Came to mad mex for happy hour. Assumed it started at 4 but it didn't start until 4:30 so I made my way next door to DSW. Once seated the waiter was super friendly and told is about the specials. Ordered our meal and drinks and the taste and presentation were great. It seems so much nicer then the the mad mex in University City.
(4)
Jeff W.
Came for a late Sunday lunch. Got a booth by the huge open air wall-window with my son. Friendly attentive staff. Nice selection of booze and drinks (but I had iced tea.) Stylish decor. The meal was good, but not great. I'd happily come back just for the cool vibe and keep my meal expectations in check.
(4)
Rachel W.
Was hoping to have a nice meal with my husband and kid and waited so long that we ended up taking the food home to eat it. The restaurant was hardly full so I doubt the kitchen was in the weeds. We opened our togo boxes when we got home and were even further disappointed...Needless to say we will not be going back.
(1)
Raph D.
This place is great, plenty of options to choose from if you are vegan or gluten free. I personally dig the veggie enchilada, so much food i had to take most of jt home the next day. Desserts are great, I recommend the ice cream burrito and the sangria blur margarita.
(5)
Karmalife L.
We tried Mad Mex on a Thursday afternoon with our 2 kids. We definitely enjoyed the atmosphere and the service was fantastic, but there is also room for improvement. PROS: Service was great- Christian was our server and he was prompt, attentive and very friendly. Atmosphere- Mad Mex is so uniquely designed and decorated and we sat at a booth next to the outside wall and the windows were completely open. It was so lovely to feel the breeze while we enjoyed our lunch. Variety- They offer vegan foods like tofu, daiya cheese and sour cream. This is a huge plus since there aren't many restaurants in the area that do so. Food- It was really tasty. We had the tofu appetizer which was delicious and I got a veggie enchilada which the kitchen so nicely prepared for me with beans and rice on the side. Hubby enjoyed his salad and our toddler liked his waffle fries. CONS: I ordered a wine and the pour was ridiculously small. I then ordered the sangria and it was very cloudy. Perhaps they used orange juice, I am not sure. But they should consider changing the recipe to make it more attractive. Out of Daiya- This was truly disappointing. For vegans like myself who specifically choose a restaurant BECAUSE it serves non-dairy cheese, to be told that they don't have any is quite the buzzkill. Perhaps they could store an emergency bag or two in the freezer for the next time it doesn't "come in on the truck." We will definitely give this place another try but perhaps I will call next time to make sure they have vegan cheese available. And hopefully, we will have the great service that Christian provided us with. Oh, and maybe I'll order a beer this time.
(3)
Erin B.
I visit Mad Mex by myself quite frequently and cannot complain.. food is great, margaritas are good and I usually only go during happy hour, so, the prices aren't bad, either. Why I'm writing is because once a week, I work with a girl with cerebral palsy.. Although she is nonverbal, she's taken a liking to this establishment and we have frequented it almost every Tuesday for the past month and a half for lunch. We have the same server every time, who is absolutely fantastic with my special needs friend and today the manager was especially kind to us in taking care of our lunch for us. Community-based outings are critical for young special needs adults to grow and learn and this restaurant not only allows that, but encourages it. You RARELY hear the good out of an establishment, especially in regards to special needs patrons. Thank you, Mad Mex for doing it right--you will continue to receive my personal business and our Tuesday lunch outing!
(5)
Regina B.
This year, the Patriarch decided to allow the Eldest Young 'Un (AKA the Newly Minted Teenager or NMT) to choose a restaurant for his birthday celebration. NMT chose Mad Mex, primarily because NMT loves tacos. Off we go. We ordered a variety of dishes, and they were all pretty "meh". Biggest thumbs up of the salads. Burritos are all square, not cylindrical as is per usual, and even the spicy ones were bland. Tacos had meat so greasy they soaked through the shells and honestly made me feel a bit nauseous. Chicken Chimi was the only cylindrical burrito and it was served with a strange sauce coating it - not quite marinara, not cheese, I don't know it was orange-ish and odd tasting. It was drowned in that sauce, and even scraping it off left an aftertaste. Our server was fantastic, she was very attentive and friendly and made good suggestions. I'm not sure exactly how I'd categorize the food. It's not Tex Mex, it's definitely not pure Mexican. I'd have to say if Olive Garden and Bennigan's got together and had to interpret Tex-Mex, you would get Mad Mex. Maybe that's why they call it Mad Mex, because anyone would have to be mad to think this was Mex? Or maybe if you came here thinking you'd get good Tex Mex, you'd end up pretty mad? Either way, we won't bother again.
(2)
Yul H.
Great for a nice causal outing or a group of friends. An ideal place to kick back have a Big Ass Margarita and enjoy yourself to different genres of music. Ideal for younger college patrons to middle age persons!
(5)
Cornelia B.
This location is much bigger than the one in University city. The painting and pictures are just as abstract and really unique....even if you're not an art person they still kind of pull you in. The food and service----absolutely awesome. We had the BBQ chipotle chicken wings with margaritas! Definitely will be coming back!
(5)
Deen N.
Here's the thing about mad mex, I want it to be good. I've been praying for a half decent mexi or even texmex or Cali/mex place on the main line...and then mad mex opens not a 5 minute walk from my doorstep. I've been there 3 times so far, giving them 3 chances, which is pretty generous. Most of the other reviews hit the nail on the head. There is a generic, lack of authenticity to there dishes and sides such as the beans and rice. The chicken mole was abominable, the fried fish tacos would have been good, however they obviously sat under a heat lamp for a good 10 minutes before being brought to the table..but what bothers me most is their salsa. This salsa is dreck..it's worse then the pre packaged slop that u buy in a super market. Tasty, authentic, fresh salsa, like Pico de giao, is soooooo easy to make in bulk...MAD MEX...c'mon!!!! How do u honestly charge people for that slop?!! .....but it's on the main line so it will inevitably stay in business and do well without making the necessary changes because people in this area don't know good food if it slapped them across the face...ibid the 5 star reviews.
(1)
Matt G.
Went on a Saturday night around 10PM. They weren't very crowded, but the service was nonetheless sporadic and terrible. The waitress dropped off our menus and disappeared for 15 minutes. In the interim, I had to eventually ask a bus boy for a replacement water glass, as mine was incredibly dirty. We later had to bother the same bus boy for silverware when our waitress was again M.I.A. Poor service aside, the real issue was with the food. I ordered a vegetarian burrito only to find chunks of beef in it. I haven't eaten meat in close to 20 years, so this is kind of a big deal for me- especially from a place that takes pride in having a vegetarian menu (the main reason we chose to eat there to begin with). They took it off the tab, but it took 20 minutes to track down the server to have it taken care of, by which point the rest of my party was finished and beyond ready to leave. Awful experience, and I ended up getting physically sick. Won't be back and I've already alerted other vegetarian friends to steer clear.
(1)
Lynn N.
I went here for the first time today. I don't recommend this place at all. First, I ordered the "classic margarita" and it was disgusting. I love margaritas and I know a good one when I taste it. When the server brought it to me and I tasted it I thought I was drinking shoe polish. I asked if I could get a another flavor or order something different and I was told that "they could add simple syrup" (i.e. lots of sugar) to see if that would balance out the taste. They have a policy of not returning drinks without charging for a new drink. Really?! Probably because your restaurant has had many problems and complaints about the drinks. Ok, so I said add the simple syrup and of course when my drink was returned to me it was still disgusting. I could have gotten the manager involved but my "date" didn't want me to. So, I never took another sip of the drink that I was served and the server could have cared less.
(1)
Sherrice B.
Decided to stop in for a bite an ordered the Southwestern Wings an the Crabby Corn quesadilla. The Wings are Spicy, not sure why cause they should only have cilantro, garlic, olive oil, an lime ..according to the menu. The quesadilla was fine but needed some sour cream or dipping sauce on the side. It's dark in here also very dark.
(3)
Andrew K.
Very torn on this place. First of all, a really nice addition to Wynnewood, and I especially love that the kitchen is open late (until 11pm on weekends if I'm not mistaken). Ok, it's a chain, but I still like the way they've done up the inside. There's a pretty large bar as well as another "overflow" counter near by, as well as plenty of seating (and a few areas accommodating to large groups). They have huge windows along the parking lot side that they open in the warmer months that really add to the experience. Almost forgot to add-- the soundtrack they have playing in the background literally makes you want to kill yourself. It's awful-- basically features the worst pop songs you can think of. How they think it's better than just no music at all is beyond me. Service has been hit or miss, tending more towards the miss side. On the first visit (two weeks or so after opening), Mad Mex gave my companion and I the hands-down worst service experience we have ever had (which is really saying something), despite being 75% empty. Since then I've had one or two attentive servers, and one pretty inattentive server (walked by the table multiple times but ignored us for the first 10 minutes). Overall, it's definitely below average. Generally get the house margarita. It's not great, but you can get a 22oz for like $6 or something late night and I don't think it's exactly weak, so I'm not complaining too much. Otherwise, there is a surprisingly above-average draught list posted above the bar that includes a number of local brews. I start with the pick-a-dippa each time which lets you choose three salsas/dips from a list of about 15 or so. Most aren't bad, but the chips are a joke. You get a huge basket but after eating the top layer of intact chips, you find only chip crumbs beneath that are so small they are barely edible. I thought on one visit they may have improved on this but alas on the most recent visit the chip crumbs had returned. I typically go with a quesadilla for the entree. I like that they offer whole weat tortillas as an option, however the only quesadilla that I can really say I think is ok is the Mad Mex quesadilla with basically everything removed but the meat and cheese. Tried dessert once in the form of the brownie. If you want to ensure yourself a heart attack, order it. Overall not a terrible hangout and still a place I plan to stop in for easy meals. To put it in perspective, I'd say it's almost but not as "good" as Plaza Azteca. If you want a great quesadilla go to El Limon in Conshy, which remains the golden standard for me.
Meh...pretty average Mexican food place. Went there for lunch and it was pretty empty. Service was fine but the food was just too bland. I had chicken fajitas which were piping hot. The flour tortillas were doughy. The sides were pretty average too. Reasonably price but nothing special. I saw no signature dishes. Friendly and fun decor and staff.
(2)
Harry E.
This is a decent eatery. Hip, kind of newish, hipster tex mex food. The atmosphere was the best part about this place. It attracted a younger crowd which can be a challenge for Wynnewood. While sitting at the bar my wife commented on how she felt like we were sitting in Ucity, they really nailed the vibe. The drinks were tasty but nothing to write home about... if you pay for anything other than happy hour prices I think you're overpaying for what you actually get. I felt like the food was under seasoned but over salted, if you get what I mean. My wife really liked her cheese enchiladas, beans and rice. I liked my shrimp fajitas but some lime and chili powder would have been a big help. I know we will try this place again. This summer in the evenings when the giant windows are open... will be a great time to try it again.
(3)
Meags M.
I absolutely loved this place! The decor was totally on point. Lots of handmade Mexican art. I ordered the sangria, chips and salsa, and a burrito. The waiter was excellent. He offered to bring us more salsa and said he would bring a different type of salsa if we didn't like the one we tried. The place was crowded for happy hour, but the wait was short and it wasn't too loud. The food was fresh and delicious. There were a bunch of unique menu items I would like to go back to try. The dessert options sounded awesome, but we didn't have room! Next time!
(5)
Shane J.
I have frequented the Mad Mex, University City location for years. I was pleased to see this new location which is closer to my home and I don't have to deal with the obnoxious students. I have been here for Happy Hour and just for dinner at another time. It has been busy both times and it seems that the staff need to be trained a little more in chaos and crowd management. The best deals are during Happy Hour - the $3, $5 & $7 Margarita's. I also believe wings are 1/2 off. My friends seemed to enjoy their orders of Burritos, Gaucamole and enchiladas. The food is average and for the price of drinks - it would be a great place to hang if the service improves.
(3)
F C.
I've gone to the University City location for 15 years. Now that I'm a grown up and living in the burbs I get to enjoy the ample parking and more mature clientele of this new location. Everything I've had in my multiple visits has been spot on. My favorites are the San Francisco no Bono wings and the shrimp and funguy tacquitos. I enjoy the food and drink specials and would recommend this place to everyone. Do I expect the best mexican or tex Mex food when I come here? No. It's Wynnewood. But it does the job. It's cheap solid eats and large beer selection rivals any suburb restaurant. The staff is friendly and welcoming. I can't think of anything else that needs to be said. This place deserves better than its current three star rating. I'm tired of the people of yelp that take themselves too seriously and demand five star quality meals and service from every place they go. Most of them are whiney cheapskates who wouldn't know good if it bit them in the ass.
(5)
Nikki R.
Place is big, loud, and the food is good. I get the tofu tacos every time. Vegetarians would love this place. Service could use some improvements.
(4)
Kimberly K.
Ok - I read all the reviews- this is not an authentic taqueria from the west coast. You want authentic Mexican head out to Norristown or Reading. No it's not quiet because its a party place. This place is a casual, modern tex mex, upbeat restaurant with moderate priced, fresh, quality, tasty food and awesome draft selection. If you never been to Happy Valley or Univ City location- you won't understand the place. The happy hour is what this place is noted for. : Mon-Fri- 1/2 price wings, fresh fruit margaritas at ridiculous low prices and 1/2 price drafts- awesome craft beer selections ( for non craft beer drinkers : drafts are normally $6-$8 depending on the craft beer). I ordered a Sorachi Ace draft pint which is normally $10 a big bottle (2 pints) for $3. Food: wings are average but half off you can't beat at HH. I ordered the Fajita combo( steak & shrimp) with onions and peppers and they were cooked perfectly- steak was sirloin and tender. Not greasy peppers and onions still- fixings included guacamole which normally is extra at some restaurants. Shrimp was medium in size, grilled on a skewer and had a flavorful rub. Flavors are mildly spiced & flavorful to accommodate non-spicy food eater. Big portion - took half home. My husband always gets the burrito and there are several varieties to choose. Large burrito with chunks of chicken breast. He loved it! Salsa is freshly made. Service: very attentive staff- food arrived quickly- checked on by 2 managers- waitress checked on us several times Atmosphere : it's a party atmosphere- not what I want all the time but great Friday night - kick off the weekend place to eat I give it 5 stars because i walked out in a great mood after eating quality food at a great price and a beer selection!
(5)
Lisa D.
Mad Mex has been my favorite Mexican place for years, because they offer gluten free and dairy free options (you'd be surprised how hard it is to get places to omit queso or crema fresca). Before, we'd have to drive up the turnpike to Willow Grove, or go to the crappy one in University City. So, naturally, I AM SO HAPPY. Pros: -It's bigger than most other Mad Mex locations -The food has been consistently good, every time we've gone -The wait staff are so nice! And the manager likes to walk around and check in to see how people are doing, too -Margarita and drink specials, regularly -TOFU SOUR CREAM Cons: -We like to go earlier, 5:00 or 5:30, because it can get busy with families and screaming kids around 6. -I think it's a big drinking spot, without supplies to back it up. We've ordered a beer and had them come back saying that the keg was kicked a few times.
(5)
Elise R.
I love this Mad Mex. Awesome service, great food. (Try the chickpea chili burrito or any of the vegetarian options) Pretty nice beer selection and the glasses we got were HUGE, what seemed like 2 beers for the price of one. Really neat decor and theme inside. They nailed the whole tex mex thing pretty well. It's been packed every time I went but the wait time is always very short, and you can always grab a seat at the bar while waiting or just simply choose to sit there and eat! Can't wait to try their happy hour specials next.
(5)
HedgeFundGirl B.
Well...I can say I tried it. Pros: nice location, plenty of parking, interesting decor, very large menu. Cons: very salty food, bad cocktails, very loud. Service tried hard but the kitchen still made something I didn't order. Won't be back. Bad $12 top shelf margaritas (go to Diablos on Haverford Road for the $4 house ones - much better).
(2)
Vanessa W.
I've enjoyed the takeout here a few times, and I am familiar with the Mad Mex chain and its parent organization, Big Burrito Restaurant Group, because for years I lived in Pittsburgh, its home base of operation. So when some friends wanted to get together for a girls' night, I felt comfortable suggesting Mad Mex. BIG mistake! Long story short, I was totally embarrassed to have brought my friends here for what was supposed to be a celebratory evening! We arrived at 7 on a Friday night to find that there was a 40 minute wait. I understand this in Center City but in the Wynnewood Shopping Plaza? Seriously? In retrospect, we should have just headed elsewhere right then, but we didn't. BIG mistake number two! We waited near the bar, directly next to a pair of empty tables that remained empty for the entirety of our wait. We asked the bartender if we could sit at one of the tables. "No." But when the wait was finally up after 40 minutes standing awkwardly in a crowded area next to several empty tables, the hostess seated us.... GUESS WHERE! In hindsight, this should have been a very strong and clear indication of the complete chaos, lack of professionalism, and disregard for consumer experience that was to come. Beverages came out relatively fast but our first appetizer, a "regular" order of chips and salsa was a disaster, with stale broken crumbs passing for chips, and "salsa" that was so wan and tired I'd have much preferred Ro-Tel out of a can. It had no salt, no heat, no nothing other than sad, dry, pale, canned-tasting tomatoes. Yuck. We placed our entree order, and then we waited. And waited. And waited. For an HOUR. Our server was friendly enough but seemed harried and frustrated--likely for good reason, given that the place was obviously understaffed and the kitchen was so deep in the weeds I half-wanted to just douse the place in RoundUp and scram. But just to emphasize the timetable: we arrived at Mad Mex at 7, and at 8:45, we were still waiting for our entrees. Our server comped us some chips with guacamole and pico de gallo. The guac was delicious, the pico de gallo was very good. A little after that our entrees came out. My salad with grilled portabella was tasty but by this point, we were really all so frustrated, irritated, and hungry that we couldn't truly enjoy our meals very well. I'll still consider Mad Mex Wynnewood as a decent take-out option but I will NEVER, and I mean, NOT EVER choose to dine in there for dinner again. For the amount of wait and bother, we could have just sucked it up and driven into the city to eat at El Vez, or for authentic Mexican, hit up one of the many great spots in Conshy or Norristown.
(1)
Chris S.
Wow. The food here is amazing. Huge portions. Best to go with parea so everyone gets a chance to try at least one thing from the vast menu. The decor is a little creepy -- Cinco de Mayo meets Star Trek meets Hellboy. Ignore it and enjoy the mega margaritas.
(4)
Monica C.
Love this restaurant! I used to venture out into the city on occasion to dine at Mad Mex, but I'm so happy to see one in Wynnwood. They sent me a free burrito coupon for my birthday, so my boyfriend and I went this past weekend. I ordered the Mole Burrito and a raspberry margarita. The burrito was great, but my margarita seemed a bit syrupy. My boyfriend ordered the buffalo wings and they were awesome! They have happy hour on Wednesdays with a deal on drafts and wings that we will definitely be taking advantage of!
(4)
Pamela G.
I no longer make new year's resolutions. Instead I endeavor every year to be a better person. For the past few years, I've been working on releasing my inner critic. I even came on Yelp and removed some of my one-star reviews. I figured if I couldn't say something helpful, I wouldn't say anything at all. And then I stumbled across Mad Mex. Well I shouldn't say 'stumbled.' I love Mexican food and was heartened by some fairly decent reviews on the Lower Merion Facebook page. I wasn't about to brave the crowds and was excited when Mad Mex showed up as an option on Mainline Delivery. It's been a few days now and the experience still has me shuddering. I ordered Nacho Momma's Taco Platter, Nachos Grande, and a full order of guacamole and chips ($43 including tip and delivery). This is what I received: the taco platter consisted of Old El Paso taco shells, a container of heavily (badly) seasoned 'meat,' a tiny container of finely shredded cheese and lettuce, and some taco sauce. The nachos comprised burnt taco chips with cheese, dry beans and a lot of jalapenos. The cheese was all melted and stuck to the bottom of the tray. They forgot the chips and guacamole altogether and, after a call, sent it 30 minutes later. I never thought you could have too much lime in guacamole, but Mad Mex proved me wrong. Other than the avocados and lime, there was no seasoning whatsoever. The chips were sub-par. I hear they make a killer margarita. Whatever. This food would only appeal to drunken frat boys. From now on when I'm craving Mexican and need to stay local, I'll head to Chipotle or Santa Fe Burrito.
(1)
Craig L.
Mad Mex was a great date. Music was hopping between 1980's and today; the beer menu would make a hipster happy. In fact the table of five of them next to us seemed to be having a great time. Walking in you get a very Dios De Muertos vibe. Great art and devils around, it brought me back to El Paso, TX. A separate dining area from bar area. As for food. Keep in mind I grew up Texan. Queso hit the spot, salsa was chunky. I'd have to agree with another reviewer the guacamole wasn't that impressive. Next time around I'll order something different. Dinner itself was great. Steak Fajitas to order??? Yes please! So often they come out well done but at Mad Mex came out a nice medium rare. Slapped some cheese, sour cream and onions on that for a couple of fantastic fajitas. Some hints. One order of fajitas was more than enough for both of us to share. The waitress let us know that when ordering and I tipped her extra for it. No need to order two. Margarita was fairly priced, try one with fruit. Worth the extra $.50. The kitchen seemed a little backed up on Saturday night. I can see how large groups would be frustrated but the two of us waited about 20 minutes at most. I'll go back. Both hipster and kid friendly. Not a combination seen everywhere.
(4)
Lawerence G.
2stars for effort, but I'm unimpressed. Ordered the burrito Carnitas and found it full of grease and rice with very little else. The blue corn bread was good until it began absorbing the grease from the burrito, I'll give it a pass in future.
(2)
Glenn P.
We have been to Mad Mex several times and we feel that the food the actual taste of the same items have changed and not for the better. The service has slowed down and the crowds have shrunken. Last fall when they opened the wait was at least one hour now you hardly see a crowd. There are many newer better cheaper Mexican restaurants in the area -why not try one?
(2)
Chelsea C.
We are big fans of Mad Mex. We recently moved right down the street so we go about once a week for lunch or dinner. Since we go so often our experience has been everywhere from 1 star to 5 stars but more often than not it is a great experience so I gave them 4 stars. I think the Wynnewood location is still trying to find their groove. When they first opened the food always came out fast and hot. The staff was great and the food was excellent. I have noticed that they have started to slip sometimes. Depending on who's there that day you can wait a really long time for food. Just for the two of us it takes 1.5 hours for dinner. That's a long time for this type of restaurant. A typical experience you will wait about 5-10 minutes to be noticed by the server and it takes about 20 minutes to get the check and pay. Food has taken anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour depending on the night. Our worst experience here, it took us an hour to get our food it was not a busy night and there were only two of us getting some tacos. When our food came out it was cold so we sent it back and it tasted like they just nuked it for a few minutes. This was our worst experience. It has only happened once however in our many visits. On the flip side we have been there and had some amazing servers who are quick with refills, food comes out quick as soon as it's done and they are very friendly. Overall it is a great place. They have options for everyone; vegetarians, vegans, gluten free etc... The tofu tacos are delicious, I prefer the pensyltucky fried tofu because I can heat it up and eat it for multiple meals after. The waffle fries are amazing as well.
(4)
Mark K.
My mom had them cater her birthday and I have to say they did a fantastic job. We ordered the food for 6pm and they loaded it into my car by 6.08pm and even got me a free drink for the so called wait. I then had to return at 7.15pm for the dinner corse. ( I live up the street from them so it was planned this way) they loaded it into my car by 7.18pm and I was on my way. They did everything they could to make it a great experience. All the food was hot and fantastic. We got wings, dips, burritos etc etc. all very good. The party was happy and so was I. They do a great job catering food. But I don't think they deliver. I have been to mad mex in Pittsburgh only and I have to say they are just as good around here.
(5)
Christine B.
I have to say, I'm a little surprised by the reviews about how long people have waited for food, because our experience has been COMPLETELY the opposite. We tend to go eat a little early, so maybe we have just been caught up in trying to rush people out before the dinner rush, I don't know. We have eaten here twice, the first time we waited a little for a table, so we put in appetizer and entree orders at the same time (clearly saying, we'll start with the pick-a-dippa and then for an entree we'll have x and y), assuming the kitchen would be a little backed up and the timing of things would go well. Instead, our appetizer and entrees came out approximately 30 seconds apart (like we hadn't had time to pick up a chip before we had enormous burritos in front of us too). It was a little overwhelming, but whatever, the food is delicious. Yesterday we went, again a little early, we probably arrived around 10 to 5 or so, since we had been running other errands in the shopping plaza. We sat down, ordered drinks and an appetizer, and waited to order entrees. I was asked at least 3 times in the next 5 minutes if I was ready to order yet, and our appetizer came out very quickly- before our beers, which came out in a really normal amount of time. We barely started drinking our beers before we had entrees, and we were ready to pack up food by 5:20. I think the only thing we talked about during dinner was how much we wished they would slow down a little. The food is all really good, I absolutely LOVE that they have vegan options, but this doesn't seem like an option to go with anyone except the person I live with, since there's not enough time during the meal to have any sort of conversation. We want to come back. We think the food is great, and there are great drink options, etc. but sometimes we want a chance to enjoy being out together too, not doing some sort of dinner sprint. We would have gotten another round of drinks if we were still eating. Most times we go out, we have a drink while we're looking at the menu/ eating appetizers, and then order a second one when entrees come out. This was not possible here. We'll try again, but if it's the same kind of experience next time, we're probably done trying.
(3)
Sarah O.
I came here with a group of 8 the other day for lunch and I was disappointed. First of all, it took over 45 minutes to get our food. I fully understand there were a lot of us, but the restaurant was practically empty as it was barely noon. In the meantime, we got an appetizer of salsa, queso and guac. The chips were really light and crispy and the guac and salsa were fresh, but the queso was straight up out of a jar and microwaved. I ordered shrimp enchiladas, and they were kind of foul. The shrimp looked barely cooked and had a rubbery texture. The sauce tasted like it was right from the can and the dominant flavor was salt. The rice was somehow undercooked so that there were little hard pebbly bits throughout. The side of black beans was decent, so I mostly ate that. The rest of my group said the food was fine, though the overarching complaint was lack of flavor. Between the unimpressive food and the tacky decor, I have no desire to return.
(2)
Michael D.
Solid eating experience. Chipotle Wings are prolly the best wings I have ever had. Their seasonal Gobblerito is the best spin on Thanksgiving in a 'blank' I have ever had. (And I ALWAYS give that a go when I see it.). Profit from their happy hour and late night specials and your bucks will go a long way for when you hit up DSW after dessert.
(5)
Teresa E.
I got a giftcard to this restaurant for christmas and as my mother and I had both heard good things i'd thought we'd give it a shot. I knew the restaurant gets packed on friday and saturday nights so we went on a sunday night. There was a healthy amount of people and so there was some wait time, a little more than i think there should have been honestly. The menu is pretty decent, all the standard tex-mex fair, burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas etc , mostly meat based but there are plenty of options for vegetarians as well. The decor is warm but super hipster and trendy. I appreciated it. Sadly, all the food we had was lackluster. I had a chicken torta which was alright except for the very blackened chicken which I never really enjoyed. My mother got a steak enchilada/burrito concoction which she didn't enjoy too much and from what i saw appeared to be more peppers/onions than anything else. Honestly I won't be going back here. It's just not worth it.
(2)
Jennifer J.
Happy to see this addition to the area. Went in on a Sunday night and it was packed. Plenty of seating around the bar but still waited twenty plus minutes for a table. We had the guacamole/queso/salsa trio and chips. Salsa was awful, no flavor and really watery. Queso was just okay but it is cheese. Guac was pretty darn good. Ordered chicken enchiladas and they were mediocre. Might keep this as a margarita and appetizer place.
AWFUL & GETTING WORSE. We live nearby so we've wanted very badly to like this restaurant. If you enjoy greasy food that all tastes similar, dash right over....otherwise find somewhere else to eat. When this restaurant first opened, the food was decent and drinks were great. Really fun vibe. The vibe has remained, though food quality has slid. During our last (fifth visit), the margaritas were rushed, overpowered by individual ingredients. So much so that we had to request side ingredients and mix our own at the table. Keep your expectations low if you venture over....
(1)
Kelly L.
Just went here for dinner and drinks with the family. Pros: Family-friendly, decent (not great, but fine) food. Cons: very loud music playing. All was going fine with our dinner until my husband looked over at a table just across from us and noticed a group of women and a beagle (yes, the DOG) eating off the table- inside! Now we have a dog who is a beloved part of our family, but we respect others (and the law....health codes) enough to not bring our dog out to dinner with us! When my husband asked a supervisor (or manager? Not sure...he never told us his title) about this, he informed us that the dog was a service dog for "emotional distress." The fact that the owner was laughing and having people come over to see and pet her "service dog," led me to believe that she was likely not very "emotionally distressed." I fully support and respect the role of service dogs, and I understand that restaurant staff probably feel that their hands are tied when a person blatantly lies to them about the legitimacy of their service dog....but allowing the dog to sit on the booth and eat off the table - UNACCEPTABLE. No one with a legitimate service dog would EVER let their dog do this. No reputable restaurant would ever ALLOW this. So if you're looking for an unsanitary restaurant where you're served food on the same table that a tongue which had recently licked its own genitalia had licked, Mad Mex Wynnewood is your place. MontCo Health Department: take note.
(1)
Ciara S.
I am lovingggg this new Mad Mex location. It is def a change of scenery from the University city Location. This location is more geared toward families and older crowd. Staff is excellent, decor is wonderful, and most of all the food was soooo delicious !!! Def will be back
(5)
Dustin T.
Went in at lunchtime and sat at the bar. The girl (Illiana) bartending was very nice and greeted me promptly. I had a 22 oz Green Flash Soul Style IPA which was on tap for $5. It tasted fresh and was frosty cold. I ordered the quesadilla combo from the lunch menu. I chose the steak quesadilla and tortilla soup. The soup was tasty, and the quesadilla was delicious as well. Plenty of steak and the tomato salsa that came with it was very good. Friendly and prompt service, delicious food and a cold tasty beverage, a very quality experience.
(5)
Megan P.
I really like the vibe in here and I would like to come back for happy hour sometime as it seems like they have good drink specials. With that being said, the service here is deplorably slow. I have been twice. The first time, several servers walked around my table multiple times before anyone actually took care of me. The second, I decided to sit at the bar where I got waited on quickly but I have been waiting for my food for about 30 minutes. Note that it was a chicken tender wrap and french fries and the restaurant is less than half full, that should take no more tham 15-20 minutes MAXIMUM.
(2)
Ann T.
So we ended up here because Not Your Average Joe's had an hour wait on a Wednesday night. I am not a big fan of Mexican food but my husband loves it. We were immediately seated and the restaurant has a nice decor albeit very loud. Half the space was empty.my husband ordered a Cabernet Sauvignon and I had white sangria. The Cabernet was a cheap brand and my husband said it was too sweet. Nothing interesting about the sangria. I started noticing an abundance of flies as we sat there. Not just the common houseflies but a lot of gnats or fruit flies and it was really annoying.i ordered the Southwest chicken wings. They were supposed to be in a mild sauce but I found it quite spicy. My entree was the kale salad and my husband had the fish tacos. Tacos were bad, the fish was tough and dry as were the accompanying black beans and rice. The kale salad was a huge plate of mostly kale with barely any tomato or guacamole. It was a bit overbearing even though I enjoy kale. Some manager came over to ask if we mind if they opened the huge open air window on the side of the restaurant where we were sitting and I mentioned to him about the fly problem. In fact, some had gotten in my husband's wine glass! The manager said it was because they had the window open earlier and comped the drinks, which we appreciated. The service was fine but the food leaves a lot to be desired. Do not recommend.
(2)
Liz E.
Great happy hour and nice selection of drafts. I love that they have dairy free/vegan options for free. I don't think anyone here expects authentic Mexican food. The food is fine. Service has been really great and friendly, as opposed to the University City location which leaves much to be desired. Here's the thing... While I understand that Mad Mex has a party atmosphere in University City, this is the burbs. You need to modify your business based on your demographic. Loud music is fine and dandy on a Friday evening, but when you're trying to have a friendly drink at 5pm on a Tuesday, the noise level is just annoying. Tone it down a little and I think you will get more business.
(3)
Michael S.
I think the food here is really good. The chips could use an improvement though. Service is great. My friends and I love coming here.
(4)
The Brave Bastard B.
This place has great food great staff and a great decorator. When ever I want real Mexican food without the diarrhea that comes with it I go here. The only beef I had was that I got a lemon in my blue moon instead of an Orange. This place has great food with great big portions and the wait staff understands the importance of refilling you soda when you are using the hotsauces. Lol
(4)
Marcy S.
Honestly I don't usually use my yelp account, but came on here to rave about fantastic service on a recent trip to mad mex, when I came across Emily D.'s review. Funnily enough, we also had Mary as a server, and we were delighted with the service. It sounds like Emily has an RBF of her own. If you're unhappy with the food, be an adult and request an adjustment instead of posting a bad yelp review hoping to get free food. Asking if you needed a box was a courtesy because Mad Mex has huge portions. Get over yourself and go somewhere else if you don't like the food - though it looks like you ate almost all of it. My shrimp enchiladas were excellent as always! Thanks for the great service, Mary!!
(5)
Tiffany H.
Poor service. We arrived and was met by a friendly host and immediately seated. Sat our table for ten minutes and four servers walked by and we were never greeted. We weren't in a rush just wanted some acknowledgement. No one addressed us and I had to walk to the host desk to ask for a manager. The manager I believe "willie" apologized for the inconvenience and gave us two free drinks. Okay no problem. Server approached the table and didn't introduce herself just asked what we wanted and was uninterested in serving us. Overall, food is average as with the other mad mex's. We were really just looking forward to drinks. We ordered something light, left and went to a different restaurant. My money spends anywhere, I won't be back and would not recommend.
(1)
L W.
The food was good however it was hard to enjoy because we were so cold. We were a party of 6 and were sat in a booth near the window. We asked to move to the table across from us(which was empty) and they said no. The "house" margarita wasn't worth the happy hour price. The nachos were awesome. The wings tasted like regular hot wings, even though we orders the San Francisco wings which were supposed to be spicy and sweet. The best thing was my Corona however it was still too cold to enjoy!! The chicken chimi was good. Got it to go because of the temperature inside of the restaurant.
(2)
Clifton M.
It is a chain mexican restaurant. Its not a fancy place. The food is very good and they have a great beer menu. I've been here twice and will be back
(4)
Joe S.
Well above average chain Mexican food. The fish tacos and mad max burrito we had were both well prepared and tasty. The food itself was really a 3.5 but I went down to three stars due to the atmosphere. The place feels like a big box despite trying to be something more with some interesting and pretty cool decorating. Our waitress was great. Certainly worth the trip but don't be expecting anything authentic or unique.
(3)
S D.
Average spot. It's very convenient if you live in the area and service is average to above average, as is the food.
(3)
Walter K.
Very mediocre overall. Salsa tasted like jarred mass produced supermarket salsa. Chips also were of the same caliber. Guacamole was decent. The only plus is that it seems a reasonable place to take kids on a weeknight for an early dinner especially since Happy hour and drinks menu are actually quite good. Impressive beer menu. However my wife's burrito and my carnitas tacos were average at best. Totally bland tasting and not very fresh ingredients wise. The pork was dry and the tortilla was lame. I much prefer Cantina Feliz in Fort Washington and Taqueria Feliz in Manayunk for much better tasting food. I remember the Mad Mex in Pittsburgh during my college days as being much better. Same goes for the Penn location when I last went 10+ years ago.
(2)
Denise R.
The food was good. But their "world famous margaritas"? Not so much. I could've had a better margarita from a pre-mixed bottle @ the state store. That was disappointing. Service was good.
(3)
P B.
First off, walking in this restaurant it is very unique and the huge windows on the side of the restaurant make it a great spot to eat on a summer night. It's convenient, because it's open pretty late and because of its location there is lots of parking. I've been here several times and the only time I did not have to wait for a table was at lunch. This place is always busy. I would venture to say that this is definitely the best Mexican food on the Main Line. The nachos are massive, big enough for about 6 people. The food always comes out piping hot. Each time I have come here, the food has not disappointed. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. It is pretty noisy and a little dark at night. I've heard other diners complain about the loud music but it hasn't bothered me. Also, if you're vegetarian/vegan they have some killer options for you.
(4)
B. L.
Very...very...overpriced for a burrito full of rice and about 6 pieces of burned, chopped up chicken. Even more disapointed with the fact that I paid 7.50 and got a bowl of broken tortilla chips with a TINY little side dish sized glass of guac for the appethizer item, "guacamole." Would think that this should have been the standout item here but not the size nor the blandness pulled through. Will absolutely NOT be back unless the quality goes UP and the prices come DOWN. Thanks Mad Mex.
(2)
Kevin A.
Came in to the bar on a not - too - busy night and was ignored for at least a good 20-25 minutes. Very disappointed because I had heard good things about the place but I couldn't even get a drink. Both bartenders continuously walked right past me several times and even looked right in my direction and never acknowledged me.
(1)
Mathilde R.
One of the best place in the area to eat Mexican food. The food Is excellent, and there are a lot of vegetarian choices. But you have to wait to seat, and it is pretty loud
(4)
Thomas M.
This is one of those times when I wish I could add a half star. Mad Mex is an excellent addition to the area which is really just starting to lock into the proper staffing, cooking and management after a first few months of opening in which they were consistently barraged. The style of Mexican, to my taste, is Baja cuisine (ala Baja California and San Diego) which differs from Tex Mex in the amount of seafood used (much more) and the amount of cheese slathered over everything (much less). It is not the tastiest Mexican food I have had; but, for a chain location in the Philly burbs, it is definitely decent. The wings (ironically) are some of the best I've had, locally, and they are half-priced during happy hour. To that point, Happy Hour is really the time to come to the location. The craft beer draft list is solid, and can be checked daily on their website. That said, drafts are probably about $1 higher than local competitors aside from happy hour (when they are half priced). The bar staff is outstanding (Alex and Mike consistently provide outstanding service), and the atmosphere is especially fun on a sunny day when the doors are open. An extra plug for the readily available frozen margarita with a sangria swirl in it...anyone from Texas will gush about how uncommon it is to find done well. I continue to go and am happy when I do so.
(3)
Gerd N.
My wife and I decided to give it a try about two weeks ago. I was really looking forward to eating what I thought would be real "California-style" Mexican cuisine as they advertise having lived in southern California. If you go on their Facebook page, you'll notice all the focus and emphasis is on their drinks. There's a good reason for that. I had a carnitas quesadilla which was bland, unseasoned and all I could taste was greasy bread. The tortilla soup was actually very thick, unlike any that I ever saw before and they threw in some tortilla strips which were like chewing on a dog's rawhide bone. The only thing that I ate that was decent was the guacamole and chips. Very disappointed to say the least and still looking for something close to what I experienced in California.
(2)
Mark R.
Let's start with first impressions. It was a 4:30 PM dinner on a Sunday night, and the hostesses had scowls on their faces. It wasn't busy yet. I ordered a beer that didn't come out until dinner. Also, I was charged for a $10 beer when the one I ordered was $5. We ordered an appetizer that didn't come out at all. On the bright side, I had the Chicken Chimi and it was very good. My wife had the Chicken Quesadilla and it was good, but she probably wouldn't go back. I would give it another chance.
(3)
Jen Z.
Love their happy hour! Wait was pretty long for food but to their credit it was extremely busy. The atmosphere is great as well. I'd say 3.5 stars.
(4)
Nick D.
As a Penn State alumnus, I had some high hopes for Mad Mex to be similar to the location in State College: a fun, loud, lively place for cheap food and drinks. It is, sadly, quite different from the Happy Valley staple. That said, there isn't anything really WRONG about the location: decorations are similar (Day of the Dead-Style artwork, sculptures, etc.), drinks are strong (and expensive when not on special), beer list is solid, and the food is identical (great portions, so-so taste), and friendly service. Mad Mex is the ultimate "A-OK" location, but for the true experience intended, take a trip to State College and try MM on a Friday or Saturday night. It's, put simply, a blast.
(3)
Emily D.
Update: I went last night and another crappy experience. Nachos that weren't even covered iwen cheese, burnt and practically no toppings. Also, my drink was not what I ordered.
More laid back then the Mad Mex in University City but still a good place to go for a bite to eat and drinks. The service was good, Frozen Margaritas were great, and the Honey Chipotle BBQ wings were delicious!
(4)
Julian S.
The food is consistently good especially the wings, waffle fries and burritos which I order the most! Moreover, for those of you that prefer vegan options, the vegan sour cream and vegan cheese is really good!!! The service is great and I love that they are close to my home and the great parking.
(5)
Steven B.
So I pulled into the parking lot, took a look at the sign and geared up to be mad at some Mexicans. I didn't know if I should be just annoyed, actually mad, or really furious. It's kind of weird because I think Mexicans are fine folks and I'm rarely pissed off at them. So as I walked in the door I thought that growling a little like I was actually mad would do. I sat at the bar and ordered a house marg on the rocks with salt. The pleasant bartender said I could have many different sizes so I went with 16 oz., for $7.50. It was served in a pint draft beer glass, very cold, nicely strong, and very tart. It was a little too tart for me but generally a decent drink at an ok non-happy hour price. I was asked if I desired chips and salsa and said sure. I received a small bowl of slightly warm, mostly broken, tasted like from a bag chips. The salsa was very thick and spicy. Overall they were substandard but they were free. For my meal I choose Barbacoa Tacos for $14. This was three soft tacos with red chile braised beef, cotija cheese, tomatillo-Avocado Salsa, shaved red cabbage, radish and chopped cilantro. These folks are a Pittsburg based chain so for you folks that have been there, I was worried that there were going to be French fries on my taco. Thank God there wasn't a fry in site. My tacos came with beans and rice and were a solid three stars filling meal. Throughout my meal there were several folks that "touched" me and they were uniformly excellent. Clearly four star customer service. What about the atmosphere you ask? These folks are a chain and it feels like a chain. Will I be back? Absolutely! This is week one for them and I'm sure they'll evolve over the next month. BTW- when I walked out I wasn't mad, just stuffed!
(3)
Michael G.
I really wanted to like this place. I've sworn off the university city location as there service is consistently bad and they do not care about pleasing the customer. I've given this location many tries and the last three times I have left feeling disappointed and unsatisfied. Again this location is not very keen on pleasing the customer as well. The service is bad. The place is never crowded yet the service is consistently bad! We ordered wings and they served three BLACK wings. Yes the color black. Why would that be acceptable to serve a person? The waitress never came to check on how we were doing at all. We had two different mangers come over and speak to us as if we were children. Last time they wouldn't honor happy hour prices because we were five minutes early. We literally had to wait the five minutes before the server would take our order because we wanted the specials. You can eat at other locations for the same price and actually have a good time and be treated well. I've never felt good about giving this place my money and the last visit was the last straw. And honestly I'm heart broken. I really wanted to like this place.
(2)
Annie P.
OH MY. The Mad Mex that I went to at Penn State makes makes a mockery out of this one. Holy. Crap. Okay, so. I went with friends and a dirty martini was ordered. Got the drinks. Martini was straight vodka. Was sent back. Came back with a remade one. Not even a HINT of olive juice. Ordered a BIG AZZ marg (like I did) and it was forgotten about.... The nachos were ok..chips were all broken, not whole. Our server seemed scared of us and NEVER returned! Had to get a busser to grab her for our check. Like, cmon really?!? Never again. The only reason I gave it 2 stars instead of one is because I finished my margartia which was the only nice part of the night.
(2)
Sam L.
My experiences at this establishment have been utterly, craptastically repulsive all across the board, so at least Mad Mex has consistency going for them. This is the second MM restaurant I've visited and I can assure you that it will be the last. My first dining experience happened at the University City location and my second and third experiences happened here. The last craptacular extravaganza happened via delivery and was the final nail in the coffin, despite the fact that the first time really ought to have sealed our fate. An aside: I totally and completely respect that tex-mex fare is a legit thing, and just because it's not "authentic" Mexican, doesn't mean it can't be fresh, thoughtfully prepared, and delicious. In fact, I've really enjoyed good tex-mex food, both in Pennsylvania and during my travels cross country. This is NOT tex-mex. It is the lovechild of the late Chi-Chi's and Chili's. But the fellow Yelper who mentioned Bennigan's and Olive Garden brainstorming together to create this resulting mess? Yeah, you're on the right track with that. When you flub up nachos, it is not a good sign. In fact, it's an omen of the horrors to come. The chips are boring, but that's the least of their worries. The last time I ordered nachos, they were covered in burnt, plasticized cheese and had to have been baked at least 10 minutes over. The taco meat is greasy, the chicken tastes previously frozen, nothing is seasoned properly, there is no flavor except some spicy, salt, and pepper, and they use weird sauces that I can't even begin to identify. To add insult to injury, they use Old El Paso taco shells or something very equivalent. I've noticed the margaritas are incredibly popular and they are as big as Nicki Minaj's ass (just like at Chili's). So if you're into that, then by all means, come here and indulge. I think I might be too old for this place to understand its hip, cool, burnt cheese-laden appeal. I'd agree with the reviewer who states that the food here is most likely to appeal to drunken fratboys. I'd have to be wasted out of my mind to remotely enjoy Mad Mex. Or maybe just mad. It's no wonder this place is a sanctuary at State College.
(1)
Ann V.
The worst service EVER! Came here for dinner with a few friends and my 1.5yr old son. Ordered the little one a mac and cheese which took FOREVER to come out. The adult meals came out first so I thought his was soon to follow. Waiting waiting... nothing. lt didnt come out until 10 minutes AFTER I asked another waiter about it. I had to ask another waiter bc our waitress sucked and was no where to be found. Additionally his meal should have came with fruit, veggies w/ dip and some sort of drink. Nope... none of that. Terrible terrible. Anyway, when his meal finally came out and she placed it right in front of him. I asked if it's hot, and she says VERY. If it's hot, why are you putting it in front of a small child?! Very smart. All in all the food was decent but service was just horrible. All these issues and no apologies - just a miserable looking waitress. I will not be returning to this MadMex location .
(1)
saea g.
I'll admit first hand that I am a tough critic when it comes to restaurants, but in my opinion, If someone is gonna spend their time and energy somewhere it should be worthwhile. My first encounter with Mad Mex was this summer in Philly when I went on a fantastic date with my boyfriend. The setting was cool, the food was delicious, and we both left happy. So... When I found out that a new Mad Mex was opening in Wynnewood right near me I was really excited to go give it a try, despite it being a typical food chain with oversized menus and oversized meals. I cannot even begin to describe the sort of disaster that place is brewing, or should I say cooking up. I was with my family to start the meal we ordered guacamole. All was good and fine until it arrived at our table. At first I was unaware of how rotten the avocados were because of the restaurant's "pleasant" low lighting, but after consuming a bite or two I was appalled at the rancid flavor. After taking a second look I realized what I had just consumed. (See attached image) So very politely I asked the waiter if there was any chance he could bring "fresher" guacamole and his response was ohhh ok yes definitely" I'm sorry but shouldn't you always be bringing your fresh guacamole to your customers. When he came back to our table he told us the chef had received a bad shipment of "over ripe" avocados. Last time I checked if that happens a chef wouldn't then continue to make batch upon Batch of guacamole with them and who knows what else. Then, we order our main meal. I notice as I look at my newly obtained silverware that it is ridiculously filthy. At first I just see splotches of residue that may as well have been from the dish washer detergent but as I look closer I see an actual crusty attached to my fork. It made me nauseous. (See attached image) Instead of asking for a new fork, which would be useless because who knows what the other ones would be like I ordered steak tacos completely well done in fear of another fuck up in the kitchen and the result being food poisoning. My grandmother ordered the same thing and the waiter gave her a hard time about which types were considered proteins or not when she ordered a portobello mushroom and a chicken one stating "portobellos are a protein ma'm". Lastly, we receive our meals. I am shocked to see that the fajitas my parents ordered have side of the same god damn rotten guacamole that we ate as an appetizer. I mean really! The chef puts it back on our next dishes! As Im about a quarter way through my steak I am unable to swallow. I open my taco and the steak is completely raw and rubbery! (See attached image) After all of this the manager only took one of the taco dishes off the bill and we still ended up paying for a majority of the meal. I know this review may sound dramatic but I have to assure you that we were very polite about the whole thing. I just wanted to report what was going on so that Yelpers can be aware of this ridiculous excuse for a business
(1)
Rebecca R.
Mad Mex is fine. We expect it to be crowded every time we go--which is is. The crowd is really diverse...it seems to have a big college appeal, but there are also several families and people going on dates. My husband summed it up perfectly the other day with "Have we ever ordered anything we really 'liked' there?" The food is expensive and mediocre at best, but the drinks are pretty awesome. We would easily go there just to have a margarita or sangria. All the staff is very friendly and the bar moves quickly even when it's swamped. Over all, not a bad place, but not the best either.
(3)
Paula M.
Huge disappointment! We sat at the bar where generally you get better service but it took a 1/2 hour to get our appitizer, chips and 3 dips. The margurita was decent. We waited and waited, the bartender never checked to refill our drinks and we had to stop her to ask what happened to our app. She went runnung to the kitchen, came back, looked like she was finally entering our order into the computer, returned to us and said the manager is making it now. Then she put a basket of broken, slightly warm chips, and way too thick salsa, in front of us. After the chips and dips we waited so long for the tacos we ordered that we lost our appetite and asked for our check. Love Mexican so hopefully the just need some time to jell.
(1)
Melissa R.
A fun addition to Wynnewood, special thanks to server Allison and the manager for a fantastic job. Loved the open wall; fantastic idea and new for the area. Second visit was not great. A very, very long wait for our order. Some service issues to be ironed out.
(3)
Melly M.
This is my third time coming to this Mad Mex location and this time was by far the worst experience I EVER HAD. I ordered an appetizer and main course meal. I requested that my appetizer come out first, and instead my main meal came, and the appetizer was nowhere in sight. As for drinks, I ordered a Patron-Rita and was told it would be freshly made, but instead I was served a bitter drink that made my eyes water. I returned the drink and was served a second one. They must've miss heard my request for a Patron-Rita, because I was served lemonade, at least that's what it tasted like. If I wanted lemonade that's what I would've ordered. I requested that the server make me another drink. Apparently before she did that she searched for the manager, who was nowhere to be found. They finally located her 30 min later. Wait!!! Shouldn't a manager be on the floor in case of issues like this??? When the server finally got a hold of her, she refused to remove the drink from the check, because at this point I didn't want another one. After going back and forth with this missing manager she finally agreed to remove it. I'm a frequent restaurant hopper and this was by far the worst service EVER. Bottom line I will never come here until they hire a more responsible manager. Do not go to the Wynnewood location because you probably leave upset like I did.
(1)
Michal M.
We were a party of 10 with 6 kids. It took more than an hour to get our food and the place was only half full!!! In addition once we got the food, it wasn't as we ordered and we had a couple of upset and hungry kids. We love the Willow Grove location and were very happy to have one closer. We won't visit this location again!!
(2)
Mo D.
Hmmmmmmmmm, this location was very intimate and the decor looks a little jungle-ish but nonetheless, its clean and the staff was friendly. the food taste like the other locations and came out in a timely manner. I was with a party of about 8 or 9 people and our waiter broke the tab without being asked; how awesome!!! #itsthelittlethings
(4)
Steve D.
I was looking forward to this place. After eating there I will be in no hurry to return for the food. Pros: - very good beer selection. Many drafts and bottled beers. - cool atmosphere - 5 minutes from my house Cons: - service: we found 2 seats at the bar to bypass the wait. it was very busy but the bartender was not very attentive and he was either drunk , high or both - food: seriously I've eaten better Mexican food at Chili's. I couldn't agree more with Wanda's assessment of the salsa. It was awful. Ro-tel is much better than what we ate. The burrito was ok, too much rice. My wife liked her quasadilla but I wasn't impressed. The nachos were decent. Also the appetizer selection was lacking - only about 5 appetiZers on the menu. This place is racking up now because the Mexican bar/grill concept is novel for the area. It's also a good place to drink. But based on the food and service I will not be going back.
(2)
Trish M.
Went with a group of 5 at 7:15 Friday night. Told the wait would be 1 hour. Was seated at about the hour mark. Very very loud...sat at round table for 6, could not hear the people across the table. Took almost 45 min to get dinner after order placed. Expressed some frustration with the server who apologized and said...."the kitchen is just really busy". Asked if I could speak to the manager and she said "of course, I will send him right over". He never came by. Could avoid so much of this with a reservation policy, imo.
(2)
Nicole T.
Ants on our table. We were given dirty appetizer plates. The booth bench we were sitting on broke, exposing nails. No one refilled our water or cleared our table. I expected more.
(2)
N L.
Great atmosphere, bartenders/servers, and the garage door is pretty awesome, especially on a good weather day.
(4)
Bob S.
Food was tasty, draught beer choice was great, table service was friendly and efficient but we were ignored for service at a nearly empty bar and the noise level is nearly painful. Because of the pluses, we will probably return. If nothing is done to correct the level of noise we won't return very often.
(3)
Nicole S.
The ambiance is very day if the dead, I really liked the dim light and paintings on the walls. The servers were friendly but the drinks and food were pricy and just ok. I had a burrito that was mostly rice and lacked flavor. I'd expect to pay $12 in the city for a margarita but not anywhere else.
(2)
C P.
HORRIBLE HORRIBLE HORRIBLE. If you want to eat below average mexican food while feeling like you are in a day care, with terrible service, come here. Terrible food. Screaming children. Slow service. The only positive thing this restaurant has is its decor. I have been to multiple Mad Mex locations and this place is by far the WORST. Save the money and go to Chipolte.
(1)
R M.
I've been curious to try Mad Mex since it opened in its Wynnewood location a few weeks ago since I'd heard mixed reviews about their other locations. I went for a friend's birthday celebration and I wish I could say I had a better experience, but things just went from bad to worse. We put our name in when we arrived and were waiting at the bar for our table for quite a while (maybe 30 minutes) when someone went to check to see how much longer it would be and they had crossed our name off the wait list, which made absolutely no sense. They said it would be about ten more minutes until a table opened for the 8 of us. Meanwhile, two people in our party ordered their food at the bar since they were in a bit of a rush. Soon after, we were seated. After ordering, it took a while to get our food, but when we did, I didn't notice the waitress coming around the table and was looking in the other direction when suddenly, I leaned forward a bit and bang!! The waitress had knocked a couple of the big heavy plates she was serving right into my tooth and my wrist. She must have been placing them down with a lot of force, because she came pretty hard against my tooth and wrist, enough to leave my wrist really red and bruised and my tooth sore. So granted this was an accident and the waitress was very apologetic about the incident, part of me definitely expected her to at least offer me a free meal, which in my opinion would have been the professional way of handling the situation. Not only did that not happen, but when she handed us one big check and we politely asked her if she could split it into individual checks, she insisted that she was very busy and we just write down what we all had on the bill. After this was taking way too long, we decided to just ask again, and she did it, but was obviously not happy about it. And on top of all that, the food I thought was just mediocre. I had chicken fajitas, which came with a lot of toppings, but the seasoning on the chicken was lacking flavor and had too intense of a lime flavor, which in my mind, the seasoning makes or breaks chicken fajitas. I also didn't care for the guacamole that came on the side. It was also very limey, without much other flavor. The flour tortillas were good though. I'd say one other positive in this experience was the ambiance of the restaurant. It seems like this place is one of those restaurants you'd go more for the ambiance and margaritas rather than the food. One last thing...the two others in our party who ended up sitting at the bar to eat their meals said that it took 30 minutes just for them to get their check, so they couldn't even join us after they'd finished.
(2)
Adam L.
Garbage. First take out order, they put guac and beans in my burrito when I asked for them to leave them off. Second time, the beef was clearly somewhat old as it was caked together and tasted poorly. And the final time I had it, it was a mix of the above two errors. Not a very good experience from a take out point of view.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Late Night Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Loud Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
Clarissa H.
Came to mad mex for happy hour. Assumed it started at 4 but it didn't start until 4:30 so I made my way next door to DSW. Once seated the waiter was super friendly and told is about the specials. Ordered our meal and drinks and the taste and presentation were great. It seems so much nicer then the the mad mex in University City.
(4)Jeff W.
Came for a late Sunday lunch. Got a booth by the huge open air wall-window with my son. Friendly attentive staff. Nice selection of booze and drinks (but I had iced tea.) Stylish decor. The meal was good, but not great. I'd happily come back just for the cool vibe and keep my meal expectations in check.
(4)Rachel W.
Was hoping to have a nice meal with my husband and kid and waited so long that we ended up taking the food home to eat it. The restaurant was hardly full so I doubt the kitchen was in the weeds. We opened our togo boxes when we got home and were even further disappointed...Needless to say we will not be going back.
(1)Raph D.
This place is great, plenty of options to choose from if you are vegan or gluten free. I personally dig the veggie enchilada, so much food i had to take most of jt home the next day. Desserts are great, I recommend the ice cream burrito and the sangria blur margarita.
(5)Karmalife L.
We tried Mad Mex on a Thursday afternoon with our 2 kids. We definitely enjoyed the atmosphere and the service was fantastic, but there is also room for improvement. PROS: Service was great- Christian was our server and he was prompt, attentive and very friendly. Atmosphere- Mad Mex is so uniquely designed and decorated and we sat at a booth next to the outside wall and the windows were completely open. It was so lovely to feel the breeze while we enjoyed our lunch. Variety- They offer vegan foods like tofu, daiya cheese and sour cream. This is a huge plus since there aren't many restaurants in the area that do so. Food- It was really tasty. We had the tofu appetizer which was delicious and I got a veggie enchilada which the kitchen so nicely prepared for me with beans and rice on the side. Hubby enjoyed his salad and our toddler liked his waffle fries. CONS: I ordered a wine and the pour was ridiculously small. I then ordered the sangria and it was very cloudy. Perhaps they used orange juice, I am not sure. But they should consider changing the recipe to make it more attractive. Out of Daiya- This was truly disappointing. For vegans like myself who specifically choose a restaurant BECAUSE it serves non-dairy cheese, to be told that they don't have any is quite the buzzkill. Perhaps they could store an emergency bag or two in the freezer for the next time it doesn't "come in on the truck." We will definitely give this place another try but perhaps I will call next time to make sure they have vegan cheese available. And hopefully, we will have the great service that Christian provided us with. Oh, and maybe I'll order a beer this time.
(3)Erin B.
I visit Mad Mex by myself quite frequently and cannot complain.. food is great, margaritas are good and I usually only go during happy hour, so, the prices aren't bad, either. Why I'm writing is because once a week, I work with a girl with cerebral palsy.. Although she is nonverbal, she's taken a liking to this establishment and we have frequented it almost every Tuesday for the past month and a half for lunch. We have the same server every time, who is absolutely fantastic with my special needs friend and today the manager was especially kind to us in taking care of our lunch for us. Community-based outings are critical for young special needs adults to grow and learn and this restaurant not only allows that, but encourages it. You RARELY hear the good out of an establishment, especially in regards to special needs patrons. Thank you, Mad Mex for doing it right--you will continue to receive my personal business and our Tuesday lunch outing!
(5)Regina B.
This year, the Patriarch decided to allow the Eldest Young 'Un (AKA the Newly Minted Teenager or NMT) to choose a restaurant for his birthday celebration. NMT chose Mad Mex, primarily because NMT loves tacos. Off we go. We ordered a variety of dishes, and they were all pretty "meh". Biggest thumbs up of the salads. Burritos are all square, not cylindrical as is per usual, and even the spicy ones were bland. Tacos had meat so greasy they soaked through the shells and honestly made me feel a bit nauseous. Chicken Chimi was the only cylindrical burrito and it was served with a strange sauce coating it - not quite marinara, not cheese, I don't know it was orange-ish and odd tasting. It was drowned in that sauce, and even scraping it off left an aftertaste. Our server was fantastic, she was very attentive and friendly and made good suggestions. I'm not sure exactly how I'd categorize the food. It's not Tex Mex, it's definitely not pure Mexican. I'd have to say if Olive Garden and Bennigan's got together and had to interpret Tex-Mex, you would get Mad Mex. Maybe that's why they call it Mad Mex, because anyone would have to be mad to think this was Mex? Or maybe if you came here thinking you'd get good Tex Mex, you'd end up pretty mad? Either way, we won't bother again.
(2)Yul H.
Great for a nice causal outing or a group of friends. An ideal place to kick back have a Big Ass Margarita and enjoy yourself to different genres of music. Ideal for younger college patrons to middle age persons!
(5)Cornelia B.
This location is much bigger than the one in University city. The painting and pictures are just as abstract and really unique....even if you're not an art person they still kind of pull you in. The food and service----absolutely awesome. We had the BBQ chipotle chicken wings with margaritas! Definitely will be coming back!
(5)Deen N.
Here's the thing about mad mex, I want it to be good. I've been praying for a half decent mexi or even texmex or Cali/mex place on the main line...and then mad mex opens not a 5 minute walk from my doorstep. I've been there 3 times so far, giving them 3 chances, which is pretty generous. Most of the other reviews hit the nail on the head. There is a generic, lack of authenticity to there dishes and sides such as the beans and rice. The chicken mole was abominable, the fried fish tacos would have been good, however they obviously sat under a heat lamp for a good 10 minutes before being brought to the table..but what bothers me most is their salsa. This salsa is dreck..it's worse then the pre packaged slop that u buy in a super market. Tasty, authentic, fresh salsa, like Pico de giao, is soooooo easy to make in bulk...MAD MEX...c'mon!!!! How do u honestly charge people for that slop?!! .....but it's on the main line so it will inevitably stay in business and do well without making the necessary changes because people in this area don't know good food if it slapped them across the face...ibid the 5 star reviews.
(1)Matt G.
Went on a Saturday night around 10PM. They weren't very crowded, but the service was nonetheless sporadic and terrible. The waitress dropped off our menus and disappeared for 15 minutes. In the interim, I had to eventually ask a bus boy for a replacement water glass, as mine was incredibly dirty. We later had to bother the same bus boy for silverware when our waitress was again M.I.A. Poor service aside, the real issue was with the food. I ordered a vegetarian burrito only to find chunks of beef in it. I haven't eaten meat in close to 20 years, so this is kind of a big deal for me- especially from a place that takes pride in having a vegetarian menu (the main reason we chose to eat there to begin with). They took it off the tab, but it took 20 minutes to track down the server to have it taken care of, by which point the rest of my party was finished and beyond ready to leave. Awful experience, and I ended up getting physically sick. Won't be back and I've already alerted other vegetarian friends to steer clear.
(1)Lynn N.
I went here for the first time today. I don't recommend this place at all. First, I ordered the "classic margarita" and it was disgusting. I love margaritas and I know a good one when I taste it. When the server brought it to me and I tasted it I thought I was drinking shoe polish. I asked if I could get a another flavor or order something different and I was told that "they could add simple syrup" (i.e. lots of sugar) to see if that would balance out the taste. They have a policy of not returning drinks without charging for a new drink. Really?! Probably because your restaurant has had many problems and complaints about the drinks. Ok, so I said add the simple syrup and of course when my drink was returned to me it was still disgusting. I could have gotten the manager involved but my "date" didn't want me to. So, I never took another sip of the drink that I was served and the server could have cared less.
(1)Sherrice B.
Decided to stop in for a bite an ordered the Southwestern Wings an the Crabby Corn quesadilla. The Wings are Spicy, not sure why cause they should only have cilantro, garlic, olive oil, an lime ..according to the menu. The quesadilla was fine but needed some sour cream or dipping sauce on the side. It's dark in here also very dark.
(3)Andrew K.
Very torn on this place. First of all, a really nice addition to Wynnewood, and I especially love that the kitchen is open late (until 11pm on weekends if I'm not mistaken). Ok, it's a chain, but I still like the way they've done up the inside. There's a pretty large bar as well as another "overflow" counter near by, as well as plenty of seating (and a few areas accommodating to large groups). They have huge windows along the parking lot side that they open in the warmer months that really add to the experience. Almost forgot to add-- the soundtrack they have playing in the background literally makes you want to kill yourself. It's awful-- basically features the worst pop songs you can think of. How they think it's better than just no music at all is beyond me. Service has been hit or miss, tending more towards the miss side. On the first visit (two weeks or so after opening), Mad Mex gave my companion and I the hands-down worst service experience we have ever had (which is really saying something), despite being 75% empty. Since then I've had one or two attentive servers, and one pretty inattentive server (walked by the table multiple times but ignored us for the first 10 minutes). Overall, it's definitely below average. Generally get the house margarita. It's not great, but you can get a 22oz for like $6 or something late night and I don't think it's exactly weak, so I'm not complaining too much. Otherwise, there is a surprisingly above-average draught list posted above the bar that includes a number of local brews. I start with the pick-a-dippa each time which lets you choose three salsas/dips from a list of about 15 or so. Most aren't bad, but the chips are a joke. You get a huge basket but after eating the top layer of intact chips, you find only chip crumbs beneath that are so small they are barely edible. I thought on one visit they may have improved on this but alas on the most recent visit the chip crumbs had returned. I typically go with a quesadilla for the entree. I like that they offer whole weat tortillas as an option, however the only quesadilla that I can really say I think is ok is the Mad Mex quesadilla with basically everything removed but the meat and cheese. Tried dessert once in the form of the brownie. If you want to ensure yourself a heart attack, order it. Overall not a terrible hangout and still a place I plan to stop in for easy meals. To put it in perspective, I'd say it's almost but not as "good" as Plaza Azteca. If you want a great quesadilla go to El Limon in Conshy, which remains the golden standard for me.
(3)Samantha M.
Have been wanting to try this place since it opened and was sadly disappointed.It is located in the back of the space where Borders used to be. Came here on a late night looking to grab a quick drink & bite. We were seated right away and I was really surprised by how large the restaurant was. It has a cool Mexican vibe along with loud music playing(which didn't really bother me). They also have a huge open window across the side which would be cool to sit near on hot night. I was mainly looking forward to trying one of their margaritas, as I have seen they have a lot of neat flavors. I ordered the sangria blur margarita which sounded right up my alley. After checking my ID, the waitress said she needed to see my fiancé's ID who hasn't turned 21 yet, even though he was not ordering an alcoholic drink. She said we both needed to be 21 for me to order a drink because of "sharing". Now the waitress was nice enough about it and it was clear it was just the restaurant's policy, and I wasn't going to argue. But, this is absolutely ridiculous. I could see if I was getting a bottle of wine or a pitcher of beer maybe since those are typically shared, but I was just getting a margarita! If I was a server here I would be pissed about this policy because it's obviously going to lower their check , and therefore their tips. When I told my mom about this later she couldn't believe we even stayed, but it was already late and we were hungry. We did not get a free salsa, unlike what other reviewers mentioned. But, we ordered a chips and salsa anyway. The chips were fine but they were mostly broken. The salsa didn't taste bad, but the texture of it was very weird. It was super thick, so much so that it was difficult to scoop onto your chip. I would have been unhappy with this even if the salsa were free! Again, this should have been a sign to get out here, lol. But, I ordered a chicken quesadilla. The chicken quesadilla wasn't bad, however it was no better than what you would get at somewhere like Chilli's. Also, what I didn't like was it came with peppers and onion which was fine, but there were more peppers and onions on there than chicken! Some of the dessert looked good, but at that point we were just ready to leave. The one good thing I will add about our experience was that our waitress was very friendly and attentive. Forget the mediocre food, the alcohol policy alone is enough to keep me from coming back here. It's actually kind of insulting. Now, we go out to eat A LOT , and I have never had this happen. So I'm not going to come back somewhere I cannot even get a drink. It's a shame because this place had the potential to be good and the location is convenient enough.
(2)Douglas A.
Meh...pretty average Mexican food place. Went there for lunch and it was pretty empty. Service was fine but the food was just too bland. I had chicken fajitas which were piping hot. The flour tortillas were doughy. The sides were pretty average too. Reasonably price but nothing special. I saw no signature dishes. Friendly and fun decor and staff.
(2)Harry E.
This is a decent eatery. Hip, kind of newish, hipster tex mex food. The atmosphere was the best part about this place. It attracted a younger crowd which can be a challenge for Wynnewood. While sitting at the bar my wife commented on how she felt like we were sitting in Ucity, they really nailed the vibe. The drinks were tasty but nothing to write home about... if you pay for anything other than happy hour prices I think you're overpaying for what you actually get. I felt like the food was under seasoned but over salted, if you get what I mean. My wife really liked her cheese enchiladas, beans and rice. I liked my shrimp fajitas but some lime and chili powder would have been a big help. I know we will try this place again. This summer in the evenings when the giant windows are open... will be a great time to try it again.
(3)Meags M.
I absolutely loved this place! The decor was totally on point. Lots of handmade Mexican art. I ordered the sangria, chips and salsa, and a burrito. The waiter was excellent. He offered to bring us more salsa and said he would bring a different type of salsa if we didn't like the one we tried. The place was crowded for happy hour, but the wait was short and it wasn't too loud. The food was fresh and delicious. There were a bunch of unique menu items I would like to go back to try. The dessert options sounded awesome, but we didn't have room! Next time!
(5)Shane J.
I have frequented the Mad Mex, University City location for years. I was pleased to see this new location which is closer to my home and I don't have to deal with the obnoxious students. I have been here for Happy Hour and just for dinner at another time. It has been busy both times and it seems that the staff need to be trained a little more in chaos and crowd management. The best deals are during Happy Hour - the $3, $5 & $7 Margarita's. I also believe wings are 1/2 off. My friends seemed to enjoy their orders of Burritos, Gaucamole and enchiladas. The food is average and for the price of drinks - it would be a great place to hang if the service improves.
(3)F C.
I've gone to the University City location for 15 years. Now that I'm a grown up and living in the burbs I get to enjoy the ample parking and more mature clientele of this new location. Everything I've had in my multiple visits has been spot on. My favorites are the San Francisco no Bono wings and the shrimp and funguy tacquitos. I enjoy the food and drink specials and would recommend this place to everyone. Do I expect the best mexican or tex Mex food when I come here? No. It's Wynnewood. But it does the job. It's cheap solid eats and large beer selection rivals any suburb restaurant. The staff is friendly and welcoming. I can't think of anything else that needs to be said. This place deserves better than its current three star rating. I'm tired of the people of yelp that take themselves too seriously and demand five star quality meals and service from every place they go. Most of them are whiney cheapskates who wouldn't know good if it bit them in the ass.
(5)Nikki R.
Place is big, loud, and the food is good. I get the tofu tacos every time. Vegetarians would love this place. Service could use some improvements.
(4)Kimberly K.
Ok - I read all the reviews- this is not an authentic taqueria from the west coast. You want authentic Mexican head out to Norristown or Reading. No it's not quiet because its a party place. This place is a casual, modern tex mex, upbeat restaurant with moderate priced, fresh, quality, tasty food and awesome draft selection. If you never been to Happy Valley or Univ City location- you won't understand the place. The happy hour is what this place is noted for. : Mon-Fri- 1/2 price wings, fresh fruit margaritas at ridiculous low prices and 1/2 price drafts- awesome craft beer selections ( for non craft beer drinkers : drafts are normally $6-$8 depending on the craft beer). I ordered a Sorachi Ace draft pint which is normally $10 a big bottle (2 pints) for $3. Food: wings are average but half off you can't beat at HH. I ordered the Fajita combo( steak & shrimp) with onions and peppers and they were cooked perfectly- steak was sirloin and tender. Not greasy peppers and onions still- fixings included guacamole which normally is extra at some restaurants. Shrimp was medium in size, grilled on a skewer and had a flavorful rub. Flavors are mildly spiced & flavorful to accommodate non-spicy food eater. Big portion - took half home. My husband always gets the burrito and there are several varieties to choose. Large burrito with chunks of chicken breast. He loved it! Salsa is freshly made. Service: very attentive staff- food arrived quickly- checked on by 2 managers- waitress checked on us several times Atmosphere : it's a party atmosphere- not what I want all the time but great Friday night - kick off the weekend place to eat I give it 5 stars because i walked out in a great mood after eating quality food at a great price and a beer selection!
(5)Lisa D.
Mad Mex has been my favorite Mexican place for years, because they offer gluten free and dairy free options (you'd be surprised how hard it is to get places to omit queso or crema fresca). Before, we'd have to drive up the turnpike to Willow Grove, or go to the crappy one in University City. So, naturally, I AM SO HAPPY. Pros: -It's bigger than most other Mad Mex locations -The food has been consistently good, every time we've gone -The wait staff are so nice! And the manager likes to walk around and check in to see how people are doing, too -Margarita and drink specials, regularly -TOFU SOUR CREAM Cons: -We like to go earlier, 5:00 or 5:30, because it can get busy with families and screaming kids around 6. -I think it's a big drinking spot, without supplies to back it up. We've ordered a beer and had them come back saying that the keg was kicked a few times.
(5)Elise R.
I love this Mad Mex. Awesome service, great food. (Try the chickpea chili burrito or any of the vegetarian options) Pretty nice beer selection and the glasses we got were HUGE, what seemed like 2 beers for the price of one. Really neat decor and theme inside. They nailed the whole tex mex thing pretty well. It's been packed every time I went but the wait time is always very short, and you can always grab a seat at the bar while waiting or just simply choose to sit there and eat! Can't wait to try their happy hour specials next.
(5)HedgeFundGirl B.
Well...I can say I tried it. Pros: nice location, plenty of parking, interesting decor, very large menu. Cons: very salty food, bad cocktails, very loud. Service tried hard but the kitchen still made something I didn't order. Won't be back. Bad $12 top shelf margaritas (go to Diablos on Haverford Road for the $4 house ones - much better).
(2)Vanessa W.
I've enjoyed the takeout here a few times, and I am familiar with the Mad Mex chain and its parent organization, Big Burrito Restaurant Group, because for years I lived in Pittsburgh, its home base of operation. So when some friends wanted to get together for a girls' night, I felt comfortable suggesting Mad Mex. BIG mistake! Long story short, I was totally embarrassed to have brought my friends here for what was supposed to be a celebratory evening! We arrived at 7 on a Friday night to find that there was a 40 minute wait. I understand this in Center City but in the Wynnewood Shopping Plaza? Seriously? In retrospect, we should have just headed elsewhere right then, but we didn't. BIG mistake number two! We waited near the bar, directly next to a pair of empty tables that remained empty for the entirety of our wait. We asked the bartender if we could sit at one of the tables. "No." But when the wait was finally up after 40 minutes standing awkwardly in a crowded area next to several empty tables, the hostess seated us.... GUESS WHERE! In hindsight, this should have been a very strong and clear indication of the complete chaos, lack of professionalism, and disregard for consumer experience that was to come. Beverages came out relatively fast but our first appetizer, a "regular" order of chips and salsa was a disaster, with stale broken crumbs passing for chips, and "salsa" that was so wan and tired I'd have much preferred Ro-Tel out of a can. It had no salt, no heat, no nothing other than sad, dry, pale, canned-tasting tomatoes. Yuck. We placed our entree order, and then we waited. And waited. And waited. For an HOUR. Our server was friendly enough but seemed harried and frustrated--likely for good reason, given that the place was obviously understaffed and the kitchen was so deep in the weeds I half-wanted to just douse the place in RoundUp and scram. But just to emphasize the timetable: we arrived at Mad Mex at 7, and at 8:45, we were still waiting for our entrees. Our server comped us some chips with guacamole and pico de gallo. The guac was delicious, the pico de gallo was very good. A little after that our entrees came out. My salad with grilled portabella was tasty but by this point, we were really all so frustrated, irritated, and hungry that we couldn't truly enjoy our meals very well. I'll still consider Mad Mex Wynnewood as a decent take-out option but I will NEVER, and I mean, NOT EVER choose to dine in there for dinner again. For the amount of wait and bother, we could have just sucked it up and driven into the city to eat at El Vez, or for authentic Mexican, hit up one of the many great spots in Conshy or Norristown.
(1)Chris S.
Wow. The food here is amazing. Huge portions. Best to go with parea so everyone gets a chance to try at least one thing from the vast menu. The decor is a little creepy -- Cinco de Mayo meets Star Trek meets Hellboy. Ignore it and enjoy the mega margaritas.
(4)Monica C.
Love this restaurant! I used to venture out into the city on occasion to dine at Mad Mex, but I'm so happy to see one in Wynnwood. They sent me a free burrito coupon for my birthday, so my boyfriend and I went this past weekend. I ordered the Mole Burrito and a raspberry margarita. The burrito was great, but my margarita seemed a bit syrupy. My boyfriend ordered the buffalo wings and they were awesome! They have happy hour on Wednesdays with a deal on drafts and wings that we will definitely be taking advantage of!
(4)Pamela G.
I no longer make new year's resolutions. Instead I endeavor every year to be a better person. For the past few years, I've been working on releasing my inner critic. I even came on Yelp and removed some of my one-star reviews. I figured if I couldn't say something helpful, I wouldn't say anything at all. And then I stumbled across Mad Mex. Well I shouldn't say 'stumbled.' I love Mexican food and was heartened by some fairly decent reviews on the Lower Merion Facebook page. I wasn't about to brave the crowds and was excited when Mad Mex showed up as an option on Mainline Delivery. It's been a few days now and the experience still has me shuddering. I ordered Nacho Momma's Taco Platter, Nachos Grande, and a full order of guacamole and chips ($43 including tip and delivery). This is what I received: the taco platter consisted of Old El Paso taco shells, a container of heavily (badly) seasoned 'meat,' a tiny container of finely shredded cheese and lettuce, and some taco sauce. The nachos comprised burnt taco chips with cheese, dry beans and a lot of jalapenos. The cheese was all melted and stuck to the bottom of the tray. They forgot the chips and guacamole altogether and, after a call, sent it 30 minutes later. I never thought you could have too much lime in guacamole, but Mad Mex proved me wrong. Other than the avocados and lime, there was no seasoning whatsoever. The chips were sub-par. I hear they make a killer margarita. Whatever. This food would only appeal to drunken frat boys. From now on when I'm craving Mexican and need to stay local, I'll head to Chipotle or Santa Fe Burrito.
(1)Craig L.
Mad Mex was a great date. Music was hopping between 1980's and today; the beer menu would make a hipster happy. In fact the table of five of them next to us seemed to be having a great time. Walking in you get a very Dios De Muertos vibe. Great art and devils around, it brought me back to El Paso, TX. A separate dining area from bar area. As for food. Keep in mind I grew up Texan. Queso hit the spot, salsa was chunky. I'd have to agree with another reviewer the guacamole wasn't that impressive. Next time around I'll order something different. Dinner itself was great. Steak Fajitas to order??? Yes please! So often they come out well done but at Mad Mex came out a nice medium rare. Slapped some cheese, sour cream and onions on that for a couple of fantastic fajitas. Some hints. One order of fajitas was more than enough for both of us to share. The waitress let us know that when ordering and I tipped her extra for it. No need to order two. Margarita was fairly priced, try one with fruit. Worth the extra $.50. The kitchen seemed a little backed up on Saturday night. I can see how large groups would be frustrated but the two of us waited about 20 minutes at most. I'll go back. Both hipster and kid friendly. Not a combination seen everywhere.
(4)Lawerence G.
2stars for effort, but I'm unimpressed. Ordered the burrito Carnitas and found it full of grease and rice with very little else. The blue corn bread was good until it began absorbing the grease from the burrito, I'll give it a pass in future.
(2)Glenn P.
We have been to Mad Mex several times and we feel that the food the actual taste of the same items have changed and not for the better. The service has slowed down and the crowds have shrunken. Last fall when they opened the wait was at least one hour now you hardly see a crowd. There are many newer better cheaper Mexican restaurants in the area -why not try one?
(2)Chelsea C.
We are big fans of Mad Mex. We recently moved right down the street so we go about once a week for lunch or dinner. Since we go so often our experience has been everywhere from 1 star to 5 stars but more often than not it is a great experience so I gave them 4 stars. I think the Wynnewood location is still trying to find their groove. When they first opened the food always came out fast and hot. The staff was great and the food was excellent. I have noticed that they have started to slip sometimes. Depending on who's there that day you can wait a really long time for food. Just for the two of us it takes 1.5 hours for dinner. That's a long time for this type of restaurant. A typical experience you will wait about 5-10 minutes to be noticed by the server and it takes about 20 minutes to get the check and pay. Food has taken anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour depending on the night. Our worst experience here, it took us an hour to get our food it was not a busy night and there were only two of us getting some tacos. When our food came out it was cold so we sent it back and it tasted like they just nuked it for a few minutes. This was our worst experience. It has only happened once however in our many visits. On the flip side we have been there and had some amazing servers who are quick with refills, food comes out quick as soon as it's done and they are very friendly. Overall it is a great place. They have options for everyone; vegetarians, vegans, gluten free etc... The tofu tacos are delicious, I prefer the pensyltucky fried tofu because I can heat it up and eat it for multiple meals after. The waffle fries are amazing as well.
(4)Mark K.
My mom had them cater her birthday and I have to say they did a fantastic job. We ordered the food for 6pm and they loaded it into my car by 6.08pm and even got me a free drink for the so called wait. I then had to return at 7.15pm for the dinner corse. ( I live up the street from them so it was planned this way) they loaded it into my car by 7.18pm and I was on my way. They did everything they could to make it a great experience. All the food was hot and fantastic. We got wings, dips, burritos etc etc. all very good. The party was happy and so was I. They do a great job catering food. But I don't think they deliver. I have been to mad mex in Pittsburgh only and I have to say they are just as good around here.
(5)Christine B.
I have to say, I'm a little surprised by the reviews about how long people have waited for food, because our experience has been COMPLETELY the opposite. We tend to go eat a little early, so maybe we have just been caught up in trying to rush people out before the dinner rush, I don't know. We have eaten here twice, the first time we waited a little for a table, so we put in appetizer and entree orders at the same time (clearly saying, we'll start with the pick-a-dippa and then for an entree we'll have x and y), assuming the kitchen would be a little backed up and the timing of things would go well. Instead, our appetizer and entrees came out approximately 30 seconds apart (like we hadn't had time to pick up a chip before we had enormous burritos in front of us too). It was a little overwhelming, but whatever, the food is delicious. Yesterday we went, again a little early, we probably arrived around 10 to 5 or so, since we had been running other errands in the shopping plaza. We sat down, ordered drinks and an appetizer, and waited to order entrees. I was asked at least 3 times in the next 5 minutes if I was ready to order yet, and our appetizer came out very quickly- before our beers, which came out in a really normal amount of time. We barely started drinking our beers before we had entrees, and we were ready to pack up food by 5:20. I think the only thing we talked about during dinner was how much we wished they would slow down a little. The food is all really good, I absolutely LOVE that they have vegan options, but this doesn't seem like an option to go with anyone except the person I live with, since there's not enough time during the meal to have any sort of conversation. We want to come back. We think the food is great, and there are great drink options, etc. but sometimes we want a chance to enjoy being out together too, not doing some sort of dinner sprint. We would have gotten another round of drinks if we were still eating. Most times we go out, we have a drink while we're looking at the menu/ eating appetizers, and then order a second one when entrees come out. This was not possible here. We'll try again, but if it's the same kind of experience next time, we're probably done trying.
(3)Sarah O.
I came here with a group of 8 the other day for lunch and I was disappointed. First of all, it took over 45 minutes to get our food. I fully understand there were a lot of us, but the restaurant was practically empty as it was barely noon. In the meantime, we got an appetizer of salsa, queso and guac. The chips were really light and crispy and the guac and salsa were fresh, but the queso was straight up out of a jar and microwaved. I ordered shrimp enchiladas, and they were kind of foul. The shrimp looked barely cooked and had a rubbery texture. The sauce tasted like it was right from the can and the dominant flavor was salt. The rice was somehow undercooked so that there were little hard pebbly bits throughout. The side of black beans was decent, so I mostly ate that. The rest of my group said the food was fine, though the overarching complaint was lack of flavor. Between the unimpressive food and the tacky decor, I have no desire to return.
(2)Michael D.
Solid eating experience. Chipotle Wings are prolly the best wings I have ever had. Their seasonal Gobblerito is the best spin on Thanksgiving in a 'blank' I have ever had. (And I ALWAYS give that a go when I see it.). Profit from their happy hour and late night specials and your bucks will go a long way for when you hit up DSW after dessert.
(5)Teresa E.
I got a giftcard to this restaurant for christmas and as my mother and I had both heard good things i'd thought we'd give it a shot. I knew the restaurant gets packed on friday and saturday nights so we went on a sunday night. There was a healthy amount of people and so there was some wait time, a little more than i think there should have been honestly. The menu is pretty decent, all the standard tex-mex fair, burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas etc , mostly meat based but there are plenty of options for vegetarians as well. The decor is warm but super hipster and trendy. I appreciated it. Sadly, all the food we had was lackluster. I had a chicken torta which was alright except for the very blackened chicken which I never really enjoyed. My mother got a steak enchilada/burrito concoction which she didn't enjoy too much and from what i saw appeared to be more peppers/onions than anything else. Honestly I won't be going back here. It's just not worth it.
(2)Jennifer J.
Happy to see this addition to the area. Went in on a Sunday night and it was packed. Plenty of seating around the bar but still waited twenty plus minutes for a table. We had the guacamole/queso/salsa trio and chips. Salsa was awful, no flavor and really watery. Queso was just okay but it is cheese. Guac was pretty darn good. Ordered chicken enchiladas and they were mediocre. Might keep this as a margarita and appetizer place.
(2)Gerry O.
Uh oh. You know you're in trouble when you move from one course to another hoping (in this case vainly) for some hint of improvement in the quality of the fare. Mad Mex wants you to believe that they're serving "funky fresh Cal-Mex" cuisine. Well, it certainly was funky, but in a damp basement sort of way. Note to the owners: Your kitchen is too far from the floor. You've packed the place with tables but skimped on server stations and MICROS for use by wait staff. This means that full plates of food are sitting under heat lamps in the faraway kitchen. Consequently the dishes you're serving are arriving at tables in an overdried state. The whitefish in a fish taco should be slightly crispy on the inside but moist on the outside. Ours was shriveled and tasteless. We each thought the rice on our plates was terribly undercooked until we realized that it had been dehydrated in your kitchen. Same for the beans. Yuck. My molé enchilada was pedestrian, at best. The chicken seemed processed and the sauce was woefully devoid of cocoa (or cloves, or anise). In fact, everything on the table -- from the mushy, bland and porridge-like tortilla soup to the store-bought chips -- was underseasoned, overdried and tasteless. We held out some small hope for the avocado and tomatillo salsa but it, too, did not fail to disappoint. When you advertise a $12.00 margarita as an "ultimate" and promise a cocktail made with Sauza Hornitos Reposado, Combier Liqueur d'Orange, Grand Marnier, and fresh citrus one expects some pop in the mouth, no? Not so. How long was that container of pre-mixed margarita juice sitting in the fridge under the bar? To call your Ultimate Margarita flat is an insult to flat. Your wait staff are harried to the point of distraction because the trek from table to kitchen is too long and too far. And to add insult to injury you've replaced the traditional server's check folder with little wooden steampunky spring clipboards that cannot be stacked in a server's apron pocket -- so they have to tote them around one at a time and cross vast expanses of the floor to get from a MICRO to a customer's table. Really? This new Mad Mex location occupies the space vacated by a Borders. It's enormous, and comes complete with very high ceilings and terrible acoustics. The noise levels are therefore deafening. Owners, please install ceiling baffles and turn down the music. The only benefit that seems to accrue from creating such a sonically unwholesome space is that you can't hear yourself thinking about the terrible, awful, very bad food.
(1)Steve M.
AWFUL & GETTING WORSE. We live nearby so we've wanted very badly to like this restaurant. If you enjoy greasy food that all tastes similar, dash right over....otherwise find somewhere else to eat. When this restaurant first opened, the food was decent and drinks were great. Really fun vibe. The vibe has remained, though food quality has slid. During our last (fifth visit), the margaritas were rushed, overpowered by individual ingredients. So much so that we had to request side ingredients and mix our own at the table. Keep your expectations low if you venture over....
(1)Kelly L.
Just went here for dinner and drinks with the family. Pros: Family-friendly, decent (not great, but fine) food. Cons: very loud music playing. All was going fine with our dinner until my husband looked over at a table just across from us and noticed a group of women and a beagle (yes, the DOG) eating off the table- inside! Now we have a dog who is a beloved part of our family, but we respect others (and the law....health codes) enough to not bring our dog out to dinner with us! When my husband asked a supervisor (or manager? Not sure...he never told us his title) about this, he informed us that the dog was a service dog for "emotional distress." The fact that the owner was laughing and having people come over to see and pet her "service dog," led me to believe that she was likely not very "emotionally distressed." I fully support and respect the role of service dogs, and I understand that restaurant staff probably feel that their hands are tied when a person blatantly lies to them about the legitimacy of their service dog....but allowing the dog to sit on the booth and eat off the table - UNACCEPTABLE. No one with a legitimate service dog would EVER let their dog do this. No reputable restaurant would ever ALLOW this. So if you're looking for an unsanitary restaurant where you're served food on the same table that a tongue which had recently licked its own genitalia had licked, Mad Mex Wynnewood is your place. MontCo Health Department: take note.
(1)Ciara S.
I am lovingggg this new Mad Mex location. It is def a change of scenery from the University city Location. This location is more geared toward families and older crowd. Staff is excellent, decor is wonderful, and most of all the food was soooo delicious !!! Def will be back
(5)Dustin T.
Went in at lunchtime and sat at the bar. The girl (Illiana) bartending was very nice and greeted me promptly. I had a 22 oz Green Flash Soul Style IPA which was on tap for $5. It tasted fresh and was frosty cold. I ordered the quesadilla combo from the lunch menu. I chose the steak quesadilla and tortilla soup. The soup was tasty, and the quesadilla was delicious as well. Plenty of steak and the tomato salsa that came with it was very good. Friendly and prompt service, delicious food and a cold tasty beverage, a very quality experience.
(5)Megan P.
I really like the vibe in here and I would like to come back for happy hour sometime as it seems like they have good drink specials. With that being said, the service here is deplorably slow. I have been twice. The first time, several servers walked around my table multiple times before anyone actually took care of me. The second, I decided to sit at the bar where I got waited on quickly but I have been waiting for my food for about 30 minutes. Note that it was a chicken tender wrap and french fries and the restaurant is less than half full, that should take no more tham 15-20 minutes MAXIMUM.
(2)Ann T.
So we ended up here because Not Your Average Joe's had an hour wait on a Wednesday night. I am not a big fan of Mexican food but my husband loves it. We were immediately seated and the restaurant has a nice decor albeit very loud. Half the space was empty.my husband ordered a Cabernet Sauvignon and I had white sangria. The Cabernet was a cheap brand and my husband said it was too sweet. Nothing interesting about the sangria. I started noticing an abundance of flies as we sat there. Not just the common houseflies but a lot of gnats or fruit flies and it was really annoying.i ordered the Southwest chicken wings. They were supposed to be in a mild sauce but I found it quite spicy. My entree was the kale salad and my husband had the fish tacos. Tacos were bad, the fish was tough and dry as were the accompanying black beans and rice. The kale salad was a huge plate of mostly kale with barely any tomato or guacamole. It was a bit overbearing even though I enjoy kale. Some manager came over to ask if we mind if they opened the huge open air window on the side of the restaurant where we were sitting and I mentioned to him about the fly problem. In fact, some had gotten in my husband's wine glass! The manager said it was because they had the window open earlier and comped the drinks, which we appreciated. The service was fine but the food leaves a lot to be desired. Do not recommend.
(2)Liz E.
Great happy hour and nice selection of drafts. I love that they have dairy free/vegan options for free. I don't think anyone here expects authentic Mexican food. The food is fine. Service has been really great and friendly, as opposed to the University City location which leaves much to be desired. Here's the thing... While I understand that Mad Mex has a party atmosphere in University City, this is the burbs. You need to modify your business based on your demographic. Loud music is fine and dandy on a Friday evening, but when you're trying to have a friendly drink at 5pm on a Tuesday, the noise level is just annoying. Tone it down a little and I think you will get more business.
(3)Michael S.
I think the food here is really good. The chips could use an improvement though. Service is great. My friends and I love coming here.
(4)The Brave Bastard B.
This place has great food great staff and a great decorator. When ever I want real Mexican food without the diarrhea that comes with it I go here. The only beef I had was that I got a lemon in my blue moon instead of an Orange. This place has great food with great big portions and the wait staff understands the importance of refilling you soda when you are using the hotsauces. Lol
(4)Marcy S.
Honestly I don't usually use my yelp account, but came on here to rave about fantastic service on a recent trip to mad mex, when I came across Emily D.'s review. Funnily enough, we also had Mary as a server, and we were delighted with the service. It sounds like Emily has an RBF of her own. If you're unhappy with the food, be an adult and request an adjustment instead of posting a bad yelp review hoping to get free food. Asking if you needed a box was a courtesy because Mad Mex has huge portions. Get over yourself and go somewhere else if you don't like the food - though it looks like you ate almost all of it. My shrimp enchiladas were excellent as always! Thanks for the great service, Mary!!
(5)Tiffany H.
Poor service. We arrived and was met by a friendly host and immediately seated. Sat our table for ten minutes and four servers walked by and we were never greeted. We weren't in a rush just wanted some acknowledgement. No one addressed us and I had to walk to the host desk to ask for a manager. The manager I believe "willie" apologized for the inconvenience and gave us two free drinks. Okay no problem. Server approached the table and didn't introduce herself just asked what we wanted and was uninterested in serving us. Overall, food is average as with the other mad mex's. We were really just looking forward to drinks. We ordered something light, left and went to a different restaurant. My money spends anywhere, I won't be back and would not recommend.
(1)L W.
The food was good however it was hard to enjoy because we were so cold. We were a party of 6 and were sat in a booth near the window. We asked to move to the table across from us(which was empty) and they said no. The "house" margarita wasn't worth the happy hour price. The nachos were awesome. The wings tasted like regular hot wings, even though we orders the San Francisco wings which were supposed to be spicy and sweet. The best thing was my Corona however it was still too cold to enjoy!! The chicken chimi was good. Got it to go because of the temperature inside of the restaurant.
(2)Clifton M.
It is a chain mexican restaurant. Its not a fancy place. The food is very good and they have a great beer menu. I've been here twice and will be back
(4)Joe S.
Well above average chain Mexican food. The fish tacos and mad max burrito we had were both well prepared and tasty. The food itself was really a 3.5 but I went down to three stars due to the atmosphere. The place feels like a big box despite trying to be something more with some interesting and pretty cool decorating. Our waitress was great. Certainly worth the trip but don't be expecting anything authentic or unique.
(3)S D.
Average spot. It's very convenient if you live in the area and service is average to above average, as is the food.
(3)Walter K.
Very mediocre overall. Salsa tasted like jarred mass produced supermarket salsa. Chips also were of the same caliber. Guacamole was decent. The only plus is that it seems a reasonable place to take kids on a weeknight for an early dinner especially since Happy hour and drinks menu are actually quite good. Impressive beer menu. However my wife's burrito and my carnitas tacos were average at best. Totally bland tasting and not very fresh ingredients wise. The pork was dry and the tortilla was lame. I much prefer Cantina Feliz in Fort Washington and Taqueria Feliz in Manayunk for much better tasting food. I remember the Mad Mex in Pittsburgh during my college days as being much better. Same goes for the Penn location when I last went 10+ years ago.
(2)Denise R.
The food was good. But their "world famous margaritas"? Not so much. I could've had a better margarita from a pre-mixed bottle @ the state store. That was disappointing. Service was good.
(3)P B.
First off, walking in this restaurant it is very unique and the huge windows on the side of the restaurant make it a great spot to eat on a summer night. It's convenient, because it's open pretty late and because of its location there is lots of parking. I've been here several times and the only time I did not have to wait for a table was at lunch. This place is always busy. I would venture to say that this is definitely the best Mexican food on the Main Line. The nachos are massive, big enough for about 6 people. The food always comes out piping hot. Each time I have come here, the food has not disappointed. The staff is very friendly and accommodating. It is pretty noisy and a little dark at night. I've heard other diners complain about the loud music but it hasn't bothered me. Also, if you're vegetarian/vegan they have some killer options for you.
(4)B. L.
Very...very...overpriced for a burrito full of rice and about 6 pieces of burned, chopped up chicken. Even more disapointed with the fact that I paid 7.50 and got a bowl of broken tortilla chips with a TINY little side dish sized glass of guac for the appethizer item, "guacamole." Would think that this should have been the standout item here but not the size nor the blandness pulled through. Will absolutely NOT be back unless the quality goes UP and the prices come DOWN. Thanks Mad Mex.
(2)Kevin A.
Came in to the bar on a not - too - busy night and was ignored for at least a good 20-25 minutes. Very disappointed because I had heard good things about the place but I couldn't even get a drink. Both bartenders continuously walked right past me several times and even looked right in my direction and never acknowledged me.
(1)Mathilde R.
One of the best place in the area to eat Mexican food. The food Is excellent, and there are a lot of vegetarian choices. But you have to wait to seat, and it is pretty loud
(4)Thomas M.
This is one of those times when I wish I could add a half star. Mad Mex is an excellent addition to the area which is really just starting to lock into the proper staffing, cooking and management after a first few months of opening in which they were consistently barraged. The style of Mexican, to my taste, is Baja cuisine (ala Baja California and San Diego) which differs from Tex Mex in the amount of seafood used (much more) and the amount of cheese slathered over everything (much less). It is not the tastiest Mexican food I have had; but, for a chain location in the Philly burbs, it is definitely decent. The wings (ironically) are some of the best I've had, locally, and they are half-priced during happy hour. To that point, Happy Hour is really the time to come to the location. The craft beer draft list is solid, and can be checked daily on their website. That said, drafts are probably about $1 higher than local competitors aside from happy hour (when they are half priced). The bar staff is outstanding (Alex and Mike consistently provide outstanding service), and the atmosphere is especially fun on a sunny day when the doors are open. An extra plug for the readily available frozen margarita with a sangria swirl in it...anyone from Texas will gush about how uncommon it is to find done well. I continue to go and am happy when I do so.
(3)Gerd N.
My wife and I decided to give it a try about two weeks ago. I was really looking forward to eating what I thought would be real "California-style" Mexican cuisine as they advertise having lived in southern California. If you go on their Facebook page, you'll notice all the focus and emphasis is on their drinks. There's a good reason for that. I had a carnitas quesadilla which was bland, unseasoned and all I could taste was greasy bread. The tortilla soup was actually very thick, unlike any that I ever saw before and they threw in some tortilla strips which were like chewing on a dog's rawhide bone. The only thing that I ate that was decent was the guacamole and chips. Very disappointed to say the least and still looking for something close to what I experienced in California.
(2)Mark R.
Let's start with first impressions. It was a 4:30 PM dinner on a Sunday night, and the hostesses had scowls on their faces. It wasn't busy yet. I ordered a beer that didn't come out until dinner. Also, I was charged for a $10 beer when the one I ordered was $5. We ordered an appetizer that didn't come out at all. On the bright side, I had the Chicken Chimi and it was very good. My wife had the Chicken Quesadilla and it was good, but she probably wouldn't go back. I would give it another chance.
(3)Jen Z.
Love their happy hour! Wait was pretty long for food but to their credit it was extremely busy. The atmosphere is great as well. I'd say 3.5 stars.
(4)Nick D.
As a Penn State alumnus, I had some high hopes for Mad Mex to be similar to the location in State College: a fun, loud, lively place for cheap food and drinks. It is, sadly, quite different from the Happy Valley staple. That said, there isn't anything really WRONG about the location: decorations are similar (Day of the Dead-Style artwork, sculptures, etc.), drinks are strong (and expensive when not on special), beer list is solid, and the food is identical (great portions, so-so taste), and friendly service. Mad Mex is the ultimate "A-OK" location, but for the true experience intended, take a trip to State College and try MM on a Friday or Saturday night. It's, put simply, a blast.
(3)Emily D.
Update: I went last night and another crappy experience. Nachos that weren't even covered iwen cheese, burnt and practically no toppings. Also, my drink was not what I ordered.
(1)Tyneisha M.
I came here a few days ago with my happy hour buddy and our experience here was a lot better than the university city location. I loved the décor and you really got a feel of the place. The décor really stands out here and it is a lot larger than the University City location. Our server was also very attentive and friendly. We ordered strawberry margaritas, honey bbq wings, the la chimi and the ice cream burrito !!! Soooo about that burrito I loved loved loved it !! Would go back for that alone. The wings again were just so so could have used more sauce and seasoning but with it's half off happy hour price why not. I am pleased and will be back.
(4)David W.
More laid back then the Mad Mex in University City but still a good place to go for a bite to eat and drinks. The service was good, Frozen Margaritas were great, and the Honey Chipotle BBQ wings were delicious!
(4)Julian S.
The food is consistently good especially the wings, waffle fries and burritos which I order the most! Moreover, for those of you that prefer vegan options, the vegan sour cream and vegan cheese is really good!!! The service is great and I love that they are close to my home and the great parking.
(5)Steven B.
So I pulled into the parking lot, took a look at the sign and geared up to be mad at some Mexicans. I didn't know if I should be just annoyed, actually mad, or really furious. It's kind of weird because I think Mexicans are fine folks and I'm rarely pissed off at them. So as I walked in the door I thought that growling a little like I was actually mad would do. I sat at the bar and ordered a house marg on the rocks with salt. The pleasant bartender said I could have many different sizes so I went with 16 oz., for $7.50. It was served in a pint draft beer glass, very cold, nicely strong, and very tart. It was a little too tart for me but generally a decent drink at an ok non-happy hour price. I was asked if I desired chips and salsa and said sure. I received a small bowl of slightly warm, mostly broken, tasted like from a bag chips. The salsa was very thick and spicy. Overall they were substandard but they were free. For my meal I choose Barbacoa Tacos for $14. This was three soft tacos with red chile braised beef, cotija cheese, tomatillo-Avocado Salsa, shaved red cabbage, radish and chopped cilantro. These folks are a Pittsburg based chain so for you folks that have been there, I was worried that there were going to be French fries on my taco. Thank God there wasn't a fry in site. My tacos came with beans and rice and were a solid three stars filling meal. Throughout my meal there were several folks that "touched" me and they were uniformly excellent. Clearly four star customer service. What about the atmosphere you ask? These folks are a chain and it feels like a chain. Will I be back? Absolutely! This is week one for them and I'm sure they'll evolve over the next month. BTW- when I walked out I wasn't mad, just stuffed!
(3)Michael G.
I really wanted to like this place. I've sworn off the university city location as there service is consistently bad and they do not care about pleasing the customer. I've given this location many tries and the last three times I have left feeling disappointed and unsatisfied. Again this location is not very keen on pleasing the customer as well. The service is bad. The place is never crowded yet the service is consistently bad! We ordered wings and they served three BLACK wings. Yes the color black. Why would that be acceptable to serve a person? The waitress never came to check on how we were doing at all. We had two different mangers come over and speak to us as if we were children. Last time they wouldn't honor happy hour prices because we were five minutes early. We literally had to wait the five minutes before the server would take our order because we wanted the specials. You can eat at other locations for the same price and actually have a good time and be treated well. I've never felt good about giving this place my money and the last visit was the last straw. And honestly I'm heart broken. I really wanted to like this place.
(2)Annie P.
OH MY. The Mad Mex that I went to at Penn State makes makes a mockery out of this one. Holy. Crap. Okay, so. I went with friends and a dirty martini was ordered. Got the drinks. Martini was straight vodka. Was sent back. Came back with a remade one. Not even a HINT of olive juice. Ordered a BIG AZZ marg (like I did) and it was forgotten about.... The nachos were ok..chips were all broken, not whole. Our server seemed scared of us and NEVER returned! Had to get a busser to grab her for our check. Like, cmon really?!? Never again. The only reason I gave it 2 stars instead of one is because I finished my margartia which was the only nice part of the night.
(2)Sam L.
My experiences at this establishment have been utterly, craptastically repulsive all across the board, so at least Mad Mex has consistency going for them. This is the second MM restaurant I've visited and I can assure you that it will be the last. My first dining experience happened at the University City location and my second and third experiences happened here. The last craptacular extravaganza happened via delivery and was the final nail in the coffin, despite the fact that the first time really ought to have sealed our fate. An aside: I totally and completely respect that tex-mex fare is a legit thing, and just because it's not "authentic" Mexican, doesn't mean it can't be fresh, thoughtfully prepared, and delicious. In fact, I've really enjoyed good tex-mex food, both in Pennsylvania and during my travels cross country. This is NOT tex-mex. It is the lovechild of the late Chi-Chi's and Chili's. But the fellow Yelper who mentioned Bennigan's and Olive Garden brainstorming together to create this resulting mess? Yeah, you're on the right track with that. When you flub up nachos, it is not a good sign. In fact, it's an omen of the horrors to come. The chips are boring, but that's the least of their worries. The last time I ordered nachos, they were covered in burnt, plasticized cheese and had to have been baked at least 10 minutes over. The taco meat is greasy, the chicken tastes previously frozen, nothing is seasoned properly, there is no flavor except some spicy, salt, and pepper, and they use weird sauces that I can't even begin to identify. To add insult to injury, they use Old El Paso taco shells or something very equivalent. I've noticed the margaritas are incredibly popular and they are as big as Nicki Minaj's ass (just like at Chili's). So if you're into that, then by all means, come here and indulge. I think I might be too old for this place to understand its hip, cool, burnt cheese-laden appeal. I'd agree with the reviewer who states that the food here is most likely to appeal to drunken fratboys. I'd have to be wasted out of my mind to remotely enjoy Mad Mex. Or maybe just mad. It's no wonder this place is a sanctuary at State College.
(1)Ann V.
The worst service EVER! Came here for dinner with a few friends and my 1.5yr old son. Ordered the little one a mac and cheese which took FOREVER to come out. The adult meals came out first so I thought his was soon to follow. Waiting waiting... nothing. lt didnt come out until 10 minutes AFTER I asked another waiter about it. I had to ask another waiter bc our waitress sucked and was no where to be found. Additionally his meal should have came with fruit, veggies w/ dip and some sort of drink. Nope... none of that. Terrible terrible. Anyway, when his meal finally came out and she placed it right in front of him. I asked if it's hot, and she says VERY. If it's hot, why are you putting it in front of a small child?! Very smart. All in all the food was decent but service was just horrible. All these issues and no apologies - just a miserable looking waitress. I will not be returning to this MadMex location .
(1)saea g.
I'll admit first hand that I am a tough critic when it comes to restaurants, but in my opinion, If someone is gonna spend their time and energy somewhere it should be worthwhile. My first encounter with Mad Mex was this summer in Philly when I went on a fantastic date with my boyfriend. The setting was cool, the food was delicious, and we both left happy. So... When I found out that a new Mad Mex was opening in Wynnewood right near me I was really excited to go give it a try, despite it being a typical food chain with oversized menus and oversized meals. I cannot even begin to describe the sort of disaster that place is brewing, or should I say cooking up. I was with my family to start the meal we ordered guacamole. All was good and fine until it arrived at our table. At first I was unaware of how rotten the avocados were because of the restaurant's "pleasant" low lighting, but after consuming a bite or two I was appalled at the rancid flavor. After taking a second look I realized what I had just consumed. (See attached image) So very politely I asked the waiter if there was any chance he could bring "fresher" guacamole and his response was ohhh ok yes definitely" I'm sorry but shouldn't you always be bringing your fresh guacamole to your customers. When he came back to our table he told us the chef had received a bad shipment of "over ripe" avocados. Last time I checked if that happens a chef wouldn't then continue to make batch upon Batch of guacamole with them and who knows what else. Then, we order our main meal. I notice as I look at my newly obtained silverware that it is ridiculously filthy. At first I just see splotches of residue that may as well have been from the dish washer detergent but as I look closer I see an actual crusty attached to my fork. It made me nauseous. (See attached image) Instead of asking for a new fork, which would be useless because who knows what the other ones would be like I ordered steak tacos completely well done in fear of another fuck up in the kitchen and the result being food poisoning. My grandmother ordered the same thing and the waiter gave her a hard time about which types were considered proteins or not when she ordered a portobello mushroom and a chicken one stating "portobellos are a protein ma'm". Lastly, we receive our meals. I am shocked to see that the fajitas my parents ordered have side of the same god damn rotten guacamole that we ate as an appetizer. I mean really! The chef puts it back on our next dishes! As Im about a quarter way through my steak I am unable to swallow. I open my taco and the steak is completely raw and rubbery! (See attached image) After all of this the manager only took one of the taco dishes off the bill and we still ended up paying for a majority of the meal. I know this review may sound dramatic but I have to assure you that we were very polite about the whole thing. I just wanted to report what was going on so that Yelpers can be aware of this ridiculous excuse for a business
(1)Rebecca R.
Mad Mex is fine. We expect it to be crowded every time we go--which is is. The crowd is really diverse...it seems to have a big college appeal, but there are also several families and people going on dates. My husband summed it up perfectly the other day with "Have we ever ordered anything we really 'liked' there?" The food is expensive and mediocre at best, but the drinks are pretty awesome. We would easily go there just to have a margarita or sangria. All the staff is very friendly and the bar moves quickly even when it's swamped. Over all, not a bad place, but not the best either.
(3)Paula M.
Huge disappointment! We sat at the bar where generally you get better service but it took a 1/2 hour to get our appitizer, chips and 3 dips. The margurita was decent. We waited and waited, the bartender never checked to refill our drinks and we had to stop her to ask what happened to our app. She went runnung to the kitchen, came back, looked like she was finally entering our order into the computer, returned to us and said the manager is making it now. Then she put a basket of broken, slightly warm chips, and way too thick salsa, in front of us. After the chips and dips we waited so long for the tacos we ordered that we lost our appetite and asked for our check. Love Mexican so hopefully the just need some time to jell.
(1)Melissa R.
A fun addition to Wynnewood, special thanks to server Allison and the manager for a fantastic job. Loved the open wall; fantastic idea and new for the area. Second visit was not great. A very, very long wait for our order. Some service issues to be ironed out.
(3)Melly M.
This is my third time coming to this Mad Mex location and this time was by far the worst experience I EVER HAD. I ordered an appetizer and main course meal. I requested that my appetizer come out first, and instead my main meal came, and the appetizer was nowhere in sight. As for drinks, I ordered a Patron-Rita and was told it would be freshly made, but instead I was served a bitter drink that made my eyes water. I returned the drink and was served a second one. They must've miss heard my request for a Patron-Rita, because I was served lemonade, at least that's what it tasted like. If I wanted lemonade that's what I would've ordered. I requested that the server make me another drink. Apparently before she did that she searched for the manager, who was nowhere to be found. They finally located her 30 min later. Wait!!! Shouldn't a manager be on the floor in case of issues like this??? When the server finally got a hold of her, she refused to remove the drink from the check, because at this point I didn't want another one. After going back and forth with this missing manager she finally agreed to remove it. I'm a frequent restaurant hopper and this was by far the worst service EVER. Bottom line I will never come here until they hire a more responsible manager. Do not go to the Wynnewood location because you probably leave upset like I did.
(1)Michal M.
We were a party of 10 with 6 kids. It took more than an hour to get our food and the place was only half full!!! In addition once we got the food, it wasn't as we ordered and we had a couple of upset and hungry kids. We love the Willow Grove location and were very happy to have one closer. We won't visit this location again!!
(2)Mo D.
Hmmmmmmmmm, this location was very intimate and the decor looks a little jungle-ish but nonetheless, its clean and the staff was friendly. the food taste like the other locations and came out in a timely manner. I was with a party of about 8 or 9 people and our waiter broke the tab without being asked; how awesome!!! #itsthelittlethings
(4)Steve D.
I was looking forward to this place. After eating there I will be in no hurry to return for the food. Pros: - very good beer selection. Many drafts and bottled beers. - cool atmosphere - 5 minutes from my house Cons: - service: we found 2 seats at the bar to bypass the wait. it was very busy but the bartender was not very attentive and he was either drunk , high or both - food: seriously I've eaten better Mexican food at Chili's. I couldn't agree more with Wanda's assessment of the salsa. It was awful. Ro-tel is much better than what we ate. The burrito was ok, too much rice. My wife liked her quasadilla but I wasn't impressed. The nachos were decent. Also the appetizer selection was lacking - only about 5 appetiZers on the menu. This place is racking up now because the Mexican bar/grill concept is novel for the area. It's also a good place to drink. But based on the food and service I will not be going back.
(2)Trish M.
Went with a group of 5 at 7:15 Friday night. Told the wait would be 1 hour. Was seated at about the hour mark. Very very loud...sat at round table for 6, could not hear the people across the table. Took almost 45 min to get dinner after order placed. Expressed some frustration with the server who apologized and said...."the kitchen is just really busy". Asked if I could speak to the manager and she said "of course, I will send him right over". He never came by. Could avoid so much of this with a reservation policy, imo.
(2)Nicole T.
Ants on our table. We were given dirty appetizer plates. The booth bench we were sitting on broke, exposing nails. No one refilled our water or cleared our table. I expected more.
(2)N L.
Great atmosphere, bartenders/servers, and the garage door is pretty awesome, especially on a good weather day.
(4)Bob S.
Food was tasty, draught beer choice was great, table service was friendly and efficient but we were ignored for service at a nearly empty bar and the noise level is nearly painful. Because of the pluses, we will probably return. If nothing is done to correct the level of noise we won't return very often.
(3)Nicole S.
The ambiance is very day if the dead, I really liked the dim light and paintings on the walls. The servers were friendly but the drinks and food were pricy and just ok. I had a burrito that was mostly rice and lacked flavor. I'd expect to pay $12 in the city for a margarita but not anywhere else.
(2)C P.
HORRIBLE HORRIBLE HORRIBLE. If you want to eat below average mexican food while feeling like you are in a day care, with terrible service, come here. Terrible food. Screaming children. Slow service. The only positive thing this restaurant has is its decor. I have been to multiple Mad Mex locations and this place is by far the WORST. Save the money and go to Chipolte.
(1)R M.
I've been curious to try Mad Mex since it opened in its Wynnewood location a few weeks ago since I'd heard mixed reviews about their other locations. I went for a friend's birthday celebration and I wish I could say I had a better experience, but things just went from bad to worse. We put our name in when we arrived and were waiting at the bar for our table for quite a while (maybe 30 minutes) when someone went to check to see how much longer it would be and they had crossed our name off the wait list, which made absolutely no sense. They said it would be about ten more minutes until a table opened for the 8 of us. Meanwhile, two people in our party ordered their food at the bar since they were in a bit of a rush. Soon after, we were seated. After ordering, it took a while to get our food, but when we did, I didn't notice the waitress coming around the table and was looking in the other direction when suddenly, I leaned forward a bit and bang!! The waitress had knocked a couple of the big heavy plates she was serving right into my tooth and my wrist. She must have been placing them down with a lot of force, because she came pretty hard against my tooth and wrist, enough to leave my wrist really red and bruised and my tooth sore. So granted this was an accident and the waitress was very apologetic about the incident, part of me definitely expected her to at least offer me a free meal, which in my opinion would have been the professional way of handling the situation. Not only did that not happen, but when she handed us one big check and we politely asked her if she could split it into individual checks, she insisted that she was very busy and we just write down what we all had on the bill. After this was taking way too long, we decided to just ask again, and she did it, but was obviously not happy about it. And on top of all that, the food I thought was just mediocre. I had chicken fajitas, which came with a lot of toppings, but the seasoning on the chicken was lacking flavor and had too intense of a lime flavor, which in my mind, the seasoning makes or breaks chicken fajitas. I also didn't care for the guacamole that came on the side. It was also very limey, without much other flavor. The flour tortillas were good though. I'd say one other positive in this experience was the ambiance of the restaurant. It seems like this place is one of those restaurants you'd go more for the ambiance and margaritas rather than the food. One last thing...the two others in our party who ended up sitting at the bar to eat their meals said that it took 30 minutes just for them to get their check, so they couldn't even join us after they'd finished.
(2)Adam L.
Garbage. First take out order, they put guac and beans in my burrito when I asked for them to leave them off. Second time, the beef was clearly somewhat old as it was caked together and tasted poorly. And the final time I had it, it was a mix of the above two errors. Not a very good experience from a take out point of view.
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