El Gallo Giro
3991 Lamar Ave, Memphis, TN, 38118
El Gallo Giro Menu
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Botanas / Appetizer
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Ensaladas / Salads
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Quesadillas
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Chimichangas
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Mariscos / Seafood
Healthy Meal suggestions for El Gallo Giro
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Botanas / Appetizer
-
Ensaladas / Salads
-
Quesadillas
-
Chimichangas
-
Mariscos / Seafood
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Address :
3991 Lamar Ave
Memphis, TN, 38118 - Phone (901) 794-0609
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Opening Hours
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
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.
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Chuck B.
Yes five stars. You will not regret a visit here...that is unless you get shot while driving down Lamar. When you walk in the door, you can smell the freshness. Clean, vibrant, and authentic. The other amazing thing (that is comparable only to Las Delicious) is the price for the entrees. Amazingly, you can eat a great lunch here for under $6. And the guacamole is so natural and untainted you will have no doubt they prepared it straight from the avocado just before it was brought to your table. The beef? Yes it really is steak. and pretty good too. How can it be cheap, fast, AND good??? Well I have eaten here several times and had a beef dish each time and I haven't had a single bite that wasn't tender and lean. LEAN!! See? You can tell yourself it is very healthy. "Mas queso por favor!!" Ok. Just go here and eat. If you are a yelper who appreciates Mexican food, you owe it to yourself to stop by. They have a small variety of Mexican beer and a little bakery there too, plus it adjoins a Hispanic market via a connecting door. Give them a try and help make Memphis real!
(5)Anthony C.
05-08-13; Stopped here for a company lunch as a sendoff celebration for a departing co-worker. Been here many times and have always found the food and service great! I know this may seem petty, but I like the fact the place is bright (during the day) from the sunlight that pours through the massive glass windows at the front of the restaurant. So many Mexican places are dark - why is that? Had the Fajita [Chicken] Taco Salad with no Guacamole. Just can't get with the green stuff! The salad was delicious and filling. Their menu is vast so you'll more than likely find whatever you're looking for in Mexican Cuisine and more. Very popular spot and highly recommended.
(4)Raymond B.
¡Dios mio! Where the heck has this place been hiding? Oh yeah, wayyyyy down on Lamar. El Gallo Giro translates from Spanish as "the tacos are awesome"... no, sorry, that's lie... it's actually a term for the silver feathered rooster in cockfighting... not lying this time. We made the trip on a Sunday afternoon, because it's 25+ minutes away from downtown after taking 240 to Lamar and driving south for a while. We came into a relatively full house, and were likely the only native English speakers in the place. On the recommendation from Rob B.'s review, I went with four a la carte tacos with four different meats. Fajitas for the Misses. The result... incredible. The quality of tortilla, meats, vegetables, spices... it was just excellent... and worth the trip. The place is open, spacious, and clean. The chairs, tables, and booths are all nicely decorated, and the staff is incredibly friendly. (I apparently impressed the waitress with my love of tacos). So... if you're not far from here, go, and if you are... find the time. It's worth it!
(5)Minnesota M.
Very good. Authentic. Friendly staff. Tostadas where fresh and delicious. My enchilada was not too salty like other places. We thoroughly enjoyed it.
(5)Veronica L.
El Gallo Giro is on regular rotation for my husband and I as a lunch stop in the vast wasteland of industry that surrounds our workplace. Luckily yelp helped me sniff it out, because I probably wouldn't have ventured down Lamar to find it on my own! You really can't go wrong with anything on the lunch menu. I've done the ala carte tacos (flavorful, traditional), the steak and bacon tacos (two to a platter, non-traditional but muy delicioso), the enchiladas verde (get steak, it's super tender), and the casserole (can't remember the exact name, but it had a green sauce and little crunchy bits...very good). The drinks are realllly big so you're not waiting on a refill. The sweet tea may be the sweetest I've ever had. Their salsa is killer--so fresh! That being said, the wait staff is only so-so. About half the time we go I end up going to the register to pay without my bill because it took too long to get it from the server. (I'm on lunch, people! Gotta get back!) But the guy at the register is always sweet and just asks us what we had and takes our word for it. Last time I received chicken enchiladas instead of steak, and when I decided I would send them back (I usually don't but I made a stand this time), the waitress said "You ordered chicken...?" Uh, nope, sure didn't. (Why is it that places assume because I'm a woman that I want chicken?! Happens all the time, and never to my husband!) Anyway, I ended up with the steak in plenty of time and with (eventually) a sorry from the waitress. The food is just too damned good to let the mediocre service deter me. Plus it's always fun to get some crazy Mexican candy or a few groceries for dinner at the store next door.
(4)Jeremy R.
Had tacos and steak torta for lunch it was all great Wait staff did a great jobs not a bad place at all for a hole in the wall
(3)Beth N.
I just stopped here because it was on my route home. My husband wanted Mexican and Siri told us there was a restaurant on our path. I did not look at Yelp until after I ate. I'm glad I didn't let any of the negative comments deter me. I tried the Arroz con pollo and my husband had the carnitas. They are both delicious!! We were brought two additional salsas- verde and some other red kind that was medium heat. I had the corn tortillas with mine, very nice and fresh!! They brought a bowl of radishes and limes for garnish. Great addition! Sweet tea is sweet!! The salsa verde is hot so if you are not a heat lover, use with caution. If you are... Yum!!! It is truly a Mexican food place!!
(4)Kristina M.
I've have been to this place before and ate in. That time I got the steak fajitas and they were great. Anyway today I got take out and as usual the food was good. I ordered the chicken burrito dinner and boy that was delicious. They also give you tortillas and salsa, which are so yummy! I would definitely recommend this place to everyone. :)
(5)Warren G.
Try it you'll like it, better yet you'll love it.... Best Mexican food in Memphis area, authentic family style great menu, fast service, great prices.... Nothing fancy but the taste, it ain't the palms.... But the palms doesn't have salsa like this.... Muy bueno
(5)Mark B.
Great Mexican food here. I've eaten at El Gallo Giro three times since I moved to Memphis in June. Their lunch menu is a great deal if you're looking for a large, quality meal. I've had their quesadilla that's bathed in cheese sauce twice and last time I tried the alambres. They were fantastic and I had leftovers. That doesn't usually happen with me. Also, the chips and salsa are a good addition to any meal!
(5)Jen M.
I've tried really hard to like this place. My husband likes it as well as many of the reviews I see on Yelp, but honestly I just don't get it. I'm not a native of this area, I'm from the Northeast and have only been here for a couple of years - so maybe this is just as good as it gets around this particular area for Mexican food? The location is not the greatest. They have decorated and the place has the feel of a traditional, casual Mexican restaurant. The times I've gone there it didn't seem too clean. They have Mexican pastries in the counter up front which I have never tried. Things I've had from here: Chips - pretty good, standard chips Queso - pretty good Beans - average Rice - average to good Salsa - average, even the mild has a bite to it Guacamole - average, has a lot of avocado but often too much onion (and I am an onion lover) Chicken and Chorizo w/ Rice - sometimes good, sometimes not Steak and Bacon taco - average, too salty Ceviche - just did not like it, not to my preference Chicken Quesadilla - greasy, tasteless and awful - quite honestly it was the worse quesadilla I have ever had I also find that the food lacks consistency. My husband often brings half of his lunch home, he often gets the chicken and chorizo with rice and pineapple. He brought this dish home 3 times - once it was really good, once it was average, and today it was incredibly salty. Which is probably why he gave it to me instead of eating it himself. LOL. The service here doesn't win this place any extra stars. The manager or main guy in charge tries to be friendly, but there is definitely a communication barrier going on here for non-Spanish speakers. They do not bring you utensils until you are served food or unless you ask...and maybe not even then. Don't expect them to come around and refresh your water promptly. If they get your order wrong (which happens often), no apologies are offered nor monetary credit or anything - you will just have to sit there and wait for your corrected/changed dish to come out, which will usually be around the same time that everyone else at the table is done eating. I don't think I've ever had dessert here. I don't think they have it. So that's my honest review. Who knows, maybe you will like it but that's my two cents...just my opinion. There are just way better Mexican places I'd choose to go to. I think the novelty has started wearing off for my husband as well.
(2)Jesus V.
Place was really great, good food at great prices. I got a steak chimichanga, which happens to be the same price as the ground beef or chicken (rare to see same price for different meats at other places). Friend got chicken with pineapple over a bed of cheesy rice. Doesn't sound like it would be a good combination but it was really good. We got a refill on the warm chips and the horchata (really good rice drink) was refreshing, homemade, and not all sugar like they make in other restaurants. Had to take off one star due to service when we first went in.....no one came up to greet us or bring a menu, and we assumed we had to get our own menus, which we did. Waitstaff just stared at us instead of letting us know they would wait on us.
(4)Mike J.
Been for lunch now three times. Great food, great prices, good service. The quantities for lunch are just amazing. One of my smaller friends ate half her lunch and then took the rest home for supper. The atmosphere is very authentic.
(5)Carlos S.
The portions are huge...authentic food, and I judge Ethnic food if a lot of people of that ethnicity patronize the place. This is the norm. I'm addicted to their fruit drinks. Aguas like HORCHATA make the meal better.
(4)Priyanka B.
This place in fantastic. The food is great, the place is clean, the service is good and the prices can't be beat. You can have a full lunch for only $6 dollars! Also, this place is great for busy people on their lunch break. You can get in and out of this place at lunch time in 30 minutes.
(5)Roberto N.
I was SO happy to finally find some authentic Mexican food here in Memphis. I've had some good experiences in town, and one really bad one. This place is a treat- run by a family from Jalisco, I believe ( could be wrong). The enchiladas, tacos, and Fajitas are all great. The real deal here is the lunch menu- very inexpensive, including a Lunch Fajitas plate that's a real steal. Very friendly staff, cool carved and painted chairs from Tonala, (again, I could be wrong), and great portions. A winner, for sure!
(4)Jeff S.
Visiting Memphis on Business and saw the good reviews here on Yelp, so I tried it out. The wings are damn good. I don't think they have any fancy flavors or anything, but they were amazing. I also got just a chicken quesadilla and it had a ton of meat in it and was also good. For the price, you can't beat the value.
(5)Mike K.
Now this place is authentic and delicious. My favorite part? The 3 TVs that are usually playing at least 1 soccer game. But the food is also fantastic! I try to change up my order every time I go, but usually have some combo of tacos no matter what else I get. Want to try something safe and easy, try the fajitas. They are tasty, they are authentic, and they will fill you up. If you aren't too experienced with Mexican food and want to try one of my favorite dishes ever, order a sope (Pronounced So-Peh, or So-Pay... kinda) or order 4 of them if you're as hungry as me. It's like a tostada, but instead of being built on a fried, thin tortilla that is crispy, sopes are built on a much thicker, corn tortilla that is fried until the outside is crusty. I love them, but one alone will not fill you up, so I usually order 2 of them with 3 or 4 tacos. They also have a large selection of meat that can go on top of the sopes, or in tacos and burritos, so I recommend you try a few different choices. I always enjoy carne asada, the traditional thin, grilled, marinated steak. But I also recommend trying out some other choices, like barbacoa (sound like barbecue?), a tender, moist beef with a spice that is not overpowering. Carnitas are also always a great choice, pork chunks simmered slowly in oil until they are devastatingly moist and tender. No matter what you get, though, make sure to taste the green salsa, "salsa verde," it is the best I've ever had, and I make my own (which is the second best I've ever had!). Put it on everything! Now, it doesn't traditionally go on everything, but it is too good to not try with everything. Also the drinks, they have horchata, a sweet rice drink that is very popular in SoCal, and also jamaica (Hah-My-Kah), a sweet and tart hibiscus tea (served cold). They also have a sweet strawberry (fresa) drink that is very popular there. Now here's the thing, the first time I brought a group here, they got a bit uncomfortable and asked if it would be okay... this place is a restaurant and a business. If you go in and give them money in exchange for food and service, they will provide you with delicious food and marvelous service. They do have people there who speak English and are very helpful, so don't worry about a language barrier. And once inside, you see the vibrant, colorful atmosphere that you miss at every other Mexican restaurant. It's clean, colorful, welcoming, and makes me homesick. I enjoy this place a ton, I recommend you give it a shot.
(5)Rob B.
For the past year I have been coming here virtually once a week (up to 3x a week) to get their tacos a la carte (no rice and beans). The carnitas (beef cheek) tacos are top notch, as are the asada, pork, and lengua (cow tongue). Get them with onion, cilantro and shredded cheese. #1 in Memphis. (Everything is good here, but I can't get enough of the tacos). Tip: request to receive a plate of radishes and limes (it's a traditional mexican accompaniment and FREE upon request) -- think of it as the equivalent to pickled ginger that accompanies sushi to clense your palette. Also, use their homemade salsa verde on all things beef, and salsa roja on pork and chicken - not to be confused with the fresh salsa for tortillia chips.
(5)Gary P.
Just average Mexican food. Nothing to rave about here. Refried beans were tasteless and the beef tacos were no better than Taco Bell. I was not impressed.
(2)Haven M.
The food is the best thing about this restaurant, can't get a Margarita. Thus is the best Mexican food that I have ever had. I wish they serve Coke instead of Pepsi. The servers could learn a little bit more etiquette when server, rain I say this is my wife doesn't care to come here because of this. So i come on Mondays for lunch.
(4)Tiffany M.
Found this place online & decided to give it a go. Tasty, but pretty standard Mexican food in my opinion-I've certainly had better. I've eradicated dairy from my diet so when I ordered the burrito and there was ONLY chicken inside & the tortilla covered by a nasty sauce I was so sad. I really wish they offered vegan options or at least peppers or beans in the burrito. WHY oh why would I want chicken wrapped in a tortilla with nothing on or in it!? Thank goodness for the salsa which was their saving grace. One thing I can say is the portion size was huge and I love getting the bang I feel I deserve for my buck. The chairs in there are really pretty and look like someone actually hand painted them. This joint is also connected to a convenience/grocery store. Non-Spanish speakers beware the television ONLY plays Spanish shows--I mean it is a Mexican restaurant after all.
(3)Veronica X.
So I was a little bored from office work one sunny day and decided to drive down Lamar for something different. It's not hard to spot this place though the big rigs pose some threats up and down Lamar. It's adjacent to a Mexican grocery/convenient store with a big sign "Mike's" out front, next to Memphis Self(Mini) Storage, across from a small strip of motels. Upon entering, I couldn't help but smiling at the sight of colorful chairs in a spacious and bright dining room (Roberto N mentioned those chairs in his review). People south of border have a eye for bright colors, as I learned from movie Frida. So what I was the only Asian in the room (in a not-so-reputable neighborhood), I just had to eat here to take in the colors and vibes. There are so many items on their menu but I decided to stick with lunch specials (all under $7) this time. A safe bet for me would be Fajitas because it's basically like a stir-fried dish of sliced meat and vegetables, but I decided to think outside of Asia. I ordered Chilaquiles with green sauce, which according to menu is slow-cooked chicken tortillacasserule(what?) smothered with cheese and choice of green or red sauce, but when the waitress asked if I wanted steak or chicken, I said steak. In hindsight, I should have chosen chicken. Their green sauce was a bit tangy for my taste, and not as velvety as the ones I had in New Mexico. Oh yes, a trip to the enchanting state of New Mexico a couple years ago has instilled in me an appreciation for good chile sauce ( have you heard? Hatch, NM is the Chile Capitol of the World). Perhaps the hugh dollop of sour cream would have rounded up the tanginess a bit but I couldn't bring myself to eat much of the fattening stuff. The refried beans were smooth and fresh tasting, and I was stuffed before touching the rice, so stuffed that I forgot to check out their sizable display of Mexican bakery goods. I tried to strike a conversation with the old gentleman during checkout to find out more about his restaurant but unfortunately we failed to understand each other. Regardless, this is a place I will tell people about and will come back to share foods with friends and family.
(4)Tim H.
Very good, traditional Mexican food. Great value also, I recommend the Choripollo- delicious! I usually do take out & they also include chips & salsa with order.
(4)K. R.
Great, fresh, authentic, friendly, etc. Not the best neighborhood, but it's worth every bite!
(4)Viet T.
This place is pretty awesome. Let's start with service, well, the waitress was nice and you know, getting us our food and drinks in quickly was a plus, then about 4-5 more tables came in and it was a 20ish minute wait until we got our checks... bleh, honestly, quick print and then rush off to serve other tables and drop off the check, I probably would have gave you a bigger tip too ($4 on a $15 tab :P) Drinks, well first I got a water with lemon, my brother was busy digging into his book and being his general rude ugh self mumbled water or something, Only one water with lemon came back... were we supposed to share? Partly my brother's fault but still one drink for 2 people?. I had to get a melon water after our food arrived because the water is not filtered and I'm sorry but I hate the taste of tap here. Ahhh the salsa and chips... we didn't get a refill on chips, but I also saw no other tables getting refills... perhaps I need to learn to flag down the waitress, poor girl she was the only one working(hire more). chips were tasty, not spectacular but definitely some of the better chips I've had, not greasy either. Salsa was a no for me. It had a weird lack of salt, even though I know it probably has plenty... meh salsa just wasn't pleasant... bitter Now to the food, I got an al pastor... maybe I need to stop because I can't really remember the taste much for these tripe, nice and fatty a bit crunchy too, super delicious carne asada, good, tripe was better lengua aka cow tongue, wow that was asfjhbngvfmdksn delicious, still not as good as tripe. Al carte tacos are $1.50 each and come with cilantro and onions, tasty... this cheesy tasting sauce and you can also ask for limes and radishes. very good stuff. Oh and the melon water :L yum people skip the soda get yourself an agua fresca along with your meal. My brother got a more tex-mexish taco meal - steak and bacon with cheese. thankfully there was not too much cheese, unfortunately not too much bacon either. rice and beans were pretty good, but did I mention my tripe taco? They have a good cheap extensive menu... though the menus could do with a bit of soap and sanitizer. I won't say the service is bad yet as I've only experienced it once but the food at least is good and worth the confusing ride around lamar/getwell/winchester. They also have fresh in-house made-looking pan dulces. I do think it is made in house but if anyone can say for certain, please feel free to correct or agree. There are also an assortment of mexican candies as well. Be careful it is a bit warm, kinda sticky inside, and I went in today with a jacket because it was cold out. EDIT: cheesy sauce - salsa verde/rojo
(4)Amanda C.
When I walked into El Gallo Giro, I saw brightly colored walls and chairs, tables full of people (many men) and a long bakery case. Immediately, I knew coming here was a good decision. Luckily for me, El Gallo Giro is on Lamar and Getwell, which is a hop, skip and jump away from where I work. However, for all you east Memphis/suburb workers, it might not be your ideal lunch spot. You might have to try it on the weekend or for dinner. If you are ever in the area though, I suggest you go at lunch for their lunch specials! Besides the fact that Im pretty sure El Gallo Giro has the best enchilada I've ever eaten, it has amazing lunch prices. I got a taco, enchilada, rice and beans all for $5.45. Yes, you read that right $5.45!! My chicken taco was pretty normal and delicious (how do you mess up a crunchy taco?) and it had just the right amount of meat, lettuce, cheese ratio. My rice was delicious too! I love Spanish rice, but it can sometimes lack flavor. This did not! My refried beans were pretty good as well. Usually I push refried beans to the side (pretty sure it's a texture issue), but I ate about half of the portion. However, like I said before, the enchilada was fabulous! It had a red sauce with just enough spice and tomato. They sprinkled a bit of cheese on top, but not an overwhelming amount. Pretty sure I could have eaten 4 of those. Just saying. Also, I think I consumed a half a bottle of salsa with a basket of chips. My coworkers got a range of food from Azzoz con pollo to quesadillas. All in all, El Gallo Giro was pretty darn good, if I do say so myself.
(4)Ben S.
This is my favorite Mexican restaurant ever!! Never had a bad visit. The food and waitstaff are excellent. You get so much for your money as well. It is in a shady part of town, but never an issue. Try the arroz con pollo, burrito gallo giro and Choripollo. The salsa is amazing - always freshly made. One visit and you'll be hooked!
(5)Alfred C.
Ok, I've been going to Gallo Giro for years and I want to share my experience. Honestly, I can only speak on the Steak burrito; it's amazing. The steak Burrito is so good that for the last seven years I can't make myself order anything else because I'm afraid to miss out on the burrito. It's as fat as a rolled up newspaper and comes with chips and salsa for under $5. I usually take out and I always call 5mins. before I arrive and It's always ready. If you call or visit and the person does not speak english don't worry they will correct the language barrier by calling for an english speaking employee. Yes, this is a nice dose of cultural time warp. You will notice the mexican styled every thing from the decor, pastries, coke cola in bottles, the the mexican clientel. CHECK THIS OUT, for all you insomniacs starting Friday mornings they stay open 24hrs until Sunday night. My girl goes for lunch almost everyday, but I'll let her post her own review. If you check it out, please let me know how you liked the steak burrito, I've been dieing to share this info with people for years. Thanks yelp!!
(5)Carter C.
El Gallo Giro is outstanding. I felt like the record stopped when we walked in the restaurant - we stood out as the only gringos in site. Who cares though...if you want to feel like you're in America, stick with Las Delicias. If you want an awesome cultural experience, try this place out. I had my first taste of cactus flesh which was delicious paired with my carne asada. The shrimp nacho appetizer was covered with perfectly seasoned shrimp. My friend let me try her torta and it was equally wonderful. I wish I was going back tonight. Awesome food at a great price.
(5)