A friend and i visited Trini's for the first time in years. The last time we visited, years ago, we weren't overly impressed. This time, things have changed. The restaurant is under new management and you can tell. In the past, one of the things that stuck out the most was the dimly lit area with a dungenous feeling. (if you weren't sitting in the passageway). The owners have obviously started to invest money into the restaurant. It seemed brighter (and cleaner) this time. The tables also seemed to be new. However, the atmosphere hasn't lost it's charm. I had the fish tacos (2 huge tacos) for $11.99. They were awesome. They came with a generous portion of black beans and rice. I was surprised that there were so many menu choices under 10 bucks. It's difficult to find good food in the old market under $15 bucks a person. If you are in the mood for good Mexican food in a great setting, check out Trini's. You won't regret it.
(4)
Patrick W.
The atmosphere is better than the food when it comes to Trini's. Having said that, it is likely the best Mexican food in the Old Market. I've been here a handful of times and its always consistently good. It's not great but it is good. The biggest drawback is that the portions are pretty small. It's definitely worth a visit if you're looking for a romantic and cozy environment.
(3)
Kaytee D.
Not authentic Mexican, but totally qualifies as true-blue American Tex-Mex. Lotsa cheese in them there enchiladas - but this is Nebraska, not Guadalajara, and I find this kind of food comforting. Black beans a nice touch. Nice ambiance in the Old Market section of town and friendly service. Margaritas taste good, but next time, hon - add a little more tequila por favor.
(3)
Daniel A.
Have you ever had one of those places that while the food is not really that good you still go there for some reason? I don't understand it - I don't like Trini's that much - maybe it is the location - which is kind of neat. It's decent middle of the road mexican. Nothing stands out as particularly good, and they have my least favorite chimichanga in Omaha....But still I go there periodically. Something seems "right" about walking around the park, going down the slides a couple times then going to Trini's for some basic mexican fare. Oh, yea - use the restrooms somewhere else - the one that is shared for the other stores in the "passageway" was a bit gross last time I was there. Also write down the address - if you don't know where the passageway is it can be a bit hard to find.
(3)
Audrey F.
Trini's was okay. I think a lot of people would enjoy Trini's and the atmosphere. Our waitress was also very good. I personally like La Mesa's better. However, I am sure a lot of people would enjoy Trini's as well.
(3)
Pukar R.
This is a nice little place to have lunch. The food is pretty good and the girls like their margaritas. It's not expensive by any means. I haven't been back in a while but it's because I forgot about it, not because I don't like the place. Not the best mexican in town, but surely not the worst.
(3)
Holly P.
only four stars because there are some quirky things like no comp. chips and salsa, hard to get to, bathroom situation is tough to go for, but I continue to go for the fish tacos!!!! SO yummy.
(4)
Maya P.
There food is awesome. I love their tacos. The margaritas are yummy. I have been here 2 times in '08. Sorry, Trini's I haven't written a review for such a long time. I go during dinnertime. So, usually you are put on a wait list. But, Trini's is the best place ever.
(5)
Jen J.
Their fajitas were pretty good, the other food was just ok, nothing special. Their credit card machine was down and they made us sit there and wait for a really long time till it was fixed and didn't offer any discount or anything free.
(2)
Sarah G.
Something went wrong at Trini's last night. Something went very, saltily, cold and wrong. I'd been looking forward to fish tacos at Trini's all week (since they - used - to be my favorite and most highly recommended in town). Not so anymore, as I was pretty disappointed. The night started off well with a $2 house margarita special. Little did I know that the salt surrounding the rim of what appeared for all intensive purposes to be a milkshake glass would also make its presence known in a bold way during the main course. I ordered my tacos blackened shrimp instead of fish - per my earlier review - and enjoyed the first pretty handily. Unfortunately meanwhile Bill had to send his fish tacos back because the permeating flavor of salt was all either of us could taste. Meanwhile, the salt monster struck again on my second shrimp taco (those shrimp must have been touching the fish from earlier), but I ate it anyway. The second round of fish tacos were better, but nothing close to the amazingness we remembered. All in all, nobody was in a rush thankfully, because our dinner was something on the order of 2 hours long. Several dishes also came out to the table only lukewarm. Bummer... I will say, though, that under new ownership Trini's has flourished in terms of cleanliness and decor. Gone is the cave-like feeling of the inner-restaurant area, and you've got to love the passageway. Still, it'll be a while before I head back here to try again.
(2)
Ashley F.
Overall this restaurant is okay. I would say to check out this place for the ambiance since it's in the heart of the Old Market Passageway (very beautiful might I add). I got enchiladas (one beef, one cheese) that came with rice and beans. It was good but not wonderful. We also took part in the margarita special that they had at lunch. FYI: PinPoint card users: get $10 off your purchase (I ended up paying something like $2 for my meal)
(3)
Kara G.
$2 tacos on Monday. Puffy tacos are awesome. Dining room small and intimate with friendly and attentive service. Limited menus on Mondays, but with $2 tacos who cares!! A hidden gem in the downtown passageway.
(5)
Erin V.
You guys... I just can't. I can't. I gave this place one star because of the ambiance. It's in this amazing brick alleyway with a gorgeous historical vibe, and plants everywhere- just take a walk through it and you'll be in love! Beyond that, this is without question the worst Mexican food we've ever had in our lives. I cannot fathom how this place has such a good overall rating- is this what people in Omaha think is good Mexican food? I can't imagine that but just can't understand the positive reviews. Our service was weird... our margaritas were pure sugar (seriously where was the tequila?)... and the food was the greasiest, blandest pile of blaaaaaahhhh. I could go on- but I won't. Just skip this place. And it's definitely NOT kid-friendly- not sure why it's categorized that way here (no kids menu or anything of the sort).
(1)
Kelsey C.
Best puffy fried taco I've ever had. The hot sauce and enchilada was awesome too. It was dead during lunch (12:30) on a Thursday, but I'm glad I went and would definitely go back. The service was great and it was awesome eating in the alleyway atrium.
(5)
Patrick L.
I am perhaps biased as I have the luck of living in Texas. Trini's may also have the bad luck of being my first midwest Mexican experience. That said, Trini's is not very good TexMex. I ordered a house margarita on the rocks, a cup of chicken soup (not tortilla soup, some other name I don't recall), and a chicken taco (which had to be ordered as a "soft" taco). As stated, this is my first foray into Mexican north of Dallas. However, encountering a menu that considers tacos to be, by default, in a hard shell caught me off guard. Further, not being asked my preference for salt or no salt on my margarita was also a drawback. The drink itself was poor. It was large but tasted heavily of low quality tequila.I think the actual liquor content was low as I didn't feel much of a buzz from it but the taste screamed "plastic bottle." I ordered the house margarita; maybe I was asking for it. However, I am accustomed to house margaritas being at least OK. This one was bad. On the other hand, my girlfriend's house strawberry frozen margarita was pretty good. All of that said, the soup was quite good. Chicken, some onion and peppers, black pepper, and a surprisingly fresh looking slice of avocado (this was in late December) served with a decent tortilla. It was not amazing but it was a good soup. Unfortunately, the soup was followed by the chicken taco that can most accurately be compared to the chicken burrito I had in the El Paso airport last summer. The chicken was shredded and bland. It was topped with shredded grocery store cheese and very cold lettuce and tomato. I understand the need to prep food and keep it fresh but common knowledge suggests trying to leave some amount of toppings out at room temperature so as not to serve a taco with warm meat and tortilla but 38 degree veggies. It was not very good. Also the salsa served was runny and all heat, no flavor. Service was friendly and prices reasonable. However, my hope is that Omaha is able to offer better Mexican somewhere else. Trini's leaves much to be desired.
(2)
bill e.
Okay - in all my years here - I have never eaten at Trini's - I have my excuses, but last night I tried it for the first time and absolutely loved it. The food was delicious, the margarita's have a fantastic taste to them and I was with great company. Definitely going back!
(5)
Lauren T.
Went here Friday night, and had a few issues with service. The first being that we ordered chips and queso that our waiter forgot, so our appetizer came out when I mentioned it alongside our meals. I ordered the seafood combo which was very tasty, the star of the show was definitely the seafood enchilada, but the puffy shrimp taco was also enjoyable. The blackened shrimp were a little too zesty for me, so I shared most of those with my date. Which brings me to our next issue. He had ordered the Diablo stew, which stated that it was served over black beans and rice. Halfway through the meal he realized his dish was missing the rice and beans. By the time our server checked on us and confirmed the kitchen left them out on accident, my date was basically done eating and a little dissapointed with his meal. The owner did comp our drinks and my date was only charged for the cup sized stew rather than the bowl, so they did their best to make it right.
(4)
Tal C.
Seriously...i have eaten in many great mexican restaurants in my travels throughout the country from upscale to dives with great food. This is the first time I have had to pay 3 bucks for 50 cents worth of chips and salsa.
(2)
Dave P.
Not a good night at Trini's. Puffy taco came out stale and not real puffy. They did replace it, second one was very good. Mexican rice with my dish tasted like mush. But I at least got my rice, my wife did not with her meal, they forgot. Not the meal we remembered from the last time we were here.
(2)
Max L.
Atmosphere: A Service: B Drink: N/A Food: A ATMOSPHERE: The atmosphere is awesome. Sitting in maybe the coolest spot in Old Market, Trini's is located in the alley between two buildings. If you've been to Old Market, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. Feels a lot like an European city dining experience in Nebraska. So it was very cool. SERVICE: Our waitress was working very hard. She was running the whole restaurant alone for some reason. Waiting, seating, taking out orders all by herself. She seemed rightfully stressed. But she was nice when she stopped to chat and was very attentive for the job she was doing. Could she have been a bit more cheery? Sure, but I wouldn't want to be in her spot running the whole place. DRINK: Just a bottle of beer and water. Nothing to review. FOOD: We got the puffy tacos. One with beef, one with shredded chicken, one with tilapia. They all were freaking phenomenal. The puffed up tortilla was the perfect vessel for the meat. Soaked up all the juices and didn't fall apart. We got chips and salsa for an app as they were not complementary. The chips were fine, the salsa was fantastic! And on the side for our meal, we had black beans and rice. The black beans and rice were the greatest beans and rice I have ever had in my entire life. I could eat a whole plate. Just delicious!! All in all a great place to eat, we went when it wasn't very busy, so we didn't get the full atmosphere, but I bet it's awesome when it's packed! Will be back!
(4)
Fati A.
A few days ago, my boyfriend and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary and went on a lovely dinner date. We walked around Old Market trying to find a place that looked appealing to what we each wanted to eat. We found a sign outside the Old Market Passageway that read $1.99 house Margaritas, we automatically went inside. (I know he wanted a Margarita too lol) In my opinion I rate this restaurant with 5 stars because we had an overall great experience. Once we walked the hostess seated us in the patio area and then the waitress came out to assist us. I had ordered the Combination 3 which has: a chicken flauta, 2 beef enchiladas, rice and refritos (refried beans). My boyfriend ordered some hot Chili and a chicken fajita salad. For some reason my first thought before going in was, it might be pricey because of the location and how fancy the place looked, but the service was great, the food and Margaritas were great and at the end when the bill came out, it wasn't that bad for dinner for two.
(5)
Brian B.
This is always a go to place if your downtown. I've been here a bunch of times and it has never let me down. Their blacken chicken and steak tacos are fantastic.
(5)
William A.
This was the absolutely worry attempt at Mexican food I've ever tried. The food was bland, the fish taco their #1seller was disgusting and sent my wife and I straight to the bathroom, if you want good Mexican food go down S 24th St or anywhere but here
(1)
Eric J.
Great atmosphere, good food, decent margaritas! All in all a must try if you find yourself in Omaha, Ne!
(5)
Mark S.
My family and I came to Omaha for the weekend to visit the zoo. After being at the zoo all day we were in the mood for margaritas and Mexican food. The margaritas were fantastic. The food on the other hand was very bland. I do not recommend this place unless you just want margaritas.
(2)
Kym B.
Bummer about all the negative reviews... our food here was pretty tasty! I got the shrimp puffy taco and it was SO RIDICULOUSLY GOOD. I also had a tamale, which was okay, but if we ever return (we don't live in town) to Trini's, I will definitely order two of the shrimp puffy tacos instead. They were AMAZING. The rest of the food was run-of-the-mill Mexican, so make sure you order properly. Shrimp. Puffy. Taco. You can thank me later. The ambiance is cute and cavelike. I dig the indoor patio thing they have going. It's very small, though. I wouldn't recommend it for anything larger than a party of 6. Service was average. Our waiter was noticeably hard to find when it came time to bring us our check (and pick it up for payment). Not a huge deal, but a little annoying. Note to Trini's: you shouldn't be charging for chips and salsa unless they're something amazing or special (hand-fried chips, for example). It's generally an accepted practice at Mexican restaurants to comp them to your guests... and, as guests, we have come to expect it. Take that as you will, but you don't want your customers leaving feeling like they got nickle-and-dimed because you charged them $3 for a basket of chips barely large enough to satisfy two adults. And, because I like to end my reviews on a positive note when warranted, I'll say it again: Shrimp Puffy Tacos. Hella good.
(3)
Danny B.
I can see not very busy an have waited 45 minutes for a burrito. Really it better be good if it gets here. I might have to go feed the meter before I can eat. The margarita is OK at least. Quaso cheese is not Campbell's nacho cheese from a can. If you want good Mexican food better try another place.
(1)
Ashley G.
This place was awesome! Loved the atmosphere and the shrimp tacos were to die for. The staff was super nice and their margaritas are awesome. Make sure you stop here if you're at Omaha's Old Market!
(5)
Mike S.
Tuesdays and Thursdays is a must! $1.99 house Margaritas are very worthwhile/ Food is always good and the servers are usually very competent. Tonight was a little different. Only the last round of margaritas was served the way we ordered. ( 2 lime, on the rocks, one with salt) I thought I had a 50-50 chance of getting it right. Yeah, I am not that good at math. After a little studying I saw the HUGE birthday party and was over it. Always had great food. the ambiance is something I bet there are businesses waiting in line for. Probably going to be a while to come back
(4)
Clayton C.
Moderately pricey average Mexican fare. Although no free chips and salsa?! Service is excellent. Small, quaint, fast.
(3)
Taylor K.
The food was good, as were the $2 margs (on Tuesdays, I guess?). Loved the location, the setting, and the ambiance in general. Super cool place and the staff was really nice. You might not know where it is...go through the black doors from the street and down the stairs. I enjoyed my visit.
(4)
Cam V.
My Dad wanted to try out Trini's because someone once told him "it's the best restaurant in Omaha" so he wanted to see for himself. So he called us one night to invite us downtown with them to go to Trini's. So I look on Yelp and immediately see their mediocre ranking, but who's going to turn down a free meal? We went on a Saturday night and it's a bit hard to find if you're not familiar. You have to walk down the stairs to this narrow corridor with a bunch of other restaurants and shops. (Tangent: I couldn't help but think that the decorative plants along the corridor really make a narrow space MUCH more narrow. Functionally pointless) We were able to sit down immediately and get our orders in. I order the "Big Juan" beef burrito and my husband got the Enchiladas. We ordered a blackened chicken dish for our kids and as we were cutting it into small pieces I could immediately tell the chicken was raw in the center. The strange thing is when I told our waitress she didn't seem surprised...guessing it happens a lot? The food was very mediocre...good enough to eat, not enough to ever crave. I honestly would have been more satisfied eating at Chipotle. For 6 adults and 3 kids we spent around $110 with tip. For downtown, I suppose, that's decent. Would I recommend it? Chipotle, yes! Would I be back at Trini's? Not unless you're buying.
(2)
Jeremy L.
Great little spot to enjoy Mexican food in the old market. Good chips and salsa when you get there. The tacos were very good and they have some interesting twists (like the puffy tacos). Great place to eat. I'll definitely go back when I'm in old market.
(4)
Moira R.
This is my favorite Mexican restaurant in Omaha. I love the environment and how it is tucked into a little passageway. I also like that you can enjoy "patio dining" in the dead of winter. The regular margarita is not very good (it is pretty clearly made with a mix, and not a good one) but I love their blended strawberry margarita when I'm in the mood for a sugar-laden alcoholic drink. Their food is amazing and the star of the show! I usually get their cheese and mushroom enchiladas. They are chock full of cheese, mushrooms, and flavor! They are served with a black bean-rice combo that is in a really yummy sauce. The service is usually just average, but on our most recent visit our waitress brought us complimentary chips and salsa because our food was taking a little long (20 minutes - not even long enough for us to comment). It was a really nice gesture and showed that she cared about our patronage. This place is definitely worth trying!
(4)
Shari F.
The atmosphere is charming and romantic. The fish tacos and black beans and rice were delicious. I would have given 4 or 5 stars if the service had been better. Prepare to wait a long time for your meal, even when it's not busy. But when your food arrives you will be pleased.
(3)
Dan Z.
I've only had the tacos here but I have to say, best I've ever had! I've been all over Mexico and the States. Just phenomenal!
(5)
Iby D.
We went in it seemed pretty empty so we were able to sit on the patio. I didn't know what to Order considering I'm not a big fan of Mexican menus with combinations on their menus regardless I order the combination 1 just because I wanted to taste a little of everything cheese enchilada with was just a wad of what tasted like cheap cheese and tasteless sauce, a tamale which wouldn't have been too bad if it wasn't as dry as it was, and a beef taco that was the best thing I had on the plate it reminded me of taco bells hard shell tacos. The beans were also pretty good and lastly the rice was bland. If you want a sweet atmosphere while you eat below average food I say go but if you're expecting good tasting food I would say find somewhere else. They get a star simply because it was clean, and it was a cute location
(2)
Dave V.
Omg. Yum!!! Puffy fish tacos rock!! The rice and beans are excellent. Slightly different then your typical Mexican restaurant. Very good.
(4)
Erin P.
After being turned down from O's dining and lounge we decided to try here! I'm so glad we did! This restaurant was so cute and intimate that we instantly felt like we had set up a date night! They have a delicious strawberry lemonade margarita and a vegetarian menu! I ordered the veggie wrap and it was more than I expected! We will be eating here again for sure!
(4)
T B.
A must stop in Omaha! Their puffy tacos are delicious and the atmosphere is wonderful! The guacamole isn't bad either! :)
(5)
Mike D.
This is definitely a 3-star place, and most of the reviews would agree with that. I don't understand how anyone could rate it 5/5 or 1/5 unless they are just ignorant. We stopepd here one day for lunch while in the Old Market and looking for somewhere that wasn't really upscale and expensive. I love the Old Market Passageway so we decided to try this place. We were the only ones here, minus a couple doctors from UNMC. The ambience is great and the whole passageway is really neat to sit in. Had good service and our waitress was nice and helpful. I ordered the taco, enchilada, and tamale platter. The rice and beans were pretty bland, but, I've had worse. The cheese enchilada was great, the taco was a generic hardshell taco but the meat at least had some flavor to it. Tamale looked legit and homemade but was very dry. Our appetizer of queso dip + chips was quite good though. Overall, I probably will not eat here again unless to try the puffy tacos. I would come here more to be able to sit and eat in the passageway than anything.
(3)
Jennifer S.
Staff is nice and very helpful in what to get; fish tacos are a whole fillet of fish topped with avocado and greens. Chicken and portobello enchiladas are so delightful!
(4)
Michael A.
I'm a vegetarian and they did have a nice vegetarian menu. I got their cheese and mushroom enchiladas, which was a nice alternative to my go-to cheese and onion enchiladas. As far as the taste of the food, I thought it was enjoyable but nothing I'd need to eat again. The chips and salsa were good, although they charge for them which is fine but something I'm not used to. I'm glad I tried it, but once was enough.
(3)
Alex H.
Went here today for happy hour. Sparknotes version of this review; good cheap happy hour drinks, cool atmosphere, meh but worth it food, piss poor/borderline unethical service. Drinks: ~$2 margaritas on Tuesday/Thursday. Worth every penny, tasty as hell. Atmosphere: Excellent. Beautiful tucked away restaurant with charming, romantically lit ambiance. Food: Got a guacamole tostado and beef enchilada. Good, nothing to write home about, but worth the price. Service: My crew got the larger, butch Latina lady for a waitress. She heard me talking about the strawberry margarita, so she put one in my hand. At first I liked her brash style, but that soon changed. I ordered food that landed in front of me in two shakes of a lambs tail. I enjoyed it and finished my first margarita. When I had cleaned my plate she asked me if we were all on separate checks. I told her yes, but I would like another margarita. She audibly sighed and stomped off to grab my second round. After a few awkward attempts to push me and my friends out the door, she finally shoved our checks in front of us, and after all that passive aggressive edging us out, promptly took around 15-20 minutes to run our cards. I can handle pushy or poor service, but what really got me was that she had the lady balls to add a nonconsensual 18% gratuity to all of our checks. If you wait tables at a restaurant with a happy hour within a 10 block radius of the international corporate headquarters of a Fortune 500 company, and a group of twenty-something year olds walk in dressed in business casual with their work badges still attached to their belts, pour as many drinks down their throats as possible and don't force them into a fixed tip. Chances are they have disposable income spilling out of their ears and love to spread the wealth when they're liquored up and enthused. Shit, if she'd have played the part of a good waitress, I'd have ran up my check on margaritas and fluffy tacos and given her a nice fat tip. Instead, she can have fun buying two thirds of a gallon of gas with the $2.08 she raped out of me.
(3)
Mark J.
The people in our group had fluffy tacos with blackened tilapia and they loved it. I had the spicy chicken quesadillas and they were great - served with a rice and black bean mix. The pitchers of margaritas are great but if you get it with patron it is a little expensive. The atmosphere was awesome and if you go early enough there's a lot of shopping around the Old Market. There are only a few tables that sit in the ped mall area and I recommend you get one of those seats if available.
(4)
Samantha T.
After sitting at La Buvette for 30 minutes without even a greeting or glass of water (no, I'm not exaggerating, but it was kind of entertaining watching other tables complain and walk out), we finally went to Trini's. I couldn't have asked for better service. I was fairly parched so I was really making my way through multiple refills of water and pop but I was never empty. James did a really great job! He was there when we needed him and he made some light conversation but he wasn't invading our space or personal conversation. It's not my favorite Mexican food in town, but it is certainly the best of its kind downtown! The prices are very reasonable and the atmosphere is unique. We had a couple friends join us halfway through our meal and they didn't go unnoticed. This place has game and I hope it will continue to get a chance. I really couldn't imagine the old market without it!
(4)
Amanda F.
Trini's is literarily the one to blame for my newly adopted obsession with Mexican food. I was never a fan until I had a date there and fell in love... with the fajitas, that is! They come out sizzling with onions, green peppers and all the extras on the side. Their tortillas are to die for, which I think can make or break the Mexican restaurant. I'm sure they have an amazing menu but the fajitas are so good I simply can't bring myself to order anything else! Their guac is also yummy, which can be hit or a miss (especially from my experience in Nebraska). They have great drinks and margaritas as well. Pretty inexpensive too! The staff has always been great when I've been there too, always very sweet and helpful!
(5)
Jason G.
Been looking for a Mexican restaurant since moving here and I'm glad I stumbled upon Trini's...I like the location, how it's below street level, almost has a speakeasy vibe...Sat down and ordered the #1 combo, beef taco, cheese enchilada and a tamale...loved it all...compared very favorably to places I've eaten at in Vegas and Portland...price for my meal was great since they gave me a lot of food...service was also good...I very much look forward to coming back...
(4)
Erin F.
My fiance and I came here while apartment hunting and absolutely loved this place. The waitress was so helpful, we got to sit under the covered glass roof, and our vegetarian entrees were cheap and tasty.
(3)
Erika G.
2.5 stars Not authentic Mexican food and it doesn't claim to be either. But I love the location - lower floor surrounded by the beautiful brick with all the openness of the walk in between the buildings. Staff was flighty but decent. The waitress told us their refried bean recipe was from Bon Appetit magazine and their "family" recipe for their rice originated from Copenhagen or Belgium... someplace like that. The salsa they give you in a bowl is mild and bland. But the salsa they also give you in a squeezy bottle is hotter and better. Chips feel like they werent made there. The refried beans didnt have much flavor I added the hotter salsa to give it more flavor. Rice was bland but fluffy. The pork tamale was nice in size and really good. I'd try it out once more but I don't have high expectations. It's a cool date night place though - but I wasn't on a date. :)
(3)
Majel A.
I should have stuck with my gut instinct on this one. We were in the Old Market and hungry for Mexican., of the mex places down there, this one scored the highest on Yelp. Yuck! We started with chips and salsa. The mild sauce is like tomato paste. We asked for hotter sauce and he brought a roasted garlic jalapeno and a habanero. They were both spicier, but were salty and lacked flavor. I had the blacked chicken taco and rice. The taco was good, the rice more like a lard ball without flavor. My husband had a fish taco and refritos. He couldn't eat the beans! That NEVER happens. Next time we are in the Old Market and hungry for Mexican, we'll drive a couple miles to South Omaha for the good stuff!
(2)
Andrea D.
Salsa was nice, different from many other local joints. Chili con queso was a disaster. That said my co-diners enjoyed it. Enchilada sauce flavors were well developed. Margaritas were a bargain on special. Service was very, good. I would eat here again, maybe once or twice a year, but not as a go-to staple.
(2)
Christina L.
When I scanned through the Yelp reviews for Trini's I was nearly convinced not to even bother; they're terrifying (but true)! Alas, Sam and I decided to have an anniversary-like adventure and check it out and decide for ourselves whether Trini's was a pit or not. After some annoyance with our reservations, we were seated on the patio, which had a lovely view. It was a relief to sit away from the noise within the tiny tavern. The beans& rice, as well as my main dish (chicken, mushroom enchilada), was laden with grease. The chicken itself was very nicely done, however. Sam tried the Diablo's stew and a chicken flauta. The stew was well made with delicious cuts of beef. Having no idea what a flauta was when we arrived, we were both in aww and a little confused by what we got. Initially it tasted like fried flour tortilla and took a while before we noticed the the chicken inside. Trini's is made for iron-clad stomachs, not a whimpy, grease-sensitive one like mine. Sam also mentioned that the waiters/tresses seemed rushed and stressed.
(2)
Sara M.
Great service and food. I'm a vegetarian and the waitress pointed me to the best veggie dishes. This may be better Mexican food than I have at home in LA. The food is super reasonable too!
(5)
Kevin C.
We recently moved back to Omaha and we went to Trini's tonight after not having been there in over four years. Something really didn't seem right. The chips were stale. I mean really stale. I also had a bean burrito, but the beans really had no flavor. Really, everything we got was just really bland. Not a place I will be returning to soon.
(2)
Tim M.
Not authentic Mexican food, just very good food. You could come just for the chips and salsa and margaritas -- the best in town. But for the adventurous, try the Hot Chili -- a beanless pork chili which is more of a gravy infused with pepper flakes and big chunks of tender meat. Painful and delicious, served with a couple warm, folded tortillas. Add a puffy chicken taco (top it with some of that salsa), add another margarita and you've got the perfect dinner. The wife swears by the fish tacos and the Spanish rice. I've been going to Trini's for years and have never been disappointed. Price is extremely reasonable; service is top-notch. If you want to shorten your wait for a table on weekends, make a reservation.
(5)
C N.
Always strolling through the Old Market and Old Passageway, we rarely stop for a bite to eat. On a busy Saturday night, we were fortunate enough to pop in Trini's and get seated at a table for three right away. The atmosphere was excellent with dim cave-like lighting in the brick-surrounded room, but not too dark. I think a little background music would have added to the atmosphere, but other than that, no complaints. The service was excellent, the drinks were fabulous and the food was hot and well flavored. I think the prices were perfect and three of us ate entree's with an appetizer and two cocktails for approximately $50 including tip. Time, money, and calories well spent!
(5)
Katrina S.
Trini's has a great atmosphere, great food (fish tacos), and great service. We sat out on the fake balcony, because we brought my son, who was then two. They are not kid friendly there, so we have never been back.
(3)
John L.
This is absolutely My favorite Mexican restaurant in or around Omaha.Always clean,always good service and always good food.The atmosphere is ok and the decor is average,which is why it got 4 stars instead of 5,but I can overlook that when the other 3 categories score so high.My go to meal is always the Chimi smothered.The black beans are a great compliment to the meal.The desserts are all very good! I drive from Fremont (45 miles) for Trini's and they never dis-appoint.The prices are comparable with most of the surrounding Mexican restaurants.The kids loved it and we can't wait to go back!
(4)
Matt B.
Took my wife here before I proposed and loved it.
(5)
Ali L.
Went for the first time last night. Was surprised there are not any complimentary chips and salsa. I ordered the enchiladas con jocque, or something to that name. Just okay. My friend ordered steak fajitas, looked so much better. Will have to try that if I'm ever back here eating at the Passageway. Overall, decent meal, a tad pricey for what you get. Would rather go try other place in the Old Market instead.
(3)
James K.
the best Mexican food still in town.been coming for 20 years and is awesome.try the. devil's stew, and puffy chicken tacos
(4)
Danni A.
Trini's was a pretty big let down. We started out with a couple of margaritas which tasted like a premade mix. I would say it was the worst margarita I have ever had. My boyfriend and I each ordered a combitnation plate. Everything was edible, but that's about all I can say for it. It was all pretty bland. Beyond the lack of flavor in the food, it was very over priced. Unless you are unwilling to leave the Old Market for dinner, good Mexican food can be found for significantly less than Trini's. Our waitress was nice; her supervisor was not. Overall, I would not recommend Trini's. If you are going to stay in the Old Market, you can find much better food. If you are looking for good Mexican food, you can find it for a lot less and with much better flavor somewhere else.
(2)
Lou M.
Ate at Trini's tonight. I've been living in Omaha for many many years now, and this was maybe my 3-4th trip here. I don't go often as we always try different places downtown when in that area. The ambience is awesome as it sits in the Passage Gallery area in the Historic Old Market part of town. I great little hip part of downtown Omaha. I got the new item; Chicken and Portebello enchiladas. They might have been the best enchiladasa I ever had. Freaking awesome! That plate alone will make me wanna eat at this place nearly all the time when in the area. This dish was like $14.00 which to me is not bad at all.....considering the great food and atmosphere. The wait service was the downfall. Trini's apparently opens at 4 for dinner and I'm not sure how many wait ataff they had....but our lady was very slow. Even so much so that some other guy finally came around to use over 1/2 way through our meal to check on us and he ended up getting out refills. Come to think of it....our waitress did have a little sense of overwhelm-ness to her throughout most of the evening while dining there. Hoping next time eating there we'll get a new server....but we will go back. Our party of 3 all ate for approx $36.00. That was with a 12% tip as well (I cut some out for the waitresses bad service). My wife and daughter both got the seafood enchalada's and they enjoyed them as well. I did as well....as I snuck a bite form ym daughters plate. ;o) Lastly, I also really enjoyed the flavor of the rice. The beans I cant comment on, as I don't eat beans. I just had them replacs with double rice. Good place and GREAT Chicken & Portebello's enchaladas. So freaking good.
(4)
A. C.
(06/05/2012) Stopped in for lunch on the patio, it was leisurely and the setting was almost Babylonian; there's also an intimate, dim, rathskellar-like interior dining room, if you're looking for something less al fresco. Started with the "Hot Chili", and it came as described: pork and no beans; it was pork butt or shoulder stewed until tender, was very orange (maybe a little tomato?), all the heat seem to be provided by red pepper flakes, no chilis. It was thick and filling, but the flavor profile was a single note. Got the puffy taco, love the idea of it. I usually prefer a flour tortilla over corn, in general, so miss out on the hard-shelled tacos; enjoyed the crispiness, but a flour tortilla soaks up more grease than the corn ones do. The fish was well-seasoned, flavorful, juicy; all the accompaniments were fresh and went well with the fish, liked the creamy avocado and slightly spicy chipotle cream. The rice and beans were an afterthought for me; they were strangely sweet, drenched in butter. I wouldn't really call the food Mexican, maybe Mexico-inspired, but it was tasty, inexpensive, and pleasant.
(4)
George W.
I was headed to a different place, but when I asked a couple who was leaving it, I ended up going to Trini's based on their comments. I wasn't disapointed. I ordered a steak fajita, and got a plate of broiling hot (still sizzling on the platter) steak, green peppers and onions, a separate dish with cheese, tomatoes, guacomole and sour cream, a separate plate with beans, rice, and lettuce, and three soft shells that were perfect. The hot sauce had a nice zing to it as well. The atmosphere is interesting - tin ceiling, lighting that is low and romantic (for those of you so inclined), and a brick floor. The food was good, the service was good. The beer was a bit warm, or this would be an easy 5 stars. Finally - a place to get decent Mexican food in Omaha.
(4)
Dan A.
Surprisingly cheap and decent food. Will go here again.
(4)
Downtown J.
MMMMMMMMMMMMMargarita's! Trini's exceeded my expectations. I typically walk by the entrance of Trini's a few times a week but it is never on my radar. A friend randomly suggested we go and it was really great! They were pretty busy and I believe they benefited from heavy traffic through the passageway. I had a blackened chicken puffy taco dish (it looked similar to the picture featured). The overall meal was fantastic, the black beans and rice had big flavor, the puffy taco's had a really fresh taste with the avocado and the chips and cheese were also good. I was most impressed by the margarita's. I hate the overly sweet, pre-mixed stuff so I was pleased to enjoy a strong, blended, tasty drink. My only complaint about the evening isn't really related to the restaurant or food. This seemed to be a popular family spot. There were a handful of kids running around like crazies. Toward the end of my meal, I was manhandled by some slimy little guy with food on his face holding a Hotwheels truck. His parents were polite and quick to tell him that I wasn't his daddy but they didn't offer to wash the guac off my Northface. How about you guys check out the Amazing Pizza Machine or Red Robin next time, folks? Overall, cool spot. Quality drinks and food.
(4)
Andrew P.
Great atmosphere, food was pretty good as well. Fish tacos were bigger than expected but good.
(4)
Jeff B.
Decided to start writing reviews on places to eat and drink in Omaha as I spend money and time in the town. Today after a visit to the Farmers Market, I decided to try Trinis as I have walked by it a dozen times. Well, I think today I should have kept walking. It was lunch and I wanted something quick so I stopped in for a margharita and what was termed as "The Big Juan"-a chicken burrito with rice and beans. First, I was not offered chips and salsa, a big no-no in a Mexican restaurant as that is what brings me in the place. Drink was a 4 on a scale of 1-10, more ice than anything else and kind of weak. Service was good and food delivered promptly. Lacked a bit of flavor and atmosphere. Better Mexican restaurants in Old Market with Roja and Michaels being two of them.
(2)
Anastasia B.
Trini's is in the Old Market Passageway, which is beautiful. I used to see people eating in the passageway and think "oh, i wish i had your life". I guess I just assumed that any restaurant in the passageway would be expensive. Now, thanks to Trini's, I've realized that I can have their life. Apparently, $8.99 can buy you a nice mexican dinner in the beautiful Old Market Passageway. Like other yelpers have said, it definitely not the best mexican food in omaha, but if you want a cute little place for a date that doesn't cost much, this is it.
(4)
Melissa P.
Not really big into Mexican food but this place is one of the best Mexican places I've ever been!! It's located in a grotto which is really cool! The chicken puffy tacos are awesome, the chicken mushroom enchilada was amazing, & the margaritas YUM!! This is a must on my list anytime I'm in Omaha!!
(5)
Jeremy B.
We really liked the funky location downstairs there, once we found it. Great service and good food. I don't prefer the flavor of roasted veggies and thats my only food complaint. Good help again yelp! Certainly weird to not have chips n salsa free!
(4)
Sarah B.
Trini's does not have the best Mexican food in Omaha. But they do have a very cool atmosphere and super cheap Margaritas on Tuesdays and Thursdays ($1.49!). The puffy tacos are pretty darn good, as are the fajitas and enchiladas. Again, is it the best in town? No. But the food is good and with Margaritas that cheap, who cares? I usually went here more for the charming atmosphere and the proximity to my house. And of course, for the cheap drinks.
(3)
Roberta K.
Love, love, love Trini's! My husband and I have fond childhood memories of this place and decided to go back and are so happy we did. It is under new management and the new menu items are phenomenal. The servers are very friendly but Marilyn is our favorite. Last night we ordered the diablo stew and have found a new comfort food. I am going to go back again, and again, and again.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
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.
Mike S.
A friend and i visited Trini's for the first time in years. The last time we visited, years ago, we weren't overly impressed. This time, things have changed. The restaurant is under new management and you can tell. In the past, one of the things that stuck out the most was the dimly lit area with a dungenous feeling. (if you weren't sitting in the passageway). The owners have obviously started to invest money into the restaurant. It seemed brighter (and cleaner) this time. The tables also seemed to be new. However, the atmosphere hasn't lost it's charm. I had the fish tacos (2 huge tacos) for $11.99. They were awesome. They came with a generous portion of black beans and rice. I was surprised that there were so many menu choices under 10 bucks. It's difficult to find good food in the old market under $15 bucks a person. If you are in the mood for good Mexican food in a great setting, check out Trini's. You won't regret it.
(4)Patrick W.
The atmosphere is better than the food when it comes to Trini's. Having said that, it is likely the best Mexican food in the Old Market. I've been here a handful of times and its always consistently good. It's not great but it is good. The biggest drawback is that the portions are pretty small. It's definitely worth a visit if you're looking for a romantic and cozy environment.
(3)Kaytee D.
Not authentic Mexican, but totally qualifies as true-blue American Tex-Mex. Lotsa cheese in them there enchiladas - but this is Nebraska, not Guadalajara, and I find this kind of food comforting. Black beans a nice touch. Nice ambiance in the Old Market section of town and friendly service. Margaritas taste good, but next time, hon - add a little more tequila por favor.
(3)Daniel A.
Have you ever had one of those places that while the food is not really that good you still go there for some reason? I don't understand it - I don't like Trini's that much - maybe it is the location - which is kind of neat. It's decent middle of the road mexican. Nothing stands out as particularly good, and they have my least favorite chimichanga in Omaha....But still I go there periodically. Something seems "right" about walking around the park, going down the slides a couple times then going to Trini's for some basic mexican fare. Oh, yea - use the restrooms somewhere else - the one that is shared for the other stores in the "passageway" was a bit gross last time I was there. Also write down the address - if you don't know where the passageway is it can be a bit hard to find.
(3)Audrey F.
Trini's was okay. I think a lot of people would enjoy Trini's and the atmosphere. Our waitress was also very good. I personally like La Mesa's better. However, I am sure a lot of people would enjoy Trini's as well.
(3)Pukar R.
This is a nice little place to have lunch. The food is pretty good and the girls like their margaritas. It's not expensive by any means. I haven't been back in a while but it's because I forgot about it, not because I don't like the place. Not the best mexican in town, but surely not the worst.
(3)Holly P.
only four stars because there are some quirky things like no comp. chips and salsa, hard to get to, bathroom situation is tough to go for, but I continue to go for the fish tacos!!!! SO yummy.
(4)Maya P.
There food is awesome. I love their tacos. The margaritas are yummy. I have been here 2 times in '08. Sorry, Trini's I haven't written a review for such a long time. I go during dinnertime. So, usually you are put on a wait list. But, Trini's is the best place ever.
(5)Jen J.
Their fajitas were pretty good, the other food was just ok, nothing special. Their credit card machine was down and they made us sit there and wait for a really long time till it was fixed and didn't offer any discount or anything free.
(2)Sarah G.
Something went wrong at Trini's last night. Something went very, saltily, cold and wrong. I'd been looking forward to fish tacos at Trini's all week (since they - used - to be my favorite and most highly recommended in town). Not so anymore, as I was pretty disappointed. The night started off well with a $2 house margarita special. Little did I know that the salt surrounding the rim of what appeared for all intensive purposes to be a milkshake glass would also make its presence known in a bold way during the main course. I ordered my tacos blackened shrimp instead of fish - per my earlier review - and enjoyed the first pretty handily. Unfortunately meanwhile Bill had to send his fish tacos back because the permeating flavor of salt was all either of us could taste. Meanwhile, the salt monster struck again on my second shrimp taco (those shrimp must have been touching the fish from earlier), but I ate it anyway. The second round of fish tacos were better, but nothing close to the amazingness we remembered. All in all, nobody was in a rush thankfully, because our dinner was something on the order of 2 hours long. Several dishes also came out to the table only lukewarm. Bummer... I will say, though, that under new ownership Trini's has flourished in terms of cleanliness and decor. Gone is the cave-like feeling of the inner-restaurant area, and you've got to love the passageway. Still, it'll be a while before I head back here to try again.
(2)Ashley F.
Overall this restaurant is okay. I would say to check out this place for the ambiance since it's in the heart of the Old Market Passageway (very beautiful might I add). I got enchiladas (one beef, one cheese) that came with rice and beans. It was good but not wonderful. We also took part in the margarita special that they had at lunch. FYI: PinPoint card users: get $10 off your purchase (I ended up paying something like $2 for my meal)
(3)Kara G.
$2 tacos on Monday. Puffy tacos are awesome. Dining room small and intimate with friendly and attentive service. Limited menus on Mondays, but with $2 tacos who cares!! A hidden gem in the downtown passageway.
(5)Erin V.
You guys... I just can't. I can't. I gave this place one star because of the ambiance. It's in this amazing brick alleyway with a gorgeous historical vibe, and plants everywhere- just take a walk through it and you'll be in love! Beyond that, this is without question the worst Mexican food we've ever had in our lives. I cannot fathom how this place has such a good overall rating- is this what people in Omaha think is good Mexican food? I can't imagine that but just can't understand the positive reviews. Our service was weird... our margaritas were pure sugar (seriously where was the tequila?)... and the food was the greasiest, blandest pile of blaaaaaahhhh. I could go on- but I won't. Just skip this place. And it's definitely NOT kid-friendly- not sure why it's categorized that way here (no kids menu or anything of the sort).
(1)Kelsey C.
Best puffy fried taco I've ever had. The hot sauce and enchilada was awesome too. It was dead during lunch (12:30) on a Thursday, but I'm glad I went and would definitely go back. The service was great and it was awesome eating in the alleyway atrium.
(5)Patrick L.
I am perhaps biased as I have the luck of living in Texas. Trini's may also have the bad luck of being my first midwest Mexican experience. That said, Trini's is not very good TexMex. I ordered a house margarita on the rocks, a cup of chicken soup (not tortilla soup, some other name I don't recall), and a chicken taco (which had to be ordered as a "soft" taco). As stated, this is my first foray into Mexican north of Dallas. However, encountering a menu that considers tacos to be, by default, in a hard shell caught me off guard. Further, not being asked my preference for salt or no salt on my margarita was also a drawback. The drink itself was poor. It was large but tasted heavily of low quality tequila.I think the actual liquor content was low as I didn't feel much of a buzz from it but the taste screamed "plastic bottle." I ordered the house margarita; maybe I was asking for it. However, I am accustomed to house margaritas being at least OK. This one was bad. On the other hand, my girlfriend's house strawberry frozen margarita was pretty good. All of that said, the soup was quite good. Chicken, some onion and peppers, black pepper, and a surprisingly fresh looking slice of avocado (this was in late December) served with a decent tortilla. It was not amazing but it was a good soup. Unfortunately, the soup was followed by the chicken taco that can most accurately be compared to the chicken burrito I had in the El Paso airport last summer. The chicken was shredded and bland. It was topped with shredded grocery store cheese and very cold lettuce and tomato. I understand the need to prep food and keep it fresh but common knowledge suggests trying to leave some amount of toppings out at room temperature so as not to serve a taco with warm meat and tortilla but 38 degree veggies. It was not very good. Also the salsa served was runny and all heat, no flavor. Service was friendly and prices reasonable. However, my hope is that Omaha is able to offer better Mexican somewhere else. Trini's leaves much to be desired.
(2)bill e.
Okay - in all my years here - I have never eaten at Trini's - I have my excuses, but last night I tried it for the first time and absolutely loved it. The food was delicious, the margarita's have a fantastic taste to them and I was with great company. Definitely going back!
(5)Lauren T.
Went here Friday night, and had a few issues with service. The first being that we ordered chips and queso that our waiter forgot, so our appetizer came out when I mentioned it alongside our meals. I ordered the seafood combo which was very tasty, the star of the show was definitely the seafood enchilada, but the puffy shrimp taco was also enjoyable. The blackened shrimp were a little too zesty for me, so I shared most of those with my date. Which brings me to our next issue. He had ordered the Diablo stew, which stated that it was served over black beans and rice. Halfway through the meal he realized his dish was missing the rice and beans. By the time our server checked on us and confirmed the kitchen left them out on accident, my date was basically done eating and a little dissapointed with his meal. The owner did comp our drinks and my date was only charged for the cup sized stew rather than the bowl, so they did their best to make it right.
(4)Tal C.
Seriously...i have eaten in many great mexican restaurants in my travels throughout the country from upscale to dives with great food. This is the first time I have had to pay 3 bucks for 50 cents worth of chips and salsa.
(2)Dave P.
Not a good night at Trini's. Puffy taco came out stale and not real puffy. They did replace it, second one was very good. Mexican rice with my dish tasted like mush. But I at least got my rice, my wife did not with her meal, they forgot. Not the meal we remembered from the last time we were here.
(2)Max L.
Atmosphere: A Service: B Drink: N/A Food: A ATMOSPHERE: The atmosphere is awesome. Sitting in maybe the coolest spot in Old Market, Trini's is located in the alley between two buildings. If you've been to Old Market, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. Feels a lot like an European city dining experience in Nebraska. So it was very cool. SERVICE: Our waitress was working very hard. She was running the whole restaurant alone for some reason. Waiting, seating, taking out orders all by herself. She seemed rightfully stressed. But she was nice when she stopped to chat and was very attentive for the job she was doing. Could she have been a bit more cheery? Sure, but I wouldn't want to be in her spot running the whole place. DRINK: Just a bottle of beer and water. Nothing to review. FOOD: We got the puffy tacos. One with beef, one with shredded chicken, one with tilapia. They all were freaking phenomenal. The puffed up tortilla was the perfect vessel for the meat. Soaked up all the juices and didn't fall apart. We got chips and salsa for an app as they were not complementary. The chips were fine, the salsa was fantastic! And on the side for our meal, we had black beans and rice. The black beans and rice were the greatest beans and rice I have ever had in my entire life. I could eat a whole plate. Just delicious!! All in all a great place to eat, we went when it wasn't very busy, so we didn't get the full atmosphere, but I bet it's awesome when it's packed! Will be back!
(4)Fati A.
A few days ago, my boyfriend and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary and went on a lovely dinner date. We walked around Old Market trying to find a place that looked appealing to what we each wanted to eat. We found a sign outside the Old Market Passageway that read $1.99 house Margaritas, we automatically went inside. (I know he wanted a Margarita too lol) In my opinion I rate this restaurant with 5 stars because we had an overall great experience. Once we walked the hostess seated us in the patio area and then the waitress came out to assist us. I had ordered the Combination 3 which has: a chicken flauta, 2 beef enchiladas, rice and refritos (refried beans). My boyfriend ordered some hot Chili and a chicken fajita salad. For some reason my first thought before going in was, it might be pricey because of the location and how fancy the place looked, but the service was great, the food and Margaritas were great and at the end when the bill came out, it wasn't that bad for dinner for two.
(5)Brian B.
This is always a go to place if your downtown. I've been here a bunch of times and it has never let me down. Their blacken chicken and steak tacos are fantastic.
(5)William A.
This was the absolutely worry attempt at Mexican food I've ever tried. The food was bland, the fish taco their #1seller was disgusting and sent my wife and I straight to the bathroom, if you want good Mexican food go down S 24th St or anywhere but here
(1)Eric J.
Great atmosphere, good food, decent margaritas! All in all a must try if you find yourself in Omaha, Ne!
(5)Mark S.
My family and I came to Omaha for the weekend to visit the zoo. After being at the zoo all day we were in the mood for margaritas and Mexican food. The margaritas were fantastic. The food on the other hand was very bland. I do not recommend this place unless you just want margaritas.
(2)Kym B.
Bummer about all the negative reviews... our food here was pretty tasty! I got the shrimp puffy taco and it was SO RIDICULOUSLY GOOD. I also had a tamale, which was okay, but if we ever return (we don't live in town) to Trini's, I will definitely order two of the shrimp puffy tacos instead. They were AMAZING. The rest of the food was run-of-the-mill Mexican, so make sure you order properly. Shrimp. Puffy. Taco. You can thank me later. The ambiance is cute and cavelike. I dig the indoor patio thing they have going. It's very small, though. I wouldn't recommend it for anything larger than a party of 6. Service was average. Our waiter was noticeably hard to find when it came time to bring us our check (and pick it up for payment). Not a huge deal, but a little annoying. Note to Trini's: you shouldn't be charging for chips and salsa unless they're something amazing or special (hand-fried chips, for example). It's generally an accepted practice at Mexican restaurants to comp them to your guests... and, as guests, we have come to expect it. Take that as you will, but you don't want your customers leaving feeling like they got nickle-and-dimed because you charged them $3 for a basket of chips barely large enough to satisfy two adults. And, because I like to end my reviews on a positive note when warranted, I'll say it again: Shrimp Puffy Tacos. Hella good.
(3)Danny B.
I can see not very busy an have waited 45 minutes for a burrito. Really it better be good if it gets here. I might have to go feed the meter before I can eat. The margarita is OK at least. Quaso cheese is not Campbell's nacho cheese from a can. If you want good Mexican food better try another place.
(1)Ashley G.
This place was awesome! Loved the atmosphere and the shrimp tacos were to die for. The staff was super nice and their margaritas are awesome. Make sure you stop here if you're at Omaha's Old Market!
(5)Mike S.
Tuesdays and Thursdays is a must! $1.99 house Margaritas are very worthwhile/ Food is always good and the servers are usually very competent. Tonight was a little different. Only the last round of margaritas was served the way we ordered. ( 2 lime, on the rocks, one with salt) I thought I had a 50-50 chance of getting it right. Yeah, I am not that good at math. After a little studying I saw the HUGE birthday party and was over it. Always had great food. the ambiance is something I bet there are businesses waiting in line for. Probably going to be a while to come back
(4)Clayton C.
Moderately pricey average Mexican fare. Although no free chips and salsa?! Service is excellent. Small, quaint, fast.
(3)Taylor K.
The food was good, as were the $2 margs (on Tuesdays, I guess?). Loved the location, the setting, and the ambiance in general. Super cool place and the staff was really nice. You might not know where it is...go through the black doors from the street and down the stairs. I enjoyed my visit.
(4)Cam V.
My Dad wanted to try out Trini's because someone once told him "it's the best restaurant in Omaha" so he wanted to see for himself. So he called us one night to invite us downtown with them to go to Trini's. So I look on Yelp and immediately see their mediocre ranking, but who's going to turn down a free meal? We went on a Saturday night and it's a bit hard to find if you're not familiar. You have to walk down the stairs to this narrow corridor with a bunch of other restaurants and shops. (Tangent: I couldn't help but think that the decorative plants along the corridor really make a narrow space MUCH more narrow. Functionally pointless) We were able to sit down immediately and get our orders in. I order the "Big Juan" beef burrito and my husband got the Enchiladas. We ordered a blackened chicken dish for our kids and as we were cutting it into small pieces I could immediately tell the chicken was raw in the center. The strange thing is when I told our waitress she didn't seem surprised...guessing it happens a lot? The food was very mediocre...good enough to eat, not enough to ever crave. I honestly would have been more satisfied eating at Chipotle. For 6 adults and 3 kids we spent around $110 with tip. For downtown, I suppose, that's decent. Would I recommend it? Chipotle, yes! Would I be back at Trini's? Not unless you're buying.
(2)Jeremy L.
Great little spot to enjoy Mexican food in the old market. Good chips and salsa when you get there. The tacos were very good and they have some interesting twists (like the puffy tacos). Great place to eat. I'll definitely go back when I'm in old market.
(4)Moira R.
This is my favorite Mexican restaurant in Omaha. I love the environment and how it is tucked into a little passageway. I also like that you can enjoy "patio dining" in the dead of winter. The regular margarita is not very good (it is pretty clearly made with a mix, and not a good one) but I love their blended strawberry margarita when I'm in the mood for a sugar-laden alcoholic drink. Their food is amazing and the star of the show! I usually get their cheese and mushroom enchiladas. They are chock full of cheese, mushrooms, and flavor! They are served with a black bean-rice combo that is in a really yummy sauce. The service is usually just average, but on our most recent visit our waitress brought us complimentary chips and salsa because our food was taking a little long (20 minutes - not even long enough for us to comment). It was a really nice gesture and showed that she cared about our patronage. This place is definitely worth trying!
(4)Shari F.
The atmosphere is charming and romantic. The fish tacos and black beans and rice were delicious. I would have given 4 or 5 stars if the service had been better. Prepare to wait a long time for your meal, even when it's not busy. But when your food arrives you will be pleased.
(3)Dan Z.
I've only had the tacos here but I have to say, best I've ever had! I've been all over Mexico and the States. Just phenomenal!
(5)Iby D.
We went in it seemed pretty empty so we were able to sit on the patio. I didn't know what to Order considering I'm not a big fan of Mexican menus with combinations on their menus regardless I order the combination 1 just because I wanted to taste a little of everything cheese enchilada with was just a wad of what tasted like cheap cheese and tasteless sauce, a tamale which wouldn't have been too bad if it wasn't as dry as it was, and a beef taco that was the best thing I had on the plate it reminded me of taco bells hard shell tacos. The beans were also pretty good and lastly the rice was bland. If you want a sweet atmosphere while you eat below average food I say go but if you're expecting good tasting food I would say find somewhere else. They get a star simply because it was clean, and it was a cute location
(2)Dave V.
Omg. Yum!!! Puffy fish tacos rock!! The rice and beans are excellent. Slightly different then your typical Mexican restaurant. Very good.
(4)Erin P.
After being turned down from O's dining and lounge we decided to try here! I'm so glad we did! This restaurant was so cute and intimate that we instantly felt like we had set up a date night! They have a delicious strawberry lemonade margarita and a vegetarian menu! I ordered the veggie wrap and it was more than I expected! We will be eating here again for sure!
(4)T B.
A must stop in Omaha! Their puffy tacos are delicious and the atmosphere is wonderful! The guacamole isn't bad either! :)
(5)Mike D.
This is definitely a 3-star place, and most of the reviews would agree with that. I don't understand how anyone could rate it 5/5 or 1/5 unless they are just ignorant. We stopepd here one day for lunch while in the Old Market and looking for somewhere that wasn't really upscale and expensive. I love the Old Market Passageway so we decided to try this place. We were the only ones here, minus a couple doctors from UNMC. The ambience is great and the whole passageway is really neat to sit in. Had good service and our waitress was nice and helpful. I ordered the taco, enchilada, and tamale platter. The rice and beans were pretty bland, but, I've had worse. The cheese enchilada was great, the taco was a generic hardshell taco but the meat at least had some flavor to it. Tamale looked legit and homemade but was very dry. Our appetizer of queso dip + chips was quite good though. Overall, I probably will not eat here again unless to try the puffy tacos. I would come here more to be able to sit and eat in the passageway than anything.
(3)Jennifer S.
Staff is nice and very helpful in what to get; fish tacos are a whole fillet of fish topped with avocado and greens. Chicken and portobello enchiladas are so delightful!
(4)Michael A.
I'm a vegetarian and they did have a nice vegetarian menu. I got their cheese and mushroom enchiladas, which was a nice alternative to my go-to cheese and onion enchiladas. As far as the taste of the food, I thought it was enjoyable but nothing I'd need to eat again. The chips and salsa were good, although they charge for them which is fine but something I'm not used to. I'm glad I tried it, but once was enough.
(3)Alex H.
Went here today for happy hour. Sparknotes version of this review; good cheap happy hour drinks, cool atmosphere, meh but worth it food, piss poor/borderline unethical service. Drinks: ~$2 margaritas on Tuesday/Thursday. Worth every penny, tasty as hell. Atmosphere: Excellent. Beautiful tucked away restaurant with charming, romantically lit ambiance. Food: Got a guacamole tostado and beef enchilada. Good, nothing to write home about, but worth the price. Service: My crew got the larger, butch Latina lady for a waitress. She heard me talking about the strawberry margarita, so she put one in my hand. At first I liked her brash style, but that soon changed. I ordered food that landed in front of me in two shakes of a lambs tail. I enjoyed it and finished my first margarita. When I had cleaned my plate she asked me if we were all on separate checks. I told her yes, but I would like another margarita. She audibly sighed and stomped off to grab my second round. After a few awkward attempts to push me and my friends out the door, she finally shoved our checks in front of us, and after all that passive aggressive edging us out, promptly took around 15-20 minutes to run our cards. I can handle pushy or poor service, but what really got me was that she had the lady balls to add a nonconsensual 18% gratuity to all of our checks. If you wait tables at a restaurant with a happy hour within a 10 block radius of the international corporate headquarters of a Fortune 500 company, and a group of twenty-something year olds walk in dressed in business casual with their work badges still attached to their belts, pour as many drinks down their throats as possible and don't force them into a fixed tip. Chances are they have disposable income spilling out of their ears and love to spread the wealth when they're liquored up and enthused. Shit, if she'd have played the part of a good waitress, I'd have ran up my check on margaritas and fluffy tacos and given her a nice fat tip. Instead, she can have fun buying two thirds of a gallon of gas with the $2.08 she raped out of me.
(3)Mark J.
The people in our group had fluffy tacos with blackened tilapia and they loved it. I had the spicy chicken quesadillas and they were great - served with a rice and black bean mix. The pitchers of margaritas are great but if you get it with patron it is a little expensive. The atmosphere was awesome and if you go early enough there's a lot of shopping around the Old Market. There are only a few tables that sit in the ped mall area and I recommend you get one of those seats if available.
(4)Samantha T.
After sitting at La Buvette for 30 minutes without even a greeting or glass of water (no, I'm not exaggerating, but it was kind of entertaining watching other tables complain and walk out), we finally went to Trini's. I couldn't have asked for better service. I was fairly parched so I was really making my way through multiple refills of water and pop but I was never empty. James did a really great job! He was there when we needed him and he made some light conversation but he wasn't invading our space or personal conversation. It's not my favorite Mexican food in town, but it is certainly the best of its kind downtown! The prices are very reasonable and the atmosphere is unique. We had a couple friends join us halfway through our meal and they didn't go unnoticed. This place has game and I hope it will continue to get a chance. I really couldn't imagine the old market without it!
(4)Amanda F.
Trini's is literarily the one to blame for my newly adopted obsession with Mexican food. I was never a fan until I had a date there and fell in love... with the fajitas, that is! They come out sizzling with onions, green peppers and all the extras on the side. Their tortillas are to die for, which I think can make or break the Mexican restaurant. I'm sure they have an amazing menu but the fajitas are so good I simply can't bring myself to order anything else! Their guac is also yummy, which can be hit or a miss (especially from my experience in Nebraska). They have great drinks and margaritas as well. Pretty inexpensive too! The staff has always been great when I've been there too, always very sweet and helpful!
(5)Jason G.
Been looking for a Mexican restaurant since moving here and I'm glad I stumbled upon Trini's...I like the location, how it's below street level, almost has a speakeasy vibe...Sat down and ordered the #1 combo, beef taco, cheese enchilada and a tamale...loved it all...compared very favorably to places I've eaten at in Vegas and Portland...price for my meal was great since they gave me a lot of food...service was also good...I very much look forward to coming back...
(4)Erin F.
My fiance and I came here while apartment hunting and absolutely loved this place. The waitress was so helpful, we got to sit under the covered glass roof, and our vegetarian entrees were cheap and tasty.
(3)Erika G.
2.5 stars Not authentic Mexican food and it doesn't claim to be either. But I love the location - lower floor surrounded by the beautiful brick with all the openness of the walk in between the buildings. Staff was flighty but decent. The waitress told us their refried bean recipe was from Bon Appetit magazine and their "family" recipe for their rice originated from Copenhagen or Belgium... someplace like that. The salsa they give you in a bowl is mild and bland. But the salsa they also give you in a squeezy bottle is hotter and better. Chips feel like they werent made there. The refried beans didnt have much flavor I added the hotter salsa to give it more flavor. Rice was bland but fluffy. The pork tamale was nice in size and really good. I'd try it out once more but I don't have high expectations. It's a cool date night place though - but I wasn't on a date. :)
(3)Majel A.
I should have stuck with my gut instinct on this one. We were in the Old Market and hungry for Mexican., of the mex places down there, this one scored the highest on Yelp. Yuck! We started with chips and salsa. The mild sauce is like tomato paste. We asked for hotter sauce and he brought a roasted garlic jalapeno and a habanero. They were both spicier, but were salty and lacked flavor. I had the blacked chicken taco and rice. The taco was good, the rice more like a lard ball without flavor. My husband had a fish taco and refritos. He couldn't eat the beans! That NEVER happens. Next time we are in the Old Market and hungry for Mexican, we'll drive a couple miles to South Omaha for the good stuff!
(2)Andrea D.
Salsa was nice, different from many other local joints. Chili con queso was a disaster. That said my co-diners enjoyed it. Enchilada sauce flavors were well developed. Margaritas were a bargain on special. Service was very, good. I would eat here again, maybe once or twice a year, but not as a go-to staple.
(2)Christina L.
When I scanned through the Yelp reviews for Trini's I was nearly convinced not to even bother; they're terrifying (but true)! Alas, Sam and I decided to have an anniversary-like adventure and check it out and decide for ourselves whether Trini's was a pit or not. After some annoyance with our reservations, we were seated on the patio, which had a lovely view. It was a relief to sit away from the noise within the tiny tavern. The beans& rice, as well as my main dish (chicken, mushroom enchilada), was laden with grease. The chicken itself was very nicely done, however. Sam tried the Diablo's stew and a chicken flauta. The stew was well made with delicious cuts of beef. Having no idea what a flauta was when we arrived, we were both in aww and a little confused by what we got. Initially it tasted like fried flour tortilla and took a while before we noticed the the chicken inside. Trini's is made for iron-clad stomachs, not a whimpy, grease-sensitive one like mine. Sam also mentioned that the waiters/tresses seemed rushed and stressed.
(2)Sara M.
Great service and food. I'm a vegetarian and the waitress pointed me to the best veggie dishes. This may be better Mexican food than I have at home in LA. The food is super reasonable too!
(5)Kevin C.
We recently moved back to Omaha and we went to Trini's tonight after not having been there in over four years. Something really didn't seem right. The chips were stale. I mean really stale. I also had a bean burrito, but the beans really had no flavor. Really, everything we got was just really bland. Not a place I will be returning to soon.
(2)Tim M.
Not authentic Mexican food, just very good food. You could come just for the chips and salsa and margaritas -- the best in town. But for the adventurous, try the Hot Chili -- a beanless pork chili which is more of a gravy infused with pepper flakes and big chunks of tender meat. Painful and delicious, served with a couple warm, folded tortillas. Add a puffy chicken taco (top it with some of that salsa), add another margarita and you've got the perfect dinner. The wife swears by the fish tacos and the Spanish rice. I've been going to Trini's for years and have never been disappointed. Price is extremely reasonable; service is top-notch. If you want to shorten your wait for a table on weekends, make a reservation.
(5)C N.
Always strolling through the Old Market and Old Passageway, we rarely stop for a bite to eat. On a busy Saturday night, we were fortunate enough to pop in Trini's and get seated at a table for three right away. The atmosphere was excellent with dim cave-like lighting in the brick-surrounded room, but not too dark. I think a little background music would have added to the atmosphere, but other than that, no complaints. The service was excellent, the drinks were fabulous and the food was hot and well flavored. I think the prices were perfect and three of us ate entree's with an appetizer and two cocktails for approximately $50 including tip. Time, money, and calories well spent!
(5)Katrina S.
Trini's has a great atmosphere, great food (fish tacos), and great service. We sat out on the fake balcony, because we brought my son, who was then two. They are not kid friendly there, so we have never been back.
(3)John L.
This is absolutely My favorite Mexican restaurant in or around Omaha.Always clean,always good service and always good food.The atmosphere is ok and the decor is average,which is why it got 4 stars instead of 5,but I can overlook that when the other 3 categories score so high.My go to meal is always the Chimi smothered.The black beans are a great compliment to the meal.The desserts are all very good! I drive from Fremont (45 miles) for Trini's and they never dis-appoint.The prices are comparable with most of the surrounding Mexican restaurants.The kids loved it and we can't wait to go back!
(4)Matt B.
Took my wife here before I proposed and loved it.
(5)Ali L.
Went for the first time last night. Was surprised there are not any complimentary chips and salsa. I ordered the enchiladas con jocque, or something to that name. Just okay. My friend ordered steak fajitas, looked so much better. Will have to try that if I'm ever back here eating at the Passageway. Overall, decent meal, a tad pricey for what you get. Would rather go try other place in the Old Market instead.
(3)James K.
the best Mexican food still in town.been coming for 20 years and is awesome.try the. devil's stew, and puffy chicken tacos
(4)Danni A.
Trini's was a pretty big let down. We started out with a couple of margaritas which tasted like a premade mix. I would say it was the worst margarita I have ever had. My boyfriend and I each ordered a combitnation plate. Everything was edible, but that's about all I can say for it. It was all pretty bland. Beyond the lack of flavor in the food, it was very over priced. Unless you are unwilling to leave the Old Market for dinner, good Mexican food can be found for significantly less than Trini's. Our waitress was nice; her supervisor was not. Overall, I would not recommend Trini's. If you are going to stay in the Old Market, you can find much better food. If you are looking for good Mexican food, you can find it for a lot less and with much better flavor somewhere else.
(2)Lou M.
Ate at Trini's tonight. I've been living in Omaha for many many years now, and this was maybe my 3-4th trip here. I don't go often as we always try different places downtown when in that area. The ambience is awesome as it sits in the Passage Gallery area in the Historic Old Market part of town. I great little hip part of downtown Omaha. I got the new item; Chicken and Portebello enchiladas. They might have been the best enchiladasa I ever had. Freaking awesome! That plate alone will make me wanna eat at this place nearly all the time when in the area. This dish was like $14.00 which to me is not bad at all.....considering the great food and atmosphere. The wait service was the downfall. Trini's apparently opens at 4 for dinner and I'm not sure how many wait ataff they had....but our lady was very slow. Even so much so that some other guy finally came around to use over 1/2 way through our meal to check on us and he ended up getting out refills. Come to think of it....our waitress did have a little sense of overwhelm-ness to her throughout most of the evening while dining there. Hoping next time eating there we'll get a new server....but we will go back. Our party of 3 all ate for approx $36.00. That was with a 12% tip as well (I cut some out for the waitresses bad service). My wife and daughter both got the seafood enchalada's and they enjoyed them as well. I did as well....as I snuck a bite form ym daughters plate. ;o) Lastly, I also really enjoyed the flavor of the rice. The beans I cant comment on, as I don't eat beans. I just had them replacs with double rice. Good place and GREAT Chicken & Portebello's enchaladas. So freaking good.
(4)A. C.
(06/05/2012) Stopped in for lunch on the patio, it was leisurely and the setting was almost Babylonian; there's also an intimate, dim, rathskellar-like interior dining room, if you're looking for something less al fresco. Started with the "Hot Chili", and it came as described: pork and no beans; it was pork butt or shoulder stewed until tender, was very orange (maybe a little tomato?), all the heat seem to be provided by red pepper flakes, no chilis. It was thick and filling, but the flavor profile was a single note. Got the puffy taco, love the idea of it. I usually prefer a flour tortilla over corn, in general, so miss out on the hard-shelled tacos; enjoyed the crispiness, but a flour tortilla soaks up more grease than the corn ones do. The fish was well-seasoned, flavorful, juicy; all the accompaniments were fresh and went well with the fish, liked the creamy avocado and slightly spicy chipotle cream. The rice and beans were an afterthought for me; they were strangely sweet, drenched in butter. I wouldn't really call the food Mexican, maybe Mexico-inspired, but it was tasty, inexpensive, and pleasant.
(4)George W.
I was headed to a different place, but when I asked a couple who was leaving it, I ended up going to Trini's based on their comments. I wasn't disapointed. I ordered a steak fajita, and got a plate of broiling hot (still sizzling on the platter) steak, green peppers and onions, a separate dish with cheese, tomatoes, guacomole and sour cream, a separate plate with beans, rice, and lettuce, and three soft shells that were perfect. The hot sauce had a nice zing to it as well. The atmosphere is interesting - tin ceiling, lighting that is low and romantic (for those of you so inclined), and a brick floor. The food was good, the service was good. The beer was a bit warm, or this would be an easy 5 stars. Finally - a place to get decent Mexican food in Omaha.
(4)Dan A.
Surprisingly cheap and decent food. Will go here again.
(4)Downtown J.
MMMMMMMMMMMMMargarita's! Trini's exceeded my expectations. I typically walk by the entrance of Trini's a few times a week but it is never on my radar. A friend randomly suggested we go and it was really great! They were pretty busy and I believe they benefited from heavy traffic through the passageway. I had a blackened chicken puffy taco dish (it looked similar to the picture featured). The overall meal was fantastic, the black beans and rice had big flavor, the puffy taco's had a really fresh taste with the avocado and the chips and cheese were also good. I was most impressed by the margarita's. I hate the overly sweet, pre-mixed stuff so I was pleased to enjoy a strong, blended, tasty drink. My only complaint about the evening isn't really related to the restaurant or food. This seemed to be a popular family spot. There were a handful of kids running around like crazies. Toward the end of my meal, I was manhandled by some slimy little guy with food on his face holding a Hotwheels truck. His parents were polite and quick to tell him that I wasn't his daddy but they didn't offer to wash the guac off my Northface. How about you guys check out the Amazing Pizza Machine or Red Robin next time, folks? Overall, cool spot. Quality drinks and food.
(4)Andrew P.
Great atmosphere, food was pretty good as well. Fish tacos were bigger than expected but good.
(4)Jeff B.
Decided to start writing reviews on places to eat and drink in Omaha as I spend money and time in the town. Today after a visit to the Farmers Market, I decided to try Trinis as I have walked by it a dozen times. Well, I think today I should have kept walking. It was lunch and I wanted something quick so I stopped in for a margharita and what was termed as "The Big Juan"-a chicken burrito with rice and beans. First, I was not offered chips and salsa, a big no-no in a Mexican restaurant as that is what brings me in the place. Drink was a 4 on a scale of 1-10, more ice than anything else and kind of weak. Service was good and food delivered promptly. Lacked a bit of flavor and atmosphere. Better Mexican restaurants in Old Market with Roja and Michaels being two of them.
(2)Anastasia B.
Trini's is in the Old Market Passageway, which is beautiful. I used to see people eating in the passageway and think "oh, i wish i had your life". I guess I just assumed that any restaurant in the passageway would be expensive. Now, thanks to Trini's, I've realized that I can have their life. Apparently, $8.99 can buy you a nice mexican dinner in the beautiful Old Market Passageway. Like other yelpers have said, it definitely not the best mexican food in omaha, but if you want a cute little place for a date that doesn't cost much, this is it.
(4)Melissa P.
Not really big into Mexican food but this place is one of the best Mexican places I've ever been!! It's located in a grotto which is really cool! The chicken puffy tacos are awesome, the chicken mushroom enchilada was amazing, & the margaritas YUM!! This is a must on my list anytime I'm in Omaha!!
(5)Jeremy B.
We really liked the funky location downstairs there, once we found it. Great service and good food. I don't prefer the flavor of roasted veggies and thats my only food complaint. Good help again yelp! Certainly weird to not have chips n salsa free!
(4)Sarah B.
Trini's does not have the best Mexican food in Omaha. But they do have a very cool atmosphere and super cheap Margaritas on Tuesdays and Thursdays ($1.49!). The puffy tacos are pretty darn good, as are the fajitas and enchiladas. Again, is it the best in town? No. But the food is good and with Margaritas that cheap, who cares? I usually went here more for the charming atmosphere and the proximity to my house. And of course, for the cheap drinks.
(3)Roberta K.
Love, love, love Trini's! My husband and I have fond childhood memories of this place and decided to go back and are so happy we did. It is under new management and the new menu items are phenomenal. The servers are very friendly but Marilyn is our favorite. Last night we ordered the diablo stew and have found a new comfort food. I am going to go back again, and again, and again.
(5)