good place to just hang out, but the food isn't something I would crave again.
(2)Beth D.
Three words, Creamy Jalapeño Dip. By far the best mexican restaurant in Birmingham! If you go during happy hour (3-6) there is a nacho bar thats free when you sit down! The food is always wonderful! Sometimes there can be a long wait to get seated, but I promise you that it is worth it! Note, their dishes are very large portions so normally I always share them with a friend when I go, saves money and keeps your stomach full!
(5)Brian H.
It's amazing what all-you-can eat free nachos for happy hour can do to a restaurant. I made the tragic mistake of stopping in at 5:45pm on a Friday, and this Chuy's was a MADHOUSE. The experience started off with a really curt greeting from the hostess. I was hoping to get a seat with a view, but how dare I ask at such a busy time? My mistake. After grabbing some stools at the outdoor bar area, we grabbed some Chuy's Brews before we were told that a table had opened up and that we could move there if we wanted. We asked the bartender if we could just have the drinks put on the table tab. It wasn't that her response was "no", but how she said it that made me begrudgingly close out my tab before moving to the table. Then, service was slow... not the fault of our server, but the fact that he probably had 5 different tables all clamoring for service. At least there's free nachos right? Well, sort of. There's free nachos when there are nachos. The nachos bar was constantly in need of refills, chip baskets, and bowls while I was there. I understand that it was busy, but this place has been here for a while, so you'd think they'd be ready for something like this. Instead, I stood around for almost 10 minutes at one point waiting for the queso to be refilled, only to have a group of walrus-sized humans in front of me marinate their nacho baskets with it. I did my best to scrape the bottom into my tiny dipping bowl before taking the dangerous journey back to my table. Really, don't get me wrong. I love Chuy's. The Quesadillas are some of my favorites of all time and the Chuy's Brews are the best... But this location was just bad all around.
(1)Steve K.
I've reviewed other Chuy's before in different locations, and it's still one of my favorite places to eat. I'm so glad they have one in B'ham so I can get my Tex-Mex fix when I'm in town! This location is great, but maybe not quite as good as the ones in Texas. It won't stop me from coming back here though, and our latest visit was typical of the chain- awesome food, tasty and strong margaritas, a friendly staff, and a full belly. If you REALLY want to wake up your taste buds, order the seasonal dishes offered during the Hatch chili festival... They're super spicy :-) And I always have to laugh when people slam Chuy's for not having good "Mexican food", or not being "authentic Mexican"... Well, folks, it tastes different because it's Tex-Mex, not Mexican!! Hello???? Sheesh...
(5)Sarah T.
I have been avoiding going to Chuy's for a little while now because I work in Cahaba Heights and got a little bitter about my coworkers constantly talking about it. Calm down, guys. Calm down. Anyway, I broke down recently and called in an order for takeout. It was a pretty easy order-- a bean and cheese burrito. I called in during a time when I thought it would be a fast in-and-out (early afternoon on a Monday). I was told to swing by in ten minutes; it took me fifteen to get over. When I walked in, it was fairly busy; the entrance to this place is poorly designed, so people were bumping into each other nonstop. It was claustrophobic to the enth degree, but that's just me. Still, I was the only person picking up, and there wasn't anyone else in line at all, so I was surprised when I told the hostess that I was picking up and she didn't look at the bag of food at the counter or ask for my name. "A few minutes," she grunted, never looking at me. And she didn't look at me again, at all. She wasn't particularly pleasant with anyone else, but I think I was the only one she never actually addressed. After about ten more minutes (25 minutes for a bean and cheese burrito?) I went outside to avoid having a 10th person ram into me, and upon coming inside one minute later, there were miraculously two new people at the front, one of whom actually did grab a takeout order. I tip the same for takeout as I do for eating in. I don't like making servers work for free. I know how it is. Still, not being looked at because I'm picking up an order made me kind of grumpy. The food was delicious. I mean, good lord. It was creamy and perfectly salted and spicy in all the right ways and packaged perfectly. But it was cold, which made zero sense considering the wait for it to be made. It makes me wonder if the hostess just decided to leave it sitting in the back for a while. And as good as it was, I'm not a fan of paying for cold food with a long wait time. It's a shame because I do live/work nearby and I'd love to LOVE Chuy's, but the experience left a bad taste in my mouth (sorry, burrito).
(2)Rusty H.
Business lunch with a customer. Six people total. Was told the wait would be 15-20 minutes. Waited 15 minutes and watched what looked like a group of six seated ahead of us. Asked for the new wait and was told to let them check. One of our party had a 1:30 meeting. We were told ten minutes max. Waited ten more minutes and ALL the people that came after us are seated and our group is waiting alone. Still. Finally walked out and went to Lift Burger where we were seated immediately. Won't be going back again. Zero customer service.
(1)Laura B.
Originally 2 stars, updated to 5 stars, See Edit below: Overall, the food here is good Tex-Mex (the only actual Tex-Mex available in Birmingham) and the view from the Patio is fantastic. However, I was recently disappointed with the service here. Being from Texas, I come here for the homemade flour tortillas, homemade salsa (it's kept cold because it's "salsa cruda", not room-temperature-from-a-can), and homemade chips. This is the only place in Bham that I am aware of that does all 3. The margaritas are good, the entrees are alright, not awesome, but the above is worth the visit. Last visit to Chuys I was told by our waitress that their general manager (Phu Veung as listed on the outside) insisted I would have to pay for any extra flour tortillas I requested. When I protested that I had been to many other Chuys that always refilled tortillas upon request, she arranged to get me some tortillas "as a favor". Again, the tortillas are the reason I come here and drop money on other things like drinks and food. They're cheap to make, and at $10/burrito I'm sure Chuys can afford to throw in a few tortillas. Not sure if I'll be back to this location unless there's a management change, like I said I enjoy the food and drinks and it's a great location but underwhelming management. Update: Phu called me and apologized for the experience after I reported it to Chuy's management and said that this was not Chuy's policy and that we were misinformed. I explained to him that the waitress was very apologetic and that it seemed to be an issue coming from upper management and not her, but he confirmed that this isn't Chuy's policy. Kudos to Chuy's for taking the time to address the situation, hopefully this won't be an issue in the future, and I'm more than okay with returning to this location in the future.
(5)Britney M.
Food is okay. Environment is cool. Fast service and the drinks are fantastic. We always split the large fajitas and they are pretty good. We just wish the food was a little bit better but overall. Good place!
(4)Anna E.
I love me some Text-Mex and this will certainly give you a fix! I ordered the chicken and beef fajitas to go and it came with beans, rice, a huge bag of chips, fresh salsa, some kind of special spicy sauce, guac, cheese and sour cream. The chips are SO light and tasty, before you know it, I ate 1000. It's like eating delicious salty, crunchy air. The fajitas were well seasoned and there was more than enough food for 2, but I was a piggy and ate 3/4 of it myself because it was so good!!
(4)Shannon T.
Not a huge fan of the food here. However I just cannot shop without a margarita or two or ugh three. So Chuys does have fantastic margaritas and some of the best chicken tortilla soup. The nacho bar is a nice touch. The view is awesome to just sit back and watch the world go by!
(3)Ashley J.
Love this place in general. Wish the area outside for parking was better, but hey they can't help that. Be prepared to wait on days that it's warm and people are on the patio. Food is is overall good. Their jalapeño dip is the bomb!!!! Drinks can be pricey, so if you come for those be prepared to spend a wad of cash. Haven't had any bad experiences inside the restaurant itself. :)
(4)John Mark D.
I've been a huge fan of this restaurant since the first time I tried it. I've never had a bad experience here and I've been here more times than I can count over the past few years. My all time favorite on the menu is the Steak Burrito. I add boom boom sauce which is a spicy queso and it's absolutely mind blowing. The fajitas are spot on every time. My wife always gets the quesadillas and swears that they are the best quesadillas she has ever had. The creamy jalapeño sauce is free and is probably the one thing that most everyone raves about whether they love this place or not. The portions are always more than enough and you could easily split some of the combos with another person. Each room has a different theme which is fun and the service is usually always good even though they tend to be on the busier side of things especially on the weekends. If you have a big group they are very accommodating. It's not based out of Birmingham but if you are looking for quality Tex Mex this is the place to come every single time. For a "chain" restaurant this is as good as it comes.
(5)Joel W.
I ate lunch here today, and I was 100% impressed by the service staff. The server was amazing. She anticipated everything we needed. I was hesitant going here because the last time I went, the server sucked. I had to walk up to the bar to get a refill, I had to go ask the host to get my check, and then to pay it took about 20 minutes. I was not impressed at all, so you can see how I had reserves going there again. The food was brought out promptly, I didn't have to ask for a refill at all...she brought full cups to everyone before we were finished with our drinks. The food is ok. I don't love it, it was average for a tex-mex place. It is reasonably priced for the product. The atmosphere was a little loud though.
(3)Casey W.
We had a great experience at Chuy's. The people that work there truly love their job, we were well taken care of and welcomed, the patio seating was first come first serve and the view was amazing. I had the veggie enchiladas and my husband had a huge beef and bean burrito covered in a cheese sauce. They were both excellent - their salsa and guacamole is nothing short of remarkable. We will definitely be back to try other dishes on the menu.
(5)Bruce F.
Chuy's has done nothing to improve by expanding, especially to Birmingham. I recall fondly when Chuys was in Austin, a single location and innovator of its own style of Tex Mex. The. concept did not travel well. Our experience at Chuys in Birmingham was below average. The chicken soft tacos were just plain awful, basically cold chicken fajita meat in a cold corn tortilla. Salsa was mild as ketchup, but with less flavor. Service was great and sat outdoors on a beautiful day--nice covered patio, too. The ambience and service; however, couldn't make up for the commoditized and dull food, that lacked any originality. Might have well have gone to Chilis, where at least you KNOW you're going to get and are prepared for assembly-line style cuisine.
(2)Wm H.
It is just OK, not the best, service is a bit off, and the food though good, could be better. The chips they serve before dinner are great, the wine selection is poor, but what can you expect. The place is packed, so people must love it! I would go back, but it is not first on my list.
(2)Brooke A.
I went for the first time yesterday and am already heading back today for lunch. It has a great atmosphere inside and outside. The view is beautiful if you get the chance to sit outside. The staff was very nice and fun at the bar. The margarita's were awesome. The food was delicious! Hope it's as good today.
(4)Jeff V.
This was my first Chuy's experience and I must say I was quite impressed. They market as a Tex-Mex type of eatery and I must say it seems to be more Mexican then Texan. With that said the food is outstanding, service is great, and the prices are not crazy expensive (like Superior Grill for example). One draw is the wait - no matter if I went for lunch or dinner we had to wait. Oh - bring a picture (framed) of your dog and you get a free appetizer!
(4)Yours T.
Laid back casual atmosphere....food was good ....fast service...no complaints :-)
(3)Monte Y.
Excellent salsa fresca and guac. The rest of the meal went downhill from there. I had steak fajitas, my wife had the Chuy's Special. My steak was sadly overcooked and dry. I had heard a lot about how good this place was, but it didn't live up to the hype.
(2)Kacie H.
Good Mexican, great atmosphere and selection. Crowded a lot of the time so you will have to wait. The jalapeño dip is awesome!
(3)Tyler A.
Chuy's is well-decorated and has a decent location, hand-made tortillas, and a free nacho bar during happy hour. With that, the positives end. The service was slow; the salsa was poor; and the meal was unappetizing. Go enjoy some drinks and nachos for happy hour, but do not expect a delicious Mexican meal.
(2)Rob N.
I've been eating at Chuys since there were only two in the world, and they were both in Austin. I have to say that the new Birmingham branch is every bit as tasty (same menu) as the original. Further, the waiting/cocktail area here is the best of the lot, with a perched hillside view of the Summit & valley below. Be prepared to wait a long time though, as it will only get more crowded as the place catches on around here.
(5)A R.
It has gotten much better since April. Seem to have weeded out some of the bad wait staff. Food good, great homemade tortillias and new daily specials. Fun for kids. Seem to have a little bit more consistency in making sauces taste the same each time. Great drinks & happy hour-I def. recommend the new mexican margarita for those that like a little extra spice ( jalepeno infused tequila). Only problem is they sometimes forget to infuse tequila. Happy hour goers or early diners-4-7 during week there is free nacho bar - queso, ground meat, salsa & chips. You serve yourself from back of the caddy in bar- fun.
(4)Karen A.
I have heard that I should try this place and finally did on our last trip to Birmingham. I can't speak for the service because we ordered it to go but their burritos are fantastic! I will definitely return.
(5)